Drafting well is not enough

by AstrosBill on Dec 20, 2011 4:58 PM CST

We’ll start with the financial situation for the Astros.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/33/baseball-valuations-11_Houston-Astros_335701.html

Now that we have painted a pretty picture; lets remember that Mr. Crane and his investors have over 600 million "reasons" to cut expenses (meaning payroll) in the coming season(s).

A cut in current payroll expense in 2012 (moving Wandy, Myers and Lee) should mean that the Astros will be able to and should be willing to do whatever it takes to sign as many draft picks in the 2012 draft as possible; specifically the #1 overall. In the recent past few years; the Astros have done well in signing their top draft picks. In the past….well lets just hope that the past doesn't repeat itself. It hasn't always been very good. They also must find a way to get players to the majors sooner than their 27th birthday. A bit facetious but you get the point.

Did you know during the McLane era; the Astros drafted Johnny Estrada (1994), Aaron Miles (1995), Eric Byrnes (1997), Michael Bourn (2000), Scott Feldman (2002), Drew Stubbs (2003), Ben Zobrist & Drew Sutton (2004) and only Bourn and Lofton ever played a game for the Astros. Most were never signed. It wasn’t the first time it had happened to the Astros: Scott Erickson (1987) Kenny Lofton (1988), Jason Varitek (1990). Some were signed and moved in trades which didn’t exactly work out; while others went to other teams in later drafts.

Point being; if the Astros (Crane & Associates) are serious about building a winner they must not only draft well and sign their picks; they must develop players, move players up quickly and get them to the majors quicker than Drayton and his group did.

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I think the new FO knows this; it’s pretty much all they talk about.

by Snake Diggity on Dec 20, 2011 5:30 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, Wade was doing okay on that front.

He should have taken it slower with Altuve, Martinez, and Paredes, but it was better than what Purpura was doing.

by mike_o on Dec 20, 2011 9:32 PM CST up reply actions

Purpura signed Altuve, Paredes was acquired in a trade. Wade was not doing anywhere near ok as far as drafting was concerned.

by seanbergmanrules on Dec 21, 2011 8:04 PM CST up reply actions

Wasn't referring to drafting.

I was referring to the pace that the prospects were moved at.

by mike_o on Dec 21, 2011 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

Pupura did not sign Altuve for the Astros.

by Astro#1fan on Dec 29, 2011 9:45 PM CST up reply actions

Baseball-Reference says that Altuve was signed by the Astros on Mar. 6, 2007. Pupura was the Astros’ GM at that time.

by clack on Dec 30, 2011 5:35 AM CST up reply actions

I agree that they know it....

…and that’s their main topic of conversation. BUT will they actually act on it? That’s my concern.

by AstrosBill on Dec 21, 2011 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

“Did you know during the McLane era; the Astros drafted Johnny Estrada (1994), Aaron Miles (1995), Eric Byrnes (1997), Michael Bourn (2000), Scott Feldman (2002), Drew Stubbs (2003), Ben Zobrist & Drew Sutton (2004) and only Bourn and Lofton ever played a game for the Astros.”

And we did not even sign Bourn in that draft, he went back and was later drafted by the Phillies.

by Crzycjunx76 on Dec 20, 2011 6:08 PM CST reply actions

I agree with the general point of the post. But it’s worth pointing out that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will have major impacts on the team’s ability to excel in the draft. The caps on draft budgets will prevent teams from offering big over-slot bonuses, because the penalty for doing so will be high. And the failure to sign a draft pick in the upper rounds will be costly, because the money for that draft slot cannot be shifted to signing other draft picks.

by clack on Dec 21, 2011 6:46 AM CST reply actions

These new drafting rules suck!

by Its Gonna Happen on Dec 25, 2011 4:09 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Honestly I think the rules needed to be made, same with International signings.

I just think that the Astros just need to get better at analyzing talent not just overpaying to get a seemingly better prospect. They should have been doing that all along. I think Luhnow will help with this strategy, I am not a fan of Heck’s drafting though, he seems to overvalue “tools”, I like “tools” but not a first round pick on a one tool player. I am referring mostly to DeShields, I think that was a horrible pick, he was drafted because of his speed but that is a cheap commodity that can wait till the later rounds. You have very rare opportunity to draft hard throwing pitchers and power bats. In the first couple rounds I would particularly go hard after lefties both pitching and batters since they are harder to find.

by blazemule on Dec 28, 2011 3:38 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed

On basically all parts.

by Its Gonna Happen on Dec 31, 2011 6:03 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

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