I know...I lived through them as a child. With the success this team has had since Drayton bought the team, it makes me bristle when I hear people piss and moan that we are not even trying to contend. Then again, I forget that a lot of people here never lived through the receivership days.
Well, I guess I will choose to happily remain an "arrogant 13-year old b*stard" in your eyes. This type of "arrogance" is why the Yankees have become the Yankees, why the Cowboys are the Cowboys, why the Lakers are who they are as a franchise. Once upon a time, they were once normal sports franchise like every other franchise in their respective leagues. The only difference, they try to win at all costs no matter what the situation. And everyone loves being associated with "a winner" hence why they are the large-than-life empires they are now. Other teams see this and are using it as a model for success. The Red Sox under John Henry, the Mets under Wilpon, the Angels under Moreno, heck even the Cubs of late. Now Im sure you might bring up the fact they play in large markets. Houston, as the 4th largest city and the 6th largest Metro area now, is no small market. Add to that the fact that Drayton has his suite-filled, revenue-generating monster of a ballpark that he demanded he get built SO THIS TEAM CAN STAY COMPETITIVE. And that's not even considering his own personal holdings (the grocery distribution company). And yet you say he has to cut costs to avoid bankruptcy? In sports, if you want to succeed at the cash register, you have to succeed on the field. You can be Drayton's cheerleader and feed yourself that garbage all you want, I refuse to buy it at all. And nothing you post will EVER change my "arrogant 13-year old" mind.....
It's a medium market. I'm sorry you don't understand this. Do the research and learn something. If you really believe the Astros could succeed by McLane supplementing losses out of his own pocketbook, you're as stupid as your arrogance here suggests. In a recession, you have to protect profits or there won't be a business left that can "succeed on the field". That much is sure. I've criticized McLane's front office before, but since the rest of your pathetic argument is worthless the old "homer" argument is all you have left. By the way, I didn't call your statement arrogant because of your opinion about the Astros (as wrong as it is, it is commonly held). I called your statement arrogant because you would dare to think that the only way people could disagree with you is if they are "happy with mediocrity". That statement is bristling with arrogance. I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings, but you won't get any olive branches from anyone as long as you dish out garbage like that. And feel free to learn a few things about media markets and big business before presuming to teach others about it.
Earlier, you used the signing of Clemens as a way to buck my "hometown discount" statement. Ok, good point. Now allow me to use the Clemens signing to return the favor. In 2005, when they signed Clemens to that ridiculously large contract to then complete baseball's 4th highest payroll, Drayton pocketed about 20-30 million in profits as a result of the most successful season in the franchise's history, on the field. Again, to succeed at the cash register, you have to succeed on the field and Drayton knows this after 2005. Now, I'm not saying the have spend as much as the Yankees. But they have alot of offensive pieces in place to form a contender, just need a lil help in the pitching dept. And to cap the payroll at $100 million considering the contract situation that exists and say "you're contending" is ridiculous bull crap. Considering the contract situation, Drayton could be a little more flexible with that self-imposed cap, maybe $110-120 million to help land that #2 starter and middle reliever to help us compete. But instead, it looks like we'll be wasting some of Roy's best years while the team plays mediocre ball because Drayton's self-posed cap. BTW, since I brought up that 2005 season, Drayton has raised ticket prices while the payroll has lowered. Now he has you "championing" him as a great owner by making you believe that is doing everyone a favor by now holding ticket prices in light of this recession while raising that payroll to his self-imposed $100 million dollar cap. Lost in all of this is this piece of information. Ticket prices are HIGHER now then in 2005 while the payroll (if he hardlines this $100 million dollar cap) will be LOWER then in 2005. So Drayton going bankrupt? As long as he has fans like you believeing in him and the way he runs the ball club, he won't be going bankrupt, even in these tough economic times you try and reference as an excuse for him.
So, just to be clear, you're suggesting that Drayton doesn't care about winning OR making money? What exactly do you think he wants out of the Astros?
For your examples, you have chosen two teams that are in a league that have some sort of salary cap (NFL and NBA), and a team (Yankees) with a seemingly unlimited amount of money. Their local TV revenues are more than a lot of teams total revenues. Your argument falls flat here. If the Yankees were going to lose money, they would cut costs too. It is the nature of the beast. If you are looking to back a team that can outspend everybody else and sign every good FA, then I would recommend moving to the Bronx.
Now you have proven that you have no idea what you are b****ing about. http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/houston-astros.html In 2005, the Astros payroll was just under $77M. In 2009, it will be $100M. That is a 23% INCREASE in payroll. You argue that he has lowered payroll. Now it makes sense...you have NO CLUE what you are talking about. Do yourself a favor and actually be right before you pipe up.
Funny you bring up "Da Bronx" I was born in Brooklyn and my pops tried to raise me as a Yankee fan because of his memories of growin up in Fort Apache. I bucked that for the simple hatred of my pops and became a Stros fan when we relocated here way back. But I'm sick of losing......the "dark side is calling." Not gonna lie, I have rooted hard for them, guess my pops did a good job installing it my head. And I live by the saying "Just win, baby." (even though the Raiders aint doin it LOL) just how I feel....its no shot at anyone nor any team.
Goodie goodie; I'm on the edge of my seat... In 2005, the Astros' operating income was $9.6MM, up from a $1.9MM loss in 2004. And that was operating income, not what "Drayton pocketed". In 2006, the year Clemens "wasted" and the year the Astros fell short of making the playoffs at all, the operating income was $30.2MM. If you'll remember, 2006 wasn't exactly successful on the field. Again, there's more to business than the cash register. But it's even more fun that you were wrong about the cash register, too. If it makes you feel any better, I dislike some of the rhetoric that comes from the front office, too. We don't necessarily disagree, here. I believe some of the cuts are absolutely necessary--but I'd like the front office to just be frank about it. Tickets sales are going to go down when this team hovers around .500 (or worse) all year long anyway; the FO might as well share the long-term plan with us. Everyone with half a brain knows that outside a few minor miracles this team will *not* contend. And history has proven that if that guy were actually there he'd do it. But who's there? Do you really believe the Astros had a shot at Beckett? Yeah, that's it. It has nothing whatsoever to do with one of the worst farm systems in baseball causing few-to-none well-developed players to come up and surround him, and having nothing of any value whatsoever with which to engineer a trade for little things like when Jake Freaking Peavey says, "I'd like to be traded to the Astros." Naw, that's not it. It's DRAYTON! MCCHEAP!!! When did I say that? I don't even know what ticket prices are! That's a whole 'nuther discussion. I guess you're wanting to shift gears, since your argument has been piece-by-piece dismantled on every turn here by several folks. Waaaaaaa. I realize earlier when I said, "what are you, 13?" it was pretty rude and that irritated you pretty good. But I asked it rhetorically, as you seem to have zero historical perspective concerning this club. If you had any clue whatsoever what it was like in the "receivership" days, or what it was like watching Nolan Freaking Ryan walk because of your cheap-ass owner, you would understand old farts like me a little bit better.
This is what gets me more than anything. People come onto the BBS and say that it isn't possible that the team goes bankrupt. Those of us that are north of 35 years old remember that it DID happen. If it happened before, it damn well could again.
Define "winning". The Astros have only had 2 losing seasons since 1992 and have been in legitimate contention for a playoff spot the vast majority of those seasons in September.
Oh really.....Yeah the fraternity of baseball owners would let baseball's 12th highest valued club fall flat on its face, financially. And while we're at it, lets conveniently forget the ballpark they play in, the cable contract, the corporate sponsor ships all over that ballpark. Forget it all....bankruptcy happened in 1975 and it could happen again.....to a franchise whose estimated worth in $463 million dollars. This aint GM, baseball wont be needing a bailout cause the owners wont allow it to get to that point. See the Arena Football League... I don't care HOW many times they've gone bankrupt in the past, thats a bull**** sorry-ass excuse for being a little bit more flexible with the payroll.
win•ning [ wĭ - nēŋ ]: of, consistent with, or related to the activities of the New York Yankees rel. whi•ning [ wī - nēŋ ]: the comparison of other organizations (including those that have actually won in the last seven years) to the New York Yankees
Point taken, good shot....can't argue with this. Just not happy going into this season staring a likely-losing season. Opening Day is supposed filled with optimism for success im the new season. I just dont feel that and I'm not happy about that.
Yep. They sure would. Let's! I mean, you're forgetting that the 'Dome had all that, so let's indeed. Sure they would. They have before. They would never let that happen to the Expos! Apples, see oranges. We know you won't change your mind. It's just too fun pointing out how your every point is so stupid. I'm with Max: go be a Yankee fan. You can go celebrate their *expensive* mediocrity.
I'm with you on this, bro. Losing sucks. But I'm hoping to see a long-term method in Wade's madness (just look at the Phillies), so I'm willing to give him some rope. It didn't work out with Purpura, but I'm just that way: I give guys a shot. But yeah, this season is looking like another 78-86 win season. It takes a few years to recover from what Purpura (and honestly, Gerry's final two or three drafts) did to this farm system. We languished through the 70s and 80s; this ain't gonna be nuthin' compared.
Ok, we are on the same page. I'm also willing to give Wade a chance too. He hasmt come into the greatest situation, which I completely understand. The situation with the farm system is well-known. The only way we can compete is via free agency or trades, and we dont exactly have hot trade commodoties to play "lets make a deal" with. So that leaves us with addition via free agency, which is why I feel a little flexability with the payroll is needed.
