Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
I'm sorry, but that argument just doesn't wash anymore.
Yes, they got Correa #1 overall, but don't act like he was a clear consensus #1. No, everyone didn't agree that Correa was far and away a better player than the rest. In fact, the Correa pick was a late comer (and I was pretty proud of myself because I was watching the kid as a possible later 1st round pick for STL early in the draft season; he skyrocketed up boards) that surprised a lot of people. Most saw Buxton as the top talent in that draft. Others liked Zunino. And really, EVERYONE saw Mark Appel as the top talent in that draft if his demands were met. Signability concerns were all that pushed him down boards a bit.
Most GMs would've taken Appel. You KNOW Mozeliak would've taken Appel. Luhnow took Correa and the pick was brilliant.
Bregman was also a top pick but again, with an asterisk. Bregman was taken #2 overall that year but do you remember why the Astros picked there? Because they took Aiken #1 overall the year prior and he wouldn't sign after medicals turned up a compromised UCL. Luhnow took worlds of shit from the baseball community (shit Mozeliak wouldn't have been willing to take), let him walk, recaptured the pick and used it the following season on Bregman. It took serious conviction for Luhnow to did what he did there and he was rewarded for it.
Springer was taken in the mid-1st. Alvarez was acquired for Fields. Gurriel a FA. Cole was picked up with a poo poo platter of mediocre prospects (similar to the package the Cards gave up for Ozuna). Verlander was acquired for nothing but salary relief. Ozuna as a distressed asset. Brantley clips off 3 win seasons like they're nothing since 2014 and Luhnow gets him on a low-cost 2 year deal - Fowler has 1 decent year in the last 5 and Mozeliak guarantees him $80 million.
You look at the guys they're trading away, these were mid-1st rounders. Seth Beer was taken later in his draft than Nick Plummer was taken in his but Nick Plummer will be out of baseball in 2 years while Beer's headlining deals for CY winners. Bukauskas was taken around Wacha's spot and we let Wacha's value dwindle to nothing because our GM has no marbles.
The Astros lost a guy in McCullers who has been able to dominate major league hitters and they don't skip a beat. Correa and Springer go down and they just plug in Gurriel and Alvarez (neither high picks) because their depth is outstanding. Meanwhile we lose Matt Carpenter and his negative WAR and Alex Reyes and Mozeliak uses it as an excuse to fold up his tent.
Tucker's the last of the 'high pick' prospects and they don't even need the guy. The Astros aren't great because they sucked. They're great because their GM is great. They're great because their front office has a plan and is committed to securing another title.
That argument simply doesn't wash if you actually start to look at their system. They're an amazingly well run organization.
The Cardinals, OTOH, are not.
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Brilliant.
The stuff about their minor league players just crushing the competition in key indicators is impressive too (best strikeout rate in each league for pitchers, best hard-hit for hitters, etc).
Luhnow’s org has no weaknesses. It drafts well. It develops consistently and excellently. They trade well.
I mean, they got Yordan Alvarez for 2 months of Josh ****ing Fields.
And they’re not afraid to zig when the industry zags.
Forrest Whitley is the latest example. They have him basically completely rebuilding himself in the lower minors despite the fact he was almost to MlB because he had a few mechanical flaws holding back his command and results.
How many other orgs would have the balls to demote the top pitching prospect in baseball from AAA to A to completely re-work mechanics?
None.