You're singing my song. My kid went on a twitter tirade about this the other day that got a Chronicle writer's attention yesterday. Those who disagreed threw out the whole, "you're a horrible fan...you can't root for this team any more....#InLuhnowWeTrust Give me a break. Astros twitter is literally the worst I disagree with the decision not to make a trade...apparently I'm in the company of the ace of the pitching staff, so I'm ok with that. But that doesn't mean I think Luhnow is terrible...or that I want him fired. I think he's done a great job overall, and I'm certainly not a hater. I do sense there's a real divide amongst younger Astros fans (generally) and older Astros fans (generally)...and I'm stereotyping for sure. I see a lot of younger Astros fans talk about the "Decade of Dominance" coming. Man...please....win just one effing title before I die. Just one. Seriously. Seize the day. I don't mean any of this to come off argumentative...I "get" the other side of the discussion. But as I get older, the more I'm cognizant of the temporary nature of things that we think are going to last forever...or even for a while. And they don't. Seasons pass quickly. Seize the moment. That's not meant to be an argument...it's just my perspective.
He's been readily available to the media each of the past three trade deadlines, and is often very candid about what the Astros do/do not accomplish. This year is nothing new. Nor is it unusual for Crane to be involved, as available. Luhnow has a marketing background; he no doubt understands the value in controlling the narrative and presenting his side of the story. But any notion that he's been driven to do so by Reid Ryan or the marketing people (they are not the same; marketing reports up through someone else) is patently false, as is the idea that this year is any different. Luhnow is one of the more transparently available, media-savvy GMs in baseball.
I think that's part of the issue that needed to be addressed, honestly. This isn't the same team from May. Injuries and a long schedule have taken their toll. I think they owed it to the guys in that locker room to come alongside and help that. oh, well.
Perhaps. I can only hope that their info re: likelihood of these guys being healthy when it counts (and before that) suggests that it didn't urgently need to be addressed. Given that the staff is smart, I'd like to believe their combined medical/baseball teams believe Keuchel and LMJ have ~90% likelihood of being back to 100% healthy for the stretch run.
When he's going on the in-game broadcast for the first time to comment specifically on personnel moves, for the first time in his tenure as an owner, it is new. Obviously, Reid isn't forcing anybody... I was actually giving him a token mention since they only wake him up for the important meetings regarding ballpark food () .. but as a whole, the Astros (Crane, Luhnow, etc) been better or more aware of fan perception/fan happiness/putting asses in the seats than they were when they first took over. And it makes total sense.... the bulk of their revenue is going to hinge on attendance. Attendance has gone up each season... but still is middle of the pack. There's a high chance for a down-swing as the season goes on (instead of an upswing) as school starts again, no pennant race, no Rangers fans, no Yankees/Red Sox series. In fact, this weekend's Toronto series is probably going to be the last best chance for sellouts for the rest of the season. Not sure where I said anything otherwise. Whereas before, they were transparent/open in their intentions despite what fans wanted... and were in general, PR nightmares in regards to every public fiasco... they now are making a big effort to explain to the same fans how close they were to making a trade. The main intention of that is to save perception.... and not deter fans from staying excited in this team for the rest of the season.
I think both sides are, more or less, arguing the same principle. One side believes additional firepower gets them closer to winning a championship; the other believes the Astros need to be cognizant of both short- as well as long-term goals. In short, both sides want the Astros to hedge their bets.... But as someone who falls into the "younger" camp (ha!), I don't think the vast majority believe with any degree of certainty that hoarding prospects will build a decade-long dynasty (any more than you likely think Sonny Gray guarantees the Astros a championship). Instead, we remember how much Drayton McLane gutted the system (chasing championships; sometimes, fruitlessly) and don't want to see the end of this era feed into another years-long rebuilding project. I'd love another pitcher; I've advocated through much of this year that they need another pitcher. And I can understand the frustration around them not acquiring one. But I can't fathom the blind rage of too many fans (not you, obviously - go on Twitter) who don't seem to grasp a) the uncertainty around deadline deals; b) the likely looming bloodbath awaiting this roster in the next several years.
That reminds me of one of my favorite Luhnow rebuilding moments... when he said we would get pillaged in the Rule 5! As far as the next several years go... I think they'll figure it out with spades. Beloved stars will get traded unless they sign extensions. Some young heralded prospects will exceed expectations (some will disappoint). At least 1-2 prospects will come out of nowhere to contribute. They will continue to try and find bargains/deals in free agency, while flirting with some of the bigger fish. They may even land one for close to market value (a Carlos Lee-like signing). But the ultimate priority has to be to win it all with the MVP candidates they have now... and if they don't ultimately do that, I don't see the odds getting better once the roster starts to turnover.
I love you guys and I desperately need this team to win one before I die. I wanna go with my sons to my grandparents grave the next day and leave a pennant with orange and blue ribbon....and a poster that reads, "They finally did it...Rest in peace." I will cry like a baby the moment it's sealed up.
I dint think anyone thinks we are a trash organization, not true fans that watch basically every game anyway. But it's ok for some of us to be pissed that we didn't make any real moves, despite the prices it was costing which wasn't crazy high. We are fans, we are emotionally attached....Crane needs us to be....some of us are pissed just like Keuchel us, and that's ok
Great post Don't understand why so many think if you criticize Luhnow in any way you hate him and the organization Luhnow has done a solid job...he just screwed up the deadline
I don't even know if he screwed up the deadline . Maybe the cost really was prohibitive . That being said , I think he screwed up over the offseason by not adding (through trade ) another frontline starter . Sure , some teams may be more willing sellers at the deadline , but the price went up and several options came off the table.
I met an mlb GM today that was in talks with the Astros. I asked about a specific player that we were rumored to be looking at and his response was that luhnow just wasn't offering much at all even though he has a ton of prospects at his disposal. He was a really nice guy and candid so I don't want to put him on blast. Just confirming what many of us assumed- luhnow wasn't ready to push his top prospects in to go for it all this year. To be fair though, it's only one side of the story. Just wanted to share.
And I don't trade Tucker or Whitley for Britton if that was the guy you are referring to. I only do that for TOR starting pitchers. For me it'd take a Bumgarner or a Kershaw type to trade Tucker for.
I hope lunhow isn't like Danny ainge in this respect. Remember the leak a few years ago and some of the ludicrous trades lunhow proposed. I hope lunhow doesn't have a bad reputation among his fellow GM's. But , he seems to run some people the wrong way enough that there have been articles about it.
He did compliment luhnow on being very intelligent and praised the rebuild so it seems like there is respect there at the very least - just seemed very matter of fact about the low ball offer.
Not doubting your story, but why would a GM have told you the truth about any of that? (Assuming you're some random guy to this GM, and not a good friend/inside source with info to give back to him.) "Luhnow made some great offers, but we just didn't take them even though we're sellers" doesn't really make him look very smart.
