[Chron] Hunsicker must prove that he's trustworthy

Man, there's even more.

Everyone still wonders why McMullen fired Gene Elston in 1986 after that great run. McMullen fired Al Rosen in 1983 and Dick Wagner in 1987 or mebbe it was '88. McMullen fired Bill Virdon, who at that time was the winningest skipper in Astros history, in midseason 1982--after successful 1980 and 1981 campaigns--presumably because of a pretty rough start.

McLane has stuck with Milo, and still does, when *all* of us are begging for him to be canned. While McLane has fired folks as well, no skipper lasted five years for McMullen like Dierk did for McLane, no GM even approached five years, much less the NINE years that Gerry had.

Another difference: McMullen stayed at his New York home and made no efforts to embrace the business community in Houston. McLane is the polar opposite--always down in Houston, making it to functions, shaking hands, winning friends--embracing the business community. And that piece is *critical*, because this is a business after all.

There's even more, but I'm tired.

 

2005 Houston Astros National League 89 73 .549 11.0 2,804,760
2004 Houston Astros National League 92 70 .568 13.0 3,087,872
2003 Houston Astros National League 87 75 .537 1.0 2,455,241
2002 Houston Astros National League 84 78 .519 13.0 2,517,267
2001 Houston Astros National League 93 69 .574 - 2,904,277
2000 Houston Astros National League 72 90 .444 23.0 3,056,139
1999 Houston Astros National League 97 65 .599 - 2,707,017
1998 Houston Astros National League 102 60 .630 - 2,450,451
1997 Houston Astros National League 84 78 .519 - 2,046,781
1996 Houston Astros National League 82 80 .506 6.0 1,975,888
1995 Houston Astros National League 76 68 .528 9.0 1,363,801
1994 Houston Astros National League 66 49 .574 0.5 1,561,136
1993 Houston Astros National League 85 77 .525 19.0 2,084,546
1992 Houston Astros National League 81 81 .500 17.0 1,211,412
1991 Houston Astros National League 65 97 .401 29.0 1,196,152
1990 Houston Astros National League 75 87 .463 16.0 1,310,927
1989 Houston Astros National League 86 76 .531 6.0 1,834,908
1988 Houston Astros National League 82 80 .506 12.5 1,933,505
1987 Houston Astros National League 76 86 .469 14.0 1,909,902
1986 Houston Astros National League 96 66 .593 - 1,734,276
1985 Houston Astros National League 83 79 .512 12.0 1,184,314
1984 Houston Astros National League 80 82 .494 12.0 1,229,862
1983 Houston Astros National League 85 77 .525 6.0 1,351,962
1982 Houston Astros National League 77 85 .475 12.0 1,558,555
1981 Houston Astros National League 61 49 .555 6.0 1,321,282
1980 Houston Astros National League 93 70 .571 - 2,278,217
1979 Houston Astros National League 89 73 .549


The 1983 Astros sucked? The 1985 Astros sucked? The 1988 Astros sucked? The 1989 Astros sucked?

yet the 1994 and 1997 Astros were good?

You are Mr. Spin himself.

 

Can't admit you're wrong, so you're going to throw insults instead? Nice.

Here, let me help you:

You. Were. Wrong.

And no, I didn't "waste 4 hours doing research". I went home, kissed my girl, went to a meeting, and then sat down to check out the BBS. I spent 5 minutes on google making sure memory served me right. It did.

And, btw, the next post I made was done without any checking back of the facts, so I might be off on a couple of those dates.

Oh, and one more thing before I go pour myself a hot steaming cup of "therapy":

You. Were. Wrong.

Good night.

 

This is hilarious. I spend the evening playing with my dog and watching college football with my wife, and you spent it proving me wrong.

You're awesome man.

Now go give Drayton another blowjob.

 

Actually, before I admit Im wrong, help me calculate the different winning percentages and then I'll admit it. Don;t stay up too late.

 

you can argue that all you want. and that's fine. the point is, we made the playoffs 2 times in our history prior to McLane. you know the rest.

 

First you make fun of research, and then you do some?

Looking solely at W-L records is not a very good way of determining whether a club is good. You have to compare the club to the rest of the league that year, but you knew that (at least I hope so).

1983: 6 games out, third place
1985: 12 games out, fourth place
1988: 12.5 games out, fifth place
1989: 6 games out, third place
(I might be off on some of those 4ths and 5ths)

1994: .5 games out, 2nd place, and an MVP
1997: 1st place

Yeah, but *I* was "spinning" the facts.

 

I would hardly call any of our wild card appearances as really making the playoffs.

They kind of changed the rules a few years back.

 

More insults and accusing me of lying?

Up yours, jackass. If you want to have intelligent conversation, let's do so. If you want to act like a sixth grader, then you can spank yourself alone.

 

You do realize the league became much more diluted when the Rockies and Florida Marlins joined MLB.

Also, without the wild card games, when you were out of the pennant, there wasn't much to play for so it's not an apples to apples comparison.

Im sure You knew that.

 

I was kidding but obviously you weren't. Add anger management to the list. .

I mean "up yours jackass" is so much more intelligent.

 

You already called me on it, but I need to apologize for this. Two wrongs don't make a right. And no, it wasn't apparrent that you were kidding.

 

ladies, ladies, stop fighting... your both pretty (courtesy of espn radio)

 

I don't know who did what but whoever made the decision to hire Jimy Williams should have been fired with him. What person with any baseball knowledge would hire that guy? He cost us a season and a half.

 

Do you consider the Rockets champions the year they made the playoffs as a 6th seed?

 

that's apples and oranges. REIT's point is that the Astros benefited from a system that wasn't in place while McMullen owned the team. The Astros wouldn't be in the playoffs without the benefit of the wild card in a couple of their playoff appearences under Drayton. that's just a matter of fact.

 

How many teams during the McMullen era would've made the playoffs had the wild-card been in place?

 

A quick glance at the Astros records and finishes suggests that '79, '81 and '84 would've been the only possible years they could've finished in the Wild Card. That would equal five playoff appearances in 13 seasons compared to six playoff appearances in 14 seasons. Pretty close if those seasons in question would've resulted in a hypothetical playoff berth.

 

I don't know and I don't care. I'm just saying reit made a good point. I don't care who the better owner is.

 

He should be more clear. When you say:

"I would hardly call any of our wild card appearances as really making the playoffs."

That certainly says that RIET does not consider the Astros making the playoffs the last 2 years (yet he considers this years season [EDITED - changed 'team' to 'season'] the "best" under McLane). Sure they changed the rules, but the team won the division in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001.