That's probably a fair statement, I was an Astros fan, but I was a baseball fan first. It's why I didn't follow them once they started playing a version of the game I don't enjoy watching. I'm a Texans fan, but if they switch to the Arena League, I'll stop following them as well. I very rarely watch baseball anymore as it stands, if there was no more real baseball, I'd just stop watching even that.
One thing that may deceptively add to the appearance of Houston having more of an issue with this is the fact that more people are moving to Houston than, say, Boston or Chicago. So if there are more Red Sox fans in Houston than there are Astros fans in Boston, it's not our fault Sox fans prefer Houston to their crappy city.
Some of you guys really have a strange fascination with the DH. I don't like the ways fouls are called in the NBA, I don't like excessive pass interference calls, and I don't like the DH, but you guys act as if it is some seismic change in the games and it's not. It's your prerogative to dislike it, I myself hate it, I think most baseball fans do, but ultimately I don't enjoy games any less. I still maintain that if this team gets good all the crap people are whining about will go away and everybody will proudly say how long they have been a die hard fan ,which will be a lie for most people.
A endless stream of things like bad baseball, no name players, sparse TV coverage, a perception of the team disrespecting former players, a greedy loud mouth owner, paying more to see good teams, being forced to switch leagues, etc... has given fans a reason to not care as much about the team. Because these days, it looks like the team doesn't care about the fans. I know....I know....because you put up with it....You are a better fan.
So you don't think adding a DH is equivalent to the difference between NFL and Arena League What planet are you from? Agreed. I don't like the DH either, but still cheer for my team. And yes, people will lie once the team gets good again. Hopefully the lies begin next season
Along these lines.... I travel a lot and I listen to Sports Radio in other cities. Nowhere else do you have as many listeners calling in to talk about other teams. For the life of me, why don't the Houston talk show hosts hang up on jackass callers calling in to talk about the Cowboys? Call a damn radio station in Dallas and talk to people who give a damn.
I hate the DH. I've referred to it as softball several times on this board, but to me this is a bit ridiculous. The vast majority of the game is still the same. When the Astros moved to the AL, my options were: A) Quit caring about MLB B) Find a new NL team to root for (ATL being by far the closest club to me, but no way in hell). C) Continue to root for the Astros and just live with what happens. I'm not going to let Selig, McLane, & Crane screw me out of my team.
What former players are they perceived to have disrespected? Clemens, Biggio and Bagwell seem to be around the team a lot. Everett and Ensberg are coaching in some capacity. Also, the pricing structure where higher prices are paid for premium games is not unique to the Astros. Regardless of everything else, when the team is in the playoff hunt in September, the stadium will be packed.
The uproar over Dierker of which I actually sided with the team. There were quite a few people upset over how he was treated. Never said the pricing move was unique. It's a dick move especially when the team you are trotting out is awful. Which September are you referring to?
You want to place a bet on the Astros making the playoffs next year? Dierker was one that came to mind. From Drayton's era, people were mad at one point about Jose Cruz being offered a reassignment. Another one that I didn't necessarily disagree with. Not a player but a popular figure, Tal Smith. The news of his firing wasn't received well.
Note that I said hopefully. At this point, it would take a lot for them to make up the necessary ground for them to make the playoffs. With essentially the exact same team, I can see them approaching 80 wins as long as they acquire a couple of healthy, solid bullpen guys. Had Albers and Crain been healthy all year and performed as they had when healthy in 2013, they probably would have been close to .500 this season. See me at the start of spring training. Who knows, they may make a few deals that makes me more optimistic.
Nope. If you stop being a fan of the Houston Astros because of the DH, then you were never much of a fan to begin with. To completely lose interest over the pitcher not hitting is an excuse.
