<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Jim Crane’s message to the fans from today’s press conference at Minute Maid Park: (quotes to follow)</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/statuses/403987180252430336">November 22, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"Securing a solid TV deal is vital to our long-term success. It has always been a critical part of the plan."</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/statuses/403987252990050306">November 22, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"We are frustrated by the TV situation and we know our fans are. I'm working every day to try and get our games on TV for all fans.”</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/statuses/403987376021598208">November 22, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"We're very happy with the improvement of the farm system, which was a priority."</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/statuses/403987478178066432">November 22, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"The court filing does not affect our plan short term. We still plan to explore free agents to improve the team."</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/statuses/403987582821744640">November 22, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Peter Moylan agrees to terms with Astros per source. Minor league deal includes invite to MLB spring training</p>— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/statuses/404100716958322688">November 23, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fplayers%2Fm%2Fmoylape01.shtml&div=div_pitching_standard"></script>
I wonder if the Astros could steal Moreland away from Texas, he has no place to play and talking about a power bat! He is prime for a breakout season and Houston should be his new home.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Astros have signed Adron Chambers.</p>— Sean Feist (@native_astro) <a href="https://twitter.com/native_astro/statuses/404842485572055040">November 25, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Luhnow is starting to remind me of the guy in fantasy football who always immediately snatches up the players that I drop just because I drop them.
I am less concerned to where the players come from and more concerned to how they pan out. Time will tell. We'll see.
Most of the ex-cards are older, have already had their potential shot... and failed... or never amounted to what they thought they were going to be on draft day. Luhnow is over tapping the market on players who may have never reached their potential... but at some point you have to question the person determining that they even had potential. In the end, most of these guys are filler... the studs will come from the drafts, and eventually trades/free agency.
I will go ahead and stick my neck out there and say that he has the ability to judge potential. Sure, these signings aren't door busters, but it isn't preventing too many players from coming up either. I'll take his educated, though most likely low success rate, ex Card lotto tickets over the 35 year old gap fillers that they could be.
Sure... but at some point, when/if this team becomes good, you need to have a GM who can do more than simply sign the cast-offs that he once scouted. What he's doing now is simply building organization depth. He has yet to prove (or disprove) himself as a GM who can successfully manage/maneuver a winning team to stay in contention (which to me is an entirely different challenge/job than simply building the farm system). We know he can build a farm system... he's already proven it in St. Louis, and he's doing it here. Whether he can be the GM who keeps a winning team winning can only be determined once this team reaches the next level.
These aren't lotto tickets. Rick Ankiel Ronny Cedeno Tyler Greene Adron Chambers Ryan Jackson The best guy he has probably signed from there was CJ Fick. These weren't young guys. They were all over 25. Compare that with a guy like Fernando Martinez. That was a lotto ticket. And 35 year old stop gaps aren't all bad. Bedard & Veras were older stop gaps.
