Vintage Justice

[Taras Bulba]

Justice gets pissy over the Tejada sentence: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6345474.html and states that "...we (the Astros) got fleeced in this trade."  Later, IN THE SAME PIECE, he indicates that Tejada "has been terrific in the clubhouse and pretty decent on the field.  He has been almost everything the Astros hoped he'd be."

This is what passes for critical thinking and sportswriting at the Chronicle.  Sadder still, Justice is a frequent source for national shows and is on 24/7 audition status for the same.

[MusicMan]

Dick Justice, 3/27/09:

They didn’t get it then, and they don’t get it now. They just signed Pudge Rodriguez.

Dick Justice, 3/14/09:

The Astros could make a relatively insignificant statement that says otherwise this spring. They could shift the conversation away from the lousy record.

They could sign Pudge Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez.

Yes, both of 'em.

I have no idea how much money it would take. I'd start the bidding at $1 million apiece and go from there.

If it took more than, say, $5 million to get both of them done, I'd take a pass. They're both worth a shot.

[Gizzmonic]

Dick Justice, 3/27/09:
Dick Justice, 3/14/09:

If it took more than, say, $5 million to get both of them done, I'd take a pass. They're both worth a shot.

MM, dunno if you noticed, but he contradicts himself in the span of 2 sentences there in your very quote.  Cognitive dissonance does not exist in RJ-land.

[AtascAstro]

I put together this spreadsheet last year to evaluate the 2007-2008 astros off-season.  This seems as good a place as any to update with the final '08 numbers for all players and a few notes about where they are this spring.  I'll see what I can dig up on the other player but wanted to go ahead and post the Tejada notes.  Enjoy!

                                                                                       
      TEJADA TRADE                                                                                 

Player	TEAM	Status	POS	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
Tejada	HOU	Active	SS	158	632	92	179	13	66	24	72	7	0.283
Scott	BAL	Active	OF	148	475	67	122	23	65	53	102	2	0.257
Costanzo	Norfolk	Active	3B	129	483	56	126	11	63	52	159	2	0.261

                                                                                       

Player	TEAM	Status	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO
Albers	BAL	Active	3	3	3.49	28	0	49	43	19	4	22	26
Sarfate	BAL	Active	4	3	4.74	57	0	79.2	62	42	8	62	86

                                                                                       
Notes:                                                                                       
Scott Signed a 1-year deal for 2.4 million in January LINK.  His ST numbers are pretty unimpressive (.271 AVG, 48 AB, 13 H, 9 SO, 1 HR)                                                                                       
Costanzo is in minor league camp with the orioles - hit a 3-run homer off Kazmir on Tuesday, though LINK                                                                                       
Albers has a 1.93 ST ERA in 9.0 IP and will be assigned bullpen duty for 2009 LINK                                                                                       
Sarfate has a 3.12 ST ERA in 8.0 IP and will also be in the bullpen for the Orioles                                                                                       
                                                                                       
I see nothing wrong with this trade.  Albers/Sarfate are not better than our current bullpen options, Costanzo would be behind Johnson on the depth chart, and Luke Scott is still not better than Hunter Pence.  What exactly did we lose in gaining a SS (who hit better than Baltimore's right fielder?).  Don't like Tejada, fine, but we were in no way fleeced.                                                                                       
                                                                                       
      BOURN/GEARY TRADE                                                                                 

Player	TEAM	Status	POS	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
Bourn	HOU	Active	OF	138	467	57	107	5	29	37	111	41	0.229
Bruntlett	PHI	Active	SS	120	212	37	46	2	15	21	35	9	0.217

                                                                                       

Player	TEAM	Status	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO
Geary	HOU	Active	2	3	2.53	55	0	64	45	18	3	28	45
Lidge	PHI	Active	2	0	1.95	72	41	69.1	50	15	2	35	92

                                                                                       
Notes:                                                                                       
                                                                                       
      VALVERDE TRADE                                                                                 

Player

TEAM

Status

POS

G

AB

R

H

HR

RBI

BB

SO

SB

AVG

Burke

ARI

Active

1B

86

165

20

32

2

12

27

33

5

0.194

                                                                                       

Player	TEAM	Status	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO
Valverde	HOU	Active	6	3	3.38	74	44	72	62	27	10	23	83
Qualls	ARI	Active	4	8	2.81	77	9	73.2	61	23	4	18	71
Gutierrez	Tuscon	Active	5	11	6.09	25	0	116.2	152	79	11	44	87

                                                                                       
Notes:                                                                                       
                                                                                       
      VILLARREAL TRADE                                                                                 

Player

TEAM

Status

POS

G

AB

R

H

HR

RBI

BB

SO

SB

AVG

Anderson

Richmond

Active

OF

121

494

77

155

4

40

30

57

42

0.314

                                                                                       

Player

TEAM

Status

W

L

ERA

G

SV

IP

H

ER

HR

BB

SO

Villarreal

HOU

Active

1

3

5.02

35

0

37.2

42

21

12

17

21

                                                                                       
                                                                                       
      FREE AGENT LOSSES                                                                                 

Player	TEAM	Status	POS	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
Everett	MIN	Active	SS	48	127	19	27	2	20	12	15	0	0.213
Lamb	MIN	Active	3B	81	236	20	55	1	32	17	32	0	0.233
Ensberg	NYY	Active	3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000
Lane	Scranton	Active	RF	97	347	54	82	16	51	50	70	3	0.236
Ransom	Scranton	Active	SS	116	423	69	108	22	71	50	115	9	0.255

                                                                                       

Player

TEAM

Status

W

L

ERA

G

SV

IP

H

ER

HR

BB

SO

Jennings

TEX

Active

0

5

8.56

6

0

27.1

35

26

8

18

12

                                                                                       
Notes:                                                                                       

[Deja Vu]

If yo don't contradict yourself every 2 sentences, then how can you go on TV and always have been "right" as evidenced by a quote of your own?

[MusicMan]

If yo don't contradict yourself every 2 sentences, then how can you go on TV and always have been "right" as evidenced by a quote of your own?

Honestly, the worst part of it is that by going to his blog for the quote, I gave Dick exactly what he wanted.

[Lurch]

Honestly, the worst part of it is that by going to his blog for the quote, I gave Dick exactly what he wanted.

BINGO!  He has clearly decided that his annoying/antagonizing/self-contradicting/"controversial" self is most efficient at bringing in hits, that the content itself is pretty much irrelevant, and that's why he still has a job.  Sadly, he's been proven right this week.

[juliogotay]

Dick Justice, 3/27/09:
Dick Justice, 3/14/09:

Amazing. What a clueless hack this guy is.