(Boston Globe) Astros' players sought by contenders

Me too, I think he pitches better when he is more into it......adrenaline and all.

DD

 

Ah, that's right. I can't keep up with Renteria he flies around so much.

I still don't think the Red Sox would be interested in him as primarily a SS though.

 

Oswalt, Lee, and Berkman will be around 40 in 10 years. Why not get the most value out of this trio while they are in their prime, in order to put 7-10 guys that could potentially all grow up around Pence.

People are right when they say we have a good core. We have a good core to deal away and build a great team in 5 years for the next 10 years. Much like the Indians did the season after they lost in the World Series.

 

cat i generally love your posts but i disagree. i'd bet he's got atleast another 2 seasons as good as he's ever been. heck, he's coming off a season where he arguably deserved the cy young.

 

absolutely. one of oswalt's faults is that he gets too comfortable out there and he'll sometimes give up a few hits before he get's back into it.

 

Where have I heard that kind of statement before? Oh yeah...

 

This is really ****ing sad!

I really hope that the Astros aren't "answering the door" because they are playing hardball. But my gut tells me its because team management refuses to throw in the towel. If the Red Sox want Lidge, they need to send us Jacoby Ellsbury. I'm pretty sure the Tigers have called a couple of times and would love to have Lidge and team him with Zumaya when he comes back, they need to send us Cameron Maybin or Curtis Granderson. Now is a prime time to set the value for the players that teams want. IMHO, the Astros could make out like bandits if they fielded the "knocks at the doors" properly.

Whats the worst that happens, the Astros ask for too much for a couple of players and teams balk at the price? Someone is gonna pay to get what they need for the stretch run. I really hope that its Drayton not letting Purpura answer the calls, because if Purpura isn't ready to make trades, then he needs to be on the first thing smoking out of town.

 

Really? I would hope that the fat contract he signed would be enough the motivate him to pitch his best. Hopefully he would be one of those players that would light a fire under the other guys to get them to step up their game.

 

Or we have a good core that can compete NEXT YEAR if the club get's the right pieces to surround them. Screw waiting around at least 5 years for MAYBE contending again because the team traded aways its best players.

 

This team could compete AS IS...if it just had 2 more MLB caliber starting pitchers and 1 more quality reliever.

DD

 

Definitely a fair point, and I certainly hope Oswalt has the same kind of success late in his career that Clemens and Ryan had. To do that, however, I think Roy needs to refine his approach a bit. Clemens struggled a bit later in his career when his velocity dropped, but he changed to a more split-finger heavy approach, consistently pitched in the bottom of the zone and made up for what he lost in nastiness with outstanding pitching IQ.

Roy's always been a guy whose best traits were his ridiculous fastball and a nasty curve. His pitching IQ is very good, but not great -- i.e., he still leaves a few more laser-straight fastballs up in the zone than he should (much more than a Clemens, for example). But it didn't matter that much, and his numbers were still spectacular, simply because his stuff was that outstanding.

Now, his stuff certainly isn't bad. But his elite velocity comes and goes, and his feel for the curveball seems very inconsistent. imo, to get back to where he was, he's got to reinvent himself just a bit. I hope he can and I'm pulling for him, but all I'm saying is that it's not a lock. He's also not someone who is going to pitch until they're 45 like Clemens and Ryan - it's doubtful he'll still be pitching at 35.

I guess my primary concern comes from the fact that PECOTA projected this type of year from Roy before the season. That tells me it's not something random like him not being mentally into the game because of the team.

(All that said, I warned many of these same facts at the trade deadline last season, and Roy followed with one of the best two-month stretches of his career, including a September where he won five games with an ERA under 2.00. I hope he does the same this year, and I'm not saying he can't or won't. But there are at least a few questions. However, I'd be completely shocked if they seriously entertained dealing him... this report reads like the standard NY/Boston trash which assumes the other 27 teams are merely farm clubs for the wishes of the Yankees/Red Sox/Mets.)

 

And how exactly do you plan on acquiring said pitchers? We have NO tradeable assets unless you're really going to break up the team.

 

This is why I hated the Jennings trade, I think you have to get lucky and develop a couple of young guys to fill that role...spend for the top 2, and fill in the rest with developed talent or get lucky off the scrap heap.

The Woody Williams pick up was beyond stupid, the guy has been injury prone and sliding faster than the Dow Jones Average in 1929.

We sure could use his $5 million.....

I would also look at trading Qualls, or Lidge or both.......and PRAY that Brandon Backe and Sampson come through.

Because you are right, our tradeable assets are looking fairly thin.

I would trade ANYONE other than Berkman, Lee, Pence and Oswalt......

DD

 

But there's your problem. If we trade away Qualls/Wheeler/Lidge, we then have to rebuild our bullpen. If you trade Lamb or Loretta, you lose one of our most consistent offensive players this year. Therefore, this team isn't close to competing as is. We have along way to go, and we just might be better served going the complete rebuilding route.

 

i would deal lee in a nanosecond. nothing personal - i like the guy a lot as a ballplayer. but i shudder at the prospect of him in 3-4 years (and the money we'll be paying him) and he's currently a defensive liability that will (likely) only get worse.

if a team offered me two top-tier, ML-ready prospects for him.... done.

 

I only included him because I think he has a no trade, clause....which sort of excuses him from conversations.

Your logic is spot on as far as I am concerned about Lee....now if he had Vince Young type leadership qualities.....



DD

 

If we traded any of Oswalt, Lee or Berkman I think I'd like Purpura to take a break and let Daryl Morey handle things.

 

That is an excellent point. I told my buddy the other day if I was the GM I would go the rebuilding route ala the Indians a few years back, but if I was Drayton, I wouldn't trust TPurp to do it.

 

I just don't think that they can get fair value for him. A couple of prospects? It would have to be major league ready top flight prospects and a current major league player or two that can contribute right away.

Yes, his velocity is down this season. he has also commented in the past that he's learned to pitch to contact more rather than going after the K everytime. It's not exactly working this year, but he was pretty damn good with this philosophy last year. The defense is markedly worse this season than in the past which could have a large effect on this strategy.

On top of that, like you said, he's one of the faces of the franchise. Between Oswalt, Lee, Berkman, & Pence, we've got a nucleus that allows us more to reload than to rebuild. He belongs in Houston.

 

And the same thing Boston was saying when they Roger Clemens go. You don't want to waste the prime of your superstars during a rebuilding period but I would think really long and hard before trading either Berkman, or Oswalt. Pence is untouchable at the moment.