Random News and Notes....
by clack on Nov 2, 2008 3:38 PM CST
20 comments
You haven't heard from me for awhile, so I will discuss some random tidbits....simueltaneously typing and watching the Houston Texans apparently head toward a loss at Minnesota. Austin fans...were you wondering if the Texans' game would be televised? The Texans don't get a lot of television time in Austin. Hopefully the Astros never get to that point.
Wiggy gets some kudos....
Beyond the Box Score rates third basemen. Wigginton rates as the 9th best third baseman of 2008, among not just the NL but the majors. Jones, A-Rod, and Wright are the top 3; no surprise there. Two of the third basemen more highly rated than Wiggy are in the NL Central: Aramis Ramirez and Troy Glaus. I don't know what to make of this, but 3 of the bottom 7 third basemen in 08 are former Astros: Mike Lamb, Morgan Ensberg, and Jose Castillo. Lamb rated as the worst in all of baseball last year. That is quite a fall for Lamb, who had some nice seasons with the Astros. However, Mike Lamb's career seems to have more peaks and valleys than most players (meaning...that he still might have another decent season in his bat).
Yankees and Astros...
This article says that the Yankees recently contacted the Astros about the availability of Berkman and Oswalt and were told "no." This story doesn't strike me as any big deal. The only reason it gets much attention is because the Yankees are involved. All teams doing their due diligence should be checking around the league for players they like. As they say, no harm in asking. Didn't the Yankees check on Oswalt's availability last off-season too? Both Berkman and Roy O have no trade clauses, and they seem among the most unlikely players to crave a move to the Big Apple.
Phillies and Astros...
The Phillies named Amaro as their new GM. Yes, the same Ruben Amaro who was a finalist along with Ed Wade for the Astros' job. In fact, Wade and Amaro are good friends, with Amaro having served as Wade's assistant in Philly. Could this mean more possible dealing between the Astros and Phillies? The link has a nice photo of Amaro and Lidge shaking hands. The Phillies passed over Mike Arbuckle, the Phillies' long time farm system director, who is highly regarded for his scouting. As a result, Arbuckle announced he is leaving. Given his reputation, it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
More Phillies...
Does anyone remember Brad Lidge uttering the F word on live television after the Astros won the NLCS in 2005. He probably is glad it isn't him this time. Chase Utley dropped an F-bomb on live television after the Phillies won the World Series. He said something like "World F'ng Champions. " Even with a 10 second delay, the broadcast technicians missed blanking it out by a hair. The crowd loved it, "erupting into cheers for several minutes."
Free Agents...
Another article about Type A and Type B Free Agents. Which free agent are hurt the most by their rating...meaning that teams may not think they are worth losing a 1st and 2d round choice? The Astros' Brocail has to be at the top of the list, along with Russ Springer and Darrin Oliver, also useful but old relievers. Juan Cruz, Oliver Perez, Damasco Marte, and Bob Howry fit in the category of good under the radar type players....but are they really worth the risk of losing the top draft pick? Any players who might be a bargain because they are Type B, rather than Type A? Maybe Randy Johnson. Bradley is definitely underrated as a Type B. Affeldt's marketability may gain a bit because he is rated Type B. Loretta's Type B rating will continue to hurt his marketability as a free agent...assuming the Astros offer him arbitration.
OK, the game is over...and the Texans made it interesting before succumbing...so it's my time to quit writing.
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"Hopefully the Astros never get to that point."
I doubt they ever will. The Texans are the victim of something of a paradigm shift in Houston sports. From 1996 until 2002, there was no football to speak of, while the Astros kicked ass. So Houston has spent over a decade now as a baseball town. Add to that the fact that MMPUS is a pretty nice place (I loved the Astrodome, but it was an acquired taste), and Drayton has a pretty sweet deal. Only if the Astros moved and were replaced with another, shittier team would the baseball team get no support.
Of course, that’s just my feeling on the matter. Texas is football country, so if the Astros ever sucked while the Texans were good, Drayton might have a problem.
“Both Berkman and Roy O have no trade clauses, and they seem among the most unlikely players to crave a move to the Big Apple.”
Roy might accept a trade, depending on the circumstances. Berkman has always said he doesn’t want to play for anyone but the Astros or Rangers.
And this just further shows how screwed up Coop’s policy with Wiggy was. The guy should have been playing every day, but instead he was often being replaced with Loretta and Blum. Even before he went on his hot streak, he had the 3rd best OBP on the team, and he probably should have been hitting lead-off.
by Only_A_Lad on Nov 2, 2008 6:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Thank you
And this just further shows how screwed up Coop’s policy with Wiggy was. The guy should have been playing every day, but instead he was often being replaced with Loretta and Blum. Even before he went on his hot streak, he had the 3rd best OBP on the team, and he probably should have been hitting lead-off.
I recall the sentiment at the time was that he wasn’t hitting well in the clutch. It’d be a lot nicer if people would start opening up to the idea that the clutch has a lot more to do with the law of averages than skill so that this asinine policy would have no grounds. It was absurd that the team with the worst OBP in the NL, just about, was benching Wiggy.
I can see Roy ok-ing that deal. I imagine he’ll be pretty pissed that we do nothing to shore up his rotation and would love the opportunity to play on that stage, with those stakes, and with that kind of surrounding support. Phil Hughes + some other prospects wouldn’t be a bad return at all. I hope I hear some more noise about this and will keep my ear to the ground.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 8:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I don't understand why being a Type B would hurt marketability
If I understand the rules correctly, signing a Type B doesn’t cost the signing team any picks. The team that the free agent left (assuming arb was offered) gets a compensation round pick, but it doesn’t come from the signing team. Am I forgetting another angle?
by lnewcomer on Nov 2, 2008 8:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
You're correct
It cost the signing team nothing.
For the team that loses the Type B, if the player signs before Dec. 1st, they still get the compensation pick too.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 9:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
my bad....
I knew that…but I forgot for the moment. So, my statement about Loretta is wrong.
by clack on Nov 3, 2008 7:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I struck out the sentence about Loretta.
The comments about the other Type B FA’s remain, because my point is that they may be as good as Type A’s.
by clack on Nov 3, 2008 7:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Wiggy
is my memory wrong or weren’t folks here pretty down on him early in the season? What was that cartoon graphic that got used when he did good things?
by ol Pete on Nov 2, 2008 9:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I can't speak to that
Because I wasn’t around at that time, but I recall the City of Houston, in general, not like Ty.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 9:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
not liking*
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 9:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
It'd be sweet
If you could edit comments, so I wouldn’t have to look like an idiot so often. I suppose that I could just proofread though.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 9:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
As I recall
everyone around the internet used the Chief Wiggum picture from the Simpsons:
Which is still pretty funny, because Ty looks like Chief Wiggum, porcine nose and all. Which would have made him hitting leadoff even funnier – fat bastards don’t typically hit first.
But I thought he was pretty good at the time. He seemed to finally have the plate discipline that he lacked every other season. Coop just seemed to be high on Blum, Erstad, and Loretta, which was totally inexplicable. Even Wiggy’s defense seemed better. I remember that when Coop benched Wiggy in favor of Blum after Geoff hit those two homers off of Manny Para, I told my father that Coop had no freakin clue how well Ty was doing.
But Coop’s lineup construction had been awful all season. From insisting that Bourn was a leadoff hitter to putting Tejada in the 3 slot, they were just bad decisions.
I’ve gradually come around to the idea of trading Ty, though. This was probably his career season, and it might not be a bad idea to trade him to someone with a 3B need.
by Only_A_Lad on Nov 2, 2008 10:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I believe Patrick the Starfish was Wiggy’s alter ego on these boards when Wiggy would do something bad:
by AstroAndy on Nov 2, 2008 10:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
lol
hilarious
He resembles Wiggy, too.
by Only_A_Lad on Nov 2, 2008 10:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I like that
Any picture with a character having a gut really does end up resembling Wiggy.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 10:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I have the trade thought
Or seeing how he could man RF and moving Pence to center…it’d be a tradeoff in defense, but sub .600 OPS can’t really be made up for with the glove.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 10:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
So who mans 3B?
I always hesitate on plans to move guys around. Especially given that Wigginton has only logged 18 games in RF.
Ooh, now that I think about it, aren’t the Rangers probably going to let Blalock go? If they don’t have anyone to immediately replace him, maybe the Stros could use Ty and maybe someone else to get one of those catchers they’re hoarding.
Alert Ed Wade! A fan has a stupid trade idea!
by Only_A_Lad on Nov 2, 2008 11:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
If only
He just had an email account we could send them too.
Blalock or Blum could do the trick and it would add another “b” to the team. Lowell maybe? I was really just roster-bating and not thinking, but I’ll get back to you on that.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 2, 2008 11:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I was just thinking that you roll the dice with Manzella
or, alternatively, you move (I know I just said I don’t like moving players, but whatever – this is more conventional, anyways) Tejada to third and see what Maysonet can do at SS.
by Only_A_Lad on Nov 3, 2008 12:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Or
Tejada to 3B and Manzella to SS. Two birds, one stone.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Nov 3, 2008 12:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Wiggy's defense has been the part of his game which draws ire.
I have never been enthusiastic about Wigginton because I feel that the left side of the Astros defense (SS, LF, and 3b) is weak. Tejada playing better than expected at shortstop helped out, though.. And Blum is perceived as a better defensive 3d baseman than Wiggy, which partly explains Coop’s frequent use of Blum (in addition to Blum’s occasional big hits). Last season, Wiggy went through spring training and the early season with defensive miscues so bad that it was like he had a mental block. So, he took some grief on the board then.
But he pulled out of the bad early season and played decently at 3d base…in fact, Wiggy had his highest RZR ever in his career at 3d base. Whether that is a fluke or he can sustain that kind of defensive improvement, who knows? The interesting thing to me is that, after he got used to it, Wigginton looked good defensively in LF. That is surprising because his body type doesn’t fit the typical outfielder. But it does fit the idea that a player’s defense improves as he moves positions toward the easier side of the defensive spectrum. So, we may have learned something about Wigginton’s ability to play the outfield if that became necessary.
Having said all that, I am afraid we may have seen Wigginton’s career year. Since he is likely to return to the Astros, I hope I am wrong and he can repeat it.
by clack on Nov 3, 2008 7:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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