The way Koby has been between last year and the 1st 6 games this year, I think there is a decent chance this guy can play. Though I do wonder how he turned it around so dramatically.
Why not? While FAgency, and to a smaller degree his Trades, haven't been Wade's strength, player development has been. The first two drafts look solid, not great but solid, and with a ton of early round picks this upcoming draft I am encouraged enough to let this play out. A new GM would not be able to turn this mess around any faster and the Stros need stability in the worst way.
I'm extremely confused on the Phillies organization and fans. Depending on who you listen to, Wade either had a heavy hand in the Phillies last few seasons of success due to addressing/building up the farm system players OR he was the reason the Phillies sucked under his reign and, only now that he is gone, are the Phillies highly successful. Which is it?
Yes. On one hand, he drafted pretty much all of their major players right now. On the other hand, his fondness for mediocre relievers kept the team from taking the step to where they are now.
Unfortunately, we had a time conflict last night and I was at my older son's game. My wife said he was super cool, though. Signed autographs...talked to all the kids on both teams after the game....a little pep talk. One of the kids on our team got thrown out at first and started to cry (5 years old)...and Lance walked out and gave him a hug saying, "hey, buddy, that happens to me too."
That's really cool. Was he swarmed by fans? The Astros are depressing me. It seems like the last several years they are always on the verge of not making the playoffs. Then near they end they get hot. Sometimes it's enough to push them into the playoffs and some years it isn't. But they do make a run. Maybe if they didn't start with a 7 game handicap, the late season run might be more effective, or even unnecessary.
Yep, player development was his strength but some of those contracts...ewww Burrell Bell Lieberthal It's probably somewhere right in the middle.
he was coaching. my wife got the impression it was his brother's or perhaps his brother-in-law's kid on the team he was helping. oddly enough, i saw Rick Smith (Texans GM) on Saturday at my younger son's game too. it's like a who's who of houston sports out at the little league field
So it's even better than I thought...talked to one of the assistant coaches (Groogrux - this was the FP 5/6 team) Berkman came into their dugout before the game and introduced himself as a Houston Astro. One of the kids yells, "You lost to the Phillies!!!" Lance says, "Yeah, we haven't won a game yet." Another kid says, "How do you know we haven't won any games???" Lance starts laughing and says: "Well we haven't won any games either, so it's ok."
Fire Sean Berry, Bring in Bagwell for the hitting coach, and Bring Biggio in as a bench coach, to inject some heart into this team. Carlos Lee signing worst move of all time
I'm going to tell everyone I know in Houston with kids to put their children in the celebrity division of little league. I think it's cool now, and I can't imagine how cool I would have thought it was when I was a kid to have an Astro(especially a good one) involved with my little league team.
It's not that Carlos isn't a good player. He's just not $19 million good. He was the 6th highest paid player last year. He also has the 19th largest overall contract all-time at $100 M/6 years.
