http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2510562 The last trade between St. Louis and Anaheim really worked out well for the Cardinals. Anyone remember when the Cardinals sent Kent Bottenfield to the Angels for Jim Edmonds? Weaver is a much better fit in the National League and I think he'll do quite well in St. Louis. Not that the Astros needed Weaver, but at least the Cardinals are doing something to try to get better. C'mon Purpura.
we made a move to add a starter at the end of June that was a tad more significant than picking up Jeff Weaver.
That's more Drayton then anything. Someone needs to tell Purpura that you can make trades in baseball.
Calling up Chris Sampson shouldn't count as a big move............ That is what you are talking about right????
Shoot, I think with the way the Clemens thing was going, ANYONE coulda added Roger back here. I am pretty sure it had less to do with our GM and more to do with money (drayton) and winning. Purpura probably didn't have that much control.
and the rest of the national league is shaking in their boots over the cards signing jeff weaver.................
Weaver is an $8 million pitcher with a 3-10 record (on a 0.500 team) and an ERA over 6. I'd take Sampson over him - production would likely be similar or better, and it wouldn't cost us any players. When people are whining about the competition getting Jeff Weaver, you know people are just at the point of wanting to b**** for the sake of it.
Ridiculous assertion that our GM needs to make a trade just for the sake of "doing something". Right now, the only thing he could be looking for is a bat... and when more than half of the teams in the league are still in contention, it really limits your options (unless you're just salivating over guys on the Pirates or Royals that are available).
ANYONE could have gotten Jeff Weaver too. He costs $8 million for a terrible record and ERA. I'd say the Angels were thrilled to just dump his contract for anything.
Technically, they're still paying half of it... but the Angels also get a 25 year old who's on the upswing of his career as well. You can bet your ass that they're happy. The Cardinals are pressing... they know that this season will slip away if they don't start collectively pitching better. And, besides Carpenter, none of their other guys (including Marquis) has the capability of being a stopper.
I would like to see him earn his money because right now he's just a glorified secretary; taking Draytons calls, fetching him coffee, setting up the paperwork, etc... Hunsicker was constantly making trades, some good, some bad, but most of the time we came out on top. With Hunsicker I got the feeling he was always trying to find ways to improve the team.
No he wasn't. He was making trades when the opportunities presented themselves. In 2003, he didn't even though the fans & players wanted him to. That's what caused Billy Wagner to run off his mouth about management not being committed to winning when we missed the playoffs, and got him shipped out of town. The reason he didn't is that there were no good deals out there. What big name that has been traded the last year and a half did you want, for the price they cost? Unless you can see players we "missed out on", it's pointless to complain about the lack of trades. The last two years are unique in that tons of teams have been in the wildcard race - far more than ever before. So everyone is trying to buy, and very few teams are willing to sell. No big names were traded anywhere during last season, and I can't think of any major names that were traded this offseason either despite all the rumors that players like Abreu, Manny Ramirez, and Tejada were available. The prices for talent are ridiculously high, and it's stupid to pay the prices some of these teams (particularly Tampa Bay, which has a wealth of young, useful talent) are asking and screw your future up.
I seem to recall the EXACT same complaints when Gerry was GM. Not making trades, sitting on his hands, etc. The grass is always greener on the other side.
preston wilson is one. and most of you were freaking out last year when the nats got him and we didn't. when we picked him up in the offseason it was met with a collective yawn from the naysayers.
It's also the moves you don't make that can lead to a team's success. Fortunately, Purpura didn't cave into the fans' demands last year to make a deal, otherwise the Astros may not have made the World Series and it's a good bet that Burke and a young pitcher or two would be gone. I don't think anyone is denying that the Astros couldn't use a solid run producer and more relief, but I hope management doesn't make a trade just for the sake of making a trade.
That's right. ONE. Did he want to stay the course like they said after the fact, or was he just unable to seal any negotiations? I'm not sure which it was. This isn't a matter of making a trade for trade's sake, it's a matter that we have the same glaring problem that we did last year, and need a reliable bat to anchor the offense. Not a HR machine, but a Jeff Kent. The guy we pissed away in order to be in a sham Beltran sweepstakes. Evan
He was looking for talent - nothing was available at a good price. Would you have liked to have traded for a half season of Randy Wynn at the expense of Burke or Buchholz or something like that? Name a guy who got traded last year that you would have liked for the price. If we kept Kent, Biggio would have remained in left field and likely been less productive due to the wear on his knees. We'd have had worse left field and second base defense. Burke would be stuck in the minors. Given Burke's role in the postseason and how close the games were , there's a pretty decent shot we would not have even made the World Series. Would you have preferred that? At least we could say we made a move! Of course, that would have involved keeping a free agent rather than bringing anyone from outside, so he wouldn't have fit your criteria above anyway.
they could have moved kent to 1B, which is what, i believe,the dodgers planned to do at one point. he played there a few games last year. just an FYI; i have no vested interest in kent either way.
