We can forgot about Polanco... Polanco Close to Three-Year Deal http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/12/polanco_close_to_three-year_de.html . Lamb and the Stros were the perfect marriage to bad we couldn't platoon Wiggy and Mike.
To bad about Polanco. Now I have to watch that sissy man Matsui attempt to swing a bat. Not to mention question his sexuality with his at bat music.
Just a reminder that the Stros system still SUCKS... MLB's best and worst farm systems 1. Rangers: Feliz has a special arm and could still be an impact starting pitcher, but if he's not, he has already shown the ability to be a shutdown reliever. The Rangers' pitching depth remains impressive, as lefty Martin Perez earned top prospect honors in the low Class A South Atlantic League in his first full season. Texas' top signed draft pick, right-hander Tanner Scheppers, showed premium stuff in the Arizona Fall League, and the system has power lefties in Kasey Kiker and Robbie Ross. Texas lacks depth in terms of hitters, but switch-hitting first baseman Justin Smoak isn't far away from being able to help a lineup that needs it. 30. Astros: Houston has added solid talent in its last two first-rounders, catcher Jason Castro (2008) and Jiovanni Mier (2009), as well as '08 supplemental pick Jordan Lyles, a promising right-hander. But the Astros' system is full of holes -- it hasn't produced a team with a winning record since 2007. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/12/01/farm.systems/index.html Ouch...atleast the Cards are 29th (Sigh)
The Rangers have been near the top in farm rankings for multiple years now, and have had nothing to show for it. While the Astros have at least been in contention towards the end of the season in the past few years with a last place farm season. Good farm system doesn't equate to good major league team as in the case of the Rangers. They've been mediocre in the past few years and probably won't make the playoffs for a while. I'd pick the Astros to make the playoffs before them, and that's sad with the state of our organization
I LOVE the Stros but I can't pick them over the Rangers right now...They where in contention most of last season and have a ton of young arms with super high potential. Stros became contenders thanks to the farm system and will probably need that to happen again to get back in contention.
The only reason I truly can't envision the Rangers making the playoffs is because of simply how tough the American League is. The wild card slot is almost always won by the Yankees or Red Sox. And the Angels have dominated that division in recent years, and even with their possible offseason losses they still look like a competitive team.
What was that about the Rangers? [rquoter]The Rangers went from 28th entering 2007 to fourth in 2008 to first in 2009, getting a boost from the prospects they received by trading Mark Teixeira, not to mention Eric Gagne and Kenny Lofton. The Athletics spent three years near the bottom of the rankings before zooming from No. 27 in 2008 to No. 3 in 2009, thanks largely to the talent they received in deals for Joe Blanton, Rich Harden, Dan Haren and Nick Swisher.[/rquoter] http://www.baseballamerica.com/toda...rganization-top-10-prospects/2010/269173.html
They were near the top in the previous two seasons.As I said, they've had a decent farm system for multiple seasons already. .Although I still don't understand the Rangers plan to have a successful team. They always have decent players on the major league level then trade them away for more prospects. Eventually you can't keep trading away major league talent, and expect to compete. Just a list of studs they've traded, and got robbed in return. Kenny Lofton-Received Max Ramirez who is 25, and yet to develop. Mark Teixeira -Best trade it appears they've done so far.Received lots of younger talent. Alex Rodriguez- Alfonso Soriano who they traded, and a second basemen who is now 25 and accomplished nothing in the major leagues. Alfonso Soriano-3 prospects that were all busts.
2 years ago they had an awful farm system. Now they have the top ranked system and are coming off an 87 win season. You apparently don't understand that the Rangers are set up for future success. Having a winning team and the top minor league system is amazing. BTW, Max Ramirez is the 84th rated prospect and that would be good enough for 2nd best prospect in the Astros organization. Not bad for a 40 year old outfielder. What they have to show for it is the best team they've had in ages while cutting payroll.
How many years have the Rangers been setting up for success. This teams won one playoff game in their franchise history, and consistently been bad through out most of the teams recent years. Anytime they get a good player they trade them away for more prospects. I'll admit the Rangers are a good team, but they have been the whipping boys of the Angels, and are not near as good as the Red Sox or Yankees who they would have to beat out for the wild card. The fact that the Angels started out so bad this past year, and were able to dismount the Rangers who were atop the division with ease shows the Rangers still have a long way to go.
I'll show up to a game next season as long as Kaz Matsui and JR Towles are gone. Kaz sucks, bring Willy T back. Towles sucks, have you ever seen a guy take a swing, stumble out of the batter's box and then walk behind the homeplate umpire back to the batter's box. Not only can the dude not hit major league pitching but he can't act the part of a major leaguer.
Valverde May Accept Arbitration By Steve Adams [December 7, 2009 at 12:41am CST] Ken Rosenthal reports that Astros closer Jose Valverde may accept arbitration from the Astros, which could result in $10MM or more for the Type-A free agent. Valverde was offered arbitration last week with the hopes that he would seek a multi-year deal elsewhere and net the Astros two high draft picks. However, as Rosenthal explains, there are numerous late-inning options on the free agent market and several more available via trade. Valverde may feel that a one-year deal with Houston is his best bet for 2010. While this would solve the Astros' need for a closer, it could also cripple the team financially -- bad news when you've already got limited payroll flexibility in the first place. After missing over six weeks with a calf injury, Valverde finished the season going a perfect 17 of 17 in save chances after the All-Star Break, with a tidy 1.64 ERA, so it's certainly feasible that other teams will have interest in him. And hey, any guy who's tough enough to finish a game and pick up a save after taking a liner off his face should grab your attention. Who might Valverde end up with if he rejects arbitration, and at what price? http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/12/valverde-may-accept-arbitration.html
