Closer

[MusicMan]

I know they've discussed Cordero, but isn't that Rivera guy out there?  I hear he's pretty good.

And in honesty... the move to the NL, with fewer hitters familiar with that cutter, might extend his effective life.

[BUWebguy]

Most of the experts out there seem to think he's staying a Yankee. That, and/or his likely expected pay might be enough to steer the Astros elsewhere.

[Froback]

One name I have not heard mentioned much, but I know he wants to be a closer still and was pretty go as one, not so good as a set-up guy though.

Gagne.  Just a thought.  He would probably be alot cheaper than the two big names being thrown about.

And while I totally have not looked into this guy, wasn't Nathan of the Twins supposed to be a FA too?

[Noe]

Octavio Dotel will be available.  He closed in Kansas City, was traded to Atlanta and the mutual option was not picked up by either player nor club.  So he's a free agent.  He can close.

Qualls can close.

Paulino can try his hand at it.

Sarfate can see if he's good at it.

They've got pretty much two months of the season to figure that one out if they go the route of Dotel or Qualls or Paulino or Sarfate.  If none of those work, you go get one at the trading deadline.  You don't need to overspend on Cordero (IMHO).

[Mr. Happy]

Gagne.  Just a thought.  He would probably be alot cheaper than the two big names being thrown about.

Surely you jest.

[Froback]

Surely you jest.

While he sucked in Bos, that was in the set-up role not the closer role.  He was pretty good in Texas as the Closer.  So no I don't jest.

But keep in mind there is a reason he is more affordable than the other options.  And if that makes better sense to the Astros, I could see it happening.

[Zac D]

The way things are going this offseason, if the Astros even sniff around Rivera, I'm sure we'll hear about it.

[Noe]

The way things are going this offseason, if the Astros even sniff around Rivera, I'm sure we'll hear about it.

I'm surprised at this point that we're not getting up to the minute reports of Ed Wade's every move.  Even potty breaks.

[BUWebguy]

The scouting reports I heard from Texas were that he was just getting by in Texas, and his numbers in Boston were probably more indicative of his talent at this point that his stats as a Ranger. Anyone else watch enough Rangers or Red Sox to back that up?

[Astroholic]

The scouting reports I heard from Texas were that he was just getting by in Texas, and his numbers in Boston were probably more indicative of his talent at this point that his stats as a Ranger. Anyone else watch enough Rangers or Red Sox to back that up?

Everyone knows that you don't have to actually watch baseball to know what is going on.  Just look at the numbers.

[BUWebguy]

I'm surprised at this point that we're not getting up to the minute reports of Ed Wade's every move.  Even potty breaks.

twitter.com/edwade ?

[Froback]

twitter.com/edwade ?

SHHH!!! don't give away our insider access!!!

[Zac D]

I'm surprised at this point that we're not getting up to the minute reports of Ed Wade's every move.  Even potty breaks.

Given that openness - have you heard anything about chasing Dotel, or is that just speculation?

And this is only a moderately related question, but as someone with little to no insider access, I'm curious... bear with me, though, because I can't think of a real simple way to phrase it. When an organization is run as openly (to the media) as Wade seems to run it, how does that affect the amount of information you can get, from your source(s), that the media can't? More, less, or about the same as when a more reticent person like Purp is in charge?

[Limey]

twitter.com/edwade ?

www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts

[Noe]

Given that openness - have you heard anything about chasing Dotel, or is that just speculation?

And this is only a moderately related question, but as someone with little to no insider access, I'm curious... bear with me, though, because I can't think of a real simple way to phrase it. When an organization is run as openly (to the media) as Wade seems to run it, how does that affect the amount of information you can get, from your source(s), that the media can't? More, less, or about the same as when a more reticent person like Purp is in charge?

There is no difference.  Ed Wade is not different than Tim Purpura in many regards.  But he is different in that having a PR background (media relations), Wade knows how to *use* the media to his advantage.  Purpura always looked nervous and uncomfortable in interviews with the media and his tone and presentation in interviews always gave away that nervousness.  But the flow of information is the same now as it was before for the media, just that Wade gives his stamp of approval to run with it while Purpura had more of the "hey, let's not make this on the record" attitude.

As far as personally, no difference.  BTW - sometimes a source is guessing right along with all of us and not working with inside information that is solid.  But they have a much better handle of conversations that are being had and so forth.   So as far as Dotel is concerned, I've heard nothing.  But my guess (no inside information) is "hey, why not?!?!" since Wade seems to be talking to every one.  The best information that is given by sources is the after effects of a move.  Some good stuff, much of which is not sharable because it tends to be personal.  So I really don't have that much more than anyone else in terms of information.

[Mr. Happy]

While he sucked in Bos, that was in the set-up role not the closer role.  He was pretty good in Texas as the Closer.  So no I don't jest.

But keep in mind there is a reason he is more affordable than the other options.  And if that makes better sense to the Astros, I could see it happening.

I hope not. He looked pretty awful in Boston.

[ValpoCory]

And while I totally have not looked into this guy, wasn't Nathan of the Twins supposed to be a FA too?

Twins picked up the 2008 option.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071024&content_id=2281365&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min

[Jacksonian]

Agent Jones, people.  Agent Jones.

[Ron Brand]

www.creedthoughts.gov.www\creedthoughts

I like your style.

[Reuben]

The scouting reports I heard from Texas were that he was just getting by in Texas, and his numbers in Boston were probably more indicative of his talent at this point that his stats as a Ranger. Anyone else watch enough Rangers or Red Sox to back that up?

Saw a decent amount of him (on TV) late in the year, his FB was around 92-94, and his change...well, hard to say, because he mostly just threw FB after FB, and didn't even locate that very well. I seem to remember in LA he threw harder, yes, around 98 mph, but the great changeup was what made him so unhittable, and a decent breaking ball too. I don't know why he lost confidence in his offspeed pitches this year. He had a few ERA-inflating mop-up appearances where a pop-up would drop in, and the guy would eventually score, but he also got rocked several times due to poor command of the FB. He also took a week or two off towards the end of the year for "shoulder fatigue."

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Dotel would certainly be a cheaper alternative to Cordero, but I'd be worried about his recent injury history.  Lidge was many things, but he did provide us with a lot of innings.  I'm not sure that Dotel would be able to.  I wouldn't be opposed to signing him, but I think it'd be playing with fire to hand him the closer role as a matter of course.

[pravata]

There is no difference.  Ed Wade is not different than Tim Purpura in many regards.  But he is different in that having a PR background (media relations), Wade knows how to *use* the media to his advantage.  Purpura always looked nervous and uncomfortable in interviews with the media and his tone and presentation in interviews always gave away that nervousness.  But the flow of information is the same now as it was before for the media, just that Wade gives his stamp of approval to run with it while Purpura had more of the "hey, let's not make this on the record" attitude.

As far as personally, no difference.  BTW - sometimes a source is guessing right along with all of us and not working with inside information that is solid.  But they have a much better handle of conversations that are being had and so forth.   So as far as Dotel is concerned, I've heard nothing.  But my guess (no inside information) is "hey, why not?!?!" since Wade seems to be talking to every one.  The best information that is given by sources is the after effects of a move.  Some good stuff, much of which is not sharable because it tends to be personal.  So I really don't have that much more than anyone else in terms of information.

Personally, I don't think Purpura was running his own ship.  I came to distrust his statements.  Garner had his legs cut out from under him as well.  Wade... all bets are off.  The blizzard of names we're seeing is either ack ack or the man is a whirlwind.