Munson a Brewer

[Taras Bulba]

http://www.chron.com/sports/

Also, Ransom and Randolph outrighted to AAA.

[Matt]

Does that mean Towles is in?

[pravata]

www.chron.com.

Also, Ransom and Randolph outrighted to AAA.

good catch, here's a better link Link

[Taras Bulba]

Does that mean Towles is in?

Probably, unless he steps on his dick in the AFL.

[pravata]

Does that mean Towles is in?

Towles was "in" when they offered Ausmus a contract for 08.

[astrojo]

does this mean there will likely be a forthcoming announcement about officer brad?

towles
quintero
ausmus

[Phil_in_CS]

Does that mean Towles is in?

He's certainly lost a rival. I don't have an idea what this means for Ransom though. Back to AAA until spring training? I guess this is just getting roster numbers set.

[Matt]

Probably, unless he steps on his dick in the AFL.

If he can step on his dick then I'm sure he'll have a lucrative porn career if the whole baseball thing doesn't come to fruition.

[pravata]

does this mean there will likely be a forthcoming announcement about officer brad?

Likely not until just after the WS http://www.orangewhoopass.com/forums/index.php?topic=104098.0

[JimR]

http://www.chron.com/sports/

Also, Ransom and Randolph outrighted to AAA.

shit squared.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

shit squared.

Amen.  AAAA all the way.

[JimR]

Amen.  AAAA all the way.

you totally misinterpreted.

both are solid major leaguers.

i am talking about Munson and Ransom.

[Phil_in_CS]

you totally misinterpreted.

both are solid major leaguers.

my hope was ransom to replace burke.... Still could get a spot back in spring training.

[Limey]

If he can step on his dick then I'm sure he'll have a lucrative porn career if the whole baseball thing doesn't come to fruition.

J. R. Tools

[Matt]

J. R. Tools

I think Jackie Treehorn has found his new Karl Hungus.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

you totally misinterpreted.

both are solid major leaguers.

i am talking about Munson and Ransom.

Ah.  Previous misunderstanding aside, who's the "both"?  Munson-Ransom?  Ransom-Randolph? Munson-Randolph?  Dole-Kemp?

[JimR]

Ah.  Previous misunderstanding aside, who's the "both"?  Munson-Ransom?  Ransom-Randolph? Munson-Randolph?  Dole-Kemp?

read my post.

Ransom
Munson

[S.P. Rodriguez]

I was kind of wondering how to take the move of out-righting both to AAA.  Seems to me, this move clearly marks both Randolph and Ransom as "Plan B" for their respective roles on the team.  Also frees up roster spots if better options come along. 

I can appreciate Jim's dissappointment at Munson being claimed on waivers.  He played hard for Houston, it's a shame to to see him go. 

[juliogotay]

I was kind of wondering how to take the move of out-righting both to AAA.  Seems to me, this move clearly marks both Randolph and Ransom as "Plan B" for their respective roles on the team.  Also frees up roster spots if better options come along. 

I can appreciate Jim's dissappointment at Munson being claimed on waivers.  He played hard for Houston, it's a shame to to see him go. 

According to Wade, both Ransom and Randolph are minor league free agents at this point.

[VirtualBob]

According to Wade, both Ransom and Randolph are minor league free agents at this point.

Along with anyone else who has been around for 6 years (4 in the case of college draftees) and not on the 40-man roster.  Many of these will come back, but I have no insights into which ones will be actively pursued by the Astros or which ones will be open to hanging around another year.

[hint] A standing topic in the bus ride on 6 year FA's might be nice. [/hint]

[Duman]

[hint] A standing topic in the bus ride on 6 year FA's might be nice. [/hint]

I'll put it on my to do list

[S.P. Rodriguez]

I'll put it on my to do list

We're a "needy" bunch, aren't we...

[I'm Richies Dad]

That would be great to have something on the 6 year minor league guys.  Sometimes you can find some real gems!  I'd love that man.

[Kent's Moustache]

Aside from the catching issues, Munson was an experienced LH bat off the bench.

If Lamb goes elsewhere in FA, then LH sticks will be in short supply.  What is OP now, like 40?

P.S.  I tried for more trite acronyms in this post but was SOL.

[JimR]

Aside from the catching issues, Munson was an experienced LH bat off the bench.

If Lamb goes elsewhere in FA, then LH sticks will be in short supply.  What is OP now, like 40?

P.S.  I tried for more trite acronyms in this post but was SOL.

he made himself into a decent catcher with hard work in RR.

[Astroholic]

Aside from the catching issues, Munson was an experienced LH bat off the bench.

If Lamb goes elsewhere in FA, then LH sticks will be in short supply.  What is OP now, like 40?

P.S.  I tried for more trite acronyms in this post but was SOL.

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE.

[MusicMan]

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE.

"Streaky" is not the way you want to describe your #1 PH.

[Astroholic]

"Streaky" is not the way you want to describe your #1 PH.

Rather be 'streaky' like Luke than 'streaky' like OP.  I hope that Lamb comes back in that role.

[Froback]

Don't forget Anderson... I figure if he isn't the starting CFer, he certainly might be a bench guy for defensive replacement/Pinch Runner/LH bat.

While I want them to win in 08, I see 08 being another year of "re-building/re-tooling".  Cause I don't see anything realistic that is going to turn them from what they were in 07 to WS threats.  they might move closer, but I don't see them completing the journey in 08.

[94CougarGrad]

he made himself into a decent catcher with hard work in RR.

I was really pleased with Munson's improvement from season to season.

It's a shame he's gone. He worked hard for our team and should be a real asset to the Brewers if they don't mis-use him.

[Kent's Moustache]

he made himself into a decent catcher with hard work in RR.

I was unclear.  By "catching issues aside," I didn't mean to impugn Munson's work behind the plate.

Rather, I was trying to point out that his loss would affect the Astros other than just defensively.

[Froback]

While I appreciated Munson and the improvements he has made, what place did he have on this team?

Ausmus is being asked back to help teach/prepare Towles to take over catching duties in the future, so while Munson would have been a nice fall back should Ausmus choose to say no, or something bad happens to Towles preventing him from making the club out of ST next year, but not much more.

This is not meant to be a slap at Munson, just the current situation of the club.  It is almost nice to see the club not try to hang on to guys only to find little trade interest beyond scrap.  Perhaps this "moving on" is a sign of things changing, which might mean less situations like Lane.  Just a thought.

[JimR]

 so while Munson would have been a nice fall back should Ausmus choose to say no, or something bad happens to Towles preventing him from making the club out of ST next year, but not much more.

exactly this. i will be shocked if Towles is in the bigs immediately after ST, and Ausmus is no way a sure thing.

[VirtualBob]

exactly this. i will be shocked if Towles is in the bigs immediately after ST, and Ausmus is no way a sure thing.

Agreed.  Towles made huge strides this year, but it is a but premature to annoit him as an offensively effective every-day catcher in the bigs.  He may make the club out of ST or he may not, but IMO it would be foolish to expect much out of his bat either way.  I would rather see him spend at least a couple of months in RR. 

So that leaves us with:

• not Munson, who would have been adequate both at and behind the plate,
• maybe Ausmus, who may or may not accept the Astros offer,
• maybe Towles, who may end up making the team by default,
• Quintero, another default option and one who has not been terribly impressive in previous opportunities,
• Gimenez, who missed last year and was recently outrighted off the 40-man; gotta believe he is a long-shot.

Not a particularly awe-inspring array of proven talent.

[JimR]

Agreed.  Towles made huge strides this year, but it is a but premature to annoit him as an offensively effective every-day catcher in the bigs.  He may make the club out of ST or he may not, but IMO it would be foolish to expect much out of his bat either way.  I would rather see him spend at least a couple of months in RR. 

So that leaves us with:

• not Munson, who would have been adequate both at and behind the plate,
• maybe Ausmus, who may or may not accept the Astros offer,
• maybe Towles, who may end up making the team by default,
• Quintero, another default option and one who has not been terribly impressive in previous opportunities,
• Gimenez, who missed last year and was recently outrighted off the 40-man; gotta believe he is a long-shot.

Not a particularly awe-inspring array of proven talent.

scouts have told a friend of mine that the Astros catching situation is terrible.

[VirtualBob]

scouts have told a friend of mine that the Astros catching situation is terrible.

I'd have to agree (though with much less real insight to back me up, I doubt this will be much of a comfort to the scouts).

[MusicMan]

scouts have told a friend of mine that the Astros catching situation is terrible.

They could have left out "catching".

[Froback]

scouts have told a friend of mine that the Astros catching situation is terrible.

That doesn't surprise me.  The Astros best catching prospect is Towles, who I have heard compared to Biggio alot in the sense that catching may not be his best position for longevity in the majors.  And while I love Biggio, he wasn't that great a catcher.

Santagelo seems the latest in a long line of "great defensively, but can't hit well enough to make it" types.  It almost seems like this is the hardest position in baseball to find, but then all are hard to find, which is why the minors have so many players... shotgun type effect, hope you hit the target with a few.

[JimR]

They could have left out "catching".

and do

"dysfunctional organization" is another quote