http://blogs.chron.com/lopezblog/archives/2005/12/say_goodbye_to.html Roger Clemens will be wearing a different hat in 2006. While it might seem the Astros would not expand the budget now that their biggest-ticket item is gone, I would suspect otherwise. I believe a blockbuster deal is on the way and it might include more than one team and involve the Astros having to expand their budget in order to make it work Brad Lidge is on the trading block, is my hunch. He has been and will be offered, because he is the best commodity -- and would bring the most in return. The Astros also feel strongly about Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler perhaps sharing time as the 2006 closer, relieving each of some closer pressure, until one distinguishes himself. Mark it down. They're dangling Lidge and another player (not Jason Lane) and dealing for an outfielder. The magnitude of this deal could shock you and make you feel a bit better about losing an icon ...
Here's Lopez's reply to all of the banter in response to his blog.... Geesh. All I said is I have an educated hunch. I've been reading the smoke signals emanating from Union Station. It appears a Lidge deal is in the works ... that's what it seems like to me, that is. Don't get ahead of yourselves. Give it time. Posted by: JohnP at December 9, 2005 12:35 PM
Any deal that includes Lidge is going to cost us more wins than it earns us in my opinion. I'm against any deal involving Lidge.
Moving Lidge right now is a good idea because... 1. He has a high value and will bring back a lot in return 2. He is about to get a big raise. 3. We already have Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, and possibly Nieve. Lidge, Adam Everett, and 1 prospect(maybe Taveras) for Tejada. I'm guessing Taveras because the writer stated, "not Jason Lane." Of course this person probably knows jack ****.
Or lidge, everett for manny We need a LF, burke or bruntlett could play SS, tejada is younger than manny, but manny right now is like pujols good. Tough eh?
That first word annoys me. He drops a huge bombshell, even if it is speculation, in his blog and then sounds annoyed that people respond to it?
i like lidge a lot but our minor league system has put out some very good pitchers and there are a handful right now that could make an impact. i think qualls was our best reliever last year in the playoffs and is capable of becoming a very good closer. wheeler is great as a setup guy, and if we find someone to fill another bullpen spot we are fine in the pen. if we could get miggy or manny for lidge and another guy or two take it. manny playing in the juice box would be like adding two bats to our lineup. i can't even imagine all the homers he would hit at minute maid....
The other thing that concerns me is that he's already backing off from his comments. First he says "mark it down" and then he says it's a "hunch" and "don't get ahead of yourselves." In other words, he was blowing smoke the whole time and there's probably not a blockbuster deal in the works. Which, frankly, makes more sense because nobody has reported the Stros being in the mix for Abreu or ManRam except for Jayson Stark (abreu) and vague hints from Chroncle writers/Drayton's teaser about "something exciting." I think we should get ready for the Kevin Mench era and hope we can sign Washburn. Seems more likely, and, if we can forget about ManRam/Tejeda/Abreu, really isn't too shabby. (And leaves us payroll flexibility to be players at the AS break.) BTW, couldn't this have gone in one of the other threads already talking about Lopez's blog?
Exactly. Sounds like a chicken **** response to me.... Like he isn't too sure about what he just wrote. Lost some cred with me, but hopefully they will make a blockbuster deal to aleviate the pain of losing Roger.
I wouldn't like any trade involving Taveras. He is a young player, with lightning quick speed and great bunting and defensive skills. He is a player who knows his role and played it well last season. I think the Stros would regret trading him.
ahhh...the Houston Chronicle. quick...write something inflammatory...or something to grab attention. (5 mins later) quick...back away from it. use sarcasm to attack your readers to detract from the fact you're making all this up as you go!!!
I could just see the Astros getting rid of Taveras. Remember it was the Astros who gave away Kenny Lofton.
It's been years since The Comical had any cred with me. All this most recent example got from me was a nod of the head and, "Typical."
You know, with the fourth largest city in America, you would think the only newspaper in town would actually hire some decent writers. The DMN is 10 times a better paper.
sadly, i'm forced to admit that. i truly don't believe it was ALWAYS that way. or at least i don't believe it was always so pronounced. but the last 5 years or so, it's definitely tracked that direction.
...which isn't saying much for the DMN. If you want to build up a paper, compare it to a winner, not a loser.
