Astros Major Press Conference at 4:30 (UPDATE: Astros trade 3 for Jason Jennings)

Luke Scott on ESPN right now explaining why he owns a gun. LOL

 

Article on Pence getting time in CF

Interview with Pence

Adam Foster: You’ve played both right and center field lately. How comfortable do you feel at those two positions?

Hunter Pence: Basically, those are my best positions. I’ve played them all year, so I’m very comfortable with both – either one.

From the AFL...
But everyone knew he could hit--it's his defense that has opened a lot of eyes this fall.

"He's the best guy out here right now," Solar Sox manager Pat Listach said. "There is nothing that screams fundamentals as far as hitting goes, but his defense has been outstanding."
....
One scout compares Pence to major league outfielder Eric Byrnes for his unorthodox approach at the plate, his speed and the way he plays from day-to-day.

"This is a guy who has that undeniable energy," the scout said. "He's got that different approach, but to me, he's a bigger, stronger version of Byrnes who will hit for more power and give you some defensive versatility in the outfield.

"For me, he can play all three spots, with enough arm strength and power to be a legitimate everyday right fielder. But he's also showed enough burst and range to play center if you need him there. He's proven he can do a little bit of everything defensively--he's no longer a liability. He's a big league quality outfielder."[/i]

Receiving raves from that perspective...

 

horrible, just horrible

 

The bottom line is most of the players are known quantities except for Hirsch.

Im not sure getting a reliable player for a potential star is worth it unless the reliable pitcher takes us to the next level - which I don't think he will.

It was the Yao vs Jason Williams argument. Do you take the more known quality in the Dukie guard or a potential superstar who could also be a bust-a-rama.

That is always the question when you trade a good prospect for a decent player.

 

yea, now imagine that you have Torrealba at catcher, Helton at first, Atkins at 3rd and Tulowitzki and Carroll sitting in the middle infield and someone bunts against you, even in Coors, lol. Barmes fell off the stairs from carrying meat and is no longer an option for the forseeable future. In fact, he's even slower..., especially at SS.

Torrealba strikes out 25% of the time on offense too. AND he can't stop a ball, much less a Jennings sinker. Jamie Carroll is a singles hitting machine, but he loves to go for a stolen base, and is at about a .455 success rate. Oh yeah, his range is very compare to a 2006 Biggio. But then again, he is almost 33. Tulowitski is only 22, but he's not much of a prospect in general, at least not with great potential. He's slow on defense and had 6 SBs in AA (91 games) not too long ago. He had a hitting boom for 2 weeks in Colorado, and has nothing to show as the DP partner of Mr. Carroll.

Garrett Atkins is not fast either, but he's a hitter; however, he refused a contract with Colorado for an extension, so he might be good for a bit. He's nothing to go nuts about, but this guy could at least get on base and hit with power whenever he is hitting... in Coors.

Good luck, Jason and Taylor. I actually meant that.... I liked both of em and was livid when Bruntlett killed Buchholtz's shutout bid.

 

Why can't we still go after another pitcher ? If that happens then Jennings will move down in the rotation and everyone will be happy.....

 

So when Vernon Wells and Andruw Jones become available at the trading deadline, who do we have left we can use to trade for them?

 

So now Hirsh is the next Yao Ming???

I've aknowledged that he's the only guy in the deal with untapped potential, but even at his highest level of "prospect", he was never projected to be higher than a #2 guy (which was ok, since we had Roy locked up for the ace).

Troy Patton still projects higher than Hirsh... so does Albers after winter ball. If Hirsh is Yao Ming, who are they?

 

Not really. Hirsh would compare more like a Mike Bibby if anything. He's dependable while in the minors and should be once he shakes things off in the majors. He just needs to work hard and work on getting better and figuring out hitters before they figure him out. As for Jennings, he is more of a power player that flourished at times and has value because of his occasional outbursts. More like a Darius Miles without the attitude (hopefully) Maybe a Corey Maggette, basically someone that you can count on to produce but don't expect him to really make it as the player he was touted until he proves otherwise.

 

It's just an analogy.

And if you are a baseball fan the #1, #2 projections are as wild card as you can get as are Albers, Patton, and any other prospects.

Baseball is the hardest sport to project so any player with potential could be a "Yao" like player.

Some of you read Baseball America and think you're experts.

Trading any legitmate pitching prospect is always a BIG risk...

So was Johan Santana a #1 or #2, or bullpen guy when we left him unprotected.

 

I already agreed with that... but you go by what you see, and how a player develops.

Hirsh is 24, has had a cup of coffee in the big leagues, and has done very well in the minors. He's 6'8, throws his fastball around 90-92, and didn't give up the long ball a lot till he got to the big leagues (where he gave it up in record-setting fashion).

That's not baseball america... that's watching the game.

EVERY prospect can potentially turn out to be an all-star... but you have to admit that sometimes we over-value future potential over a guy who's been able to actually do it in the big leagues (albeit not with all-star success, but better than average).

Jennings helps us more this year... and for many years to come if he signs an extention. He's only 4 years older than Hirsh, and yet he's already had 4 years of where he's pitched over 180 innings in a season. (without any arm trouble)

Also, I was always more excited about Patton... you can quote me on that from 2003. Sure, he could be a bust (like all of them)... but for now, he's got more "hype" attached to him than Jason Hirsh does.

 

On an unrelated topic, I'm really wishing I would have taken the $100 bet you offered me during the draft that Demeco Ryans would be trash and never even be better than Jabar Gaffney.

 

Obviously unknowns are exactly that..unknowns.

He could be great he could be Don August or Sam August or Jeff Juden.

Whenever I look at trades like this, I always look at the bigger picture - does this help make the team a world series contender in the next several years? Is this another piece of the puzzle or is it just putting an arm in the rotation to keep us where we are?

 

No you didn't.


Don't lie man.. =P

 

That was a complete bust on my part.

Of course I was also the one who thought Charley Casserly was a terrible terrible move when we hired him.

Im sure most Texan fans would trade Demeco Ryans for a Charlie Casserly do over.

I was also the one who thought Philip Buchannon was a big risk. And that missing out on Charlie Rogers over Andre Johnson was not big of a deal. Drafting Jason Babbin was a mistake and Benny Joppru over Jason Witten was wrong.

Guesas my track record sucks.

 

I don't get why some bring up "You got to know the market value" angle because the market value for Hirsh/Taveras/Taylor isn't as high as we think it is if it didn't get us Garland. Failed physicals aside, if that trio can't bring in a pitcher like Garland, then why are we making out those 3 players like they're such a valuable commodity?

The season doesn't start tomorrow guys. There's still time to make some moves, sign some players, etc.

 

Well, factoring in that Berkman and Oswalt are in their primes NOW (not 4 years from now), anything you can do to help the team more NOW is a plus.

Its the reason why I thought they had to go all-out to keep Pettite around... its the reason why even if they had kept Pettite, I still think they needed another starting pitcher assuming Clemens doesn't come back (since Woody doesn't do much more for me than a #4 starter who won't pitch the entire year).

Jennings helps them... obviously doesn't make them World Series contenders... but puts them in a better position than they were in yesterday. Sure, 4 years from now, when Hirsh becomes the first Colorado pitcher ever to win a Cy Young award, the Astros won't look too great... but till then, lets see what else they can do to give Roy and Lance the best shot to carry the team.

 

This is one of those "hmm...we don't really know how this will turn out" trades. Both sides think they won. Somebody lost. This will be interesting to watch unfold. I will miss the hell out of Willy Taveras. I can't believe we traded him. I will miss his speed and his infield hits. He could make something out of nothing. Too bad we couldn't have traded Ausmus instead.

 

How can anyone say this is nothing less than a GREAT trade for the Astros?

We give up Willy T, who has been decent for us but is no Kenny Lofton. The pitching prospects haven't proven anything in their brief work so far. Now Burke gets an opportunity for everyday work and offensively he is quite a bit better than Willy T.

Most importantly, Jennings is a STUD. The guy has pitched in a terrible pitcher's park all his career and has a career 4.74 ERA (3.78 last season).

It looks like he's come into his own recently and should be a tremendous addition to this ballclub. If Ausmus is behind the plate next year, that will help him considerably.

 

Assuming we get Jennings an extension, he's the type of guy that can be counted on for 200 innings/year for the next 5 years. He's only 28. If he can get that sinkerball working, he and Adam will become quite good friends.

I think it's very much an indictment of Hirsh, at least Purpura's judgment - if he grades Hirsh out to be nothing more than a #3 even with development, if he's right, this is brilliant.

I must say, I was disappointed with Hirsh in the majors - I saw him pitch in AAA twice, and he was completely different. I don't know what it was, but I liked Albers in the majors a lot more. If the plan is to only rely on one youngster in the rotation at least at the start, I wouldn't be surprised if the team decided they wanted the "one" to be Albers. We have 3 reliable starters now, and since Jennings only makes $5.5m this year, still some cash to burn on a 4th. Then Albers slides easily into the 5 hole, Backe returns the year after, and just as it's time for Woody to go, guys like Patton and Barthmaier are a phone call away from the majors.

It never works that easy, but if you get two fairly known quantities signed longterm (Oswalt/Jennings), it's a lot easier to fill 3 rotation slots than 4.