Posted on 06/07/2014 11:05:34 AM PDT by FlJoePa
At this writing, Astros outfield prospect Domingo Santana is batting .297/.374/.493 as a 21-year-old in Triple-A. That good production comes after a 2013 campaign in which he slugged .498 with 25 homers as a 20-year-old in Double-A. In other words, Santana is becoming a potentially important part of Houston's rebuild.
The Astros acquired Santana as part of the 2011 trade in which they sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies. Houston also landed Jon Singleton and Jarred Cosart in that same deal. So it's turning out being pretty costly for the Phils and GM Ruben Amaro.
Why are we talking about this trade almost three years later? Well, here's this most interesting recent nugget from Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle ...
Less than two months after they picked George Springer from the University of Connecticut, the Astros sent Pence and cash to the Phillies on July 29, 2011, for Cosart, Singleton, Zeid and a player to be named, which ended up being Santana. In spring training, a Phillies official admitted that Santana wasn't actually supposed to be on the list that was given to the Astros to pick from to satisfy the final piece on Aug. 15, 2011.
Woof. So, by virtue of front-office oversight or clerical error or a game of telephone, Santana wound up on the list of players from which the Astros could choose the final piece of their haul. As Ortiz writes, he wasn't supposed to be on that list. He was, subsequently and wisely, chosen by the Astros. That's ... remarkable.
The Phillies, you see, are quite possibly not a well run organization these days.
We Giants fans are happy to have taken Hunter Pence off the Phillies hands.
When don’t they go ballistic?
What a contrast in the management of the two franchises the past few years. Shows in the standings obviously.
Giants fans are just glad we got Pence. I don’t think we win the 2012 Series without him....
The Astros are definitely getting better, in a few years they will be pretty good.
‘Stros need some pitching. The team can hit....
Yes we are.... and now our GM the village idiot R Amaro is claiming he meant to send him to the Astros...he just threw jet fuel on the fire.
I’ve wondered what Sabean, et al are thinking over the past few years but whatever their strategy is it seems to be paying off again this year.
Hey careful there with the Philly dissing.
Until I became a Marlins fan, I was always a Giants fan - my Dad played in the major leagues for them back in the day, I loved Bobby Murcer, I loved Will Clark. Loved Jack Clark even! Ed No-Hit Halicky, Tom O’Malley, Chris Speier, John the Count Montefusco...I could go on and on.
Morse and Hudson have been huge additions this year....
The Count had a no-hitter, too....
Yep. With Cain back on track the only element missing is Timmy’s control.
Amaro-the Susan Rice of baseball!
I think Timmy’s days as a starter are numbered. He was great coming out of the bullpen during the 2012 playoffs and Series....
I heard someone say that his unorthodox delivery style would be very difficult to maintain over the long run - hard on the body. He’ll need to re-invent himself if he wants to stay competitive.
A lot of moving parts to re-invent....
You BET! How many teams have a guy whose nickname is UNDERPANTS? You KNOW the kids teased him all his life about that name.
I think I would have changed my name to Michael, Steve, Joe or Bob. Even Peter would have been better.
Heeheehee, now I have the giggles.
GO GIANTS!
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