Sure, but there's no way the Rox are trading Francis (4 more years under club control). Only reason there's rumblings about Jennings is he's a FA after next season.
I wouldn't overstate the humidor effect... it did make a difference early on, but there were several games over the second half where Coors played like it always has (a fantastic doubles, triples, and HR park). It still ended up with the second-highest park factor of all ballparks last year. If the humidor was the major difference in Jennings' success (which is possible), then a lot of that needs to be attributed to both a physical and pyschological benefit since his improvement exceeded the overall drop-off in hitting at Coors. Jennings will be a guy who can pitch a lot of innings, looks to be pretty durable (made more than 30 starts in 4 of the last 5 years), and still has a realtively young arm. If Pettite retires, this move becomes almost neccessary... if Pettite stays, this guy makes an ideal 3rd man in the rotation. Burke is a good, solid, fundamental hitter with decent speed and baseball instincts. I maintain that he could have been this team's leadoff hitter everyday last season, despite his lack of range in CF, and over the long-run his performance would have been more valuable than Willy T's contribution... but he needs to be an everyday 2B somewhere now, and see if he can grow into the .300 hitter with good XBH potential that he should be.
U may not want to look at those... 3 career starts, 16 IP, 6 HR allowed, 10.47 ERA. But, this could likely be more attributed to the Astros overall ownage of Jennings, and his inability to pitch to our lineup. (overall, he's 1-4 with a 8.42 ERA in 36 IP against the Astros).
I think Jennings for Burke is a deal you have to do. Without knowing if Pettitte and/or Clemens are coming back, you need to upgrade the starting pitching. Jennings is a very good pitcher. To have a sub 4.00 era (3.57 at home in 2006) in Coors, regardless of the humidifier effect, is pretty damn good. I like Chris Burke a lot. His versatility has been invaluable to the Astros. However, finding someone to give Biggio a few days off here and there isn't that tough. Thinking long term, I'd have to believe that there will be someone available in the next year or so that can be had via trade or free agency. That said, the Zobrist trade would have to be reconsidered as bad if they do trade Burke and lose Huff. The Astros projected him as a 2B but didn't feel they had the need at the time with Burke in hand. I would like to see Brooks Conrad get a shot. He has some power (24 hr's, 94 rbi, .534 SLG) and some speed (15 sb). He does strikeout a bit much (135 K in 138 games). If they make the deal, they get a good, young, reliable starting pitcher for only $5.5 million. He's a Texas boy and a Baylor grad wich could lead to him signing a long term deal. If they don't make the deal, they still have Biggio's long term replacement. It's good either way.
Jennings is a legitimate number 3 starter. Burke is solid but is he a everday player in the bigs? The more time he gets, the more he wears down and his stats go down. Could be another D-Ward. Also the Astros have some 2nd base prospects in Johhny Ash and Brooks Conrad. So I would do the Jennings for Burke trade in a heartbeat. I don't think the Rockies would do it because they would want more than Burke.
Jennings is the definition of mediocre. 58-56, .288 BAA, 4.74 ERA. Wow, really impressive. Trading away a potential all-star at 2nd base for a 28 year old number 4 starter would be a big mistake.
You have taken into consideration where he plays his home games and the fact that he had the ML's 2nd worst run support...right?
Yea you may be right. I think if u give Burke a chance to play everyday then he will produce. I would hold on to him also. Too bad he doesnt have a shortstop's arm.
ESPN columnist asked 5 questions of GM's. Here were the ones I felt were related to the 'stros: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/colum..._jerry&id=2662662&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2 3. Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee? Responses: Soriano 19, Lee 1. SorianoIf you asked this question in the spring, when Soriano was a man without a position and Lee was fresh off a 30-homer, 100-RBI season in Milwaukee, the vote might have been closer. Judging from our poll, Soriano helped his cause significantly in 2006, while Lee raised a few questions. Soriano made positive strides in the outfield after his initial resistance and became the fourth player in history to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season. It remains to be seen whether he'll sign a Carlos Beltran-type deal, but teams love his athleticism, energy, and rare blend of power and speed. "Even if he doesn't hit a homer, he can find a way to get in scoring position," a Soriano booster said. "He can score from first on a double. Carlos Lee is a great hitter, but he's a liability defensively and he clogs up the bases." Lee turned down a four-year, $48 million contract offer from Milwaukee in July, and the Brewers sent him to Texas at the deadline. Lee finished with a .300 batting average, 37 homers, 116 RBI and a .540 slugging percentage, but doubts remain about his poor defense and his dietary habits. Lee has never struck out 100 times and has decent plate discipline. His biggest shortcoming is a lack of dinner plate discipline. The buzz is that he surpassed 270 pounds last season, and baseball people wonder: If he got that big with a huge payday at stake, how much of a wide-body could he be halfway through a five-year deal? Even some of the compliments directed toward Lee weren't particularly flattering. "He has surprising speed for a big, fat guy," an NL scout said. 4. Where will Roger Clemens be pitching in 2007, or will he retire? Responses: Houston 10, Boston 3, retire 3, Yankees 2, Rangers 1 and one undecided. One AL executive grimaced when asked about Clemens. "I'm so tired of that drama, I don't even care," he said. It's no secret that Astros management -- and much of the Houston clubhouse -- grew tired of the will-he-or-won't-he scenario last summer. Clemens' inability to make a quick decision, coupled with Andy Pettitte's uncertainty about returning, clouds the Astros' decision-making again this winter. Houston remains the most logical Clemens destination for several reasons: There's his family situation, his comfortable arrangement with the Astros and the natural apprehension a lot of pitchers have about facing those daunting American League lineups. Does the Rocket really want to walk into the sunset sporting a 4.68 ERA? "If he accurately assesses his ability now, he won't want to get out of the National League," a scout said. "Randy Johnson became better once he accepted the fact that he's a third starter now. He's not an ace, and the same is true of Clemens. He's the best pitcher of our generation, but he's diminished from what he once was." People who like fairy-tale endings favor Clemens coming full circle with Boston, and others predict that the Yankees will outspend the field to lure him to the Bronx. The Rangers are always in the mix, but after investing so much time and effort into Clemens and falling short last season, Texas isn't inclined to dive in with the same passion this time.
Ultimately, I tend to go with the develop pitching, sign/trade for hitting approach. The Astros have alot of young arms who can or will soon contribute: Hirsh, Nieve, Buchholz, Albers, and Sampson are at the major league level now; Patton, Barthmaier, and Gutierrez are on their way. I really like Burke at second. I think he's going to be a really solid player. Let's resign Pettitte, Huff, and sign Lee. See how much the kids contribute, and maybe look for a starter at the deadline if necessary.
And Rickie Weeks...and Orlando Hudson...and Brandon Phillips...and potentially Freddie Sanchez (if they move him over). Burke's a nice player, but let's not go overboard. The excessive hype placed on this guy by Astros fans over the past few years is bothersome.
I agree with you 100%. Burke is not a young guy and his numbers aren't that great. As I said earlier, something that worries me about him is that as he gets more playing time, his numbers take a major nose dive. By the way, Rich Lord is an ass. I still can't believe he has job. Guys like him, Kenny Hand, and Ralph Cooper don't know nothing about sports but have had jobs in Houston for like 20 years.
http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4340964.html Astros offer deals to Lee, Soriano NAPLES, Fla. - The Astros have made multi-year offers to free-agent sluggers Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano and are in serious discussions about a deal with Woody Williams, according to a Major League Baseball official. Astros general manager Tim Purpura told the Chronicle late Wednesday he had made some offers, but won't confirm to which players. Lee hit .286 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs last season wiht the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers, and Soriano hit .277 with 46 homers, 41 steals and 95 RBIS last year for the Washington Nationals. So Im guessing Woody coming here is getting pretty close? Whatever the case, sounds like good news.
Strange! Going into late summer last year, I thought I heard that the Rockies were leading the league in ERA. Unless that staff is just that fantastic, I assumed it had to do with the park.
