*Yo here's an interesting article from Ol Boy Evan Drellich about what was apparently a pretty intense outburst from Alex Cora. Drellich:
On August 31, less than two months before he was named Sox manager and at a time of peak anxiety off the field, Cora cursed out Astros broadcaster Geoff Blum on a team bus heading from the airport to the stadium in Houston. When the bus arrived at the Astros' Minute Maid Park, Cora went off again, screaming at his boss, Astros manager A.J. Hinch.
*The Rangers signed lefty free agent - and potential Astros target - Mike Minor to a contract and the plan is to use him as a starter. The Rangers are also confident they can sign Shohei Ohtani.
*You probably have already come to terms with this, but the Astros aren't going to land Ohtani.
*Jon Heyman actually makes some pretty good points in why the Padres will sign Ohtani.
*Jose Altuve and the Big White Football Guy were named SI's Sportspersons of the Year. SI Editor-in-Chief Chris Stone:
People understand the depth of what Houston endured, and we hope this will bring some measure of excitement and joy while acknowledging that it's just an award. We're not honoring just J.J. and Jose. We're honoring an entire city. It's their story just as much as Jose's and J.J.'s story.
Jake Kaplan notes that Altuve is the 18th baseball player to receive the honor, and the first since Madison Bumgarner in 2014.
*Minor League baseball teams raised over $300,000 for hurricane relief.
*Astroline is tomorrow evening from 6pm-7pm at the Pluckers on Shepherd and will feature Bill Brown interviewing Jeff Luhnow.
*Josh Reddick went to his old elementary school and read "The Little Engine That Could." George Springer went back to UConn to visit...pretty much everybody, it looks like.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Sports Illustrated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports Illustrated. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Wednesday Morning Hot Links
*Roy Halladay, man. Take a look at what he did to the Astros in his career:
April 11, 2010: 9IP, 7H/1R (0ER), 8K:0BB
August 25, 2010: 7IP, 6H/3ER, 6K:0BB
April 1, 2011: 6IP, 5H/1ER, 6K:0BB
September 14, 2011: 9IP, 6H/0ER, 7K:1BB
September 16, 2012: 6IP, 6H/3ER, 7K:2BB
Total: 37IP, 30H/7ER, 34K:3BB
*Random 2017 Astros fact of the day:
Players with 100+ strikeouts: 2
2016 Astros w/100+ strikeouts: 7
2015 Astros w/100+ strikeouts: 7
2014 Astros w/100+ strikeouts: 7
*Ben Reiter - who wrote the 2014 SI article - writes about how the Astros aren't designed to be one-and-done World Series champs. Read every word of this.
*Via the Crawfish Boxes we find that there is a petition to name a Connecticut street after George Springer. This needs to happen. Start a petition to rename Connecticut after him. Here's the link to the petition.
*Jeff Passan: Roy Halladay was the perfect modern pitcher, and the last of his kind.
*Ken Rosenthal's article in The Athletic on Halladay is available for free.
April 11, 2010: 9IP, 7H/1R (0ER), 8K:0BB
August 25, 2010: 7IP, 6H/3ER, 6K:0BB
April 1, 2011: 6IP, 5H/1ER, 6K:0BB
September 14, 2011: 9IP, 6H/0ER, 7K:1BB
September 16, 2012: 6IP, 6H/3ER, 7K:2BB
Total: 37IP, 30H/7ER, 34K:3BB
*Random 2017 Astros fact of the day:
Players with 100+ strikeouts: 2
2016 Astros w/100+ strikeouts: 7
2015 Astros w/100+ strikeouts: 7
2014 Astros w/100+ strikeouts: 7
*Ben Reiter - who wrote the 2014 SI article - writes about how the Astros aren't designed to be one-and-done World Series champs. Read every word of this.
*Via the Crawfish Boxes we find that there is a petition to name a Connecticut street after George Springer. This needs to happen. Start a petition to rename Connecticut after him. Here's the link to the petition.
*Jeff Passan: Roy Halladay was the perfect modern pitcher, and the last of his kind.
*Ken Rosenthal's article in The Athletic on Halladay is available for free.
This is everything. pic.twitter.com/3jZcmAQ8M5— Josh Chafetz (@joshchafetz) November 8, 2017
Thursday, November 2, 2017
World Series Champion Hot Links
The 2017 Astros had achieved Favorite Astros Team status before the playoffs even started. No, they didn't set the record for most wins in franchise history. No, they didn't have the best record in baseball, or even their own league. But my God they were FUN. From the Memorial Day Miracle against the Twins to the Justin Verlander trade, with all of the doubt in between - injuries to the entire starting rotation, the slump in August and, oh yeah, the worst natural disaster to hit the United States - the Astros were there to take your mind away from just how bad life actually is, for a few hours every night. A lot of you, especially those of you in Southeast Texas, lost something this year: A loved one, a friend, a marriage, your house, your property. You experienced loss, but the Astros didn't. The Astros - a franchise with whom all of us identify - are your 2017 World Series champions. They won't, can't, replace your loss. But they can, and did, make things just a little bit easier.
*I was at a concert. It was June 4, 2017. I remember it. The Astros had just completed a sweep of the Rangers, and I was wearing an Astros hat and shirt. Keep in mind I live in Rangers territory. This Rangers fan - I can still see him - came up and said, "Remember it doesn't mean s*** unless you win it all."
*McTaggart:
No team has been woven into the fabric of Houston sports longer than the Astros, who were founded in 1962 as the expansion Colt .45s and grew up with a city on the rise. Through heartbreak and triumph, unforgettable highs and crushing lows, the Astros persevered.
Keuchel:
We were at the bottom. Nobody wanted to come here. It was an open tryout, and now it's a destination for players to come. We've got MVPs wanting to come here, we've got Cy Youngs wanting to come here. We're on top of the world...literally.
*George Springer is your World Series MVP. Springer, after his 0x4 4K Game 1: .440/.533/1.160, 4K:5BB. Jeff Sullivan: Springer had an all-time World Series.
*Listen to Robert Ford's game-ending call.
*Charlie Morton, who recorded the last 12 outs of the game:
I have faith that things work out, but if you would have told me that, I would have laughed. I've never even come close to something like that. I'm fortunate to be here. It's unreal.
*Hinch's quick hook on McCullers set up the Astros' win.
*How the Astros got to Yu Darvish. Again. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts:
I know he wanted the baseball. I know he was prepared. I just can't explain the results. I really can't.
Hinch:
If he gets you to chase, it's advantage Darvish. If he gets you to hit his off-speed pitches, it's advantage Darvish. So you have to be very disciplined. And we did that two games in a row where we got hittable pitches and did damage.
*Jonah Keri: How the Astros went from the lowliest depths of hell to World Series champs.
*Dave Cameron: Charlie Morton was baseball in 2017.
*Ben Reiter, who wrote the famous 2014 SI article, predicts the Astros will repeat in 2018.
It's harder than ever to win back-to-back titles, in a Wild Card era with an exhausting and randomizing playoff structure. The Yankees won three in a row, between 1998 and 2000. The Blue Jays won two, in '92 and '93. Those were the only times it's happened since the '70s. If any team is built to do it, it's these Astros.
*Buy a Springer-signed SI cover.
*Bovada has the Astros as current favorites to win the 2018 World Series.
*Craig Hlavaty on the team that saved his life.
*Jake Kaplan: Six Novembers after Luhnow pitched Jim Crane his vision, the Astros are World Series champions.
*The Chronicle has the inside look at the champagne celebration.
*Richard Justice: Houston's strength in the wake of Hurricane Harvey carried this team. Dallas Keuchel:
It means everything. We knew that, so we wanted to really be behind them. We love each and every one associated with Houston. We've been through a lot, and for us not to be there when everything was going on really hurt us. This is our redemption. This is what we give back.
*Carlos Correa was playing Games 3-7 with an injured thumb sustained in the Game 2 walkoff celebration.
*The Ringer: The Astros are not here for your "pitching wins championships" narrative.
*Get you some gear today.
*Carlos Correa proposed to his girlfriend on the field after the game.
*The parade is tomorrow at 2pm.
*Mattress Mack lost $10 million.
*Beyond the Box Score: Dallas Keuchel is king of the edges.
*Jon Heyman: The Dodgers traded for Yu Darvish when they could have traded for Justin Verlander.
*FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine: The Astros tanked their way to the top.
*With Alex Cora joining the Red Sox, the Astros are hiring Joe Espada as their bench coach.
*Thank you, all of you, for reading Astros County.
Gonna be badass when 2 million people line these now-flooded streets after the Astros win the World Series— Thickie Don (@AstrosCounty) August 28, 2017
*I was at a concert. It was June 4, 2017. I remember it. The Astros had just completed a sweep of the Rangers, and I was wearing an Astros hat and shirt. Keep in mind I live in Rangers territory. This Rangers fan - I can still see him - came up and said, "Remember it doesn't mean s*** unless you win it all."
*McTaggart:
No team has been woven into the fabric of Houston sports longer than the Astros, who were founded in 1962 as the expansion Colt .45s and grew up with a city on the rise. Through heartbreak and triumph, unforgettable highs and crushing lows, the Astros persevered.
Keuchel:
We were at the bottom. Nobody wanted to come here. It was an open tryout, and now it's a destination for players to come. We've got MVPs wanting to come here, we've got Cy Youngs wanting to come here. We're on top of the world...literally.
*George Springer is your World Series MVP. Springer, after his 0x4 4K Game 1: .440/.533/1.160, 4K:5BB. Jeff Sullivan: Springer had an all-time World Series.
*Listen to Robert Ford's game-ending call.
*Charlie Morton, who recorded the last 12 outs of the game:
I have faith that things work out, but if you would have told me that, I would have laughed. I've never even come close to something like that. I'm fortunate to be here. It's unreal.
*Hinch's quick hook on McCullers set up the Astros' win.
*How the Astros got to Yu Darvish. Again. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts:
I know he wanted the baseball. I know he was prepared. I just can't explain the results. I really can't.
Hinch:
If he gets you to chase, it's advantage Darvish. If he gets you to hit his off-speed pitches, it's advantage Darvish. So you have to be very disciplined. And we did that two games in a row where we got hittable pitches and did damage.
Houston baby. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/reS5FpRdns— Jasline ➰ (@jaslinenicole) November 2, 2017
*Jonah Keri: How the Astros went from the lowliest depths of hell to World Series champs.
*Dave Cameron: Charlie Morton was baseball in 2017.
*Ben Reiter, who wrote the famous 2014 SI article, predicts the Astros will repeat in 2018.
It's harder than ever to win back-to-back titles, in a Wild Card era with an exhausting and randomizing playoff structure. The Yankees won three in a row, between 1998 and 2000. The Blue Jays won two, in '92 and '93. Those were the only times it's happened since the '70s. If any team is built to do it, it's these Astros.
*Buy a Springer-signed SI cover.
*Bovada has the Astros as current favorites to win the 2018 World Series.
*Craig Hlavaty on the team that saved his life.
*Jake Kaplan: Six Novembers after Luhnow pitched Jim Crane his vision, the Astros are World Series champions.
*The Chronicle has the inside look at the champagne celebration.
Congrats to the @astros!— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) November 2, 2017
(But you’re using the visitors’ side next time you visit.) pic.twitter.com/dDSPhYOhRq
*Richard Justice: Houston's strength in the wake of Hurricane Harvey carried this team. Dallas Keuchel:
It means everything. We knew that, so we wanted to really be behind them. We love each and every one associated with Houston. We've been through a lot, and for us not to be there when everything was going on really hurt us. This is our redemption. This is what we give back.
*Carlos Correa was playing Games 3-7 with an injured thumb sustained in the Game 2 walkoff celebration.
*The Ringer: The Astros are not here for your "pitching wins championships" narrative.
*Get you some gear today.
*Carlos Correa proposed to his girlfriend on the field after the game.
*The parade is tomorrow at 2pm.
*Mattress Mack lost $10 million.
*Beyond the Box Score: Dallas Keuchel is king of the edges.
*Jon Heyman: The Dodgers traded for Yu Darvish when they could have traded for Justin Verlander.
*FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine: The Astros tanked their way to the top.
*With Alex Cora joining the Red Sox, the Astros are hiring Joe Espada as their bench coach.
These Astros World Series artifacts are headed to Cooperstown:— Baseball Hall ⚾ (@baseballhall) November 2, 2017
-Alex Bregman's Glove
-Justin Verlander G6 Jersey
-Charlie Morton G7 Cap pic.twitter.com/sGJWoB8o1Q
*Thank you, all of you, for reading Astros County.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Sports Illustrated predicts Dodgers to win 2017 World Series....wait WHAT!?!
That's right the staff of Sports short term memory Illustrated chose the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series over the Cleveland Indians.
UPDATE: at least they're self aware about it.
In case you missed it. In 2014 Sports Illustrated writer Ben Reiter chose the Houston Astros as 2017 World Series Champs.Hmm. I thought SI already made its 2017 World Series prediction... https://t.co/YSMZj86Zha— Jason Schwartz (@jasondschwartz) March 21, 2017
Ben Reiter still writes for Sports Illustrated. Maybe he wasn't invited to the predictions meeting.ICYMI: pic.twitter.com/9YY6xcdDSb— Jason Schwartz (@jasondschwartz) March 21, 2017
UPDATE: at least they're self aware about it.
(Also, sorry @astros.) pic.twitter.com/kfr4sW555Q
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) March 21, 2017
Don't worry, we've got you guys in 2018. Say hi to Orbit for us. https://t.co/FwFXUwTRT5
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) March 21, 2017
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Thursday Morning Hot Links
Dallas Keuchel needed 78 pitches to get through seven scoreless innings against the Phillies, striking out six and walking none, leaving the game with a 4-0 lead. Then the Phillies got eight runs thanks to a suicide squeeze and a grand slam off James Hoyt. Astros lose, 8-4. But Keuchel finished up his Spring Training with 17IP and no earned runs allowed.
*Sports Illustrated asked rival scouts to break down each American League team. And the Astros section is basically a gaggle of unicorns pooping rainbows and sprinkles onto a field of leprechauns making clover angels.
*A 2014 bullpen session helped remake Dallas Keuchel. (Note: I was very nervous about Keuchel's Spring Training in 2014. But you already know that, while you can't handle my Hot Takes, you also should probably reconsider my opinions.)
*Hinch, on closer:
We have a really good bullpen that can mix and match in a lot of different ways. I understand the intrigue. I don't play fantasy baseball, so I don't have to worry about the save.
*Quinton McCracken has overseen the resurgence of the Astros.
*Despite getting sent to Triple-A camp, Michael Feliz is still in the mix for the final bullpen spot.
*Chris Devenski is working his way out of his past and up the ladder of the Astros' system.
*Richard Justice talked to the Dallas Morning News about the Astros and Rangers.
*Downtown Houston is closer to becoming Craneville, what with Jim Crane opening two new Italian restaurants near Minute Maid Park later this summer.
*ESPN's MLB survey has some Astros on the list, though not very high.
*Triple-A baseball may be coming to San Antonio
*The forgotten Oklahoma team that nearly broke college basketball.
*This Saudi Arabian dude brought his four gold vinyl-wrapped cars to London.
*How an A&M-Corpus grad student organized one of the unlikeliest human smuggling rings in Texas history.
*Before you go, watch Jose Altuve launch a home run.
*Sports Illustrated asked rival scouts to break down each American League team. And the Astros section is basically a gaggle of unicorns pooping rainbows and sprinkles onto a field of leprechauns making clover angels.
*A 2014 bullpen session helped remake Dallas Keuchel. (Note: I was very nervous about Keuchel's Spring Training in 2014. But you already know that, while you can't handle my Hot Takes, you also should probably reconsider my opinions.)
*Hinch, on closer:
We have a really good bullpen that can mix and match in a lot of different ways. I understand the intrigue. I don't play fantasy baseball, so I don't have to worry about the save.
*Quinton McCracken has overseen the resurgence of the Astros.
*Despite getting sent to Triple-A camp, Michael Feliz is still in the mix for the final bullpen spot.
*Chris Devenski is working his way out of his past and up the ladder of the Astros' system.
*Richard Justice talked to the Dallas Morning News about the Astros and Rangers.
*Downtown Houston is closer to becoming Craneville, what with Jim Crane opening two new Italian restaurants near Minute Maid Park later this summer.
*ESPN's MLB survey has some Astros on the list, though not very high.
*Triple-A baseball may be coming to San Antonio
*The forgotten Oklahoma team that nearly broke college basketball.
*This Saudi Arabian dude brought his four gold vinyl-wrapped cars to London.
*How an A&M-Corpus grad student organized one of the unlikeliest human smuggling rings in Texas history.
*Before you go, watch Jose Altuve launch a home run.
Jose Altuve launches one pic.twitter.com/nZ4K0TXVOj— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 30, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Astros on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Check out one of this week's four SI covers...
This week's cover (2/4): The @Astros' rebuilding process? It's over https://t.co/Xs8SDFc8zB pic.twitter.com/mG9q4DbdXo— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 22, 2016
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Jimmy Traina's podcast with Hunter Pence
SI's Hot Clicks editor Jimmy Traina recorded an interview with Hunter Pence. It's currently downloading.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Starting the season bad is bad, starting the season great isn't so great, either
So goes the circular logic by SI writer Cliff Corcoran, who notes that the Rays, Red Sox, and Our Astros are the only winless teams in baseball.
In major league history, which dates to 1871, 110 teams have started a season 0-5. Just two of those 110 went on to make the postseason, less than two percent...
...105 teams have started a season 5-0. Thirty-six of those teams went on to make the postseason (12 went on to win the World Series and six others played before the World Series was born in 1903), but another 27 finished in fourth place or below, with the other 42 finishing third or second but without claiming the wild card (when available).
In major league history, which dates to 1871, 110 teams have started a season 0-5. Just two of those 110 went on to make the postseason, less than two percent...
...105 teams have started a season 5-0. Thirty-six of those teams went on to make the postseason (12 went on to win the World Series and six others played before the World Series was born in 1903), but another 27 finished in fourth place or below, with the other 42 finishing third or second but without claiming the wild card (when available).
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Here's one of the more worthless articles, ever
Good work, SI.
Lyons says it's important that players don't overdo things before the season starts. He says pitchers want to avoid breaking down in August and September because they were throwing too much during workouts in December.
I'm not sure who this "Lyons" fella is, anyway, but we're working to confirm whether or not he's working on trying to put a cyst back in his shoulder to help get out of Spring Training.
Lyons says it's important that players don't overdo things before the season starts. He says pitchers want to avoid breaking down in August and September because they were throwing too much during workouts in December.
I'm not sure who this "Lyons" fella is, anyway, but we're working to confirm whether or not he's working on trying to put a cyst back in his shoulder to help get out of Spring Training.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Astros sign Dominican RHP
Sports Illustrated's Melissa Segura tweeted that the Astros have signed 6'3" Dominican RHP Luis Abad for a "low, six-figure bonus." The Astros have been interested in Abad since May.
Here's what she said about Abad:
Abad's 6'3" and lanky w/ fstball in low 90s. Highly regarded prospect.
In May, MLBTR ranked Abad the 10th-best prospect eligible in the Dominican Republic:
Hitting 92 mph and weighing 160 pounds soaking wet, the 6'3" Abad is one of the most projectable pitchers you'll see.
Here's what she said about Abad:
Abad's 6'3" and lanky w/ fstball in low 90s. Highly regarded prospect.
In May, MLBTR ranked Abad the 10th-best prospect eligible in the Dominican Republic:
Hitting 92 mph and weighing 160 pounds soaking wet, the 6'3" Abad is one of the most projectable pitchers you'll see.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Ed Wade still ain't scurred
Sports Illustrated has taken notice of the Astros' slow start, eliminating valuable AL-East space to check in with Ed Wade.
Wade:
"I wouldn't call [our start] a concern, but the fact is we just haven't swung the bats well. But our feeling is that the guys who are struggling have pretty good track records, and this is a slump that teams normally hit at some point in the season. It's always magnified at the beginning of the season, and it's magnified even more because this is becoming thematic with the franchise -- 'The Astros always get off to slow starts.'"
Barry Larkin, whose Reds started 0-6 and still made the playoffs in 1995:
"I remember we had a 'Let's not panic, we're not where we need to be yet' attitude. Without Berkman on that team for the Astros, that's going to be a tough hole. On our team in '95 we had some really good players. We didn't have a lot of new, non-established guys."
And about the leadership in the clubhouse (as opposed to his '95 Reds or the Astros of the early 2000s):
"I don't know if there is an identifiable leader of that team."
Now this is a troubling aspect, and it's one we've brought up before. As much as Berkman says he wants to be a leader, and has been around as long as anyone else, "baseball people" can't look at the Astros and see any definable leadership. Now they (or I) are in the clubhouse seeing the players interact, and that is worth noting, but there was no doubt who was in charge when Bagwell and Biggio were here, and while we're not exactly asking for Lance to fill their shoes, Miguel Tejada shouldn't have been The Leader in the clubhouse last year.
Wade:
"I wouldn't call [our start] a concern, but the fact is we just haven't swung the bats well. But our feeling is that the guys who are struggling have pretty good track records, and this is a slump that teams normally hit at some point in the season. It's always magnified at the beginning of the season, and it's magnified even more because this is becoming thematic with the franchise -- 'The Astros always get off to slow starts.'"
Barry Larkin, whose Reds started 0-6 and still made the playoffs in 1995:
"I remember we had a 'Let's not panic, we're not where we need to be yet' attitude. Without Berkman on that team for the Astros, that's going to be a tough hole. On our team in '95 we had some really good players. We didn't have a lot of new, non-established guys."
And about the leadership in the clubhouse (as opposed to his '95 Reds or the Astros of the early 2000s):
"I don't know if there is an identifiable leader of that team."
Now this is a troubling aspect, and it's one we've brought up before. As much as Berkman says he wants to be a leader, and has been around as long as anyone else, "baseball people" can't look at the Astros and see any definable leadership. Now they (or I) are in the clubhouse seeing the players interact, and that is worth noting, but there was no doubt who was in charge when Bagwell and Biggio were here, and while we're not exactly asking for Lance to fill their shoes, Miguel Tejada shouldn't have been The Leader in the clubhouse last year.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Get ready for a weekend full of predictions
In an effort to keep people accountable, any predictions I come across, I'll post under the tag Predictions, and then we'll look back in awe, or we'll laugh.
SI.com has a rundown by "Ted Williams' Frozen Head" of final order of finish for the 30 teams, and puts the Astros in the DOA category (and the explanation, which prompted the previous post):
23. Houston Astros — The good news for Houston is they no longer have Albers, Sarfate, Patton or Costanzo in their system and won’t have the aged Tejada grounding into double plays this season. The bad news is everything else.
SI.com has a rundown by "Ted Williams' Frozen Head" of final order of finish for the 30 teams, and puts the Astros in the DOA category (and the explanation, which prompted the previous post):
23. Houston Astros — The good news for Houston is they no longer have Albers, Sarfate, Patton or Costanzo in their system and won’t have the aged Tejada grounding into double plays this season. The bad news is everything else.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thank God we don't have to play all these games. Cardinals already won the division
SI's Baseball Preview came out today, and the Cardinals have apparently wrapped up the 2010 NL Central by six games over the Cubs, 18 ahead of the Astros, who are picked to go 69-93.
Here's your run-on sentence on the Astros, courtesy of writer Albert Chen:
The Astros, one of baseball's oldest teams in 2009 (six of eight regulars were at least 33), are making a desperate run at the division title; rather than replenish a depleted farm system, Houston added expensive, nonimpact veterans, among them starter Brett Myers, third baseman Pedro Feliz and reliever Brandon Lyon.
Here's your run-on sentence on the Astros, courtesy of writer Albert Chen:
The Astros, one of baseball's oldest teams in 2009 (six of eight regulars were at least 33), are making a desperate run at the division title; rather than replenish a depleted farm system, Houston added expensive, nonimpact veterans, among them starter Brett Myers, third baseman Pedro Feliz and reliever Brandon Lyon.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
LOUD NOISES!
Okay, that's freaking it. Sports Illustrated's Tim Marchman ranked all 30 MLB GMs. According to what, I'm not sure. There are two pages of this article, and I bet you can guess where Marchman put Ed Wade. Yep, second page. In fact, only Dayton Moore ranked worse than Ed Wade on Marchman's list:
Did you realize that six of eight Astros regulars were 33 or older last year? That five of the six pitchers who got the most starts -- two of whom were Brian Moehler and Mike Hampton -- were 30 or older? And that the team has arguably the worst farm system in baseball? Wade isn't to blame for all of this. But he certainly hasn't done anything about it.
Yesterday, The Crawfish Boxes had an excellent defense of Ed Wade, and I'll post my defense tonight, after the Mrs. has gone to bed. This will address the problem the national media has with our General Manager, and how idiotic those problems are.
Did you realize that six of eight Astros regulars were 33 or older last year? That five of the six pitchers who got the most starts -- two of whom were Brian Moehler and Mike Hampton -- were 30 or older? And that the team has arguably the worst farm system in baseball? Wade isn't to blame for all of this. But he certainly hasn't done anything about it.
Yesterday, The Crawfish Boxes had an excellent defense of Ed Wade, and I'll post my defense tonight, after the Mrs. has gone to bed. This will address the problem the national media has with our General Manager, and how idiotic those problems are.
Monday, September 21, 2009
At least SI tried to leave a voicemail
Hey, at least SI tried to leave a voicemail, which is more than I have done:
Cooper did not answer calls to his cell phone and his voicemail was full.
And Ted Keith's article doesn't give Coop's replacement much of a chance, either. Regard:
Cooper's dismissal is not surprising but it is instructive, just another example of the hot-coal walk that is managing in the big leagues. Even if you make it across to the other side, you're bound to get burned, and Cooper was. Burned by a poorly constructed team that never had a real chance to compete in its division. Burned by financial limitations that kept the Astros from being a player in the free-agent market. And burned, most significantly, by a clubhouse that included several players, it's been reported, who either didn't respect him or his decisions as a manger.
Note: We'll assume that Keith meant "manager," and not the structure in which our Lord and Savior was born. Please continue.
If Cooper was not necessarily a great fit, neither was this team. The Astros are old and it shows. They have only two position players younger than 29, and when veterans like Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman stopped producing as they did in their prime, their offense was rendered largely punchless. The pitching staff is in a similar spot. Wandy Rodriguez has turned in a fine season, but aside from him and Roy Oswalt, the Astros don't have a single starter with either a winning record, an ERA below 4.80 or even 100 strikeouts. Their payroll is north of $100 million, but they don't have much to show for it...
...Both Oswalt and Berkman have started talking openly about retirement and Jose Valverde, their quality closer, will be a free agent at year's end and may not return. That means the burden for next season and beyond rests more with the front office, and whether or not they can restock the team with quality players, than it does with the field manager, whoever it may be.
This year's manager couldn't get a team this ill-fitting to win in 2009. It's doubtful anybody will be able to any time soon, either.
Sure hope Drayton is reading...
Cooper did not answer calls to his cell phone and his voicemail was full.
And Ted Keith's article doesn't give Coop's replacement much of a chance, either. Regard:
Cooper's dismissal is not surprising but it is instructive, just another example of the hot-coal walk that is managing in the big leagues. Even if you make it across to the other side, you're bound to get burned, and Cooper was. Burned by a poorly constructed team that never had a real chance to compete in its division. Burned by financial limitations that kept the Astros from being a player in the free-agent market. And burned, most significantly, by a clubhouse that included several players, it's been reported, who either didn't respect him or his decisions as a manger.
Note: We'll assume that Keith meant "manager," and not the structure in which our Lord and Savior was born. Please continue.
If Cooper was not necessarily a great fit, neither was this team. The Astros are old and it shows. They have only two position players younger than 29, and when veterans like Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman stopped producing as they did in their prime, their offense was rendered largely punchless. The pitching staff is in a similar spot. Wandy Rodriguez has turned in a fine season, but aside from him and Roy Oswalt, the Astros don't have a single starter with either a winning record, an ERA below 4.80 or even 100 strikeouts. Their payroll is north of $100 million, but they don't have much to show for it...
...Both Oswalt and Berkman have started talking openly about retirement and Jose Valverde, their quality closer, will be a free agent at year's end and may not return. That means the burden for next season and beyond rests more with the front office, and whether or not they can restock the team with quality players, than it does with the field manager, whoever it may be.
This year's manager couldn't get a team this ill-fitting to win in 2009. It's doubtful anybody will be able to any time soon, either.
Sure hope Drayton is reading...
Friday, May 29, 2009
Newark Bears: Preferable to Houston Astros?
So it seems.
Jon Heyman's column has a fairly lengthy section on The Troubles Facing Cecil Cooper.
Regard:
One competing GM remarked, "This could be a record for the quickest firing after a contract is extended."
Astros higher-ups are now declining to provide a public vote of confidence to Cooper, creating the impression that Cooper could be canned. And if he is, that would be a shame.
Some people believe the real problem is not Cooper but general manager Ed Wade, who is said to be a frequent and negative presence in Houston's clubhouse, frequently talking tough while impressing few. Wade is viewed as a meddler who puts everyone in a defensive mode, including Cooper, who has no choice but to play along. "Being a new manager, Cooper tried to go along with it," one person close to Cooper said. "It's not Coop's fault."
Shawn Chacon was banished from the team, and ostensibly from the majors, for pushing down Wade last year, but privately his inappropriate actions were cheered by some other players. Poor Chacon is trying to resurrect his career with the Newark Bears, but he's probably happy to be out of the unhealthy atmosphere in Houston.
Whoa. So if you believe every media report you read, (and why wouldn't you?) Drayton is a moron. Wade is a meddler. Cooper can't communicate. Berkman is pissy. Roy can't find it in himself to actually compete for the Astros.
Good times.
Jon Heyman's column has a fairly lengthy section on The Troubles Facing Cecil Cooper.
Regard:
One competing GM remarked, "This could be a record for the quickest firing after a contract is extended."
Astros higher-ups are now declining to provide a public vote of confidence to Cooper, creating the impression that Cooper could be canned. And if he is, that would be a shame.
Some people believe the real problem is not Cooper but general manager Ed Wade, who is said to be a frequent and negative presence in Houston's clubhouse, frequently talking tough while impressing few. Wade is viewed as a meddler who puts everyone in a defensive mode, including Cooper, who has no choice but to play along. "Being a new manager, Cooper tried to go along with it," one person close to Cooper said. "It's not Coop's fault."
Shawn Chacon was banished from the team, and ostensibly from the majors, for pushing down Wade last year, but privately his inappropriate actions were cheered by some other players. Poor Chacon is trying to resurrect his career with the Newark Bears, but he's probably happy to be out of the unhealthy atmosphere in Houston.
Whoa. So if you believe every media report you read, (and why wouldn't you?) Drayton is a moron. Wade is a meddler. Cooper can't communicate. Berkman is pissy. Roy can't find it in himself to actually compete for the Astros.
Good times.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Astros "in trouble"
Tom Verducci's column today discusses how baseball is a young man's game, noting a number of older veterans who remained unsigned, largely because of the ban on amphetamines. Then he throws the Astros directly in the path of the bus:
With not only steroid testing but also amphetamine testing in place, clubs no longer can count on players extending their prime years through their mid- and late-30s. The Astros are in trouble because they counted on way too many old players. The Yankees have scuffled because of injuries to old players. The Tigers have tried to remake themselves since the middle of last year by losing some old players (Kenny Rogers, Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez) and hoping others bounce back from slow starts (Ordonez, Placido Polanco). The Red Sox are swimming against the tide with four regulars age 33 or older (Ortiz, Jason Varitek, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell). The bottom line, in case you weren't paying attention to the World Series last year: It's a young man's game.
Brutal.
With not only steroid testing but also amphetamine testing in place, clubs no longer can count on players extending their prime years through their mid- and late-30s. The Astros are in trouble because they counted on way too many old players. The Yankees have scuffled because of injuries to old players. The Tigers have tried to remake themselves since the middle of last year by losing some old players (Kenny Rogers, Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez) and hoping others bounce back from slow starts (Ordonez, Placido Polanco). The Red Sox are swimming against the tide with four regulars age 33 or older (Ortiz, Jason Varitek, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell). The bottom line, in case you weren't paying attention to the World Series last year: It's a young man's game.
Brutal.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Ted Keith puts the tombstone on the Astros - six weeks before the Chronicle...
Ted Keith, in an over-reactionary and grammatically inferior mailbag, circles the buzzards over the Astros 2009 season. Thanks for the alley-oop, Mark Pachankisq of Vivian, La.
Is there any hope for the Astros this year?
-- Mark Pachankisq, Vivian, La.
Sure, the Astros can hope for many things this season -- short of making it to October, that is. After a 1-6 start, the Astros are already four games out in the National League Central and there haven't been many bright spots, either. They rank last in the league in runs, last in on-base percentage and 14th in ERA. There simply don't appear to have enough pitching to stay competitive in the NL Central this year.
It's true. There just don't appear to have enough pitching. Batting, neither.
Why is it when we complain about the Astros, it's perfectly acceptable, but when someone does it at a national level they're engaging in first-class douchebaggery?
Is there any hope for the Astros this year?
-- Mark Pachankisq, Vivian, La.
Sure, the Astros can hope for many things this season -- short of making it to October, that is. After a 1-6 start, the Astros are already four games out in the National League Central and there haven't been many bright spots, either. They rank last in the league in runs, last in on-base percentage and 14th in ERA. There simply don't appear to have enough pitching to stay competitive in the NL Central this year.
It's true. There just don't appear to have enough pitching. Batting, neither.
Why is it when we complain about the Astros, it's perfectly acceptable, but when someone does it at a national level they're engaging in first-class douchebaggery?
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