Casey Stengel himself couldn't coach this team into contention. Bring in Earl Weaver or Connie Mack or Sparky Anderson, you're not going to get wins without good players on the field. And that everyday lineup has only 2 players that are above average, and one of them (Berkman) isn't hitting yet.
The Oakland A's are 17-26. Turns out it is the talent, after all, that wins games. Moneyball. Billy Beane thinks very highly of himself, as do many others. I'm not one of them.
The A's success depended on the Big 3 alot more than Billy Beane was willing to admit. Still, looking at his management of that club, they've made alot more good decisions than bad ones during his run. And he's been GM over a period in which the A's have been consistantly very good despite one of the lowest payrolls in the majors. I know he'll be forever linked to Moneyball, but he's a legitimately good GM. If their talented 3B (Chavez) and remaining ace pitcher (Zito) were producing at their career levels, they'd still be OK this year.
The truly discouraging part is -- where is the hope? Bigg is at his best, at an old age, and his body and average will suffer as the summer latens. Bags is done. NONE of the 'KIDS' like like studs. No new pitcher has emerged from the farms since Lidge. Bad to see for now, no hope for future.
I wouldnt say that...I think Taveras and Self have fairly bright futures...as does Luke Scott. The big thing will be whether Zeke can turn it around and if Wandy is for real.
he's fine. he's just not the greatest thing that ever happened to baseball. he hasn't revolutionized the game. those are the things he's tagged with. like he's a freaking genuis who blew the doors off the game. he's not. he didn't. they're in last place, with a record very similar to our beloved Astros.
In addition to what NJ Rocket mentioned, we'll have Bagwell most likely coming off the books this offseason (if the insurance kicks in) and quite possibly Clemens. That's ~$34 million right there to use on free agents. Of course, the naysayer will whine that McLane won't spend that money, but I believe he will. Oswalt and Berkman are two more bright spots for the future.
agreed....cant overlook the fact that we will have at least 5-7 more good yrs from these guys....and Lidge too.
I wouldn't count on Bagwell's contract coming off the books next season via insurance. He's said he still wants to play. He's hoping to come back for the last month of this season. Unless something goes wrong in his surgery rehab, he's going to be on the roster going into next season. I doubt the insurance money kicks in until it's certain that the guy will never play again, and that's unlikely this offseason. I believe Drayton will spend next winter to compete in 2006 if he finds a viable free agent who wants to come to Houston, but I think this is going to be a weak year in terms of free agency. I don't know who they could target that would get them back to contention.
I probably shouldn't have said likely, but I think it's a decent chance. This surgery is a last resort measure and the general consensus among those not in the know (i.e. fans and sports radio hosts) seems to be that he won't be here next year. It's definitely still up in the air. This is true. However, if we had Berkman all this season plus one other bat, we'd be looking at a dramatically different season at this point, IMO. Add someone like Konerko or Preston Wilson and another starter, along with Taveras having a season behind him, and I think we could be leaps and bounds better. It's definitely not as bleak a future as some believe.
I agree that we'd be much better with a productive Berkman and 1 more good bat, plus a more experienced core of youngsters (can't expect miracles out of rookies). Next season though, you figure Clemens hangs them up or is on another team, so you need another ace to replace his incredible production. Unless you think Zeke or Wandy is going to become the next Oswalt or Prior by next year, which is too much to expect this early imo. Hopefully, Quintero is gonna be ready to take Ausmus's place, or we'll need a catcher too. Anyway I don't see the future as bleak, either, but there's alot of work to be done.
Taveras is the only new kid on the block to be doing anything, and it is OK, but does offer hope. Lane, Burke, Scott, Astocio (sp?), Wandy, Hernandez, etc are not lighting up my fire at this point. Self? real early, but is there a glimmer?
I would say there's definitely a glimmer for Wandy and Self, however, it's way too early on both of them. Spot on SamCassell, except I think Clemens will either be an Astro or retired. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it's the former.
