Building for 2007: How do you distribute the money?

1) Need to find two starting pitchers. One needs to be great (a certain Lefty would fill this void if they could keep him). The other needs to not suck completely. I'd have Hirsh and Taylor B as the last two starters if they could hold off all challengers (Albers, Nieve, Sampson, Delilah, etc).

2) Go after Carlos Lee. Huff is a nice fallback position. Not much left if Astros get 2 starters, but need to try to get one more corner OF to pair with Scott. I'd keep Lane as backup and hope he can find his mojo again.

3) Getting a centerfielder is a big want. Doesn't need to Edmunds quality, but someone that can play defense and swing a bat properly would be nice. I'd like the CF to bat 6th or 8th depending on the catcher. Taveras is not good enough to bat top of the order, but the bottom is already weaker than most teams.

4) Replace Garner. He has done a good job managing with 30 players, but they usually only get 25.

5) Try to find someone that can replace Ausmus when he decides to coach.

6) Convince Biggio that he's already got 3000 hits.

 

My primary concern is improving the cleanup spot, it's clear that our pitchers are more than adequate to get the job done. Even without Clemens or Pettite, we have some arms(hirsch, albers, sampson) that are better than most. My priorities are

1. lineup after berkman
2. lineup after berkman
3. starting pitching

I feel the guys that should be moved are Huff(didn't show anything at all), Ensberg, and Lane. We need to clear up the logjam in our infield with having too many players that play the same positions. They need a more set lineup, I don't want 3-4 different lineups each game

 

Doug Davis, I've always liked Doug Davis. He pitches like Andy Pettitte would pitch like, if he wasn't on steroids. LOL LOL

Davis really didn't have that good of year, but I always liked him for some reason. And he's a FA. Also, I'd recomend a Bengie Molina call.

 

Isn't our top catching prospect Hector Gimenez? And can someone give me minor league stats on him please.

 

Pitching is the first priority. Signing Pettitte seems like the best option. Maybe a 2 year deal at 8-9 per.

As for the lineup, I think resigning Huff should be a priority along with persuing Lee. Prior to acquiring Huff and calling up Luke Scott, this team's OPS splits against RHP were abysmal. Don't have such short memories people. If we got Lee... I'd like to platoon Huff and Ensberg at third, and Lane and Scott at RF.

vs. RHP:
Taveras
Scott
Berkman
Lee
Huff
Biggio/Burke
Everett
Ausmus

vs. LHP:
Taveras
Ensberg
Berkman
Lee
Biggio/Burke
Lane
Everett
Ausmus

I definitely think this would be a top 5 lineup in the NL.

Pitching wise... plenty of young arms.

Rotation:
Oswalt
Pettitte
Hirsh
Albers
Buchholz

I think Hirsh will have an impressive second year as he adjusts to the majors. I also love Albers and Buchholz's stuff. Wandy in my mind is done and should spend the year in AAA much like Astascio this year.

Bullpen:
Lidge
Wheeler
Qualls
Nieve
Miller

These five guys should be the main guys out of the pen. And should do very well. I hope Lidge can add a third pitch and rebound next season. Otherwise, Wheeler has shown that he could close effectively.

1. Resign Pettitte
2. Sign Lee
3. Resign Huff

 

re-sign pettite. sign carlos lee.

i'd like to see a shot given to sampson as our fifth starter. he throws strikes and i like the confidence he brings to the mound. i'd give him the nod before albers or buchholz.

if we again plan on carrying taveras, biggio, everett, and ausmus as regulars in the lineup(OUCH!) than we HAVE to get someone like carlos lee to give us a boost.

biggio obviously will be in there till 3,000 and i think everett is too valuable defensively, with no obvious offense upgrade in sight, to sit. taveras i don't really care for, but again defensively he's so much better than any of our in-house alternatives.

luke scott has earned the starting job for next season.

 

I dont know why everyone i sknocking Willy. He did struggle in the beggining of the year, but I think he has been quite valuable down the stretch.
As far as starting pitching is concerned I think Sampson deserves a chance. although hes not staying in games too long, I think he has shown some good things. Hes got a pretty good ERA and hes pitched pretty well this year. I would definatly consider him over Albers or Bucholtz. Maybe #4 pitcher?

 

as far as our offense:
willy must stay. so must huff. lee needs to be signed.
need to find an upgraded bat at catcher.
ensberg-im just tired of seeing him strike out swinging and esp. looking.

taveras
scott
berkman
lee
huff
biggio/burke
??/ausmus
everett
pitcher

 

Let's say the Astros should have about 25 million to work with, so here's what I'd do:

Starting Rotation:

- Resigning Pettite would be great as long as he offers a discount. I'd offer 2 yr at 8 mil per year.

- I'd look into signing either Woody Williams, Jeff Suppan or Brad Radke at around 4-6 mil per year.

- I'd then let the young guns of Albers, Sampson, Buckholtz, Hirsh, Wandy and Astacio fight it out for spots 4 and 5.

- Backe probably won't be effective next year, but I'll welcome him with open arms if he is healthy in 2008.

Relief Pitching:

- There is no sense in trading Lidge because he is worthless to other teams now. I say we see if he can return to form next year.

- Wheeler is a stud. Qualls and Miller are serviceable. Considering how many young pitchers we have available, I don't see a need to convert Qualls into a starter unless we trade away some young pitching or we fail to get veterans at #2 and #3 spots.

- Nieve may have closer potential, so I'd have a direct competition between him and Lidge for the closer spot.

- I'd look into signing either Francisco Cordero or Eddie Guardado for cheap if they're available. We might get lucky and get some insurance at the closer spot.

Catcher:

- Ausmus has declined defensively. While his arm is now below average, he still does a good job blocking pitches. His age has yet to make him senile, so he still calls a great game. I have no qualms with keeping him at catcher if we can improve our offense else where.

- I'd look into acquiring a better hitting backup. If Javier Valentin or Mike Lieberthal are available at less than 2 mil per year, I'd be very interested in acquring them.

Infield:

- Berkman is a stud and Biggio is looking to make history. They stay on the left side.

- Everett is a defensive wizard, and that is more than enough to make him a key cog in this team. His hitting may be poor, but he does have his share of clutch hits. I think he will be better off batting at the 2 spot, where he can get some pitches to hit in front of Berkman. While it makes the top of the lineup a bit weaker, our bottom of the lineup won't be such a black hole (as long as we have a decent bat at the 7 spot).

- Ensberg is still eligible for arbitration, so it makes sense to keep him (also considering how he finds success every other year).

- Mike Lamb, Eric Bruntlett and Chris Burke offers pretty good depth at the infield.

Outfield (Changes Galore!):

- Considering we have only 1 or maybe 2 really good bats in the IF, we need to be very good offensively in the OF.

- Carlos Lee would be a great addition, but I think there may be a bidding war to obtain his service. I'm just not sure if he is worth 12 mil per year.

- On the other hand, I'd look into signing Moises "Moist Hands" Alou on the cheap. He gives us a one year look into seeing if Luke Scott actually has what it takes.

- Aubrey Huff is so valuable because of his versatility. I would keep him and start him at RF (I don't think he'll sign with us if we don't give him a starting spot). If someone goes down in the IF, we can move Huff to IF while Alou and Scott man the RF and LF.

- If TB truly is dangling Carl Crawford as a trade bait, I'd trade Taveras and 2 SP prospects for him in a heartbeat. While Crawford is a LF, I'd imagine he has the athleticism to play the CF as well as Jason Lane. He'll make one helluva leadoff man.

- Palmeiro will stay as our main left-handed pinch hitter, and we'll keep Jason Lane if we decide to carry 6 OFs.

- I may look into acquiring Reggie Sanders as an additional right-handed pinch hitter for cheap, but doing so may force both Lane and Scott to go to the minors.

SPs:
Oswalt
Pettite*
Williams/Suppan/Radke*
2 Young Pitchers

RPs:
Lidge
Wheeler
Qualls
Miller
Nieve
Guardado/Cordero*

Catcher:
Ausmus
Valentin/Lieberthal*

IF:
Berkman - 1st
Biggio - 2nd
Everett - SS
Ensberg - 3rd
Lamb
Burke
Bruntlett

OF:
Alou - LF*
Crawford - CF*
Huff - RF*
Scott
Palmeiro

* denotes new acquisition

Batting Order:
Crawford
Everett
Berkman
Ensberg
Huff
Alou
Biggio
Ausmus

 

I still think a smarter signing would be Torii Hunter 10-12ish mil per than signing Carlos Lee for 14-15ish mil per. It would improve our defense up the middle and immensely improve the offense at that position. We have 2 great corner outfield prospects in Scott and Pence already. I'd hate to see one of them blocked like Burke at 2nd. We could hold onto Taveras as a 4th outfielder or perhaps trade him for a reliever or prospect.

Another low cost pitcher to consider besides Woody Williams would be Miguel Batista. If we could sign both of those guys the rotation should be at least adequate.

 

My plan is to hibernate until pitchers and catchers report.

 

Lots of great, concise opinions here. Just want to back that we need to add to (or keep) our pitching solid, and the biggest thing is that we need bats. If we had the offense of other competing teams like the Mets, Yanks, Red Sox, etc, we would be working on our second WS championship right now.

I have no problem with Garner. He took us to a WS last year. You can't blame him completely for the lack of fire in the clubhouse- I think that's more from a bunch of complacent vets. Maybe we need some more latin fire in the clubhouse?

I'd say that the biggest need outside of players is for a better GM. Purpura is serviceable in a so-so organization that wants to fill the stands, but we need an upper-tier GM.

 

I wouldn't by any means turn down a chance to dominate, but there is something about the Astros: the history we have all dealt with, and the idea of an underdog, late season heroics that define our team.

Most of you guys won't like what I'm saying, but . . .

If we can bolster our pitching we will be good to go. There's something with signing the big star fielder/hitter that sits uneasy with me. It has never really worked in the past and I don't see it working that much this off season. We didn't go out and sign our bigest contributors (historically they come from the farm or through trades). The people we think will be the key never really work out. Sometimes they get us a bit closer (Kent) but most of the time they just get paid. We are not the Yankees and we are not the Dodgers. Stick with our hitters and bring in some kids to fill the voids. Throw all the money we can at pitching. ALL OF IT.

Our hitting is not one player away. We are 1/2 a lineup away from what most of us would really like stepping up to the plate night in and night out. Roll the dice on what we got.

 

scott's 28, 29 years old; not 22. it's more likely he's jason lane than lance berkman. he deserves every single last opportunity to win a starting job in ST, but not at the expense of signing a proven commodity like carlos lee (who, if not mistaken, is the same age).

scott was great this year. but i think the astros have to, or, at least NEED to approach this offseason as if he's no better than a 4th OF'er. if he proves '06 wasn't a fluke, then it's a nice problem to have.

having younger players blocked by *better* players is acceptable. the problem with biggio/burke - burke's (probably) the better player and should be playing more.

 

Acceptable? Most of the time, it's pretty damn desirable.

Agreed on Scott - he was great this season, but is nowhere near a sure thing for next. Bringing back Huff (with MoBerg) gives you a modicum of insurance. As does Pence.

 

I didn't say Scott was Lance Berkman. If he can hit 280ish/25hr/90 rbis that'd be just fine. The improvement in the offense will come from replacing Taveras and his .672 ops with Hunter's .786 ops and improved defense. I'm starting to warmup to the idea of trying to re-sign Huff just in case one of those guys fails miserably.

 

I agree with your analysis and to be honest, there are a lot of holes to fill...Starting pitching and another bat or two would be a good start...I think Andy should come back, but think Roger is done...Carlos needs to be an Astros...

 

Will Hunter be available? I'd rather have him. The difference in hitting is really small, and Hunter is better at all other parts of the game.

I agree with Miguel Batista, he's a solid pitcher.

 

I hope he is available. He has a 12mil option for another year, but not sure if the Twins are going to exercise it.