Solving the CF problem early and on the cheap was a huge win for the Astros. That accomplishment now seems to have been the impetus for the higher impact moves we're seeing now. At first, after the Tejada trade, I was worried that we were shipping out too many of our few remaining trade assets (not to mention SP depth) to fill a minor need. Part of that was not wanting to see Adam Everett go, but my real problem was thinking that we could have done better with what we traded away. It's pretty hard, however, to argue that we're not better overall with Tejada. Barring fluke injury, he's an iron man. We don't if he'll be great, but it's almost certain that he'll be good. What of the players we lost in that deal? Not a single one of them really had any chance to make a significant impact on this team, at least not this year. At best, two of those guys exceed expectations in their minor roles. HGH contraversey or not, Tejada is expected to excel in a major role on this team. If we sign a big ticket CF or, even worse, are still stuck with Pence in center and Scott in right at this point, I can't see Wade making SS a priority in this way. We be further away from being a contending team and thus less justified in making high risk moves. The Tejada trade makes us an outside shot to make the playoffs without much chance of having any success there. The Valverde trade raises the team's ceiling quite a bit by upgrading the ever-important closer position. The cost is two marginal players (I'm being generous in Burke's case) and a little salary. Peanuts--certainly less than the value of the upgrade. 2 related "wins" for Wade: (1)The team is better--how much remains to be seen. (2)He didn't really have to put the team's future at risk, mainly because it didn't have much of a future when he took the job. Also important, though, is that he hasn't had to sign any expensive long-term deals or take on any restrictive contracts. The next step should be to improve pitching through free agency. Drayton needs to dig a little deeper if he really wants to keep the franchise from going into rebuilding mode.
Looks like the asking price for Silva is 4 yrs, $44 million. Ken Rosenthal's reporting that the M's are dangling that offer in front of Silva. Price seems steep, but that's probably what it's going to take in this market. He is only 28; I might actually do that deal. Probably wouldn't go higher than $11m/year, though.
That is probably about right for him. The article mentions him as a second-tier pitcher with Suppan and Ted Lilly. I agree he is a second-tier pitcher but there is a huge difference between a tier in the NL and a tier in the AL pitching half of your games in Minnesota.
I know there are some concerns with him. There is basically little or no track record for a pitcher with his kind of strikeout rate succeeding over a long period. His ground ball rate and Hr rates aren't great either. He's gotten by largely due to good defense behind him and an absurdly low walk rate. It's kind of a thin line to walk and if some of those rate go up (like in 2006) then he can be pretty bad (5.94 era in 2006). He's kind of a high risk/high reward pitcher. I'd probably be more comfort giving him more money over a shorter period of time than what's being offer. Apparently though, he's holding out for a 4+ year deal. I'd be really scared to have him for that long/for that much money.
Just heard on 610 that the Stros signed Chad Paronto to help shore up relief corp...he is a decent RHP that could help....I'd like to see us get a good lefty....maybe Ron Mahay.
Certainly can't complain about him giving up hr's. Paronto gave up 1 in 40 IP last season for Atlanta. Must be a sinkerballer...19 bb's & 14 k's ?
just a quick note to those wondering about whether or not tejada gets suspended....saw this on espn MLB is likely to focus on punishing those in the Mitchell Report whose violations took place after the 2003 season, ESPN reports. George Mitchell had the right idea about how foolish it was to try to punish a few select players who were caught for infractions committed years ago, but Bud Selig didn't spend millions not to get a few attempted suspensions out of it. ESPN mentions Eric Gagne, Paul Lo Duca, Rondell White, Larry Bigbie, Ron Villone, Ryan Franklin, Cody McKay, Stephen Randolph, Jerry Hairston Jr., Bart Miadich, Matt Herges, Brendan Donnelly, Howie Clark and Nook Logan as players whose violations came between 2004 and 2006. Source: ESPN.com
I say it's going to be tough because they don't have any actual proof. No failed tests. No arrests. Nothing on these players except what would amount to hearsay in a court of law.
someone will challenge it in arbitration. i don't know what discretion baseball has under the collective bargaining agreement to suspend for being accused of using stuff. i know they can if you fail a test...the players agreed to that. but what sort of leeway does the league have to suspend merely because a bat boy said they saw a guy doing it 3 years ago?
Well, there were some signed checks, and some first-hand accounts, as well. But it doesn't seem they have much ground to really stand on.
The guy was a personal trainer. My first thought when I read the report was "Who the hell is stupid enough to pay for illegal drugs with a freakin check?" That evidence alone kind of makes me question. There were many reasons to give these guys checks as they were personal trainers and clubhouse guys (who typically are charged with running errands for the players).
Nobody said these guys were smart ... Also, alot of times they don't have immediate access to large amounts of cash, ie. have to go through their agent/accountant... so a check is the only way for them to pay. I agree it's pretty dumb to pay with a check but they are not lifelong criminals and knowing what to do to cover your tracks.
Unless the "best interests of baseball" stipulation got changed recently, the commish can pretty much do whatever he wants. The Black Sox were never convicted in court, Pete Rose, etc....
These weren't large sums of cash. Thousand here and there. That's pocket change to these guys. Even the first time I went to buy...uh...let's say oregano...I knew to pay cash. They may not be the brightest in the bunch, but it doesn't take much common sense to not buy drugs with a check...at least I thought so.
The "best interests of baseball" stipulation means a lot less now than it ever did before. Particularly in this context, where the drug testing and suspension scale was hotly negotiated in the lastest CBA. Even his Regal Seligness must comply with the terms of the CBA as he signed off on it. If he fails to abide by its terms, he is begging for a legal problem.
Actually, the personal check was written between a couple of players (one of them Tejada, iirc), not from Clemens or whomever to McNamee.
