Headlines

  • Red Sox Acquire Jorge Alcala
  • Jackson Jobe To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Shane McClanahan Pauses Rehab, Seeking Further Opinions On Nerve Issue
  • Royals Place Cole Ragans On IL With Rotator Cuff Strain
  • Brewers To Promote Jacob Misiorowski
  • Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Astros Notes: Scouts, Crane, American League

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 8, 2011 at 9:11am CDT

The Astros have been around for 50 seasons and they have never lost 100 games. That's going to change this year, once Houston, now 48-95, loses five more contests. Here are today's Astros-related links, as Houston's fans look forward to having the first overall draft pick in 2012…

  • The Astros informed two scouts that their contracts won’t be renewed, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com writes. Rusty Pendergrass, who signed Hunter Pence, and area scout Lincoln Martin are gone, since the Astros wanted to go in another direction. 
  • Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says Pendergrass may be the hardest worker he has known and passes along a 2008 column about the scout who signed Pence, Ben Zobrist and others.
  • If Jim Crane's purchase of the Astros falls through, it won't be because of a refusal to move to the American League, Justice writes. It could be a factor in MLB's decision, but there are other, equally complicated issues to resolve.
  • Justice explains why moving to the AL wouldn’t be such a bad thing for Astros fans.
Share 0 Retweet 9 Send via email0

Houston Astros

Cubs Notes: Pena, Ramirez, LaHair
Main
Five Non-Moves That Shaped The 2011 Season
View Comments (19)
Post a Comment

19 Comments

  1. wtk

    14 years ago

    I think it should say “if” Houston loses five more games, not “once.” Everyone and his or her mother knows that the Astros are garbage, but stranger things have happened.
    -wtk

    Reply
  2. John W

    14 years ago

    Pendergrass sounds like a dedicated scout, I wonder what is the real reason he was let go?

    Reply
    • Guest 6640

      14 years ago

      Probably because he had a disagreement with Emperor Drayton. You don’t do that around here, he has the heart of a champion

      Reply
      • John W

        14 years ago

        Is he a good scout otherwise?  Maybe my favorite team should look into hiring him.

        Reply
        • Guest 6639

          14 years ago

          Honestly, I couldn’t tell you any more than what was in the article. If we’re being serious, one reason he could have been let go I thought of was because he hasn’t done much lately. But Pence was a really good find; I remember reading about how a lot of teams were scared off by his swing in the draft. And his swing is horrible if you’ve never seen it in person (looks bad on TV too). But he saw enough to stake his name to him, and that really paid off. And Zobrist was a good find as well, obviously

          So I guess he’s solid, but unspectacular. Found some good players but no real home runs like finding a guy like Oswalt in the 23rd(ish) round. Or Pujols in the 9th. Or something like that

          Reply
          • LadySwing

            14 years ago

            lol..You can lead a Horse to water…unspectacular….I think that is very unfair. You know of his accomplishments.. He wins awards for his ability to find the talent…He can only find it..he can’t make them spend money or sign them. There are alot of folks in Houston that are very sad he is gone. A friend of mine told me that Phillie radio was praising his talent and accomplishments. Us die hard astro fans are very disgusted and as quick as good talent is found..they let it get away. Same goes for the scouts. I heard thru the grapevine that Pendergrass’s replacement is someone who has never scouted before. For a losing team does that sound Spectacular to you?  It doesn’t for us either. I am looking forward to seeing where he lands.

            Reply
            • Guest 6254

              14 years ago

              I didn’t say I agreed with the decision, I was just giving my two cents on why he may have been canned. I actually didn’t agree with the decision…and it wouldn’t shock me if this is a case of Drayton either wanting to act like he’s taking action for the team’s poor farm system over the years, or trying to cut corners and save money wherever he can

              My original post on the subject was sarcasm. I absolutely hate Drayton McLane, and give him most of the blame for the current state of the organization. Hopefully, the next owner will know a thing or two about baseball and not be so meddlesome

              Reply
        • LadySwing

          14 years ago

          I don’t believe he is hurting for employment. He is probably prospecting for new talent for a winning team. The other teams are well aware of Pendergrass’s eye for talent.

          Reply
    • LadySwing

      14 years ago

      Dedicated doesn’t even begin to describe him. He lives and breathes baseball..Sometimes it isn’t always about performance. I think you will be hearing alot more about Pendergrass and great finds to come. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Dan Wohl

    14 years ago

    If I have to read one more writer write about how it’s such a given that the Astros and Rangers will form a strong rivalry I’m going to scream. If it’s such a good idea, why has every other pair of teams in a similar geographic area been intentionally separated into different leagues. This practice makes a lot more sense because it gives fans in the area access to both leagues and maintains a semblance of geographic balance between the two leagues. And plus, wasn’t one of the main ideas of interleague play to create the periodic geographic rivalry game? I’m fine with those and think they’re fun but they’re also kind of a gimmick that would almost certainly lose their luster if they happened more than two series a year. Yet everyone is acting like Astros-Rangers is the greatest, most natural idea ever.

    PS The only exception really is the Phillies and Pirates both being in Pennsylvania (not that they are especially close for east coast teams), and their rivalry is totally blah.

    Reply
    • Patrick Beliveau

      14 years ago

      the Pirates and Phils also play in different divisions… so they really dont play each other that much… 9 games a year i think it is? I dunno… 

      Houston moving to the AL West is a bad idea if the only reasoning most people can come up with is because they will create a strong rivalry, and to balance the leagues… 15 teams in each league means someone sitting out a series, or there is interleague play all year, both options… suck.

      Add 2 teams, or drop 2 teams… make it 16/16 or 14/14… or be more creative and drop the 6 division format and come up with something that will be enjoyable for all fans all season long… instead of having the playoffs decided before the beginning of september…

      Reply
    • John W

      14 years ago

      The only reason to make such a move is simply logistics.  Both Texas teams have to travel around 1000 miles minimum for every road game.  By putting them in the same league it gives them 18 road games “closer to home”.

      The downside is that other than interleague play fans of NL teams that live in Texas will have to travel a great distance to see a game with their favorite NL team.

      The downside far outweighs the upside IMO.

      Reply
    • Phillies_Aces35

      14 years ago

      I wasn’t alive for it, but from what I’ve heard, Philly/Pittsburgh used to have a pretty good rivalry when they were in the same division.

      Reply
      • Lunchbox45

        14 years ago

         detroit and toronto used to be a good rivalry as well

        Reply
  4. woadude

    14 years ago

    We already have two California teams, we don’t need two Texas teams in there, It would come down to Texas,Texas, California,California, or uhh Seattle.

    Reply
  5. TheFreak2011

    14 years ago

    I wonder what is going on with Crane, why this approval is taking so long.  Maybe after the McCourt fiasco, the club is being very selective.

    Reply
  6. Rastus

    14 years ago

    Justice doesn’t even like Houston stop posting every blog he posts. He came up with “3 myths” about how al>nl. This is the worst sport writing I have came across in that he contradicts himself from the numerous other articles previously written. My theory is he and Selig had a conversation and Selig has a rat in the Houston Chronicle named Justice. He promised Justice a MLB job if he can convince Houston to leave the NL. Why do us fans not get to vote for such a drastic move? When we play the West coast teams the games don’t end till Midnight how are you going to convince us that staying up an hour later to watch us play the pitiful Mariners is a good idea?!

    Reply
    • MadmanTX 2

      14 years ago

      I’d like to agree with you and won’t defend Justice but the truth is that Justice is more like a bipolar propaganda minister for Uncle Drayton. He rah rahs for Drayton’s wonderful job trying to tell Houston fans “you went to the World Series in 2005…that’s enough for you” while Drayton allows the Phillies traveling GM, Ed Wade, to dismantle the team and ship it back to Philly. All the while, Drayton sits in his fuhrer bunker playing fantasy baseball.

      Occasionally, Justice will bite the hand that feeds him and bash Drayton, but it sounds like a feeble attempt to ingratiate himself to his critics who flame his articles constantly.

      Bottom line is that Justice is like Peter Gammons gone schizo and just as worthless.

      Reply
      • Rastus

        14 years ago

        Dont get me wrong I like reading his commentary and like or hate it I come back for more. Him flip flopping on what I would say 90% Astros fans who do not want to leave The NL Central. This article referenced should be deleted as it owes no attention.

        Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Acquire Jorge Alcala

    Jackson Jobe To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Shane McClanahan Pauses Rehab, Seeking Further Opinions On Nerve Issue

    Royals Place Cole Ragans On IL With Rotator Cuff Strain

    Brewers To Promote Jacob Misiorowski

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Craig Kimbrel Elects Free Agency

    Marlins Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Strain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Recent

    Red Sox Acquire Jorge Alcala

    Fantasy Baseball Subscriber Chat With Nicklaus Gaut

    MLB Mailbag: Williams, Trade Deadline, Valdez, Keith, Red Sox, Muncy, Jays’ Outfield

    Jackson Jobe To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    MLBTR Podcast: White Sox Ownership, Roman Anthony, And The Diamondbacks’ Rotation

    Shane McClanahan Pauses Rehab, Seeking Further Opinions On Nerve Issue

    Yankees Considering Starts For Ben Rice At Catcher

    Dodgers Moving Ben Casparius To Starting Rotation

    Red Sox Outright Robert Stock

    Angels Sign Chad Wallach To Minor League Deal

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version