The Future Of The Catching Joe Mauer, The White Sox Selling Low After Buying High, and Melvin Mora Potentially On The Move

Moving Mauer

Recently, I read in a article by Jim Souhan advocating a move of Joe Mauer to third base.

I’m not going to post the article, it’s available there if you want to find it, but the gist of it stated that Mauer needs to be moved to third in order to keep his bat in the lineup, plus that he is too injury prone to remain behind the bag.

While Mauer clearly could be the best young catcher in the American League, he hasn't been able to stay on the field.  A four year vet, Mauer has only one complete season under his belt.  His other three, including this one, Mauer has missed time with one ailment or another and has suffered a hit in the clubhouse, where numerous veterens such as Justin Morneau, Mike Redmond, and Torii Hunter have played through one ailment or another.

Compounding all of this is Mauer's size.  Now 6-5, tall for a catcher, Mauer likely won't be able to stand up to the everyday wear and tear of being a catcher. 

This year has made it painfully evident that Mauer's bat is an integral part of the offense, as the entire Twins lineup was much more lackluster without it.  The departure of Mauer (as well as the decision to keep Matt Garza and company down in the minors while keeping Sidney Ponson and other retreads simply to keep the cost down in the future for the rookies) can be held directly responsible for the collapse of the Twins.

Twins lineups have become rather punchless in recent years, both a product of management's reluctance to splurge on a average bat in terms of trade or free agency as it is a testament to the failure of the Twins' farm system to develop any sort of power hitting prospect.  Morneau and Mauer aside, the Twins have been lacking in any sort of power presence and, while they have some pitching prospects to spare, they aren't interested in using some of their blocked prospects to trade for blocked positional players on other teams in hopes of possibly upgrading spots on their roster that scream for help (such as third base, where the Nick Punto experience has become a nightmare.)

Mauer would provide an excellent upgrade at third base, assuming he can play the position (which I think he can) and can split time at first base with Justin Morneau, who could use some time off at DH.  In fact, both players could use time at DH, where the Twins are even more enemic in terms of production.

Rumor has it that Mauer could be seeing time at all four positions coming into the year, where he would be able to catch, play first, third, and DH in order to allow the Twins to not only keep his bat in the lineup, but to preserve his health. 

This may turn out the best for Mauer, who is a fan favorite and more importantly, one of the parts that make the Twins go.

And if you need a example to see how moving from behind the plate can extend a career, consider the case of Craig Biggio, a former catcher who was also deemed to be unable to last through the rigors of catching.

Since the move, Biggio is now looking at a future at Cooperstown.

All in all, I'd say that this type of decision can pay off.

Selling Low On A Trio Of Sox

One year after making a series of deals that Kenny Williams said would keep the White Sox competitive and protect them from the inflating price of starting pitching, Williams is now looking on dumping three of the players he once held up as a sign of the future.

Right handers Nick Masset, David Aardsma and lefty Andy Sisco have all disappointed in some capacity or another and are a big reason for the bullpen's decline.  Only Aardsma has had any sort of success, mostly in April  and none of them merited September callups.  The reason for the trades is because of the fact that both Aardsma and Masset are out of options, so the Sox will lose them if they fail to earn spots with the big club next spring and Sisco has become such a disappointment that he likely won't even be kept as a situational lefty.  Masset and Sisco have since returned to starting, but neither has been stellar.

Of the three, Aardsma is likely the most attractive candidate, as he has closer's stuff and if placed in the right environment, he could flourish.  Masset was largely regarded in his time in Texas as a underachiever who has good stuff but can't put it together.  As for Sisco, a big part of his problem is that his command is so off, possibly because he was rushed by the Royals.  

Kenny Williams is hoping to get two relievers, one of them proven, in exchange for a pair of the trio.  I'd imagine that a system with an excess of relievers and a solid pitching coach could do well.  San Diego could be a decent fit to Masset, as would St. Louis.  Were I Washington or Florida, teams that could need a closer this off-season, I would also give a call for Aardsma.  Sisco is harder to nail down, as it's hard to nail down a fit.  Maybe a trade to the Pirates to convert him to starting could help, possibly in exchange for Jack Wilson's contract?

Mora May Be Pushed Out Of Baltimore

The acquistion of Steve Traschel may not only have given the Orioles someone to keep the rotation somewhat respectable, but also to maybe begin the process of Melvin Mora leaving the Orioles.

Moore is a slugging third baseman/left fielder that could provide roughly Mora's production at a fraction of the price.  Mora, despite still being productive, is an expensive player that will be entering his decline phase soon.  He is a luxery the Orioles really don't need.

The question is, would they deal him?

Mora, I think, could bring in a couple of prospects to potentially build around, hopefully outfielders or other positional players.  As long as Baltimore swallowed some money, people could inquire.  Philadelphia may be interested, as Mora would be a upgrade over their current situation and the Yankees, should they lose Alex Rodriguez, may be interested in a short term fix should they feel Wilson Betemit isn't the long term answer.  The Dodgers and Angels, two teams that also may want to upgrade their third base over the winter and have prospects to do so.

Actually, I should probably rephrase that.  The real question is, would Peter Angelos let it happen.

Angelos famously killed a deal for Miguel Tejada that would have netted him Erick Aybar and Ervin Santana and may have been responsible for killing a deal that may have sent Astros Ace Roy Oswalt to the Texas Rangers (and if he was, I hate Peter Angelos even more than I already do.)

Really, I think that the Traschel Deal should serve as a potentially rebuilding stage of the Orioles that could net cheap talent that could, long term, help the Orioles not only get more cost efficient and flexible, but potentially become a winning team and could return them to being a crown jewel of baseball once more.

That's all for now.  Let's hope the week goes well...

The End Of Morgan Ensberg, Dan Johnson Going To New York, Elijah Dukes' Child Support, Ian Snell Wants Out Of The Steel City, Taking On Keith Law, A Fitting End To Biggio's Career In Houston, and the end of Jeff Allison's comeback...again.

The End Of Ensberg

The career of Morgan Ensberg in Houston is over.

With the acquistion of Ty Wigginton (a great aquisition, more on that tomorrow), the Astros have made it clear it's time to cut bait and designated Ensberg for assignment.  It's a sad end to a player that had promise during Houston's title run in 2005, but a torn ligiment in his shoulder during an accident in 2006 sapped the life out of Ensberg's swing and left him powerless, resulting in the Astros' inevitable collapse in 2006 and a big reason why they were so awful this year.

Will Morgan get another shot?  Probably.  There are teams looking for third base help and the Astros could get some decent roster filler if they can accomodate them, but it's still a #### end to a career for a person who looked like he would be the first stable third baseman for the Astros since Ken Caminetti.

Dan Johnson – Potential Yankee?

Dan Johnson is rumored to be headed to the Yankees at some point before the trade deadline is over.

Of course, this was mentioned by ESPN’s resident Yankee fan, Buster Olney, but I did read an article that the Athletics inquired about Brett Gardner, a outfielder in the Yankees' system, only to be rebuffed by saying he was not available.  Why?  Gardner looks like he's a fourth outfielder and won't be anything special.  He's the return of Bubba Crosby from what I've read and seen of him.

Moving on, why would the Athletics be interested in moving Johnson, a player that has legitimate power, a decent glove, and plays hard?

Aside from the injury history, which is substantial, Johnson is a bit streaky, which is how he went from hitting over .300 to hitting below .250 in a month's time. 

But there's another reason.

One is that Johnson can't be sent down because of the fact that he's out of option and would be lost on waivers.

The other is that Oakland is trying to make room for Daric Barton, a solid young first baseman that brings up memories of John Olerud.  Though Johnson has more power, Barton has a solid bat and does a lot of things well.  Plus, with this season looking lost, Oakland is looking to give their kids a shot and see where they can go from here.\

It's the usual Oakland policy, but should work out well for them.

Personally, I'd move Nick Swisher back for first base myself.

But that's just me.

Dukes May Be In Contempt Of Court

Things don’t seem to be getting easier for Elijah Dukes, who may be held in contempt of court.  Dukes was ordered to pay the first of his court ordered payments for child support from his wife:  $3,300 for his wife's alimony and $2,800 in child support for the three children they had together.  He hasn’t paid a cent yet, though his attorney has said he’d pay by Monday.

If Dukes doesn’t pay by Monday, he could be forced to pay immediately, or possibly face jail time.

I used to wonder if Dukes was maybe, criminally disturbed and needed help to overcome his demons.  I honestly wondered if he was just truly a soul that needed help.

Now I’m wondering if he’s just a ####.

One of your duties as a man is to ensure that your children are cared for.  To not do so makes you a coward in my book.

Ian Snell Wants Out Of Pittsburgh

Ian Snell wants out of Pittsburgh in a bad way, calling out teammates, management, yelling several times that he hates losing and even acting like a spaze when he supposedly trembled his hand and said  "I'm starting to break. I'm getting stressed out. I don't know about these other guys, but I just want to win. I don't want to be called a loser. Man, even my family calls our team losers, and I don't want anyone to say that about our team."

Ooookay.

Snell has a lot of value.  He’s a young pitcher that isn’t eligible for arbitration until next season and he plays well, can dominate, and shows the potential to be a middle of the rotation horse.

He’s just acting like a horse’s ####.

Is it true the Pirates have one of the worst management offices in baseball?  Yes.  Is it true that they’ve been #### in almost every deal they’ve made?  Oh yes.  Is it fair for him to call out teammates?  No.  Like it or not, they’re in the same boat with you and like or not, you have to see them the next day after they read about your antics in the paper.

Snell has been on the block for a while and was most recently offered to the Braves in exchange for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  In reality, the Pirates have so many other needs, but young pitchers typically can bring oodles back in exchange.

Should the Pirates do a trade, perhaps with the Devil Rays, they could get some quality outfield talent in the process, get Snell out of the National League where he wouldn't come back to hurt them, and be rid of a headache in the process.

It's a mutually beneficial trade, but the con is that the Pirates would be down a starter and the farm system isn't exactly deeply stocked enough where  they could accomodate such a trade.

It's a real catch 22 for them.

Disagreeing With Keith Law…Sort Of…On Brandon Morrow

I usually agree with most of Keith Law’s post.  He’s also the only person on that staff (aside from maybe Tim Krukjin) that knows what he’s talking about.

But I disagree with him as far as the Mariners’ use of Brandon Morrow. 

Should Morrow be in the majors at the moment?  No.  But that doesn’t mean he’s irrepariably damaged.  Allowing Morrow to build innings and stamina works out well for him and it allows him to adjust to major league competition.  Plus, he can be optioned back to the minors next year to allow himself to build starter’s innings and eventually allow him to join the Mariners’ rotation in 2009 or so.

But that assessment is ONLY if the Mariners are smart enough to send Morrow down to allow him to develop his breaking stuff, as he’s relying on his fastball too much and his control needs work.

If they continue to see him as a reliever, however, and treat him as such, then yes, I would probably have to change my opinion to Law’s, that the decision to draft Morrow over Tim Lincecum is one of the worst draft decisions in ages.

Biggio To Finish Career As He Begun

Craig Biggio has one more special moment coming up.

Astros ace Roy Oswalt has asked Biggio to be his catcher for a few innings during his final start of the season, likely during the Sept. 28-30 final home series against the Atlanta Braves.  Biggio has agreed provided that the Braves are not in a fierce fight for a playoff spot.

I love the fact that Biggio will finish his career the way he ended it, the same way I remember him when I used to collect his cards during the early 90’s, mostly Donruss and Fleer.

As a catcher.

Biggio will be coming full circle.  And I can’t find a more beautiful and fitting way to end the career of one of my favorite players ever to play the game.

That Jeff Allison Comeback…Never Mind

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the potential comeback for Marlins prospect Jeff Allison, who has been had his share of legal issues, due to drugs, criminal behavior, and addiction.

The comeback is over for now.

Allison has been placed back on the major league restricted list because of a legal issue that has come up, likely because of that stolen car charge nearly a year ago.  The Marlins have said that he’s welcome to come back once all legal issues have been resolved. 

Damn.

This has been a hard fall for a kid who was once seen to be the potential ace of a major league staff.

Now all that is gone.

I know I may be overreacting to the loss of B.J. Ryan to Tommy John Surgery, but you have to admit that the loss of the Jays closer kills Toronto's chances to compete in the always competitive AL East.

Ryan was the best closer in the league last year and showed dominance against the Red Sox and Yankees, two teams with a lot of left handed hitters and was all but unbeatable for much of the year.  And with the Blue Jays rotation and bullpen thin already, Toronto needed Ryan healthy in order to keep the pen together.

Now it's all gone to hell.

Jason Frasor is the temporary closer, though Jeremy Accardo may soon challenge him for the job.  The Jays have little in the farm system to deal and what was once their most valuable trade commodity, Vernon Wells, is locked up for the long haul.

So what do the Jays do?

They have Alex Rios, a excellent young outfielder that can play centerfield that could net prospects as well as free up a place for Adam Lind full time once Reed Johnson comes back, but such a move would leave the Jays shorthanded in the short term.  The rotation is a mess, largely because the Jays were outbid for their few free agent targets and have tried to rebuild a rotation mainly out of retreads and has beens.

The reality is that this team may have to blow itself up and compete for next year, as the pitching trade market is shallow and expensive. 

Aside from Rios, would could net a decent young pitcher and a average position player, the Jays could also move Troy Glaus, who is drawing interest around the league from teams needing another bat in the lineup.  Glaus can still capably handle third base and still has plenty of power, despite his nagging injuries.  The main sticking point is that Glaus has three years left on his deal AND a full no trade clause.  Hence, the Jays would have to hammer out a compromise with Glaus just to get him to waive the no trade. 

If they really want a Kings Ransom's worth of prospects, they could consider listening to offers for Roy Halladay, much as the Astros did when they were listening for offers for Roy Oswalt last year.  Offering up Halladay would generate a lot of buzz around baseball and would prompt many clubs to dip into their systems for the necessary pieces to make a offer.

Or, if the Jays are really willing to continue to compete, they could simply announce that they are willing to be partners in a salary dump, much as the Yankees did when they traded for Bobby Abreu and Corey Lidle last season and the result was that they got impact players in exchange for some average prospects.  Some teams willing to shed large contracts, such as the Giants with Armando Benitez, the Mariners with Jeff Weaver, the Rockies for some combination of Josh Fogg and Byung Hyun Kim, or the Nationals with Chad Cordero (a stretch, but not a large one) could make a deal for meager prospects in exchange for having the salary relief.  However, the result would be damaging in the long run as the Jays payroll would skyrocket and the impact on the bottom line might not be much.  Plus, team's may not be eager to deal with GM J.P. Riccardi, in light of the recent story that he deliberately lied about Ryan's injury in Spring Training to keep the injury a secret.

Whatever the result, the Blue Jays are a lesser team now that their closer has gone down.  And instead of competing for the division with the Red Sox or the Yankees, the Jays may instead find themselves competing to stay out of the gutter with the Orioles and Devil Rays.

Prospect Versus

Brandon Morrow (Mariners) Versus Tim Lincecum (Giants)

• The Skinny:  Both players were considered by the Mariners and both were Number One picks.  However, both players were simply impressive during their debuts and impressed a lot this Spring Training and many wondered if it was at all possible that one or both players could make the team in some capacity.  Lincecum, drafted out of the University of Washington, was regarded to have the best pure stuff of anyone in the draft.  Morrow, drafted out of Cal, had people falling in love with his arm strength and is thought to be an excellent power arm.
• Build:  Lincecum looks like he’s twelve.  Aside from that, he is a small pitcher, standing at only 5-11 and 160 pounds.  Morrow is larger, standing at 6-3 and 190 lbs.  Both could add some mass, but of the two, Morrow has the better build.  Edge:  Morrow
• Delivery:  Lincecum has a strange, funky delivery that appears to be very violent and puts a lot of stress on his arm.  It appears that he throws back his upper body during his delivery, which allows him to whip the ball forward, but apparently this isn’t the case.  As for Morrow, his delivery is clean, traditional, and looks to be a lot safer.  Edge:  Morrow
• Fastball:  It’s close here.  Lincecum’s fastball normally clocks between 92-96 mph, but he also touches 98-99 in the later innings and is able to maintain that velocity throughout a start.  Morrow clocks in at 93-96 and can also touch 98-99 several times an outing.  Either one is good.  Edge:  Wash
• Out Pitch:  Lincecum’s curveball is even better than his fastball and many feel that it is a perfect 80 out of 80 on the scouting scale.  Morrow’s got a nasty splitter as well.  Of the two, I gotta go with Lincecum, mostly because of the fact that the splitter is a taxing pitch.  Edge:  Lincecum
• Third Pitch:  Lincecum also throws a average slider and serviceable changeup.  Morrow also throws a slider, but it’s not regarded to be anything special and will most likely be scrapped, and is working on developing a curveball, which people feel will be a serviceable pitch.  Edge:  Lincecum
• Command And Control:  Both pitchers have huge problems with control.  However, Lincecum, whether it is through work with his minor league coaches or just everything clicking has cut down on his walks and is allowing fewer long balls.  Morrow has also taken steps to improve his control, but command is still an issue from time to time.   Edge:  Lincecum
• Makeup:  I’ve heard nothing but good things about either pitcher.  Both are competitive and have the makeup to be excellent starters.  Edge:  Wash
• Projection:  Lincecum is almost a finished product and could have pitched in the Giants bullpen last season.  But, he’s a known quantity.  As for Morrow, he’s got some projection left on his frame and could gain some size.  Both figure to be All-Star Closers or All-Star Starters, but, in terms of which player is likely to stick at a position, I’d have to go with Morrow.  Edge:  Morrow
• Downside:  Both pitchers have significant downsides.  In Lincecum’s case, his size and wonky delivery raise concerns that he’ll have durability issues and that he may be better off as a closer.  In Morrow’s case, it’s his diabetes.  While he’s worked hard to combat it and adjust his life style, there is the concern that he may be forced to move to the bullpen because of it.  Still, Morrow’s downsides are workable, unlike Lincecum’s.  Edge:  Morrow
• ETA:  This one is no contest.  Morrow was solid all around, but he just barely reached High A last season and will likely stay there.  As for Lincecum, he’s likely going to begin the season in Double A, and could be called up to the Giants at some point this season.  He’s that close.  Edge:  Lincecum
• Comparisons: Lincecum draws comparisons to Roy Oswalt, which is understandable, due to size and stuff.  I keep seeing closer’s comparisons for Morrow, mostly that of Joel Zumaya or (best case scenario) Mariano Rivera.  I think Morrow is most likely going to remain a starter and he projects to be a more explosive Freddy Garcia.  Both are excellent comparisons, but, because I tend to be biased toward Texas pitchers…  Edge:  Lincecum
• Final Analysis:  It’s close, because both of these guys are remarkably similar, and even negate each other in certain categories,  but I give the edge to Lincecum by the slimmest of margins. That’s not to say I wouldn’t take both if I had the opportunity.  Both were very good picks by their respective teams.  But I love Lincecum and I think he’s going to be a stud.  But Morrow isn’t a bad consolation prize. 

Sorry about not posting yesterday.  i got a phone call about my sister fainting at school.  I went to pick her up and, well, to put it lightly, after I took her to the Doctor's office to get her checked out, I found out I'm going to be an uncle.

I'm going to have a long talk with my soon to be brother in law...

My take on Michael Young's contract extension, as well as Gary Matthews Jr.'s steroid allegations will be talked about on Monday's Rangers Report.

In the meantime, let’s see where we go as the division previews roll on….

The Hat says, to loosely quote Davy Crockett, "The Red Sox can go to hell, we’re going to Texas!"

Houston Astros

The Astros again tried to turn it on at the end of the season to make the playoffs.  They almost made it.  However, Houston suffered some huge losses in the off-season.  Though they bolstered the offense with the addition of Carlos Lee, the loss of Andy Pettitte, who genuinely wanted to stay with the Astros, as well as that of Roger Clemens leaves the staff decimated.  Houston has taken measures to try and ensure the rotation will stay together, but a lot of it depends on the youngsters stepping up.

Starting Rotation

1. Roy Oswalt (RHP) – Oswalt is now the oldest member of the rotation and by far the most successful and most experienced.  Though questions about his durability will always abound, Oswalt has been solid the last few years and has been nothing short of dominant.  Oswalt will likely post solid numbers again and contend for a Cy Young, but he no longer has that dominant lineup behind him, as the talent level drops off severely after him.
2. Jason Jennings (RHP) – Jennings was obtained for a high price, with the Rockies obtaining pitchers Jason Hirsh and Taylor Buchholz and centerfielder Willy Taveras in exchange.  Jennings is in his walk year and has a career line of 58-56, with a 4.74 ERA.  He also had a losing record last year, but that should change with a more pitcher friendly park.  Is he as good as the man he’s replacing, Andy Pettitte?  No.  But can he be a solid innings eater.  Yes. 
3. Woody Williams (RHP) – Not sure why the Astros spent money on Williams instead of spending it on Pettitte.  Williams has lost a lot of his edge as far as his stuff goes and his ERA was largely a product of Petco instead of performance.  He should be a fifth starter, but unfortunately he’ll be the third guy in Houston.
4. Wandy Rodriguez (LHP) – People are going to wonder why Rodriguez is the fourth starter and not some of the other options.  For starters, Rodriguez isn’t as bad as people think, as his stuff is tolerable and he’ll keep the team in the game provided he gets run support (something he didn’t get much of last season.  And second of all, Rodriguez is the only lefty and the most experienced of the young Astros.  Hence, sticking him here is a no brainer.
5. Chris Sampson (RHP) – Sampson was good as a reliever, but even better as a starter.  With Nieve better suited to relief, where it’s thought that he’ll eventually become a closer, Sampson is my favorite to win the fifth starters job.

Bullpen

• Brad Lidge (Closer) – Lidge has had a rough time since Albert Pujols’ moon shot during the 2005 playoffs.  Lidge has since been hammered hard and has even lost the closer’s role for a time during his struggles.  Lidge enters the season on the hot seat, as the slightest hint of trouble will cause fans and management alike to demand Dan Wheeler to take over.
• Dan Wheeler (Setup Man) – Wheeler is a solid setup man that could close on many teams.  Unfortunately for Brad Lidge, that team might be the Astros if he’s not careful.
• Chad Qualls (RHP) – There was talk of Qualls moving in the rotation to serve as the fifth starter, but that talk has since ended, leaving this solid setup man as the Astros’ 7th inning option.
• Trever Miller (LHP) – Miller did wonders in his first year in the NL.  Now, he’s going to have the pressure of being the pen’s only lefty reliever.
• Fernando Nieve (RHP) – Many scouts like Nieve’s ability, but see him more as a reliever in the future.  With Sampson likely going to get the nod to starter, Nieve will have a whole season to adjust himself to relief duty.  It’s hoped that once Lidge moves on (which I eventually believe he will), Nieve will be the team’s closer.  For now, he’s the team’s Longman.
• Dave Borkowski (RHP) – This Rule V Pick has great arm strength.  I have him in the pen, because usually you don’t spend the cash on a Rule V pick unless you plan on keeping him. 

Starting Lineup

1. Chris Burke (CF) – With Willy Taveras now in Colorado, Burke will finally be in the lineup everyday.  Burke is a solid offensive player that is a better fit at second than in center, but with Craig Biggio still in Houston and Hunter Pence not ready, Burke has to make the transition as smooth as possible until Biggio reaches 3000 and until Pence shows he’s set for the majors.  Burke should be a superb upgrade offensively, as he’s got more power than Taveras, while maintaining the same contact rates.
2. Craig Biggio (2B) – The last of the original Killer B’s, Biggio will play everyday until he gets hit Number 3000, after which he’ll likely begin to sit down to allow Burke some reps at second.  BIggio showed his age last season, but I think he’s got at least one decent season left to wring out from him.
3. Lance Berkman (1B) – Berkman had to step into the role long occupied by Jeff Bagwell and did so admirably, putting up a MVP caliber season in which Berkman drove in 136 runs, while hitting .315 with 45 home runs, all while taking talks and getting on base, though a lot of that was intentionally walking, thanks to little protection behind him in the lineup.  With Carlos Lee now in Houston, Berkman should have a lot more RBI chances.
4. Carlos Lee (LF) – Now that he’s finally in Houston, Lee should provide more than adequate protection to Berkman and should take advantage of the short left field porch at Minute Maid.  Lee continues to improve as a hitter and has loads of thunder in his bat, but his range in Left last season with Texas should be troubling.  Lee has been said to have been working on his conditioning this off-season, so it should be interesting to see how he shows up to Spring Training this year.
5. Luke Scott (RF) – Scott provided an extra power bat for the Astros after being called up and will now be part of the Astros’ heart of the order.  With Lee and Berkman hitting in front of him, Scott will see a big chance to get some RBI chances, particularly if this next guy rebounds to his old form.
6. Morgan Ensberg (3B) – Ensberg was awful last season, losing the starting job to Aubrey Huff, but Ensberg was also hurt last year and that may have altered his hitting motion, resulting in his collapse.  The signs are good that Ensberg has at least one more quality season left on him before he begins to enter his decline phase.
7. Adam Everett (SS) – This light hitting shortstop makes up for his offensive troubles by flashing the leather at short.  He should have won the Gold Glove instead of Omar Visquel, but Gold Gloves tend to be won more on reputation than anything else.
8. Brad Ausmus (C) – Ausmus is the worst regular catcher in baseball.  Despite a solid defensive glove and with him being one of the most respected players on the team, Ausmus doesn’t hit enough to justifying him being a starter.  Thankfully, this is the final year of his contract, but Houston needs to start looking for a temporary solution to catcher, as the kids aren’t ready yet.

Bench

• Mark Loretta (IF) – Loretta figures that he’ll get some playing time spelling Morgan Ensberg and Craig Biggio, which is why he picked the Astros’ offer of being their utility man over that of the Rangers.  Loretta still has some good pop in his bat, but he’s not going to hit for much power.  I do think that he’s valuable in terms of doubles power and as far as fielding, he hasn’t lost enough on his glove to make him a liability.
• Mike Lamb (1B/3B) – Once a highly touted Rangers’ prospect that flamed out, has found a hope in Houston, where he’s been able to hit for contact, if not much power.  He plays a solid hand at the infield corners and should get plenty of playing time with Ensberg’s status in doubt and Berkman needing a day off every now and then.
• Jason Lane (OF) – Kinda hard to see why the Astros are giving up on Jason Lane one year after posting a .267, 26 HR, 79 RBI campaign.  But with Lee now in left and Scott now the next big thing in right, Lane’s left with bench duty. 
• Humberto Quintero (C) – The Astros’ backup catcher is unproven at the moment, but if Quintero could offer any offensive upgrade over Ausmus, the Astros should give him a shot.
• Eric Bruntlett (SS) – Brunlett was passable as a backup shortstop.  He’ll see some time at short, second, and possibly center.

Disabled List

• Brandon Backe (RHP) – Backe is a solid young pitcher who was once mentioned in a possible trade to the Texas Rangers for Alfonso Soriano.  However, Backe had to undergo Tommy John surgery toward the middle of the season and won’t be an option until the end of the season.   If Backe can come back to at least 70% of what he once was, the Astros will take it.

Can't Make Up His Damn Mind

• Roger Clemens (RHP) - Clemens is again trying to decide what the hell he's going to do with his career, if he's going to retire or play another season.  At this point, many of the Astros teammates have quietly made it know that they really would rather do without the soon to be hall of famer.  It strikes me more of a case that the rest of the Astros tolerate him, but have some resentment over the fact that he doesn't play the whole season, nor does he show up to the park every day.  We'll see what happens, but if Clemens again decides to return to Houston, he'll have a huge impact.

Down On The Farm…

The Astros farm system is in one of it’s down periods, as the Astros have now begun aggressively trying to win now, surrendering draft picks to sign free agents.  The Astros are without a first rounder this year, having surrendered their pick to Texas for the Carlos Lee signing.  The system has also surrendered a lot of talent via trades, as Hirsh, Buchholz, Mitch Tablot, Ben Zobrist and others, thinning it further.  The Astros have also lost ground in Venezuela, a arena they once dominated, resulting in further losses.  The system does have some intriguing arms, but there is a lack of prospects that can hit, aside from Hunter Pence.

• Hunter Pence (OF) – Pence, the organization’s best (and only) position prospect, is a powerful righthanded hitter, from Arlington, who has done nothing but hit since he came into the minors.  Pence’s athleticism allows him to play all of the outfield positions, as well as giving him great speed on the bases.  His power in his bat is incredible, but there are some doubts as to whether or not he’ll hit for average In the majors.  There’s also the question of his judgement, as he was caught for DUI this past fall as well.  The Astros hope the embarrassment from the bust will keep him in line now and he may get called up as soon as Craig Biggio gets 3000 hits, allowing the Astros to begin playing Chris Burke at second a bit more, opening center for Pence.
• Troy Patton (LHP) – Patton is a hard-throwing lefthander that is now the Astros’ best pitching prospect now that Hirsh is a Rocky.  Patton has excellent stuff for a lefthander, with a very nice 89-92 mph fastball that touches 94 and has good movement.  He compliments it with a hard curveball, and he’s got the makings of a decent changeup.  He held his own at Double-A before his 21st birthday. Patton also has a history of arm trouble, as he’s pitched through arm soreness and various points in his career.  Patton will likely return to Double A in 2007, but he could be a factor in the rotation at some point this year.
• Matt Albers (RHP) – A 2001 Draft and Follow, Albers was impressive in the lower minors, beginning the season in Double A and finishing it in the majors.  Albers has excellent command and control of low 90s fastball and a slider that becomes a plus pitch at times. Good feel for a changeup.  The only real problem I have with Albers is like all short pitchers, his pitches have less of a plane to move on, resulting in little movement.  He also issues a bit too many walks for my taste, but at the very least, he’ll be a solid fourth or fifth starter if he can cut down on them.  Albers could be an option for the rotation at some point this season.
• Juan Gutierrez (RHP) – Gutierrez is often overshadowed by Patton, but that doesn’t mean he’s not talented.  He’s a pitcher with a power arsenal, as his fastball sits in the mid 90’s and he’s got a hard curve to compliment it.  He’s changeup is still a work in progress, but he does have the tools to succeed if he can get it going well.  He’s ready to help out in the bullpen now, but look for him to remain in Triple A for the moment.

In Conclusion

This is a weak division, to be sure.  But in the case of Houston, they’ve got just enough youth and experience that they’ll win the crown and return to the playoffs again, Rocket or no Rocket.

Final Standing:  National League Central Division WInner

Friday Morning Closer

Here’s my six pitch outing for the day.

Roy Oswalt Is Pissed

The Astros have managed tick off ace righthander Roy Oswalt when it came out that his name was being shopped around at the trade deadline.  According to sources in the industry, Oswalt had been offered to Baltimore in a package along with Adam Everett and Willy Taveras for Miguel Tejada.  The Orioles, in typical Orioles fashion, further #### up the situation by offering Oswalt to the Texas Rangers and the New York Mets.  Despite being somewhat diplomatic, it’s obvious that Oswalt was miffed at the fact that he was even considered being moved.  

Short term, the Astros now have to deal with a fractured clubhouse with Oswalt now angry, Lidge wondering about his future and Morgan Ensberg, despite being glad at remaining an Astro, wondering at his future.  Oswalt is under contract until the end of the 2007 season and has stated that he would like to test free agency.  What this means is that the Astros can no longer expect a discount on Oswalt to remain in Houston long term.  And despite the fact that Oswalt hoped to remain an Astro for his career, he may now be more open to pitching elsewhere in the future.  There are a lot of egos to sooth for the Astros in a season that’s beginning to look lost.

Are The Red Sox Becoming The Angels?

Two things that the Red Sox have in common with the Angels this season.

One – They both highly value their prospects .

Two – They both are reluctant to get rid of them.

With the Yankees bringing in both Bobby Abreu and Corey Lidle, plus getting Craig Wilson to platoon at first base, the Red Sox needed to make a move to keep pace.

And all they did was trade for Brian Corey.

The Red Sox could have used Julio Lugo to play at shortstop, giving them a much more potent bat without sacrificing much of the defense.  They also could have traded for another pitcher that wouldn’t have cost too much, perhaps Mark Redman from the Royals or someone else.

Instead, the Red Sox are now faced with having to contend with their available roster, which is talented, but flawed.  Outside of Schilling and Beckett, the Red Sox are faced with having to put out young Jon Lester (who can’t last more than six), David Wells (not sure if he can make it past five), and Jason Johnson (who is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA since he arrived at Fenway.)  This is where Tim Wakefield was so valuable.  He was able to eat innings and take some pressure off the bullpen.  He was also able to push the weaker pitchers to the back, thus keeping Boston’s rotation weaknesses safe.  This is no longer an option now.

Do I think it was worth holding onto Craig Hansen and Jon Lester?  Yes.  But the Red Sox had needs that they had to fill and were they willing to dip into the system and make a trade, they would have a better change of fending off the Yankees.  Instead, they’re having to hold onto their post-season hopes and pray that the staff doesn’t fracture any worse that it already is. 

Now Closing, Brett Tomko?

Brett Tomko, who is now finishing his first week as a reliever, has said that his goal is to eventually be a closer.  Tomko was quick to add he isn't targeting anyone else's job, with Danys Baez gone, Eric Gagne likely not returning, and Takashi Saito not a long-term replacement, Tomko could have a crack at the job in spring training if he returns.

So far, that hasn't been a problem. In three one-inning relief appearances, Tomko has yet to allow a run and has given up just one hit.  I’m not sure if Tomko can close, he really doesn’t fit the profile of most closers, but with the market on closers steadily increasing, the Dodgers couldn’t do any worse than to give him a shot.  At the very least, if Tomko succeeds, they could slowly integrate rookie Jonathan Broxton into the closers role as a setup man, just as the Yankees did with Mariano Rivera when he setup for John Wetteland.

Kenny Rogers Possibly To Lose His Rotation Spot

Two weeks after the All-Star break, there is talk that Kenny Rogers is in danger of losing his roster spot.

Before the break, Rogers was 11-3 with a 3.85 ERA.  Since the break, he’s 0-2 with a 10.34 ERA.  And while the Tigers are still enjoying a 7 ½ game lead in their division, they aren’t taking any chances. 

I could have told the Tigers about that.

The fact is, Kenny has always fallen off in the second inning.  Part of it is age, but part of it is that Kenny has long put in so much effort into his games that he pays for it later in the season.  Hence, Detroit should not complain about Kenny’s slump.  It’s natural and, had they done their due diligence, was going to happen no matter what.

Sheffield To Play First Base?

In one of the most astounding moves I’ve seen, Gary Sheffield is reportedly agreeing to switch to first base in order to accommodate Bobby Abreu.  This move would give the Yankees a platoon of Sheffield and Giambi, both of whom can switch positions on the list according to the needs of the other.  Sheffield is reportedly already working on first base drills with Don Mattingly and has already ordered a first base fielding glove.

If Sheff were to play first, he’d probably play very well there.  Sheffield is a pretty good defender if he gives it the effort.  Say if Sheffield plays first once he returns in September and fares well in that month and possibly the post-season if the Yankees make it. The Yankees would have to pick up his option on his contract.

And can you imagine a lineup that looks like this:

CF – Johnny Damon

SS – Derek Jeter

1B – Gary Sheffield

DH – Jason Giambi

LF – Hideki Matsui

RF – Bobby Abreu

3B – Alex Rodriguez

C – Jorge Posada

2B – Robinson Cano

That would be hell on pitchers.

Also, it would allow the Yankees to pursue solid pitching, such as Barry Zito.  Because, speaking frankly, next year is likely the last year the Yankees can squeeze out of their staff.  In fact, there is a column idea in that.  Look for it next week.

Where In The World Is…Jeff Bagwell!

Where have you gone, Jeff Bagwell?

Oh.  Italy.

Jeff Bagwell is currently vacationing around several places, most notably San Diego.  And while Bagwell hasn’t had another surgery to repair his shoulder, he’s probably not going to do so, officially ending his career.  Apparently, for the first time in four or five years, Bagwell is not in excruciating pain. And while Bagwell could undergo the surgery and try to come back with another team, he does not want to.  Plus, with the Astros still contesting the court judgment about his salary, he’s not going to ever play for the Astros again.  Thus, GM Tim Purpura is contemplating bringing Bagwell onto the staff with a personal services contract, bringing him to the same capacity as Nolan Ryan.

Should that happen?  Yes, it should.  That fact is, this is the first time I’ve ever seen the Astros go through as many PR flops as I’ve ever seen.  The whole ugly mess with Bagwell, the fallout with the trade deadline with Brad Lidge and Roy Oswalt, plus the team’s terrible performance has given the organization a black eye in several ways.  If the Astros were to bring back one of the two men who had long stayed a part of the franchise through thick and thin, it would bring back some goodwill to the organization.

What Clemens Does For His Suitors

Well, Roger Clemens has finally made his decision, agreeing to return to the Houston Astros.  The seven-time Cy Young Award winner ended his seven-month retirement by accepting a deal that will pay him approximately $14 million -- the pro-rated value of a $21 million seasonal contract -- to pitch for the Astros for the balance of the current season.  While this is great news for Astros fans and finally some closure to what has been a rather frustrating ordeal for some fans of the other teams (with the added bonus of shutting up the talking heads at ESPN for a bit), let's see what Clemens' return does for the four teams seeking his services.

Houston

Clemens chose the safest option, returning to Houston.  Clemens is a god there, plus he has the sweetest deal available to any pitcher in baseball.  His son also plays in the organization and could be called up to allow father and son to play a game together.  Plus, Clemens would not have destroyed some of the bridges he's seemed to have rebuilt with Boston and New York.  Clemens greatly helps the Astros, allowing them to have their Big Three pitchers back in Oswalt, Clemens and Pettitte, plus pushing either Taylor Buchholz or Fernando Nieve back into the bullpen for some much needed depth.  Though the offense is slightly better, the Astros are much the same team, with the noted exception of Brad Lidge, who has been awful.  If the Astros can regain Brandon Backe back in the rotation, pushing Buchholz into the bullpen to gain further depth, the Astros should have a championship caliber bullpen and rotation to enable them to successfully have a chance to defend their National League Title.

Texas

The Rangers had no real shot at landing Clemens.  The Rangers for years had tried to lure the Rocket to Arlington, to no avail.  Still, the Rangers had long prepared themselves for the season, seeing Clemens as merely a bonus.  Unlike most years, there is pitching options availalbe, with Adam Eaton's impending return, John Rheinecker's amazing start, and Robinson Tejeda back in Triple A Oklahoma.  The Rangers will be fine.

Boston

Boston has long had a certain appeal for Clemens, as Clemens would not only be able to pitch alongside long time Clemens' admirer's Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling (who believes that his career was saved by Clemens thanks to a dressing down given by the star to a young Schilling when he played for the Astros), but he would also be able to break Cy Young's most wins by a Red Sox pitcher and be able to wear his old Number 21 one last time before retiring.  He would also have been able to contend for a title.  Clemens returing to the Astros hurts Boston in the sense that they would have benefited from having another solid pitcher in the rotation, giving them options to switch David Wells and Matt Clement as the fifth starter.  Still, Boston has resources in it's farm system to do the job, whether it being calling up stud pitcher Jon Lester or trading for a starter, such as Florida's Dontrelle Willis or Atlanta's Tim Hudson.

New York

Returning to New York would mean that Clemens would have reunited with friends Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, along with pitching for a manager that he greatly respects, Joe Torre.  Plus, Clemens would have made a pretty penny pitching for New York, as money is no object thanks to George Steinbrenner.  Clemens returning to Houston kills the Yankees, as not many pitching options are available.  New York badly needed the Rocket to return to the City That Never Sleeps to help solidify a struggling rotation.  Mussina has been brilliant, Wang has been good, Johnson has been inconsistent and Shawn Chacon is hurt, though  Jaret Wright looks like he might be turning the corner and becoming the pitcher he was for the Braves.  Adding Clemens to the mix would have strengthened New York's chances to contend with the lineup going down with injury.  Now they'll have to look at the bargain bin and hope that someone in there has some magic left.