avoid the rush, buy your ticket today

[ferret]

Aaron Boone will begin a rehab assignment Monday with the hope of being ready to return Sept. 1.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6560996.html

Sept. 1 is in Chicago, Sept 4 is a home game vs the Phillies

[JimR]

there is a lot to admire about Aaron Boone.

[Limey]

Chicks dig scars.

[MusicMan]

there is a lot to admire about Aaron Boone.

His return may well be the highlight of the season for me.

[Mr. Happy]

His return may well be the highlight of the season for me.

Not to mention what it will be to him.

[HudsonHawk]

there is a lot to admire about Aaron Boone.

Also Drayton Mclane, the way he handled this situation.  He could have cut Boone loose and owed him basically nothing.  But as Boone said, the Astros treated him like he'd been with the club 10 years, rather than 10 weeks.  For whatever faults he may have as an owner, Mclane gets a thumbs up on this one.

[Taras Bulba]

Also Drayton Mclane, the way he handled this situation.  He could have cut Boone loose and owed him basically nothing.  But as Boone said, the Astros treated him like he'd been with the club 10 years, rather than 10 weeks.  For whatever faults he may have as an owner, Mclane gets a thumbs up on this one.

What he did with the Lugo situation says something, too.

[BizidyDizidy]

What he did with the Lugo situation says something, too.

That mediocre players better not hit their wife?

[Taras Bulba]

That mediocre players better not hit their wife?

Yes, that's it.

[BudGirl]

That mediocre players better not hit their wife?

You can be such an ass.

[BizidyDizidy]

You can be such an ass.

Because I don't think releasing Lugo was that impressive of an act two years after trading for Pedro Astacio? Then again, Astacio posted a 3.14 ERA down the stretch and Lugo was hitting .246.

[MusicMan]

Because I don't think releasing Lugo was that impressive of an act two years after trading for Pedro Astacio? Then again, Astacio posted a 3.14 ERA down the stretch and Lugo was hitting .246.

This is a much better point.  I can recall a fair amount of upfroar around AC at that time (myself included) for that move, but Drayton made a business decision there that the team needed to make the playoffs.

[BizidyDizidy]

This is a much better point.  I can recall a fair amount of upfroar around AC at that time (myself included) for that move, but Drayton made a business decision there that the team needed to make the playoffs.

I am convinced that at the end of the day, Drayton is a businessman first and foremost. On the balance, that has been good for astros fans, since he has been far-sighted enough to see that putting a good product on the field is good business.

Incidentally, I wonder if there was insurance on Boone (I don't know how common it is down the whole roster).

[HudsonHawk]

I am convinced that at the end of the day, Drayton is a businessman first and foremost. On the balance, that has been good for astros fans, since he has been far-sighted enough to see that putting a good product on the field is good business.

Incidentally, I wonder if there was insurance on Boone (I don't know how common it is down the whole roster).

No, you don't take out an insurance policy on a guy making the league minimum (or close to it).  Furthermore, whether they did or didn't is irrelevant, Mclane chose to DL Boone so he could collect his entire salary, rather than releasing him in Spring Training and paying him the minimum severance pay.  Irrespective of Pedro Astacio or Julio Lugo or anyone else, Mclane made a classy move on this one, treating his player more like family than as the hired help, even though this player hadn't yet played an inning for him.

[JimR]

This is a much better point.  I can recall a fair amount of upfroar around AC at that time (myself included) for that move, but Drayton made a business decision there that the team needed to make the playoffs.

to me, there is a difference between past misconduct by a player you may acquire and current misconduct by a team member.

[BizidyDizidy]

No, you don't take out an insurance policy on a guy making the league minimum (or close to it).  Furthermore, whether they did or didn't is irrelevant, Mclane chose to DL Boone so he could collect his entire salary, rather than releasing him in Spring Training and paying him the minimum severance pay.  Irrespective of Pedro Astacio or Julio Lugo or anyone else, Mclane made a classy move on this one, treating his player more like family than as the hired help, even though this player hadn't yet played an inning for him.

Sounds like it.

[MusicMan]

to me, there is a difference between past misconduct by a player you may acquire and current misconduct by a team member.

I agree, but personally, there is a difference according to the type of misconduct.  For example, I had a real, real problem bringing Astacio onto the team, but I was OK bringing in Gooden.

[JimR]

I agree, but personally, there is a difference according to the type of misconduct.  For example, I had a real, real problem bringing Astacio onto the team, but I was OK bringing in Gooden.

i do not have that bias.

[BizidyDizidy]

i do not have that bias.

You think someone who uses cocaine is equally unsavory as someone who punches their wife in the face?

[JimR]

You think someone who uses cocaine is equally unsavory as someone who punches their wife in the face?

i do not think i can say that definitely. you can describe spousal abuse (hitting, beating) that would be worse than cocaine use. you can also describe an prosecutable abuse case (pushing, shoving) that is not.

i do not know the circumstances of Astacio's case.

[BizidyDizidy]

i do not think i can say that definitely. you can describe spousal abuse (hitting, beating) that would be worse than cocaine use. you can also describe an prosecutable abuse case (pushing, shoving) that is not.

i do not know the circumstances of Astacio's case.

that's fair in general I think - The allegation in Astacio's case was punching his estranged wife in the face.

[toddthebod]

to me, there is a difference between past misconduct by a player you may acquire and current misconduct by a team member.

Which do you think is worse?  Unclear from your answer.

It seems to me that it would be worse to bring in someone with past misconduct than to keep a current team member who is charged with misconduct.  I think that you can give a present team member some benefit of the doubt if you believe that his character does not support the allegations.  But with respect to someone with no relationship to the organization you don't have that same history to provide support for the player.  As for what is worse, taking cocaine or hitting a spouse, I'll generally go with the latter. 

[JimR]

Which do you think is worse?  Unclear from your answer.

It seems to me that it would be worse to bring in someone with past misconduct than to keep a current team member who is charged with misconduct. 

as usual, we disagree.

[Andyzipp]

to me, there is a difference between past misconduct by a player you may acquire and current misconduct by a team member.

Lugo was on the verge of being released anyway.  Hunsicker was done with him.  He put zero effort into improving defensively, and he wasn't hitting for shit.

[BizidyDizidy]

Lugo was on the verge of being released anyway.  Hunsicker was done with him.  He put zero effort into improving defensively, and he wasn't hitting for shit.

That was my point - This was an easy decision. Drayton may deserve praise or derision in general depending on your view, but I think it's silly to say he's a good family man based on letting Lugo go. Wasn't Lugo also dumb enough to do it on Astro's property and on surveillance camera?

[Mr. Happy]

That was my point - This was an easy decision. Drayton may deserve praise or derision in general depending on your view, but I think it's silly to say he's a good family man based on letting Lugo go. Wasn't Lugo also dumb enough to do it on Astro's property and on surveillance camera?

Can't we just give Mr. McLane credit for how he treated Aaron Boone and leave it at that?

[HudsonHawk]

Can't we just give Mr. McLane credit for how he treated Aaron Boone and leave it at that?

When have we ever left *anything* at that?

[toddthebod]

Lugo was on the verge of being released anyway.  Hunsicker was done with him.  He put zero effort into improving defensively, and he wasn't hitting for shit.

I was talking generally, not with respect to Lugo or Astacio. 

[Mr. Happy]

When have we ever left *anything* at that?

I withdraw the question.

[DVauthrin]

Also Drayton Mclane, the way he handled this situation.  He could have cut Boone loose and owed him basically nothing.  But as Boone said, the Astros treated him like he'd been with the club 10 years, rather than 10 weeks.  For whatever faults he may have as an owner, Mclane gets a thumbs up on this one.

Couldn't agree more.

[BudGirl]

According to McTaggert.

Aaron Boone to begin rehab Monday in Corpus. Will go to Round Rock third week of August.