I'm pretty sure the consensous was (and has been) that those two signings backfired, and were done simply for "big splash" potential... for a team that did not have the players in place to make a run. I most definitely feel that it hampered Drayton's willingness to expand payroll on future teams until he finally got results on the field worthy of doing so. The team did virtually nothing with free agency/big name trades till 98 when they traded for Alou in the off-season and then Johnson during the season. They had a pretty damn good team in 94 (strike year), and probably could have contended in 95 and 96 with a little bit more payroll... but reluctancy was there from Drayton. It wasn't until they got a taste of "winning" from 99-2001, and then had it taken away from them from 01-03, that Drayton felt he'd go out and actively sign the Clemens and Pettite's to help put his team over the top. Of course, that led to a period of "chasing it" which had high payrolls with little to no succes... hence back to player development.
We contended in 95, 96 was the down year, but overall agree. At the same time, I don't blame Drayton for not spending mega bucks until the time was right. The team finally got over the hump in 97 and he felt it was time to help out the crew get over the next hurdle, which he did. We are really talking about a 3 year period of time where Drayton didn't spend, now compare it to the rest of his tenure as Astros owner. Honestly, the only other time I remember being upset at Drayton for not spending was when we traded Wags to sign Andy. Signing Andy was great but letting Wags go was heartbreaking for me.
But that's exactly the sort of moves a "smart" GM/owner makes. Upgrading an area of need (starting pitching) from an area of surplus (at the time, we had Wagner, Dotel, AND Lidge in the bullpen). And not spending for "only 3 years" is a huge amount of time. They won in 97 mainly due to being in a horrid division. They finally caught fire and added the right pieces at the tail-ends of Bags and Biggio's prime years. After that, Drayton found it much easier to dish out the $$$... unfortunately he did so with Carlos Lee...
Drabek and swindell's contracts were a big reason (along with other poor budget planning)why they had to trade cammy and finley in a salary dumpin 95.
Probably true, honestly can't remember, but signing Drabek and Swindell was the right call at the time, IMHO. It didn't workout but those two guys were the hot FAgents and it electrified the baseball community. Also note the Rockets were winning titles, Drayton needed to make a splash and he did. Imagine the Rockets signing the two top FAgents on the market in one offseason?
The move itself I could live with but the story behind it upset me. They went to the NLCS in 2004 and WS in 2005 so I learned to live with it.
I'm talking about their prime/HOF years. Biggio's last prime year was 99, and he had declined from 98 (his best year ever, IMO). Bag's last prime year was 2000, and you could say his numbers were improved due to the first year at Enron. Yes, they still played at a very high quality after that, but neither was the best hitter on the team again... Lance took ove starting in 2001.
Manny & Damon sign 1 year deals with the Rays http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/21/report-rays-to-sign-johnny-damon-manny-ramirez/ Maybe fans will actually show up to the games
Yea don't really understand the logic behind that trade. Wells still gives above average defense but that type of contract is only good for a superstar, which he is definitely not. Teams just pressing to improve in anyway they can.
Have you seen his home/road and left/right splits...pretty amazing stuff. Not sure what the Angels were thinking but it reeks of desperation.
I'd probably be desperate as a team too if I lost out on Crawford, Beltre, Soriano, and just about everyone else they missed out on who they perhaps thought they had 'locked' in.
Disagree. They didn't give up much (2 major leaguers, one of whom is a part-time catcher type really), and they shed 10+ mil in salary before taking on Vernon's contract. Not the worst deal / not desperate really.. (also, I assume the Jays are picking up some salary. we'll see soon enough) Though I completely agree with you that Vernon isn't all his numbers indicate on the surface and is certainly overpaid in general
Interesting with Manny on the Rays. IIRC, the Rays and Red Sox have had some pretty bad blood throughout the years, before the Rays were even good. Could make those games a little more interesting. Also, if Manny and Damon have anything left, it keeps them in the race with the Yanks and Sox. The AL East, as much as it already is on tv enough, is by far the most interesting division in baseball. You have to wonder what goes through the minds of the front office personnel in Baltimore and Toronto.
What they gave up isn't the issue and it was smart of them to shed some salary but to pick up 4 years 75 MILLION dollars for a slightly above average offensive outfielder with limited defensive skills is beyond NUTTY. It could possibly be the worst contract in baseball along with Carlos Lee, difference is Lee has only two years left while Vernon has FOUR. VERY desperate move by the Angels for the reasons hsf09 pointed out.
Youth stands out on Astros mini camp roster January 21, 2011 A baseball blog with Zachary Levine A pair of 17-year-olds will be among the 39 Astros minor leaguers headed to Florida early for their annual minicamp. Outfielder Ariel Ovando has never played in the United States outside of Instructional League. He signed in 2010 for the biggest bonus the Astros have ever given an amateur player, in the $2.6 million neighborhood. Fellow 17-year-old Jose Fernandez played an everyday shortstop in the Gulf Coast League in 2010. The camp will feature some top-tier prospects not headed to big-league camp such as Delino DeShields Jr., Michael Foltynewicz, Tanner Bushue and several other early-round draft picks. In addition, some players will continue working their way back from injury as is the case with Chia-Jen Lo, B.J. Hyatt and Jose Vallejo. And another, Class-AAA-outfielder-turned-Class A-pitcher Yordany Ramirez, will continue his transition. Here is the full roster of players for Astros minicamp — usually an indication that there is hope for a good future. Pitchers Ruben Alaniz Jake Buchanan Tanner Bushue Jose Cisnero Robert Doran Brad Dydalewicz Mike Foltynewicz Kyle Greenwalt Zachary Grimmett B.J. Hyatt Chia-Jen Lo Daniel Meszaros Juan Minaya Matt Nevarez Jose Perdomo Carlos Quevedo Rodney Quintero Yordany Ramirez James Robinson Ross Seaton Catchers Alfredo Gonzalez Ben Heath Roberto Pena Chris Wallace Infielders Tyler Burnett Delino DeShields Jr. Jose Fernandez Enrique Hernandez Michael Kvasnicka Marcus Nidiffer Jose Vallejo Jonathan Villar Outfielders Jay Austin Kellen Kiilsgaard Jose Monzon Telvin Nash Ariel Ovando Austin Wates
