Radical Ways Paint Astros As 'Outcast'

[morningwood75]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Radical-ways-paint-Astros-as-outcast-5501982.php?cmpid=twitter-premium&t=307e02ca9ccba496f0&cmpid=twitter-premium&t=307e02ca9cd87bd7f9

"I don't think anybody's happy. I'm not," one Astros player told the Chronicle recently on the condition his identity not be revealed. "They just take out the human element of baseball. It's hard to play for a GM that just sees you as a number instead of a person. Jeff is experimenting with all of us."

[BudGirl]

Seems like the Astros are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. 

[Lefty]

Let 'em have a sit down with Nolan then, see how that works out.

[Mr. Happy]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Radical-ways-paint-Astros-as-outcast-5501982.php?cmpid=twitter-premium&t=307e02ca9ccba496f0&cmpid=twitter-premium&t=307e02ca9cd87bd7f9

"I don't think anybody's happy. I'm not," one Astros player told the Chronicle recently on the condition his identity not be revealed. "They just take out the human element of baseball. It's hard to play for a GM that just sees you as a number instead of a person. Jeff is experimenting with all of us."

I was worried that the frustrated sentiment that Harrell had so clearly expressed on the field was going to spread to the other players. Luhnow needs to spend some time selling his system to his own players and to become a bit more flexible.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

"I don't think anybody's happy. I'm not," one Astros player told the Chronicle recently on the condition his identity not be revealed. "They just take out the human element of baseball. It's hard to play for a GM that just sees you as a number instead of a person. Jeff is experimenting with all of us."

Player, whoever you are, you're making half a million a year or more. I can't relate. Maybe, you just need to cruise out of this city, head down to the sea, shout out at the ocean, "Hey it's me!"

[Ty in Tampa]

Maybe, you just need to cruise out of this city, head down to the sea, shout out at the ocean, "Hey it's me!"

Thanks, I was well on my way to forgetting that song ever existed and you saved me.

[Dark Star]

Thanks, I was well on my way to forgetting that song ever existed and you saved me.

I am, I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I am, I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair

Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of bein' a king
And then became one
Well except for the game and not getting a ring
If you talk about the Astros, the story's the same one

[Ty in Tampa]

I am, I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair

Nice try, but I'm afraid nothing will bust the Seger stranglehold.

[Ron Brand]

Nice try, but I'm afraid nothing will bust the Seger stranglehold.

Remember when 'Turn The Page' sounded like a poetic dispatch from someone who'd lived it, who'd Been There and put it into words you felt as right as breathing? Nowadays I can't scrub enough to erase the feeling I get when I hear some of what followed and took over the radio.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Even though he mostly plays a tenor, Alto Reed is still a good name for a sax player.

[SoonerJim]

Seems like the Astros are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. 

Is Spec Richardson still available?

[Reuben]

That's pretty cool that Bud Norris said the Astros are definitely the Outkast of major league baseball right now, so is Luhnow Andre3000 and Sig Megdal Big Boi? Or maybe Mike Elias is Big Boi?

[NeilT]

That's pretty cool that Bud Norris said the Astros are definitely the Outkast of major league baseball right now, so is Luhnow Andre3000 and Sig Megdal Big Boi? Or maybe Mike Elias is Big Boi?

Mike Fast = Big Boi.

[SoonerJim]

That's pretty cool that Bud Norris said the Astros are definitely the Outkast of major league baseball right now, so is Luhnow Andre3000 and Sig Megdal Big Boi? Or maybe Mike Elias is Big Boi?

Andre 3000 plays the Jimi Hendrix on the verge of stardom in a film to be released shortly

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/see-andre-3000-as-jimi-hendrix-in-clip-from-all-is-by-my-side-biopic-20140306

[Matt]

Andre 3000 plays the Jimi Hendrix on the verge of stardom in a film to be released shortly

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/see-andre-3000-as-jimi-hendrix-in-clip-from-all-is-by-my-side-biopic-20140306

Hmmm that could be interesting

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Didn't see a byline on that article. Has the stink of JJdO on it but could be sure.

[morningwood75]

Didn't see a byline on that article. Has the stink of JJdO on it but could be sure.

Drellich wrote it I think.

[Curly]

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Radical-ways-paint-Astros-as-outcast-5501982.php?cmpid=twitter-premium&t=307e02ca9ccba496f0&cmpid=twitter-premium&t=307e02ca9cd87bd7f9

"I don't think anybody's happy. I'm not," one Astros player told the Chronicle recently on the condition his identity not be revealed. "They just take out the human element of baseball. It's hard to play for a GM that just sees you as a number instead of a person. Jeff is experimenting with all of us."

Maybe one Astros player should produce better on the field and quit his bitchin' to the media!

[morningwood75]

Maybe one Astros player should produce better on the field and quit his bitchin' to the media!

Or at least have the balls to put his name on the quote instead of staying anonymous.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Andre 3000 plays the Jimi Hendrix on the verge of stardom in a film to be released shortly

http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/see-andre-3000-as-jimi-hendrix-in-clip-from-all-is-by-my-side-biopic-20140306

Ironically, due to the reluctance of Hendrix's estate, Jimi: All Is By My Side won't feature any of the guitarist's compositions, but it will feature tunes written by Muddy Waters, the Beatles, the Troggs, and a handful of related artists.

[roadrunner]

I actually didn't have a problem with this article, as Drellich for the most part presented both sides of the argument.  I will side with the Astros all day on this one and the only real annoying part was the anonymous player who seemed to be offended that the Astros were treating him like a tool as a part of a money-making machine rather than a friend.

Professional baseball is a profession - a very competitive one.  If any professional is really going to be offended by what the Astros are doing then they are in the wrong game.  Lowrie actually had the best, most rational quotes, which is funny considering all the shit we've given him this year.  Finally, whoever the anonymous Astro is probably wouldn't even be on a major league team if he didn't play for Houston unless it was Springer, Altuve, Castro, or Feldman. 

[jbm]

Really?  Fowler, Keuchel, Cosart and Qualls make almost every team, and many others make average teams.

[Jacksonian]

I actually didn't have a problem with this article, as Drellich for the most part presented both sides of the argument.  I will side with the Astros all day on this one and the only real annoying part was the anonymous player who seemed to be offended that the Astros were treating him like a tool as a part of a money-making machine rather than a friend.

Professional baseball is a profession - a very competitive one.  If any professional is really going to be offended by what the Astros are doing then they are in the wrong game.  Lowrie actually had the best, most rational quotes, which is funny considering all the shit we've given him this year.  Finally, whoever the anonymous Astro is probably wouldn't even be on a major league team if he didn't play for Houston unless it was Springer, Altuve, Castro, or Feldman. 

Given his quotes from earlier this year I wouldn't be surprised if it were Oberholtzer.

[roadrunner]

Really?  Fowler, Keuchel, Cosart and Qualls make almost every team, and many others make average teams.

I didn't think too hard about which players deserved to be included in that statement, but my point was that these aren't exactly players that should feel entitled.

[Duman]

Dick Justice has Luhnow's back

Anyway, the Houston Chronicle published a story that contained comments critical of Luhnow and his staff regarding their use of advanced analytics. Based on an assortment of quotes, some of them anonymous, Luhnow is guilty of seeing players as numbers rather than people.

In other words, he seems more concerned with constructing a winning team than fretting about his players' feelings. I'm simplifying the argument, but you get the picture.

Here's my problem with the criticism.

In the end, advanced analytics is about gathering as much information about players as possible and then getting as many good players as you can afford or acquire based on that information. This is what baseball teams have done since the beginning. Numbers have always been important. Numbers were less sophisticated 50 years ago, but they were nevertheless important.

Back then, numbers could not evaluate base running, defense, arm strength and a dozen other little things. Now, there are numbers that attempt to do that. Are they infallible? They are not. Are they insightful? They absolutely are.

Branch Rickey used every number he could find. Pat Gillick did the same. Numbers evolved once Bill James began to examine how they could be used. Billy Beane, Brian Sabean and Andrew Friedman -- to name three of baseball's best GMs -- have access to more tools than their predecessors.

Roster building is as much an art as a science, so there are considerations to clubhouse atmosphere and getting along and all that. Luhnow understands this. But numbers have always been important.

Rickey was cold, calculating and brilliant. He did what was best for the club he was running at the time.

Did he hurt some feelings along the way? He did.

If any of these people think Luhnow is cold, they should go talk to the players who were forced to go in and negotiate a new contract with Rickey. At times, they'd go in expecting a raise and leave thankful he was going to let them back on the team another year.

[jbm]

Is it a good thing for Dick Justice to have your back?

[Mr. Happy]

Is it a good thing for Dick Justice to have your back?

I was just thinking that very same thing. Dick Justice is a mixed blessing as an ally.

[geezerdonk]

Joe Btfsplk

[juliogotay]

I think he made good sense here, though.

[roadrunner]

Yeah, not a Justice fan but he communicated my thoughts pretty well

[Randy Watson]

Seem like the guys on the field are enjoying themselves.

[Mr. Happy]

Yeah, not a Justice fan but he communicated my thoughts pretty well

I agree with you. He actually said it pretty eloquently too.