Yeah, that was kinda sad. He was really stoic...seems like a nice guy. He still delivered one of the biggest moments in franchise history. I wish him well!
What does everyone think of Wade's dealings so far? Trades Outgoing: Brunlett Lidge J. Anderson Sarfate Patton Albers Scott Incoming: Tejada Bourn Geary Villarreal When you look at it this way, everything was pure quality over quantity. Wade got rid of a good chunk of fringe players: Brunlett, J. Anderson, Sarfate, Albers, and Scott. When I say fringe, it's both from a talent (Anderson, Brunlett) and experience/consistancy (Sarfate, Scott, Albers) perspective . Meanwhile, Tejada is an all-star, Bourn is very close to being an average if not solid CF. Villarreal is a very solid middle reliever who could be a good setup man. Geary just seemed like filler. I just wish he'd been able to use those fringe players to upgrade the rotation instead of the lineup. Wade is banking on filling the extra roster spots with NRI's, the Rule V pick (Wes Wright), waiver fodder (Yordany, Abercrombie, and Ryan Houston), and some farm guys. I sure hope that works out. I am decently pleased with his FA's so far: Matsui and Blum.
Byung-Hyun Kim, Kip Wells, and Livan Hernandez are still available. I think any of the three would be a nice pickup for our staff.
With Tejada and the other changes made to upgrade the offense, coupled with the lack of pitching, who wants to start the annual " Roger Clemens comeback" rumor? Even though I hate the idea of it, I just have a friggin feeling, now that these changes have been made, we'll be hearing this same ole' song and dance repeat itself. Just watch, now that the Tejada deal is done, we'll see Roger at the golf course drop inklings about how he would "like to be apart of a World Series winner in Houston"...or some garbage to that effect that gets the media's attention. And we all know how uncle Draty' loves to add big names to fill the seats..... Just watch....its coming and you know it!
So Prior is a free agent now, will his rehab be done intime for spring training? I say we take a chance but I guess he'll probably end up in San Diego.
Prior...heck yes take a shot at him. There is NOTHING on the market...Prior would be well worth the risk.
Projections from major national publications that the Astros will suck in 2010 are not fun to read... ...but they're probably COMPLETELY FULL OF ****.
it sucks.. but come on. Albers and Patton were going to be the difference? I think either: a) we were screwed either way or b) we'll be fine either way I lean towards b so that I don't have to be sad about it for 3 years.. and because nothing in this franchise's recent history suggests they'll let it go to crap without effort
Yup, I think this is a key. It's a lot of fun to have a farm system full of projectable, bright, young prospects, but the ultimate goal is for the major-league team to win, right? At least the Astros are committed to making that happen (no matter what any Yankees might say).
It's amazing how quickly this team's offense got blown up and rebuilt. From last season's opening day lineup, only Berkman and Lee remain. Pence, Towles and Wiggy were added during the season. Matsui, Bourn, and Tejada in the last month or two.
It is quite an impressive job by Wade. Whatever you think of the deals, he gets things done and knows what he's doing. Now the longer term prospects of the team and the farm system are disturbing, but that's a separate issue.
The farm system was never going to be fixed overnight. It's going to take 2-3 GREAT drafts to rebuild it. Hopefully having 5 picks in the first 3 rounds this season will be a good start.
There are some lower level kids that are good prospects. I think with a new approach, these guys aren't going to be 24 before the Astros let them leave A ball. I think we're going to see faster promotions. We've got a lot of early picks in the next draft and I guarantee the same thing isn't going to happen again as it did last year. I don't get this line of thinking that moves now directly affect what happens in 3 years...as if nothing else is going to happen in that time. The Kenny Lofton deal was a bust, but the Astros still went to the playoffs many times without him. We did fairly well without Bobby Abreu, Freddy Garcia, and Carlos Guillen, too. Get it out of your heads that this off season is the end all be all of the Astros roster. Some of those 5 traded yesterday might become good players. If they do, good for them and Baltimore. In the meantime, I have confidence that Ed Wade is moving this team back in the right direction.
It's an interesting plan. Phase 1: Create an extremely talented hitting team with glaring holes in the rotation and bullpen at the expense of roster depth and farm depth. Phase 1: Check Phase 2: Having no valuable trade pieces left, invite a bunch of waiver fodder and NRIs to camp (i.e. heave a bunch of **** at a wall and see what sticks) to fill in remaining holes. Phase 2: Pending I think it's a crazy plan but more power to Wade if he can do it.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5377893.html Astros have apparently contacted Prior's agent. Hopefully we are going some of the other cheaper/coming off of injury players out there as well and maybe we can get one to bite.
So basically, the plan is to increase overall talent and aim for average players at minimum at every position, with as many well-above-average players as possible. I don't see thep roblem.
