Today, We Remember the Houston Astros 2011 Season
by native_astro on Jun 13, 2011 8:00 AM CDT
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Houston Astros 2011 Season
April 1st 2011 - June 13th 2011
Today we remember the Houston Astros who lost a short battle with their season due to a poor offense, poor pitching, a horrible bullpen, and a lack of prospects ready on the farm. They are survived by their soon to be ex-owner Drayton McLane and soon to be ex-GM Ed Wade.
The 2011 Houston were born into big dreams of if "blank" happens then they could succeed, but this would eventually turn out to be nothing more than a bad blueprint put together by Ed Wade. The roster never fully jelled simply struggled at every aspect of the game which led to a poor product on the field.
If the Houston Astros could have done it all over again, they would have realized that this was just a badly constructed team that never had a chance and simply needed to blow the roster up and simply start over. Friends of the Astros often referred to Astros as being delusional and in denial. The Astros simply thought they were going to be better than they actually were and simply needed a fresh new start.
Players such as Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Meyers should have been traded last year when their value was the highest. With Brett Meyers struggling and Wandy Rodriguez returning from the DL it's going to be hard to get anything close to the prospects you would have obtained last year at the trade deadline. In order to trade Brett Meyers now, Houston will likely have to pick up some of the money owed to Meyers in order to get a couple of mid level prospects or simply wait and hope that he can regain his form. The Houston Astros probably jumped the gun a little bit by offering Brett Meyers an extension, and will likely regret that deal unless some team like the New York Yankees is willing take him off our hands. The Yankees could use Meyers as long man out of the pen during the season and as a late inning reliever. Wandy Rodriguez could still bring back quality prospects if he returns from the DL and puts in some quality starts leading up to the trade deadline.
Not being able to trade Wandy Rodriguez or Brett Meyers could force the Astros to trade players such as Michael Bourn or Hunter Pence. Hunter Pence would arguably be the Astros best trade piece and could bring back a young MLB ready prospect plus 1-2 mid level prospects. It's yet to be determined on who might be interested in Michael Bourn or what kind of package he might be able to bring back. The Astros could use these cheap complementary pieces to build around players such as Brett Wallace, Jason Castro, Jordan Lyles, and Bud Norris.
Ed Wade is going to have a hard time justifying his decisions at the major league level with new team General Managers Sandy Alderson and Kevin Towers being able to turn around the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in their first year on the job. For Ed Wade, turning around the farm system will simply not be enough to save his job when new owner Jim Crane comes aboard. Three years is more than enough time for your Major League roster to show signs of improvement. Not only has this roster shown no signs of improvement, but some could argue that their progressively getting worse in every aspect of the game. When you're eighteen games under .500 and fourteen games back in the NL Central something surely isn't working. I think that everyone acknowledges and understands that Ed Wade was giving a broken ship, but to show little to no signs of improvement is inexcusable. This roster is performing the way that you would expect a team that just went through a fire sale to perform and not a team that consists of Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Meyers, Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, and Brandon Lyon. If Ed Wade and the Astros had gone into fire sale mode last year, it probably would of saved his job, but since they did not its likely going to be the final nail in the coffin for Ed Wade and his staff.
When Jim Crane and George Postolos take over, they're going to be responsible for fixing one of the biggest organizational messes in Houston Astros history. Not only do they have to reconstruct this roster, but they have the tough task of getting the fans excited about the Houston Astros and baseball again.
Yes, I said baseball! In years past, Houston could survive tough times simply by having the game of baseball to fall back on, but they do not even have that anymore. Fans in Houston have simply grown tired of high ticket prices, poor promotions, and a stale product on the field that produces little to no excitement. The casual fan doesn't care how many double plays this team has turned or that or farm system is headed in the right direction. They want to see signs of life on the field and a team that is exciting to watch. Not a team that cannot hold a lead, puts up bad at bats, and fails to score.
Are you kidding me?
When the visiting teams fans are out numbering the Astros fans there is a big problem. When Brian McCann hit the go ahead HR on Saturday it sounded like the Braves were playing a home game rather than being the visitors. I had to do a double take when I saw a majority of the fans were doing the Tomahawk Chop. I really should of pieced it together sooner. I mean come on the details were all there.
1. Fans cheered Brandon Lyon when he walked a runner
2. The Crowd went nuts when McCann hit one of his many HRs this weekend
3. Fans doing the Tomahawk Chop at Minute Maid
This is flat out embarrassing if you're the Houston Astros, but they have nobody to blame but themselves. You can only push the fans so much before they simply lose all faith in this team and this organization. If Drayton McLane were to give Jim Crane any last advice it should simply be "Be Honest with the Fans." If you're going to commit to an idea then be honest with the fans. We're not a stupid as the front office would like to think and we can see through this false sense of hope that the Astros are selling. Do you really think we enjoy hearing "Are you ready to be a champion" when we're getting our brains beating in day-in and day-out?
Does this sound like 2005 when the Chronicle buried the team? Yeah maybe, but this team doesn't have a rotation of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Roy Oswalt or a bullpen of Brad Lidge, Dan Wheeler, and Chad Qualls.
This is a just a bad roster and an organization that needs to finally come to the realization that it's time to simply start over. Stop this false sense of "We still think that we can compete." Not only is it insulting to the fans, but as an organization you come off as being the joke around baseball. Last time that I checked, being on pace to lose over a 100 games is usually a pretty good indication of an awful team.
Take solace in knowing that by June 13th, you will likely be on the clock for the number 1 pick in the 2012 draft and hopefully after the trade deadline you will have a mixture of prospects that are close and prospects that could help us in 2-3 years down the road when the Lexington Roster is close.
It's never easy saying goodbye to a friend or family member, but in this case and the city of Houston the Astros were simply struggling to survive and died of self induced complications.
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I love it!!
This is the blunt honest truth and it needed to be said! I agree sell off every single veteran and get what you can, i would rather see a team of young players putting in 100% effort than a team of old guys thinking there still good. I think playing a team full of younger players trying to prove themselves would make the fanbase get a little enthusiastic. The fanbase would watch games just because they know ownership is trying to improve not put a scrub team on the field and expecting them to win. I would give anything to see an astros team of the triple A roster, because they would be better off than this AAAA team they call major league caliber.
Don’t kid yourself about the Astros’ AAA team. It is very bad—much worse than the major league team.
by clack on Jun 13, 2011 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Triple A
I meant that figuratively just because this team is full of number 8 hitters, i know triple A is worse well just because there still in triple A and cant even crack the Astros roster. But it would just show were moving in the right direction and not giving out multi year deals to players who dont deserve it. I rooted for Myers when the deal was made but i also urged the trade of him at last years deadline more than signing him.
I am more sympathetic to Wade than the tact taken in the article. But, if I’m Jim Crane, I would replace Ed Wade as GM—mostly because I would want a clean slate and a fresh way of thinking in the front office.
An article linked in Sunday’s clips said that Crane views the SF Giants as a model for building the team. I’m not sure what that means. Perhaps it means building a team based on pitching. But if it is admiration of the way that Saben constructs the Giants’ roster, that’s no so good. Of course, that linked article could be inaccurate, since it came from an unnamed source (supposedly) close to the new ownership team.
by clack on Jun 13, 2011 9:13 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
We would have been a bad team
but the bullpen has killed this club’s momentum every time it has run up a head of steam and made us god-awful.
Imagine how jacked we would have been if they open the season with a win against Roy Halladay.
Just a NB, the Astros have never lost 100 games.
I still have my doubts that the Astros will lose 100 games; I think the pitching and bullpen will improve.
by clack on Jun 13, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Bullpen could improve....
If Lyon is not used very much anymore and mills quits using the double swtch and using the pitcher on 1 or 2 hitters.
Lyon – is a middle reliever being paid as a closer, i think he should be used in non stress situations no matter what inning it is. which means no extra inning games unless hes a last resort.
Mills – double switches are for using a pitcher in 1+ innings not 1 or 2 hitters thats a waste of a hitter and pitcher. He has improved and will learn coming from the american league but im sick of seeing it.
The bullpen all together is not being used right which is leading to our demise, we do not have a legit closer granted melancon is pitching better than expected.
This could be a couple of firsts for the
Houston Astros.
We’ve never lost a 100 games and we’ve never drawn under 2 million for the season at Minute Maid park.
Both are high possibilities.
by native_astro on Jun 13, 2011 9:40 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I think if the article is true, Jim Crane would have to envy their roster compiled of great starting pitching, a solid pen, and Buster Posey.
I live in the bay area and the Giants rise to fame has been slow and painful. They’ve missed on numerous contracts such as Dave Roberts, Aaron Rowand, Barry Zito, and others.
It turned around when Lincecum arrived. He brought the fans back to the park and anchored the staff.
Things are going to get worse for the Astros before they get better. In trades this summer they need to target young MLB blocked talent to reconstruct our lineup.
My whole point with this piece is that the Astros and the city of Houston just simply need a fresh start and a new direction.
by native_astro on Jun 13, 2011 9:34 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I think most it’s going to be a 50/50 split among fans who do/don’t want to go the the AL due to the DH.
New teams could bring the fans back to the park.
Well that and a new roster.
by native_astro on Jun 13, 2011 11:11 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
no one is untouchable
but they seem to think guys are.
IT CANT GET WORSE
63-99
I see myself as an entertainer and an Icon. Oh and C finnegan can go fuck himself
Mistakes
Signing Lyon to a 3-year contract worth $15 million – ouch!
Relying too much on last year’s performances, rather than spring training performances to formulate the roster this year – Abad, Inglett, Lyon (Putting him in closer’s role to start the year off), Figueroa
Not re-signing Matt Lindstrom
Signing Rowland-Smith
A rose with no fragrance is like a baseball player with no average. *cough* Joe Inglett...
That 16.5M should have been used last year on
Plutko and Jacoby Jones.
by Neil Leininger on Jun 13, 2011 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions
idiot
this is idiotic… we have a good starting staff…myers will be ok…. wandy is a dominant pitcher…norris ditto…happ is young and looks good… jordan lyles? geez, he is the real thing… bullpen is coming around…new guy fromel paso looks good…melancon is good… on question i have is ‘are we rebuilding or not??’ if we are, do it all the way…get rid of clee…any way possible…go with youth… and pence and bourne are youth…among others…glass is more than half full… we have good parts… i would like to see impact hitter in middle of lineup…wallace may be it…but need another…is there one in organization that is ready? we look fwd to castro back at catcher…towles just doesn’t hit well enough and q is a backup…i like corpeano!!! he looks really good…switch hitter…johnson is hitting better.. barmes looks good defensively…draft was good…patience patience team has to learn how to win..magnus
lost me at
wandy is a dominant pitcher
and norris needs to face St Loius EVERY START to be dominant. He does have the stuff to eventually be that
I see myself as an entertainer and an Icon. Oh and C finnegan can go fuck himself
Agreed Native_Astro
Firing Ed Wade and blowing up the roster is really the only answer at this point.
This season has me seriously questioning my prediction prowess. I liked the composition of the roster going in to the season. I applauded the acquisitions of Hall and Barmes, and I didn’t have any problems with extending Wandy and Myers. I thought the Astros would be near .500 all season. Here’s a rundown of why I was wrong:
-Thinking Brandon Lyon would be consistent. I wasn’t expecting stellar, just above mediocre. He’s been terrible and cost the team at least 3 wins.
-Believing Brett Myers’ 2010 was a true resurrection. He has been very inconsistent and has cost the team a couple of wins as well.
-Seeing Nelson Figueroa as a viable 5th starter. This cost another couple of games.
I’ve been happy with Wandy (even though his injury was unfortunate), and Happ and Aneury have been about what I expected. Without a dominant ace or a high-powered offense, this team just couldn’t afford for Figgy to be so terrible or for Myers to struggle so much. A lot of the young bullpen arms have been pleasant surprises, although Abad cost us a couple of games. A lot had to go right for this pitching staff to be good, and Lyon and Myers were extremely large parts of the equation. Both have been flops.
-Thinking Bill Hall’s 18 HR in Boston last year would translate to 20+ in a full time role with Houston. He just crapped the bed. What’s worse is that he’ll probably start mashing in San Francisco.
-Thinking Chris Johnson’s solid 2010 would be something to build upon, not look back and wonder what happened since. He is slowly coming around, and I haven’t given up all hope on him as a viable big leaguer, but he’s beend disappointing.
-Jumping on the JR Towles redemption song bandwagon. It’s over for him.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Wallace and Barmes and even moreso Downs and Bourgeois. Bourn and Pence have met my expectations. I expected Carlos Lee to continue his erosion. Going into this season, there were 3 glaring holes in the lineup (SS, 2B, and C), with 3B and 1B also beign questionable due to youth. Without a top notch rotation and lockdown closer, you can’t have 3 easy outs in your everyday lineup.
I agree that this season is over. It’s time to ship out the valuable chips and continue the re-build.
Well, it’s hard to predict pitcher injuries. So, your view on Lyon was understandable. As I’ve said before, Myers’ true level is not as bad as he has shown this season but not as good as he exhibited last season. The Myers’ contract wasn’t unreasonable, but it limited trading possibilities this year when it is combined with a bad start to the season.
by clack on Jun 13, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
You forgot to mention
Fans doing the wave while the Astros were on defense… or hell, the fans ever doing the wave is an embarrassment in itself.
Honestly though, who in their right mind actually though the Astros were going to be a good team this season… IF everything went good for them, you could have seen them being a .500 team.. MAYBE a game or 2 over .500. If at the start of the season you actually thought the Astros could contend you were A) either hoping more than thinking or B) are delusional.
I’m assuming you don’t actually think the Astros should trade Pence… he’s still young enough to where you can see him being a productive player once the Astros get good again(2014 maybe?) and Pence is actually starting to become the Star this team needs after the losses of Berkman, Bagwell & Biggio. He’s really the only marketable player the Astros have right now. I don’t think Bourn’s value is high enough to get in return what you actually get from him now… and he’s still young enough to keep him around as well. The Astros did break up the team last season by getting rid of Roy-O & Berkman and some of those prospects are starting to be productive players for the Astros(nowhere near what both Berkman & Roy-O are doing this year though).
They overpaid Myers to stay, but had the Astros been a joke(which they are) and Myers been as good as he was last season(which there was NO reason to expect that), the Astros could trade him for decent prospects, which would have gotten them back more than losing him in free agency… Okay, that’s probably a stretch, but it’s a reasonable stretch… sorta.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
My thoughts on trade possibilities...
I don’t want to trade Pence … but you have to be open. What if the Giants get desperate for a middle of the order bat? Would they offer Brandon Belt? What if the Tigers offer Jacob Turner? … These are high-upside players the Astros should ask for … for Pence. In reality, it won’t happen … but you have to be open to getting a potential star.
native_astro said it in a comment above that the astros should look for “young MLB blocked talent”. What makes sense to me is Bourn to the Braves for one of their young pitchers. The Braves don’t have a good CF and could use speed & lead-off hitter. If the Astros could get Mike Minor or Randall Delgado it’s something to think about. What about Bourn to the Nationals? They reportedly are already interested in him … Derek Norris is their best young prospect and he seems to be blocked by Wilson Ramos at catcher. Don’t think the Astros want another catcher but could they use him in a 3-team trade?
If Wandy can come back healthy and effective he has value. Would you take a chance on Phil Hughes if the Astros could get him from the Yankees or is Wandy good enough to get one of their young minor league SP’s (Banuelos or Betances). You’d have to think the Rangers would be interested … but not sure what we could get considering Martin Perez is most likely off-limits. What about the Reds?… They might target Wandy and have a player (Yonder Alonso) blocked by MVP Votto. Alonso would play a BAD left fielder for us but we’re already used to Carlos Lee and Alonso would be very cheap for the next 4 to 5 years and could provide (prime years) Carlos Lee production with a higher OBP.
This is all trivial and thanks for reading my rambling thoughts (if you did) but it’s always fun to think about the (hopefully positive) future and key players that could help turn this broken team around.
Phil Hughes is on the DL and may face TJ surgery. So, no, I wouldn’t want him at this point.
by clack on Jun 13, 2011 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
The point remains….
But now that you mention Joba, I think I got their injuries mixed up. Joba Chamberlin will undergo TJ surgery. Hughes is on the 60 day DL with a shoulder injury. There was some concern that Hughes might have a circulatory issue in his arm, but apparently they decided it is a shoulder issue. Hughes will take the Brandon Lyon route of rest and rehab.
by clack on Jun 13, 2011 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like the idea of a trade partner with the Reds despite that they are in the Central.
I think that the Reds have a strong minor league sysytem and have a lot to offer.
The Reds definitely have a productive farm system. One of the problems in trading with the Reds is that they have low tolerance for taking on payroll.
by clack on Jun 13, 2011 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think the Rays would be a good trade partner
especially considering they need to make room for those 10 picks in the Top 60 from the most recent draft.
by Neil Leininger on Jun 13, 2011 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Who do they really give us though
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes please to Matt Moore
He would be the #1 to slot ahead of Lyles, Norris, Kuechel, and anyone.
by Neil Leininger on Jun 13, 2011 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Not sure if the Rays would want what we have...
I’m sure they love Pence but not for the money he’s going to make in 2 years…and I doubt they’d trade away Matt Moore (one of the best pitching prospects in baseball) for a soon-to-be expensive outfielder.
Like Clack said, the Reds have a low tolerance for taking on payroll … but the Rays have almost no tolerance.
I mentioned the Reds in my comment b/c while they’re a good team … they’re not great and have holes. The Cardinals and Brewers look like better teams IMO right now but after the Reds success last year (and expectations going into this year) I think they might expand the budget to get back to the playoffs. Plus the fact that Yonder Alonso is blocked makes him very tradeable. Alonso doesn’t really fit with the Astros (in terms of a position) but b/c of his situation with the Reds he’s probably the best prospect that’s truly available…and (just like in the draft) I think the Astros should go after BPA. We’ve dealt with Carlos in left… I doubt Alonso could be worse. ALSO, even though the Astros have OF depth in the minor leagues … Alonso profiles as a middle of the order power bat. That’s something the Astros don’t have in their system.
Again, the Rays would be great to trade with but I don’t think they feel as much urgnecy to get players to win now (like the Reds).
If they are still in it you never know plus if they were to let Hunter walk after
his arbitration years they could tender him and get a comp draft pick when he signs elsewhere.
There is no way they give up Matt Moore. He is a strikeout machine and a huge part of their near future
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
thats what i want but never said it would. lol but then again ive seen some
moves made by teams in my life.
Isnt he hurt now though
Could hurt his stock in their eyes, possibly. In a perfect world, Id love to fire Wade, hire Friedman, and then have Friedman pluck all the gems from the Rays system in trades – including Josh Sale, heh.
by YohannDookeyblue on Jun 13, 2011 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions
In the bad old days...
… Cubs and Braves fans seemed to outnumber Astros fans for every series played in Houston. Not surprising that it’s getting back to that. Good post.
Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.
by Austin Astroholic on Jun 13, 2011 5:41 PM CDT reply actions
plus none of our fans want to go to the games
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions
eh not for the price you have to pay. I do think ill go thursday just to see Jordan pitch
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Eh its not that bad lol
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
This international prospect list is bothering the hell out of me. I tried searching to see if a free site had anything posted but i cant find anything
maybe im searching wrong
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Lol same, I’ve been searching, but can’t find anything. Does anyone here have a subscription to baseball america that Is willing to share with us what it says?
by Woodlands'stro on Jun 13, 2011 7:14 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
for real that would even make for good discussion too
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions
MLBTrade Rumors has a post about it. Thats all Ive been able to find, thats free/
by YohannDookeyblue on Jun 13, 2011 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions
i see. o well i tried looking there and didnt see anything but i just glanced
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jun 13, 2011 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions
2007 - 2011 = worst 5 years in Astros history!
I’ve never been an Ed Wade fan, but this is not totally his fault. He has been somewhat handcuffed by ownership I think. He has improved the farm..but that was an easy job. The moves that he has made at the MLB level have been god awful. Anyways, whether he has done a horrible job or an ok one may be up for arguement…but NOBODY would say he has done a great or above average job. I am looking forward to new ownership and a new f.o. I like Heck, but I think his time is likely up too.
Am I missing something
You mean they just NOW died?
by goingforthecorner on Jun 14, 2011 5:49 PM CDT reply actions
Really... sorry this is a fan plan not realistic at all
If your going to tout yourself as an informed blogger learn to spell the name of the players you are referencing. Its Brett Myers. Plus you can’t rebuild a team by shipping all your good players for prospects. The way to win is to develop your farm system (Phillies,Rays,Brewers) and supplement them with smart free agent acquisitions. While Ed has whiffed on his free agent signings the building the Farm season stuff seems to be paying dividends (Lyles Castro JD Martinez, Altuve to name a few. Plus I don’t know if your related to Sandy Alderson but if turning around the Mets means 2 sub .500 seasons and not much hope going forward then I hope your not hiring our next GM
by Astros on Fire Not on Jun 15, 2011 1:29 PM CDT reply actions
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Current Series
3 game series vs Dodgers @ Dodger Stadium
| Fri 05/25 |
WP: Lucas Harrell (4 - 3)
SV: Brett Myers LP: Clayton Kershaw (4 - 2) |
3 - 1 win |
| Sat 05/26 |
WP: Kenley Jansen (4 - 0)
LP: Wesley Wright (0 - 1) |
3 - 6 loss |
|
Houston Astros
Sunday, May 27, 2012, 3:10 PM CDT Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 75. |
||
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
26 | 20 | .565 | 0 | Won 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
25 | 22 | .531 | 1.5 | Lost 3 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 24 | .478 | 4 | Lost 1 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
22 | 24 | .478 | 4 | Won 2 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 27 | .413 | 7 | Lost 1 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 31 | .326 | 11 | Lost 11 |
(updated 5.27.2012 at 1:03 AM CDT)
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