It starts with quality pitching and if you can acquire quality bats at the same time, then you can go in the play-offs and after that is a lottery e.g. Atlanta and SF this year.
Now, the ineveitable talk about "feuding" is occuring, which probably would not have been heard from had the sh**ty New York media not been involved in this (or does that make them great journalists... I dunno). Regardless... I'm getting more and more psyched about Pupura... I get the feeling that he had just as much to do with our success, and did most of the leg work these last few years. Now he just needs a chance to gain respect from other GM's. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2152247 Hunsicker denies any feud with Astros' Smith By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Rebuking any belief that Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker is unhappy with team president of baseball operations Tal Smith, baseball officials believe Hunsicker will drop out as a candidate for the Mets' vacant GM position soon. Astros officials were shocked and dismayed Saturday after reading a New Jersey newspaper's report insinuating Hunsicker was dissatisfied with Smith. Hunsicker, who interviewed for the Mets' job Thursday, denied any rift with Smith, the man who gave him his first job in baseball and introduced him as a candidate for the Astros' GM post in 1995. Hunsicker has referred all questions about the Mets' search to Mets officials. "Gerry and Tal have worked well together for eight years," Astros owner Drayton McLane said Saturday. "They have a wonderful relationship." McLane is prepared to promote assistant GM Tim Purpura if Hunsicker decides not to fulfill the final year of his contract. That decision might be made as early as today, one team official said. McLane would like to extend Hunsicker's contract, but he isn't sure if he'll get that opportunity. "I don't know either way," McLane said. "He interviewed with the Mets on Thursday and Friday. Gerry called me today and said they would tell him by the middle of next week." The report in the Newark Star-Ledger that drew the Astros' ire said: "Hunsicker is said to be very interested in the (Mets) job, and the word circulating around the baseball playoffs is he is dissatisfied with the Astros' upper management, particularly president Tal Smith. There have apparently been disagreements between Hunsicker and his bosses, particularly when the Astros hired manager Jimy Williams when Hunsicker wanted Tony Peña." Hunsicker, who has been a loyal employee to McLane while becoming one of the most respected GMs in baseball, denied a rift with Smith. "Unfortunately, when rumors surface, irresponsible journalists feel a need to find an angle," Hunsicker told the Chronicle on Saturday. "Tal Smith has been a mentor and a special person in my life. I find this notion reprehensible." Smith was unavailable for comment, but it is common knowledge Peña was the candidate assistant Purpura recommended for the job after Larry Dierker was fired. Peña, the leading candidate to win the American League's Manager of the Year award after guiding the Kansas City Royals to a surprisingly strong finish this year, proudly refers to Purpura as his mentor.
I don't like this at all...He is gone...I loved what he's done given the budget constraints...Just imagine if he didn't have that...Once the Mets get him, watch out...
