It should also be noted that this saves the Astros a lot of money for free agency as well. It seems the Astros made an excellent value move here. Remember, at the deadline the rumor was that it would've taken Luke Scott and Chad Qualls both to land Bourn. Here, the Astros picked up Bourn and the best power-hitting prospect in the Phillies organization for Lidge. So, I think we all owe a lot to the Astros for not dealing Lidge when his value was at its lowest last offseason. However, in terms of value in wins and losses, it completely depends on what the Astros can do in the free agent market for relievers. I hope they have bigger plans than Scott Linebrink...
Geoff Geary is proven mediocrity. I imagine he'll make the bullpen and fill something like the Borkowski-when-Garner-still-trusted-him-somewhat role.
I don't see it that way. This looks like a pretty even deal from my perspective. I think Lidge will right himself getting away from Houston. Bourn doesn't impress me much. In his last 1,000 AB, he's been a .350/.370 OBP/SLG guy with good SB numbers - that's not a tremendously valuable commodity. Geary is a middling arm - not good, not bad. Constanzo intrigues me a bit. He was a bit old for AA last year, but IMO he should be a far better option in 2009 than Ty Wigginton. When you consider the economics of the deal, this is a good trade for the Astros, but I think the Phillies get more talent, so it's a solid move for everybody involved.
Two things, lidge has issues with homers, it will be interesting to see him pitch at CBP. Plus, the part that you are overlooking is bourn's defense in CF. That plus his speed and OBP skill is why they coveted him in july and wanted him now.
With trading away Lidge, Cordero will probably be target #1 for the Astros. I hope they make a run at Castillo, but I've heard that the Astros still have yet to meet with his representatives.
They just got the top power-hitting prospect in the Phillies organization and a leadoff hitter that would've cost both Luke Scott and Chad Qualls at the deadline. Want to try again?
Would you care to give a full report on Bourn? I remember his name linked to Astro trade rumors last season, but the asking price was too high, and he got injured. How is his defense playing CF?...why was he placed in LF? How is his offense?...I hope he's not like Adam Everette where his offense horrendous, but his defense keeps him in. etc. It would be greatly appreciated...thanks
IMO, this puts us in a position to bring back Loretta to man second in a platoon with Burke. We have our leadoff hitter now and have solidified our outfield at all three positions and have hopefully upgraded our defense (I am concerned with Pence's arm in RF). We now need to find a legit starter that is a number 2 or solid 3 (if that's even possible) and need to fill out our bullpen to make it a strength. Lord knows we'll need it. Great move though. I've been done with David Carr err.. I mean Steve Francis err... I mean Brad Lidge for awhile now.
Lidge's HR numbers haven't been that bad. They just seemed to occur at very crucial times. That's obviously not a good thing, but it's not like he's been awful. But you're right, Citizen's Bank may magnify the issue. What you say about Bourn is true, but he hasn't really showed any OBP skill in since A-ball in 2004.
He was in LF strictly because Aaron Rowand was in CF, not because he's a bad CFer by any stretch. He's a much better offensive player than Everett with regards to average, on-base percentage, and speed. I'll be floored if he doesn't bat leadoff on opening day.
Michael Bourn played LF last year because burrell is a butcher in the field and the phillies had a gold glover in rowand in CF. He is a lot like willy T, incredible speed, not much power other than gap to gap, can track down balls other cf's can't dream of getting under. Will get a lot of infield hits, and create havoc on the basepaths, and is a threat to steal any time he reaches 1st base. A lot like a juan pierre offensively. He also has enough plate discipline to bat leadoff. If they get castillo to play 2b in FA, those two at the top of the lineup will cause all sorts of problems for pitchers dealing with berkman/lee/pence. Think 100 combined steals between the two of them.
