I missed where "everyone else" was ready to do so. In fact, I missed where even *one* person was ready to do so.
I know that having the 3rd highest payroll in the majors has much to do w/ roger clemens and jeff bagwell, but i'm pleasantly surprised to see uncle drayton going out of his way to make this team a contender. i wonder if his over-willingness to spend has anything to do w/ his fondness for Purp. it seems like he trusts Purp a lot more than he did hunsicker (even though that was not justified - i'll always appreciate what gerry did for this organization). i also respect that he has not pushed the desperation button by bringing in hirsch and/or pence. both will be very good, and to jeopardize their steady progress might do more harm than good for their development. i will say, though, that i hope the 2 of them are allowed to travel a little with the astros from time to time like the astros have done in the past, at the very least. maybe throw hirsch into the bullpen if we can't get a trade to work before the deadline. but first thing's first...one more move, mr. purpura, and you'll make this team very solid and very scary in the division.
The guy doesn't have to make trade after trade... in fact, the more trades a GM makes, the likelihood that he's going to get burned goes up each and every time (esp. if they're trades made out of desperation). I'd like to look more at the "type" or "quality" of trades that are made, not sheer quantity: 1.) Are you trading great young (ie - your #1) prospects to get guys who can fill in right away (Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano, Coco Crisp for Chuck Finley, Haren for Mark Mulder) 2.) Are you trading away bonafied major leaguers for younger prospects who will help you down the road (Glenn Davis for Schilling, Finley, Harnisch; Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell) 3.) Are you trading some really good quality for guys who could just be rent-a-players (Freddy Garcia, Guillen for Randy Johnson; Dotel, Buck for Beltran). 4.) Are you trading away marginal prospects for quality MLB players on bad teams (How the Astros got Alou, how the Cubs got Aramis Ramirez, how the Cardinals got McGwire, how the Astros got Huff). 5.) Are you trading away quality MLB players for another team's quality MLB players (Clemens for Wells, Griffey for Cameron, Vasquez for Randy Johnson). Out of all these types of trades, #4 gets me excited every time... simply because there's just a very slim chance that you'll actually get burned. If Purp is able to make these sorts of trades each time out, he'll never hurt the farm system AND he'll always help the MLB club. Of course, its unlikely that a GM can keep on doing that before teams just stop talking to you. Also, I hate #1 type of trades (which any trade that involves Jason Hirsh will fit in under), and teams only have a chance to make #2 types if they're bad. #3 is a sore subject...
Clearly, you've missed several posts in this thread (and that was a joke, anyway). After all, Purpura is apparently infallible, and any and all rumored deals and player-nixed trades count 100% towards his sterling legacy. Huh. And oh, I'm not allowed to speak ill of him for doing nothing last year (rescinded trades, notwithstanding ) due to the oh-so-commonplace "greatest comeback of all time to make the playoffs" thing. One thing I will say, though: He is the best GM in Houston. And hey, I DO like Drayton, so I've got that in common with y'all. Urge to kill... rising... I can't be held at fault if Beltran lies to those close to him, including his agent. I had good, reliable information.
Hey, I got the arrival of Beltran right. You have every right to shoot the messenger (me); just don't shoot him, then beat him with a bat a thousand times, further mutilate his body, and finally feed his remains to animals.
As far as making trades goes, #3 on this list is the worst kind of trade one could possibly make. Nothing short of winning a championship justifies that kind of trade. Having said that as long as you dont do that for a Scott Boras client u still might have a shot at resigning them. Is Huff's agent Boras? God I hope not. All his players only go to NY. Otherwise Astros might be able to resign Huff .
No one has claimed Purpura is a great GM, let alone a good GM. What people have defended, however, is that the lack of moves thus far don't show that he's a terrible GM, as many people want to argue. No one here that I know of has claimed Purpura is good - plenty of people have said he's bad though, and that's who we argue with. There's just not enough evidence yet either way - no one has made significant in-season trades these last two years, and the team he inherited and tweaked has performed for the most part, so you can't say that he sucks at this point.
Actually, the Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson was a #4 trade for Boston. Bagwell was a good hitter with great plate disapline, but was not a top notch prospect. He only had 6 homeruns in 2 minor league seasons and was mediocre at fielding 3rd base. Jeff Bagwell's minor league stats compared to Ben Zobrist. Jeff Bagwell - 710 AB 231 Hits .325 BA 6 HR 83 RBI 98 BB 82 SO Ben Zobrist - 645 AB 209 Hits .324 BA 9 HR 90 RBI 127 BB 83 SO I think the Astros may have traded away a future hall of famer.
Glad to see that free agent signing (Preston Wilson) producing Now he brings in Huff? Get a clue Tim. This team is going nowhere this year.
Wow...seriously? Preston is hitting .284 for the season with 8 hrs and 46 rbis. Not MVP numbers but decent nonetheless. And he struggled early too. Huff, who like Preston got off to a slow start is hitting .436 with 6 rbis, 3 hrs and 7 runs scored in his last 10 games...and he's a better second half player. Some are never pleased I guess.
He made a move without giving up current major league guys that might help us compete this year.. I'll give him his credit for that.. glad to see the move.
