they should of gotten better than Duckworth IMO. He is 27 and hasnt shown much so far in 58 career starts, winning just 15 of those starts.
everything has to come together for that to happen. Anaheim had one great year then fell apart. I don't mind the payroll being 70 million as long as it's invested in the right pieces. Giving Craig Biggio 3 or 4 million to play a mediocre centerfield isn't what i have in mind.
I am not sure I agree that a back of the rotation guy is what the Astros needed. They have a lot of that already and that is a commodity that can be picked up through free agency fairly cheap. I do agree that the throw-ins often turn out to be the best players. In this case, they better be. I am not saying that I do not like the trade, but I would have rather just had more prospects.
Wagner was overpaid. Duckworth was not enough, unless that "player to be named later" is really dynamite. Essentially, we're trading an elite but overpaid closer for a cheap but merely decent young pitcher. ****ing terrible. I've always defended ownership in the past... but this is too much. New ownership is needed. I don't care if ownership doesn't spend much out of their own pocket. But this looks like a firesale type deal.
3 RH pitchers from the Phils: Duckworth Taylor Buckholtz (watch out for this kid, had a great year at AA: 9-11, 3.55 ERA, 114K : 33BB in 144+ IP, just turned 22, 6'4", 225) Ezekiel Astacio (great year in A ball, but just turned 24) Both the minor leaguers will jump a level next year, AAA & AA respectively. 'Stros now have: 1. Serious payroll flexibility, always a good thing unless you play in the Bronx; 2. A replenished group of starters, especially if they sign Pettit. Robertson/Redding/Rosario/Hernandez/Duckworth are all now attractive trade possiblities to get help in other areas. Gerry: "This is a step, not the completion of the process, still looking for additional payroll flexibility & improvement of the roster."
Oh please. Closer is the most overrated and overpaid position in baseball. And Wagner can't shut down games against any type of quality opposition because he hasn't developed a second pitch. Add in his stupid attitude and comments last season and his salary and I trade him too. This isn't a bad move. Wagner ain't worth 9 mil, can't shut down patient hitting good teams like ATL, and SF and houston has two great fireballers in the pen and got a solid young pitcher in return. I think Duckworth just needs some confidence boosting, and whether we sign Pettitte or not, I'm happy Billy the dumbass is gone. He can't beat good hitting and he lost his place in the lockerroom with his "we shouldn't be in the playoff race the day he blew that key game vs SF" Good riddance Wagner, and if you think you can get much more for a closer than a solid young starting pitcher, you are pipe dreaming.
This McLane era does not give me encouragement that I'll see a Mr October up close and personal in Houston in any of our lifetimes.
i take this to mean Payroll Flexibility - Goodbye Richard Hidalgo Improvement - Starting Pitcher, hopefully Pettitte
I still think we needed to get a CF out of the deal...but those prospects don't look too bad. I found this online about Taylor Buchholz...he's #5 http://www.theprospectreport.com/top10phi.html
Don't discount the possiblity of moving Duck to the pen, he's struggled the 2nd time through lineups, much like Dotel. I can see him being a solid 7th inning setup guy. Serious parallels between the two...
Why are so many so sure deleting Wags = getting Pettitt? Did I miss something here? If it were true, good trade. If it were true, I'll be Bonzo's uncle.
While a closer is certainly a valuable asset, teams can be successful without them. Also, let's not forget, the Astros still have Dotel. The final four featured - Joe Borowski, Braden Looper/Urbina, any number of Red Sox relievers and Mariano Rivera. With a number of decent relievers available through free agency, this may be the best the Astros could do. With the addition of Duckworth, the also gives Houston the flexibility to include someone like Redding in a trade if need be.
because there has been a lot of talk from people that the astros were trying to rid themselves of Wagner and Hidalgo in order to free up money to make a run at Andy Pettitte. I read an article yesterday from Peter Gammons who mentioned the astros trying to trade the 2 to boston for Scott Williamson and prospects then signing Andy.
A few things... 1) Duckworth sucks 2) There's a better chance of finding Bin Laden on the BBS posting Pro-American remarks than there is of the Yankees letting go of Pettite 3) We got f****d...this trade is exactly what is wrong with baseball
