Delotti reporting from Dallas

[pravata]

says "what was unthinkable a month ago, is now likely" Astros aren't going to offer Clemens arb.  Announcement later today.  However he says they are reported to be in "serious talks" about a "major deal".  No starters are available, however, all relievers, including Lidge, can be had for the right offer. (heard on 740 at 12:45)

[JaneDoe]

BTW--his name is Dalati.

[BudGirl]

Quote:
says "what was unthinkable a month ago, is now likely" Astros aren't going to offer Clemens arb.  Announcement later today.  However he says they are reported to be in "serious talks" about a "major deal".  No starters are available, however, all relievers, including Lidge, can be had for the right offer. (heard on 740 at 12:45)

I don't like the idea of Lidge being available, but can understand it.  

So, get to work pravata and find out what the major deal is.

[Foghorn]

I heard that as well.  My first thought is that Clemens will get his ass in shape, pitch for the USA, and then sign/join the Astros in May for the rest of the season.

Then I remember Roger is an attention whore and an egotistical SOB and will view this non-offering of arbitration as a slap in the face.

Then I remembered that Draytie is a pussy who will do whatever it takes not to be seen as a pussy.

I have no idea what will happen.  Other than I hope we don't trade Lidge.

[Froback]

Quote:

Quote:
says "what was unthinkable a month ago, is now likely" Astros aren't going to offer Clemens arb.  Announcement later today.  However he says they are reported to be in "serious talks" about a "major deal".  No starters are available, however, all relievers, including Lidge, can be had for the right offer. (heard on 740 at 12:45)

I don't like the idea of Lidge being available, but can understand it.  

So, get to work pravata and find out what the major deal is.

Lidge is one of the top 5 Closers in baseball, so I don't like the idea of losing him... and if we do trade him we better get alot in return... BUT

We do have 3 options to take his place:
Qualls (who I think should be given 1st crack)
Wheeler (who I think is better in the set-up role)
Nieve (who I think is the next Qualls/Lidge type)

[Craig]

Quote:
I heard that as well.  My first thought is that Clemens will get his ass in shape, pitch for the USA, and then sign/join the Astros in May for the rest of the season.

Then I remember Roger is an attention whore and an egotistical SOB and will view this non-offering of arbitration as a slap in the face.

Then I remembered that Draytie is a pussy who will do whatever it takes not to be seen as a pussy.

I have no idea what will happen.  Other than I hope we don't trade Lidge.

I'm starting to wonder if the plan is to decline arbitration with Roger, sign him after May 1, then have him start playing in May or June. With the way he's been wearing down late in the season, it might be worth a shot.

But he'll probably just sign with the Yankees for a fucktillion dollars.

[T. J.]

Quote:
Lidge is one of the top 5 Closers in baseball, so I don't like the idea of losing him... and if we do trade him we better get alot in return...  

Humorous article from Jim Caple today on why the closer is waaaaay overrated.  I thought he made some good points:  The Link

For the record, I'd hate to lose Lidge too, but for the right deal, I wouldn't be too disappointed.

[jaklewein]

For the hell of it...which teams are in need of a closer?

Cleveland
Philly
Atlanta
SanDiego
Boston?

Does anything match up with these teams...I'm guessing we'd be expecting an Abreu type bat or a good bat and a good young starting pitcher with one, two years of MLB experience.

[jasonact]

These "major trades" by the Astros are funny. No one in the media mentions them as major players in the blockbuster deals, so it seems like a shock when one goes through. I remember being floored when I hearn about Johnson in 1998 and Beltran in 2004. If I remember correctly, no one in the media had the Astros as major players in either deal until the 11th hour.

I'm not sure if that means the Astros are really good at hiding their negotiations or they just wait until the last minute to make their push. Either way, it's fun for me as a fan. I hope a major trade for a bat does go down, but if it doesn't, so be it.

[strobum]

I've got a strong feeling that it's Milton Bradley. A true Carl Everett redux. Maybe, Purp can dig up John Hudek and his rib to send over to the Dodgers.

[jaklewein]

yep,

Rosenthal says the Braves tried unsuccessfully to acquire the Field General...ditto the Yankees asking about Taveras.

[BudGirl]

When other teams ask about Willie, I hope Timmy says, "Why would you want him, I got this hottie named Jason?"

[Bench]

The "major trade" could be ManRam, as Palillo (no I don't know how to spell that) sneered on 790 today.

[Ryan in Houston]

what about man-ram + cash for Lidge?  

fills needs for both teams...and BoSox can sign another bat...

[OldBlevins]

How about Lidge and Everett for Michael Young?

[strobum]

I'm telling you, Milton Bradley for Burke makes a lot of sense for both clubs.

The Dodgers have already said they would like to move Kent to firstbase.  

From a financial standpoint, Bradley is relatively cheap. Plus, due to injuries, attitude concerns, etc., he could be had without giving up the farm.

Bottom line: He's 27 years old, he's an above-average hitter and he's carrying a lot of baggage. Sounds a lot like C4.

[SeanBergmanRules]

I'd love that deal on paper, but Bradley has accused Kent of being a racist.  While I don't know his reasoning behind that, if race is something thats on his mind, I doubt the guy would enjoy a trade to a team without a single other African American.

[stubbyc]

Quote:
I'm telling you, Milton Bradley for Burke makes a lot of sense for both clubs.

The Dodgers have already said they would like to move Kent to firstbase.  

From a financial standpoint, Bradley is relatively cheap. Plus, due to injuries, attitude concerns, etc., he could be had without giving up the farm.

Bottom line: He's 27 years old, he's an above-average hitter and he's carrying a lot of baggage. Sounds a lot like C4.

I'm sure Burke's better than nothing from the Dodgers standpoint, but this still doesn't make much sense for them. Kent's their 2b until at least midseason when Izturis comes back.

[dholi]

kind of thread drifting, but what's the deal w/ kenny rogers? are the rangers going to resign him, or did he say he wasn't going back to them...i remember hearing he wanted to stay in tx

downside is borass of course

[jwhudson]

Rangers declined arbitration on Rodgers.  Apparently even the pitching starved Rangers have had enough.

[Limey]

Quote:
I'd love that deal on paper, but Bradley has accused Kent of being a racist.  While I don't know his reasoning behind that, if race is something thats on his mind, I doubt the guy would enjoy a trade to a team without a single other African American.

While Bradley is a special case who could manufacture a gripe if he was given an entire chocolate factory, I do have an issue with people assuming that race is an issue for African-American players.  It's condecending for one thing, and widely incorrect for another.

The African-American contingent makes up a smaller percentage of baseball's "population" than it does the actual population.  On average, a 25-man roster would include 1.5 African-Americans.  So for the Astros not to have any on their roster currently is not that unusual - there's simply not many African-American players in baseball.

Also, it's not like the Astros organisation is lily-white from top to bottom.  OK, at the top it is, but Bradley or any other African-American would not be denied the company of others of his race purely by being an Astro.

End of rant.

FTR, I don't want that fuckwit Bradley on the Astros.

[Zan]

Quote:
On average, a 25-man roster would include 1.5 African-Americans.  So for the Astros not to have any on their roster currently is not that unusual - there's simply not many African-American players in baseball.

I?m inclined to agree with everything you?re saying, except for the ?not that unusual,? comment. I think you can say, in light of the demographic stats you mentioned, that it?s not that unlikely. But I?m not sure how you can say that it?s not that unusual - that seems factually incorrect.  How many other teams don?t have an African-American on their roster?

From the article I read, the Orioles were the only other team to start opening day without an African American player on their roster. Though admittedly I could be missing something, because I don't go breaking down the demographics of different teams. But, if that's true, I think 2 out of 30 qualifies as pretty unusual.

[Dobro]

Quote:
the Orioles were the only other team to start opening day without an African American player on their roster.  

And how ironic that is.

[Limey]

Quote:
I?m inclined to agree with everything you?re saying, except for the ?not that unusual,? comment. I think you can say, in light of the demographic stats you mentioned, that it?s not that unlikely. But I?m not sure how you can say that it?s not that unusual - that seems factually incorrect.  How many other teams don?t have an African-American on their roster?

From the article I read, the Orioles were the only other team to start opening day without an African American player on their roster. Though admittedly I could be missing something, because I don't go breaking down the demographics of different teams. But, if that's true, I think 2 out of 30 qualifies as pretty unusual.

Maybe "not that unusual" was a bad choice of words.  What I was trying to convey was that, with an average of 1.5 African-American players per 25-man roster, if one team has two then one other team has to have none.  It's the law of averages.