You Know!! I'm tired of listening to the sports shows on how Drayton Mcclane needed to cut the payroll this year!!!! Boy did the Astros do a bad job as far as PR is concerned!! Man I mean to think the average fan will sympathize with him about losing money is crazy! The guy got a new stadium and plus he makes more money on his other businesses than we will ever make in our entire lives!!! I know Hampton was a sure gonner and Everret may have asked for to much money, but man we could have at least kept them for half a year and still traded them for more than what they got this off season!!!!! Bottom line I think Drayton lied to all the fans in H-Town and that is'nt RIGHT!!!!! TheMugg ------------------ TheMugg
I know it is frustrating to watch the Astros, but the Hampton trade was predicated by him wanting out of the organization. Unfortunately, he had really bad timing because he asked out after they traded Everett to make room for Hampton's inflated salary. Also, the Astros are positioning themselves to be able to absorb the HUGE salary increase Jeff Bagwell is going to command in a year or so. It may suck, but it is more bad timing than out and out lying. ------------------ "No one gets out ALIVE!" SaveOurRockets.com
This is one of the reasons I stopped following baseball. I can't stand it when free agency and money mean having a new team every freakin' year. I don't mind massive player trades like the Rockets have done, but when it's simply for financial reasons, it's no fun anymore, IMO. Hopefully basketball won't end up being as bad as baseball. ------------------ ?
The trade that really killed the stros was the one for Randy Johnson. We gave up 2 pitchers who are starting in the Majors (Garcia & Halama), and not doing badly either, and a second baseman for Randy (3 months) Johnson. Now if Drayton would have re-signed Johnson, it would have been a great trade. He didn't, so we lost Johnson, along with 2 pitchers with bright futures. Granted we aquired Dotel for Hampton, but, if we still had Garcia & Halama, we would be in much better shape than we are now. ------------------ You just want to be on the side thats winning.
Huh? How do the 1998-1999 Rockets compare to the 1999-2000 Rockets? Both sports are about money. The only reason you hear less about it in basketball is the salary cap, which baseball doesn't have. Les Alexander pays the limit for his team, but make no mistake, he is very thankful for that limit when it comes time to balance his checkbook. I think the money angle of these trades was over emphasized, especially in the Hampton trade. But, the Astros problems can't be blamed on loosing just two players. It's a team sport. ------------------ Stay Cool... [This message has been edited by dc sports (edited May 18, 2000).]
Bobfinn.. You obviously follow the Astros as I have noticed from some of your other posts. I agree at this point in time it looks like we the Astros gave up too much for Randy Johnson. But at the time it really did wonders for the city of Houston and the Astros. They stole Randy Johnson from the likes of the Yankees, Indians, and Braves. To me it made the Astro's for real. I had a real sense that year that the Astro's could win it all. When your team is in a position to win it all (and I truly believe that was the year the Astro's had to win it all) than you pull the trigger on a trade for a Randy Johnson. I would do it again if I were Hunsiker. Now granted we ended up losing to the Padres (and that damn Kevin Brown) and Randy ended up taking an offer so he could be closer to home. I think you have to take these type of risks with a team that has good shot of post season success. There is no denying that we gave up quality pitchers for Randy Johnson. But I still think it was a good trade.
Dream34, I have been a die-hard Astros, Rockets and (till they left Houston) Oiler fan since 1970. I think the stros have had the potential to win it all the last 4 years. Getting Johnson was an incredible move, similar to the Rockets getting Barkley or Francis. However, if "the hun" or Drayton were serious about winning a championship, they would not have let Johnson sign elsewhere. Johnson did put the Astros on the same scale as the Yanks and Braves, but that is all a memory now. ------------------ You just want to be on the side thats winning.
I think there needs to be a cap in baseball. No team will ever be able to compete with the Yankees or Braves simply because of money. Not having a salary cap prevents league-wide competition and keeps it down to a few select teams. I fail to see how the Astros can hope to compete if we can't afford anyone. ------------------ I need a new signature. 302
