Astros magic number

[Houston]

...is 15. They need to go 15-4 to avoid 100 losses this year.

[Lurch]

Also have 10 more losses than the second lowest team (O's), so the same magic number would be close to getting them out of that designation

[ValpoCory]

Also have 10 more losses than the second lowest team (O's), so the same magic number would be close to getting them out of that designation

The Astros Magic Number to clinch the #1 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft is 11.   Any combination of Astros losses or Orioles wins totaling 11 will clinch it.

[Andyzipp]

Person who isn't going to be as good as we need him to be, come on down!!!

[Bench]

Person who isn't going to be as good as we need him to be, come on down!!!

But will get paid $17+ million anyway...

[subnuclear]

Person who isn't going to be as good as we need him to be, come on down!!!

There is always next year, I guess.

[Jose Cruz III]

Person who isn't going to be as good as we need him to be, come on down!!!

Don't be so negative. Looks like we will get 2 or 3 chances at it.

[Astroholic]

Don't be so negative. Looks like we will get 2 or 3 chances at it.

can you trade draft picks for multiple in baseball?

[jbm]

No.  With the escalating costs of drat picks, maybe they will look at allowing this when the new CBA is negotiated.  

[Astroholic]

No.  With the escalating costs of drat picks, maybe they will look at allowing this when the new CBA is negotiated.  

That is what I figured as I dont recall it being done.

[JimR]

No.  With the escalating costs of drat picks, maybe they will look at allowing this when the new CBA is negotiated.  

the last few years have all been drat picks.

[MusicMan]

the last few years have all been drat picks.

Scat picks.

[HudsonHawk]

No.  With the escalating costs of drat picks, maybe they will look at allowing this when the new CBA is negotiated.  

The Rule 4 Draft is not covered under the CBA, it's covered under...well, Rule 4.  MLB could allow this anytime they wanted.  They don't.

[Andyzipp]

The Rule 4 Draft is not covered under the CBA, it's covered under...well, Rule 4.  MLB could allow this anytime they wanted.  They don't.

Maybe you need to look under Rule IV.  Or perhaps Rule IIII

[Astroholic]

Maybe you need to look under Rule IV.  Or perhaps Rule IIII

never gets old.

[jbm]

The Rule 4 Draft is not covered under the CBA, it's covered under...well, Rule 4.  MLB could allow this anytime they wanted.  They don't.

If they went to hard slotting, that would have to be covered by the CBA, correct?

[HudsonHawk]

If they went to hard slotting, that would have to be covered by the CBA, correct?

Hard slotting (NTTAWWT) would definitely have to be bargained for.  I was simply referring to the ability to trade draft picks.  That's an owners' rule, not a CBA condition.

[ValpoCory]

It's the last Saturday of the year, and the Astros still haven't clinched the #1 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft yet.  I'd have thought it'd happen by now.   Pleasantly surprised by this team.   17-18 in their last 35 I think.

[Fredia]

i had wondered if anyone had done a w/l comparison or any of the averages of the old team vs the new improved baby boy astros

[BudGirl]

It's the last Saturday of the year, and the Astros still haven't clinched the #1 pick in the 2012 MLB Draft yet.  I'd have thought it'd happen by now.   Pleasantly surprised by this team.   17-18 in their last 35 I think.

really?

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110922&content_id=25072868&notebook_id=25073204&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou

http://www.spikesnstars.com/forums/index.php?topic=113441.msg400075#msg400075

http://www.spikesnstars.com/2011/09/23/54/

[chandler44]

I read a day or so ago that they had, in fact, clinched the #1 pick because even if they finish tied with Minnesota they "win" the tiebreaker by virtue of having the worse record of the two teams in 2010.

[ValpoCory]

Err, my bad.   I should have said "haven't clinched the outright worst record in baseball yet".

Thanks BudGirl.

[Ron Brand]

i had wondered if anyone had done a w/l comparison or any of the averages of the old team vs the new improved baby boy astros

AVERAGE # OF BORAS CLIENTS

Pre-Purge: 1

Post-Purge: 0

AVERAGE # OF GOOGLY-EYED COCKER SPANIELS WITH A BAT

Pre-Purge: 1

Post-Purge: 0

[HudsonHawk]

AVERAGE # OF GOOGLY-EYED COCKER SPANIELS WITH A BAT

Pre-Purge: 1

Post-Purge: 0

As the proud owner of two cocker spaniels, I object to the way they are referenced on this forum.  Spaniels are noble animals, loyal and faithful companions.  So they run around in circles and pee when they get excited.  Who here among us can say they haven't done the same?

[Ron Brand]

As the proud owner of two cocker spaniels, I object to the way they are referenced on this forum.  Spaniels are noble animals, loyal and faithful companions.  So they run around in circles and pee when they get excited.  Who here among us can say they haven't done the same?

No doubt that Hawk Manor is graced by the finest representatives of the breed, and not the common cur that patrols right field in Philly.

[HudsonHawk]

No doubt that Hawk Manor is graced by the finest representatives of the breed, and not the common cur that patrols right field in Philly.

Mine can also hit the cutoff man.

[Ron Brand]

Mine can also hit the cutoff man.

They probably blink, too.

[Lurch]

Apparently those of you that can see it are watching the 200,000th MLB game

[HudsonHawk]

Apparently those of you that can see it are watching the 200,000th MLB game

That calls for another glass of bourbon.

[chuck]

That calls for another glass of bourbon.

Some of us have more foresight and have been celebrating for a while. Of course, if this game goes into extra innings we're fucked.

Where the hell is your new estate, anyway?

[HudsonHawk]

Some of us have more foresight and have been celebrating for a while. Of course, if this game goes into extra innings we're fucked.

I never said it was the first glass. 

Where the hell is your new estate, anyway?

Freestone County, about 10 miles east of Mexia.

[chuck]

Freestone County, about 10 miles east of Mexia.

Cool. What drew you to the area? I assume you have enough land to keep a couple'a head of Spaniel.

[HudsonHawk]

Cool. What drew you to the area? I assume you have enough land to keep a couple'a head of Spaniel.

Wasn't looking at any area in particular, just looking for something within a couple of hours drive from Houston.  Freestone County is far enough from Dallas and Houston to still be reasonable as far as land prices go (thought land prices are going up every year).  I just found this place, and liked it.  I've only got 25 acres, with a small house on it, but it's five miles down a gravel road.  It's big enough and remote enough to do what I want, but not so big that I have to do too much maintenance.  I finally got the DirecTV dish up, and the MiFi seems to work as well.  All is good.

[austro]

Wasn't looking at any area in particular, just looking for something within a couple of hours drive from Houston.  Freestone County is far enough from Dallas and Houston to still be reasonable as far as land prices go (thought land prices are going up every year).  I just found this place, and liked it.  I've only got 25 acres, with a small house on it, but it's five miles down a gravel road.  It's big enough and remote enough to do what I want, but not so big that I have to do too much maintenance.  I finally got the DirecTV dish up, and the MiFi seems to work as well.  All is good.

Can you groom a golf course out of it?

[HudsonHawk]

Can you groom a golf course out of it?

Seems a little small for a golf course, but could make a hell of a driving range.

[chuck]

Seems a little small for a golf course, but could make a hell of a driving range.

I would be all over the driving range idea; I am not kidding. I'd probably also cut in a chipping green.

[JimR]

what are you going to do with 25 acres?

[Lurch]

I would be all over the driving range idea; I am not kidding. I'd probably also cut in a chipping green.

There's four acres of cedar behind my house I hit into.  I have 2-3 five gallon buckets of balls I've collected that I hit, and then occasionally take my kids and go hunt them down.  My game is always at its best when I'm hitting back there regularly.

One day, I may have to make an offer on that land...

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

There's four acres of cedar behind my house I hit into.  I have 2-3 five gallon buckets of balls I've collected that I hit, and then occasionally take my kids and go hunt them down.  My game is always at its best when I'm hitting back there regularly.

I don't know if I've mentioned this before but there is a golf course (The Bandit) on a bluff across the river from the Slack Shack.  Located on the edge of the bluff, 40 feet above the river, and about 200 yards downstream from me is the 8th (I think) green. It's a ball eater of a hole.

Occasionally I kayak down there and pick up 30 to 40 balls along the water's edge and pack 'em back home to hit off of my deck back into the river, or across into the bluff. I'm not a good golfer, and I'm using clubs left by Alkie, and they're at least 3 of 4 inches too short for me, but I love the hell out of striking those golf balls with a club.

[Lurch]

I don't know if I've mentioned this before but there is a golf course (The Bandit) on a bluff across the river from the Slack Shack.  Located on the edge of the bluff, 40 feet above the river, and about 200 yards downstream from me is the 8th (I think) green. It's a ball eater of a hole.

Occasionally I kayak down there and pick up 30 to 40 balls along the water's edge and pack 'em back home to hit off of my deck back into the river, or across into the bluff. I'm not a good golfer, and I'm using clubs left by Alkie, and they're at least 3 of 4 inches too short for me, but I love the hell out of striking those golf balls with a club.

I don't know what you paid, but you STOLE the Slack Shack

[Bench]

Apparently those of you that can see it are watching the 200,000th MLB game

They announced that last night at the game.  I'm not sure if they expected people to cheer, but mostly it was ignored.

I haven't run the numbers, but 200,000 seems low for 130 years.  Even 154 games a season between 20 teams would get to 200,000 after 66 years.

[Lurch]

They announced that last night at the game.  I'm not sure if they expected people to cheer, but mostly it was ignored.

I haven't run the numbers, but 200,000 seems low for 130 years.  Even 154 games a season between 20 teams would get to 200,000 after 66 years.

Hint, teams have to play other teams

[chuck]

I don't know what you paid, but you STOLE the Slack Shack

I do know what he paid and yes he did steal it but beyond whatever money changed hands the thing that impresses me and makes me happy every time Sphinx says he's out there or he's leaving for the Shack is that Sphinx obviously loves the place and uses the hell out of it. A property like the Slack Shack deserves that kind of affection and use.

[HudsonHawk]

what are you going to do with 25 acres?

No plans right now, other than just enjoy the peace and quiet.

[Alkie]

I don't know what you paid, but you STOLE the Slack Shack

You.  Have.  No.  Idea.

I have considered a few times what I could have sold that place for if I wasn't looking to just unload it instantly without having to find a place for all our old shit.  I imagine he saved $40k-$60k when all was said and done and I'm thrilled for him.   We got what we wanted, he got what he wanted.   Good trade.

And the clubs were my wife's, which is why they're that short.   I am pleased to say I've never owned a golf club in my life.

[HudsonHawk]

They announced that last night at the game.  I'm not sure if they expected people to cheer, but mostly it was ignored.

I haven't run the numbers, but 200,000 seems low for 130 years.  Even 154 games a season between 20 teams would get to 200,000 after 66 years.

I think you're forgetting that two teams play in each game.  So 30 teams playing 162 games each is only 2,430 games a year.  At the current rate, it'd take 83 years to reach 200,000.  Factor in the years when there were only 8 or 16 teams, playing 154 games...120 years doesn't sound that long.

[BizidyDizidy]

There are few facts as immutable in the universe as this: lawyers can't do math.

[Fredia]

actually my daughter can. so be afraid very afraid

[Bench]

There are few facts as immutable in the universe as this: lawyers can't do math.

Election of remedies!

But, yes, sad but true.