Article on ESPN.com http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...rning-deal-pressure-repeat-world-series-glory
Great article. A couple of things that stuck out to me: 1) Osuna sounds like he's being ignored and or shunned in the clubhouse. I wonder if dotting Otani will be helpful for him in his integration into the clubhouse 2) AJ Hinch is an awesome manager of human beings- we are very lucky to have him 3) I laughed at Gattis and Reddick sucking down Marlboros in the tunnel while "getting ready" for the game 4) It was funny to hear CFM described as "the only apparent adult in the room. Something tells me that's not a one off type deal (in a charming and endearing way). 5) I really wish I played professional baseball for a living.
Have you ever read Ball Four? If not, I highly recommend it. A lot of the book deals with the 1969 Astros.
Loved Ball Four. Ground breaking stuff and really funny, too! Have any of ya'll read Astroball (Ben Reiter) yet? He was the SI guy that picked us to win back in 2013 or whenever... Just bought it on Amazon and am curious.
Yep. I've read all of his stuff (I think- there might have been one I missed). Funny guy. It's also humorous to think how shocking and scandalous this book was. Now, nobody would bat an eye.
Now, the Astros are a team that likes to go out on the town, We like to drink and fight and **** till curfew comes around Then it's time to make the trek, We better be back to buddy's check, It makes a fellow proud to be an Astro. Now, Edwards is our catcher and he's really No. 1, Dave Bristol said he drinks too much and calls some long home runs, But we think John will be all right, If we keep him in his room at night, It makes a fellow proud to be an Astro. Now, our pitching staff's composed of guys who think they're 'pretty cool,' With a case of Scotch, a greenie and an old beat-up whirlpool, We'll make the other hitters laugh, Then calmly break their bats in half, It makes a fellow proud to be an Astro. Now, Harry Walker is the one that manages this crew, He doesn't like it when we drink and fight and smoke and screw, But when we win our game each day, Then what the **** can Harry say? It makes a fellow proud to be an Astro.
This article may buy him about 48 hours before people decide he doesn't show enough emotion, is too calm, blah blah blah.
That's how it reads. I get the Astros ignoring him and not wanting to be associated with the guy, but he is now part of the team. Management seems to be 'over it' since they traded for him so even though he seems like a scumbag, I hope the guys try to work and engage him. Having one bad apple in the group could sour the mood -- and if I'm Osuna, I can't be shunned the whole year...it could definitely mess with him. Hopefully they can work out some solution and include him--otherwise the Astros should just dump him. Team chemistry matters and this team is special and needs to be unified in its march to the WS.
Gurriel and Bregman share a strong bond. Gurriel talks highly of Bregman and said he's lucky that their lockers are side by side. Gurriel teaches him Spanish and Bregman teaches him English. Also found this article. Quite interesting. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.for...-the-value-of-building-bridges-not-walls/amp/