Jose de Jesus Ortiz is a bottom feeder with no professional integrity

[pravata]

Astros president of business of operations Tal Smith and his wife and son, Randy Smith, a front-office official with the San Diego Padres, were in attendance. (Wed.)

Randy Smith was the former general manager of the Padres and Detroit Tigers, which is why some have wondered if he'll eventually become general manager of the Astros, a position his father once held.

Drayton McLane isn't looking at candidates for general managers, though.

"Tal told me Randy was here, and this is just a family visit," McLane said. "This is so Tal can see the two grandchildren."
Link

[Phil_in_CS]

I thought you'd sworn off the chron?

[WulawHorn]

Water is wet, JimR is old and Limey probably has bad teeth.

JDJO is the most reprehensible member of the local media. His position covering the astros in print and on the radio is enough to make me lose my mind when I think about it. As such, I try not to think about it.

I saw that blurb (right above the blurb talking about how garner was likely joking about the voodoo doll) in the paper and threw up a little bit in my mouth.

+++++++++++++++++++++Addition+++++++++++++++++++++++

I vote that the 2nd most reprehensible member of the local "media" is Carl Dukes. I was listening to that horseshit they call a show for 3 minutes on the way into work today (Wall St Journal was on a 9 minute commercial on XM) and wanted to see what the local yokels were saying about the recent 3 game winning "streak".

Dukes said that he was not happy about it b/c if the Astros get hot and back in contention that will convince the front office that they don't have any work left to do for the year 2008. He was openly rooting for the astros to tank games.

Now, in a basketball and football perspective this is thinking might be considered ok long term b/c of the higher draft pick you can get (for a player presumably able to help you win right now) but as the baseball draft is a long term, crapshoot proposition the idea is not only insulting, demeaning and preposterous, but monumentally stupid. Every time I listen to that show my IQ drops 5 points, even if it's just for 5 minutes. Sadly, the other station is only marginally better from an intelligence standpoint, and the hosts are even more irritating to listen to.  John and Lance can't get their new gig fast enough. Compared to the other Mensa's of the morning those guys are top shelf baseball geniuses.

Matt Jackson was saying that if Jennings shit's the bed tommorrow the astros have a duty to call up Patton (who had a good start last night I guess). Rich Lord, stealing a page from his old butt buddy Charlie Pallilo NTTAWWT, said the astros would refuse to do that b/c they don't want to win by not calling up their prospects.  I need to start listening to music again in the car.

[pravata]

I thought you'd sworn off the chron?

Blogs.  That was in the Astros Notes.  That gets published in the paper.  It is tossed on people's lawns in the early morning, to mingle with the dog crap.

[Gleek]

Water is wet, JimR is old and Limey probably has bad teeth.

JDJO is the most reprehensible member of the local media. His position covering the astros in print and on the radio is enough to make me lose my mind when I think about it. As such, I try not to think about it.

The desert is dry, JimR is still old, and limey reeks of elderberries (whatever the hell THEY are)...

I can assure you i lost my mind long ago, but interestingly enough, reading JdJO helps me keep my sanity firmly in place.  The more i read, the more i realize the there is a place for retarded monkeys in this world after all.

[Phil_in_CS]

Blogs.  That was in the Astros Notes.  That gets published in the paper.  It is tossed on people's lawns in the early morning, to mingle with the dog crap.

They still 'throw' papers? I thought it was all on the internet these days.

[Limey]

Water is wet, JimR is old and Limey probably has bad teeth.

Right.  And the Osmonds came from East Texas.

[EasTexAstro]

Right.  And the Osmonds came from East Texas.

ouch...

[Andyzipp]

Right.  And the Osmonds came from East Texas.

Sure the UK has socialized medicine, but do they have socialized dentistry & orthodontia?

[Limey]

Sure the UK has socialized medicine, but do they have socialized dentistry & orthodontia?

Yes they do.  And vision.  And mental health.

The bad teeth thing comes (mostly) from the generations that grew up before or during WW2, for whom such niceties as dentistry and toothpaste were hard to come by.  There are those who continue this tradition, but it's a life choice rather than a cultural malaise.

[pravata]

Yes they do.  And vision.  And mental health.

The bad teeth thing comes (mostly) from the generations that grew up before or during WW2, for whom such niceties as dentistry and toothpaste were hard to come by.  There are those who continue this tradition, but it's a life choice rather than a cultural malaise.

And flouride.  Can't forget flouride.

[Limey]

And flouride.  Can't forget flouride.

I'm not sure when they started putting flouride in the water over there.  In fact, I'm not sure the have started.  Something about purity of essence...

[pravata]

I'm not sure when they started putting flouride in the water over there.  In fact, I'm not sure the have started.  Something about purity of essence...

Less than 10% of the UK has flouridated water.  But all the US has flouridated water.  We are cavalier about our essence.  Good thing too because not many in the US have a dental plan.

[ValpoCory]

Dukes said that he was not happy about it b/c if the Astros get hot and back in contention that will convince the front office that they don't have any work left to do for the year 2008. He was openly rooting for the astros to tank games.

Now, in a basketball and football perspective this is thinking might be considered ok long term b/c of the higher draft pick you can get (for a player presumably able to help you win right now) but as the baseball draft is a long term, crapshoot proposition the idea is not only insulting, demeaning and preposterous, but monumentally stupid.

Did Dukes mention draft picks or did you make that leap?  Most know that tanking for draft picks in baseball is stupid.  From your description, it appears Dukes was talking about a general feeling of changing course that may not set in to management if these Astros keep competing with what they have.

That in itself is absurd.  How dare they keep competing and playing meaningful September baseball!!

[Limey]

Did Dukes mention draft picks or did you make that leap?  Most know that tanking for draft picks in baseball is stupid.  From your description, it appears Dukes was talking about a general feeling of changing course that may not set it if these Astros keep competing with what they have.

That in itself is absurd.  How dare they keep competing and playing meaningful September baseball!!

It's also so arrogant.  It means that Dukes doesn't think the Astros' front office can see where problems exist, but he can.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

It's also so arrogant.  It means that Dukes doesn't think the Astros' front office can see where problems exist, but he can.

Arrogance?  In the media?  Impossible! 

So, a chicken and egg question for everyone:  What comes first, the ignorance or the arrogance? 

[pravata]

It's also so arrogant.  It means that Dukes doesn't think the Astros' front office can see where problems exist, but he can.

For the Houston media's commentary to work, there has to be the shared assumption, on the part of the commentator and the listener/reader, that Purpura is intentionally trying to lose and Drayton is creeping in your window at night and stealing money from your piggy bank.

[pravata]

Arrogance?  In the media?  Impossible! 

So, a chicken and egg question for everyone:  What comes first, the ignorance or the arrogance? 

It's the "arrogance of ignorance".  Although the Houston sports community sits on a rock solid foundation of stupid. 

[ValpoCory]

It's also so arrogant.  It means that Dukes doesn't think the Astros' front office can see where problems exist, but he can.

Bingo.

[pravata]

Why I brought it up,

Ortiz's article is dated 8/8

Yahoo Rumors 8/8
Houston Astros president of business of operations Tal Smith and his wife and son, Randy Smith, a front-office official with the San Diego Padres, were in attendance Tuesday in Houston.
 
Randy Smith was the former general manager of the Padres and Tigers, which is why some have wondered if he'll eventually become general manager of the Astros, a position his father once held.
Source: Houston Chronicle 
Link

Ringolsby, 8/10
Randy Smith, former San Diego and Detroit general manager and the Rockies' original assistant general manager, is rumored as a possible replacement for general manager Tim Purpura in Houston, where Smith's father, Tal, is the club president.
Link

[Arky Vaughan]

Why I brought it up,

Ortiz's article is dated 8/8

Yahoo Rumors 8/8
Houston Astros president of business of operations Tal Smith and his wife and son, Randy Smith, a front-office official with the San Diego Padres, were in attendance Tuesday in Houston.
 
Randy Smith was the former general manager of the Padres and Tigers, which is why some have wondered if he'll eventually become general manager of the Astros, a position his father once held.
Source: Houston Chronicle 
Link

Ringolsby, 8/10
Randy Smith, former San Diego and Detroit general manager and the Rockies' original assistant general manager, is rumored as a possible replacement for general manager Tim Purpura in Houston, where Smith's father, Tal, is the club president.
Link

It's like the telephone game from elementary school, except instead of whispering in each other's ears, they pass a turd around, and then you compare how it changed shape from the first set of hands to the last.

[WulawHorn]

Did Dukes mention draft picks or did you make that leap?  Most know that tanking for draft picks in baseball is stupid.  From your description, it appears Dukes was talking about a general feeling of changing course that may not set in to management if these Astros keep competing with what they have.

That in itself is absurd.  How dare they keep competing and playing meaningful September baseball!!

No- I made up the part about the draft picks. I was simply saying that in other sports tanking can "work" but in baseball, absent the draft pick bonanza there is absolutely, positively zero reason to ever think about tanking as there is zero upside benefit to it.

[pravata]

No- I made up the part about the draft picks. I was simply saying that in other sports tanking can "work" but in baseball, absent the draft pick bonanza there is absolutely, positively zero reason to ever think about tanking as there is zero upside benefit to it.

In fact, if a team out of contention doesn't put up the best team possible against teams in contention, the organization, the coaches and management will acquire a negative reputation.   Quitting may not mean anything to a journalist, but it means alot in baseball.

[WulawHorn]

In fact, if a team out of contention doesn't put up the best team possible against teams in contention, the organization, the coaches and management will acquire a negative reputation.   Quitting may not mean anything to a journalist, but it means alot in baseball.

Exactly.

In the NFl and NBA people bitch a little bit but many fans want their teams to lose for the higher draft pick. In MLB to roll over for a contender is an unpardonable sin that will cause you to be the joke of the league. I like MLB's method a lot better.  Teams in the bottom play their best players if the game means something in the grand scheme of things. It's only bottom feeders against each other where the vibe is "lets play this sept. call up and see what he's got"

[ybbodeus]

Water is wet, JimR is old and Limey probably has bad teeth.

JDJO is the most reprehensible member of the local media. His position covering the astros in print and on the radio is enough to make me lose my mind when I think about it. As such, I try not to think about it.

I saw that blurb (right above the blurb talking about how garner was likely joking about the voodoo doll) in the paper and threw up a little bit in my mouth.

+++++++++++++++++++++Addition+++++++++++++++++++++++

I vote that the 2nd most reprehensible member of the local "media" is Carl Dukes. I was listening to that horseshit they call a show for 3 minutes on the way into work today (Wall St Journal was on a 9 minute commercial on XM) and wanted to see what the local yokels were saying about the recent 3 game winning "streak".

Dukes said that he was not happy about it b/c if the Astros get hot and back in contention that will convince the front office that they don't have any work left to do for the year 2008. He was openly rooting for the astros to tank games.

Now, in a basketball and football perspective this is thinking might be considered ok long term b/c of the higher draft pick you can get (for a player presumably able to help you win right now) but as the baseball draft is a long term, crapshoot proposition the idea is not only insulting, demeaning and preposterous, but monumentally stupid. Every time I listen to that show my IQ drops 5 points, even if it's just for 5 minutes. Sadly, the other station is only marginally better from an intelligence standpoint, and the hosts are even more irritating to listen to.  John and Lance can't get their new gig fast enough. Compared to the other Mensa's of the morning those guys are top shelf baseball geniuses.

Matt Jackson was saying that if Jennings shit's the bed tommorrow the astros have a duty to call up Patton (who had a good start last night I guess). Rich Lord, stealing a page from his old butt buddy Charlie Pallilo NTTAWWT, said the astros would refuse to do that b/c they don't want to win by not calling up their prospects.  I need to start listening to music again in the car.

There is such a culture of ineptitude and idiocy on the waves and in the print these days that the team is friggin' duty....hell, HONOR bound to run off about 23 in a row to shut these f'ing morons up.

[homer]

Why I brought it up,

Ortiz's article is dated 8/8

Yahoo Rumors 8/8
Houston Astros president of business of operations Tal Smith and his wife and son, Randy Smith, a front-office official with the San Diego Padres, were in attendance Tuesday in Houston.
 
Randy Smith was the former general manager of the Padres and Tigers, which is why some have wondered if he'll eventually become general manager of the Astros, a position his father once held.
Source: Houston Chronicle 
Link

Ringolsby, 8/10
Randy Smith, former San Diego and Detroit general manager and the Rockies' original assistant general manager, is rumored as a possible replacement for general manager Tim Purpura in Houston, where Smith's father, Tal, is the club president.
Link

Ringolsby still hasn't corrected his mistake from 2 years ago.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_83_4675695,00.html