Bob Allen on 1560: Spoiler Learned last night...not a big shock but Drayton said last week not a firm offer. I talked to someone close to Crane in last couple days, and everything has been agreed to late last week. Nearly finalized? Yeah, dotting the I's, crossing the T's. Sale price is right around 680 million dollars. When the number came out last year, people laughed at that number. What were some hold ups or major points? Number of partners, the investors,...that I really cant tell you. I dont know the specific points. It was getting a price and agreeing to it. You got the stadium lease, television thing, a lot of moving parts there so long and protracted negotiations. They should be making an announcement soon. When do you expect that announcement? I think it should be soon. This week, next week. Depends on how long the lawyering takes and crossing of the T's and dotting I's take. How will Crane change the way the Astros are run? I dont know. Crane has stayed under the radar. What I'm getting: good business man, will be a good owner. Frankly I hope he doesnt change a lot. I think the Astros are on the right track as far as rebuilding. He does need to sign a couple young players in the interm to get fans excited because Ive never seen less interest in the Astros. You covered Drayton since he bought the team right? Yes. Highlights of him? When he bought the team, didnt know anything about baseball. Eventually, he kinda got it. He wasnt afraid to spend but not sure he spent it the right ways. Highlight for me was winning in STL and going on the WS and of course getting swept. I thought Id never see my team in the WS. You remember Pujols HR was such a punch to the gut. Then we had to go to STL. That was fun. That game in STL was last playoff game they ever won. ABC runs NBA games. NBA ratings incredible. You've been in the business long enough. When the Spurs and Cavs played and there were all-time low ratings, everyone freaked out. Why do fans care about the ratings? I dont think the fans care a rats ass about the ratings. I read David Barron's column and he goes on about the ratings. I'm in the business and I dont care. When did you stop caring or worrying? I care about the ratings on Channel 13 and what our news does. As far as ESPn or TNT, personally I dont care. If its compelling or a good game, I dont care how many people did or didnt watch. Did you watch last night 3OT game? When I got home. It was exciting. Peak in NBA interest? Compelling story is who ISNT in it anymore. All the new faces are interesting. As for these so called ratings, I dont know. Seeing a new guard. Will be interesting Finals. Will make for awesome basketball. ... How is Slovak? Good. Works hard. Finds stories under rocks. He is great. Love working with him. You've known Granato and Slovak, who wins in drinking competition? Good question. I think Granato can outlast Slovak.
Justice: Astros: Think it's gonna be next week. Has been this way for 6 weeks now. In the neighborhood of 685 million. Pretty impressive group of local investors. Will be odd. Whatever you think of Drayton, hes the only guy you have gone to. It will be a new era. People at MMP are nervous. Popular thing for Crane to do is fire Ed Wade. Not sure its the right thing to do, considering what he took over. They were 30th in major and minor league talent, ownership, etc. He has refurbished player development. They have some hope at the minor league level. What we dont know about Ed is: can he finish and build a roster? Many friends with the Rays, if you can hire Andrew Friedman, you do it. He is the best. They lost their bullpen. They now have the best bullpen. Its too easy. Everything will change for the Astros. Cant comprehend it. Crane wont be like Drayton or Les.Gotta go forward or backwards. Cant be half ass in the middle. If you blow it up, good-bye Myers and Wandy and blow it up and get #1 pick in the draft. You can go forward and sign Pettite and Berkman. Problem with Drayton was he only made one move. ... When the baseball people would talk to him, the look in his eye was what are you trying to pull on me. What did Nolan do with the Rangers? His inclination was to fire both GM and Manager but he sat back and watched them work and came to respect them. He is a huge fan of both now. If you can get Friedman, you do it. He and Maddon see things others dont. .... Cant do it the way the Astros have done it. Cant be a little old and a little young. Blow it up or move forward. Will be interesting offseason. Hope he hires a lot of smart people.
Blow it up. Then sign Berkman and Pettite. Give Ed Wade a chance. But hire Friedman. Make up your mind, Richard.
He is saying either start all over, or spend money to bring in some stars. He just said don't stay pat. And keep Wade, unless you can get Friedman.
Why would Friedman leave? TB is a playoff level team with a stocked minor league system due in no small part to him.
Justice should know better, Stros are rebuilding already so no real decision needs to be made on the direction of the club. Crane just needs to decide which of the veterans need to go at the deadline and continue to rebuild. Allen said it best, build with the system just invest what money is available on young players. I would fire Wade and make Heck the GM of the club. Guy knows how to build a farm system and that is all that matters right now. Groom a young future GM under Heck. Wade has done an ok job so nothing really against him but team needs a new face to build with.
I would fire Ed Wade, Tal Smith, Ricky Bennett, and Fred Nelson first. The whole front office needs major changes. Crane played college baseball so he knows baseball a little. I would hire Logan White or Dan Jennings as GM and give them complete control over baseball operations. Heck is decent but I don't think anybody in this organization deserves a promotion. I just hope Wade and Smith are gone.
I think the team has some serious talent at the low levels and bits and pieces at the higher levels which was Heck's job from the very beginning so I'd say he deserves a promotion. Saying that, if you can get a nice up and coming GM and keep Heck where he is at then I'd be more than happy to go along with that plan.
#1 he is from the Houston area #2 he has a close relationship with several of the proposed ownership group #3 Houston would be in a better position to pay and keep the young players he would draft and develop. #4 Houston could easily double his salary. Certainly not a "sure" thing, but not out of the realm of possibility
I'd really like our chances if the deal with Crane fell apart and Friedman's dad became principal owner.
Richard thinks Crane brings in George Postolos, former Rockets President/CEO, and will be in charge of day to day operations
Haven't been following all of this too closely ... So is the general consensus that we are happy that Crane is taking over and will be a good owner?
I think people are just ready for change. I think Drayton is ready for change, too. Get ready to see a new football stadium built on the Brazos River, right on campus at Baylor with the "proceeds" of this sale.
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2000_3213912 " Crane told his subordinates not to hire blacks because "once you hire blacks, you can never fire them." On other occasions, Crane explained the reason he wanted to keep blacks out of the company was that his top managers are bigoted and they would mistreat the minorities, "giving them no choice but to sue Eagle." " guy may be scum. oh well, i guess we root for the players, not the owner.
