Mr. Summer Song Giver, what you've just posted is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Good thoughts. As much as I'd love to see a Miller-Oswalt-Hampton rotation, that's too many dollars in one basket for potentially your #3 starter. If you sign Loretta, you don't sign Kent. Loretta would be our third baseman, possibly rotating some to other positions to give Blum some playing time. That's what I like about him. He's a solid player, versitle, almost as good as Kent, but not as expensive. Assuming a healthy Lugo, he would pretty well solidify the infield.
The Astros will not be cheating in order to have a successful team this next season. If there is any cheating, especially with my wife who is a dirty, dirty tramp, you will be disqualified. (Nice quote, Buck)
This team should have been rebuilt 3 or 4 years ago that way we'd have gone into the new ballpark with a young dynamic team and now we'd have some young players to go with Berkman and the young pitchers. You mean like Ward, Hidalgo, Lane, Everett, Lugo, Blum, Ensberg, Oswalt, Miller, Hernandez, Redding, Saarloos, Dotel, and Stone? Or did you want MORE young players?
The 'Stros need another run producer in the lineup. Looks like Lane will be an improvement over Hidalgo in RF (who wouldn't be?) unless Richard has some miraculous return to 2000 form. If they acquire that oft-pined-for but elusive to find speedy CF type, that leaves 3rd base as the only spot in the lineup to gain additional production. Loretta & Blum, as much as I respect their value as utility guys (or in Loretta's case possibly as the regular SS), cannot see regular time at 3rd if the 'Stros hope to compete. This is what I'd try to do if I was in charge: C: Ausmus 1B: Bagwell (hopefully 100% healthy) 2B: Biggio SS: Lugo 3rd: Kent or Alfonzo LF: Shannon Stewart CF: Berkman RF: Lane Lineup: Stewart, Biggio, Berkman, Bagwell, Kent, Lane, Lugo, Ausmus. Bench: OF - Merced, Hidalgo (untradeable, unless they take on comparable salary), Hunter; IF - Viz, Loretta, Blum; C - Zaun Rotation: Oz, WaMi, Hernandez, Munro/Redding/Saarrlloos/Rodrigo Rosario, Ismael Valdes (31 GS w/ Tex & Sea, 8-12, 4.18 ERA, 2002 salary $2.5 M) Bully: Wagner, Dotel, Stone, Lidge, Jeriome Robertson (LH specialist), Puffer (RH batters only), and/or whichever of the Munro/Redding/Saarrlloos group doesn't make the rotation. Hopefully Redding will mature a little more between now & next April. With the emergence of Josh Phelps as a LF/DH/1B type in Toronto, I'm not sure they'd be interested in a DWard + AA/AAA pitching w/ upside for Stewart. Stros need a leadoff man in the worst way though, I'd try to make it happen.
There have been a few posts regarding the signing of Kent at 3b. Kent has played less than 160 games at 3b in his whole career (and his fielding stats are pretty weak there). He also has not played 3rd since 1996.
I am aware. He's never played 3rd on a consistent basis. From what Kent and Dusty Baker have said he would have no problems with a move across the diamond. Arm strength, foot speed and soft hands are all there. It would just take a few months of offseason work & a full spring training for him to feel comfortable. I see no reason why he couldn't field the position effectively.
He's so done, that the Yankees are starting him in Game 1... Know your facts, before you try to make it sound like you have "inside info" or something. You lose any credbility by the fact that you ride McLane's 65-year old jock until it falls off. I think you're constant Drayton defending is as "never changing" as my Drayton bashing. But, of course it's hard for you to see anything objectively.
What's funny is the idea that people think we will spend money to get Alfonzo (who would prob get 5 mill/year foolishly by some team), or Kent (who will foolishly get 7-10 mill/year). There is no precedence of the Astros ever spending money on a free agent who wasn't a pitcher, and even counting pitchers, you have to go back to Drabek and Swindell. As cheap as McLane is, you also must remember that attendance was down this year from 2001. In addition to that, Berkman and Hidalgo's contracts jump up to a nearly combined 10 million more than from last year. Some of that money is recouped from Mlicki and Reynolds having expiring contracts, but when you factor in the escalating contracts, the Astros payroll as of now, without getting a premier FA will probably be around 70 million. Then if we add a premier FA, we will be around 80 million. There is no chance in hell the payroll will come close to that.
You accuse me of not seeing things objectively. How do you reconcile an independent report stating that at THE CURRENT PAYROLL...the Astros have to draw almost 3 million fans JUST TO BREAK EVEN.
It was reported on one of the sports radio shows last week. It was either one of the local shows or on Dan Patrick...I don't recall which.
