Cooling Off Period

Whether it’s your husband or wife, best friend, or someone you work with, you all can think of a time when you had to take a break. Most of the time it didn’t last very long. This is especially true for those of you that are married. It’s hard to spend more than a few hours on your own sulking or avoiding the better half because you are angry. It’s not a good feeling and you want to make sure you are definitely in the right before you go off on them.

I had the same feeling this week when the Astros re-signed Jason Michaels. My emotions ranged from rage, to disbelief, to out and out laughter. As the details poured in it seemed more and more unbelievable. First, I heard they re-signed him. Surely, they wouldn’t guarantee his contract right? Nope, they guaranteed his contract. Surely they wouldn’t give him more than a year. Nope, they gave him an option. At least, it’s a club option, but one wonders what the buyout is.

Now, Monday I could have come on here and really lit into Ed Wade. Many of us looked forward to the off-season because it meant we could rid ourselves of the likes of Darin Erstad and Jason Michaels. I’m sure they are great guys, but they represent a part of the problem and not part of the solution. Wade loves to build his team around these guys and they really don’t do much for you. Over the last two days I’ve heard about what a great “makeup” Michaels has. What I don’t see are good numbers.

. . . . . . .AVG/OBP/SLG

2005. . . .304/399/415

2006. . . .267/326/391

2007. . . .270/324/397

2008. . . .224/292/360

2009. . . .237/322/430

Total. . . .264/334/394

So, Jason Michaels put up a .752 OPS last year. You could have fooled me. I guess it was the outrageous production after the Astros had already been eliminated. Sure, that was probably an unfair shot, but we are talking about a guy with a .728 OPS over the last five years. That’s not bad, but that’s also not the kind of guy you try to lock up immediately.

This is where the Astros have a little fun with their press release. They say “he can play all outfield positions.” That is nominally true. He played all three outfield positions last year. Of course, according to the John Dewan plus/minus system he was below average at all three. Color me unimpressed. Still, Jason Michaels as a fourth outfielder is not the worst thing in the world. He’s what you’d expect to have on most teams.

The problem with this signing is two-fold. First, it is yet another example of the Astros building themselves from the outside-in. There are positions that need to be filled first. It’s like taking the most qualified cabinet level person and assigning them to the Secretary of the Interior. Sure, it’s important, but is it really as important as the Secretary of State? Similarly, you have one roster spot left and you immediately sew up your fourth outfielder. Huh? Don’t you need some starting pitchers? Wouldn’t a regular second basemen (say Kelly Johnson who was just non-tendered by the Braves) be nice as well?

When you jump on bench players immediately you run the definite risk of running out of room for regular players or starting pitchers. Why do I have to repeat this? Didn’t we learn this lesson last off-season? However, the bigger issue seems to be a focus on people you know rather than people that actually produce. Michaels was a Phillie, so he is a familiar face. I understand that to a certain extent, but isn’t this going a little too far? Wouldn’t you want to wait a little? Honestly, what is the market for Jason Michaels?

So, the Astros are virtually done unless they can work a trade to clear some of their 40 man roster. Kelly Johnson might have been an interesting answer at second base. Chien Ming Wang might have been an interesting answer in the rotation. Someone like Erik Bedard might see his price drop to levels you want. Unfortunately, those guys aren’t available to you anymore. Thank you Ed Wade.