How many Pooholes does it take to spell ESPN?

[Houston]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2908913&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos2

[MusicMan]

That's a damned fine piece of reporting.

[dirty steve]

didnt he already answer alot these ?'s in spring training last year?  it is good to see that Lidge has gotten past all that.

good article--nice find.

[pravata]

"Lidge, who has one of the best arms in the game, experience (104 career saves) and another season and a half before he can become a free agent. Lidge would be the five-karat diamond in a market filled with cubic zirconia."

Sure, makes sense, trade that guy.  Yes, to the Red Sox, Yankees, or Mets she heaves, breathing excitedly. 

[MusicMan]

Sure, makes sense, trade that guy.  Yes, to the Red Sox, Yankees, or Mets she heaves, breathing excitedly. 

I maintain that trading Lidge could be one of the best moves Purpura has at his disposal.

[Arky Vaughan]

That's a damned fine piece of reporting.

But it can't be true, because ESPN and talk radio have told me that it's all Pujols' fault.

[pravata]

I maintain that trading Lidge could be one of the best moves Purpura has at his disposal.

And I maintain that a team that is serious about winning needs a shut down bullpen.

[MusicMan]

And I maintain that a team that is serious about winning needs a shut down bullpen.

I'm not going to disagree with that generality, but this particular team has holes at 2b, 3b, RF or CF, (soon to be) C, and one SP.

To me, a team like that can't afford to keep a closer that might fill 2 or 3 of those holes.

[pravata]

I'm not going to disagree with that generality, but this particular team has holes at 2b, 3b, RF or CF, (soon to be) C, and one SP.

To me, a team like that can't afford to keep a closer that might fill 2 or 3 of those holes.

Yes but if they blow the lead in the late innings, none of that matters anyway.  And, as the blurb by the blurbering Buster Olney says, you don't find pitchers like Lidge everday.  Easier to find a decent RF.  You say tomato, I say ormolu.

[WulawHorn]

And I maintain that a team that is serious about winning needs a shut down bullpen.

why would anyone beleive that this team should be serious about winning, this year?

Lidge and Jennings need to get spun off for 3b, 2b, Catcher and Maybe RF of the futurer  Set in Left, Center SS (when AE gets back) and 1b. And I like the arms in the minors.

But those other four positions, not so much.

[Foghorn]

I'm not going to disagree with that generality, but this particular team has holes at 2b, 3b, RF or CF, (soon to be) C, and one SP.

To me, a team like that can't afford to keep a closer that might fill 2 or 3 of those holes.

Problem is, this "division" is entirely winnable.  Ain't nobody in this division worth a shit.  If we add one more bat, I think we would be the best team from that day on out.  Question remains if we'd have enough time to make up the ground.

[WulawHorn]

why would anyone beleive that this team should be serious about winning, this year?

Lidge and Jennings need to get spun off for 3b, 2b, Catcher and Maybe RF of the futurer  Set in Left, Center SS (when AE gets back) and 1b. And I like the arms in the minors.

But those other four positions, not so much.

sorry for the echo- I was typing while MM was posting the exact same thing.

[pravata]

why would anyone beleive that this team should be serious about winning, this year?

Lidge and Jennings need to get spun off for 3b, 2b, Catcher and Maybe RF of the futurer  Set in Left, Center SS (when AE gets back) and 1b. And I like the arms in the minors.

But those other four positions, not so much.

There is not the remotest chance that the Astros think they're out of it.

[Foghorn]

why would anyone beleive that this team should be serious about winning, this year?

Lidge and Jennings need to get spun off for 3b, 2b, Catcher and Maybe RF of the futurer  Set in Left, Center SS (when AE gets back) and 1b. And I like the arms in the minors.

But those other four positions, not so much.

have you SEEN this division?  Its pathetic.  Each and every Astros team (except for 2000 but that year never actually happened) from 1993-2006 would win the 2007 NL Central.

[Jacksonian]

Problem is, this "division" is entirely winnable.  Ain't nobody in this division worth a shit.  If we add one more bat, I think we would be the best team from that day on out.  Question remains if we'd have enough time to make up the ground.

What do the Brewers need?  Is that available?  And, can/would they get it/them?

[Foghorn]

What do the Brewers need?  Is that available?  And, can/would they get it/them?

The Brewers need experience of surving the dog days of summer with a lead.  As the pressure mounts, those cock sucks are going to fade.  Sheets is due for an injury soon.  And CoCo ain't this good.

Brewers.  Ain't.  Shit.

[pravata]

have you SEEN this division?  Its pathetic.  Each and every Astros team (except for 2000 but that year never actually happened) from 1993-2006 would win the 2007 NL Central.

When they get back to the NL, if they continue to play the way they have vs the Mariners and the Angels, they'll be in 1st in 20 games.

[MikeyBoy]

Great article. It would have been better without Justice's keen observation:

Lidge..."Some little adjustment would mean I was showing the ball early, and my location, especially on the fastball, would be terrible," Lidge says. "I was giving hitters a huge advantage."

Justice... "I saw him pitching around So Taguchi at one point," says Houston Chronicle columnist Richard Justice. "That's when I knew he'd obviously lost his confidence."

Really, Dick? Pitching around Taguchi? What part of "my location was terrible" did you not understand?

[homer]

When they get back to the NL, if they continue to play the way they have vs the Mariners and the Angels, they'll be in 1st in 20 games.

I thought you didn't make predictions.

[WulawHorn]

have you SEEN this division?  Its pathetic.  Each and every Astros team (except for 2000 but that year never actually happened) from 1993-2006 would win the 2007 NL Central.

This is just MY preference- not saying anyone here should/will share it, or that management thinks the same way:

I'd rather see them fold the cards on this season if it can set up the good guys for another run of 5-10 years like the last 10 years that we've seen from them.

Lidge will never have more value then he does right now (due to his contractual terms) and Jennings imo is gone after this year.  These two guys give you the chance to restock a system more or less devoid of impact mlb talent right now. The core of Lee, Berkman, Pence, Oswalt Sampson and the stable of young guys in the minor's gives you some real talent. They are a 3 pieces away from being really good for another 5 years. If you get these pieces to set you up for the future I'm ok on waving the white flag on this season, when you have a crappy team not likely to either A) make the playoffs or B) do a ton of damage when they get there.

The Chisox made such a white flag trade when 4 games out at the deadline and the pieces they acquired helped them win a WS 4 years later- I'd be strongly in favor of the astros doing the same- putrid division or not. It ain't like the division is getting a shit load better in the foreseeable future.

[WulawHorn]

There is not the remotest chance that the Astros think they're out of it.

Pravata- I agree completely with your assessment. I just happen to think that trying to win this year (which will take a historical comeback- but not something we haven't witnessed the prior 3 years) is fools gold with this team. If you can set yourself up strong for the future do so.

You are undoubtedly right though- management doesn't think they are out of it. 

[pravata]

I thought you didn't make predictions.

That's not a prediction.  That's FACT.  They're finally swinging like they should have been from the beginning.

[mihoba]

If you can set yourself up strong for the future do so.

That has never been a concern as long as Drayton has owned the team. Win now is the norm.

[Arky Vaughan]

The core of Lee, Berkman, Pence, Oswalt Sampson

Wow. It didn't take long to vault Sampson or Pence into some rarefied air.

[WulawHorn]

Wow. It didn't take long to vault Sampson or Pence into some rarefied air.

They are two guys I'm counting on going forward to be plus major league players. I'm not counting on them in the way I am Berkman/Lee and Oswalt- but rather as something between all star/mvp/cy young candidates and league average.

Put it this way- I don't think you need to look to upgrade at any of those positions, thus why I'm calling them "core" players (with Berkman/lee and Oswalt being cornerstone type players). Sorry if that wasn't clear.

And I know that Drayton is a win now guy, I generally appreciate that. I'm just saying I don't agree with that the way this year has played out.

[homer]

That's not a prediction.  That's FACT.  They're finally swinging like they should have been from the beginning.

This board doesn't seem to have the feature where you can save a post to favorites...

[Jacksonian]

The Brewers need experience of surving the dog days of summer with a lead.  As the pressure mounts, those cock sucks are going to fade.  Sheets is due for an injury soon.  And CoCo ain't this good.

Brewers.  Ain't.  Shit.

Perhaps.  But, they're in first, and I bet they add at least one more starting pitcher, like Mark Buehrle, and an outfielder.  They aren't going to give up the lead because it's summertime.

[MusicMan]

There's no reason not to believe that the team with the second-worst record in the league won't make up 9 games on 4 teams in the next month.

[Noe]

If the talk about trading Lidge surrounds a viable exit plan for 2007 from the division race by the Houston Astros (and I would think you need to sit Drayton McLane down and explain to him why any team in the NL Central would give up), then I can see it happening and yes, I would think they would love to trade for Salty-whatev from Los Bravos.  But then you'd have to ask yourself who would be the short-term closer option?  Wheeler or Qualls?  What about long-term?  Estrada or Paulino?

IMHO, what Paulino can do in the next few years will dictate where they plan to go with Lidge.

[Foghorn]

Perhaps.  But, they're in first, and I bet they add at least one more starting pitcher, like Mark Buehrle, and an outfielder.  They aren't going to give up the lead because it's summertime.

They are going to give it up because that is what hookers do...they give it up.  The 2007 Brew Crew are nuthin' but a bunch of $2 crack whores, sucking dick for a hit or two.  Prince Fielder has been sucking so much dick, his tongue is blistered.

The dog days are a-comin', oh yes they are.  The dog days are a-comin'.

[mihoba]

The dog days are a-comin', oh yes they are.  The dog days are a-comin'.

I'm with ya Foggy, this is the Astros time to blow past these wanna-bees.

[Jacksonian]

If the talk about trading Lidge surrounds a viable exit plan for 2007 from the division race by the Houston Astros (and I would think you need to sit Drayton McLane down and explain to him why any team in the NL Central would give up), then I can see it happening and yes, I would think they would love to trade for Salty-whatev from Los Bravos.  But then you'd have to ask yourself who would be the short-term closer option?  Wheeler or Qualls?  What about long-term?  Estrada or Paulino?

IMHO, what Paulino can do in the next few years will dictate where they plan to go with Lidge.

I predict Paulino will be in the Astros bullpen to start the 2008 season.  When he becomes the closer...?