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General Discussion => Talk Zone => Topic started by: Navin R Johnson on August 27, 2007, 01:53:58 pm
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Any preferences?
I wonder who takes over for the rest of the season in the dugout.
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Cooper is almost certain to be interim manager.
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Or Galante...who is still a special assistant or whatnot.
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Wonder if the Randy Smith rumors now have teeth.
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Biggio/Ausmus?
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Wonder if the Randy Smith rumors now have teeth.
Wow... if the classless MFers didn't like Purp...
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Wow... if the classless MFers didn't like Purp...
No kidding.
I'm really disappointed in the Astros for this one. They caved to the classless MFers for sure. I can understand Phil being tired and wanting to go home at the end of the year, but surely he would have stuck it out. Tim just never got a chance period IMHO.
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Wow... if the classless MFers didn't like Purp...
Do you have to be a classless MFer not to like this?
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Cooper til the end of the year, Girardi in 08. Fred Bennett as gm?
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I know no one cares about my opinion, but I can't believe Drayton McLane did this.
Garner was an awesome manager, and I will never forget the high times he presided over (2004 and 2005).
Purpura didn't do so well on the Jennings trade, but I think it was a little premature to get rid of him. Oh well, I'm just another fan mouthing off. Take it as you will.
Any preferences?
I wonder who takes over for the rest of the season in the dugout.
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Cooper til the end of the year, Girardi in 08. Fred Bennett as gm?
not sure if Fred could handle baseball GM duties and CB for the Texans. Maybe you meant Ricky.
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I know no one cares about my opinion, but I can't believe Drayton McLane did this.
Garner was an awesome manager, and I will never forget the high times he presided over (2004 and 2005).
Purpura didn't do so well on the Jennings trade, but I think it was a little premature to get rid of him. Oh well, I'm just another fan mouthing off. Take it as you will.
He didn't do badly with the Jennings trade. Overpaid some but if he hadn't he wouldn't have made the trade. Other teams were bidding too, and they needed a reliable pitcher. I don't see how he could be blamed for Jennings becoming injured after the trade was made either. No one suspected an injury during the 2006 season.
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Purpura didn't do so well on the Jennings trade, but I think it was a little premature to get rid of him. Oh well, I'm just another fan mouthing off. Take it as you will.
Had Jennings pitched all season the way he did prior to injury, the trade would have been good for us IMHO.
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He didn't do badly with the Jennings trade. Overpaid some but if he hadn't he wouldn't have made the trade. Other teams were bidding too, and they needed a reliable pitcher. I don't see how he could be blamed for Jennings becoming injured after the trade was made either. No one suspected an injury during the 2006 season.
I thought JDJO wrote last week that if the Astros had done some research, they'd have known Jennings was hurt.
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I thought JDJO wrote last week that if the Astros had done some research, they'd have known Jennings was hurt.
Yeah, JDJO is an authority.
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Do you have to be a classless MFer not to like this?
Nope. I think it's fine to be of the opinion that this was a good move. However, the timing of it sucks and booing at a number retirement ceremony is entirely classless. My own opinion is that this is McLane's team and he can do anything he wants to do, even when it's a very classless way to fire a couple of decent men. Give them the dignity of walking out in October like Gerry did at least. Firing them after a boo-bird experience is undignified... IMHO of course.
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Nope. I think it's fine to be of the opinion that this was a good move. However, the timing of it sucks and booing at a number retirement ceremony is entirely classless. My own opinion is that this is McLane's team and he can do anything he wants to do, even when it's a very classless way to fire a couple of decent men. Give them the dignity of walking out in October like Gerry did at least. Firing them after a boo-bird experience is undignified... IMHO of course.
Agreed. THe post-ASG firing of Williams in '04 was one thing; they were still very much in play for the postseason and maybe felt they needed to act quickly to turn the season around...but that is obviously not the case this season. There's also some fairly important evaluating/integrating of young guys like Patton, Albers, Guitierrez that could've taken place in September and figured in the Tim and Phil decisions.
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I'm going to miss Phil. I hope he lands on his feet.
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I'm going to miss Phil. I hope he lands on his feet.
He lives in Houston and is probably now out of baseball for good. I doubt he'll pursue a managerial job elsewhere just to prove how good he is or not. He answered the call from McLane and Hunsicker when they decided to fire Jimah. Local guy, former Astro, good guy, and now he's gone. He'll probably retire and get back to his grandchildren now like he was doing before the Astros came calling.
McLane could've done much better to allow him to leave with more dignity than this and I'm shocked but somewhat not surprised that McLane did this in response to booing.
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He lives in Houston and is probably now out of baseball for good. I doubt he'll pursue a managerial job elsewhere just to prove how good he is or not. He answered the call from McLane and Hunsicker when they decided to fire Jimah. Local guy, former Astro, good guy, and now he's gone. He'll probably retire and get back to his grandchildren now like he was doing before the Astros came calling.
McLane could've done much better to allow him to leave with more dignity than this and I'm shocked but somewhat not surprised that McLane did this in response to booing.
He definitely deserved better. All the best to him in whatever makes him happy.
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David Forst for GM?
Thoughts?
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Stark (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2993768) expects Cooper to remain as the permanent manager.
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Here is a manager long shot for you:
Tim Bogar -
04 - Managed Greeneville to Appy Championship in 04 (Patton, Towles, Guttierez, Einertson, Paulino) Manager of the year
05 - Managed Lexington to league best record and playoffs (Pence, Patton, Towles, etc.) Manager of the year
06 - Manage Akron Aeros to league best record and manager of the year. Coach on All Star Futures Game
07 - Managing Akron Aeros currently 3.5 games back in division
This guy can coach and has coached the younger core of Patton, Pence, Towles, Guttierez
Just throwing his name in the mix.
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Stark (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2993768) expects Cooper to remain as the permanent manager.
I do too.
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Here is a manager long shot for you:
Tim Bogar -
04 - Managed Greeneville to Appy Championship in 04 (Patton, Towles, Guttierez, Einertson, Paulino) Manager of the year
05 - Managed Lexington to league best record and playoffs (Pence, Patton, Towles, etc.) Manager of the year
06 - Manage Akron Aeros to league best record and manager of the year. Coach on All Star Futures Game
07 - Managing Akron Aeros currently 3.5 games back in division
This guy can coach and has coached the younger core of Patton, Pence, Towles, Guttierez
Just throwing his name in the mix.
Does Pam Gardner know he even exist?
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Does Pam Gardner know he even exist?
Bingo.
And let me be clear in saying this - I do not believe Drayton McLane is a racist, or is guilty of any of the spurious charges JdJO and his ilk have made.
But I think the business side will encourage him to use these hirings to challenge that perception.
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Does Pam Gardner know he even exist?
Can he hit?
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Bingo.
And let me be clear in saying this - I do not believe Drayton McLane is a racist, or is guilty of any of the spurious charges JdJO and his ilk have made.
But I think the business side will encourage him to use these hirings to challenge that perception.
*DING, DING, DING*
Ricky Bennett, Assist. GM
Cecil Cooper, Manager
Tal Smith, GM and the guy who once wanted to beat the crap out of JdJO for calling him a racist.
Which one of the three does not belong, Pam? I wonder if Bob Watson would want to come back into the fold... hmmmmmm. See me working here Pam?
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OK, what is the story with Pam? This is about the 20th reference to her today.
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OK, what is the story with Pam? This is about the 20th reference to her today.
She's the one pulling the strings.
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OK, what is the story with Pam? This is about the 20th reference to her today.
There is a strong, umm, belief based on inside info that Gardner has been influencing player personel decisions.
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She's the one pulling the strings.
There's a baseball Illuminati? OK, where do the Shriners fit in all this? There's something sinister about their tiny cars.
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OK, what is the story with Pam? This is about the 20th reference to her today.
The rumors are that she has been trying to weasel her way (not the Woody Williams type of weasel, a different type of weasel as I understand it) into running the team lock, stock and barrel. From what I understand, the baseball folks both here and from the outside looking in have contempt for her attempt to run the organization. She uses her knowledge of business to try and influence the Grocer into making decisions that effects the gate as much as the baseball side. It began with the Beltran negotiations and has carried through to today. Many say that McLane will handle large contractual negotiations, like Roger Clemens or Carlos Lee (and Oswalt and Berkman) and it's true. But Pam Garner, as the rumor has it, also signs off on them as marketing good decisions just as much as Tal Smith or Tim Purpura sign off on the same as smart baseball decisions.
Sometimes, the two don't agree and Gardner may have more influence on the matter with McLane than the actual baseball side. Or so it is rumored. Suffice it to say, there is probably some truth to it and maybe some embellishment, but the reality is that the baseball folks outside and in do have concern for her huge influence on the direction of the club. One well known scout said that the organization can be set back years if she continues this way.
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There's a baseball Illuminati? OK, where do the Shriners fit in all this? There's something sinister about their tiny cars.
No conspiracy. Just one person with the ear of the owner.
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There is a strong, umm, belief based on inside info that Gardner has been influencing player personel decisions.
If this is true, McLane is a dumb motherfucker and deserves to be mired in last place for the next ten years.
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If this is true, McLane is a dumb motherfucker and deserves to be mired in last place for the next ten years.
Some scouts have this very same opinion.
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Here is a manager long shot for you:
Tim Bogar -
04 - Managed Greeneville to Appy Championship in 04 (Patton, Towles, Guttierez, Einertson, Paulino) Manager of the year
05 - Managed Lexington to league best record and playoffs (Pence, Patton, Towles, etc.) Manager of the year
06 - Manage Akron Aeros to league best record and manager of the year. Coach on All Star Futures Game
07 - Managing Akron Aeros currently 3.5 games back in division
This guy can coach and has coached the younger core of Patton, Pence, Towles, Guttierez
Just throwing his name in the mix.
Personally, I hope Bogar is considered. However, I can't get away from thinking that McLane is looking for a quick fix and a young, inexeperienced mgr may not be in the cards. Bogar's knowledge of and relationship with this group may not interest him. Of course, in a perfect world, he will choose the GM and the GM will choose the mgr. I wouldn't count on that.
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He lives in Houston and is probably now out of baseball for good. I doubt he'll pursue a managerial job elsewhere just to prove how good he is or not. He answered the call from McLane and Hunsicker when they decided to fire Jimah. Local guy, former Astro, good guy, and now he's gone. He'll probably retire and get back to his grandchildren now like he was doing before the Astros came calling.
McLane could've done much better to allow him to leave with more dignity than this and I'm shocked but somewhat not surprised that McLane did this in response to booing.
Surely these men were not fired today because of booing.
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Of course, in a perfect world, he will choose the GM and the GM will choose the mgr. I wouldn't count on that.
That all depends. Does Randy Smith have a kid brother? Smith the Toddler? Smith the Embryo? Smith the Glint in the Milkman's Eye?
Worst case scenario, of course. Or, rather, if nepotism is nice than two generations of nepotism is TWICE as nice?
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Surely these men were not fired today because of booing.
Probably not, but it didn't escape the media's attention to ask McLane about it, to which he quickly said "NO!" and moved on. If it is that clear cut, why would anyone begin to ask that question. And it's not booing, it's booing at the number retirement, feel good moment for Jeff Bagwell, a favorite of Drayton McLane. If they boo at such an occasion, it's going to be noticed, just like booing at say.... oh... the All-Star game?
Just saying, it was not a great thing for McLane to hear during what he considered a great experience all the fans should've been having.
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Probably not, but it didn't escape the media's attention to ask McLane about it, to which he quickly said "NO!" and moved on. If it is that clear cut, why would anyone begin to ask that question. And it's not booing, it's booing at the number retirement, feel good moment for Jeff Bagwell, a favorite of Drayton McLane. If they boo at such an occasion, it's going to be noticed, just like booing at say.... oh... the All-Star game?
Just saying, it was not a great thing for McLane to hear during what he considered a great experience all the fans should've been having.
Not Sunday's booing no. Apparently he had already fired Purpura that morning, (wrong he was fired after Sunday's game. But I think the "hundreds of people" had the same effect) for not paying first round money to 3rd round draft picks and not teaching Pence to slide. Mclane says he talked to "hundreds of people" walking around the ballpark during games. That's whose expertise he considers valuable. Fans. This team is being run by fans. There's the jokes about teams taking votes during games to decide strategy, but to decide the long term future of a franchise?
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Surely these men were not fired today because of booing.
http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2007/08/mclane_listened.html
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I just read the Start article on today's firings. Take it for what you will.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2993768
I found it interesting in the fact that it reinforces the previous point that no one, other than someone hungry for an opportunity, is going to chase this job. And hungry for an opportunity translates to no experience or unsuccessful experience. Guess which is better and hope McLane goes that route.
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Probably not, but it didn't escape the media's attention to ask McLane about it, to which he quickly said "NO!" and moved on. If it is that clear cut, why would anyone begin to ask that question. And it's not booing, it's booing at the number retirement, feel good moment for Jeff Bagwell, a favorite of Drayton McLane. If they boo at such an occasion, it's going to be noticed, just like booing at say.... oh... the All-Star game?
Just saying, it was not a great thing for McLane to hear during what he considered a great experience all the fans should've been having.
No doubt it should have been handled differently. But I think it was inevitable that someone would be the scapegoat for this year.
I don't know that Pam Garner got him fired. But surely she was telling the powers that the gate would soon suffer. But if the baseball was good would it have come to that? I think Garner did a good job for the most part. Unfortunately the manager usually takes the fall. But I will tell you up front that I don't know much.
On a sidenote, any, and every, one that booed on Bagwell's day, given what he did for this organization, is a classless idiot. He deserved better on his day.
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http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2007/08/mclane_listened.html
Deer Lowered.
I am an idiot and I just got dumber reading this.
Tal Smith is a good interim choice. I think Cooper will show that he is too. Cooper may even stick.
Poopura was in way over his head. Garner simply made too many bad roster decisions and platooned way, way too much. he worked with what he had, but that Burke, Lame, Ensberg, Everett stuff simply sucks.
Hopefully, they'll add Roger Clemons in as a pitching coach or as the current one's assistant. Ditto Bagwell and Biggio, and even Ausmus for the catchers and pitchers. Those are quality people to set the stage for younger ones.
They'll now have a chance to attract free agents and make better trades. That is given.
They need to get Tejada. They should keep Loretta & Lamb. The new GM and coach need to give it up on Burke, Lame, and Everett. Everett should be a defensive back up to Tejada. Start Loretta at 2B. Use Lamb at 1st & 3rd with Lunch Pail. Berkman can back up Scott occasionally. Go get a catcher and more pitching...
Open up the frickin' checkbook Drayton.
Thats just what the Astros need. ???
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I just read the Start article on today's firings. Take it for what you will.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2993768
I found it interesting in the fact that it reinforces the previous point that no one, other than someone hungry for an opportunity, is going to chase this job. And hungry for an opportunity translates to no experience or unsuccessful experience. Guess which is better and hope McLane goes that route.
That is eggszactly what the winds are whispering in the MLB landscape and why I think there is some tough road a hoe for my favorite organization coming up. They may catch lightning in a bottle, but do not expect for good GM candidates to appear at the door unless they're retreads or young assist. GMs (even Ricky Bennett) with a desire to give it a shot.
There is no Pat Gillick riding in from the sunset to save this organization. Or even Gerry Hunsicker. Tough times ahead fans, welcome to your new Houston Astros. Enjoy.
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Deer Lowered.
I am an idiot and I just got dumber reading this.
Thats just what the Astros need. ???
One of the players that Baltimore asked for was Pence.
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One of the players that Baltimore asked for was Pence.
Who in their right mind would do that trade 1 for 1?
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Who in their right mind would do that trade 1 for 1?
One *of* the players... you need to settle down and read better than that.
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Not Sunday's booing no. Apparently he had already fired Purpura that morning, for not paying first round money to 3rd round draft picks and not teaching Pence to slide. Mclane says he talked to "hundreds of people" walking around the ballpark during games. That's whose expertise he considers valuable. Fans. This team is being run by fans. There's the jokes about teams taking votes during games to decide strategy, but to decide the long term future of a franchise?
I like this from Stark:
"What we do know about the Astros is this: Drayton McLane created the monster that led two very capable baseball men -- not to mention two wonderful human beings -- to the gallows Monday. So if he sincerely wants to inject more "invigoration" and better leadership into this organization he cares so much about, then firing his manager and GM isn't the only change he should be prepared to make.
This time, he should try hiring good people and actually letting them do their jobs."
That includes the influences that McLane allows to creep into the picture. He needs to somehow understand that while fans make up his revenue streams, they are to be considered only up to a point. The beer isn't cold enough or the parking is too far or the air conditioning isn't cold enough. Fine.
But for fans, media and business influence to creep into the baseball operations... it's going to leave a huge black mark in the MLB landscape that will cause Houston to go backwards. Even the insinuation that JdJO made that players like Oswalt have McLane's ear and they bent it to rail on Pupura is not a good thing. Players don't make good managers and general managers and if baseball men start to get wind that all these influences drive the already seen as a meddler owner to react, then no one will want to work here in that capacity.
And that will be really bad.
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Tough times ahead fans
Amen,to that.
Sooner or later, an owner / purveyor of a particular team's payroll, whomever he/she may be at the time, is going to percieve a systemic managerial malfunction which will bring forth a decision to amputate said manager. During many of those times, a decision such as this will disappoint the fan population mightily. As long-time fans, we have experienced these sorts of seasonal events at one time or another, and certainly this episode will will not mark the last time. While I have respected Garner for the job that he has performed throughout his tenure, I was becoming a very sympathetic/tired viewer, this year, as he delivered his post game interviews, ever reconciling each defeat with the same rhetoric, albeit accurate, delivered with the same glassy stare. Could Phil have welcomed this release? Seeing this team and those interviews I almost think so. It is time for Drayton to get a clue, however. Couldn't he have distanced this beheading by maybe a fortnight or so from the Bagwell-Brunch Lovefest?
Maybe it's just me, but I wish that he had.
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Not Sunday's booing no. Apparently he had already fired Purpura that morning, (wrong he was fired after Sunday's game. But I think the "hundreds of people" had the same effect) for not paying first round money to 3rd round draft picks and not teaching Pence to slide. Mclane says he talked to "hundreds of people" walking around the ballpark during games. That's whose expertise he considers valuable. Fans. This team is being run by fans. There's the jokes about teams taking votes during games to decide strategy, but to decide the long term future of a franchise?
WFW
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Screw it... I say they hire a Billy Beane disciple and rehire Art Howe. Let's see some Moneyball, baby!!!
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But for fans, media and business influence to creep into the baseball operations... it's going to leave a huge black mark in the MLB landscape that will cause Houston to go backwards. Even the insinuation that JdJO made that players like Oswalt have McLane's ear and they bent it to rail on Pupura is not a good thing. Players don't make good managers and general managers and if baseball men start to get wind that all these influences drive the already seen as a meddler owner to react, then no one will want to work here in that capacity.
And that will be really bad.
Actually, if anything, I think it's worse than this...
The only way to keep the "happy in their own ignorance" fan base happy long term is to win games... Lots and lots of games... Tying the hands of a GM and then firing him for not assembling a quality team is not going to win lots of games long term... Firing a manager for not winning games with a haphazard mismatch of talent is even worse, but I digress...
Pandering to the average bread and circus fan and the dumb as doorknobs media with such classless actions is a short term move at best...
Unless Drayton is clearing the decks to give new ownership their choice of franchise management without forcing the new owner to be the bad guy who comes in and fires the incumbents...
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Bingo.
And let me be clear in saying this - I do not believe Drayton McLane is a racist, or is guilty of any of the spurious charges JdJO and his ilk have made.
But I think the business side will encourage him to use these hirings to challenge that perception.
Oh yeah??? Well, just wait till Drayton finds out from one of the knowledgable fans sitting around him that Cooper is black. Then it's on.
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*DING, DING, DING*
Ricky Bennett, Assist. GM
Cecil Cooper, Manager
Tal Smith, GM and the guy who once wanted to beat the crap out of JdJO for calling him a racist.
Which one of the three does not belong, Pam? I wonder if Bob Watson would want to come back into the fold... hmmmmmm. See me working here Pam?
For GM, the way baseball has been trending in recent years? Someone, anyone, who's young. So the timing is good for Drayton, because by the end of the season most of his top candidates will be done with their midterms.
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Unless Drayton is clearing the decks to give new ownership their choice of franchise management without forcing the new owner to be the bad guy who comes in and fires the incumbents...
This is what I've been wondering too. I have nothing to back it up, just speculation.
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One *of* the players... you need to settle down and read better than that.
I read it as one of. My reply should have said "who would do that trade 1 for 1, much less give them other things?"
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Screw it... I say they hire a Billy Beane disciple and rehire Art Howe. Let's see some Moneyball, baby!!!
"Moneyball" is an actual, coherent plan. A flawed plan, but a plan nonetheless.
I'd happily take that over what Drayton is preparing us for, which is pretty much the Bad News Bears, only sponsored by Successories instead of Chico's bail bonds...
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"Moneyball" is an actual, coherent plan. A flawed plan, but a plan nonetheless.
I'd happily take that over what Drayton is preparing us for, which is pretty much the Bad News Bears, only sponsored by Successories instead of Chico's bail bonds...
Amen. They don't even have a "pl", much less an entire plan.
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Amen. They don't even have a "pl", much less an entire plan.
There hasn't been a plan since Hunsicker left. Maybe Purpura had one, but he wasn't allowed to act on it.
Looking back, the whole Beltran thing was portentous. Plan A: sign Beltran; Plan B...[crickets chirping]. That was the beginning of the end.
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Maybe Purpura had one, but he wasn't allowed to act on it.
I think there was one. Purp was left with a World Series caliber team in 05. But, it was aging and about to lose a number of important players. There were also players who later failed, Lane and Ensberg, and those with declining skills. He also inherited a near empty minor league system. 5 years of bad drafts left it with next to nothing. Huns last draft included Pence, Patton, and Towles. Purp is the one who has promoted the hell out of them. He's also drafted a number of very good players the last 3 years. Several of which will already be in AAA and AA next year. He was charged with staying competitive at the major league level while not having high quality young players ready to take over vacated spots on the 25-man roster or used to make trades for high quality major leagueres and not given enough money to fill all those holes via free agency. Hun got out when the gettin' was good. Purp was left to clean up the mess and fix in the short term what couldn't be fixed with the resources he was given.
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"Moneyball" is an actual, coherent plan. A flawed plan, but a plan nonetheless.
I'd happily take that over what Drayton is preparing us for, which is pretty much the Bad News Bears, only sponsored by Successories instead of Chico's bail bonds...
Forst could be available. Would you want him?
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Forst could be available. Would you want him?
Is he desperate or hungry and want to work with Pam Gardner.... errrr.... Drayton McLane. Wait, not work with... work *FOR* them. If this guy is good, he'll want no part of this circus. You'll have to wait and see, but they're going to go internally and promote from within.
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You'll have to wait and see, but they're going to go internally and promote from within.
Which would completely negate Drayton's whole "the organization is stagnant" speech. Not saying you're wrong - just pointing that out.
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Is he desperate or hungry and want to work with Pam Gardner.... errrr.... Drayton McLane. Wait, not work with... work *FOR* them. If this guy is good, he'll want no part of this circus. You'll have to wait and see, but they're going to go internally and promote from within.
OK, maybe I should stick with the post less kinda thing, but...
SOme of the better draft picks are getting to the upper levels.
Next year, there could be, depending on a bunch of stuff, a chance for the Astros to have multiple early round draft picks.
Berkman, Lee, and Oswalt are going to be around for a while.
Some good young pitching to rotate in and out to see who can make the rotation.
Some of the older players are heading into the sunset, meaning a GM would have more leeway to fill out the team to its needs.
A young fan favorite, Pence, could continue to develop.
If the Astros avoid injuries a little better next year, maybe have a couple of breaks, they could turn 2008 into another playoff run, potentially. I don't think it is much of a stretch. It could make a GM look brilliant without doing too much. Am I seeing that incorrectly?
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If the Astros avoid injuries a little better next year, maybe have a couple of breaks, they could turn 2008 into another playoff run, potentially. I don't think it is much of a stretch. It could make a GM look brilliant without doing too much. Am I seeing that incorrectly?
It's the NL Central. .500 gets you a playoff run.
But they would need several things breaking the right way - including at least 2 of Albers, Patton, Dominguez, and Backe becomng consistent starters - to approach that.
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It's the NL Central. .500 gets you a playoff run.
But they would need several things breaking the right way - including at least 2 of Albers, Patton, Dominguez, and Backe becomng consistent starters - to approach that.
I would suggest Wandy and Sampson need to work on the consistancy thing a little more, too.
Yes, there are holes, as always. It may be that the pieces will not come together again this offseason, but I think there is a temptation there that this team could be very good next year and a potential GM would be interested in taking that risk.
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I would suggest Wandy and Sampson need to work on the consistancy thing a little more, too.
Yes, there are holes, as always. It may be that the pieces will not come together again this offseason, but I think there is a temptation there that this team could be very good next year and a potential GM would be interested in taking that risk.
Can anyone point me to a good website or resource that shows current payroll and possibly what salaries would be coming off the books next year?
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Can anyone point me to a good website or resource that shows current payroll and possibly what salaries would be coming off the books next year?
Here's the one that I usually look at:
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/houston-astros.html
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Here's the one that I usually look at:
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/houston-astros.html
Thanks
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Is he desperate or hungry and want to work with Pam Gardner.... errrr.... Drayton McLane. Wait, not work with... work *FOR* them. If this guy is good, he'll want no part of this circus. You'll have to wait and see, but they're going to go internally and promote from within.
I don't know anything about the Gardner situation. Sounds horrible if true.
Forst, from what I've read, is the real deal. I would be thrilled if we got him.
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Any preferences?
I wonder who takes over for the rest of the season in the dugout.
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Joe Girardi and Dan Evans as the new manager and GM, although I doubt it's going to happen. Have a feeling that Noe is spot on and Cooper will stick after this season while Ricky Bennett gets promoted from within to be Pam Gardner's prom date.
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Who the new gm is will be telling. As mentioned earlier, a Bennett hire would make Drayton's "stagnation rationale" mere doubletalk. However, for those that know something about Bennett, does he seem like a sharp guy that might succeed?
Even if the Astros look outward and "stagnation of ideas" is a real concern, I doubt they look towards someone closely associated with Beane and who is also an ivy league whiz. That just doesn't seem to be Drayton's style. If he does hire someone like that, it would lead me to believe that the TP decision was more baseball related.
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Who the new gm is will be telling. As mentioned earlier, a Bennett hire would make Drayton's "stagnation rationale" mere doubletalk. However, for those that know something about Bennett, does he seem like a sharp guy that might succeed?
Even if the Astros look outward and "stagnation of ideas" is a real concern, I doubt they look towards someone closely associated with Beane and who is also an ivy league whiz. That just doesn't seem to be Drayton's style. If he does hire someone like that, it would lead me to believe that the TP decision was more baseball related.
DePodesta? Oh goody.
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I don't know anything about the Gardner situation. Sounds horrible if true.
Forst, from what I've read, is the real deal. I would be thrilled if we got him.
I asked about Forst's desire to be a GM over his own integrity now that it's all over the MLB that McLane and his cronies are hard people to work with. So do you think Forst is a person with such a desire to get such a job over his own personal integrity that he's stepping into a possible... *POSSIBLE*... losing proposition for himself?
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I just saw the comparison over on HPF.com, and it was too apt to pass up:
2004 = last Jimmy Johnson run with the Cowboys (Hun departs)
2005 = "Switzer's" Super Bowl
2006-7 = the decline and fall of the Cowboys
And for years, Jones couldn't get anything but yes men in the door, due to all his meddling, and it took Parcells kicking him in the ass to turn the team around.
I fear we're in for the same.
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I just saw the comparison over on HPF.com, and it was too apt to pass up:
2004 = last Jimmy Johnson run with the Cowboys (Hun departs)
2005 = "Switzer's" Super Bowl
2006-7 = the decline and fall of the Cowboys
And for years, Jones couldn't get anything but yes men in the door, due to all his meddling, and it took Parcells kicking him in the ass to turn the team around.
I fear we're in for the same.
A Cowboys analogy? Man, you sure now how to kick someone when he's down.
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A Cowboys analogy? Man, you sure now how to kick someone when he's down.
Parlez vous Italian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDXahY5rtyI)?
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Parlez vous Italian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDXahY5rtyI)?
I liked seeing a guy with a 70's hair style. Still in vogue in Italy I suppose.
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Blog by Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports suggests ex-Dodgers GM Dan Evans as a possible candidate for the 'stros job.
Tal Smith knows and likes Evans. McLane ought to find out why.
Of course, it will take a longer vision to advance from stop-gap contention to full organizational health. It would happen under Evans, though it would take some time.
More than 22 months.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/mlb_experts/post/Five-and-Fly-Astros-struggle-to-find-direction;_ylt=Arq1UXq.zKRgajwQP_3qiTE5nYcB?urn=mlb,43205
Any realistic possibility of this? Truth to Tal Smith's liking of Evans? Thoughts on Evans as a potential replacement?
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Blog by Tim Brown at Yahoo Sports suggests ex-Dodgers GM Dan Evans as a possible candidate for the 'stros job.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/mlb_experts/post/Five-and-Fly-Astros-struggle-to-find-direction;_ylt=Arq1UXq.zKRgajwQP_3qiTE5nYcB?urn=mlb,43205
Any realistic possibility of this? Truth to Tal Smith's liking of Evans? Thoughts on Evans as a potential replacement?
Richard Justice wrote the same thing. They're picking stuff up from each other and not much truth to it at all.
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I asked about Forst's desire to be a GM over his own integrity now that it's all over the MLB that McLane and his cronies are hard people to work with. So do you think Forst is a person with such a desire to get such a job over his own personal integrity that he's stepping into a possible... *POSSIBLE*... losing proposition for himself?
Maybe he's confident enough to think that he can succeed anyway?
I don't know. You're right though, I don't think this whole situation will be good for attracting the best GM's to take over. Then again, building a team around Oswalt and Berkman isn't exactly a crappy situation.. could be tempting.
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Maybe he's confident enough to think that he can succeed anyway?
He'd be walking in with his eyes wide shut then.
I don't know. You're right though, I don't think this whole situation will be good for attracting the best GM's to take over. Then again, building a team around Oswalt and Berkman isn't exactly a crappy situation.. could be tempting.
And McLane who has openly said that any organization that doesn't make changes for the sake of change is going to fail. Basically, I will fire people in order to keep things lively around here. Garner, Purpura, Dierker, Hunsicker, Hooton, Spillman, Gaetti, Hickey, Alan Ashby, David Lakey might think it's not so lively. Still tempting?
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He'd be walking in with his eyes wide shut then.
And McLane who has openly said that any organization that doesn't make changes for the sake of change is going to fail. Basically, I will fire people in order to keep things lively around here. Garner, Purpura, Dierker, Hunsicker, Hooton, Spillman, Gaetti, Hickey, Alan Ashby, David Lakey might think it's not so lively. Still tempting?
and http://www.sabr.org/cmsimgs/LaytonDrayton_fs.jpg
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He'd be walking in with his eyes wide shut then.
And McLane who has openly said that any organization that doesn't make changes for the sake of change is going to fail. Basically, I will fire people in order to keep things lively around here. Garner, Purpura, Dierker, Hunsicker, Hooton, Spillman, Gaetti, Hickey, Alan Ashby, David Lakey might think it's not so lively. Still tempting?
Yeah, it's a long shot.
But a boy can dream!
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Yeah, it's a long shot.
But a boy can dream!
Is Ricky Bennett a bad choice in your mind? I personally don't think so. I love reading fans and media speculate about Dan Evans, Paul DePodesta, Joe Giradi, et. al. We're talking Drayton McLane here. Wake up folks!
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Is Ricky Bennett a bad choice in your mind? I personally don't think so. I love reading fans and media speculate about Dan Evans, Paul DePodesta, Joe Giradi, et. al. We're talking Drayton McLane here. Wake up folks!
Isn't Dale Evans dead?
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I liked seeing a guy with a 70's hair style. Still in vogue in Italy I suppose.
Never not.
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Never not.
We're Facists now!
Okay. Ciao!
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You guys think there's any chance that Houston is where Kim Ng gets her shot?
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You guys think there's any chance that Houston is where Kim Ng gets her shot?
I think Pam Gardner may be intigued by that. An opportunity to increase interest by women and Pacific Rimmers.
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And McLane who has openly said that any organization that doesn't make changes for the sake of change is going to fail. Basically, I will fire people in order to keep things lively around here.
It's friggin' CAR dealer mentality.....from the 70's! If Truman can fire MacArthur, I suppose Drayton can fire his people, too.
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I think Pam Gardner may be intigued by that. An opportunity to increase interest by women and Pacific Rimmers.
To quote Hedley Lamaar: "KINK-EEEEEEE!"
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It's friggin' CAR dealer mentality.....from the 70's! If Truman can fire MacArthur, I suppose Drayton can fire his people, too.
Junction Jack's replacement will be the Blue Genie. You heard it here first. Chop, chop.
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You guys think there's any chance that Houston is where Kim Ng gets her shot?
Pride welled in Reuben’s breast: Tal’s Hill. He’d started mowing the outfield when he was 17, and now Tal’s Hill was his. It was sad about old man Dimini, but his sudden death had left grooming the hill, the lovely crosshatch, open. It was rumored in the grounds crew that Tal himself had chosen Dimini to mow the hill, but now he was dead. Dimini’s widow had called that afternoon to tell Buster. Dimini had been killed by a pit bull owned by a Muslim. Buster turned to Reuben.
Now Tal’s Hill was his.
Mowing the cross hatch on the curve was art, and it had never looked better. When Reuben finished he stood, admiring the effect, his heart full and happy. Then he heard the voices.
“Baby,” she said, “what if we’re discovered?” The voice was breathy, sexy, with a foreign accent. What was it? Russian? French?
“Naw baby,” there was a pause. “it’ll never happen. Haven’t you seen the guys wearing fez on the club deck? When the Shriners built the stadium, they buried the ferret behind third base. McClane is ours.”
He knew the woman’s voice immediately: Pam Gardner. He wondered if she was wearing the black leather teddie that she wore around the office. The man he couldn’t place, it was a gruff voice, sinister. If only he could place the voice, so full of evil. His hands were damp where he gripped the mower.
Then he knew. Tal.
Now he knew why Tal had chosen Dimini, the old deaf guy, for grooming Tal’s hill. Dimini was deaf as a fence post. A cedar fence post. A cedar fence post, fresh cut by cedar choppers from Cedar Hill. Reuben knew now that in the original design for the MMPUS, Tal had planned a secret chamber beneath the flag pole where he could plot his ultimate, sinister design on behalf of the Shriners. He planned to make Kim Ng the general manager. Kim Ng, who he, Tal, could control like a puppet, and who in turn could pull the strings on the Grocer.
He had to get to McClane, to warn him. He had to tell McClane, who had been like his father, that he was being manipulated by Pam Gardner, by Tal, and ultimately by the Shriners. He also knew that Tal carried the 9mm Glock everywhere.
“Tal,” he heard Gardner’s breathy contralto, “what happened to the mower? It’s awfully quite out there.”
Reuben turned and ran, but then he heard them, coming from the gate in right field, the sound of mini scooters.
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McClane is ours
Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker