http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3264013 Only deal Clemens wants Astros to make is for another bat By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle DETROIT - Asked yet again whether he would accept a trade this year, Roger Clemens politely changed the focus after assuring the media he isn't interested in leaving his hometown Astros. A trade "is the furthest thing from my mind right now," Clemens said two hours before the 76th Midsummer Classic on Tuesday night at Comerica Park. "We've put ourselves back in contention for this wild card. And that's a good thing." The Astros, who moved a game over .500 Sunday, are one of the hottest teams in baseball with a 23-8 record since losing to the Mets on June 7. They are clearly in the wild-card race, giving Clemens hope Astros owner Drayton McLane will be a buyer not a seller at the July 31 trading deadline. "If there's anything, the questions I would rather ask or have posed to our owner is that now we're back in that situation where we may be able to get (someone) if there is a bat or two to be had," Clemens said. "Maybe we can go to that again. "Maybe we've convinced them, 'Okay, here we are.' If we can come out of the break and play well out of the break, have that same thought, and if there's a bat available, maybe put us back in the situation when we went out and got Carlos (Beltran last year)." Reached by phone Tuesday evening, Astros general manager Tim Purpura was adamant that McLane shares Clemens' opinion. "Without a doubt we've been working on that for a number of weeks," Purpura said. "When it comes to Drayton, one of the first things he talks to me every day about is, 'Is there any offense to be had?' Roger's thinking is much like Drayton's. "We'd like to be able to do something. Obviously you have to give something to get something." First baseman and offseason Beaumont resident Kevin Millar of Boston is one name that has been mentioned as someone the Astros could acquire.
No sh*t...If we had his consistent bat, we'd be alright...not sure who's out there for what price...Another bat and berkman going Ape sh*t would be nice...
Dunn would be nice at a reasonable level. This past Spring Training, we were at a Twins vs Reds game. Adam was up to bat, 0-1 count, pitcher throws a breaking ball and Adam takes a goofy swing for strike 2. The stadium was dead quiet and some guy on the other side of the stadium yells out in a little league, condescending voice - KEEP...........YOUR EYE.........ON THE BALLLLL.... The whole stadium busted out laughing. Adam struck out at that at bat.
Gammons wrote that we turned down a deal from Boston which was Millar for Qualls....and apparently we turned down a Burke for Byrnes as well.
if u asked me at the end of April...i would have said its a no brainer....but now...while its an improvement, i dont think its a move that clearly puts us over the top...id have to pass on it given Burke's revival
i can't believe i'm gonna say this, but i agree. i'm with you...i would have done this in a heartbeat a while ago...and i've been pretty critical of burke. but i don't think i'd do it now.
I say no to Dunn b/c it looks like he'll cost too much. Millar seems more attainable for cheap (less than Qualls for sure)..
Too bad his hammy is hurting him, but I would love to have his bat back. did you see his interview when asked about how he felt when Ensberg made the team? it went something like this: In a jokingly manner Kent said "He sucks!" to the camera man. He had a huge smile on his face, and then said no really. He just kicked my teams butt this past weekend, He deserves to be here." Anyways, I bet he would be happy with a return to this club. Fox would not stop mentioning how much Kent was smiling during the Saturday game in Houston. Just wondering if there is anyway to swing this deal from LA.
Millar's put up some craptastic numbers this season, I don't know why we'd want him. Imo if we don't get Dunn, bring back Alou. Surely the price will be somewhat reduced due to his age, his deal only runs through next year so we wouldn't be absorbing a bad contract, and he's still a very productive bat.
