you are assuming that hirsch is all it would take, which i highly doubt, but if that is the case, you do that in a split second. who knows if hirsch will pan out in the first place, and what our pitching situation will be by the time he is ready, but more importantly, who knows when the next time we'll contend for a world series would be? also, whatever the slim chances are that soriano would re-sign, we obviously would be a major player in the race to sign him, as we were with beltran. an unproven prospect for a rental of one of the top 5 players in the game seems like a no-brainer for a team desperately trying to win a world series this year. i guess i'm strictly talking about trading for soriano, not lee or abreu (definitely not abreu).
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2485721 Here's what they have to say about Soriano: <I> Speaking of Nationals heading for the auctioneer's stand, Soriano is clearly first in line. He has made it clear almost nothing can stop him from charging into free agency this winter. So he is leaving his team with virtually no choice but to listen to all offers. But that doesn't necessarily mean Soriano is a goner, either. The Nationals are telling clubs they'll want at least two sure-thing prospects back (since they'd get two high draft picks as compensation if they hold onto him). And an official of one interested club says, flatly, they won't get that. "Here's the problem," the official said. "This guy thinks he's a 15-to-16-million-dollar-a-year player. And I don't know of any team that would be willing to trade for him and extend [his contract] at that level. So that means he's just a rental. And if they want back what we're hearing they want back, I don't think they're going to get it. So my prediction is, he'll wind up staying there." Then again, he might be the best bat on the market. So it's never safe to assume the Yankees or Dodgers would buy that logic. </I>
yeah, i'm saying that there's no way that we would be the only team in the bidding, in which case that there would be no way that hirsch alone is the best offer they can get.
and i'm saying soriano isn't worth it. not at the cost of what you'd give up to get him...and i don't want the astros paying soriano $15 million next season on an extension.
And when Hirsch goes on to be successful somewhere else... like Johan Santana, Freddy Garcia, or Curt Schilling... you guys wil be the FIRST ones to whine about how the Astros were short-sighted, didn't have the proper guys in charge of players development, and proclaiming how good the stud prospect would look in the rotation, over the inevitble journeyman replacement guys the team will have to get to replace Pettite/Clemens. Hirsch is 6-8, he's going to end up dominating every level of the minors (not only that, but he's doing it by making adjustments... showing that he's coachable/flexible/willing to work to improve), and he's only 24 years old. There's not much doubt with him at this moment... if he doesn't pan out, it would me a MUCH bigger dissapointment than any astros farmhand pitcher of recent memory (more than Wade Miller, Tim Redding, Carlos Hernandez).
i've never complained about trading freddy garcia, carlos guillen, or john buck, and we came away from both of those trades with nothing to show for it. those are trades that franchises who are trying to win the world series make, which is all that's important as far as i'm concerned. who the hell can fault a team for trying to win a championship? i'm not as high on hirsch as you are in the first place, but "only 24"? it's not old by any stretch, but for a player who has yet to sniff the majors, that age is nothing to salivate over. there is no such thing as a sure thing, and extreme success in the majors for a top prospect is the exception, not the norm. i trade a "blue chip prospect" for one of the best players in the game who can help me win a world series 10 times out of 10 if i have the chance.
Roy Oswalt would disagree with you... and Mark Prior and Kerry Wood would say that young pitchers haven't missed much by not throwing a lot of major league innings early in their careers. Also, there hasn't been any reason to rush Hirsch because of the pitching depth in the majors right now. On most other teams, he would have already recieved a "sniff". I agree with you that the time is NOW for the team to go for it... and if the right player is available, you do it. But, just like 98, 04, and all the other times (and the reverse happening in 2005)... getting that player gives you just as little guarantees as projecting a prospect to become a star for you.
Astros rotation poised for Rocket boost Clemens' return may push rookie right-hander Nieve to bullpen By Jim Molony / MLB.com OUSTON -- Roger Clemens made it through his final Minor League tuneup without problems, clearing the way for the seven-time Cy Young Award winner to make his season debut on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. Clemens started on Friday night for Triple-A Round Rock, and the Astros wanted to wait a few days to see how the 43-year-old's body responded following the start. The report is in: It's all systems go for the Rocket. "He feels good, ready to go," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "His arm came throught it great, he's getting his legs under him a little bit [and] he's ready and raring to go." Now that Clemens is officially ready, Purpura and Astros manager Phil Garner have a decision to make. Someone will have to go to make room Clemens. Andy Pettitte started on Sunday. The Astros are off on Monday, with Roy Oswalt scheduled to start on Tuesday against Brad Radke and the Twins. Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez will go on Wednesday, with Clemens going on Thursday against Francisco Liriano. Because of Monday's off-day, Pettitte could start Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on his usual four days' rest. Beyond Clemens' start, a decision must be made. One of the two current members of the rotation, Taylor Buchholz or Fernando Nieve, will step aside for Clemens, with the other likely starting on Saturday against the White Sox. But which one will go? "We'll probably sit down with the staff on Tuesday, and I think Gar and I will talk about it, then and try to come up with a plan," Purpura said. Garner said all weekend that he hasn't made up his mind about what changes will be made, and it's not simply a decision of Nieve or Buchholz. Garner must decide who goes to the bullpen and to the Minor Leagues. Both Nieve and Buchholz have options, and both have experience starting and out of the bullpen. But someone on the roster will have to go, because Garner does not plan on carrying more than 12 pitchers. "That would be correct," Garner said. Garner also said that "Buchholz or Nieve could possibly start on Friday." The odd man out of the rotation picture could also supplant one of the relievers currently on staff, perhaps Chris Sampson or Dave Borkowski. "The bullpen's been pitching much better," Garner said. "We'll have to make a determination on who comes out of the rotation." Buchholz, 4-6 with a 5.82 ERA, started the season strong, but he has tailed off recently. He bounced back with a solid six-inning performance in a start against Kansas City on Saturday night. "I think he's definitely shown he has big-league stuff," Garner said. "When he's had trouble is when he's left the ball up in the zone out over the plate." Nieve, 2-3 with a 4.71 ERA, got off to a rocky start, but he has been very effective in recent weeks. Nieve is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts this month, and he has held opponents to two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Having allowed just three walks to go with 18 strikeouts in his last 30 1/3 innings, Nieve throws strikes, always a plus in Garner's view. Of the two, Garner concedes that Nieve is probably better suited for relief work. "I don't think [Nieve] has pitched as good as he can pitch," Garner said. "I don't think he's shown good command with his fastball, and he certainly hasn't shown us very much consistency with his breaking ball, but he's pitched good. "Every game he pitches, we're in. We don't normally get blown out of games. He keeps us in the game. I don't care how you get there -- it's the results, and he's had some pretty good results." However it plays out, the Astros figure to have a deeper staff and a stronger rotation. And right-hander Brandon Backe's return is expected within the next couple of weeks. "As we've seen so often in the past, a surplus of pitching can dry up quickly," Purpura said. "[Too many pitchers] is a good problem to have, certainly better than the alternative." Jim Molony is a writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
OMG, that is the worst rookie mistake ever on this board. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever post your pic on this board. There once was a poster named YoYao who did that and he is no longer here. You really don't want to know.
I know I was a little harsh that first day because of all the Creepy crap but I've come to appreciate you posting. I know how relentless the guys are here.
It's cool. I understand. I wish I would have checked him out before I got his back. I really wish I could take that pic off because it turned out so huge and no one want to see my big head at 14 years old. This sucks.
