Whatever dude. Just admit that you did a 180 instead of coming across like you knew it all along like you did.
I don't love Drayton, but I defend him because the problem here isn't Drayton being a "snake" it's the system the MLB has.
Maybe Kent WAS a keeper, and ISN'T a keeper anymore. The years go by, the skill deteriorate. Who knows? DD
If he said what you are saying, it would make more sense. Today he says the signing was a mistake, in November 2003 he was saying it was great. In any case, he is using hindsight to bash the Astros, which isn't fair.
As one of McLane's biggest critics, I gladly ate crow when they signed Kent, because I saw it as a mov e to get another big bat in the lineup. Could that money have gone to a pitcher? Perhaps. But it didn't we picked up Kent and it was a good move at the time. When McLane went out and practically rolled out the red carpet for Pettitte and Clemens, I was estatic. I truly felt what it was like to have an owner who was commited to winning. When they decided to go to battle with Dotel as the closer and lots of ?'s in the bullpen I wondered why the Astros didn't go after relief pitchers to strengthen the bullpen, but nonetheless I was still in belief that this team was gonna do it...we were going the World Series. The reality of the situation is that the Astros are most likely not going to make the playoffs. I was at the game last night and it was an incredible atmosphere with the Rocket on the mound. The game came down to the wire and in the end (as cliche' as it sounds) the good guys actually won. This is how it was supposed to be all season long. But when the Astros are running guys out there are in over their heads, it just isn't going to cut it. Beltran will not resign with the Astros. His agent, the devil himself, Scott Boras will want his "premier free agent" to go to NY, Boston, Baltimore, LA or any other team that has a big payroll and an owner who isn't afraid to spend (although LA has shown lately that they are budget conscious). After this season, if McLane has made enough money, he will probably make one more run, but I just don't see it happening. The direction of this team is going to be a youth movement, with Everett, Oswalt, Ensberg, Burke, berkman and others leading the way. This time around I can't blame or be pissed at McLane, he finally went for it and it failed on the field, he ponied up just enough this time around and unfortunately it didn't work. He can open up the wallet again and lock up one of the best young players in Beltran but it most likely will not happen, if it does I will gladly eat crow again. The failure of this team will make McLane gunshy from here on out and we will probably hear about it just as soon as we hear that he lost another couple of million dollars.
Damn right I do. Especially when Hidalgo was slated to make 12 million and the ever declining Bagwell is making 13 and he (Berkman) is outplaying both of them. Not to mention he has all-star status and his OPS, at its lowest in that time, was .927, while currently Bagwell's is nearly .100 less and god only knows what Hidalgo's was. Also it is known that Berkman is a cornerstone of this team's future.
i don't think it's a wise idea to base future contracts on ones you're already adjuding were ones where you overpaid. i'm betting berkman will stick around. i'm betting the 'stros will take care of him.
Thank god you aren't running our team. Basing future contracts and current or past bad contracts is financial suicide for a middle market team. As i said before ...its easy to spend someone else's money when you personally don't have to suffer any financial reprocussions.
Your right, it's based on production and Berkman has flat out, out produced those two and on top of that, he is an all-star and the future of the team. The snake choose to disregard that, in favor of being what he is: "a snake in the grass".
If Gerry Hunsicker was not one of the best GM's in the game, this team would be in the toilet. Time after time, Hunsicker has been a master at finding cheap FA's and made good minor trades to keep this team competitive. It's amazing the Astros have done so well with their minor league system given their frugality. They refuse to spend the $$ on draft choices so they make 1st round picks out of 2nd round talent, 2nd round picks out of 3rd round talent, etc.... year after year. We're lucky the team has an excellent scouting department. The Astros will never be serious title contenders because Mclane is a good business man - he won't spend unless the odds are highly stacked in his favor. That doesn't happen often in baseball and if it does, it's an anomaly, arbitrage situation that cannot be duplicated. Every once in awhile he'll take a Doug Drabek/Greg Swindell Clemens/Pettitte gamble. It keeps the fans happy and McLane's happy. We have a contender - at least on paper. And please do not compare anyone to John McMullen. Why fans have such low standards for their teams/owners is incomprehensible. No, it's not our money. However, it's always fun to at least pretend we have an owner who is interested in building a championship than just getting by to placate the fans. McLane's biggest asset is understanding Houston fans will always settle for mediocrity and never demand more.
You would only wish I was running this team, if I happened to be the wealthiest owner in baseball, like that snake. Again, it's based on production, bottom line. I find it hilarious that you clowns defend the snake as if he is losing money. You are foolish.
I don't understand why a "snake in the grass" is a bad thing. Ask farmers - snakes in the grass, no rats and other pests.
I mentioned in Nick's post that Kent's signing was a mistake. I have explained to you that the reason for calling it a mistake isn't because of Kent (directly) but because of the moves that have transpired since. For the past month I repeated on countless occasions my dissatisfaction with this team. In those posts I have (repeatedly) criticized Bigg, Drayton, Tal Smith, Gerry and to a lesser extent Bags. You state, "Quit avoding the fact that you were once on the Kent wagon, and have now done a 180 based on 100% hindsight." Why is it that this is the first time I mention Kent? (except for trading him before the deadline to make room for Burke) You can say I am doing whatever you are accusing me of... But, can you remember me calling out Kent? You guys bring up a quote and single it out but forget to mention that I also said that it seems to me that we go after pitchers when we need hitters and vice versa. Kent wagon because of one statement? You have called me out on a number of occasions and you say you are debating... Well, Bobrek's post proves that I have been saying pretty much the same thing since this winter. Speed, defense, left-handed stick, and one more reliever when we had Dotel. That has not changed. I didn't want Pettitte but I can understand that move. Especially when you add Clemens to the picture. I have a question for you. Of all of the things that I have written in this thread, you picked the Kent statement. In other posts, you attacked me for saying that I wasn't completely sold on the Pettitte signing and now you have proof. You and your buddies always bring up hindisight 20/20 but apparantly I did mention what I felt was the issues with the team!(see prior paragraph) Yet, hindisght is 20/20. One final thing. I believe that there is definitely a clique in this forum. I had never paid attention to it before but this is starting to bother me. I don't know how to state this because I know that you, Codell, will spin this paragraph and forget about the prior paragraphs (because that is your MO). Do you guys know each other? You know the ones that you are so quick to defend. Or is it a coincidence?
You do realize that since 1994, the only season the Astros haven't been serious title contenders (either via the talent on the team or their making the playoffs or their resulting place in the standings) is 2000? I will qualify that by saying any team that makes the playoffs IS a serious title contender. The 1998 team that entered the playoffs was generally regarded as the best team in the playoffs.
Judging by the declining fan attendance before this year and before MMP opened, I think its fair to say that the Houston fans weren't settling for mediocrity. I also think its fair to say that Drayton's player payroll is always close to the top of the list of other middle market teams. This year it sure is. PS - I think your other points are very fair and I agree with them. Just to show you that we dont always disagree.
yeah, bigboy. because we agree with each other, we're a clique. and we assume that you and gunn are either, a.) twin brothers separated at birth; or b.) roommates.
