Justice take it for what its worth) is saying on 1560 that Qualls was who the Phillies actually asked for
don't go on what he says...the stats can be found here: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/B/michael-bourn.shtml
Well, more than that: the repeated control issues late in games, the 6 million dollar price tag after a season with injuries and 8 blown saves (2nd in the NL). That, and the fact that he's still a pretty good closer and the fact that his trade value was higher this winter than last. Those all appear, at least to me, to be reasons the Astros dealt him.
1) The discussion began with Qualls--perhaps he wasn't enough to land Bourn? 2) Qualls is cheaper than Lidge. Perhaps the Astros were wanting to meet other needs (Castillo? Willis?)?
2 assumptions....1 that people still see him as a viable closer. 2) that some teams think he can be dominant again. Astros have been watching him struggle for 2 years, its time to cut the cord.
my guess is that the astros wanted to unload the salary and head case...and take their shot w either qualls or cordero.
It took me by surprise, too. It's pretty different to get something done this early. This time last year, posters (not you) were making "get off his fat ass" remarks about Purpura. Of course, *no* GMs had done anything yet.
There's no way I see the Astros getting Cordero, I think he'll sign for 4 or 5 years at 10 million somewhere. The only thing I regret is that they didn't wait til after Cordero signed to try and move Lidge because that would have raised his value a bit. I guess the Astros front office is really really high on Bourn.
I agree with you except for the "head case" remark. Lidge is a far cry from a "head case". For a head case, look no farther than Redding, Tim.
It looks like a good deal on both sides. I like the fact that we got younger and faster. Good luck to Lidge in Philly. He's needed a change of scenery since the end of 2005.
I'm not sure we should expect much more than Willy T. If you look at their last few years in the minors (Bourn doesn't have enough of a major league sample to say much there) - they were pretty similar. Bourn walks more (and strikes out a bit more), but Willy T has a much higher batting average. Both have minimal/no power and both steal bases at a similar clip. At the end of the day, Willy was getting on base at a 0.390 clip his last 2 years in the minors; Bourn was about 0.360. Hopefully Bourn will be better, but at this point, there's not a lot to suggest it looking at their minor league numbers. With the major league numbers, Bourn has been better thus far - but 120 at bats is not a useful sample size (basically, a bit over a month of fulltime play).
this team could be ridiculously revamped if we get a speed guy at 2nd. I mean, when was the last time we had 2 speed guys at the top of the lineup? Brian Hunter and Biggio? I really can't remember. Biggio and Derek Bell if he qualifies? Chuck Carr? Regardless, we've had an aging Biggio at the top of the lineup (1 or 2) for the while, so whenever you decide he lost his "fast" status, that's when you start looking backwards for another fast guy at the top of the lineup. So if this works out, the team will really have an entirely new direction/philosophy just by nature of the personnel. Cool idea.
At first glance, I was all for this. I'm now taking the wait-and-see approach. This trade cannot be viewed as a single event. I think it affects what happens the rest of the off season. I believe that is when we can truly start to judge this trade. If it leads to a more consistent closer, a top 1/2 of the rotation SP, a more youthful team (check), while adding prospects (check), then I can honestly say that this was a great deal. I'm in the camp that thought Lidge would retain his form after knee surgery. I'm a little disappointed to see him go, but I believe it's for the best.
Ok, something happened, and I'm ok with it...My fear is Brad will be lights out again in a new town... But is this it? I like the pick up, but is that going to get us to the playoffs? Me thinks not...
it's November 8. i'm guessing this isn't it. i'm fine with lidge being lights out somewhere else. i just don't think he was gonna be that with us.
Yup... by freeing salary early on in the game, we have a lot more flexibility in FA or trades. If Drayton is willing to spend 90M this season, we now have 15-20M to spend, which can fill in a lot of those gaps.
Don't know anything much about these new guys, really, but I would like to say that it will be nice, at least for a while anyway, to enter a 9th inning with a lead and feel some emotion other than dread.
I hope Brad is really successful in Philly. He needed a change of scenery so I'm not going to feel bad about this trade one bit if he is very successful. It wasn't going to happen here in Houston.
