The End of an Era

Back on Monday, Drayton McLane and the Houston Astros unceremoniously dumped both manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura. If anybody expected either of these two gentlemen to still be in there current positions by the beginning of 2008 must've been drinking some mighty fine kool-aid. I have been saying for years (yes, even before the miraculous World Series run in '05) that the Astros had better get younger and smarter. Let's be honest here. The Astros rode hot bats and solid pitching to the NLCS in '04 (thanks Beltran) and the WS in '05. The problem with Purpura (and Gerry Hunsicker before him) is that he does not understand the economic concept of sunk cost. Some people call it loyalty and in the world of free agency, I respect loyalty, but sometimes when something you invest in that hasn't quite paid off (or in the case of Chris Burke, something that paid off big time), it doesn't matter what you invest, you should cut bait. Chris Burke has been the heir apparent to Craig Biggio at second base for the Stros for many years, but, for his sake, Biggio was just good enough to keep the roster spot (I'm not getting into the 3,000 hit thing in this post as that was all Drayton's doing). All of a sudden, Burke has the two best weeks of his life and all of a sudden, trade offers were supposedly coming in. Unfortunately, Timmy either would not or could not pull the trigger. That whole concept of buy low, sell high. This was Burke circa 2005. Unfortunately, Burke has been a very average, if not below average, player since then and the Astros will be saddled with him for a few more years (please, please prove me wrong Chris).

The next mistake that ol' Timmy had was sacrificing offense for defense. Adam Everett is a great shortstop and Brad Ausmus is a great catcher. The problem is that both hit under .250. When you combine these guys at slots 7 and 8 with the pitcher hitting 9th, you are basically sacrificing 3 outs everytime through the lineup. When you have guys like Oswalt and Clemens pitching with their sub 3.00 ERA's, you can sacrifice a little. Unfortunately, when you have Williams, Jennings, Wandy (on the road), Albers, and whatever other potential prospects pitching, this will not get it done. Ausmus and Everett seem to be great guys and I love a 1-0 game more than most people I know, but I would willingly sacrifice a little defense to get a guy like a Miguel Tejada, a .300 hitter that can hit for power (who was supposedly part of the trade rumor in 2005 - Burke, Lidge and Tavares for Tejada, if I recall correctly). Hopefully, whoever the new GM is will be able to fix this problem either through the farm system or free agency.

The farm system is the next major problem the Astros face over the next few years. I am ignoring the fact that they didn't sign their top 2 draft picks from this past June's amateur draft, as that can be traced back up to Drayton not willing to spend more than slot money for the picks (I can explain what this means in a separate post if anybody wants). In fact, the farm system problems can be traced back to Hunsicker and the Randy Johnson trade giving away three very good pitching prospects in the process. The Astros have spent most of this decade trying to win now, but that comes at a major cost. The Astros are currently saddled with guys like Lamb, Lane, Bruntlett, Loretta, Palmeiro, and a bunch of young, at best average relief pitchers. When Hunter Pence went down with an injury this season, the Astros used Burke, Lane, Bruntlett, Scott, among others to fill in at centerfield. Are you seriously telling me that the Astros don't have a serviceable CF down on the farm that could've been brought up (and maybe switch over to right when Pence comes back)? If healthy, the Astros have a solid core with Pence, Lee and Scott (if he continues to show more progress) in the outfield, Berkman at first and Wigginton at third (and possibly Burke at second). Now, if the Astros can get a shortstop and a catcher that don't flirt with the Mendoza line, the Astros will be in a good position to compete in the very weak NL Central. Of course, the bigger concern is the pitching staff.

The pitching is in shambles. Clemens and Pettitte were able to give the Astros some good years and Oswalt is the cornerstone for at least another two seasons. Jason Jennings and Woody Williams were busts this season, but the Astros really didn't give up that much. Purpura was trying to make the club better and it failed, but I refuse to blame him because hindsight, as they say, is 20-20 (though, I never did understand why the Astros brought a 4.00+ ERA pitcher onto a team that struggled to get runs for Clemens the past few years as a number 2). Plus, Hirsch, Tavares (now that we have Pence) and Buchholz were just not performing when given the opportunity and are currently struggling in Colorado this season. The problem was started by Hunsicker and Drayton, but has not been helped by Timmy. He really didn't understand that sometimes getting ten cents on the dollar is better than getting zero. There is no reason why some of the guys on the Astros are still wearing the team's colors. When you are out of the pennant race, you move guys, especially journeymen like Loretta, to contenders and get minor leaguers back in return. Of course, the fact that almost no moves were made with contenders (only the Devil Rays deal of Wheeler for Wigginton) may speak more to the quality of players currently on the roster as opposed to Purpura's negotiating abilities. Of course, either way, you must look to the director of player personnel, i.e. the GM, when you have inherent problems such as these.

Who should replace them? I don't know. Preferably, I would stay away from retreads who have failed in the past (I am looking at you Steve Phillips) and maybe go outside the box. We don't need a wonderboy like Theo Epstein, just a guy that knows baseball and business (no, I am happy doing what I am doing and do not throw my name into contention for the position, but Drayton, if you would like to take me on as a consultant or come in and do a team audit, a la Dan Reeves with the Texans, I would be more than happy to take an afternoon off to discuss). As for the manager, I will give Cecil Cooper the benefit of the doubt this season, but if the Astros can score a manager like Joe Girardi, then I will be on board. The Astros are truly at a crossroads this offseason. Another losing year or two and Minute Maid park will begin to empty out, especially when the Texans and Rockets start winning and the Dynamo move into their new stadium. Houston fans can only live and die with one team a year and unless the Astros do something, our hope and prayers will fall on the shoulders of Tracy and Yao, if the interest hasn't shifted to that part of downtown already.

In the end, was it all Purpura's and Garner's fault? Of course not. Drayton and Hunsicker deserve a lot of the blame as well. However, it was indeed time for a regime change and if there are two things Drayton understands is how to make money and how to keep the masses happier. Thanks Scrap Iron and Timmy for our NL pennant and first ever World Series appearance. Hopefully, the franchise you have left behind will be stronger in the long run for your having been here.