I think it's a mistake to pay a pitcher because he's local and puts fannies in the stands. At best, he's going to play 32 or 33 games, which leave 130 where he's not around. The math just doesn't work. Put a winning team on the field, and the fans will come to watch. And I'm with Major and Nomar (what an odd combination), a 4.0 era pitcher isn't worth 10m a season.
So did I. But being in such a hitter-friendly park, our inflated offensive numbers tend not to get as much attention as the inflated ERAs. Personally, I'd like to sign someone like Mike Cameron, who'd be a good defensive CF with solid hitting skills. My dream acquisition would be Carlos Beltran thru trade. But there's no way cheap Drayton would break the bank for him.
bobrek, I believe, recently posted a comparison between Biggio and Cameron. Biggio's better. Who will break the bank for him outside of the Yankees, Dodgers, or Red Sox? Who paid $8 million a year for Wagner? $12 million for Hidalgo? A ton of money for Biggio and Bagwell? Who signed Kent? Couldn't have been "cheap" Drayton, could it?
Pettitte is worth the money. The guy was the leader on that yankees pitching staff two years ago, and has been their most consistant starter for two years. And we've already discussed his postseason success ad nauseum. Plus his cutter was tailor made for Minute Maid Park. Groundball pitchers who can avoid the crawford boxes will do very well in Houston, and since Andy is a groundball pitcher whose lefthanded, he fits that profile. On the ERA, AL ERA's are almost always higher than NL ERA's so Andy's would figure to go down while in Houston. Finally, he brings leadership and stability to a young Houston pitching staff. This was missing last year when Reynolds left, and Pettitte would be the constant Houston needs while Oswalt and Miller continue to develop into aces. On Cameron, he would be a nice fit, but it looks like a pitcher or a centerfielder with the Astros budget, and pitching needs to be a bigger priority. Pitching is where a championship team starts building, then it adds the up the middle defense and a solid offense to the mix.
How many extra people would come to see him over those 30 plus games pitched. Granted he won't be Ryan or Johnson (sellouts) but I think he will average 35k per game. That's an extra 5k times about $20 a pop times 30 games equals........$ 3 million.........whoaaah. That plus the 15-18 wins is more than enough to justify paying him the full $10-12 mil/yr. it will take to get him here.
Unfortunately, the Astros are just trying to field a competitive team, so we don't need to worry about building a championship team.
I would like a link. Personally, I feel Cameron's a very good defensive CF, while Biggio is average to below average. As for hitting, Biggio is likely to get worse and worse, while Cameron should stay where he is. You do realize that there's such a high figure for Hidalgo and Wagner because Drayton backloaded those contracts, right? Just so he can say he's "resigning all the key players" and cry poor two years later. Considering the city of Houston just built him a new ballpark, Drayton has made a boatload of money the past few seasons, by keeping the Astros payroll low. Yet from what he says, you'd think he's still in debt. Now I'm not looking at salary levels of the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets of the world. But resembling the Phillies, who had raised their payroll significantly with their move to the new home, would be nice. You mean like the Braves of the 90s? Pitching alone can never take you anywhere. Championship is won by having one of the best overall team(and some luck) in the playoffs. "Overall" as in pitching, hitting, and defense.
Biggio - .264 AVG, .350 OBP, .412 SLG, 15 HR, 62 RBI, 116 K Cameron - .253 AVG, .344 OBP, .431 SLG, 18 HR, 76 RBI, 137 K Cameron had 4 errors and 3 assists Biggio had 1 error and 9 assists No one would argue that Cameron has better range. No one would argue that Cameron is younger. My argument is that last year Cameron would not have made much of a difference (if any) had he put up the same numbers. Incidentally, Cameron generally batted in an RBI spot (5 or 6) and still did not "out-RBI" Biggio by much.
The Phillies Payroll in 2003 was LESS than the Astros (~400K). The Astros were 14th in the majors. The Phillies may have added Wagner's 8 million, but they are losing Mesa's 5.5 million and unless they resign Millwood, they are losing another 11.5 million.
The Phillies Payroll in 2003 was LESS than the Astros (~400K). The Astros were 14th in the majors. The Phillies may have added Wagner's 8 million, but they are losing Mesa's 5.5 million and unless they resign Millwood, they are losing another 11.5 million. Damn facts.
Biggio's numbers in decline were fairly predictable. Cameron has the sexy "P" and it could be argued that the low BA was an aberration rather than the norm. Biggio also plays in one of the stronger hitting ballparks, probably one of the top 5 in baseball. Cameron plays in arguably one of the top 5 pitching ballparks in baseball. 14 RBIs is a pretty good amount. Biggio is an average CF on his good days. Hasn't Cameron won a gold glove in the last couple years?
So you think that a guy in an RBI slot who out-RBIs a National League lead off man (pitcher hits before him) by 14 is a 'pretty good amount'?
http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/redSox.bg?articleid=339 Pettitte visit on the horizon By Jeff Horrigan/Red Sox Notebook Thursday, November 20, 2003 The Red Sox [stats, schedule]' interest in free agent Andy Pettitte [stats, news] may result in a visit to Fenway Park by the New York Yankees [stats, schedule] left-handed pitcher as early as today or tomorrow. The team is also in the process of attempting to trade for Minnesota Twins lefty Eric Milton, according to two sources. Pettitte's agents (the Hendricks brothers) have acknowledged that their client is interested in speaking with the Sox, although the Yankees and Houston Astros are believed to be his top choices. Pettitte, who lives in suburban Houston, visited the Astros on Tuesday but may be too expensive for the National League club's tightened budget. The lefty was paid $11.5 million in 2003 and went 21-8 with a 4.02 ERA. The starting point for negotiations on a new deal may begin in the range of three years/$45 million or four years/$55 million. The Anaheim Angels may also enter the bidding. Pettitte and his agents would like to meet face-to-face with the Sox and that could take place prior to Thanksgiving, and as early as today or tomorrow. Even if they don't sign the 31-year-old, the Sox would at least escalate the bidding on Pettitte, which could hamper the Yankees' efforts to sign further free agents. That group includes Keith Foulke [stats, news], Kelvim Escobar, Kevin Millwood and Bartolo Colon. The Sox have expressed various degrees of interest in all. Oakland A's [stats, schedule] closer Foulke may be as appealing to Boston as Pettitte, despite the fact that signing either would result in the loss of its 2004 first-round draft choice. Both are considered ``impact'' free agents who would be worth the loss of the top pick. Foulke was paid $6 million in 2003 and went 9-1 with 43 saves (in 48 chances) and a 2.08 ERA in 2003. The austere A's are unlikely to have the resources to retain the closer. The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs [stats, schedule] are also expected to make runs at Foulke. Escobar, 27, was nearly acquired by the Sox before the July 31 trading deadline but the organization refused to meet the Toronto Blue Jays' asking price, which may have included top minor leaguers Freddy Sanchez and Jorge de la Rosa. The Mets, Angels, Devil Rays and Phillies are also interested but the right-hander already has a two-year offer from the Jays and has expressed an interest in remaining in Toronto for the right price. Milton, meanwhile, made only three starts for the Twins last season after injuring his knee in spring training and undergoing surgery. Minnesota doesn't have to trade the 28-year-old but has been entertaining offers from the Sox, Yankees and Cubs and will deal him for the right price. Milton, who tossed a no-hitter vs. Anaheim on Sept. 11, 1999, is due to be paid $9 million in 2004, the final season of a four-year, $21-million contract. It's possible that the Sox, like other teams, may hold off on making any major moves until after the free agent market expands next month, when teams must decide on offering contracts to arbitration-eligible players.
Whoops. Still comes out to a pretty positive number. He pays for the extra money that Drayton would normally not spend.
That's an assload of mony for someone who only pitches once every 5 games. So it looks like he'll command between $11-13 million a season. Not worth it IMO. We could add a middle of the road starter for around $6 mill, and a new CF for another $5 million. If you remember last year, the trend of poor situational hitting continued despite adding Jeff Kent. Too many times Bagwell or Berkman would come up with the bases loaded and either strike out or hit a weak pop foul out along the 1st base side. Biggio has a bad OBP for a leadoff hitter, and should be phased out soon.
Of the 4 'qualifiers' for leadoff hitters' OBP, Biggio is 4th, however, here are the percentages: Pierre .359 Lofton .354 Furcal .353 Biggio .350 There are a number of other non-qualified leadoff hitters that are below Biggio. Of those ahead of him, Podsenik and Byrd are much better. .350 could be better, but compared to the others, it's not much different.
