The Astros and RedHawks held a press conference yesterday about their new two-year PDC.
When asked why the Astros went after Oklahoma City, Wade said:
"For every reason. Fan base, ballpark, Mandalay Baseball and what they've done in other places, the proximity to Houston and, in all candor, the unattractive secondary choices that we would've had at our disposal.”
To his credit, he addresses the fact that the Oklahoman can't seem to write about the deal without noting that the Astros ranked at or near the bottom of organizational rankings in terms of a farm system:
"I think we're over the dry spell. When I came on board at the end of the 2007 season, there were two things: to be as strong as we could be at the major league level, but task 1A was to replenish the farm system. We've clearly acknowledged at every level that we had several bad drafts back-to-back-to-back, and it takes a long time to recover from those things, but we've had three very good drafts (since)...
...There'll be good prospects on this club next year. We know what we have to do. We think we're sort of underestimated with regard to the level of prospects and the number of prospects we have.”
Director of Player Development Fred Nelson:
"We want a blend of good, young prospects that you're trying to develop and being able to find the six-year free agents to fill in that can help you out in Triple-A and maybe in the majors if there is a need. We're really heading in the right direction.”
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
