I definitely would have preferred Iguchi. We now have two speed guys with no power at the top of the line up.
Initially, I liked this, but looking deeper at his numbers... yuck. I'd prefer Burke. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7250/career;_ylt=AoR_6VCo.D2ZOHjO9ijAQQGFCLcF Two concerns: 1. Dude can't stay healthy. In his career, he has played 114, 87, 70, and 104 games. 114 is his max?? That's not good. 2. His numbers are seriously inflated by Coors. His 2007 splits were: 0.864 OPS at home; 0.638 OPS on the road. The road OPS is a lot like the rest of his career. That's just not good. Chris Burke at his worst was better than that. How does this help us over Burke?
I very much agree that his #'s were inflated.. his whole career over here hasn't been anything great...just early hype. He should be an 8 hitter, but we already have one..
CF-Bourn 2B-Matsui 1B-Berkman RF-Pence LF-Lee 3B-Wigginton C-Towles SS-Everett P Pence before Lee, and maybe even before Berkman.
Coop has already said that he's going to try Pence in the 3 spot... Bourne Matsui/Iguichi (I never believe a Dick Justice writing until the deal is done) Pence Berkman Lee Wiggy Towles Everett Apparently, Coop has already cleared it with Berkman and Lee and they were very receptive.
In an interesting twist, the Rocky Mountain News reported the Rockies probably would be interested in Chris Burke if Matsui signs with the Astros. Matsui's arrival probably means Wade will attempt to package Burke and Luke Scott for pitching help. Second baseman Kazuo Matsui appears headed to the Houston Astros. That could create an interesting possibility for the Rockies, who a year ago asked for Chris Burke in the Jason Jennings trade, but settled for Willy Taveras.
Looking even deeper...his road numbers are seriously deflated by his performance in SD & LA, he hit .180 over 66 ABs in those parks (which play similarly). His BABIP was below .220, so there might have been some bad luck involved, or maybe he doesn't hit well against those staffs or in those parks, which he'd see a ton less with Houston.
Well, I don't know who posted first, but Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Stros are behind the Rockies and Cubs in the "race" for Matsui: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7467176 The Astros, seeking to add depth to their infield, are close to signing free agent Geoff Blum, according to major-league sources. Blum, 34, likely will fill a utility role, and his playing time could hinge on whether the Astros sign a full-time second baseman. Tadahito Iguchi, a free agent, is on the Astros' wish list. Kaz Matsui, another free agent, is more likely to stay with the Rockies or sign with the Cubs than join the Astros. Another possibility for the Astros is to use Blum, a switch-hitter, in tandem with second baseman Chris Burke, who bats right-handed. We'll see who's right soon, I guess. (Hopefully it's Rosenthal and we get Iguchi...) Man, a Blum/Burke platoon be a letdown after all this!
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/p...n=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=6.1.1 FOX 26 has learned the Houston Astros have shown interest in signing 40-year-old right-handed reliever Doug Brocail. "I would like to be an Astro and pitch here in Houston," Brocail said. "It's still my home. They know that. We're trying to get there." The free agent pitcher is a 13-year major league veteran who spent the 1995 and 1996 seasons with the Astros. He was 6-4 with a 4.19 ERA his first season in Houston and 1-5 with a 4.59 his second year. "He is one of the people that we acknowledge we have interest in when they filed (for free agency) early on," general manager Ed Wade said. After the 1996 season, he was part of one of the largest trades ever by the Astros when he went to Detroit along with Brian Hunter, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash for Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward. Brocail, a first-round draft pick by the Padres in 1986, has been with San Diego the last two seasons. He was 2-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 2006 and 5-1 with a 3.05 ERA last season. Brocail has also played for the Texas Rangers. He has a career record of 44-43 with a 3.99 ERA.
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...ent_id=2304730&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros announced today that they have purchased the contracts of right-handed pitchers Samuel Gervacio, Brad James and Chad Reineke, adding the players to the club's 40-man roster. The club also announced that the Pittsburgh Pirates were awarded the contract of RHP Jimmy Barthmaier on an irrevocable waiver claim, removing him from the 40-man roster. The announcements were made by General Manager Ed Wade. Gervacio, 22, was 1-3 with a team-high 18 saves and 2.44 ERA (15ER/55.1IP), including 80 strikeouts in 39 games for Class A Salem last season. He was named a 2007 Carolina League All-Star. Gervacio finished the season at Double A Corpus Christi, where he was 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA (5ER/22.2IP) in 13 games. James, 23, split the 2007 season between Salem and Corpus Christi and finished the season 1-5 with a 5.17 ERA (27ER/47IP) in nine games (all starts) for the Corpus Christi Hooks. The Carolina League All-Star played 16 games for the Salem Avalanche and was 9-2 with a league-best 1.98 ERA (21ER/95.2IP). Reineke, 25, posted a 4.68 ERA (52ER/100IP) with a 5-5 record in 32 games (16 starts) for the Round Rock Express in 2007. Barthmaier, 23, was 2-9 with a 6.20 ERA (62ER/90IP) in 24 games (16 starts) for the Corpus Christi Hooks last season. The right-hander earned South Atlantic League All-Star and postseason All-Star honors while posting a 2.27 ERA (34ER/134.2IP) in 2005. The Houston Major League roster now stands at 34 players
Why? A bullpen guy with a 4 plus ERA. Hell, I think I've still got my 58mph fastball. I'll take a vet min contract to be in the bullpen.
last season his ERA was 3.05 his career ERA is 3.99. as long as we don't overpay him, i don't have a problem with adding him to the staff.
What? He had a very good year last year. More innings pitched than hits allowed. Also his fastball is still around 92-94 MPH. He wouldn't cost the Astros a lot of money and seems to be willing for a hometown discount. He is better than Borkowski and Miller.
Barthmaier was once one of the best prospects we had. IIRC, he did battle some injury issues this past season. Hadn't heard about Gervacio. Looks like a future closer candidate and maybe a reason not to overpay someone to a long term deal. I saw Reineke a few times @ RR last year. He has some potential if he can get more consistent. That's something that will come with experience. I saw him pitch one dominating game (0 er through 8 IP, I believe).
No doubt. Injuries & inconsistency. If his performance in Corpus didn't doom him to release, his AFL stint did. Oh...and Drayton gave Jimmy, a 13th round pick, a big ol' 6-figure bonus to steer him away from a college football scholarship. Doesn't always work out.
For that kind of money, I've got no problem with not signing him. He wasn't particularly sharp last year. Why else would the Padres have traded him while they were still in the midst of a playoff race?
No big loss. I like Linebrink but his strikeout rate is going down every year since 2004 and his ERA is going up and that’s a bad combination. He also would have cost a 2nd round pick which we know the Astros can't afford to lose. I rather go after Jeremy Affeldt.
Bingo. I think a lot of folks just wanted him because they recognized his name. An overworked reliever who was average last year and was Type A with a declining ERA and declining peripherals in consecutive years is a bad gamble. Seems like the typical White Sox move.
