Astros sign Chan Ho Park to minor league deal

[DVauthrin]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4883755.html

[Bench]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4883755.html

Finally. A Savior.

[MusicMan]

You went to a lot of time and trouble to make this look like a legitimate news report.  I mean, there's no way this is true, is there?

[JimR]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4883755.html

a bargain at $61 million

[Don]

The Astros signed Chan Ho Park to a minor league contract on Tuesday, hoping the 13-year veteran can boost their mediocre pitching staff.

A very, very late April Fool's joke.

Please?

[remy]

it's like that old Western, "Purpura's Last Stand"

(I think he dies at the end)

[Taras Bulba]

Chan Ho Fucking Park.  

Why don't they just go ahead and pick up Bruce Fucking Chen again while they're at it.

[Fredia]

it's like that old Western, "Purpura's Last Stand"

(I think he dies at the end)

if it fails he will ride off into the sunset . if it turns out to be a good move then he will be reguarded as the john wayne of managers

[homer]

it's like that old Western, "Purpura's Last Stand"

(I think he dies at the end)

Don't be so dramatic. Its just a minor league contract... not like he is starting Game 7.

[Alkie]

not like he is starting Game 7.

...of....?

[homer]

...of....?

of anything worthy of getting dramatic about.

[Kent's Moustache]

Seriously, this ranks just below "taking a belt-sander to your own nutsack" and just above "New Coke" on the spectrum of sound decision-making.

I live in Dallas.  I have seen what happens next.

[Alkie]

of anything worthy of getting dramatic about.

Oh ok, so not like Game 7 of a mythical magical postseason series that the Astros were suddenly in for some reason.

I thought I had another 3 month seizure.

[Alkie]

Seriously, this ranks just below "taking a belt-sander to your own nutsack" and just above "New Coke" on the spectrum of sound decision-making.

I live in Dallas.  I have seen what happens next.

Well, I agree with homer.  We didn't give him a spot in the rotation.  We're letting him see if he can pitch in RR and then we'll give him a spot in the rotation.

I think I can honestly say I'd rather see Wandy than Park.

But I think I figured this whole thing out; why Drayton would do this.

It's all about K.A.I.S..

[JaneDoe]

A very, very late April Fool's joke.

Please?

Nope.  According to Astros.com:

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=hou

[Alkie]

Did someone at AAA lose a roster spot for this move?

[JaneDoe]

Did someone at AAA lose a roster spot for this move?

Do they have a set number of players on the roster in AAA?

[JimR]

Did someone at AAA lose a roster spot for this move?

on that pitching staff, several should go.

[VirtualBob]

Do they have a set number of players on the roster in AAA?

Yes.  And they are short a starter since McLemore got the call-up again.  Josh Miller filled in very well in two starts, but was touted as "temporarily" promoted from Corpus.  Also, Chad Reinecke is on the DL and eligible to come back soon, though I have no clue about his status.  And tghen there is Q ... Kevin Davidson hasn't hit the size of his hat, so he may be on the road south to make room for Q, but then what about Towles, who does seem to be cutting it at AA?  It's all a bit complicated right now, but these things have a way of revealing themselves (duh) in due course.

[VirtualBob]

on that pitching staff, several should go.

Asencio, Sauerbeck ... Driskill?  Other than being almost as old as we are, he doesn;t seem too bad.  Who else?

[legs_of_eggs]

I live in Dallas.

im sorry to hear this.

[Mr. Happy]

Don't be so dramatic. Its just a minor league contract... not like he is starting Game 7.

Eggsactly. No harm done giving him a minor league deal. I saw Park in NO this season. He didn't have much command the night I saw him, but his deceptive motion put off the sorry hitters for the opposing club.

[JaneDoe]

Park credits Hooton and Astros pitching coach Dave Wallace with his success, which is why general manager Tim Purpura figured it couldn't hurt to take a look. Wallace was the Dodgers' pitching coach from 1995-97.

"I don't expect it to be something that he'll spend a half season down here before we make a decision," Purpura said. "He wants to get back to the big leagues, and so we're going to give him two, three, four starts and try to evaluate where we see him. If there's a fit, we'll look to see what's happening at the Major League level. If not, we'll probably let him go."

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070612&content_id=2021563&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

[Bench]

Park credits Hooton and Astros pitching coach Dave Wallace with his success, which is why general manager Tim Purpura figured it couldn't hurt to take a look. Wallace was the Dodgers' pitching coach from 1995-97.

"I don't expect it to be something that he'll spend a half season down here before we make a decision," Purpura said. "He wants to get back to the big leagues, and so we're going to give him two, three, four starts and try to evaluate where we see him. If there's a fit, we'll look to see what's happening at the Major League level. If not, we'll probably let him go."

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070612&content_id=2021563&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Meh. It can't hurt.

[JimR]

Asencio, Sauerbeck ... Driskill?  Other than being almost as old as we are, he doesn;t seem too bad.  Who else?

anyone not named Randolph, Gutierrez or Estrada...and maybe Reineke.

[Tralfaz]

A short stroll across the Round Rock infield for Mr Park tonight.  Didn't factor into this evenings loosing result, but might have helped.  6-2 Zephyrs.  Has Eric Bruntlett pissed off someone in the Astros front office?  Seems like he deserves another look.

[Andyzipp]

Has Eric Bruntlett pissed off someone in the Astros front office? 

Yes.

[VirtualBob]

Yes.

But he probably will get another look somewhere else ... by next spring, at least.

[JimR]

But he probably will get another look somewhere else ... by next spring, at least.

every team passed on him already.

[Limey]

every team passed on him already.

See Lane, Jason.

[Curly]

if it fails he will ride off into the sunset . if it turns out to be a good move then he will be reguarded as the john wayne of managers

How dare you link The Duke to anything Purpura!

[Lefty]

Yes.

Too bad, always liked him.

I'm assuming the friction has something to do with his comments/attitude after being sent down?

[Astroholic]

Too bad, always liked him.

I'm assuming the friction has something to do with his comments/attitude after being sent down?

What did he do differently than "the golden boy" when he got sent down? 

Oh, I mean besides hit.

[Noe]

Too bad, always liked him.

I'm assuming the friction has something to do with his comments/attitude after being sent down?

Before that, in spring training.

[Lefty]

Before that, in spring training.

Hmmm.  Guess he saw the writing on the wall when they signed Loretta.  Like I said, too bad. 

[Noe]

Hmmm.  Guess he saw the writing on the wall when they signed Loretta.  Like I said, too bad. 

Yes.  Stanford man and all.  Didn't take him long to add up 2 and 2 and then blast away at management for lying to him.

[VirtualBob]

every team passed on him already.

Yes.  But he has just "shut up and played" at RR, and it seems to me that will earn him a look somewhere next spring (if not before).

[Noe]

Yes.  But he has just "shut up and played" at RR, and it seems to me that will earn him a look somewhere next spring (if not before).

Yes.  Stanford man and all.  Didn't take him long to add 2 and 2 together and realise he needed to just shut up and play.

[David in Jackson]

See Lane, Jason.

In that case, it's time for a trade thread proposing we get a good player by packaging two of our guys you can't give away.  D. Ward, anyone?

[matadorph]

Um, back to Chan Ho Park....

I don't understand this move at all. I get the no risk aspect of it, but let's be realistic: Park sucks. Say he pitches above expectations in a small sample size against AAA hitters...does that merit giving him a spot in the rotation? Who's he gonna replace? Not Roy, Jennings, or Sampson. Wandy? Not unless Park can throw better with his left hand than he does with his right. Woody? Sure his record sucks and he gives up a lot of homers and warning track outs, but he gives the team quality starts. Uncle Drayton isn't paying the guy 6 mill per to be replaced by a has-been who most likely won't give Gar anything more than what Woody already has. He's not going in the pen.

How well would Park have to pitch for the Astros to give him another chance against ML hitters?

[EasTexAstro]

Wasn't Park a Boras client?

[MRaup]

Um, back to Chan Ho Park....

I don't understand this move at all. I get the no risk aspect of it, but let's be realistic: Park sucks. Say he pitches above expectations in a small sample size against AAA hitters...does that merit giving him a spot in the rotation? Who's he gonna replace? Not Roy, Jennings, or Sampson. Wandy? Not unless Park can throw better with his left hand than he does with his right. Woody? Sure his record sucks and he gives up a lot of homers and warning track outs, but he gives the team quality starts. Uncle Drayton isn't paying the guy 6 mill per to be replaced by a has-been who most likely won't give Gar anything more than what Woody already has. He's not going in the pen.

How well would Park have to pitch for the Astros to give him another chance against ML hitters?

Giving a ML retread a look in the minors isn't hard to understand. If he looks good, give him a shot in the majors. Maybe the Astros are looking for some wiggle room to pull off a trade that involves sending a starter elsewhere for some batting help.

[matadorph]

Well yeah I understand that part, but who would he replace? Is this a sign that Jennings could be on the block?

[subnuclear]

Why couldn't they try him as a middle reliever?  Is it possible that Astros are still worried about Jennings (or another starter) being injured again and would like to create some more pitching options besides the minor league pitchers they have?

[MusicMan]

Middle reliever?  Who do you want to replace?

[JimR]

Um, back to Chan Ho Park....

I don't understand this move at all.

this is where you should have stopped.

[subnuclear]

Middle reliever?  Who do you want to replace?

Oh, I don't think Park should be considered to replace the batboy until he proves otherwise.  I just wondered why matadorph ruled him out in the bullpen.

[matadorph]

Assuming the best-case scenario with Park pitching effectively against AAA hitters, I don't see where he fits unless the Astros swing a deal involving either Jennings, Sampson, or Wandy.

[WulawHorn]

Assuming the best-case scenario with Park pitching effectively against AAA hitters, I don't see where he fits unless the Astros swing a deal involving either Jennings, Sampson, or Wandy.

Insurance for a Jennings deal to upgrade future at C, 2b or 3b perhaps.  Someone gotta fill out the rotation and maybe they don't see that in the minors at this time?

Doesn't really make sense any other way, unless there is a trade.

[mihoba]

Insurance for a Jennings deal to upgrade future at C, 2b or 3b perhaps.  Someone gotta fill out the rotation and maybe they don't see that in the minors at this time?

Doesn't really make sense any other way, unless there is a trade.

You can't have enough starters stashed away, but the 5th starter in waiting is already on the roster. Moehler anyone?

IIRC, Park did well out of the 'pen during the World Baseball classic.

[Jacksonian]

3 innings, 7 hits, and 5 earned in his first start in Albuquerque for the Express.

[matadorph]

And he needed 70 pitches to get through 3.

[Alkie]

And he needed 70 pitches to get through 3.

NEXT.

[Limey]

3 innings, 7 hits, and 5 earned in his first start in Albuquerque for the Express.

Mid-season form, then.

[awrr]

3 innings, 7 hits, and 5 earned in his first start in Albuquerque for the Express.

To be fair, isn't Albuquerque extremely hitter friendly?

[Ty in Tampa]

To be fair, isn't Albuquerque extremely hitter friendly?

Aren't the Major Leagues pretty hitter friendly?

[Limey]

To be fair, isn't Chan Ho Park extremely hitter friendly?

FIFY

[pravata]

To be fair, isn't Albuquerque extremely hitter friendly?

There's friendly and then there's forgetting your panties in the glove compartment.

[jmontessi]

I was at the game he started, and while he looked like absolute crap, he didn't look quite as bad as Miguel Asencio. The highlight of the game had to be Asencio almost hitting the ABQ CF, which solicited a warning to him and both dugouts. He then proceeded to actually hit two players without being thrown out of the game. Gotta love MiLB umpires. Also Lane hit a bomb, so that was kinda cool. The only run given up by Barone, who threw 8 innings of 3-hit ball.

[JimR]

I was at the game he started, and while he looked like absolute crap, he didn't look quite as bad as Miguel Asencio. The highlight of the game had to be Asencio almost hitting the ABQ CF, which solicited a warning to him and both dugouts. He then proceeded to actually hit two players without being thrown out of the game. Gotta love MiLB umpires. Also Lane hit a bomb, so that was kinda cool. The only run given up by Barone, who threw 8 innings of 3-hit ball.

did the pitcher who gave up the HR to Lane immediately retire or get released?

[Alkie]

did the pitcher who gave up the HR to Lane immediately retire or get released?

Is there a minor league waiver wire?  And if so, do people actually get passed on by 150 teams?

[MusicMan]

Is there a minor league waiver wire?  And if so, do people actually get passed on by 150 teams?

Unfortunately, Ansecio probably would.

[austro]

did the pitcher who gave up the HR to Lane immediately retire or get released?

Seppuku.