Why would any American League team, especially from the AL West, other than the Rangers, support this? After the Astros stop sucking, this makes it 25% harder to make the playoffs in the AL West, and 7% harder to make the playoffs in the AL in general. The Rangers get a potential natural rival to validate their mostly irrelevant existent, so that's good for them. But for the rest of the AL, it makes the path to the playoffs tougher, and in return, they get to play a team more often that they have no connection with. I know that the balanced divisions and expanded playoffs are being pushed together, but there's no reason that they have to be, right? If I were an AL owner, I'd push for just expanding the playoffs, and not having balanced divisions.
They do every few years. This whole thing sucks on a grand scale. Getting strong armed into any situation sucks and that's what bothers me the most about this whole thing. Being Selig's b*tch.
zacharylevine Zachary Levine Uniting the Astros and Rangers in this division will make more sense when the Seattle Mariners move to Oklahoma City. StephStradley Stephanie Stradley Astros realignment to AL being forced on Houstonians reminds of Oilers move. Fans helpless to stop it. The process leaves bad taste.
Who's selling the team? The reason we are in this position is because McLane didn't sell the team years ago when he had offers. The team takes a nose dive and now he goes all out to sell it and even kicks in a discount to not lose the deal. Who knows? Maybe if he waited to see who bought the Dodgers it would be the Dodgers moving to the AL west. Drayton is not without blame...if I hated this deal but I don't because I'm done watching a pitcher swing like a 7 year old in 2013
What....because a guy who spent millions on a franchise didn't sell it earlier (while still gauging his childrens' interest in owning it if he passed it down) he's to blame for MLB using the buyer's crappy past as leverage to force a move to the AL? Sorry but that's a tremendous reach. McLane kicked in a discount because the deal he got for the 'stros so far exceeded anything anyone imagined...and he was ready to move along. They were not moving the Dodgers from the NL...ever....under any circumstance.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/11/17/faq-on-logistics-of-astros-move-to-american-league/ FAQ on logistics of Astros’ move to American League Some questions come up over and over regarding the Astros’ move to the American League. Nothing has been finalized regarding an interleague schedule yet, but here are the basics on some of the logistical consequences of the switch. Q: So is Carlos Lee going to be DH? A: Unlikely, though this seems to be everyone’s first thought. The move doesn’t take effect until 2013, which will be the the year after Lee’s final year under contract. Lee will play almost surely play his stronger position of first base this year with J.D. Martinez manning left field. With the Astros in a phase of rebuilding through youth, it’s hard to imagine Lee’s return in 2013. Q: Does this mean there has to be interleague games every week? A: Yes. This is the No. 1 drawback of the even leagues of odd numbers. Each series block, at least one American League team has to play a National League opponent. So somebody has to play interleague on opening day, and somebody has to close with an interleague series. Q: Is that all the interleague or can there still be times when everyone’s playing it? A: That’s not all. If they eliminate that strange week of two-game series, there will be 51 series on the schedule (26 weekends, 25 midweeks), which will give most teams three interleague series but some teams four. They would use extra rounds of interleague to even it out and probably bump the number up. Interleague could return to the division vs. division format of its infancy with the Astros’ AL West playing one NL division and then playing another game against a rival to be determined. Colorado? Arizona? Q: How many 9 p.m. starts will there be? A: This is one of the reasons the Astros wanted to be compensated for a move. If Major League Baseball keeps 18 games against divisional opponents, the Astros will have to play nine games at Seattle, nine games at Oakland (or some day perhaps San Jose) and nine games at Anaheim. That makes 27 games, though there’s a good chance for almost all of the getaway day games to be day games, leaving roughly 18. If it’s AL West against NL West in interleague, there will be more.
SI_JonHeyman Jon Heyman Crane passed 30-zip. The dissenters voted yes anyway. Everyone likes to be on winning side. #astros richardjustice Richard Justice Selig said he hopes to add the two wild card teams in 2012.
My silver lining is the new football stadium at BU. http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastro...s-new-owner-move-to-al-will-be-official-soon/ MILWAUKEE — Jim Crane’s purchase of the Astros from Drayton McLane was unanimously approved by Major League Baseball’s owners this morning. All that remains is a formal closing of the transaction, which likely will take place early next week. At that point, McLane’s 19-year ownership of the club will end. Crane had long since cleared every hurdle by the time today’s meeting began. In the six months since the deal was announced, MLB has investigated Crane’s background and that of approximately 50 investors. As part of the deal, Crane was required to give baseball the power to move the Astros to the American League West. That move is expected to happen in 2013, but won’t be finalized until the sport’s new collective bargaining agreement is in place. Crane is expected to move quickly to put reshape the club, beginning with the naming of former Rockets president George Postolos as chief executive officer. Astros president Pam Gardner will remain with the club, but Crane could make sweeping changes in the club’s baseball operations. General manager Ed Wade appears most vulnerable, but Crane and Postolos have steadfastly refused to comment on his status until after they actually took over the club. Among those believed to be under consideration if a change is made is Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman, a Houston native. Former Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker and Texas Rangers executive A.J. Preller also appear to be under consideration. As for McLane, he exited with laughter and smiles. He turned his $117 million purchase of the Astros in 1992 into a payoff in the neighborhood of $645 million. Crane’s original purchase price was $680 million, but as part of the deal to move to the American League, he’ll receive $35 million from MLB and $35 million from McLane. McLane also received an estimated $95 million from Comcast as part of the deal to create a regional sports network with the Rockets in October 2012. McLane admitted to having conflicting emotions about the sale, saying he was sorry to let go of something that has been such a huge part of his life, but believing it was necessary for estate-planning purposes. “I’m 75,” he said. “My health is very, very good. We’re one of the few teams owned by one person. It’s a big part of our estate, and it was better to have settled this now than to have done it later on. I’ve watched the NFL when someone has passed away, and it took a lot of time. I wanted to do it and have it well organized. I’m sad about it. “This will change my life dramatically. I went to spring training. I’d go to 18-20 games in spring training, and I go to at least 70-80 games at home. It dictated your whole life. I bet I continue to watch them on TV and keep up with them on BAM (MLB.com).” McLane’s 19 years included a dramatic range of highs and lows. The Astros made the playoffs six times during one nine-year stretch, a period highlighted by winning the 2005 National League pennant and bringing the World Series to Texas for the first time. However, as stars Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell aged and as the weaknesses in the club’s player development system were exposed, the Astros fell on hard times and were the game’s worst team in 2011 with 106 losses. It was the worst performance in the Houston franchise’s 50 seasons. “They’ve got a good minor league system now,” McLane said. “I think in two to three years they can be very competitive. That’s what it took when I bought the team. They hadn’t been competitive for several years.” He said he’ll devote the next chapter of his life to a variety of causes, including raising money for and helping design a new football stadium for Baylor, his alma mater. Asked what advice he’d give Crane, he smiled. “Learn from the sportswriters,” he said.
jcrasnick Jerry Crasnick Crane on all the California games for Astros: "I was in the air freight business and we always flew a lot, so we'll be flying a lot.''
Best. Tweet. EVER!!! AstrosCounty Astros County Let's go Mayans! (clap clap clapclapclap) Let's go Mayans !(clap clap clapclapclap)
alysonfooter Alyson Footer The Astros will move from the NL Central to AL West as early as 2013. The move was mandatory in order for ownership to transfer. DKnobler DKnobler Technically, Astros move is "as soon as" 2013, which means it could be delayed until 2014. But strong expectation is that it will be 2013 UGH!!!!! DKnobler DKnobler Selig says designated hitter rules will almost certainly stay same, says would need "catalytic event" to change it
what a helpless feeling. who is god's name cares about interleague games anyway? that novelty wore off 10 years ago. and a 1-game playoff is assenine. why not just have a 32-team NCAA-style tourney every year telling you folks, crane will move the astros out of houston before his ownership is over. he's complete scum.
great, great article: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/...-astros-to-al-has-nothing-to-do-with-fairness
