[610 Sports] Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey FIRED

Stottlemyre?

 

I just don't know about this right now Ric. I mean, really, how much do you think a pitching coach has guided either pettite or clemens in the last few years? "Hey Roger um looking good. Can I put some HGH in your ass?"

 

No, that was the strength coach (allegedly). Get it right.

 

Tell that to Leo Mazzone...

 

What's Mel Stottlemyre doing these days? I would love to have him back in Houston.

 

and Jim Leyland, Jimy Williams and countless others.

But there was that Terry Collins guy.

 

"Well, that's weird!"

 

Yeah, they definately aren't done yet. It's ax week for managment. Sucks to be them. Maybe J.D. or Roger will take over as coach.

 

I guess I am an idiot..Fire Garner bring on Pinnella...

 

Garner kept trotting Lidge out there long after it was obvious Brad wasn't working his way out of it.At least 10 games would factor into this.If we just split those,we win the division.Now,I'm not sure,but I wouldn't be shocked if the orders came from Drayton.He's paying big money for Lidge and is a PR lover.There is no doubt Lidge should have been given a MUCH shorter leash.
Phil is a master motivator and communicator ,but is sorely lacking when it comes to baseball strategy.I know we have made it to the Series and have played well down the stretch under Garner.Phil gets credit where credit's due.But when it comes to big games he spits the bit.Our young pitchers were forced into service and had too much expected of them too fast.Backe's injury and Drayton's refusal to acquire a quality starter, another reliever,and possibly another bat at the deadline contributed heavily to us coming up short also.Sooo what does Uncle do?He follows his modus operandi and Hickey becomes the fall guy.Garner's extension is predictable and I don't have a problem with it,but always look to our owner for his smoke and mirror tricks.

 

Wow... with analysis like that, its shocking that Phil is even allowed in the clubhouse.

You do realize that Phil has won more "big games" than any other manager in Astros history, and a lot of those games he was forced to make moves that contributed to those wins.

Also, Lidge blew 6 games... and probably lost 3-4 more where the game was tied (hence his 1-5 record). So, yes... those were the "10 games" or so that Lidge should have never seen the field. But if you're going to say that, what about the THIRTY-TWO games he ended up saving... you can't automatically assume that somebody else would have converted every single one of those saves. What about the fact that any closer, including Lidge when he was at his peak, is going to blow 3-4 saves a year. What about the fact that Qualls had a disaster year as well, blowing just as many saves this year that Lidge did... for a guy who only pitches in the 7th or 8th inning, that's atrocious (for reference, he blew ZERO last year). Wheeler did a great job when called upon... but it wasn't like he was some dominant closer-in-waiting. He pitched his ass off this year... the best bullpen guy the team had... but if you think for a second that he should definitely be counted on as our "long-term closer of the future", you're severely mistaken.

Garner deserves criticism... just as ALL managers deserve criticism... but in the end, this team (based on how its PLAYERS performed) was an 82 win team. Looking at their pythagorean W-L (based on runs score/runs allowed) they should have won 83 games... meaning that this team wasn't a victim of horrible managing that cost them a lot of close games while they won all the other games comfortably (which was notorious of the 2002-2003 teams, or any Jimy teams). They won close games, they lost close games, they blew out some teams, they got blown out... they played well in 1-run games (25-21), but played not so well when it went to extra innings (6-11)... EVEN!

You could have a guy that knows more like Jimy Williams, or Buck Showalter... but is horrible with managing the clubhouse, getting to know their players, relating to both the young and veterans, etc. In the end, there is always a trade-off... and its not as steep as some of you perceive it to be.

 

Yea... bring on a guy who goes to "rebuild" a team simply for the $$$, and bails out on them when the team is still crappy. Not to mention that the guy is LOVING his cush TV lifestyle right now.

Pinella would be a perfect fit for the Cubs.

 

that would be a dream come true.

 

yeah, because that clemens guy they landed in june sucked......

 

Where do they come up with this crap?

 

clearly it was the starting pitching that held us down this year.

 

and that Roy O guy that is locked up for 5 years is such a waste...

 

And being 2nd in the NL for team era 2 years running...

Initially, I thought this was a strange move. But after thinking about it, it's got to be more about the future and where this team is going. They need these young pitchers to contribute and Hickey simply wasn't getting it done with them. I don't blame him for Lidge. Lidge needs time away from baseball to clear his head. From the World Series to the WBC and right into the season...Lidge needs rest. He does have to take some of the blame for the failure of the younger pitchers. He had it easy with regards to Oswalt, Clemens, & Pettitte. He didn't have to do anything with those 3. He didn't do enough with the rest of the staff, IMO.

 

Like I said..Right before the trade deadline,when we knew about Backe's status and the lack of production out of the pen,nothing was done.Toss in Andy's inconsistency/health and I'd say a couple of moves were needed.Relying on rushing the younger guys who either didn't have the talent,weren't ready,or just hadn't been there when we only have X amount of seasons left from Roger left was inexcusable.