I think Chris gets a shot early in the year but if he goes JR Towles by mid May or June then there has to be a plan B ready to go.
I remember watching some of Towles first few games as a rookie. Guy looked like a stud. Then pitchers found him out ;(
Free agent infielder Placido Polanco, who won his second Gold Glove this year for the Detroit Tigers, has drawn serious interest from the Astros, according to sources. Polanco, 34, is a 12-year veteran who batted .285 with 10 home runs and 72 RBIs last season. http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/12/astros_interested_in_polanco.html
That would be great. Myers is still a solid starter and he would fit in with Wandy, Roy, and Norris. Polanco is what people call a professional hitter and he would be the best option at 3rd base unless they could unload Kaz which I doubt happens. Putz would be a solid closer if healthy. Putz and Myers are coming off injuries last season so you could get them at a reasonable price.
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/...t_id=7746028&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb It looks the Phils have target Polanco as their 3rd baseman. He would fit perfectly with that lineup.
Dang, if the Astros signed him, he would have already been better than 3 possibly 4 of the current starters.
Bourn Polanco Berkman Lee Pence Castro Manzella Kaz M Acutally not a bad lineup and with a few cheap signings like Putz and Myers(Gulp )...might be a nice little squad.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/astros-rumors-pitching-targets-valverde-tejada.html No thanks to Kevin Gregg.
I like the ideas of Polanco and Myers. We need pitching BAD and if Myers can get back to form then would be a monster pick up. About the "Proceeding with caution" tag with Sheets because of the Hampton and Ortiz experiments, thats justifiable to do with any pitcher coming off major surgery BUT Sheets is a whole different bird compared to Russ and Mike. The Astros were trying to catch lightening in a bottle, a bottle that was about the size of the thimble piece from Monopoly, with a 35 and 37 year old respectively. It was well perceived that going into last season, both of those guys were well past their primes and their seasons reflected on that. Sheets on the other hand is 31 and although hasn't pitched in a year (given that he signs a similar contract that Hampton or Ortiz got) puts us in a much better low risk high reward situation as he showed in his previous season prior to the injury he can still pitch effectively, something neither player showed in their prior seasons before signing with us. 2008 31 stars 3.09 ERA 13-9 .241 BA
We still have Kepp to play at third right now. I don't think Crede is a big enough upgrade, though he would provide some extra pop to the lineup, but at that point we might as well play Johnson.
How Sheets and Hampton could even remotely be compared is beyond me. Hampton hadn't been healthy since 2004. If injury is what prevents the Astros from signing Putz, Cordero, or Sheets I'll be mad. If you are going to those kinds of risks last year with a much higher payroll, you damn sure do them this year with more talented players. Signing Prior would be closer to what signing Hampton was.
You know nothing against Johnson and I agree with both you and Max that Johnson should get a shot but I haven't heard almost anything positive about him besides being a borderline major leaguer at best. I hope he comes out and shocks the world but atleast Manzella has gotten raves for his "D", Chris has gotten no buzz at all. Kepp to me is the Mark Loretta type where he is more valuable playing all over the place rather then just one spot. Not saying I am a huge Crede fan, in fact I'd MUCH rather have Polanco, but as a fall back guy he may not be a bad choice at a very cheap price.
My problem is Crede has been injured or sucking for the past 3 years. Really his numbers before aren't that good. I'd rather have Mike Lamb, but being left handed I doubt it happens.
