Looks like Lance Berkman is a Yankee

[Doomsday101]

I have not heard what the Astros are getting in return but I really hate to see Berkman traded away.

[jimmy40]

I have not heard what the Astros are getting in return but I really hate to see Berkman traded away.hello short right field fence.

[WoodysGirl]

They're just gutting my poor Astros. :(

[Rampage]

why are the Yankees getting Berkman?

[Alumni2k11]

Yankees Acquire Lance Berkman
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 30, 2010 at 8:08pm CST]
8:08pm: The Yankees are sending Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes to the Astros for Berkman, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter).

Melancon had brief stints with the Yankees this year and last year, but most of his pro experience has come in the minor leagues. The right-hander has a 3.67 ERA in Triple A this year with 9.3 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9. The high walk rate is alarming, but the 25-year-old had never posted a walk rate higher than 2.3 BB/9 at any minor league stop before this year.

Basbeall America ranked Melancon 15th among all Yankees prospects before the season, citing his closer's mentality and strong makeup.

Paredes, 21, is a switch-hitting infielder who has played second, short and third. He has stolen 36 bases in 46 attempts at A ball this year and has a .282/.312/.408 line. Unlike Melancon, he did not place in Baseball America's top 30 Yankees prospects before the season.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/new_york_yankees/index.html

[ologan]

They're just gutting my poor Astros. :(

Sad,isn't it. Can Oswalt be far behind? At least Berkman will have a good shot at a ring.

[jimmy40]

Sad,isn't it. Can Oswalt be far behind? At least Berkman will have a good shot at a ring.he's already been traded to Philly

[Kangaroo]

They're just gutting my poor Astros. :(

Gutted what a team going no where Lance had a team option and they where not going to exercise it and Oswalt had an option year too. They are on pace for a 100 lost season and they where going to suck again next year. They been gutted for about 4 years now because McLane went out and spent money on players so the cheapskate cut all his scouting and started lowballing draft picks so they where picking players in the first round that where marginal first round talent because they could sign them

He gutted the team over the last 10 years why do you think Jerry had a spat with the Astro left and went to Tampa and built a very good team in Tampa.

McLane is an idiot when it comes to being a baseball owner

[kmp77]

That's it for the Astros chances...like EVER. Now the only 2 players you had that brought any excitement to the team/town is gone. I knew Biggio/Bagwell retiring was gonna be rough but sheesh.

[rkell87]

how far theyve fallen since '04

[tico]

Yes, Nice addition! "way better than Nick Johnson"...Go Yankees with the repeat

[ologan]

he's already been traded to Philly

OOPS! Sorry...I live in the mountains and haven't been following sports on TV or newspapers in the last few days. I opened up the Houston Chronicle online this morning and...well,the rest is sad history!

Quick story on the Astros. Some years back,I went to the VA hospital in Houston to visit a close friend and college buddy who was dying. I did most of the talking,since he was in a semi-coma. I left there with very sad feelings,but joined my wife at the Astro's game that night,which they won to pull within a win of a playoff spot. On our way out of the dome late that evening, with my friend weighing on my mind,I told her I sure wish I could skip work the next day to watch them try to clinch in a day game. She stopped me in the parking lot and asked me if I hadn't learned anything from my visit with my friend, namely we aren't guaranteed tomorrow, so enjoy life to it's fullest when the opportunity presents itself. If it doesn't present itself, then make your own opportunity.
I turned around right then and there and walked from our car in the lot, back to the ticket window and bought us two seats for the next days game.
The next morning, I felt no guilt in calling my SOB boss and telling him I wouldn't be in that day for personal reasons.
We had a great time at the game, but it got real quiet into the eighth inning,and my wife, who really doesn't pay attention at baseball games, turned to me and said " Why is it so quiet? I guess everybody else is bored with the game...I mean the scoreboard says the other team hasn't even gotten a hit yet". I turned to her and said" Shhhhh..Don't say anything....They don't have any hits....but if we can get thru the next inning and keep it that way...you won't have to worry about it being so quiet in here!"
That was Mike Scott's No-No! If she hadn't put things in perspective the night before,we would have missed that gem. I've seen a Nolan Ryan no-hitter,but this one was special.
Even though I live in the mountains in "Braves Country", I will always be an Astros fan.

[Temo]

They're just gutting my poor Astros. :(

Honestly, it's overdue. The team was full of under-performing vets. They need to restock that farm system and start anew.

I'm not crazy about the returns they got though.

[bbgun]

Berkman's not doing that great at the plate this year, esp against lefties. I guess Nick Johnson is kaput, but what else is new.

[Alumni2k11]

Berkman's not doing that great at the plate this year, esp against lefties. I guess Nick Johnson is kaput, but what else is new.

I was never a fan of getting back Nick Johnson this past offseason. Wish they could have kept Matsui instead.

[Doomsday101]

As much as I hated seeing Lance traded away Astros only hope to get back to respectability is to bring in young talent to help rebuild this team. I wish the best to Lance and Roy but these trades will do more to help the Astros turn things around than keeping these 2 players with little talent around them

[Biggems]

I am so glad hey traded Berkman and Oswalt.....why let them wallow in major suckage in Houston. Both have been sent to serious contenders and that is great.

[Biggems]

I was never a fan of getting back Nick Johnson this past offseason. Wish they could have kept Matsui instead.

why? so he can spend half the season on the DL. I liked him, but he couldn't stay healthy. I am glad he left for Cali.

[Doomsday101]

I am so glad hey traded Berkman and Oswalt.....why let them wallow in major suckage in Houston. Both have been sent to serious contenders and that is great.

It is good for the Astros as well since it helps them in rebuilding. Brekman nor Oswalt are going to carry the Astros they need a lot of help and at least now can focus on the future

[Biggems]

It is good for the Astros as well since it helps them in rebuilding. Brekman nor Oswalt are going to carry the Astros they need a lot of help and at least now can focus on the future

they need to get rid of Lee and his contract.

[Doomsday101]

they need to get rid of Lee and his contract.

I agree. This club has to think of the future and bring in younger talent. If they can get a couple of players for Lee right now I would do it. Some of my fellow Astros fans feel different but this is club going no where and the only way to get in back on track is through a strong commitment to the minor league program and young players.

[Biggems]

I agree. This club has to think of the future and bring in younger talent. If they can get a couple of players for Lee right now I would do it. Some of my fellow Astros fans feel different but this is club going no where and the only way to get in back on track is through a strong commitment to the minor league program and young players.


they need to go back to having a small payroll, drafting well, and building up their farm system.

I think it would be easier if MLB would fix the draft and make it like the NFL, where the worst team picks 1st in each round. I would also like to see a salary cap and revenue sharing.

[Doomsday101]

they need to go back to having a small payroll, drafting well, and building up their farm system.

I think it would be easier if MLB would fix the draft and make it like the NFL, where the worst team picks 1st in each round. I would also like to see a salary cap and revenue sharing.

I agree for the Astros they need to get back to the basics and focus on young talent instead of high priced stop gap players. As for salary cap in baseball I don't think that will happen any time soon, the MLB union is too strong and will not agree to any cap

[Biggems]

I agree for the Astros they need to get back to the basics and focus on young talent instead of high priced stop gap players. As for salary cap in baseball I don't think that will happen any time soon, the MLB union is too strong and will not agree to any cap

i know it wont happen...no cap, no revenue sharing, no fixing the draft....MLB is too myopic and set in its ways. that is why they are #3...actually for me, I would put hockey above baseball, making baseball #4....but that is just me.

oh and one more thing baseball needs to fix...make both leagues the same....either have both with the DH or have both without it. while the purest in me says get rid of the DH, cause I like the strategy that the NL has to have in each game.....i do like the DH in that it brings more offense and saves pitchers.

[Doomsday101]

i know it wont happen...no cap, no revenue sharing, no fixing the draft....MLB is too myopic and set in its ways. that is why they are #3...actually for me, I would put hockey above baseball, making baseball #4....but that is just me.

oh and one more thing baseball needs to fix...make both leagues the same....either have both with the DH or have both without it. while the purest in me says get rid of the DH, cause I like the strategy that the NL has to have in each game.....i do like the DH in that it brings more offense and saves pitchers.

Seems we are in full agreement. As for the DH I'm not fan of it I think it takes away the strategy of the game. Now days I tend to watch baseball only if there is nothing better to do. They burned a bridge with me when they decided to go on strike and the World Series was not played. I figure if a championship was not important to them why should I care?

[Alumni2k11]

why? so he can spend half the season on the DL. I liked him, but he couldn't stay healthy. I am glad he left for Cali.

True, but Matsui > NJ. I could be wrong, but didn't they both sign for similar money this year?

[Temo]

No one is taking the Carlos Lee contract. Too long, too much money.