Astros

[BrudaCajun]

You got a guy with a serious bat and many forget he also has a glove. He was just in a terrible situation in Baltimore. MT is only 32 years old, this isnt the NFL. You not "Old" in MLB at that age.

[rhineaux]

_ I don't know about that. Troy Patton would have been our #5, and while he had great command, his stuff was kind of iffy. Albers had big time stuff, but no command. Keep in mind, the astros still have Nieve (coming off injury though), Felipe Paulino, and Juan Guttierez, and I think guttierez will fill in the #5 spot as well, if not better than patton. The difference between Albers, Patton, Paulino, and Guttierez is very minimal. Tejada didnt hit .300 last year because he was frustrated with his situation and he got injured, add in the fact that he's gonna be in the midst of a good lineup and have the crawford boxes to send some extra dingers into, his production is gonna go up alot which will counteract the minimal impact that patton would have provided next year.

Tuffguy _

And, don't forget about Brandon Backe coming back healthy, and I don't think you mentioned Wandy Rodriguez either. And, if Jason Jennings can start the season healthy, and not injured in the first game like he did last year, he could be a rather servicable arm as well.

With these young arms, the team has the potential to make some noise, but these arms are all unproven at this level. It's pretty funny though, to think of my favorite college FB team, fave NFL team, and fave MLB team. It seems like they're all becoming teams who hope their offense can put up more than their defense (or pitching) will give up.

[shof]

I thought Jennings was a free agent (not offered arbitration).

Didn't know about Everret (back), or that he would be released. Sorry to hear that; but that's pro sports.

Offense - should be MUCH improved. Question for them to figure out - where do you bat Tejada in the line-up? 6? Where does Matsui hit?

Defense - should be OK. Little more speed overall.

Pitching - the big question. If a couple of the young guys step it up, this could be a nice season.

P.S. You have to applaud the new GM (Wade). Dude is not standing pat!

[rhineaux]

_ I thought Jennings was a free agent (not offered arbitration).

Didn't know about Everret (back), or that he would be released. Sorry to hear that; but that's pro sports.

Offense - should be MUCH improved. Question for them to figure out - where do you bat Tejada in the line-up? 6? Where does Matsui hit?

Defense - should be OK. Little more speed overall.

Pitching - the big question. If a couple of the young guys step it up, this could be a nice season.

P.S. You have to applaud the new GM (Wade). Dude is not standing pat! _

Lance Berkman is on 610am here in Houston right now, and he said he didn't really like the trade at the beginning because they gave up 5 to get 1. then he said that the more that he thought about it, he liked it more and more because they got an everyday, potential all-star type player, in exchange for 5 guys who've never proven themselves. He said that their line-up will be really good, but that it had better be because "I feel like we're gonna have to win a lot of 12-10 ball games."

[shof]

Great to hear. He is "the man" in that locker room now; so that should help if he likes it. Hopefully they only have to score 7-8/game to win though.

[rhineaux]

_ Great to hear. He is "the man" in that locker room now; so that should help if he likes it. Hopefully they only have to score 7-8/game to win though. _

Big news on the radio this morning...

Early leaks of what is to come from the Mitchell Report on Steroids in Baseball. Miguel Tejada's name is said to be in the report.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5375472.html

[shof]

_ Big news on the radio this morning...

Early leaks of what is to come from the Mitchell Report on Steroids in Baseball. Miguel Tejada's name is said to be in the report.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5375472.html _

I actually wondered a couple of things WRT that report.
1) Could the club have actually gotten information regarding Tejada BEFORE pulling the trigger on the trade?
2) Would you hold onto Everret just in case Tejada is on the report, and finally,
3) What is the impact of Tejada being on the report? Suspension, slap on the wrist, etc?

Guess we'll have to wait and see this afternoon.

[SportsFan]

As a life long Astros fan, I don't really care who is wearing the uniform. Just win!!!

BUT...There is a lot of movement in a short amount of time! I, too, worry about giving up pitching prospects. I think you can win more games with a great pitching staff then with a "gorillaball" lineup. It's easier to win if you give up less than 3 runs, than if you have to score 6 or more. And it sure looks like the new GM is setting up a team that will score runs.
IF Brandon Backe can return better than before his surgery, that will help. IF Wandy Rodriguez can become a consistant starter, and IF another starter can emerge from the group headed to Florida, maybe then can survive. It's not the best division in baseball... I do think the bullpen has been improved.

Is it February yet???

[rhineaux]

_ I actually wondered a couple of things WRT that report.
1) Could the club have actually gotten information regarding Tejada BEFORE pulling the trigger on the trade?
2) Would you hold onto Everret just in case Tejada is on the report, and finally,
3) What is the impact of Tejada being on the report? Suspension, slap on the wrist, etc?

Guess we'll have to wait and see this afternoon. _

It depends on several things.
1. None of these guys failed drug tests
2. You'll probably have a hard time finding urine samples prvoing they were on the roids
3. some of this suspected use may have become before regulations and testing were in place

I have a hard time believing that the MLB will be able to enforce suspensions on these guys without positive tests. the players union would be all over them. I think the main purpose of this report isn't to punish old players, but to have a basis for moving forward with strengthening the penalties and to have some influence with the player's union to make those changes, and to give enough evidence to start supporting research in finding better tests for HGH and all the others. Plus, it really serves as a PR promotion on behalf of the MLB, which helps give them the upper hand in negotiations with the players.

[rhineaux]

_ As a life long Astros fan, I don't really care who is wearing the uniform. Just win!!!

BUT...There is a lot of movement in a short amount of time! I, too, worry about giving up pitching prospects. I think you can win more games with a great pitching staff then with a "gorillaball" lineup. It's easier to win if you give up less than 3 runs, than if you have to score 6 or more. And it sure looks like the new GM is setting up a team that will score runs.
IF Brandon Backe can return better than before his surgery, that will help. IF Wandy Rodriguez can become a consistant starter, and IF another starter can emerge from the group headed to Florida, maybe then can survive. It's not the best division in baseball... I do think the bullpen has been improved.

Is it February yet??? _

Pitching prospects and pitching phenoms are two different things. If you look at who's going into spring training, they still have a pretty good set of young pitchers. Its not like they were giving away Tim Lincecum or someone like that. Everyone they gave away had some issues with either their control or their stuff. I would have liked it if they'd have kept Albers and Patton, being as they are both from the houston area, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

[SportsFan]

Jeff Bagwell has alledgedly made "THE LIST".

[anhil8tor]

Jeff Bagwell has alledgedly made "THE LIST".

Have you looked at his homerun totals?

notice a spike in the late 90's....