Well, he would bring a lot of intangibles. He has a WS title to his credit, so obviously dude knows how to win. I'm sure he'd be great in the clubhouse. And we are probably losing Clemen's influence so we need somebody.
I havn't read this thread but all I'd like to add is... Im happy the 'Stros are getting off there ass's this offseason & trying to make some noise BUT I just hope they dont go out there and sign som1 they really dont need just for an addition. I do however think we will have a solid team for next season & geared up for another BIG run! (crossing my fingers of course)
I hope they get either one of these 2 and hopefully apitcher as well. There ino way they can go into next season with the same roster from last year if they hope to contend for a WS. I'll be excited if they improve this team, and hopefully they wont have another season like last year's
Do I want either Soriano and/or Lee. In one word "Yes". However!!! "Scott, Tavares, and Pence" now that combination doesn't have national appeal. It doesn't even have wide appeals here in Houston. But honestly, that is an outfield that I'd love to see be the productive future! It goes back to a Texas mentality. If you need to ask for help you aren't working hard enough. However, after all of the hype of Nevin, Ward, Hidalgo, Elarton, and a lesser extent Lane, etc. I am a realist. Chances are that no matter how much talent the expert think there is in the well, even after all the resources invested; the potential in the well could end up with a "Negative to Zerldo Return". Typically the Astros would go into a season with an 80 to 90 million dollar payroll. With the payroll possibly expanding to 120 million if Drayton beleives in the team's chances of winning. Oswalt and Berkman are the cornerstones of the franchise. Berkman a perenial MVP candidate. Oswalt a perenial CY Young candidate. That's a good start. 15 million on Soriano and 15 million on Lee "Would" be GOOD investments. But would they be the best investment? I think that a priority must be maintained on the Pitching. If the pitching goes down, so will all of the winning. Though thick and think from 1994 to now, the Astros have had solid starting pitching leading them to the playoffs. Reynolds, Kile, Hampton, Oswalt, Miller, Lima, Clemens, Pettite, Johnson. The offense has always been inconsistent. But the Astros have still found it in them to compete. Right now the Astros starting pitching looks bleak.
My guess is that Hunter Pence doesn't get a sniff at the majors until after next year, and even then probably won't be handed an everyday position and will have to do like Lane or Scott and wait in the wings before getting a real chance. From everything I continue to read they still believe that once he encounters experienced enough pitchers the hitch in his swing will enable them to 'figure him out' and he will either have to make major adjustments or fail. The impression I get is that they want to ease him into that point to give him a better chance to succeed. Scott, also, is not really a proven commodity. He has 1/2 of a great season, but not much else. Pitchers may be able to find a hole somewhere and he could pull a Jason Lane or Morgan Ensberg-like disappearance. I don't think that will happen, but I am not exactly a 'swing expert' so I for one will not rule it out until there is a larger body of evidence. For most of last year the Astros were an offensive nightmare. I appreciate the value of pitching but I think the offense has proven itself to be bad, while the pitching only potentially projects itself that way. Also the Astros have much more minor league depth in the pitching department. Throw ten talented rookie pitchers against a wall and one or two will stick.
Great reply. I appreciate your insight. However, if Pettite and Clemens aren't coming back. Then there are going to be 4 legitimate spots in the rotation. That leaves us with: 1) Hirsh (a strong candidate, but relativley still very raw) 2) Nieve 3) Rodriguez (19-20 record with a 5.58 ERA "Better suited for bullpen?") 4) Buchholz 5) Astacio 6) Sampson 7) Backe (Who I think is out all of next season after the surgery) 8) Albers I too hope they do the job. But it would be a lot easier if Roger and Pettite came back.
Nice list but: a) Wandy should never pitch ever again. b) Backe is indeed out for the season c) i don't see Astacio getting a sniff of the show with the younger guys ahead of him I think the list looks like: 1) Hirsch - top prospect, solid #2 starter makeup 2) Buchholz - Shown great promise but extremely inconsistant in the bigs 3) Albers - Had some decent major outings, hot in AFL and minors. 4) Sampson - most major league success but worst tools 5) Nieve - ultimately a pen guy
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog...stitial=true&name=olney_buster&CMP=ILC-INHEAD Work to be done in Houston posted: Saturday, November 18, 2006 Tim Purpura has never delivered a blockbuster move, writes Brian McTaggart, but the first may be close. Folks around baseball believe the Astros have the inside track on signing Carlos Lee, so this is what the Houston lineup might look like next year: CF Willy Taveras 2B Craig Biggio 1B Lance Berkman LF Carlos Lee RF Luke Scott 3B Morgan Ensberg (or Aubrey Huff, if Huff re-signs with Houston) SS Adam Everett C Brad Ausmus This would be an upgrade over a team that finished 25th in the majors in runs scored last year, but the Astros would still need more production out of one of three players -- Biggio, who had a .309 on-base percentage last year; Everett, who hit .239 and ranked fourth from last among all qualifying players in '06 OPS; or Ausmus, who ranked 538th among all players in OPS. The Astros still have two enormous holes in their rotation, left behind by Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, and you can see why Purpura isn't that interested in dealing parts out of his bullpen. If Clemens and Pettitte don't re-sign, a distinct possibility, the Astros' rotation will be comprised of a lot of young pitchers, and Houston will need as deep a bullpen as possible. It's mid-November and the Astros of 2007 are still a work in progress.
we're gonna get carlos lee and williams. it would be great to have williams on the team, houston native, pretty good pitcher for an old guy. he did good against us, maybe playing in houston will make him even better.
Why are you excited? I am looking for a reason to be excited so I need any possitive spin I can get. Based on the current standings of things what I feel is regret, sadness, pessimism, doubt and many question marks. Someone please tell me what I am missing that could help me get excited. Oswalt, Lance, Bidge's quest for 3K, ???
Atrocious 1,2 hitters. Need Pitching. The Astros are a .500 team unless Pupura has some magic for the offseason.
What?! I'm watching FOX 26 and they start talking about the Soriano deal. Anyway to paraphrase what Tim P. told Mark Berman, "We have made agressive offers to Soriano AND Lee and remain cautiously optimistic about Soriano since the reported deal is not confirmed". Is Timmy P. in denial?
