Hell, even BP is getting it:

[MusicMan]

Joe Sheehan wrote:

When McLane elevated Tim Purpura to the GM slot to replace Gerry Hunsicker in 2004, it was a validation of the Astros’ 21st-century approach: draft, develop, and spend money wisely.

So it’s disappointing to see McLane run so far away from the plan that put his team in the World Series for the first time ever. Let down by the Astros’ failure to get back to the postseason in 2006, McLane took an active hand in shaping the 2007 team, and he did so in a way that guaranteed an expensive failure.

[ybbodeus]

How long before the Pinwheel and Punklillo start feeding that line to the masses, ya' figure? 

[BUWebguy]

Wow - Sheehan's usually the farthest off of anyone at BP. If HE can get it...

[ybbodeus]

BLAME DRAYTON appears to be in full bloom on the radio shows now.  May I presume the papers are in tow, as well?

Drayton's going to have to do something awfully dramatic--read SPEND HUGE MONEY--to throw the dogs off the scent. 

[MusicMan]

BLAME DRAYTON appears to be in full bloom on the radio shows now.  May I presume the papers are in tow, as well?

Drayton's going to have to do something awfully dramatic--read SPEND HUGE MONEY--to throw the dogs off the scent. 

Do not count him out of the A-Rod sweepstakes.

[Taras Bulba]

Do not count him out of the A-Rod sweepstakes.

Well, if Drayton is mad, I hope he throws that mad money at pitching.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Even Neyer gets it: http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=neyer_rob

[MusicMan]

Well, if Drayton is mad, I hope he throws that mad money at pitching.

Then you're waiting at least a year to use that money.  The pitching FA's this offseason suck on an OU level.

[MusicMan]

And BP continues to go after McLane and Ricciarini:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=507 (no subscription)

[ybbodeus]

Then you're waiting at least a year to use that money.  The pitching FA's this offseason suck on an OU level.

That is a **** (4 star) analogy, sir. 

{Jesus wept}

[JimR]

And BP continues to go after McLane and Ricciarini:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=507 (no subscription)

David Lakey, not Paul. Hun fired him.

[MusicMan]

David Lakey, not Paul. Hun fired him.

Impossible.  Hun alienated good baseball people?

(All sarcasm intended.)

[Astroholic]

Do not count him out of the A-Rod sweepstakes.

Who is A-ROD's agent again?

[pravata]

Who is A-ROD's agent again?

Tough guy Mclane isn't going to get squeamish and refuse "slot money" is he?

[MusicMan]

Who is A-ROD's agent again?

Desperate owners call for desperate agents.

[Jacksonian]

And BP continues to go after McLane and Ricciarini:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=507 (no subscription)

I don't buy the Ricciarini assessment.  IMO it's too early to tell.  There are a number of players drafted in 05 and 06 to watch the next several years.

[Noe]

Well, if Drayton is mad, I hope he throws that mad money at pitching.

Me too.  And judging by this year's FA crop, I hope he decides to go get Santana instead and then throw the MAD money his way.  At this point, anyone not named Pence, Berkman, Lee or Oswalt has got to be fair game to trade away for the Grocer, eh?

Although, as I understand it, the sports talk radio guys would like to explore a swap of Pence for Santana.  They should send some folks to the MMPUS to whisper this into McLane's ear... or meet him at the popcorn stand and drop that nugget of knowledge his way.

Git 'er done!

[MusicMan]

Me too.  And judging by this year's FA crop, I hope he decides to go get Santana instead and then throw the MAD money his way.  At this point, anyone not named Pence, Berkman, Lee or Oswalt has got to be fair game to trade away for the Grocer, eh?

And if you don't trade any of those guys, Patton, Towles, Einertson, and down the list isn't going to get it done.

Although, as I understand it, the sports talk radio guys would like to explore a swap of Pence for Santana.  They should send some folks to the MMPUS to whisper this into McLane's ear... or meet him at the popcorn stand and drop that nugget of knowledge his way.

What's the saying?  Always trade hitting for pitching?

[94CougarGrad]

Although, as I understand it, the sports talk radio guys would like to explore a swap of Pence for Santana.  They should send some folks to the MMPUS to whisper this into McLane's ear... or meet him at the popcorn stand and drop that nugget of knowledge his way.

Might be a good use for gleach's tix for tomorrow's day game. Joe Schmoe fan, table for 5, working lunch with Mr. McLane, right this way, sir!

[JimR]

Impossible.  Hun alienated good baseball people?

(All sarcasm intended.)

i have been told by a source close to Lakey that there was blame on both sides.

[MusicMan]

i have been told by a source close to Lakey that there was blame on both sides.

There usually is, isn't there?

Hun was a very, very good GM for the Astros, but the poeple issues seemed like his biggest stumbling block.

We all have our tragic flaws.

[Andyzipp]

There usually is, isn't there?

Hun was a very, very good GM for the Astros, but the poeple issues seemed like his biggest stumbling block.

We all have our tragic flaws.

Just the people he thought had nothing to do with the baseball side of the house.  On the other hand, he got McLane to provide health benefits and retirement plans for the employees of the Astros.

[Noe]

Might be a good use for gleach's tix for tomorrow's day game. Joe Schmoe fan, table for 5, working lunch with Mr. McLane, right this way, sir!

I would be too tempted to boo Mr. McLane.

[ybbodeus]

It won't be long, Noe; the radioheads are already pumping it up.  When you run off all their targets, they don't usually go away quietly.  Can't see them going after Tal, so....it's HIS turn.  Hasn't been like that since well before the whole unfortunate Hispanic Fans episode.

I guess Pam and the marketeers didn't provide him with THAT ticket selling scenario. 

[94CougarGrad]

"Hispanic Fans episode"? I think I'm off to use the search feature...

[ybbodeus]

You're not gonna like it.  My BLACK HELICOPTER side says that Jesus-Jesus writes what he does as a vengeance of some kind, not just because he's dense or trying to impress his editor with how obstinate he can be. 

[Noe]

It won't be long, Noe; the radioheads are already pumping it up.  When you run off all their targets, they don't usually go away quietly.  Can't see them going after Tal, so....it's HIS turn.  Hasn't been like that since well before the whole unfortunate Hispanic Fans episode.

I guess Pam and the marketeers didn't provide him with THAT ticket selling scenario. 

Oh, I know.  It is now incumbent upon McLane to stop acting like McLane (the deed is done, now stop that!) and now start acting like... oh, I don't know... someone that will hire Joe Giradi and Dan Evans?  If not, then McLane is back to persona au grautin.

[MusicMan]

If not, then McLane is back to persona au grautin.

That was a cheesy comment.

[BudGirl]

That was a cheesy comment.

I thought it was rather sharp.

[Limey]

I thought it was rather sharp.

Definitely bringing the cheddar.

[ybbodeus]

This is all too pungent to be cheddar, though....

[Limey]

This is all too pungent to be cheddar, though....

Organzola?

[ybbodeus]

Organzola?

Will he clear waivers?

[NeilT]

Organzola?

It was very gouda.

[Duman]

It was very gouda.

you guys are grate!

[BudGirl]

you guys are grate!

sometimes they just shred things to nothing.

[mihoba]

sometimes they just shred things to nothing.

Krafty.

[Ty in Tampa]

Whiz kids, all of ya!

[Duman]

Whiz kids, all of ya!

You don't want to PUFF us up now do you?

[94CougarGrad]

you guys are grate!

The cheese references just bleu me away.

[ybbodeus]

What a string!

[pravata]

What a string!

We're parmigiano reggiano at this kind of thing.  DOH!

[Ty in Tampa]

I don't think we havarti got them all. There are stiltons to come up with.

[MusicMan]

I don't think we havarti got them all. There are stiltons to come up with.

Oh que, so what else is there?

[Ty in Tampa]

Oh que, so what else is there?

You don't want me to have all the fun, do ya!

[Jacksonian]

Oh que, so what else is there?

Is there a baseball team in Muenster?

I don't think you'd want a swiss team.  Too many holes.

[JimR]

my cholesterol has gone up just reading this thread.

[ybbodeus]

This has to be the Saga of the year!

[94CougarGrad]

Is there a baseball team in Muenster?

I don't think you'd want a swiss team.  Too many holes.

You hear about the new pitching prospect? To find him, they went all the way to Monterey, Jack.

[ybbodeus]

You hear about the new pitching prospect? To find him, they went all the way to Monterey, Jack.

You talkin' about Zamarano?

I hear we scowered the Phillipines and came up with some left-handed curve ball throwing wizard named Tyn Grug.

[NeilT]

You talkin' about Zamarano?

I hear we scowered the Phillipines and came up with some left-handed curve ball throwing wizard named Tyn Grug.

Brie.  He throws soft.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

You talkin' about Zamarano?

Nahh... I think he's from Oaxaca. 

[Ty in Tampa]

You talkin' about Zamarano?

No, that's not him. I camembert his name.

[Jacksonian]

I wish the Astros could trade for Colby Rasmus.

[Ty in Tampa]

I heard Mott's a rella good outfielder.

[94CougarGrad]

You talkin' about Zamarano?

I hear we scowered the Phillipines and came up with some left-handed curve ball throwing wizard named Tyn Grug.

You know those Filipinos... to them, left-handed curve ball throwing wizards are a cottage industry.

[Ty in Tampa]

You know those Filipinos... to them, left-handed curve ball throwing wizards are a cottage industry.

Yeah, but MLB hitters would edam up for lunch.

[Astros Fan in SoCal]

I heard Mott's a rella good outfielder.

He's the kind of manchego you want on your team.

[Ty in Tampa]

He's the kind of manchego you want on your team.

A lot like that consummate pro, Villone.

[Noe]

A lot like that consummate pro, Villone.

I cheddar to think of Villone on this team again.

[Limey]

Couldn't let this thread pass without a link to this.

[94CougarGrad]

I wont to boi some cheeeeeeeeeese!

[drew corleone]

Nice work, all!

[BUWebguy]

Boy, that escalated quickly... I mean, that really got out of hand fast.

[Duman]

I suggest we now let this thread age a little and see if the flavor changes.

[MusicMan]

I suggest we now let this thread age a little and see if the flavor changes.

I was going to pair it with a a whining thread.

[NeilT]

I was going to pair it with a a whining thread.

That's very cultured.

[ybbodeus]

I majored in Primitive Cultures.

[NeilT]

I majored in Primitive Cultures.

Like Yoghurt?  Cheese cultures are anything but primitive.

[ybbodeus]

If you were in my shoes, you would be.....ah......?

[JaneDoe]

This thread is definitely a kefir.

[BatGirl]

I majored in Primitive Cultures.

how American of you...

[94CougarGrad]

This thread is definitely a kefir.

You're not fet-ap with our cheesy puns?

[utastro]

I almost creamed my pants when I read this thread.

[BossierNaut]

Is Berkswell gonna play tomorrow?

[EasTexAstro]

Is Berkswell gonna play tomorrow?

OK, Berk-swell is not a good image.