I can tell you investors hate it when you don't spend all money you are given. It means you weren't trying hard enough to improve. Click left 20 million on the table that could have made the team better and didn't use it. 20 million can get a decent bat instead of trotting Dubon out there on the regular.
The thought was they’d have more flexibility at the trade deadline. They had a similar 2021. Crane seemingly wasn’t thrilled at this sort of pattern in regards to these decisions.
Maybe Crane learned that deadline prices are just too high with the expanded playoffs and more buyer and less sellers. Hopefully he makes good on the more spending if we won a chip and we see several more moves. I know he’s a businessman but he has a chance to cement his legacy as the best owner overseeing the best sports dynasty in Houston history. Not to mention carving a place into one of the best baseball dynasties ever. I’m cautiously optimistic we could see some exciting additions.
On the DeGrom front, this is one of baseball’s most injury-prone players. Games Pitched last 3 seasons: 2022: 11, 2021: 15, 2020: 12. Definitely a top of the rotation guy when healthy, but keep that in mind
55mil to spend before the tax I would be very happy with running it back (JV on 2-3 year deal, Yuli and Brantley on 1 years)
Deadline deals are inevitable but depending on them is a sure sign of disaster. Too many things can go wrong. We lost out on Bell and the cubs started asking for the moon for Contreras. I can tell you this from my work experience. If the business gives you 2 million to spend to get a job done, you better spend it because if you don't hit your targets, you will be asked why didn't you do enough and if you hit your targets, they will ask you if you could have done more if you had spent all your money. Crane said in the Baker press conference. You always want to be better, and not spending all your money isn't trying to be better. It's being complacent.
If Verlander is half as good as this year, he’d still put up more WAR than Urquidy ever has in a season. You are projecting him to fall off a cliff, not just decline.
Yeah, seems like a couple of seasons of relative in-action, and not really having a formalized over-arching strategy on how to optimize the present while building for the future is what eventually sealed Click’s fate. Its strange that normally we blame the owner for limiting what his GM can or cannot do… but these were examples where the owner flat-out wanted his GM to be more aggressive. Its shitty timing for sure, but there are legitimate beefs on both sides that ultimately leads to separations in these situations.
I agree with you on this. Urquidy has a great WS record at 3-0 and 1.23 ERA, but aside from that there's nothing that indicates that he is getting better. He will never be an elite pitcher but can be a serviceable #4 or #5 which is all you can hope for. Anyone thinking otherwise is wishful thinking and possibly just a fanboy
TBH, I think Brantley, Abreu, Verlander is easily enough to win you a ring. Altuve Pena Yordan Abreu Tucker Bregman Brantley McCormick Maldy Like good god, you are getting elite hitting 1-7. Number 8 isn't a slouch either. That is too nasty.
I don't think Crane regrets hiring Click, I just think he feels he can do better. I trust Crane to hire strong people and make good decisions. He hasn't let me down since 2015. We know he is aggressive. We brought in Greinke after having Verlander and Cole. I vaguely remember Crane being pissed that Luhnow didn't get Verlander the first time, and Luhnow got lucky with Waivers.
Not nervous at all. Crane is negotiating with Verlander directly. If Verlander was angling on more money elsewhere, you would hear all the rumors to drive up prices. You would also hear Crane hedging by saying things like he really like our young guys and wants to give them a chance.
We should have a poll on whether we think Crane will go over the Tax. I am curious on if he will do it. I bet he would like to go back to back.
I have been saying ever since he was hired that Click was hired under duress. He was not the GM Crane would have hired after he had time for deliberation. That time was not afforded him. The situation required an immediate response and Click was the best alternative that was available by the day after tomorrow. I am certain that Crane was hopeful that it would work out but it just did not. I was surprised it went on as long as it did. I expected him to be replaced before the 22 season and was afraid it would blow up in the middle of the season. I guess maybe it did but Crane had the patience to wait till the series was over to make the correction.
Breggy and Uncle Mike hitting 6th and 7th is sickening. Make it happen Mr. Crane. I promised to buy more shirts/jerseys for myself and more jackets for the wife.
He would like be insulted by a contract full of benchmark bonuses for IP, wins, etc. What would the insurance on the guy be? Would it still make it worth it in the long to try? The other thing is maybe the Astros could identify something with his mechanics that could be tweaked and lessen the strain and keep him healthier?
I know we all love Brantley but I think many on the board are putting too much faith that he can just come back healthy and be a major contributor next year. He is already 35. He has missed 30 games in 2021 and missed most of this season. He just had another surgery on his right shoulder, same shoulder he had 2 surgeries on with the Indians. I can understand if both sides want to take a flyer and see if he can come back to give him a shot next year, but Stros cannot bank on him. Need to have some other very good and reasonable options in ST.
