Astros

[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....

[shof]

_ Have you looked at his homerun totals?

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

True; but also, when did the shoulder begin to "wear out". That was his biggest issue in the long run.

[Jason]

Tejada made the list big time!!

[shof]

Did not see Bags on the report anywhere. Did see Stephen Randolph (Pitcher) however. That and both Clemens and Pettite.

[Kal]

_ True; but also, when did the shoulder begin to "wear out". That was his biggest issue in the long run. _

Use of steroids is known to cause degeneration in muscular connective tissues like tendons and ligaments. Could it be that his shoulder wearing out coincided with steroid use? I think it's definately possible.

[Kal]

_
2) Would you hold onto Everret just in case Tejada is on the report, and finally,

Everett signed with Minnesota today. Depending on what Bud Selig does in his "case by case" punishments he deals out, the Astros might seriously regret ever considering this trade.

[RaisingCajun08]

_ Did not see Bags on the report anywhere. Did see Stephen Randolph (Pitcher) however. That and both Clemens and Pettite. _

You are correct. Bagwell is not on the list.