Um.. Your smartass post makes no sense. When did I ever say or insinuate that I had insight into their conversations? I said I would be pissed if they didnt aquire a bat, as would half of Houston.
I'm saying it makes no sense to be mad unless you have access to the conversations had by the club with other organizations. If they go out and try to acquire a bat, yet the asking price is too high, how is it rational for you to be pissed at them?
Wouldn't cost us much at all to aquire Alou. A couple of prospects and taking his contract.. Would take alot more to obtain Griffey but then again he is a much better player. Despite last night's run outburst it is still obvious how inconsistent this offense is. There is a decent chance we could hit one of those 3 or 4 game stretches in the playoffs where all the bats go ice cold. Yes, that could still happen even if we add another hitter. But with the pitching assembled this year, you've got to go for it and add another piece if you can. Astros have a legitimate shot to win it all this year due to the pitching and that doesn't happen often.
So, you do have inside information? What about his bum hamstring for which he's currently on the disabled list? As the Astros' history has shown, there's a good chance we could have an above average offense, yet it not show up during the playoffs. I don't think anyone disagrees with this. However, just because a move may not be made doesn't mean they didn't try to pick up a bat. It's silly to be pissed if they didn't without knowing firsthand what the conversations with other teams entailed.
I was just listening to 790 and I believe that Pallilo said Alou was already put on waivers, but was picked up by other teams. So he will not be available because other teams will block any attempted trade. It would not take much to acquire Griffey if we are willing to take on his whole contract. The Reds were just hoping for a healthy year from Griffey so they can unload his contract. However, the more contract that you want the Reds to eat up the more prospects it will cost you.
There's ALWAYS a decent chance the bats could go ice cold. We had killer bats in 98 & 99...they went cold. I understand you'd like to improve. But from what I hear, the 'stros have worked their butts of trying to acquire a batt, and Alou's in particular. Something is arriving as a sticking point. I'm assuming that there's a good reason for that. My ideal solution...no move is made...and they win anyway. Seriously...for me...NOTHING would be sweeter than that. From time to time the franchises you root for put together a team that you just LIKE more than others. You can't explain it necessarily. It was like that for me last season with the Rockets. The 90 Rockets (i think...whatever year it was we acquired maxwell) were like that for me. Didn't matter that they didn't win a ring...in fact, both of those Rockets teams were eliminated in the first round! But they were a favorite of mine. This Astros team is like that for me. To be 15 freaking games under .500 and come back to 9 games over at this point is so money. I love that. The whole attitude of "you can doubt us if you want to...but I wouldn't" is just so ridiculously cool to me. I love it.
I just don't think Purpura is really doing his job. The Stros had a chance to aquire Jose Cruz Jr. 3 times this year. This guy is a proven home run hitter and they could have had him for nothing. And they passed each time. Why? A minor league player to be named later for a gold-glove outfielder with 25-30 HR power? That's a no brainer.
You think a player that's batting 0.207 for the season is going to help our offensive problems? There is a reason Arizona and Boston dumped him, and he now has a fantastic 0.000 average for his latest team (0 for 8). And he hasn't hit 25 HR's in a season in 4 years.
Yeah ok...Purpura is not doing his job because he did not pick up Jose Cruz Jr. when they had 3 chances this year. Did you ever stop to think if he really is as good as you claimd him to be, why would the Astros have even had three freakin' opportunites to sign him. Why has he been designated for assignment with pretty much every team he's been with. Not enough, lets look at the stats: a sizzling .207 BA with 12 HRs and 28 RBIs. Still not enough, check this scouting report out from last year: "Cruz started out the year hitting just about anything that was thrown at him, but after two weeks he went into a career-worst 0-for-37 streak. AL pitchers soon figured out what NL pitchers did the year before, that they can get Cruz to get himself out." There's a reason Purpura didn't go after him, because Jose Cruz Jr. is not the saving grace for this offense. Is he a little better than Burke. Sure ok. But that's not saying much. Plain and simple, there was no Beltran-esque player on the market this season to be had for practically nothing. So please just end it already. I'm sick of hearing about Cruz Jr and his wonderful hitting powers that will launch the Astros into the upper echelon of dominant offenses.
i have to agree with what's been said here, Aces. I wouldn't spend any money on Jose Cruz, Jr....not at the expense of having young talent riding the bench. The guy is having a helluva hard time sticking on a major league roster, right about now.
People need to start realizing the Cruz Jr. Is and NEVER will be the guy his dad was. He will never be that good and the only reason anyone brings him up is becuase of his dads Ties to Houston. The guy has done nothing to warrant picking him up....
Well at least the Arizona GM "did his job" by signing Cruz to that $4,000,000 contract. And, I guess the Dodger's GM "did his job" by actually trading for him and picking up that contract. Hmmmm, what are the records of the D'backs and Dodgers this year? I find it hard to believe that you actually think Purpura is not doing his job and the lone example you cite is the fact they have yet to pick up Cruz. Give it another few weeks, he might be available again.
He's not his dad. But he is a corner outfielder with a consistent .800 + OPS against righties. Considering the horrible performance of Chris Burke this season, there's plenty to warrant picking him up. He's not a little better than Burke. He's a lot better than Burke. And no, I'm not saying Cruz Jr. is that good, because he isn't. Burke is just that bad, particularly at a corner outfield position. It's just one example, but if an upgrade is available with very minimal cost, I'm disappointed that Purpura didn't take advantage.
I'll say it again...if the Astros want to "replace" Burke, simply do it with Orlando Palmeiro. He's hitting .338 with a .388 OBP, .512 slugging and .901 OPS. There is no need to acquire Cruz to start over Burke.
Completely agree. But I've been told by many Astros fans in the last few weeks that Palmeiro is best in the fourth OF role and shouldn't be an everyday starter, even against RHP-only. Garner clearly agrees to an extent with that philosophy. I greatly disagree, but this situation is what it is. If the Astros want to save Palmeiro's bat sometimes for the bench, there's still a need to acquire another bat to start on those days.
Here's an article from Gammons on Insider.....even Clemens cleared waivers... Simply an August ritual -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Peter Gammons Special to ESPN.com Aug. 16 Yes, Ken Griffey Jr. cleared waivers. Sammy Sosa and Mike Sweeney did, as well. Sweeney Griffey But, understand, Reds CEO John Allen is right: As of Monday, nearly 350 players had cleared waivers in the August claiming period, 105 had not, and there are still hundreds to hit the waiver wire, including the entire Devil Rays roster. Some claims -- all of which subsequently were withdrawn -- are no-brainers, such as the ones for Mark Teixeira, Jeff Francoeur, Vernon Wells, Ryan Howard, Khalil Greene, Vladimir Guerrero, Ervin Santana, Ben Sheets, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Even Roger Clemens. They weren't going to be traded, anyway, but there are such things as no-harm claims. Hundreds of other players who never would be traded cleared waivers, such as Hank Blalock, Michael Young, Russ Adams, Aaron Hill, Brandon Webb, Tim Hudson, Andruw and Chipper Jones, Matt Clement, Johnny Damon, Curt Schilling, Jason Varitek, David Wells, Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad, Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields, Rickie Weeks, Carlos Beltran, Pedro Martinez, Jon Garland, Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia and Scott Podsednik. Waivers or no waivers, as Bob Dylan would say, they ain't goin' nowhere. Some players never get put on waivers, and as of the last couple of days, no, Manny Ramirez had not gone on. Neither have any of the Marlins' Great Three of Miguel Cabrera, Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett, nor Nomar Garciaparra, Kerry Wood, most of the Athletics and Yankees, Jeff Weaver, Kip Wells, Jason Schmidt, Scott Eyre, Rafael Palmeiro, Alfonso Soriano ... To understand the way the claiming goes, here are some examples of players who were claimed -- and withdrawn: Pettitte Clemens Starting pitchers: Clemens, Rodrigo Lopez, Glendon Rusch, Orlando Hernandez, Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Andy Pettitte, Doug Davis, Kyle Lohse, Vicente Padilla Brett Tomko, Jamie Moyer, Gil Meche, Josh Towers and Jeff Suppan. Relief pitchers: Jose Valverde, Jorge Sosa, Jorge Julio, B.J. Ryan, Mike Myers, Cliff Politte, Damaso Marte, Kent Mercker, David Weathers, Sunny Kim, Ron Villone, Dan Wheeler, Jeremy Affeldt, Mike MacDougal, Brendan Donnelly, Yhency Brazoban, Chris Hammond, Akinori Otsuka, John Grabow, Matt Wise, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson, Billy Wagner, Ugueth Urbina, Brian Shouse, Miguel Batista, Eddie Guardado, Julio Mateo and J.J. Putz. Position players: Tony Clark, Conor Jackson, Wilson Betemit, Jay Gibbons, Bill Mueller, Kevin Youkilis, Corey Patterson, Rob Mackowiak, Dunn, Kearns, Jeff DaVanon, Russell Branyan, Kaz Matsui, Kenny Lofton and Shea Hillenbrand. Utilitymen: Olmedo Saenz, Neifi Perez, Ryan Freel, Lenny Harris, Chris Woodward, Marlon Anderson, Mark Sweeney and Pete Orr. Catchers: Matt Treanor, Josh Paul and Mike Redmond. But there are still some interesting, possibly tradable names that did make it through, although Allen and Reds owner Carl Lindner might have no interest in moving Griffey or Sean Casey even though they cleared. Kline How about relievers? Steve Kline got through, so did Ryan Vogelsong, Jason Christiansen, Scott Schoeneweis, Justin Speier, LaTroy Hawkins, Duaner Sanchez, Ramon Ortiz and Braden Looper, who are all on teams that might consider selling. And starters? Josh Fogg, Odalis Perez, Derek Lowe, Tom Glavine, Joe Mays, Tomo Ohka, Jose Lima, Bruce Chen and Joel Pineiro. Now, obviously Glavine, Lowe, Perez and Mays have contract issues, but they are experienced major-league starters, and when the Mets get Steve Trachsel back, they will have six starters and might look to see whether there is a taker for Trachsel or Glavine. Piazza Mike Piazza cleared, as did Griffey and Sweeney. Frank Catalanotto, Dustan Mohr, Todd Hollandsworth, Todd Walker and Edgardo Alfonzo are players who could be interesting pickups for the stretch drive, as well. Only Allen, Reds general manager Dan O'Brien, White Sox GM Ken Williams and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf know the odds of Griffey ending up in Chicago. We don't have Angels GM Bill Stoneman's phone records to know how many times he has talked to Royals general manager Allard Baird about acquiring Sweeney. What we do know is that there are 350-something other players who cleared waivers, as well. It just happens every August.
