Do not start this **** in astros threads, please. On-field in-game leadership is completely non-existent in baseball, outside of playing hard & leading by example. Clubhouse leadership is a whole 'nuther thing, and it would be folly to discount it.
How about because a leader usually leads by example? Is Verbal and has aura about him that exudes confidence and strength? I can't see Brad ASSmus in that type of role. How can he look into a hitters eye and say pick it up and believe in yourself ( deep down he's saying that I know I'm a below average hitter )
Hey, I don't agree with your premise but that was hilarious. Buck is right--leadership in baseball happens in the clubhouse.
Because a guy batting around .230, with a noodle arm is hardly one to look up to.... Or maybe it is best to let Buck and his unwavering knowledge/ errrrr opinions, just explain what is wrong, and not have an opinion. DD
DaDa, that is a stupid take. Buck asked a fair question, especially when one considers that many baseball folks tout Ausmus as a solid candidate for a coaching position. Leadership is about more than superhero performance, VY notwithstanding.
How does he prepare for games? How does he handle the video study & scouting reports that he goes over with pitchers? How does he deal with the pitching staff? How does he handle his workouts? How does he handle playing through the beating his body takes? You do realize he's been the head of their kangaroo court for years, right? Why do you think that is? If you think players are looking at statlines when deciding what veterans to listen to, watch & emulate, you are ****ing crazy.
Buck, We have a very young team in a lot of areas.....do you think they honestly would look up to a mediocre player like Ausmus? I do think he would make a great coach....hell stick his butt on the bench now and let him call the pitches..... That would solve another problem for the Astros. Ausmus is to the Astros what Rafer Alston is to the Rockets. DD
rm95 - not sure you caught this, but yeah, see - he took the name "ausmus" and then, what he did was, he removed the "u" and replaced it with - get ready for it: an "s"!!! and what does a-s-s spell? that's right: ass!! and then, just to thrust the knife in a little deeper.... he put it in all caps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "ASSmus" oh, man..... brilliant, tested911 - BRILLIANT! and look out lance suckman -errrrr, berkman..............
uhm..... what? biggio's 41; ensberg's 31; berkman's 31; lee's 31 this month; scott's 29 this month; everett's 30, ausmus is 38, lamb is nearly 32, lane is 30, palmiero is 38, loretta is 34, quintero is 28, and pence is 24 meanwhile, our starting pitchers are 29, 28, 28, 29 and 40 and our three best bullpen guys are 29, 28 and 30. so just which "areas" are we young?
I guess if I really wanted DD's head to implode, I'd tell him that the one guy in the Astros clubhouse who's closest to taking over for Bagwell's "lead by example" role is... Adam Everett. The guys is so respected in there it's not even funny. He was dealing with a pretty serious personal situation last season (benign tumor on the spine of his 6-month old daughter) and to a man, everybody in the clubhouse saw how he dealt with that on a daily basis & just kept going about his business, busting his ass, & being a pro. Leadership manifests itself in many a different way.
Please don't remind us of how old are players are. It feels much better to pretend that Lane, Everett, Burke, Oswalt, Berkman, Qualls, and Lidge are only 25. Seriously though, it is hard to believe how we just don't have much young (< 25) talent within the organization. How is it that the Yankees and Red Sox can have better farm systems than us? And in regard to the actual topic of this thread. Our pitching sucks, Lane needs to be given up on at this point, Ausmus is ready to retire, and Biggio is too old these days to provide much help. Weak offense + Bad pitching = We Suck. Simple math.
Because the former GM, who is worshiped as infallible in some circles, had a string of 3 absolutely putrid drafts at the beginning of this decade.
I know they all put pressure on themselves... I know there's not all that rah-rah stuff day-in, day-out. I don't have that big of a romantic idea of any of this... I just think whatever there IS regarding that stuff... the urgency, the win-now, the "pressure"... that there's seemingly less this year because of the loss of some of the guys who exuded those characteristics throughout their careers.
Watch out... they'll find a way to blame "pooopura" for all of this, since he was the director of scouting/player development. But the Hun will still be the reason why we got all the players that actually worked out.
