I probably won't follow this team nearly as closely if they are moved to the AL. The AL game is much less interesting, and trying to compete with the Yanks/Sox doesn't sound like any fun to me, especially since Crane is going to drop the Stros payroll to $50 million.
Yes because no one can compete with a low payroll, especially teams like Tampa and their $40M payroll will never let them sniff the playoffs. The Diamondbacks too have been pretty pathetic with their $53M payroll. The Astros should aspire to be more like the Cubs ($125M); Mets ($118.8M) and Twins ($112M). Those teams can certainly compete with anyone. Source It isn't always how much you spend; but how smart you spend. Cutting payroll doesn't mean bad players, it means cheaper players. They have already said they are going to spend more on scouting and internationally. Increasing payroll and signing a bunch of FA's is not going to solve the problems this team has. If anything, it will put them back in the same place they were in the last few years with aging talent and no farm system. Don't get me wrong I'm not expecting much out of them for the next couple of years, but to say they won't compete because they have a low payroll isn't exactly a sure bet either.
I do think AL baseball is a bit more boring but saw a stat, earlier in the year, that said the time of play for both leagues was now equal. Winning baseball is fun regardless of league, so if the Stros get good sooner rather then later, people will support the team regardless.
Starting out by demanding a huge cut in payroll is not going to be taken positively. The question is how will he spend in player development, and will he pay to keep our stars when we are winning. I imagine the Diamondbacks and Rays will eventually go the way of the Marlins and A's.
I'd rather be the Marlins who have a couple of good years and win the Series every once in a while spending little, than be the Cubs and spend $125 and still stink. I'll reserve judgement on spending to keep players, until that is relevant. Unfortunately, he's damned no matter what he does, because people will b**** that he isn't spending any money on FA's, yet they will also b**** if he spends on Fa's and the farm system stays in the toilet. He is coming into a bad situation because of the way the team has been run the last few years. Signings like Carlos Lee, Bill Hall and others meant to attempt to keep the team competitive just enough to keep fans coming to the games, has gotten us to the point where we bottomed out. Now the way to fix it is to overhaul the whole thing, is going to put Crane in a bad light with the impatient fans who think the team has to always be a winner and spend a ton to do that. While looking for some info I ran across this article. As hard as it is for me to admit, Justice does a good job here, and I agree with a lot of his points. http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastro...nful-short-term-for-improvement-in-long-haul/ and the huge cut in payroll he demanded was only $12M. That is a 1/6 cut and less than what Carlos Lee makes alone.
Three teams have won multiple World Series titles in the last 15 years. That would be the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Marlins. The Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001. The Rays went to the World Series in 2008. The A's have been one of the most competitive franchises over the last decade, including 5 trips to the playoffs (went to the ALCS as recently as 2006) and twice winning over 100 games. Those four franchises are not bad ones to model a team after if you want to win.
We have been more successful than the A's over the last decade. They got so much credit for being the original moneyball team, but in reality, they haven't been able to repeat the success. Its hard to develop Mulder, Hudson, Zito, Chavez, Tejada, Giambi, etc in a small window of time. The Marlins won 2 World Series yes, but that is their postseason history. The first one they spent a bunch of money and won. The 2nd time they went the development strategy, and it worked, but hasn't since.
If you take the $50 million number that has been reported ($60 million was originally reported), that is $27 million, or 1/3 of the payroll for this season. Our payroll hasn't been that low in over a decade. I don't really understand why he even picks a number. You could just as easily say no new signing. Not letting Wandy go the Rockies, at least makes me believe he isn't desperate to get that low. Unless they move Wandy/Myers/Lee, there is a 0% chance of getting under $50 million for this upcoming season. Getting under $60 million will probably take them moving one of those 3.
No. Why should we? Arizona's been an NL town for what, 20 minutes? And the Brewers -- for the same 20 minutes. Seling should be trying to move one of those franchises. He should leave Houston the hell alone. All of Drayton's "go-by-the-slot" for Selig nonsense looks even more stupid in light of these recent developments. What a dope. Selig is a smug, self-important jackass. The best thing for baseball will be when he retires or is fired.
Selig is a smug, self-important jackass. The best thing for baseball will be when he retires or is fired.[/QUOTE] I think you continue to look past the giant 400-lb gorilla in the room wearing a red hat with a giant T on it. The Rangers are driving this, IMO, so Arizona isn't an option - they don't want another west coast team in their division. As for the Brewers, I'm sure Selig wants to leave them with Chicago. And he feels he's giving Houston a similiar opportunity with Texas. And, to his credit, Ranger-Astro games do generally draw very well. It looks like Selig is absolutely strong-arming the Astros - but I don't get the smug, self-important vibe angle....
Think about what you wrote. The Rangers can't drive anything without Selig. They are a single franchise, and not even a powerful one. They can push for something, but they realistically have no power or say.
I agree with you that Arizona or the Brewers should be the ones moved. But I think the main factor here is Drayton wants out. He wants his $680M and Selig knows he can get Drayton to do pretty much anything he wants that will accomplish these two things for him. He has no leverage what so ever in regards to the Brewers and Arizona. He can merely ask, and they can say no (which im betting has already occurred). Although I am certainly no fan of Selig, its Drayton that has created this opening. Its Drayton that cares more about his personal interests than that of the Astros. And its Drayton that is Selig's willing lackey. Sure, Selig is taking advantage of the situation. But Drayton created the situation in the first place. Things would be quite different if Drayton's posturing was: Well yes, I want to sell the club, but im quite willing to wait for the right situation and run the club to my best ability until then. I am in no hurry.
Perhaps, Jim. But: -- Drayton is only selling because he is getting old and his kids don't want it. He doesn't want his kids having to sort out selling the club, and he doesn't want the club being mired in some estate with all the legal hassles associated with it. What's so bad about that? -- Drayton and Crane signed a contract. A contract on which Selig is trying to superimpose extra terms and conditions. BULL. ****.
They signed a contract - but that contract includes an understanding that MLB has the right to approve or reject owners for whatever reason they choose. When Drayton joined the club back in the 1990s, he understood what he was getting himself into. In trying to join that club now, Crane understands those terms as well. I think the system sucks, but MLB does have that right, and both parties knew it when they agreed to terms. At the end of the day, this is a matter of each side using the leverage they have. Drayton/Crane have power because they know the other owners want this price to be official because it increases the value of all their franchises. MLB has power because they can reject the sale. The question is who'll blink first.
I hope if Selig, et. al. never blink that Crane and McLane refuse to consummate the sale. Then I hope McLane gives Selig, et. al. the big, fat middle finger they deserve in the form of a letter that in effect states, "like HELL we'll move to the AL. Go find another sucker, and kiss my ass on your way out the door."
Agreed with this....BUT...Crane signed on to buy a team with a National League charter. The numbers change for him if he's playing in the AL against teams out on the west coast more frequently. Travel expenses change and the media deal isn't as sweet because you have more games happening after prime time TV hours. If Crane wants to own the Astros regardless, he can be gone. Honestly, at this point I'm not sure this is a fraternity I'd want to join if I were him....especially at $687 million. The deal changes enough if forced to switch leagues for Crane to say, "no thanks," and back out entirely. I don't think MLB wants that, either.
Oh absolutely - I don't think Crane is stuck here at all. Crane can back out anytime he wants, and that's the leverage he has here - because all the other owners want that price to become official.
He is selling partly for the reasons you stated. But im betting its also partly that he doesnt find it so fun anymore now that he has run the club into the ground. A result he brought onto himself btw. No, there isnt anything bad about wanting to sell the club. What im finding bad is his seeming impatience about it and his seeming willingness to do it in a fashion that probably isnt in the Astros best interests.
It's not like there is a line of buyers willing to pay $680 million for the Astros. He's been working on this for a few years now and has found maybe 1 or 2 potential buyers. If you don't take the buyers you get, who knows when the next one will come up.
