The only thing we know that always wins is great pitching and timely hitting... the Sox had all of that. I do agree that the Astros need another bat, but its so hard to predict what can happen when you go after a big-time slugger. Normally, pitchers (unless they change leagues) can be pretty constant... and most of the time, worth the bigger contract, but a big-time hitter who underperforms with a big contract can KILL any team. Also, I found this excerpt from today's chronicle article to be pretty interesting... let the hot stove begin: Out of Arlington, some have speculated that veteran lefthander Kenny Rogers will bring his assault to Houston. If you believe that report, you weren't paying attention when Rogers' agent, Scott Boras, strung the Astros along during the Carlos Beltran negotiations. Last year, Boras had the baseball world's attention with most of the premier free agents: Beltran, Adrian Beltre, Derek Lowe, Magglio Ordoñez and J.D. Drew. But Beltran underperformed with the New York Mets, Ordoñez was injured most of the year with the Detroit Tigers, and Beltre couldn't lift the Seattle Mariners. Lowe and Drew were such busts that Los Angeles Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta was fired in part for making such disastrous signings.
i'm not saying the astros shouldn't target offense...they should. unless clemens retires, in which case I'd work towards another starter first. my point is only this...the reason why i say pitching wins championships. teams like the 88 Dodgers exist. teams like this Astros bunch that won the NL exist. teams with very good pitching but very average to below average hitting have won pennants and championships in this league. the same can't be said of the other way around. you can't have the 16th best pitching staff in terms of runs allowed and win a championship...but you can have the 16th best offense and still get to the World Series with strong pitching. the priority is and always should be...pitching. acquiring good pitching and maintaining good pitching.
Agree....that is also why the Braves win every year...it's their pitching and incredible farm system. Doesn't matter how much the Yankees spend on high priced offensive players...if Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson was younger and healthy...the Yankees would have probably won the WS. Look at the crappy Diamondbacks won with Johnson and Schilling...with no Offense. The Astros got shut-out over 15 times this season and in some of those cases a run or two would have been the difference in a win and loss. Again...I state...Pitching is priority #1!!!! And keeping the pitching staff fresh for a October run is just as important. Sucks to get there and flame out...I.E. Lidge!!!
correct me if I'm wrong but didn't boras do something along the lines of playing tough when the tigers asked for a medical history (x-rays) of ordonez?
Agree totally... a very similiar take to my post before the 2004 season: There has never been a bad/below .500 team that had good to great pitching. The Chronicle mentioned today that a couple of guys that Pupurra may target are Juan Encarcion and Ramon Hernandez of the Padres (especially if Ausmus decides to leave). I'd take a guy who fits that mold... a hitter with a relatively good average, some decent power, and one that is not totally lost in the field... but without the baggage/contract of being a superstar. Also, this is on a totally different topic... but who else here really wants Brad Ausmus to be the manager of this team when he eventually decides to retire. I'm totally seeing him being a top-notch manager, with his knowledge of pitching staffs, and hitter's tendencies... and of course, he would be great in the clubhouse (he's been in charge of "kangaroo court" for the Astros ever since he's been here). Something also tells me that both Phil Garner and Larry Dierker would not have had as much success in their tenures here had Brad Ausmus not been around (and then there was Jimy... and it was known that Brad and Jimy didn't always agree on a lot of things).
I'd gladly get Ausmus to manage here.. although he'd probably have to work his way up. When he retires, I hope he's immediately a bench coach or something. Didn't Casey Candaele start managing in the minors or bench-coaching somewhere? I always liked him. Anyway, yeah I think he'd be solid...and wouldn't take much crap either, while still being respected. On the Kenny Rogers comment earlier...I think he could succeed here. Give us 2 lefties in the rotation (potentially 3 if Wandy is in)...and a backup in case Clemens retires. And if Rocket is back, that's a sick 5-man rotation.
List please. I looked at the WS teams going back to 1988, and not a single one ranked in the bottom four of their league in runs scored. The 88 Dodgers were an average offensive club, ranking 6th in the league of 12, and scoring the league average of 3.88 runs per game. While you can get to a WS with a slightly below average offense, you better not be awful at scoring runs.
One more thing. Despite what anybody says, the White Sox actually won with the Earl Weaver approach. They scored 49% of their runs on homers. Only Texas (at 56%) scored a higher percentage of their runs on homers.
I think someone has said this before but I just saw some of the SO's of the Astros in the news...dayum...
i didn't say there were tons. i said that they exist. the 88 Dodgers were one. the 2005 Astros were another. it can be done that way. so far as i know, it's never been done in the inverse way...average to below-average pitching with great hitting.
You said a team that was 16th in offense can get to the WS. I have looked at all WS teams since 1980 and have found only one team that was ranked in the bottom 4 of their league in runs scored, and that was the 85 KC Royals. That's 1 in 50. Now if you want to say great pitching with average offense can work, yes that's much more doable, but your original statement was a real stretch.
True... there was nobody dead last... but even though there was only 1/50 teams cloe to being that low, that still ends up proving his main point: Its possible to have great pitching but mediocre offense and get to, if not win, World Series. Its impossible (and never been done before) to make it to the World Series with bad/mediocre pitching and great offense.
I believe it is difficult and dangerous for a player to retire then immediately manage the team. Might BA, he of the poor ba, replace Bochy? On a different question, young arms - what is the liklihood Carlos will ever get all the way back? Is Zeke destined to middle relief? Buckholz projects as, and when?
I know baseball season is over but I had been looking for this shirt during the Astros world series run but couldnt find it anywhere. Was just wondering if any of you guys seen it around town? Saw this pic on ebay and he only has an XL.
I honestly believe the Astros pitching was better than the White Sox, or at least equal. The Astros had more men on base, left more men in scoring position. It wasn't like the Astros didn't have this problem versus other playoff teams and in the regular season. The difference between the teams IMO was disciplined hitting. Konerko, Dye, Pierzynski and Crede epitomized this. I can't tell you how many great pitches they would spoil and how many good pitches they would not try to do too much with. Just watch just about all Dye's at bats, starting with game 1 versus Roger when he still hit a solid pitch opposite field for a HR. Astros were pressing all series, they get great pitches, they strike out. They got good pitches, often did nothing with. (No pitcher was worse than El Duque, yet we left like 3 gopher balls he threw and did nothing with them). Yes I honestly believe the Astros would be a lot better off than another great hitter at the cost of a little pitching. So maybe Roy for Manny isn't it. But I have watched Manny a lot and I can't emphasize how much disciplined and punishing influence on opponents he would add. Maybe not Roy for him is the right move, but young OF (Burke or Taveras) + young excellent pitcher (Backe, Qualls, Lidge) + 1st baseman/DH Lamb/Bags would help the Astros immensly, and might be OK for Boston too. Got to clear Bags salary somehow retire/trade I recognize, but Manny is a perfect fit, and on the block. Get it done and we will win 100 with good health and return to the NLCS at worst.
FSN is having a good program regarding the Astros offseason right now. Has the Astros announcers discussing the team at MMP.
so we have all probably heard by now that roger has made up his mind but doesnt want to announce it yet. I was wondering if Roger has made up his mind in the sense of if the Astros get a bat, I will come back, if they dont I am done. There would be no reason for Roger to hold out on the Astros. Roger is very savvy and understands what Beltran did to the Astros last year. I just dont see Roger doing that to his hometown team.
