El Caballo was actually very good for the first 3 years of that contract. But he ended up being the embodiment of what was wrong with the last years of Drayton. From what I've heard, he was all class during his time here. Thanks for Matt Dominguez, too!
agree with this. massive waste of money, but the guy was a great hitter, fun-loving, and genuinely loved to play the game, and in this city. and despite sucking defensively, he loved to play the field too, because he loved the game. happy trails, el caballo (and thanks for matt dominguez).
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Always thought he was a nice guy, if a terrible contract. His shenanigans about holding up certain trades last year was a little annoying, but I'm glad it worked out.
Lee produced in those first 2.5 years before that hand injury. The issue was that we signed him to a contract that he could not live up to considering his history and performance. He was so consistent for a few years, but it was never worth THAT kind of money.
I always felt he received too much grief...put up big numbers and was having a good year the season he got hurt. Astros offered the monster contract-he agreed to it. Was he supposed to ask them to make it a smaller contract?
my favorite lee memory was the 3 HR game in philly in his first year.. there was video of fans taunting him prior to hitting the homeruns.. i dont think anyone could argue that lee wasnt worth his contract that first season...
not to mention that it came at a time where the majority of fans bemoaned the fact that no big name free agents would come to houston. and he did.
Let Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran go away, coulda used them World Series year. Way overcompensate with a Carlos Lee signing long after the fact. The front end of the deal wasnt that bad, he produced. He did what he had to do, he was what he was. The back end is what was predictably bloated and cumbersome on team development. Carlos had his faults, but just easier to blame Drayton. Adios to both, best wishes.
I never had anything against the guy. As has been said, he took the deal that was offered to him at a time when most all Astros fans were still clamoring for a big signing. It was a contract that was nearly impossible to live up to. Yet, he put up damn good numbers. In 2008, he was having a great season before getting injured. In 115 games, he had 28 hr and 100 rbi, while hitting .314 with a .937 OPS. He never struck out more than 63 times in a season while an Astro. Yes, he was quite horrid as an outfielder...but serviceable as a 1B. Had he been signed anywhere less than $100m, we'd all be saying what a great player he was for the Astros. Enjoy your ranch, El Caballo.
This is really what it comes down to. We oversigned him and he was smart enough to take the contract. Should he be looked at as a "bad signing" for not living up to his contract? Not in this case. The front office should be looked down upon for offering that high of a contract in the beginning. Prior to injury, Lee was STILL overpaid, but producing what he should have been producing. Had he of maintained those numbers, he would have been a good signing, but still slightly overpaid. The injury in '08 is what changed that and made the fans look at Lee and just blame it on lack of production. This all being said, he was a reletively healthy player before getting here, so the front office maybe didn't think of an injury risk in the contract which is what let them make the contract so "long". TL;DR A healthy Lee is still being paid too much: fault the front office, still like Lee. The unhealthy Lee is WAY overpaid: fault the front office, but Lee is no longer liked.