Soon to be former Astros

I think Loretta is probably the only one that is going to get moved. I think they're hard headed enough to hold on to Jennings. They don't want to admit a mistake this quickly (the trade itself and then the inablility to sign him to an extension).

 

I voted for Qualls, Wheeler, Jennings, Lamb and Loretta

Don't think they will trade Lidge now and they better not move Roy.

As far as the other position players, either they have zero value ie. Ensberg or there is so little value (Burke-Scott) that it's not worth trading

 

Would either party want to at this point? It hasn't been that great of a honeymoon.

 

If Burke were on the market, he'd have more value than anyone on your list besides Oswalt/Lidge. Maybe Qualls and Jennings are comparable, but I doubt it. Again, you have to remember, professional organizations aren't as emotional and irrational as fans are, who often judge a player as a stud or a bust by approximately 1/3 of a season's worth of at-bats.

 

I say we deal Lamb and Loretta. And that they're both Astros next season.

 

i don't know about that... i'd certainly covet wheeler and qualls more in terms of short-term improvements. burke is, at best, a marginal prospect at this point with limited experience at his natural position.

yes, he has more value than the other guys posted, but talk about damning with faint praise...

 

Your wrong, pitching is what teams need so all five of those pitchers would bring more back than Burke. Burke might be able to get you more than Lamb and Scott but there is no way he would fetch us more than Loretta.

Even at his age Loretta looks to be able to step in and help a contender.

As far as Burke goes, the guy is 27 (not 22 but 27) has had close to 900 AB and is hitting around 250 with an OPS a little over 700 for his career. When are we just gonna admit that he is just not that good. He is nothing special in the field and even if he was able to play 2nd base every game next season I just have not seen anything that makes me think he will be an impact player.

Next season the Astros need to go into Spring training with three starters set, Berkman at first, Lee in left and Pence in either center or right. Everything else needs to be open.

 

This is the only point I could find fault with... how much have you seen him at 2B to make this conclusion?

Also, how much value should the Astros give to his numbers last year (his first stint of semi-regular-consistent playing time) which significantly eclipse this year's numbers (thus far) where he's been yanked around as much as he was in 2005. If Burke could manage to reach the numbers he had last year as a top of the order 2B... I'd gladly take that. Then again, I have no idea if the surgery affected his swing... the numbers this year certainly aren't promising.

I agree... he's 27... and how he performs for the rest of the year, now that he has a more defined role, will impact the club's plans for next season.

 

Most people within the organization acknowledge Burke wasn't ready in 2005, and was called up out of desperation because the Astros had limited outfield options. Last season was his first where he was ready, and the results speak for themselves.

He was substantially better than Loretta last season, and is much younger and under club control for quite a while. Again, you have to judge the entire body of work and not part of one season. That's what professional teams do.

 

I am all for keeping this guy but I am not for handing him a starting job at second, we handed him a job this season and well not so much.

 

His role was as a utility player in 2005 at the age of 25, he either has it or does not have it by the age of 25. Now Burke has proved to me that he deserves a shot in spring training but I have no clue how anyone can say he "should be the Astros everyday second baseman next season".

This is bullcrap, he is a poor man's Ryan Freel and if anyone would give us a top level pitching, catching, third base or outfield prospect for him than Purpura would be silly not to pull the trigger.

I think he will at best be the first guy off the bench on a good team or if a club is stacked everywhere but 2nd maybe he could hit 8th or on an AL team 9th everyday.

 

No, his role was as a starting LF in 2005. What are you talking about?

I think you need a reality check as to the expectations of middle infielders. If Burke simply does what he did a season ago -- a .770 OPS with good discipline and speed - he's a top of the order hitter, and at least middle-of-the-pack in terms of second basemen. Best case, first guy off the bench? That's hilarious.

And no, there is no magic "age" that a player has or doesn't have it by. Hell, there are some guys who don't get it until they're 28 or 29. It varies by the situation, and Burke needed more time being eased into major league pitching instead of being thrown into a starting spot in a power position (LF) with little work before. People within the organization (you know, the folks who actually scout and follow players, instead of making random assumptions like you) know this. When he had that adjustment time, he played very well (last couple of months of 2005, all of 2006).

 

I'm not sure there's even much of a market for Ensburg. Or Scott. I mean, in fairy tale world, Purpura could trade Jason Lane for A-Rod...

I just don't see many of these players bringing much value. Lidge is the best bet, with Loretta, Qualls and Wheeler as possibilities. The Astros brass have already said Lidge is an Astro. With his last couple of successful outings, there's no better time to move him. I'd love to keep him too, if he were Lidge from 2005.

Here's an idea - let's trade Purpura for another GM! Anyone have Hunsicker's phone number???

 

Eh I still think Burke is overrated...but of course I can't approach the MLB wisdom and raw intellectual superiority of our feline friend..so maybe I should just admit my ignorance and defer.

 

Craig Biggio

 

Jennings, Burke, Endsberg