The Orioles don't really NEED a closer. They still have Chris Ray, their 23-year old setup man from last year who will probably close next year. Not a proven commodity, but he's the Orioles' Qualls.
He didn't approve it. Coward. I wasn't mean or even terse, I just quoted both of his posts and asked him to reconcile them.
Thinking about this hurts my brain. I'd rather hear these "rumours" from posters on this board rather than Chronicle writers. Tejada would be fantastic, but thinking about Manny hitting in MMP..
Think about Manny not hustling to first when he should be or think about the 20th time you see Manny lollygagging, embarassing himself in left.
Manny Ramirez and Drayton McLane - Not a marriage made in heaven. 50 games into the season, Manny will go off about something - complaining about the fans, the city, the weather. 100 games into the season he'll want to be traded.
Don't have to hustle to first when the ball clears the outfield wall, but I know what you're saying. I'm not too quick to want to get rid of Lidge anyway.
How is that any different from what Alou did? Or Berkman, for that matter - he's admitted he's not 100% focused when playing defense because he's thinking about his next at-bat.
That's what I'm thinking about! Man, he could put up some monster numbers in MMP with out the Green Monster.
I hope we keep Lidge, but this is making me wonder who would be valuable enough to give up one of the best closers in all of baseball? DD
Now it's more than just a hunch, according to Lopez. Now he's alluding to this as the product of stuff thrown out by baseball scouts and executives. The Astros are more tight-lipped than most other baseball organizations. I think that's why we're not hearing this elsewhere. But note that this article seems to cast doubt on the notion of bringing in either Tejada or Manny. He has one name on his list: Bobby Abreu. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/3516766.html Dec. 10, 2005, 11:39PM Lidge deal likeliest if GM to leave mark By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Finally free to stretch his offseason imagination, Astros general manager Tim Purpura is finding the winter stove so hot he should be wearing oven mitts. After deciding against offering Roger Clemens arbitration, the Astros must do something big — for the sake of the team and as a signal to fans that they'll be doing more chasing of championships than resting on laurels in 2006. It would seem they have done exactly that, entering into discussions with more than one club in hopes of bolstering the outfield with a significant offensive presence. Just how significant is the question. The Astros won't confirm such talks, but baseball scouts and executives love to toss out rumors and reports of these things as much as anyone. The trade possibility being mentioned that makes sense, would add punch to the lineup and could keep the Astros churning forward without crippling one part of the team to bolster another involves closer Brad Lidge. Lidge clearly is the asset that would return the most on the market. The club has had discussions about acquiring Kevin Mench of the Texas Rangers, Juan Encarnacion of the Florida Marlins and Rondell White of the Detroit Tigers, but any offer involving Lidge might command a more significant return. On the outside looking in for the majority of his first year on the job, Purpura suddenly finds himself with a great bargaining chip — and the toughest decision of his tenure as general manager. He has the means and motivation to make something happen. How big a gamble is he willing to take? Pondering the possibilities Some potential acquisitions would make more sense than others. Baltimore Orioles slugging shortstop Miguel Tejada, for example, has made it clear that he would like to be traded because he believes the Orioles are not committed to winning. You're thinking that a Lidge-Adam Everett package for Tejada would answer all your dreams. But hold on. Just because a player says he wants to be traded doesn't mean the club will stumble all over itself trying to fulfill his wish. The Orioles have gone to great lengths to build the team around Tejada. They're not going to start over now. And as nice a homecoming as it would be to deal for Cincinnati Reds slugger Adam Dunn, who lives in nearby Porter, the Reds for now have no intention of making that deal. Why would they, particularly after trading Sean Casey? Manny Ramirez? Lots of talent, but an outrageous salary is only one headache Ramirez would bring with him from Boston, even to the Astros' congenial and low-maintenance clubhouse. Don't expect Ken Griffey Jr., either. That sort of narrows the list of possibilities, doesn't it? The Philadelphia Phillies just lost closer Billy Wagner to the New York Mets and have a superstar in Bobby Abreu (24 home runs, 102 RBIs last year) who would fit perfectly in the Astros' lineup. It would be a tough call for Purpura to deal Lidge, who grew up with Purpura in a sense, rising from the minor leagues to a position smack in the middle of a National League pennant run. But as Astros manager Phil Garner has said, "If it doesn't hurt, then it's probably not a good deal." The Astros strongly believe Chad Qualls and/or Dan Wheeler could fill the closer's role. If the Abreu deal does not materialize and the deal is for an outfielder a notch below Abreu — such as White — Qualls or Wheeler likely would be involved. Either way, the club is going to lose some premium relief pitching. But that it can withstand. Starting pitching? Brandon Backe and Roy Oswalt are close to untouchable, given the Clemens decision. The time is now The 1-2-3 punch of Oswalt, Andy Pettitte and Backe isn't the Big Three of a year ago, of course, but the Astros like the chances of prospects Fernando Nieve and Jason Hirsh stepping into major-league roles. Teams involved in talks with the Astros also have inquired about Chris Burke, Willy Taveras, Jason Lane, Everett and Backe. While none of those players is untouchable, Garner has made it clear each has a significant upside. This is the winter of Purpura's professional life. He threw himself into the fire of the hot stove thanks to the decision on Clemens. How he emerges will set the course for 2006 and establish Purpura's most significant mark on the makeup of this team. Purpura has watched, learned and been a part of the biggest two-year run in Astros history. The only way he appeases fans' hunger and helps the run continue is if he gets in the game. Let's make a deal.
If the deal is for Abreu, then I wouldn't give up much more than Lidge...and I hesitate to do even that. A full, healthy season of Berkman would go a long way towards alleviating some of the offensive ineptitude the Stros displayed early last season. If Morgan can maintain a level close to what he did last year, and if Taveras improves some...this won't be an unbelievably horrible offensive team. At least not bad enough to get rid of one of the best closers in the game that is capable of pitching 2 or even 3 innings at a time if he needs to, an often overlooked commodity. The only way I would be all for that trade is if they had already decided that when Lidge is due for a big raise, they will be unwilling to give it, then go ahead and get what you can now while his value is so high. But I would hope for something better than Abreu.
i tend to agree...but then i wonder if i underrate abreu. abreu's numbers seem to match up very well with lance berkman's. i think berkman is one of the better hitters in the game. i would never have guessed that abreu's numbers were so close to his. but they are.
not to mention that Abreu steals 25-30 bases a year...AND would immediately become our best defensive OF...he has speed and a rifle
