A little late but yesterday on Sports Sunday on Ch.2, John Lopez of the Chronicle was a guest but he said the Astros were looking to acquire Moises Alou from the Giants. I think the Giants would trade him for the right price since they are loaded with solid outfielders. If Purpura makes this happen, he would be look a lot better then he does right now since no one really likes him right now. Kirk Rueter was also DFA so maybe we can get a package of them.
Looking at Chron.Com, I found he also wrote a article about it. Alou the bat this offense badly needs By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle RESOURCES ASTROS 2005 LISTEN UP AUDIO: THE JUSTICE & MCCLAIN SHOW: • Steroid users don't deserve Hall of Fame vote Requires the free RealPlayer or Flash. NL CENTRAL STANDINGS Team W L PCT GB St. Louis 74 44 .627 --- Houston 63 54 .538 10.5 Chicago 57 61 .483 17 Milwaukee 57 61 .483 17 Cincinnati 54 63 .462 19.5 Pittsburgh 51 67 .432 23 As of Aug 14 2005 10:32 p.m. CT THE TIMELINE • Follow the Astros season -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASTROS BY THE NUMBERS • Schedule • Roster • Team stats • Individual stats • Injuries • Depth chart • Chronicle story archive -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPORTS POLL How do you see Jeff Bagwell's role in September? Working his way back to starting lineup Among the first off the bench Rare pinch hit chances Won't be healthy enough to play at all http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3310493 Alou the bat this offense badly needs By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle This was the big worry before the season and when things were awful in May. This was the worry before baseball's trade deadline and after it. And now they're here. Worry warts. A pair of giant warts in the shape of goose eggs have appeared in what has been an otherwise superb Astros drive to the National League wild-card lead. With Sunday's humiliating 8-0 loss to the Pirates, the Astros suffered a second consecutive shutout at the hands of the last-place club in the NL Central. Worse, they have sunk from a team struggling to drive in runners in scoring position to one just trying to get men on base. This was the worry: Could this lineup really get it done? The shutout one night earlier was painful for this club because Roger Clemens was close to perfection, and there had been so many unfulfilling nights similar to it for Clemens earlier in the season. It all looked too familiar. But failing to scratch out a run against a starter such as Kip Wells is much different than what happened Sunday. Against Wells, you chalk it up to just being one of those nights. Williams is no ace Wells is a quality pitcher, a veteran and more than capable, although his 2-8 record on the road coming in was hardly scary. On Sunday, the Astros couldn't put a scare in a kid named Dave Williams. He's decent, but the Astros made him look like one of their own, like some kind of Rocket, Wizard or A Horse Called Andy. "Sometimes you can't explain the game," manager Phil Garner said. "We really didn't strike the ball too well (Sunday). It wasn't like they were diving all over the place trying to stop the ball. We need to right our ship a little bit." More precisely, they need a life preserver named Moises Alou. Here's the call to management and ownership. Save the season now. The Astros have gone funky, just when every last scent smelled of victory and you thought it would be rose petals and chocolate truffles forever. It hasn't been. It won't be, either. False sense of security No one should be surprised about the sudden slump, unless you missed much of the first half of the season when a young lineup played like a young lineup and roles were being defined. Eventually, all that potential settled in behind Clemens, Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte, and the run that ensued became a joy to watch. For two months, everything was great. The chemistry of the kids clicked with the leadership of Craig Biggio and Brad Ausmus, and it became easy to think this club would sail into October. But as beautiful as the two-month stretch was, it gave management and ownership too big a sense of contentment that things are just fine as is. They won't be. Even if the Astros squeeze into the playoffs, with or without the Big Three, this team still needs a bat. As one Astro put it after Sunday's shutout loss: "Chemistry? Where's the chemistry been the last two days?" This club might be solid, talented and easy to like. Players such as Willy Taveras and Eric Bruntlett, with determination and team-first work ethic, can help any club make a run. But they can't help lead it. Biggio, Lance Berkman and Morgan Ensberg need more. The lineup has too many holes and too much youth and has not gotten the bench support necessary, especially from Jose Vizcaino and Chris Burke, who started Sunday and were a combined 0-for-7. Worse, what once was a solid chance at getting a quality start four out of every five days has become three out of five. No. 4 starter Brandon Backe won't be coming back from the muscle strain on his right side any time soon, if at all. Ezequiel Astacio has decent stuff, but he won't be the answer at No. 4. Astacio on Sunday made former Astro Jose Lima look like a ground-ball pitcher, considering the three monstrous shots he allowed. With the back end of the pitching staff unpredictable, the need for acquiring more offense multiplies. To have the best chance to get there and do more than bow out early in the playoffs, no one should kick things into stretch-drive gear more than general manager Tim Purpura and owner Drayton McLane. This is where the club could send a huge message to fans. Are they in it just to be competitive and sell tickets or to win in the playoffs? Alou, who has proven ability and is familiar with Minute Maid Park, could be had for a wink, a smile and about $4 million left on his contract this year. Sure, that's big money. But how much does an owner worth $1.3 billion according to Forbes Magazine — more than all but two major-league owners (the Twins' Carl Pohlad and the Reds' Henry Lindner) — want this thing? Of course, Alou would have to clear waivers, which might make you think teams such as Washington and Philadelphia would block the deal by claiming him. But with the Giants scheduled to pay Alou $7.25 million next year, they'll be motivated to let him go to any team that lays claim. And any team that claims Alou must be willing to pay him. Jeff Bagwell, hoping to return in September, has lobbied for Alou all year. Others would love his bat and experience. Astros management has discussed it. Now's the time to decide. The Astros are so close to having a real shot at making some playoff noise they can smell it. But that aroma coming from the ballpark Sunday wasn't roses and truffles.
Alou should be plan B Griffey just cleared waivers and the Astros are on his list of teams he would except a trade to. I realize that he has a pretty heavy contract but Griffey is a better fit than the oft-lazy Alou. However, if Alou is all we can get then it is better then Burke..err.. I mean nothing.
Any player to be traded has to clear wiavers after July 31st. On 08/01 most teams waive every player on their team to see if there are any "bites". If no one claims a player then he can be traded to anyone. The next "deadline" is 08/31. Generally a player has to be on the 25 man roster to be eligible for postseason player on 09/01. There are some exceptions based on injuries.
Trade Deadline is over but you still could get traded if you clear waivers. Big salary veterens like Griffey and Alou usually clear waivers since they make a lot of money and no one wants to pay it if you claim them.
I'd rather have Alou over Griffey. Griffey has 3 (?) more years left, and $30+MM, and is lucky to not be injured this year. Unless Griffey is willing to significantly renegotiate his contract, I'd rather retain the flexibility for future years. Besides which, if you get Griffey, where do you play him? I assume centerfield, but then you screw with Willy's already sketchy defensive problems if you move him to right or left field. Either one, however, would be a good pickup for the right price.
I think a healthy Alou would be great for this team. Problem is, he just went on the DL and has missed eight straight games . If he's healthy great, but these hamstring problems tend to linger around ... http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/baseball/mlb/san_francisco_giants/12375519.htm Linden gets another chance as Alou is placed on D.L. By Laurence Miedema Mercury News MIAMI - Moises Alou's bothersome right hamstring finally landed him on the disabled list Friday, creating another opportunity for Todd Linden. Linden started in right field and batted sixth in his second go-round of the season with the Giants and fifth stint since August 2003. In the Giants' 1-0 victory over Florida, Linden went 1 for 3 and made a tumbling catch over the barrier down the right-field line to thwart a potential Marlins rally in the seventh inning. ``He looks good, every time more polished, more confident,'' Manager Felipe Alou said. ``We have to just let him play and not believe that he has to hit .400 and 10 home runs. Linden is having a monster of a season at Triple-A. We had to give him the opportunity to play.'' Linden batted .321 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs in 95 games with Triple-A Fresno, but he has a career .183 average (24 for 131) with three home runs and 35 strikeouts in his brief big-league appearances. Linden, 25, spent most of June with the Giants, starting 14 of the 19 games in which he appeared and hitting .172, going 10 for 58 with 20 strikeouts. When Linden was sent back to Fresno on July 5, he was told he needed to play every day. He responded by hitting over .300 and swatting 11 more home runs before being recalled. ``You have no choice,'' Linden said. ``You have to battle and fight.'' In addition to Linden, right-handed reliever Jeremy Accardo was recalled to replace right-handed reliever Scott Munter, who went on the D.L. because of a sore elbow. • The Giants, already playing with a short bench because of Moises Alou's injury, found themselves on thinner ice when Ray Durham left Thursday's game with leg cramps. Durham didn't play Friday, and with his situation uncertain, the Giants decided to shelve Alou in favor of creating a deeper bench with the addition of Linden. Alou, 39, had missed eight consecutive games with hamstring trouble, and was unable to play even in a reserve role. He can rejoin the Giants on Aug. 18.
You play him on the corner where the waste-of-roster-spot Burke is playing. You play Lane in LF and Griffey in RF and play Berkman at 1st and don't move them. Lamb should not step foot on the field except for pinch-hitter duties and Burke should be either shipped out for Griffey or down to AAA Rumor has it that Griffey would be willing to renegotiate and wants desperately to finish his career with a winner. He has a list of teams (3) that he will approve a trade for and Houston is one of them.
Just an FYI, the Reds' owner nixed a deal that the Reds and White Sox agreed on in principle to send Griffey to Chicago. All indications are that Cincinnati's brass is extremely wishy-washy and poor negotiators. Remember all those GM's that were bashing the Reds after the trading deadline?
If he's willing to renegotiate then the Astros should take a look, but if not they should stay away. His last heathy season was in 2000 when he had 520 ABs, and from 2001-2004 his highest total has been 364. With 3 years remaining he is a huge risk for a team with a budget like the astros, and could destroy our chances over the next few season if he keeps getting injured. If I was Purpura I wouldn't do it, but desperation for a bat might push him into it. It would be exciting though.
LF and RF are a lot harder on the knees than CF, because there's more stopping and starting (foul walls, etc). There's more room to cover in CF, but its much easier on the knees because you're not running into things. With all of Griffey's leg problems, I think you'd almost have to put him in CF, or you're just asking for an injury. Willing to renegotiate can mean any number of things, as well. Is he talking a few million here and there, taking off years, etc. And that assumes the MLB Player's Association will go for it. A-Rod wanted to renegotiate his contract to go to Boston before he got moved to NY - Boston and ARod had agreed to all of that and the MLBPA nixed that idea.
I'd say no to Griffey, too. Interesting, though, that the original White Sox/Reds deal had the Reds supposedly willing to eat some of Junior's contract. http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-ssep15.html Podsednik's leg injury stokes Griffey rumors August 15, 2005 BY DOUG PADILLA Staff Reporter BOSTON -- With Scott Podsednik's health still in question, perhaps the White Sox will sweeten the pot to acquire Ken Griffey Jr. Various reports this weekend have said that Griffey has cleared waivers, which means he is eligible to be traded to any team. While a trade of that magnitude seems unlikely, the Sox were willing to pull it off just more than two weeks ago at the non-waiver trade deadline. The biggest problem with the trade is that if acquired, Griffey would not have an every-day position. He would be in a platoon situation similar to what the Sox had when Frank Thomas and Carl Everett were sharing the designated-hitter spot with Everett getting some time in the outfield. Griffey would be able to play all three outfield spots, but the Sox are not down on any of their outfielders. In fact, with the way Aaron Rowand has played since the Griffey trade rumor first became public knowledge, the Sox never have been happier with their Opening Day center fielder. Rowand's play of late might have made the Sox less interested in a Griffey trade. A deadline deal with the Cincinnati Reds was reportedly nixed by the team's controlling partner Carl Lindner and never reached Griffey for approval. Griffey has a right to veto any trade. The Sox were only giving up three prospects in the deal and the Reds were going to eat some of Griffey's contract, which pays him $12.5 million a season until 2009. Different players might be needed to make the deal work or the Sox might need to take on more of Griffey's contract. And Griffey still would have to approve a Sox deal. Podsednik's latest injury is a concern, but the Sox are thinking that it is nothing that a little rest can't cure. Podsednik, who has been caught nine times in his last 13 steal attempts, has a strained adductor muscle in his left leg. ''We would miss him and we should,'' said Guillen, who said a decision has not been made on whether Podsednik needs to go on the disabled list. ''But we have people here who can play the game. They have to step it up and play better and get on base for the big boys.'' On Saturday, Guillen said minor leaguers Jerry Owens or Brian Anderson would be possible replacements if Podsednik had to go on the disabled list. On Sunday, he added Willie Harris' name to the list. ''I think [we can] bring Willie so he can play some left field,'' Guillen said. ''I'm going to call down to the minor leagues to put Willie in left field and see how he plays there.''
I think he is fully capable of playing any OF position. As for the renegotiation, that would be rough with the power the players union has but if it were reasonable for both sides, I am sure something could get done. I personally think that you take the risk considering when in a team's histiry do you have the one of the best 1-2-3 pitching rotation in the league maybe even all of MLB? You take the risk because if he gets hot, we could really make some noise and just may have enough to get to and win a WS.
I wouldn't count on the Players' Association being reasonable. As already mentioned, Arod and Boras were happy with Boston's proposed reworking of his contract and the MLBPA still said no.
I'd kill for Griffey.... Alou would be nice too, but there is no comparison of which I'd rather have of the two.
An idiotic column from the biggest idiot columnist the Chronicle has. With all the trashing of Richard Justice that occurs on this BBS, to me Justice looks like a baseball genius compared to John Lopez. If Justice is an assclown, then Lopez is a Professor at Assclown University. Any reason why Lopez makes no mention of why Alou isn't starting for the Giants? Lopez makes no mention of Alou's injury problems this year. Why would we give up prospects for the rental of a gimpy outfielder? The Chron needs to bust John Lopez down to covering junior high school lacrosse. That is where he belongs.
I'd like to have Griffey on this team, hopfully he'd stay injury free. I thought they may have turned it around and that we "might not" need another bat....just maybe. But who am I kidding? Burke is a waste of a roster spot. Hell, I was at sunday's game with my sister and I was explaining who on our lineup has any power. It was sad. Lane, berkman, Ensberg were the only guys with power in the entire lineup which consisted of Burke, Bruntlett, Everett, Vizcaino, Astascio. Oh, and about the article.....Lopez needs to do some research before writting crap like this.
John Lopez is a damn fool. That being said, you could probably send Alou out there in a wheelchair, and he'd give you a better chance of driving runs than Chris Burke.
