Who is this more pathetic for, the Chi-Sox, who get turned down without even making an offer, or the disAstros, who 50 or so games into the season are already on "when are we going to trade our marquee starting pitcher" watch?
Monday, June 1, 2009
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Well, there's no doubt that the Astros are pathetic in 2009, while the White Sox are not. However, the Astros would be crazy not to trade Oswalt (and Carlos Lee, and Jose Valverde, and every other reasonable commodity on the team except for Berkman and Pence).
ReplyDeleteThe Astros need to realize that there's no shame in trading established players to acquire big-time prospects. Teams do it every year. Considering the total lack of talent in the Astros' farm system, it makes perfect sense. Just do it.
The problem is that Drayton always believes the Astros are in the race and is thus hesitant to trade for prospects. It's an admirable quality for a team owner to have, actually. And quite honestly, this team has made some ridiculously unlikely late-season runs over the last few years. So I'm not sure I can really blame him. But in 2009, it's just not gonna happen.
In the end, they just need to accept that and do what's necessary to rebuild the farm system. I certainly wouldn't trade Oswalt to the Cubs, Cards, or Brewers, but I'm certain there's a non-NL Central team out there to whom Roy would agree to be traded.
The Astros could put together a phenomenal young team if they made a few smart trades and didn't completely blow every draft. They play in a relatively attractive ballpark with a decent manager. They are in a good, warm-weather (understatement, I realize) city with a fan base that will turn out if they put a good team on the field. I could see them attracting some talented veterans to surround a young core of players.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think Drayton is totally unwilling to bring baseball guys into the organization and let them run the baseball team. The Astros could really benefit from some of the Moneyball and other Bill James-ian principles, but instead they get old-school guys like Ed Wade who go after washed up "talent" in desperate attempts to win now. They need a young, DePodesta-like GM with some leeway to put together a couple-year rebuilding process. Chances are they could be successful more quickly than, say, the Rays, presuming Berkman and Pence are intact.
You up for a beer tomorrow night?