HOU signs Darin Erstad (1yr/1M +incentives)

[molitor fan]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-astros-erstad&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

An ok lefty bat off the bench, or in punting situations.

[And That]

At first blush, my reaction is... Gabe Kapler costs less, and he didn't suck as much last year.

[Oldcity]

Had to get someone to replace Biggio's grit.

[Tbadder]

On the other hand I'm glad to see all the incentive contracts. They should've made A-Rod's contract incentive laden--all based on the playoffs.

[Oldcity]

You mean in the playoffs where he has a career .844 OPS?

 

Sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread, but that's one of my pet peeves. Back to the scrappy, unshaven punter.

[ILuvDaBush]

I guess he didn't get along with Bo Pelini.

[JoeHova]

Haha, this makes the Kapler acquisition much less embarrassing.

[jwaltz]

Well, he's probably still good defensively but overall I don't see him as a better option for the Astros bench than Reggie Abercrombie or Jose Cruz Jr, both of whom are already Astros. At this stage of the offseason I would have thought they could have gotten him for cheaper and without the incentives. If they just wanted him around for his leadership they should have hired him in another capacity. One that doesn't require a roster spot.

[TooLiveBrew]

[blue] FIRE DOUG MELVIN!!! [/blue]

 

The Astros... aaaahhhh, the Astros. Thank you, baseball gods, for this team being in our division.

 

An ok lefty bat off the bench, or in punting situations.

 

Nice. Thanks for the laughs!

[RobertR]

The stars are aligning for a truly spectacular crash and burn in Houston. I feel sorry for Cecil Cooper. No depth, a starting rotation that even with Oswalt may be the worst in the division, and an offense that might finish 4th in the division.

 

Edit: They might finish better than fourth in offense as well, but if they only outscore their main competitors, Brewers, Cubs, and Reds, by 10 runs or so, is it really going to matter considering their starting rotation? The really need to outscore the rest of the division by about 60 runs to really have a realistic chance if they don't do anything with their pitching staff.

 

Robert

[Brawndo the Thirst Mutilat]

From BBTF's Transaction Oracle, one of the comments noticed something particularly funny about Erstad's ZiPs:

 

13. lincarnate Posted: December 28, 2007 at 12:34 AM (#2655035)

I like how Erstad's projection is so bad, it'd only be worth it to the Astros if he paid them a million dollars. Awesome.

 

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/oracle/discussion/astros_signed_erstad_for_no_particular_reason/

 

I agree with some of the other posters who said that this takes some of the sting out of the Kapler fiasco. I mean, sure Kapler's a virtual lock to be sub-replacement level as a corner outfielder. Erstad, on the other hand, is a lock to hit below replacement level even if the Astros move him to catcher.

[Phenomenal Smith]

[blue] FIRE DOUG MELVIN!!! [/blue]

 

The Astros... aaaahhhh, the Astros. Thank you, baseball gods, for this team being in our division.

 

An ok lefty bat off the bench, or in punting situations.

 

Nice. Thanks for the laughs!

 

Haven't you heard - Ed Wade's a genius. You can have your Fielder, Braun, Hardy, etc - we got a "makeup" guy who "plays the game the right way".

 

[M Skjellyfetti]

Erstad's baseball-reference page is pretty amusing to look at...2000 sticks out like a sore thumb.

The Astros might get their money's worth if Erstad puts up a BABIP .060 points above his career average again....

[fondybrewfan]

The stars are aligning for a truly spectacular crash and burn in Houston. I feel sorry for Cecil Cooper. No depth, a starting rotation that even with Oswalt may be the worst in the division, and an offense that might finish 4th in the division.

 

Robert

I don't there is a question that they have the worst rotation in the division. It is probably the worst in the NL and maybe in the MLB. Oswalt is awesome but man is Wandy Rodriguez there #2? Ouch

[danzig6767]

As soon as i heard the Stros hired Ed Wade, i knew they weren't going to be a team to worry about for awhile

[Phenomenal Smith]

Wandy wasn't too bad last year. He had about 6 terrible starts, but was actually pretty decent in the rest (ie ERA of 3.80 IIRC). Of course, 2007 may have been a career year. The rest of the rotation is awful, but it's all good.

[Ennder]

Wandy would have been our #2 SP most of last year too. He's a small step up from Capuano, Bush, Suppan, Vargas etc.

 

Jennings is in that same group with Capuano etc if he comes back healthy. The rotation isn't great but if they find a real #2 the rest falls into place semi ok.

 

Problem is they traded away their future to get Tejada who isn't much better than Everett after you add in defense. The team isn't really any better than last year and their minor league system has been downgraded.

[Gopher74]

Wandy would have been our #2 SP most of last year too. He's a small step up from Capuano, Bush, Suppan, Vargas etc.

 

Jennings is in that same group with Capuano etc if he comes back healthy. The rotation isn't great but if they find a real #2 the rest falls into place semi ok.

 

Problem is they traded away their future to get Tejada who isn't much better than Everett after you add in defense. The team isn't really any better than last year and their minor league system has been downgraded.

Tejada isn't much better than Everett? Are we talking about the same sub .300 OBP pathetically weak hitting Adam Everett?

 

[Oldcity]

Well if Tejada has a similar offensive season to last year he's not that much better than Everett when you factor in defense. I think that gimmick park will treat Tejada well though.

[TooLiveBrew]

[blue] FIRE DOUG MELVIN!!! [/blue]

 

The Astros... aaaahhhh, the Astros. Thank you, baseball gods, for this team being in our division.

 

An ok lefty bat off the bench, or in punting situations.

 

Nice. Thanks for the laughs!

Haven't you heard - Ed Wade's a genius. You can have your Fielder, Braun, Hardy, etc - we got a "makeup" guy who "plays the game the right way".

 

 

Wow - I recall you mentioning the 'Stros fans eating up the offseason moves - how's this one floating?

[StatPipes]

I am surprised this is getting as much attention as it is. It is only a million dollar contract, and Orlando Palmeiro made that much last year. Being his replacement, I would think this is somewhat of an upgrade. If he works out then great, if he doesn't then who cares, it isn't like he signed for a ridiculous amount of money. (Kaz Matsui?...maybe)

 

I am also not going to bash Wade as much as others have. With all the money tied into Berkman, Lee, and Oswalt, they have to try to win now. Those guys are only getting older and if you don't try to win with them, then the money is just a waste anyway. I know he has sold the farm so to speak, but he really has no choice if they want to compete in the next couple of years. I still think he will pick up a free agent starter, whether it be Colon, Livan, Lieber, or even bringing back Jason Jennings. Will it put them over the top, probably not, but I wouldn't put them in the cellar either, especially in this division...I know one thing, he came in a blew the thing up, whether it will pay off or not is yet to be seen...

[RobertR]

Yeah, to be fair, if Erstad is used as a 25th man, he has his uses. And he has the hidden bonus of "if he's used too much, he breaks" which limits him from doing too much damage to the team. Spotted correctly, he could be useful, but as I recall he was pretty whiney last Spring about being regarded as a backup entering the season. Maybe he's more accepting of his role this time around.

 

I agree that it really makes no sense to pay the money they are to Berkman, Oswalt, and Lee and not try to compete. Still, in my mind Wade's displayed a total lack of imagination and grabbed big names without seeing how they fit together. After Oswalt their pitching staff is as unproven as any in baseball, their offensive core is built around three sluggers in their 30s with likely their best years behind them, the bench has noone you want to play regularly (hey, those day games after night games count in the standings), and there's practically noone in the minors that can step in in case of injury or to use as trade bait to address holes. I know it's a weak division, but even so they need a lot of things to go right.

 

And it's not like other teams have been sitting still. The Cubs added Fukudome and should get an upgrade at catcher with Soto. The Reds are replacing, maybe if Dusty has learned something, Hatteberg with Voto, likely to plug Bruce into CF who might not be as spectacular as Hamilton his rookie year, but should be a lot better than Norris Hooper, added a young promising pitcher, will get a full year out of Bailey, and added Cordero. The Brewers young core is a year older and will get a full year of Braun and Gallardo.

 

I get the feeling that Wade mistakes activity with progress. And it will turn ugly in a hurry if the Astros don't contend this year.

 

Robert

[Fatter than Joey]

I feel sorry for Cecil Cooper.

 

Yeah -- Me too. I was thinking that Cooper should have declined the job after getting the interim job, but I figured that this is Cooper's best shot to get a MLB managing gig.

[Ennder]

Tejada isn't much better than Everett? Are we talking about the same sub .300 OBP pathetically weak hitting Adam Everett?

 

Yes I am, Everett is the best defensive SS in baseball and Tejada's bat is not what it used to be. He saves roughly 35-45 runs a season with his glove. Tejada put up a 31.8 VORP last year and was +4.8 with the glove. In 2006 Everett put up a -.8.7 VORP (he didn't play full season last year).

 

Add that up and Tejada is +36.2, Everett is +27 to +37. I'd say Tejada is an upgrade but it isn't a huge one unless Tejada bounces back to his old numbers which I personally don't have much faith in him doing.

[Phenomenal Smith]

TooLiveBrew wrote: Wow - I recall you mentioning the 'Stros fans eating up the offseason moves - how's this one floating?

Most people are okay with it. The signing seems a bit silly to me, and Wade sounds silly with the "makeup" and "playing the game the right way" quotes. Wade does benefit from being the anti-Purpura. He moved a bunch of players the fans didn't like, and he's brought in some familiar names. He's creating a buzz and that has fans excited.