That's what I was thinking. That would be a great lineup CF-Willy T 2B-Biggio (then Burke) 1B-Berkman LF-Ramirez 3B-Ensberg RF-Lane SS-Everett C-Ausmus
If you're talking about getting Manny, I think you have to consider giving up either Qualls or Lidge - either one can function as an effective closer for us, and while having an 8th inning setup guy is nice, having Manny is nicer.
I agree completely. We should weaken one of our greatest strengths (our amazing bullpen trio of Wheeler-Qualls-Lidge), in order to boost an area in which we really need no improvement. I said it before and I'll stick by it. Our offense was good enough to win the World Series. Our pitching fell apart when it couldn't afford to. In the worst places, we gave up grand slams and home runs and doubles. It. Was. Our. Pitching. The pitching choked. The offense sucked and had sucked all year up until that point. The offense did exactly what it was supposed to in terms of output. And what they gave us would have been more than enough if our pitching would have given us what it was supposed to. If Morgan Ensberg's hand is ok, we're the World Series champs right now. Everyone needs to chill out and just let us get back there. If anything we need to be chasing another starting pitcher because a. I'm not sure Clemens will come back and b. I'm not sure he can last a whole season anymore. The hitting can stay because those same weak hitters bring defense to the club that made us the best in the league.
Ender, while your point is very lucid, I'd be stunned if the Astros repeat the same amazing pitching performance just because they have the same personnel. It would seem to me that if the Astros stand pat that they'd miss the playoffs, because the pitching wouldn't repeat last year's run. Additionally, the Astros have been pretty good at reloading their bullpen--who'd have thought their bullpen would be described as an "amazing strength" after giving up Dotel *and* Wagner in two consecutive years?
Thome is going to the white sux for rowand. Good trade for the phils because they get rid of thome's contract and have a better 1b with ROY howard.
Ummm, perhaps the pitching falling apart when "<B>it couldn't afford to</B>" was because we didn't have the offense so they never could afford to fail. If we had a better offense, we might be able to win even when the pitching sucks, as the White Sox did. When their pitching gave up 6 runs, they were able to score 7 and still win. I'm not sure what the point of the first part is. You *always* trade from strength to address weakness - how else would you do it? Trade your weakness to address strengths? You think we'd be better with a middle reliever than with one of the best all around hitters in baseball?
Now apparently the Cubs are about to land Pierre....are we going to participate in anything? I'm getting aggravated early this year!!!!
Nothing frustrates me more than the Astros sitting around and watching all these other teams try to get better and trying to make moves. At least last year the Astros were in the hunt for Beltran.
I know its early ...but...my biggest fear is that Drayton says "whoaaa...this team made it to the world series...why should we do anything but try and re-sign roger? And heck, even if he doesn't re-sign, someone will step up and fill the void...the way Willie filled Carlos' void." I still think that this offseason will really tell if Purp can fill Hun's shoes. The way teams are lining up with prospect and cash at the Marlins door is making me wonder if ...A) we dont have any sought after prospects or B) Tim is on the outside looking in
Purpura is really hands on with the minor league system and is really high on bringing up prospects and building the major league team with prospects, at least thats what Hunsicker said on 790 AM a couple of months ago. There are some premium players out there to be had, but the Astros are obviously going to be fiscal with the payroll and will most likely get an arm for the bullpen and look for a bat. Outside of that I don't see the Astros in the running for any big name players. The last couple of prospects that I read were on the radar were Ezequiel Astacio, Taylor Buckholtz, Troy Patton, Hunter Pence, Fernando Nieve and Charlton Jimerson to name a few.
Buckholz and Nieve will get a chance to start proving themselves in spring training. But, I think the guy who will be the next "big" thing in the pitching rotation will be Jason Hirsch (the guy is 6'9... "big"). He put up ridiculous numbers in the big-time hitter-friendly Texas league, with a sub-3 ERA, and greater than 175 K's. Also, Patton is still untouchable... the guy has too high of a celing (and is getting paid too much by the Astros right now) to give up on when he's only 19-20 years old. It would be nice to get another bat... but as has been brought up numerous times, that guy would have to be an outfielder... and even then, he'd have to be a pretty damn good everyday player to force Jason Lane out of the lineup (assuming Bagwell comes back... if he doesn't, an outfielder is an absolute must).
Based on it only costing a prospect or 2 and some cash....I would have had interest in Beckett or Delgado (even though I'd RATHER get an OF and leave Berkman at 1B....but if the price is right...), maybe not Pierre. If they are still selling, we should inquire about Loduca or Cabrera.
They're not going to trade guys they can afford... thus, Pierre, Loduca and Cabrerra (who's still under organizational control till 2008-2009) will be cheap/quality options for them to play. Delgado was a big-ticket guy who was still owed a ton, Beckett was going to be a FA after next year, and Lowell was just another big contract. They're going to keep the payroll at below $60 million... even though that's not that much, that's still enough for them to develop a quality lineup (including the above players), especially since they won't have any big money tied into any one player, and thus remain attractive to a potential city they will move to after next year.
Beckett, I can see - but their whole point of trading Beckett was to move Lowell and his salary. What do you with Lowell when you've already got Ensberg? And what do you with Delgado if Bagwell comes back? Cabrera I would definitely pursue if they are willing to move him.
Do you want to bench Willy T? Does that really improve our team? Or do we want two leadoff singles hitting outfielders out there in the lineup along with Ausmus and Everett?
I to heard on the radio that purpura is really into bringing up our own prospects and the like, but if that is the case why do astro minor leaguers move up at such a slow pace. I mean burke was "older" when he got called up. same with lane, and I know they both didnt have a position to play, but still. The Astros need to move their prospects up at a faster pace.
