Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett to the Phils for Michael Bourn, a good young CF who could not break into the starting lineup ahead of Burrell, Rowand and Victorino. Also going to Houston is Geoff Geary, a RHP, and a minor league 3b. Also, it looks like Roger is going to trigger a provision in his original Astros contract to be a consultant and work with their young pitchers. Is he retiring? Will he pitch again for the Astros? Only the Shadow knows.
Sort of sad to see Lidge go, but he just blew too many saves with walk off HR's the last few years. A change of scenery will be good for him and I hope he does well. I don't know anything about that Philly CF but he's already been named the starter in Houston, moving Hunter Pence to RF where he belongs. If he's as good defensively as advertised then we'll be strong in the outfield, hopefully he can get on base as he will likely be the lead off hitter as well. I really wish we'd never traded Willy Tavares for Jason Jennings, it was a bad deal last year and will get worse over time. Willie was developing into a great defensive CF and a solid hitter. Terry
Interesting stuff in the news.......Bonds, A-rod, etc. Re: Bonds. Now the holders of two of baseballs most significant records, total hits (Rose) and HR (Bonds), are persona non gratas. The situation I want to comment on is Mariano Rivera's refusal of the Yankees' offer of $45 mil for 3 years. As much as I've bashed Yankee management for the Torre fiasco, I'm on their side on this one. I believe he is 38 yrs. old. IMO it's a generous offer to a Yankee icon who is close to the end of the road. I can't imagine that another team would offer him 4 years at anywhere close that price. Maybe 3 with an incentive-based option, but IMO even that is a stretch.
Speaking of relievers, the Tigers just resigned Todd Jones. This means that I'll be on my blood pressure medication for at least another year. Damn.
Sid what do you think of the Reds hiring Dusty Baker? I think it guarantees the Red a few more years of mediocrity. I'm hoping that the Astros can make a few more moves and that Cecil Cooper can get the team ready to play in April and May. I am surprised that the Astros seem to be in the market for a 2nd baseman since I've always assumed that Chris Burke would be given the job after Biggio retired. Do any of you guys want Jason Jennings or Woody Williams? :shock:
Terry, I only know what everyone else knows about Dusty, that he is the epitome of a players' manager. He got the Giants to the WS and had the Cubs very close in his first or second year. I guess my take is that no matter how good a manger you might be, you must have the players, and the Reds simply don't have the players to enable them to make a run. So I guess you can say that they are guaranteed a few more years of mediocrity, but I don't necessarily think it will be because of the manager. Re: Burke. Hasn't he played in the OF in the past? If so, is he a pretty good defensive outfielder? Maybe that's what the Stros are thinking? Re: Jennings or Williams. No thanks.
No room in the OF for Burke, who did play some LF and even CF in an attempt to get him in the lineup while Biggio chased 3000 hits. But we are set in the OF with Carlos Lee in LF, the new kid from Philly in CF and Rookie phenom Hunter Pence moving to RF.
Terry, Bourn is a real fast outfielder without much power. With the Phillies his role was mainly pinch running and a late inning defensive replacement. He played very little centerfield last year. PJ in Jersey
PJ that's what I've heard. Some Philly fans have said he has an attitude problem as well. I hope not. It goes to show you how bad the former GM screwed up. I mean he trades 3 guys including Willie Taveras who was developing into a terrific CF and is probably the fastest player in baseball, for a sore armed Jason Jennnings. Talk about getting hoodwinked. So now we have to hope that Bourne is as good as Willie was, the one thing he does have going for him is that he is a Houston kid. Played college ball at the University of Houston.