Messages

1

Talk Zone / Re: The value of a good bullpen

« on: August 05, 2008, 03:33:43 pm »

What's up with Nieve? His K's are still pretty solid.

2

Talk Zone / Re: It's August 1

« on: August 05, 2008, 03:27:11 pm »

Did I say you posted something wrong?  Quit being so damn sensitive and grow a little bit of thicker skin.  It will help you around here.

My B, thought you were calling me a Jackass.

3

Talk Zone / Re: The value of a good bullpen

« on: August 05, 2008, 03:20:46 pm »

And Paulino could come back strong and provide a late inning power arm. Pretty encouraging.

4

Talk Zone / Re: It's August 1

« on: August 05, 2008, 03:19:19 pm »

rent: Jackass

Haha, tell me what was wrong with what I posted in this thread?

5

Talk Zone / Re: It's August 1

« on: August 05, 2008, 01:00:08 pm »

just go away. does not matter to me what you post. just leave.

You've got issues friend.

6

Talk Zone / Re: It's August 1

« on: August 05, 2008, 12:31:51 pm »

STFU, please

You serious? I thought you were not one of those people I'm referring to.

7

Talk Zone / Re: Pence Fastball %

« on: August 05, 2008, 12:29:58 pm »

We just see him swinging horribly on the offspeed stuff, so that's what sticks out in our memory the most. 

It's like the clutch hitter stuff. There's no way he gets more sliders than fastballs total, even if he sees less fastballs than any other hitter.

8

Talk Zone / Re: It's August 1

« on: August 05, 2008, 01:10:18 am »

Only 6 back in the loss column...

Alot of people were bitching about the Wolf and Hawkins deals, but you gotta hand it to Drayton. He cares about trying to put good product on the field.

9

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 05, 2008, 12:14:38 am »

Chris Sampson.

Ahh, indeed. I think I was thinking of the AS game a few years back, they showed Berkman and Dunn riding to the game together or something.

10

Talk Zone / Re: Pence Fastball %

« on: August 04, 2008, 11:45:03 pm »

Does that suprise you?

That the % is the absolute lowest? Kinda. I mean I figured it was probably down there. He's bounced back lately from his terrible June. Do you think he's re-adjusted??

11

Talk Zone / Pence Fastball %

« on: August 04, 2008, 10:33:19 pm »

Did anybody else just hear that? Pence sees the lowest % of fastballs out of qualifying hitters?

12

Talk Zone / Re: Brewhaha in Brewer land

« on: August 04, 2008, 10:22:21 pm »

Did he punch him? Looked like he sort of smashed Parra's head back into the clubhouse wall.

13

Talk Zone / Re: What if?

« on: August 04, 2008, 08:27:30 pm »

The pitching gave up 20 runs; the offense only scored 14, with only 29 measly hits in 42 innings. We could have gotten by with the pitching we had if the offense had been up to snuff.

Agreed.

14

Talk Zone / Re: What if?

« on: August 04, 2008, 07:42:36 pm »

Which spot in the lineup was to blame?

Centerfield? Catcher? 4th Outfielder?

Nice! You really got me there.

(We're talking about whether the pitching in the '05 WS was "a problem", among others, leading to the sweep.)

15

Talk Zone / Re: What if?

« on: August 04, 2008, 03:28:56 pm »

The Qualls grand slam and the Oswalt 5-run inning were pretty huge. I don't think you can put it all on the hitting.

16

Talk Zone / Re: What if?

« on: August 04, 2008, 03:22:17 pm »

These people? It's just me, you can use my username. The offense would have needed to score 6, 6 and 8 runs in the first three games to win. The same offense that scored 4.25 runs per game during the regular season and 3.66 runs in the NLCS. I agree the offense was shit, especially with RISP, but I expected a better performance out of the pitching based on the previous four months.

Not just you, I agree with you.

17

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 04, 2008, 03:18:59 pm »

If you're going to go after Dunn, and ignore defense entirely, then why not just go after Manny instead?

(Oh, I forgot: free agent, check, lives in the area, check...)

And he's friends with Berkman too, isn't he? Or am I making that up?

18

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 03, 2008, 07:14:24 pm »

Aside from the fact that EVERY ball in the gap would either be a triple or a collision, yeah. That's a great point.

Come on... I'm agreeing that the outfield defense will be substantially worse, but this is hyperbole. Was every ball hit in the LC gap last season a triple or a collision??

19

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 03, 2008, 07:12:09 pm »

If you're playing Strat-O-Matic, yeah, it makes sense.  If you're dealing with human beings in the real world, there are cascades of effects that would be catastrophic.  For starters, go ahead and add a run to everybody's ERA.  While you're at it, try to calculate the negative affect it would have on acquiring any pitcher who isn't trying just to hang on, because he knows that flyouts would become triples in Houston. Trading Dunn's bat for Bourn/Erstad isn't anywhere near an even swap; we've seen Pence gamely attempt to play CF in Houston and everybody knows he was way out of position.  Dunn is a poor LF, and sticking him in right further devalues your defense AND costs you his contract vs. Bourn/Erstad.  There's no way that the .300ish difference in OPS will give you enough runs to make up for what would be a painful outfield experience.

It is a mantra around here, and if you stick around you'll appreciate its truth.  Read more and post less.  There's a whole lot of folks here who have a great deal of baseball knowledge.  Take advantage of it.

I think adding a run to everybody's ERA is a gross exaggeration. And maybe you're right about pitchers not liking the defense; but maybe getting solid run support would mitigate that factor in their minds. In the end, we're all just discussing what the team does. If the team goes after Dunn, it's simply not a clear cut disaster decision like you are suggesting.

20

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 03, 2008, 12:05:15 pm »

Do you really not see the train wreck OF that would be Lee, Pence and Dunn?

I think the additional runs scored by a lineup that substituted the worst hitter in the league with one of the best would be more than the additional runs allowed by the train wreck OF.

21

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 11:03:25 pm »

because the only player i could see him replacing is pence.  and i don't think it would be an upgrade over pence.

Okay, fair enough.

22

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:54:05 pm »

you were the one saying he was horrible at ops or whatever it was.  you kept using his stats to prove some point.  you were complaining about him.

you liked what they used at the start of the season when the team was constructed, now you don't.  they have made changes to areas that needed help.  if you think adam dunn would help this team, then i think you are wrong.

Somebody mentioned a rumor that the Astros were looking at Adam Dunn. Somebody else thought that this made little sense. I mentioned that it might be a good idea if they were looking at him for RF/1b, sliding Pence to CF because the lineup as constructed, with CF and C being extremely unproductive offensively, is not working. It was not a criticism of the Astros starting the season with him as catcher.

You honestly think that Adam Dunn would not help this team??? Why do you think that? (Serious questions, I would appreciate responses if you don't mind, i realize that it's late)

23

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:42:47 pm »

you were the one using his stats, so you were complaining about him.

? No I just said that this lineup isn't working, so Dunn might be good to look at. I wasn't complaining about him starting the season.

24

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:41:45 pm »

dunn to rf/1b???  where are you moving berkman?  why break something that is working?

Not necessarily moving Berkman... if Dunn can play RF. This is all stemming from the guy that was wondering why they would look at Dunn, I was offering a possible reasoning.

25

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:39:48 pm »

you are complaining about something you wanted?  what an asshat.

I'm not complaining about him starting the season or playing, just saying that this construction shouldn't be continued. And it isn't.

26

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:39:09 pm »

i don't think the astros planned to build a roster with any of the worst offensive regulars in the NL or MLB.  some things work out some don't.

but whatever. 

BTW, if Hunter was in cf, who's rf?  then who is on your bench?

Agreed, this clearly didn't work out. Thus my original comment about Dunn possibly being looked at for RF/1B, shifting Hunter to CF.

27

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:38:00 pm »

i don't think he cares about defense.

Not true. Shouldn't there be some sort of balancing test between defense and offense? Or is defense more important no matter what. In this case, I say sacrifice some defense in order to get two of the worst bats in the entire league out of the lineup. And it seems like that's what the Astros are doing recently.

28

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:36:00 pm »

so what if he does?  i bet you were one that was glad he was starting this season because of what he did at the end of last season.  and complaining about ausmus is stupid since he catches only 1-2 games a week.

You're absolutely right, I was one of those. And I was dead wrong.

Ausmus is 2nd in ABs at catcher, not that far behind Towles. Including him in discussion about production from catcher makes sense.

29

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:35:09 pm »

Read about the team building strategy the Astros had in mind. Speed, up-the-middle defense, etc.

Quick question. Does OPS account for speed in any way? Defense? Baserunning?

Fast, great defense teams can't win if they don't score runs. I don't think the Astros planned to build an opening day roster with the 2 worst offensive regulars in the national league.

30

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:31:43 pm »

i, of no line up making decisions, would rather see bourn (when healthy) play cf.  I want hunter no where near there. 

Right I get you. Likewise, I of no defensive alignment making decisions would rather see Hunter in CF because that would also get him in the lineup at a position where his offensive skills become more valuable than at right field because of scarcity.

lineup and defensive alignment go hand in hand

31

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:29:17 pm »

Then my advice is don't sign any of those black holes to your fantasy club.

Haha I don't have a fantasy team. Seems boring.

32

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:28:12 pm »

towles isn't even in MLB anymore.  what are your expectations of a catcher?

But he still leads the team in ABs at catcher.

Depends on how the team is constructed. I think that a team with a dominant pitching staff can get away with having a couple of black holes in the lineup. (see Astros 2005) I don't think that this team can get away with that, and it's been demonstrated with the offensive performance this season. Very solid production from 1B, LF; decent from SS, 3B, 2B, RF; virtually non-existent from C and CF; 12 out of 16 in team production. I think that it's easier to upgrade non-existant production to decent production than to upgrade decent to solid. So to answer your question, my expectations would lie around the mid .600s in OPS terms, which would be about average in terms of NL catchers with significant ABs.

33

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:20:14 pm »

you missed the point that they didn't want pence in cf.

Apparently you don't agree with the decision to not always play Bourn this season. I also disagree with a decision made by the team, that of not keeping Pence in center.

34

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:17:07 pm »

how many teams don't have a "black hole" in the catcher spot?  seriously, i hate the same dead horse shit.

Pirates, Cards, Braves, Dodgers, Phils, Mets, Nats, Giants, Cubs, Rockies, DBacks, Reds.

Towles is dead last in OPS among NL catchers.

35

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:07:05 pm »

pence was so good in cf last year the astros went and found a cf.  unfortnately they don't always play him.

Bourn was so good this year that they decided to not always play him.

36

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 10:05:36 pm »

Three black holes. Good grief. Read much, much more. And do us a favor and post much, much less.

Read what? CF and catcher have been total black holes. Bourn ranks dead last in OPS among all qualified National League hitters. Towles, if he qualified would rank dead last with even worse production. Ausmus, with significant ABs at catcher in #8 slot would rank 81 out of 84.

37

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 09:20:36 pm »

Have you ever watched Pence play CF? What a dumb idea. As my mother would say, it's dumb overflowing.

Yeah, I think he's pretty average. I'd be more worried about Dunn's defense at first in that scenario, but I think the Astros need to finally move past having 3 black holes in the lineup.

38

Talk Zone / Re: The deal the Astros didn't make

« on: August 02, 2008, 08:27:12 pm »

  Carrol at Baseball Prospectus reported "one of his sources"  told him the Astros inquired about Adam Dunn.   That makes zero sense to me, but something to keep in mind for the offseason.

Contingency plan for next season if Bourn doesn't pan out? Move Pence back to CF, Dunn to 1B or RF. It would be nice to get some lefty power back in the lineup after they lost Scott and Lamb.

39

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draftees and Status

« on: August 02, 2008, 11:37:22 am »

Seaton!

God this makes me really happy. I was pissed they passed on Smoak, but Seaton makes up for it in my mind. He will be a stud someday.

40

Talk Zone / Re: One change

« on: June 17, 2008, 02:02:22 pm »

You're the only one.  An "RBI man" is a hitter that usually puts the ball in play.  Ichiro qualifies but has other skills as well.  Pence does not.   There's also the context of the types of pitches the 6 hitter sees.

Seems like a pretty vague and useless term. I think teams can be and are more precise.

41

Talk Zone / Re: One change

« on: June 17, 2008, 01:52:46 pm »

They might do this if there is a better option too lead off, which Pence! is not.  Pence! is an RBI man who fits perfect at 6 or 7th in the lineup.  Understand?

Agree that Pence is not a better option in the leadoff slot, but not convinced about this concept of an "RBI man". At what point in production does somebody cross over into RBI man territory? Would you call Ichiro an "RBI man"? Don't you think he would rack up a shit ton of RBIs if he hit 4th or 5th?

Personally, I think Matsui could hit leadoff just fine.

42

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 03:29:26 pm »

As someone else said, define better because 1b/dh and c are apples and oranges.

And, I don't bet on development.

Maybe in three years, see if either are in the big leagues or soon to be. If both are, production and defense I guess. Castro gets a bonus b/c of his position.

Yeah, fair enough.

43

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 03:14:47 pm »

Now you're just trolling.  That won't last long.

I think you are reading something in that comment that isn't there. Just a joke, lighten up chief!

44

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 03:13:01 pm »

Or that the whole idea of slot money is a general principle, agreed upon by MLB and the MLBPA to introduce some predictability into the draft process.  But, hey, everyone else ignores it, why shouldnt the Astros?

Amen, gotta start leveling out the playing field.

45

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 03:11:55 pm »

Easy to say when it's not your money

Ain't that the truth. Hey just consider it left over money from what they didn't spend last year to sign Dietrich. Eh??

46

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 03:09:08 pm »

The Chron says Yes. 

This could turn out to be a pick reminiscent of Troy Patton who was nabbed in the 9th round but had 2nd round ability.  Was signed for higher money and turned out to be a key piece in bring Tejada to the Astros. 

Could be an absolute steal. Screw slot money.

47

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 03:08:13 pm »

no. the better pick for Houston was Castro. you lose.

did you understand Noe? we ain't a discussion forum about "better" picks.








 


next question.

Actually, I was talking to Jacksonian.

48

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 03:07:12 pm »

you going to argue this one, too, clarkie? define "successful." define "developed."

Depends. For the purposes of tod's discussion, why not start with guys that pitched in the major leagues for at least a complete season.

49

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 02:50:05 pm »

You do understand that as a 1b/dh Smoak is a baseball one-trick pony?  If he doesn't hit the way he's expected there's nowhere for him to go.  And even if he does hit, as a 1b in the NL, if he's a butcher in the field he becomes a liability and devalued goods in trade.  Castro as a catcher doesn't have to hit to the level of Smoak because he plays a position at least fairly well that few can.  So even if he doesn't hit the way he's expected there's still a job for him in baseball.  A valuable job.  Notice there are no 1b in baseball that hit the way Ausmus does.  And yet there are teams that would hand him a starting job much less a backup job.  This is one reason why up the middle position players are so valuable.  Few can do well what they can do.  I am very glad they didn't pick Smoak.

Can we make a wager on who turns out to be the better pick?

50

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 02:48:29 pm »

You keep saying you like the 3rd supplemental pick.  The first supplemental pick is signed and coming.  We will be very lucky if the 3rd Supp. pick signs and if he does it will likely be for 1st round supp. money.  One of the requirements that Heck expected of his scouts was to know what it would take to sign the player.  That is why Seaton was available in the 3rd round supp.  Signability.  He may never throw a pitch.  Draft picks don't help you if they don't play for you.

Agreed. Still, it's hard to not be excited I think Seaton is gonna be a player. Any chance he is a huge Astros fan?

51

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 02:46:44 pm »

You're talking to the wrong guy.  I thought you wanted to talk development and the sound organizational strategy to accomplish that.  You're going to have to go find the numbers you seek somewhere else and then draw whatever conclusion you want from that I guess.

I think he means numbers as in the actual quantity of developed successful pitchers.

52

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 01:32:31 pm »

Two things (just to be very clear):

1. "Like or dislike the pick" really is not something many people, including myself, really understand unless it is within the context of what the Astros said they'd do.  For instance, if I said "I dislike this pick", it probably means that I don't really understand what Heck and Wade are doing (which can almost always be the case) or Heck and Wade went against entirely everything they said mattered to them.

2. Opinions only matter to the person making the opinion known.  They don't matter anywhere outside of that and this forum and fansite will usually let you know about it too.

?  Fair enough chief. You ever get together with people to watch the NFL draft? To me its just natural to have a comment on whether you like/dislike draft picks.

Thanks for the tip. I can still have my opinion, I don't give a damn if Jim or anybody else cares or not.

53

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 01:28:05 pm »

I'm trying to understand.  You dislike the 1st round pick because you believe Smoak will be a better hitter than Castro in the majors?

Right.

54

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 01:23:58 pm »

Why is it important?

Lots of high picks, new GM, barren farm system. Exciting times. These descriptions are pretty exciting, lots of big high school arms sounds like.

55

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 01:20:26 pm »

when are you going to discuss it? all you have done is bitch about the picks. Noe has far more patience than i, but even he will tell you to take a hike eventually. no one here cares a bit about your opinions on the picks or whether you "like the pick." your opinion, like everyone else's here, does not matter one bit.

Heck and Wade. read more, post less, clarkie.

I am discussing it. I said that I liked the 3rd supp pick, and disliked the 1st round pick. Reactions to the picks aren't valid discussion topics???

And I was actually having a decent discussion with Noe, thanks for the advice chief. And actually, my opinion does matter because I enjoy discussing the Astros.

Cry some more, homer.

56

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 01:12:03 pm »

STFU.

my ridiculous posts? you register just so you can come here to bitch?

Don't flatter yourself, I registered to discuss the draft. It's a pretty important one.

57

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 01:05:16 pm »

Great, now tell me in your own words what they said.

How does this mesh with "what they said"?

I'm not trying to be hard here, but who really cares if "you" like the pick?  I don't think you understand the major league baseball draft well enough to know how to feel about a pick.  This isn't the NFL where "development" is not an issue.  Or the NBA.  "Development" and "projectability" is what is the backbone of the MLB draft.  "No liking a pick" is ignorance of those two very fundamental aspects of picking... none of which you've provided as keys to your dislike of the pick itself.  Now you add in what Heck and Wade said and you can see why the pick was made and why it works for them... and *THAT* is who matters, not you or I.

Castro was the best player available.

It doesn't exactly mesh with it, but then again the official party line isn't always the entire picture.

It matters only in the context of this discussion I suppose...

Absolutely agree with you about the differences between MLB draft and NBA/NFL draft. Notice that I'm limiting my discussion of the picks to the first one, because Smoak was a guy that had top of the draft talent. Everybody knew about him, he's a high profile college star. There don't seem to be development issues with him.

58

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:45:05 pm »

Because Purpura and company decided that Sapp would translate well with his left handed power swing.  No one believed he would turn into the Stay Puff Marshmellow man, but he did.  But why do you take the word of a National publication over the word of the very people who run this organization and are willing to share information?

I'm trying to get to where you come from: Do you believe that the National media is going to tell you the truth whereas the local organization is trying to blow smoke up your ass?  Basically, it's a tried and true method used by the media around here... don't believe the source, believe some disenfranchised National source for some damn reason.  I think people can do better for themselves by being a bit less skeptical and understand what it is they're reading on all fronts.

Should I provide a primer on what "projectability" and "development" mean to how drafting works in the MLB?

Good lord I'm not even a big fan of BP. I don't subscribe, but I do read some free articles and scan their books. All I was trying to say is that people were calling BP out for always dishing on the Astros, but they haven't really been proved wrong. The stros farm system and draft history has been terrible recently.

59

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:42:53 pm »

Berkman is not the issue, Bobby Heck and Ed Wade are.  Do you think if Heck and Wade were not there, they'd still pass on Smoak?

I don't think you do unless you recognize who is drafting, what is said in terms of what they're looking for and why they went after who they went after.  Are they lying to you?  Do you understand what they said?  Are you dissatisfied that they decided on a plan and strategy and are implementing it?

I read and understand what they said.

I also think that its unreasonable to believe that a discussion of Berkman being locked in at first did not come up when discussing Smoak. Even if they were discussing his defensive weaknesses, like you were talking about earlier, Berkman would seemingly be tied to that right? He can only play first and DH, well that doesn't work because we don't have a DH and first is taken. No?

Anyway I'm disengaging here, I don't think there is much further to debate. I don't like the pick, hope it works out for the best. By the way, I would bet good money that Seaton turns out to be the best of this crop.

60

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:34:00 pm »

What exactly did they say that is justifiable?

All of their bitching about Astros drafts. Off the top of my head, one example is they wondered why the Stros passed on Conger to take Sapp a couple years ago.

61

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:17:59 pm »

Houston does not have the luxury to limit themselves to one position and also the possibility of a DH in the making in the future.  It's really not that hard to understand.

So do you think if Berkman wasn't here they would have still passed on Smoak? I don't think they would have, but that's obviously unsupported opinion. Point being, I think it has everything to do with current ML roster makeup and not as much what you are talking about. BUT, i get what you are saying.

62

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:15:40 pm »

They use hindsight.  They don't analyze rationale.

Agreed. Hope Wade etc. can shut them up for awhile.

63

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:14:51 pm »

Depends on the size of the paycheck being asked.  Several high school Boras clients, top 100 or so pitchers, have yet to be drafted.

Good point. Man I think the system is really screwed up. There needs to be some kind of a change, whether its locked in bonus ranges or an overall draft fund cap or SOMETHING.

64

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:13:35 pm »

why are you here, Clarkie? this kind of carping is not well received on this site. read more, post less is something you should consider. you may get more people after you than me if you do not stop what you are doing.

friendly advice: STFU for awhile.

I've read your ridiculous posts for awhile, and I'm not "carping". There is a healthy middle ground between a ridiculous homer and a doom and gloom radio caller. Maybe you should find some other venue to anonymously chew people out for no reason.

65

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:10:08 pm »

BP was ragging on the Astros during back-to-back NLCS appearances.  Was that justified by the results?

I'm talking about drafting and the state of the farm system. BP is definitely wrong all the time, I'm just saying that with respect to the draft, they have been justified in their criticism

66

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:08:43 pm »

Drayton doesn't have anything to do with the draft other than approving the paycheck.  He is not making personnel decisions unless they involve MLB FAs.

Paycheck is one of the most important factors that go into drafting, right?

67

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 09:51:57 am »

To be fair, no one involved with this draft with the exception of Rickey Bennett, has ever been involved in an Astros draft.

Drayton probably has great influence on the picks.

This draft may turn out well; still, BP's ragging on the Astros seems to be justified by the results.

68

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 09:06:03 am »

LOVE the Seaton pick by the way, absolutely love it. Hope they sign him.

And Smoak will be a stud soon, book it.

69

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 06, 2008, 09:02:01 am »

BP, year after year, goes after the Astros. add Ed Wade to the mix, and hoo boy, the perfect storm.

To be fair, the Astros haven't really proved them wrong.

70

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 05, 2008, 04:00:30 pm »

Um, the org needs EVERYTHING.  There is nothing there.  They have a young catcher in the majors they handed the job to.  From that perspective catcher is not a need either.  It is fully plausible that Castro was higher rated than Smoak when defense is factored in.

Castro projects to AJ Pier... god i hate that guy. Smoak projects to Teixiera, right?

I understand what you are saying. I also think that the pick was heavily influenced by the current roster makeup of the ML club, which is what I'm taking issue with. Not the pick in and of itself, I suppose.

71

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 05, 2008, 03:57:46 pm »

Plus you're still talking "catcher" for all intents and purposes.  Catcher who can hit is a rarity and this kid apparently can do just that.  He needs to develop the defense to be at least slighty better than average, but he's supposedly very smart and learns quickly.  Give him a good development team in the minors and he may just do that.

Everything I've read about him sounds promising, but isn't this what Sapp was supposed to be also?

Again, for everyone else, the problem was that he was not tabbed as a top ten selection and that threw everyone for a loop.  To be a top ten guy, you have to have a well rounded game and very little gaps or at least great projectability.

Just to clarify, are you saying top 10 guys have well rounded games [and very little gaps or at least geat projectability]?

72

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 05, 2008, 03:51:59 pm »

If Wade is looking at offense AND defense, then I can believe Castro was above Smoak on his board.  Fantacrap/AL team in need of a DH, pick is Smoak.  That is the Rangers right now.

Maybe if the MLB draft was more like the NFL draft. I simply don't agree with drafting based on the needs of the current ML roster. The system is close to empty, BPA makes sense.

73

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 05, 2008, 03:46:20 pm »

they do not want Berkman in RF. Pence is a terrible CF. that's why you're better off just watching, like i'm doing.

Well you're clearly right, apparently that is what they think. I guess we'll see about the results of the pick. I'm still a firm believer of BPA in the MLB draft, lots of changes could take place by the time Smoak is ready.

edit: the outfield suggestion was only one possibility... what if Berkman or Lee get hurt or drop off the planet or Pence for that matter?

74

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 05, 2008, 03:30:48 pm »

As opposed to the Mets who took a shortstop who will move to third base and is expected to move quickly through the organization.

Not sure if you're saying the Astros' approach is better or worse than the Mets' approach, but to me Smoak was a no-brainer pick at #10. A lot can happen in a season or two. Even if he's ready to play next year, the Astros have some flexibility with Pence able to play centerfield (not too far below average from what I remember) opening up right field for Berkman. Passing on a relatively can't miss (as far as the MLB draft goes) 30+ HR switch hitter who is almost ML ready is a head scratcher, in my humble opinion of course.

75

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2008 Draft Thread

« on: June 05, 2008, 03:13:19 pm »

So they passed on Smoak because of position? Am I reading that right?