FanPost

Luhnow steals the show


After day 1 of the MLB draft for 2012, one thing is certain. Luhnow and Crane get "it". It being the way back to the top, how to work the system, and how not to get overwhelmed by all the talking head know nothings telling you to take a bottom of the rotation, no late movement fastball throwing pitcher who, based upon his quote to the Pittsburgh media yesterday, needs a reality check. If you are blessed (?) to have the 1-1, take the kid with the highest upside. And if that kid happens to still be 17, a year younger than the other hs phenom, and exudes personality, charm and work ethic,(( unlike the #2 who exuded "cool boredom" and an unwillingness (or inability?) to talk to anyone)) then you know the Astros just hit one out of the park.

Plus, they worked the system perfectly. Once Correa was picked, that left anywhere from 4 to 4.5 mill left . Noone else could afford McCullers, at least no one had mid to late 1st round money left to pay him. IF the 'Stros can somehow convince Correa that being the first 1-1 from the island of P.R. is worth a few hundred grand, and sign him for say.....6.5 mill, then they can take the extra 700 K, add on the 5% they can go over their number without losing any draft picks, (another 550 K), and now, can offer Lance Jr. around 2.5 mill to sign. I asked my 17 year old hs pitching son if that was enough to keep him out of college? DUH Dad.....

So, kudos to Jim Crane, Jeff Luhnow, Bobby Heck and the rest of the Astros organization for making yesterday the first day of the rest of our "Astro" lives......life is starting to look pretty good again down here......

PS: Note to Scott Boras: Coming on mlb/xm 2 days before the draft and telling everyone that to sign the top 2 guys (both of whom you represent or are "advising", ) will take basically ALL your budget, because they are part of a handful of really "special" players in this draft, was probably ill advised.

PPS: Note to Marc Appel: Getting 5 Mill to pitch is still pretty dang good. Don't act all high mighty and insulted....it's not pretty.