Super Sunday Links 29 Jan 2012
by Timothy De Block on Jan 29, 2012 5:00 AM CST
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While conroestro was comparing the Astros and Cardinals drafts I was putting together these delightful links.
All About The Astros
Richard Justice: Astros' name connects with fans' pride in city | astros.com: News
A good article by Richard Justice. I'm curious to know though why he choose two playoff loses as memories.
Broadcaster Jim Deshaies chats with Astros fans | astros.com: News
J.D. answered questions from fans in an online chat this past Tuesday. This is the transcript of that chat in-case you missed it.
Ultimate Astros " Best individual seasons in Astros history? The envelopes, please
By Steve Campbell
S2S 2012 Team Prospect Lists: Houston Astros - Seedlings to Stars - A Minor League Baseball Site - Draft and Prospect News, Blogs, Opinion and More
By Nathaniel Stoltz
The 1986 Astros reunion: celebrating good times and great baseball memories. " Alyson's Footnotes
Alyson Footer covered the 1986 Houston Astro reunion.
Delino DeShields Jr. Resembles Dad… Sort Of | FanGraphs Baseball
By Mike Newman
Not The Draft
Younger Is Not Always Better in the Dominican | FanGraphs Baseball
By Jim Breen
Pre-Season College Top 100 Draft Prospects - Minor League Ball
Ranking the college pool before the first pitch of the season.
Appy Astros: Age in the Appy and Making the Show
AppyAstros looks at the age factor for all teams in the Appy League.
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I’m curious to know though why he choose two playoff loses as memories.
Ultimately, the losses are just as important in crafting our relationship to the team as the (much less frequent) victories. Perhaps more important, really.
I didn’t read Justice’s article to see which games that he listed as best memories But the 1986 extra inning playoff loss to the Mets is considered one of the greatest playoff games in history. The way that both teams kept coming back in that game is a credit to both teams. I think that game created a strong connection to the Astros for most fans of that era.
The ’86 game six is his first example. Game 5 in ’05 is his other.
For me, I’d say the 2005 NLCS Game 6 (the Bulldozer Game) is more meaningful as a fan, but the Pujols home run the game prior was part of why it was so meaningful.
Anyways, I think that seeing your team fail is as important (if not more important) than seeing them succeed. Seeing the Astros win the pennant in ’05 was made all the better because we saw them come so close in ’04 (and, for that matter, in all the first-round playoff losses before).
Thinking about it, watching things like the Miwaukee Game (Milwaukee Massacre?) was perhaps the most meaningful game I watched in 2008. Seeing them fail in the ‘05 World Series was as important to me as seeing them make it there. That’s why I was so offended when peeps intimated or outright stated that the Astros should be okay with moving to the AL because they “had no history” — an allegation frequently made against the US over the years, by the way, in perhaps a far more stupid context. I remember there was at least one article at BPro this year that said as much (this coming maybe a month after they published a really excellent guest article that talked about how the Astros had perhaps the least-talked-about-but-fascinating history in the major leagues). That really irked me. Success isn’t everything. Shit, it might not be anything.
The guy at Seedlings to Stars seemed a bit low on Singleton. He’s definitely a top 50 prospect.
The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.
by Stupendous Man on Jan 29, 2012 11:01 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Astros acquire 2B Jordan Kreke and OF/1B Jordan Brown
whattheheck57 Jayne
Also released SS Hector Rodriguez. Astros picked up 2B Jordan Kreke & OF Jordan Brown. I’ll post about them when I find more info.
native_astro Sean Feist
Newly acquired OF/1B Jordan Brown hit .311/.346/.466 with 11HRs and 64 RBIs for the year in AAA. #Astros
Brown’s defense is kinda sketchy and may not make the team due to Jack Cust, but he hits lots of doubles. Kreke is probably organizational filler.
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it. - Henry Ford
Brown looks like mostly DH material if he ever makes it to the majors for any sustained period. His fielding may be weak, but he has never had much problem hitting in the minors. His slash line for a 7 year career in the minors: .307, .365, .470, .835. He has been very consistent on offense in his minor league career, hitting .290 – .300 and good OBP. Last year, he split AAA time between the Brewers and Indians organizations. My guess is that Jordan will end up in Oklahoma City, but if he were to get off to a good start with the Red Hawks and the Astros were to sustain injuries that open up 1b or LF, it’s possible he could play some on the ML team.
Astros release several players
Released: LHP Travis Blankenship, LHP Colton Pitkin, LHP Shane Wolf, C Federico Hernandez, SS Hector Rodriguez, OF Kellen Kiilsgaard
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/01/minor-league-transactions-jan-18-25/
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it. - Henry Ford
Watching Major Leagues 1 & 2
2 things I really noticed.
1, how do you switch lead actors (Wesley Snipes for Omar Epps) and not expect anybody to notice? I HATE that.
2, its a lot more difficult to enjoy a childhood movie when you watch it and constantly say things like “Hey, there’s no way THAT swing would send a ball to the fence”, or “The Brewers aren’t in the AL, stupid!”
by Its Gonna Happen on Jan 30, 2012 4:37 AM CST via mobile reply actions
No!
MY mom throws the floater…just like Henry’s mom!
by Its Gonna Happen on Jan 31, 2012 1:06 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Interesting early simulation of team records
An early Marcel simulation shows no 100 loss teams in the NL Central. Projected losses: Astros 96; Cubs 92; Pirates 90. The Astros’ 66 wins would just beat out the Twins 68 wins for worst ML record.
If the Astros are going to be terrible next year, I’d rather they go all out and get another first overall pick. I’d be okay with that simulation coming to fruition.
The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.
by Stupendous Man on Jan 30, 2012 3:12 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I strongly second this
If we’re going to be bad, what’s wrong with being the worst?
by Its Gonna Happen on Jan 30, 2012 10:48 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
self-respect
also, since winning more is a product of the players being better, I would rather our players get better than not.
Pretty much this
We’re at the point where any improvement (barring hitting it out of the park on scrap heap free agents, in which case we get prospects in trade so it’s still good) means young guys panning out like we hope they will. What we’re basically aiming for is a point where we can be around .500 while fielding an very low payroll. Crane has basically said that when we reach that point he’ll open up the pocketbook and we’ll sign big free agents to take us over the top.
If somehow enough young guys pan out that we can be .500 this year, fantastic. The Astros will be contenders much sooner than we thought. Do I believe that will happen? No, but you have to progress toward that point—it doesn’t usually happen over one offseason.
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
There’s also something to be said for being competitive at certain points through out the season to draw in more fan interest. More fan interest means more revenue. More revenue means increased payroll, and now that the Astros have someone in charge with an analytical background means better payroll usage.
Follow my ramblings on Twitter .
by Timothy De Block on Jan 31, 2012 7:36 AM CST up reply actions
Not necessarily
If we continue to be sellers, selling anything of value at the ML level (Wandy, Myers, Downs, Lee, Bourgeois, Snyder, Wilton, ect.), I could see us playing a good amount of talented youngn’s and still come away losers. I see your point though, and yes, I pray that our young players THRIVE next year.
by Its Gonna Happen on Jan 31, 2012 1:12 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Crane has indicated that he hopes to see an improved record next year. From his standpoint as a new owner, I think he would like to show some improvement in W/L record so that fans don’t split on his photo every time they see it. No owner can see a positive if their team is the butt of jokes among fans. If the Astros show an improved W/L record while also continuing to develop young players, that may give some hope to average fans, which helps with everything from marketing to attendance.
Rosenthal reports that the Yankees are in “serious” negotiations with Bill Hall to sign him as a back up to Alex Rodriguez. Yankees’ hitting coach Kevin Long has worked over the off-season to “fix” Hall’s swing or something.
I saw that. He gets designated for assignment by the worst team last year and possibly signed by one of the best teams this year.
Good for him
by conroestro on Jan 30, 2012 1:34 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Jim Callis from BA
Is tweeting about the draft, and said that the cap for the 1st pick is 7.2 million. Astros can spend 11.3 million total. The twins have compensation picks for Cuddyer have the highest cap total at 11.8.
by conroestro on Jan 30, 2012 4:21 PM CST via mobile reply actions
yeah, that pretty well matches the estimates for the that I have seen previously. Unless the Astros run up against a draftee whose agent goes bat sh*t insisting on a huge bonus, the $7.2 million cap should be enough for the first pick. But for those who are hoping that a first round quality pick falls to the Astros in the 2d round, notice that the Astros only have $4.1 million for the 10 draft picks after the first round pick. If you blow a large part of the $4.1 million on the second round pick, the team will have difficulty signing the remaining picks.
the impediment to a “quality over quantity” strategy is that the Astros lose the money slot for any 1 – 10 round draftee who isn’t signed. The only way to “shift” money to the 2d round pick (for instance) is to sign some of those players well below slot, but if you can’t sign them at all, you lose the money and don’t have any money to shift.
I don’t understand why the 7.2 figure is announced. That kind of handicaps negotiating for that 1st overall pick to be under slot. The caliber of player taken with that pick is probably someone special, and his agent is going to negotiate for every bit of that 7.2.
by conroestro on Jan 30, 2012 7:01 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
That rule really handicaps teams, but obviously thats what Selig wanted since he wants to prevent overslot bonuses. It’s really going to advocate overdrafting of college seniors since they have nearly zero leverage and will potentially sign for below slot. The system gives them some leverage since if they don’t sign the team forfeits the cap space, but they still don’t have the option of returning to school.
Aren’t picks after the 10th capped at 100k?
We're going to need some extra recruiting tools
Clack, get the strippers ready!
by Its Gonna Happen on Jan 30, 2012 10:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Put pole dancers in the clubhouse
Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it. - Henry Ford
We just have to figure out how to pay these guys under the table…if Auburn can do it, why can’t jim crane?
If it became common for a few teams to do it, word would leak out. Obviously it would be a scandal, like it is at the NCAA level. I wonder what MLB’s punishment would be? Maybe take away several years of first round picks and make the players free agents?
Oh without a doubt it would grow to be an issue, and I wouldn’t be surprised if something like this becomes an issue in the coming years. I doubt there is any type of punishment lined up in the new CBA since this has never been an issue with teams being able to give bonuses at will. First round picks or decreased cap space would likely be the punishment or even hefty fines.
If the penalty isn’t spelled out, I think that Selig makes the penalty at his discretion (Oh, oh, different penalties for the Astros and Brewers?) I would think the penalty has to be much greater than the penalty for exceeding the team’s cap space—-since an under the table deal is an attempt at evading that penalty. The penalty for exceeding cap space includes both loss of 1st round pick and lower cap space in the next year. So I would think that Selig would have to impose loss of multiple future year’s draft picks as well as reducing cap space for multiple years.
That’s what David Stern did when the Minnesota Timberwolves tried to make under-the-table deals:
Five first round draft picks lost (reduced to three later) and the player involved (Joe Smith) had his contract voided and was made a free agent again.
I imagine any punishment in the NBA would involve the same thing. As for there not being a punishment described in the CBA, the commissioner can basically do what he wants in regards to enforcing the rules between clubs, anyways.
I wonder if this new system could lead to more behind the scene’s deals.
Follow my ramblings on Twitter .
by Timothy De Block on Jan 31, 2012 7:37 AM CST up reply actions
I have heard some ideas that teams could try hand shake deals (like “I’ll give you a major league contract in 1 year”) but these are unenforceable, which would make agents (many of whom are lawyers) very skeptical. That’s not to mention that the agent can’t get the commission for “extra legal” deals. I think MLB will be scrutinizing this stuff pretty closely.
Quality early
I think the depth of the farm system has reached the point to where Houston needs to focus on quality over quantity. They have 4 of the top 100 picks and every one of them needs to be the proverbial home run. Arms with ace potential and bats with plenty of upside.
by Snake Diggity on Jan 31, 2012 9:30 AM CST up reply actions
I agree we need to start going with quality, but the fact is that it’s difficult to do that in the new system. We will have to pick our spots on where to grab those high quality players and balance out the budget more than ever.
If you go overslot at any place, you have to be able to balance that at another place in your first 10 rounds. For example, a second round pick signs for slot+250k and your 8th round pick signs for slot-100k, your still 150k over slot and will then have to deal with the punishment for exceeding slot.
To go with four high upside guys with those picks (those types typically demand overslot bonuses) you will have to have several picks within the remaining picks within the first 10 rounds that are locks to sign and pray they accept below slot. And that’s unlikely since they have leverage of saying, hey I don’t sign, you lose cap space. So, your looking at college seniors more than likely or extreme reaches, and based of precedence, will outrage the fanbase. This new system really sucks.
I’ve been trying to find how much the cap is for the second overall pick. If it is significantly less than number one overall then the Astros could offer something in between the first pick bonus and second pick bonus. The pick would have to re-enter the draft and go number one overall again to get more, and even then he wouldn’t get a whole lot more.
Just spitballin here.
by conroestro on Jan 31, 2012 10:10 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
If he’s a college junior, he would likely get the same treatment the following season. But I doubt he would get significantly less than slot
True, but if it was a little less they could use that towards the others guys.
by conroestro on Jan 31, 2012 10:20 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
I think there could be some interesting draft strategies. For example, maybe you draft some normally below round 10 picks in the first 10 picks, with the understanding that they will be paid more than below 10th round (which is limited to $100 K) but less than slot for the position. That might free up some extra dollars without much risk that you can’t sign the player. Or, alternatively, you can play it straight and draft players appropriate for each slot position—-which is what MLB is trying to encourage.
I imagine the first strategy will be very popular and what I would probably do. That way you don’t risk cap space by them not signing, and are able to reallocate that money to other picks to free up room for negotiations.
If you go with what MLB hopes will be the strategy at going at slot, you run the risk of a player you expected to go for slot, want slightly over slot and your then forced to try and negotiate another pick to go below slot, which could cost you that overslot pick or a first round pick the following season.
no name change for stros
good news. I don’t care if the change the unies. however, hopefully the integrate some of the old.
by HTown80 on Jan 30, 2012 11:19 PM CST via Android app reply actions
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Current Series
4 game series vs Rockies @ Coors Field
|
Houston Astros
Monday, May 28, 2012, 2:10 PM CDT Wandy Rodriguez vs Juan Nicasio Sunny. Winds blowing in from center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 70. |
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| Mon 05/28 | 7:10 PM CDT | |
| Wed 05/30 | 7:40 PM CDT | |
| Thu 05/31 | 7:40 PM CDT | |
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
27 | 20 | .574 | 0 | Won 2 |
|
St. Louis
|
26 | 22 | .541 | 1.5 | Won 1 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
23 | 24 | .489 | 4 | Won 3 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 25 | .468 | 5 | Lost 2 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 28 | .404 | 8 | Lost 2 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 32 | .319 | 12 | Lost 12 |
(updated 5.28.2012 at 12:18 AM CDT)
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