Author Topic: Funny How That Goes - Astros-Related (Read 4098 times)

Alkie · « **on:** December 28, 2006, 02:17:21 am »

So, my wife and I are celebrating our 5th Anniversary at the Central Californian Coast. Tonight at a world famous restaurant, we sat a table over from Bill Geivett, his wife, and some agent that lives here. For those of you that don't know Bill, he is the VP of Baseball Ops for the Colorado Rockies.

Don't feel too bad, I had no idea who he was either.

Anyway, about halfway into the appetizer, he started talking about some Jason Jennings trade with the Houston something-or-others.

He said they have absolutely no expectations whatsoever for Hirsh or Buchholz. He said Buchholz had some "good stuff but no idea what he was doing" and that Hirsh had "decent upside, but was never going to be a star and we knew that." No mention in any form of Willy. I got the impression that they knew Jennings would never re-sign and they wanted something for him.

Based on what I heard tonight, don't be surprised if the Rox turn around and trade either or both pitchers as fast as possible while their perceived value is still "high."

Funny how that works out. Last thing I expected to hear tonight at dinner was first-hand info on the Jennings trade.

Also, I've yet to meet a baseball agent who isn't a self-important asshole. The streak continues.

ETA: Oh yeah, he said Kevin Malone was a moron who never liked him because he knew he was after his job and that Brian Sabean only has a job in baseball because of his father, and that he's a dumbass.

Fredia · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2006, 11:37:04 am »

Ill just cut to the meat of this post and sum up the importance in two words..Happy Annivasery

Taras Bulba · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2006, 11:42:08 am »

Thanks for the update. One could venture to say that a lot can be read into Hirsch by the manner in which the Astros handled his status during last season and the conversation you heard sort of verifies it.

juliogotay · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2006, 11:44:44 am »

Surely the VP OPs of the Rockies knows the MLB team located in Houston is called the Astros.

Jennings has value...even in a contract year. The trade must have been all-about Willy from their standpoint.

BTW, are you in Santa Barbara? Our next family vacation is headed there and I am looking for good restauarnt and lodging suggestions if you have any. Happy Anniversary!

Holly · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2007, 08:57:14 pm »

Congrats on the 5-year! What date is the actual anniversary? I just got married on the 30th

OldBlevins · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2007, 09:19:43 pm »

Quote:

Congrats on the 5-year! What date is the actual anniversary? I just got married on the 30th

Congratulations!

astrox · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2007, 12:12:42 pm »

A little bit off topic, but last Friday while going down an escalator in the Deerbrook Mall, Phil Garner passed by us on the up escalator. It was really cool because there was no hoopla surrounding him. Not that I would expect it, but it seems that Houston is so laid back that anyone would be able to do the same - even Biggio or Bagwell. I wonder how much hoopla surrounds large market teams like the Yankees/Red Sox when their players or the manager goes out to the local mall or restaurant.

Edited to say, CONGRATULATIONS on 5 years of Wedded Bliss!

toddthebod · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2007, 02:54:33 pm »

Re: New York (don't know about Boston). There aren't many malls in New York city itself (and the ones that are here aren't very good). And I doubt that guys like Jeter and A-Rod shop at the malls in New Jersey or Long Island. (They seem like more of the boutique guys to me.) And they probably go from limo to limo so they aren't walking in the street when they do shop. So it is doubtful that they are mobbed on the street when they are out shopping.

Do I think that Jeter or A-Rod or other big New York baseball players get mobbed when they go out at night? Again, probably not. First, most Manhattanites think they are too cool to actually go up to celebrities so while they might look at them from a distance, they rarely go over. Second, guys like that are mostly VIPed whereever they go, so you can't even get close if you wanted.

I once saw Bernie Williams at the Food Emporium in Fort Lee, NJ. It was late at night but no one went up to him at all. And Patrick Ewing (and his wife) work out at my gym. Again, no one goes up to him (although he does have a trainer/bodyguard who probably keeps people away). Why Ewing needs to go to a gym is beyond me. It seem to me that he probably has all of the equipment that he uses at his house. If you want, I can try and find out whether Gary Sheffield gets hassled. His kid and my daughter have the same piano teacher.

JimR · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2007, 05:14:16 pm »

congratulations, Holly! post your wedding photos.

Curly · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2007, 07:04:19 pm »

Not to mention if they waited to the 1st their parents get to write off the whole coming year, IIRC. That was brought up since I got hitched on the 31st.

Holly · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2007, 10:06:45 pm »

Heh. I'm too old for my folks to get any benefit outta me (other than my company). Glad to see there are other year-enders here.

Curly · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2007, 12:31:56 am »

Yea..11 years for me, congratulations on your 4 day anniversary.

BUWebguy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2007, 11:35:15 am »

Yep, my wife and I got married New Year's Eve, as well (2004). Worked nicely for tax purposes, though we really didn't think about that until April rolled around.

I remember laughing at the way TurboTax phrased the question -- something like "Were you married in 2004?" Our answer, of course, being yes -- for all of about seven hours of that year.

NeilT · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2007, 03:47:17 pm »

Isn't there still a marriage penalty? Our children would appreciate it if we finally got married.

NeilT · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2007, 04:34:14 pm »

That gets to be less of an issue with age. It's still a downside though.

Holly · « **Reply #21 on:** January 04, 2007, 05:15:44 pm »

If you mean the standard deduction on a tax form, no. Married (joint or separate filers) get into the 28% tax bracket "sooner" though (single is $71,950, MFJ is $119,950, MFS is $91,400). In that respect, though, yes.

If you didn't mean taxes, then... kinda depends on who you're married to