Astros extend GM Ed Wade

[crewcrazy]

Two year extension, according to reports. I think Keith Law said it best when he tweeted:

 

#ownerfail #talfail #failfail #fail

 

I guess it makes sense just to avoid the possibility of him being seen as a lame duck GM, but he hasn't done much to inspire confidence in the future of that club.

[Invader3K]

Good lord, that franchise doesn't seem to have any direction, does it? For all the money they've been spending, it hasn't been returning dividends. I guess on the upside it gives the Brewers one less division opponent to worry about in the near future.

[logan82]

Awesome news. Should keep us out of the cellar for at least a couple years even if we suddenly suck.

[Invader3K]

You know, the more I think about this, I get a bit angrier. Looking at teams like the Cubs, Astros, and Mets, it makes me wonder what Doug Melvin could do with a similar budget. I have no doubt we would have made the playoffs at least once more in the past five years. Maybe even a World Series.

[jerichoholicninja]

Agreed. I would love to see what Doug could do with some money.

 

Must suck to be an Astros fan.

[Milltownhooker]

Its not all the money . Its having a combo of smart ownership who will let u spend the money on things besides big name players. The Mets could find money for Bay, but nobody else. Astros could find money for Carlos Lee even when he was redundent to them. Instead of spending money their farm system.

[Invader3K]

Oh, for sure. Meddlesome ownership can be hugely problematic for any sports franchise.

[Funketown]

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If you can't tell, this pleases me.

[bball123h]

It may be worth pointing out that when he took the job, he walked into an aging team already financially tied to the Lee, Oswalt, and Berkman contracts, as well as a minor league system that was in the tank.

[logan82]

and he has proceeded to trade away minor leaguers on a yearly basis for a marginal gain in wins on the off hand chance that they may miraculously make the playoffs like they did in 2005.

[bball123h]

and he has proceeded to trade away minor leaguers on a yearly basis for a marginal gain in wins on the off hand chance that they may miraculously make the playoffs like they did in 2005.

Since he took over:

 

Nov 7, 2007 - Traded Brad Lidge (P) and Eric Bruntlett (IF) to Phi-N

for Geoff Geary (P), Michael Bourn (OF) and Mike Constanzo (IF)

Dec 12, 2007 - Traded Matt Albers (P), Troy Patton (P), Dennis Sarfate

(P), Luke Scott (OF) and Mike Constanzo (IF) to Bal-A for Miguel Tejada

(IF)

Dec 14, 2007 - Traded Chad Qualls (P), Juan Gutierrez (P) and Chris Burke (IF) to Ari-N for Jose Valverde (P)

Jul 22, 2008 - Traded Chad Reineke (P) to SD-N for Randy Wolf (P)

Jul 30, 2008 - Traded minor leaguer Mike Cusick (IF) to NY-A for LaTroy Hawkins (P)

Mar 31. 2009 - Traded Drew Sutton (IF) to CIN-N for Jeff Keppinger (IF)

Aug 18, 2009 - Traded Ivan Rodriguez © to TEX-A for two minor leaguers

Dec 9, 2009 - Traded Robert Bono, Luis Bryan, and PTBNL to FLA-N for Matt Lindstrom (P)

 

I guess I don't see the loss of a Laporta or equivalent in here. Bourn for Lidge was probably a wash, but 3 also-rans for Valverde is a win. 5 also-rans for Tejada would probably be a win.

 

Point being, the farm system was weak when he got there, so the talent traded away was marginal at best.

[Flood Pants]

it makes me wonder what Doug Melvin could do with a similar budget

We have an inkling by looking back at his tenure in Texas. Three postseason appearances between 1994 and 2001. That's a fairly good success rate for any ball club. I imagine he learned some new negotiating skills managing the Brewers on such a small budget for so many years. When his tenure in Milwaukee finally ends (it happens to everyone), I'll be jealous of whichever team snatches him up.

[dlk9s]

Its not all the money . Its having a combo of smart ownership who will let u spend the money on things besides big name players. The Mets could find money for Bay, but nobody else. Astros could find money for Carlos Lee even when he was redundent to them. Instead of spending money their farm system.

That's Invader's point. He's saying Melvin is a much better GM than the ones for the teams he named and therefore could do much better than them with their budgets.

[PeaveyFury]

This is like the Vikings extending Childress....

[berniebrewer4life]

So realistically we are looking, at worst, a 4th place finish for the next 3 years or so?

[Yeti73]

If you consider the payroll and age of the Cubs over that span, plus the Pirates continuing to be the Pirates, I feel like we will be at worst a 3rd place finisher from 2011--2014. If Reds extend Dusty a few more years, it'll be us and the Cards...

[kramnoj]

5 also-rans for Tejada would probably be a win.

 

Have you looked at this trade? I'd be curious how you could see this as a win for Houston. Tejada provided less than 6 wins on the field according to WAR, and was paid over $29M to do so for Houston. Scott only provided Baltimore with 3.5 wins or so, but also only cost less than $3M. The Astros paid about $26M to gain a couple of wins over 2 seasons.

[berniebrewer4life]

Giving this a small bump, as deadspin has an article on the great ed wade.

 

http://deadspin.com/54784...-incompetence-of-ed-wade