Jesus Christ, people!!! Do ANY of you know the FIRST THING about business? Obviously not. You all seem to want and expect Drayton to use Enronomics in operating the Astros. It has been shown time and again that clubs who do this ALWAYS end up in serious financial peril. Personally I don't want to see the Astros win the Series and then have a firesale. It COULD HAPPEN. Bottom line...Drayton spending wads of cash signing as many FAs as he can get makes as much business sense as hiring Lee Iococa to run your neighborhood grocery store. The revenues aren't there. The Astros have revenues about HALF of the Yankees. The Astros payroll is about HALF of the Yankees. Proportionally it makes sense. According to Channel 13 (KTRK), it is down to the Astros and the Red Sox for Kent. Speaking of the Red Sox and the money they have to spend...I was planning a trip to Boston to see my wife's great aunts. I decided to see if we could go to Fenway for a game. It is horrendously expensive. It made me realize how good we have it to be so affordable in Houston. Drayton KNOWS that he can't jack up ticket prices to the level the Red Sox have. the public simply won't go for it. Therefore he has to make business decisions with this in mind. If any of you don't understand these concepts, please don't go into business.
THANK YOU Refman! I was wondering when someone else would bring up simple economics. I for one would like a World Series champ in town, but not like the Marlins. Remember them? They bought a World Series then realized that they couldn't pay everyone what the contracts said unless they went into DEEP debt. So, they had a fire sale that they are just now getting recovering from (barely). I'd much prefer a stable franchise in Houston, not one who is more often than not mentioned in the same breath as "relocation" or "contraction". Oh and by the way Jared re: Stanton. What, the Astros are supposed to get EVERY FA they want? Naivete works both ways I see. I don't want to bring up Swindell and Drabek as examples of what might happen when you try to make a splash with headline FA signings.
Obviously we would all like to see the teams we root for win championships every year. Unfortunately there can only be one ultimate winner and the Astros have yet to do that. If you spend your sports year only being happy if your team wins it all, you will be very disappointed most of the time. Give me a team that competes and I'm happy. Since 1994 the Astros have finished 1st or second in their division every year except the aberration of 2000. That means that every September, their games have been important for 7 of the last 8 years (there was no September in 1994). I went to games in COlt stadium as a kid. Believe me, the teams of Drayton McLane have been far more competitive for a longer period of time than all other Astros teams put together. You may want to give the credit to Hunsicker and the farm system, but, remember, McLane hired Hunsicker and is able to keep him here. McLane also funds the farm system which is widely regarded as one of the best in baseball. He also funds the Venezuelan baseball academy which is recognized as the finest in the game. That says something. Hunsicker is one of the most respected GMs in the game and yet he stays with Houston. Why is that? He should be able to get more money elsewhere as well as be on a team with a bigger commitment to winning, right? So, think about that, why does Hunsicker stay here?
No, no no. You guys are all wrong. This is just more posturing. Kent is only faking it. Drayton must have paid him $10 just to act like it was a done deal so as to satisfy all us naive fans.
Ok, Ok I deserve that. I take back all those negative things I said about the Astros. I think with Berkman,Kent, and Bagwell in the middle they now have a legit World Series contender. Only thing the Stros need now is a leadoff man. This has to be one of the biggest moves Drayton has ever made.
I don't know if I'd be talking World Series yet, but this is a huge pickup for you guys. Any Idea what your rotation is gonna be next year? If you guys get a solid 4 and 5 starter, then you'll be very dangerous.
At this point, I would say it will be: Roy Oswalt Wade Miller Shane Reynolds Carlos Hernandez Kirk Saarloos/Tim Redding/Pete Munro The final spot to be fleshed out in ST, I would think. If either Carlos or Shane can return to previous form, I think we will have a damn good rotation.
Htown As of now Miller Oswalt Hernandez Reynolds Saarloos or Redding Barring a payton trade. I would package Ward, Saarloos or Redding to someone for a 4th starter. In fact, I would take Jason Marquis from the braves if maddux accepts arbitration.
Hunsicker said on ESPN news that Biggio will be moved to left field. I think the Astros may have something under their sleeve that they are not telling. I doubt that Biggio wants to play the outfield at this stage of his career. Biggio, and Ward for Cliff Floyd and a prospect?? Im just throwing something out there
According to Hunsicker, Biggio approached Williams about playing some OF last year. In addition, Hunsicker said that Biggio's agents spoke about Craig playing the OF as well.
This is confusing. Our OFs now are Biggio Berkman Ward Hidalgo Lane And everybody knows that the Astros are trying to trade for a speedy, leadoff CF. So what happens? LF- Biggio CF- Whoever we trade for RF- Berkman We'll probably trade Ward...so Hidalgo and Lane sit? I can understand Hidalgo, but I think that Lane has a lot to offer us...too bad we won't see it.
I doubt we manage to pull off a trade that gets us a CFer who would replace either Hidalgo or Ward (whichever one stays)...unless we manage to get Carlos Beltran.
I think the way MMP is set up Biggio may like Left. It should cut down on the abuse he takes playing 2nd and have less ground for him to cover . That would free up Ward to be moved hopefully for pitching. I think I recall a rumor floating around last week that the Pirates were interested in him for a reliever(Saurbeck maybe?). CK
