Astros Sale now official Move to AL west also official

he never came out and said that the reason he's moving us is because we sucked this year, he loves nolan ryan, and because he had an incoming owner that he could threaten and bend over the rails. if he did, please find me those quotes.

 

"You're only as good as you're last win. So we've got to get work and certainly want to try make some improvements to the team and get focused on the fans."

Moving to AL = Loss

F Selig, F Crane, and F McLane . . . The Astros deserve better.

 

It's a sad day. Ironically, I'm in Anaheim and my hotel room looks out onto Anaheim Stadium. My biggest customer is here so I guess I know have built in reason that allows me to see some games. Other than that...meh.

 

I hope the sports authority sues the crap out of everyone. Selig better never show his face in Houston. Screw the Asstros.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Houston-Astros-switching-leagues-why-it-is-big-deal-111611

 

So what's gonna happen when the Astros win the World Series in 2012? Would we still move to the AL?

 

So sick and tired of the BULL**** FREAKING MYTH about "in-state natural division rival".

BULL. ****.

You mean like the Yankees/Mets? No wait, you mean like LA/Anaheim? Oh, wait--like San Fran/Oakland? No dammit, hold up -- you mean Cincy/Cleveland, right? Tampa/Miami? Kansas City/St. Louis?

Disingenuous and completely and entirely FULL OF ****.

 

Yeah, but I'd hope they shove the trophy up Selig's ass on the stage when he hands it to them.

 

Yeah that's the only thing I am looking at being positive. I live in Orange County now so it makes it a bit easier to see my team more often.

 

Don't forget Cubs/White Sox. Since when has two teams in the same geographical vicinity been a reason for them to be in the same league? Only two states (now three) have 2 teams in the same league. California, because they have 5 teams, and Pennsylvania, where the Pirates and Phillies aren't even in the same division.

 

I agree with this...wtf its bad enough we're in the AL now and it still pisses me off...f Bud and mlb for doing this...brewers or diamondbacks shouldve gone

 

I just see some point in the future where fans would still prefer to be in the NL and MLB adds a team or moves a different team to the NL and the Astros remain stuck in the AL.

 

map and post fail!!! with the exception of Seattle (they would screw up any map), the areas look correct.

 

Crane:

First, want to thank Drayton for all of his support. He was very kind and we developed a good working relationship. If not for Drayton, this wouldn't have moved forward. We worked hard, as you know. Wanted to thank Margaret(who works with me), George Postolos, a number of key investors for all the hard work to get to the finish line. Spent time at the owners meeting. Pleasant group. Pleasant experience. Sat in at owners meeting today. Impressed in what baseball is doing. Baseball has a very bright future.

We want to work hard to develop Houston. Future plans for the team: We want to focus on bringing a winner back to Houston. We'll close the transaction on Tuesday. Drayton will need a Brinks truck. We'll finish Tuesday and take over on Tuesday. Just to mention a few things; In August when delayed, Baseball has high standards. There was nothing in anyone's past that would slow this down. It was made clear that anyone who would own the team would be moving to the AL. We sat down with baseball and Drayton and came to a deal. The NL would not work. We didn't receive money for the transaction. Money reported is accurate. It is a purchase price reduction. It is different from what we started with. In ending, this has been a dream come true for all of us. Its been fun getting it done. Wanted to thank my partners for sticking in there.

What to say to fans about reservations about AL?

Fans are key. We certainly wanted a NL team but it wasnt going to happen. It was an AL deal and an AL deal that got done. We understand the issues. We wont look back, we'll look forward. When we get the team turned around and winning, hopefully that's in the rear view mirror.

First order of business?

I think our goal is to rebuild the minor league system. We'll continue to focus on that. That will help the big team. Tuesday, we'll review everything. We'll make quick adjustments. After Thanksgiving, you'll see us make a few moves.

Talk about those moves, are you talking about Wade and Tal?

We'll be focused on everybody. That will be our core focus. We also gotta get costs in line and build our way back.

What to say to season ticket holders?

We'd be disappointed if they didnt renew. We dont want to lose anyone.We'll reach out to them. People have been waiting for this purchase to be made.

...

George(Postolos) on day to day basis will be in charge. My job is to make sure the team is functioning properly. Pam Gardner will stay with us. She'll be a great help to us. On baseball side, that will be our first order of business to look at.

Will you be having more PCs or interviews?

You wont have my cell # unless you have it. Certainly we want to be accessible. We have qualified people. Drayton may have enjoyed that more than me. Reason I wasn't accessible was we were doing a big deal. We were instructed to keep it confidential unless a deal was done and/or to be announced. We'll be accessible as much as we can.

Looking in short term, approach there?

We can only spend as much as we're making. We'll approach it as getting the team lined up, payroll lined up with revenue, build the farm system, you'll see more of that. I doubt you'll see us as a big player in FA.

...

Revenue will go backward before it goes forward.

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The way it was structed was, we didn't want to perceive we were taking money to do this deal and putting it in our pockets. We said the AL deal is different and don't think its as valuable as the NL. We then discussed a price for that. Drayton reduced the purchase price then.

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Few bits from radio:

We'll say goodbye next year to the NL, so probably wont happen until 2013. We preferred the NL but it came clear to us, whoever owned the team, it was going to happen in the AL. We're prepared to go to work.

Fair to say MLB kinda had Houston over the barrel?

You could easily see. We had unanimous vote this morning. It was important for MLB in their CBA. They wanted 15/15.

Doesn't see the lease with HCSO as an issue. His lawyers have looked at it, will continue to look through it.

Talking about the payroll and how 4-5 guys cover most of it "but if we can get good prospects for those players, that would be the plan."

 

Couldn't be happier that the sale finally went through. That was the big thing for me. I'm hoping Crane can turn things around, and AL move aside (which isn't on him), I think he's said the right things. He'll win me over more if he brings in fresh faces in the front office.

Move sucks, change sucks....but all will be forgiven once the team is respectable again. I'll still be there Opening Day cheering 'em on!

 

How is it not "on him?" He could have told Selig and McLane that he thought he was buying a National League team for $600+ million dollars, and if it wasn't what he was going to get, he wasn't interested. Oh, he's far from the only one to blame, but he is NOT blameless.

 

Only a *very* casual baseball fan, but oh my goodness, there's a lot of censored words on this forum. Guess there's a good reason I've never been really drawn to baseball if the guy running the show is as incompetent as yall are describing.

 

Yeah he could have done that, and then he would have lost out on his probably best and last chance to own an MLB team. And who's to say MLB wouldn't have just waited around until a buyer came along that was willing to move.

So yes Crane is partly responsible for the team moving, but I don't blame him for it.

 

Isn't Frank McCourt going to sell the Dodgers now? Would MLB have given the same ultimatum to the Dodgers? Just think about their natural rivalry with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim!

 

That's just it there was never even any talk about the Dodgers moving to the AL. Even though no national league team gets the press and publicity that the Yankees and Redsox do the Dodgers are big enough and anchored enough in the NL that they would never be forced to move.