On this date three years ago, the Astros fired manager Phil Garner and GM Tim Purpura. They were replaced on an interim basis by Cecil Cooper and Tal Smith, respectively. Cooper kept the job until he was fired last September, and the team is now under the direction of Brad Mills. Ed Wade took over the GM job about a month after Purpura was fired, and has held it since.
Here's a look at what's being written in the baseball corner of the web…
- Gaslamp Ball interviewed Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
- Pirates Prospects spoke to a Certified Public Accountant about the Pirates' leaked financial records.
- Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Lumber Co. wonders if teams receiving revenue sharing money should earn a profit.
- Think Blue Crew analyzes Ryan Howard's swings and misses.
- SPANdemonium wonders what it would take to lock up Gio Gonzalez long-term.
- Rays Index revisits Andrew Friedman's biggest mistake.
- DRays Bay explains why Brad Hawpe makes sense for the Rays.
- Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness thinks Ned Colletti should do the right thing and let Manny Ramirez go.
- Nolan Writin' looks at who the Rangers should call up on September 1st.
- Cubs Pack wonders who will play first base for the Cubbies next season.
- Yankeeist explores the idea of the Yankees signing Paul Konerko in the offseason.
- Walk Like A Sabermetrician suggests some ways to improve the waiver process.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.
I really like Brad Mills, and I think he’ll be a good manager once he gets a real team to manage. But firing Phil Garner was a big mistake for the Astros. Purpura may have been the most incompetent GM of all time, and definitely needed to go…but Garner is a good manager
Pertaining to the Cubs blog- I’d suggest either Dunn, or a mixed bag of lefty vets looking to prove something on a one year deal. Hawpe/Berkman should do it. Though I wouldn’t mind seeing a 2 year deal on someone like Laroche or Overbay either.
Back to the blog though- suggesting the Cubs make a trade for Votto is INSANE. Why would the Reds ever give him up for ANY offer? I can be a homer too but to suggest a trade scenario like that is just crazy. Signing Beltre and moving ARam to 1st isn’t a bad idea, but I don’t trust him to keep this up, and I especially don’t think we need another righty in the mix without trading one we already have.
I was thinking they were saying the Cubs could trade for Alonzo. Yah the Reds would never trade Votto at this point and time and if they did the fans would defenitely be upset. Plus, Votto has said before he “hates” the cubs. I don’t know what we did to Joey to make him feel that way. Dusty must be filling his head with bs about his time in Chicago.
Or, you know, because they are division rivals.
The Reds hate everybody. They need to find a rival. The Cubs and Cards have each other. Maybe the Reds can start some sheet with the Brewers or Astros. Sorry the Pirates are a rival to themselves.
I still like the Covlin at 1B option and hopefully it will be looked at again. Jerry Sands intrigues me and is blocked by Loney in LA. If nothing else, bring up Canzler in September and see what he can do.
I am honestly much more concerned with finding another 3B or C so that Arod or Posada can get some much needed time off or become full time DH’s if needed. If we can find a 3B or C w/ enough pop who can also act as the DH woud be ideal. Maybe Beltre or V-Mart would be interesting.
Good read on Gio SPANdemonium.
Thanks Herby.
Trading for a major league ready 1B like Yonder Alonso makes the most sense to me if your looking to build long term success. Alonso at 23, Castro at 20, Cashner at 23 and a 22 year old CF in Jackson gives you a good foundation to build from. I didn’t mention Colvin because I would sell high on him. If the Rays are shopping Garza in the offseason I’d try to get him. You use 2011 to continue to develop these young guys and then spend the big bucks on a free agent piece that fills a need in 2012.
I was suggesting a trade for Alonzo in the blog (not Votto, which I agree is insane).
Can’t Yonder Alonso play another position? Outfield?
They were discussing moving him behind the plate.
So they should try. They shouldn’t move a top prospect who could really impact just because the position he plays is filled right now by JV.
Maybe they should move Votto to LF