Quote (Madmartigan @ Dec 6 2012 04:42pm)

It's not the worst off-season but some of the moves made this past week have me scratching my head. It's been an interesting winter so far.

The Houston Astros took hard-throwing reliever Josh Fields from the Boston system Thursday with the overall first pick in the draft of players left off 40-man rosters. The 27-year-old Fields was a combined 4-3 with 12 saves and a 2.01 ERA for Triple-A Pawtucket and Double-A Portland. The right-hander struck out 78 and walked 18 in 58 1-3 innings.

The Houston Astros have traded reliever Wilton Lopez and a player to be named to the Colorado Rockies for right-handers Alex White and Alex Gillingham.

HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have claimed Philip Humber off waivers from the Chicago White Sox and agreed to a one-year contract with the pitcher who threw a perfect game last season. The 29-year-old Humber pitched a perfect game in a 4-0 win over the Seattle Mariners last April 21. It was the highlight of a 5-5 season in which the right-hander made 26 appearances, 16 of them starts. Humber gets an $800,000 salary next year. There is a club option for $3 million in 2014 with a $50,000 buyout.

With moves like these it's going to take a lot of patience as an Astros fan. Hopefully I'll be alive by the time this team is good again.

I just wanted to wish everybody a Happy Holidays. Take care and enjoy the rest of the month and New Year's Day.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg68/TheGreatRyanED/CHRISTMAS/glitter-christmas-e.gif

Good luck to all of your teams. It's been a pleasure chatting baseball even though there wasn't much excitement coming from the Astros.

Quote (GoAGoA @ Jan 18 2013 10:45am)

Gon be goin on a business trip for a week, and stayin at the Inn at the Ballpark next to the stadium.

You Houston buzzins should hit me up with some shit to do downtown.

Quote (Madmartigan @ Jan 18 2013 05:14am)

We have a 110-loss team when our DH is Carlos Pena, who's been washed up for years and years.

Man, I wanted Berkman so bad. I wish him well with the Rangers.

Quote (Madmartigan @ Jan 18 2013 01:52pm)

Carlos Pena hit .197 last season. Lance Berkman helped win a World Series two years ago with some clutch hits.

The two are not even comparable, IMO.

Quote (Madmartigan @ Jan 18 2013 01:52pm)

Carlos Pena hit .197 last season. Lance Berkman helped win a World Series two years ago with some clutch hits.

The two are not even comparable, IMO.

Quote (numone @ Jan 18 2013 01:58pm)

Berkman from 2011 was the best season he had in his career (offensively speaking) with a 163 wRC+. He is an average of 146 and the year before and after 2011 were 114 and 125 respectively.
Pena is an average 120 wRC+ and 2010-2012 he was 105,122,98.

Pena's biggest asset (his plus defense at first base) isn't helping his cause as a DH. For a 1-season deal it looks like Berkman would have been the better route, especially as DH'ing would be less wear and tare on his body. So I agree.