I'm not saying Lyon and Lindstrom will sell tickets in and of themselves. I'm saying you still have to field a team here. You have to field a team that you think can compete enough to be able to sell tickets. It's easy to complain about Harden signing for $6.5...but he signed with a good team. How do we know the Astros didn't try to sign Harden?? Or a guy like him? Free agents looking to play on teams that have even an outside shot aren't going to be signing with Houston for 2010.
Putz is also a tremendous risk. He has now established an injury problem. Arbitration is also a gamble. We did not offer Hawkins because we were afraid he would accept. Nobody knew that he had his heart set on a multi year deal. Hindsight being 20/20, now it looks bad. But I would imagine that the agent played that one very close to the vest. Now that the FA stating pitcher market has become clearer on what the costs will be, nobody has said that we will not add somebody through FA. It is very helpful to be able to say what you would have done when looking at it through the rear view mirror.
Hawk on a one year deal worth around $4 million is a better value then Lyon. What the organization has done with that situation made zero sense. JJ Putz has had one injury, and it came last year. I don't see how that qualifies as a major risk. Harden would have been a risk, but one worth taking if the team wanted to win.
I don't necessarily disagree with you on Hawkins, but he's about to turn 39 and probably demanded a multi-year deal. I don't blame the Astros for giving it to someone almost a decade younger. Putz's elbow issues began in 2008 and only got worse.
Thats in part why they should have offered him arbitration because they wanted him on only a one year deal, which is what happens in arbitration. Either they got two draft picks or they got their cheap closer. Putz had surgery to fix his elbow, I don't really worry about it. This isn't a Mike Hampton, Mark Prior, Kerry Wood type deal where they are chronically suffering from different injuries.
Well, I'm sure Harden wouldn't mind looking at the Stros if we offered him a bit more money than everyone else. It's not as if our signings so far were at bargain basement prices. It's just a matter of overpaying for several mediocrities. Or overpaying or a few solid players, and filling in the rest with vet minimum/AAAA players.
Not much rougher than last year in my opinion. We are losing Tejada our king of hitting into double plays. And we get to see what some young talent can do. Roy will no doubt have a bounce back year, as will Berkman. So we should be just as good if not a chance to be better.
someone always comes through in the clutch by hitting into a double play. Don't sell this team short. Prior to Tejada we had the unmatched Ausmus. And King Ranch over in left is no slouch when it comes to double plays. Hell, he's so good he doesn't even have to try when running to first. Speaking of Oswalt, what gives you reason to believe he'll have a bounceback year? He's disgruntled, getting old, and will undoubtedly be dissapointed coming into camp. I see another season of the same'ol from him. Now onto Berkman. Somebody recently called him the best hitter on the team. Isn't that akin to be the world's tallest midget? He was piss poor all last season and only good for a half the year before. His defense was pathetic for the first time in his career last year, a signal of his lack of effort and focus. Much the same as with Oswalt, I think Lance will be disgruntled with the org. coming into camp and his play will show it. So our hopes for a good season next year hinge on the development of Hey Bud (sorry wrong team) Bud Norris, and the continued development of Pence and Bourne. in summary, thanks Drayton. Way to shoot for the stars and keep this team relevant. Are you ready to be a champion?
Berkman only sucked for April last year after that he was damn good. He still posted an OPS over .900(good enough for 12th in the NL). 2008 he had a poor September. You are greatly exaggerating. Oswalt started to bounce back, but then he got hurt. The question is, can Oswalt be healthy through the course of a season.
Oswalt has already said he is excited with our new pitching coach and the upcoming season. Oswalt is a true competitor and last season was the worst of his career as he dealt with injuries and had an ungodly number of no decisions. I expect him to comeback to the Oswalt from the previous years and pitch very well. Oswalt+Wandy+Bud could be a formidable top 3 in the league.
I have a question...if the players that are tendered contracts, do they have to accept or can they decline and become free agents??
A couple of good free agents went on the market today that the Astros could have signed if they didn't make their moves earlier. Garrett Atkins would have be a solid 3rd baseman with upside. Matt Capps would have been a good pickup as a closer with upside. I like the Astros to take a look at John Buck as a upgrade over Quintero and Towles.
How much "upside" does a 30 year old have? If you haven't already reached your "upside" by then, you probably won't, especially now that baseball players aren't popping 'roids like Skittles anymore.
The players that don't have enough service time for arbitration yet get tendered whatever the teams think is fair and they have to take it if they wish to play baseball.
Steroids like Skittles. That would be awesome. I would like lime, grape, lemon and strawberry flavored steroids please.
Why would they sign Lyons when they would get Jon Garland or even Ben Sheets for the money they signed Lyons. What the hell were they thinking? . I'm so glad I'm not a diehard astros fan.
Ben Sheets would not have taken an offer of 3 years 15 Million. Maybe 3 years @ 30 million. Garland is an average starting pitcher who would of been seeking more money as well. They are content with a rotation of Oswalt/Wandy/Bud/Moehler/???
