Source: Met's GM will allow Don Baylor to join Astros

We have a good relationship with the Mets. Hunsicker was allowed to talk to themabout the GM spot, while Baylor is allowed to talk to us.

I'd put my money on it that it's a done deal. Here comes the winning streak and the wild card! And it seems like wild card teams are prone to winning the WS these days!

 

OH THANK GOD!!!!


THERE IS A LORD!!!!!!!!!

LOL!



Wow, now THAT was quick! Who needs a hitting coach now?

I expect the 'Astros are racist' remarks to disappear.

FINALLY A WINNER!!!!! I HOPE IT'S TRUE!!!!!

 

I wouldn't mind him doubling as manager and hitting coach.

 

I was just thinking about a possible immenent and new staff in the next week.

Don Baylor - manager.
Robin Yount - hitting coach
Gene Lamont - 3B coach
Jose Cruz - 1B coach
Phil Garner - bench coach

I would say Dierker, but it wouldn't be good bringing in a retread, especially with a core used to his style that they may become lackluster.

I really anticipate the All-Star game player/coach intros when Jimy will be announced. That will be weird for him, knowing it's the last time he will coach on that field.

I fully expect to hear 'FIRE JIMY!' or boos.

 

If it was the Weathers of a few years ago, i'm sure they'd take him back.

 

This is a good thing. Now bring back Mike Maddux as pitching coach.

The players still have to play.

 

Good news, but Buck is right. If the players don't play, it doesn't matter who is manager.

 

Agreed, but something has to be done and replacing a manager is obviously the wasiest thing to do.

At the very least they should bring in a new hitting coach.

At any rate, something WILL happen before the 2nd half.

 

The Mets would dare deny a coach to manage another team? Who planted the Baylor to Houston? Baylor? Mets? Or are the 'stros already pursuing it? Did Justice's column bring the race card to the line up card?

Is Cheo not worthy of managerial consideration?

My favorite choice? Bigg as player - manager thru the paly offs, then full time manager thereafter.

 

Obviously the players have been in a collective slump, but here are some issues I have with Williams (in no particular order):

1. The early inning bunt. Williams admitted this has been successful due to the number of 1st inning runs the Astros have scored. At the time he said that, (a couple of weeks ago), they were 7th in the league in 1st inning runs. Most teams do not have their 2nd hitter bunt when their leadoff hitter is on in the 1st inning. Prior to moving Everett out of the 2 spot, Williams did it regardless of pitching matchups.

2. What's with the lineup? Statistically this year, the hitters have hit best in this order: Biggio, Beltran, Bagwell, Kent, Berkman. Why was it necessary to have Beltran hit 3rd when he was hitting 2nd in KC? If he's going to bat Bagwell 2nd, he might as well bat Beltran 2nd. If he was going to keep Everett 2nd, then I agree with Beltran 3rd.

3. For the most part, having his tied/leading bullpen guys (Weathers, Miceli, Dotel, Lidge) only pitch whent he game is tied or the Astros are leading. It has been plain to see that the other guys (for the most part) have been bad, yet he tends to bring them in in the 6th or 7th inning if the Astros are losing by 1 or 2 runs. Then the deficit has been turning into 3-4 runs.

4. Not allowing pitchers to work out of jams, especially those that aren't their doing (for the most part). Case in point: During Duckworth's last start a pop fly should have been caught by Kent or Beltran but fell in. This led to the pitcher getting a hit and RBI. Duckworth was removed. While no more runs scored that inning (even though Gallo had to also be removed) 2 runs scored the folllowing inning to turn a 3-2 game into a 5-2 game). With the execption of Clemens, Oswalt, Lidge and Pettitte, every other current pitcher HAS to be looking over his shoulder when a runner gets on base.

5. Last year when Ensberg was on fire, he still sat quite often in lieu of Blum. This year, with Lamb hitting well, Ensberg has stayed in the lineup most of the time. It was expecially galling that Lamb did not get one AB during the Seattle series even though they threw 3 right handers and the DH was in effect. I know there was a death in his family at that time, but he was with the team. Since his HR barrage last weekend agains the Rangers, he is 1-21.

 

All Jimy's fault? No, but it is his job to light a fire under his players when they're not performing up to par. Take Hidalgo for example. He leaves and his new managers helps him get back to his old self, almost instantly.

Luis Gonzales did the same thing when he left. His new batting coach in Arizona tweaked his batting stance, and he became an All-Star.

Jimy's job is to find why it's broke before it's broke. And that he is not doing.

 

Please let us know what is the "old self" of Hidalgo? Is it the budding superstar of 2000? The flop of 2001-2002? The comback player of 2003? The all-world of April 2004? The miserable player of May - mid-June of 2004? The stud of mid-June to early July? or the pedestrian Hidalgo (.241, .290 OBP) of the past week?

 

I pick this one.

Do disagree with my post other than my possible over valuation of Hildalgo?

 

Well, he is on the Board of Regents there isn't he?

 

I think Williams is as much to blame as the players. It is his job to recognize and use the talents of the players on hand. He seems to overestimate the value of the bullpen at the expense of the starters.

 

Hidalgo's *always* been an extremely streaky hitter. Only time will tell if his recent resurgence is anything other than the same 'ol streaky Hidalgo. To say that he's somehow "fixed" now is way premature.

The coaches in Detroit & Cubtown didn't fix Gonzo's swing either, fyi.