Bagwell and Biggio have never won a playoff series with any manager. Shouldn't they take the blame instead of the manager? I've never seen Dirk or Jimy ground into an inning ending double play or swing at a pitch in the dirt for strike 3. A manager can only do so much to get a team over the hump.
Being raised as a Marlins fan, I believe that the 'Stros should sign Jim Leyland for a quick championship (and then have a fire sale after winning)
Did Jimy get the world series? Jimy is the most overated manager this team has ever had. Give me Hal Lanier, Art Howe, Larry Dierker over him any day. But not Terry Collins. DD
Did Dierker ever win a playoff series? Once again, you're proven wrong about something, and you just ignore it... I'm seriously finished with you when it comes to the Astros.
Dude, No Dierker did not win it.....but at least he GOT TO THE DARNED PLAYOFFS. I just don't like the way Jimy manages, I think he pulls players too early, and uses others far too much. Just don't like him as a manager AT ALL. As for proven wrong...nice try TraderRM95, nothing has been proven, when you are dealing with opinions. SHEESH !!! DD
You said Jimy That was proven wrong. He's been to the playoffs and he's actually won a series. That's something your hero Dierker has never done. Now, I fully expect to wuss out and say that you meant he's never been to the playoffs with the Astros. And what's up with the "TraderRM95"? Trying to rile me up? Bad try.
It has always perplexed -- and more recently, irritated -- me that he spells his name "J-I-M-Y". I might just fire his ass for that. Yes, I say fire him.
Here are the pitchers Dierker had as manager: Mike Hampton (the one that deserved that ludicrous contract) Randy Johnson (he was even better then) Darryle Kile (only one year, but he was damn good) Shane Reynolds (when he was awesome) Jose Lima (when he had confidence, he was very effective as he was in 99) Wade Miller (his breakout year) Roy Oswalt (he was untouchable in 2001... till the groin) Carlos Hernandez (for all of his awesome 2 starts) Scott Elarton (when he was decent) Billy Wagner (was just as good then...) Octavio Dotel (had his breakout year in 2001) Here are the main pitchers Jimy's had in his 2 years here: Roy Oswalt (healthy one year, not healthy the second year) Wade Miller (been streaky) Shane Reynolds (godawful last year) Tim Redding (got his full oppurtunity) Carlos Hernandez (played all year with a bum shoulder) Rickey Stone (who?) Jeriome Robertson (huh?) Brian Mohler (c'mon...) Pete Munro (haha) Dave Mlicki (terrible) etc. etc. etc. You get the point. Dierker was SUPPOSED to get to the playoffs with those teams. Jimy SHOULD get to the playoffs with his team on paper, but not with the injuries to Roy. It is amazing that we are where we are. I started this thread just cause I was curious... I'm not a Jimy basher, nor did I think he deserves to leave (i just thought there could be a change). I thought this would be a field-day for all the Jimy bashers... it actually looks like he has a ton of support here (except for DD).
Jimy is definitely not the problem. The teams Dierker had were much better. The Jimy bashers are acting like we have the same talent now. Just because Bags and Bidge are still here, doesn't mean we have the same talent. Do you even comprehend how much they've fallen off since the Dierker years? Those teams were MUCH better on paper than what we have now and yet we still may squek in. Jimy has gone to the bullpen all year because many of our starters suck and our best starter has been hurt most of the year. It is one thing to leave Hampton and Lima and Reynolds in when they were good to pitch out of jams and quite another thing to leave Redding and Robertson in. I cannot believe people blame Jimy for this.
i think people forget, the astros managed to win 50 games in the 1st half. they were in first place at the break or a half game out, don't remember. Anyway... had Jimy not had a short hook on his pitchers the stros would have been lucky to have 40 wins. No way they are in contention then.
Great post JM... What he's saying is, even if the bullpen is tired now (a fact I think is overrated for guys who only pitch one inning at a time...), they did get us plenty of wins early. Wins in April mean the same thing now.
In the overall scheme of things this is a correct statement, however, a win in September is worth much more to a contending team than a win in April. The win today does more for the psyche of a team than a win earlier in the year. The losses Saturday-Tuesday (especially Saturday and Monday)were devastating to the team. A loss in April doesn't do near the damage. Give me a win in September over a win in April any time. If a team loses a game in April, they are not apt to panic or press. When you lose a game in September it will affect your mentality moreso than earlier in the season.
No Hal Lanier. He (and that blasted ump) blew '86. Davey Johnson out managed him completely. Jimy is better than Lanier and Collins and uh, and ... well, those two anyway. This is not a terrific team and unlike the Cubbies they did nothing to help in mid - late summer. The owner's commitment is to be CHAMPION (sic).
my question to you is, had the astros won around 40 games in the first half, do you believe they would still be in contention? I guess what i'm trying to get at is i don't believe the astros given the injuries and inconsistencies would have 85 wins without Jimy doing what he did in the first half. I agree with everything you said, it's frustrating when you realize we could have won at least 3 of those games
I honestly wouldn't mind seeing us sign Bobby Valentine. The guy is more of a confidence coach who's very enthusiastic and backs his players. I can't recall the last time I've ever seen Biggio, Bagwell, Kent, Hidalgo or honestly really any of our everyday players showing a little attitude and charisma when they play. It's like they're drones and no matter the score or situation they show no emotion. Biggio and Bags are aging as well as the rest of our big time everyday players but I think if they even showed just the slightest bit of enthusiasm to play the game oppose to having the always same monotonous look no matter the play, I think they'd play a lot better, especially under the clutch. I think Bobby Valentine could light a fire under their asses and get them to play with some enthusiasm. And if only for that reason would I sign Valentine.
Wow... are pigs flying? You think Bobby Valentine would inspire emotion? I think the only thing he'd inspire is laughter. How much respect do you think this guy would command? He was a clown those final years with the Mets, and aside from their world series run (which had more to do with their payroll than their manager), he was a clown everywhere else he's been. And, as far as backing players is concerned, I don't see any manager who lays it out there for his players more than Jimy.... He'll never call guys out, he'll never criticize them in the media; he's the quintecenntial "player's coach" who demands (and has) the utmost respect from his players. Hiring Bobby Valentine would be hitting rock bottom... and seeing how he's been on Baseball Tonight this year, I think I have more baseball knowledge than he does.
right there i stopped reading. That guy is an idiot, a joke and much more than words can describe. I'd rather see the Braves win a world series than see Bobby wearing an Astros uniform
Wow, pigs are flying if you believe that Jimy has "the utmost respect from his players". He has not had that in his past jobs. Just because none of the players call him out publicly does not affirm the 'respect' status. Nor that he is hated.
It's funny but you could twist almost anyone's resume to looking like **** if you word it right. I dunno much about Bobby's history before he was with the Mets, but he did manage a Mets team that's always been under the media spotlight and he did bring them to the World Series finals. I know that genuinely he seems like a charismatic guy and is more of a motivator then a baseball analysts. But with all regards to the game, overanalyzing certain statistic the way Jimy does has proven to be unhelpful as well. It is a matter of different managerial styles but I think Bobby's would be more suited to a team full of veterans that just don't seem to show that same drive to want to win it all like the Astros. Jimy's comes off as a style that would be better suited to an inexperienced young and up and coming team which the Astros definitely are not. I can count a number of games where his decision to pull a starter too soon cost us the game or games where he went with BA averages against certain hitters who hit high on a certain pitcher but ended up benching an everyday player who's been crushing ball and is having a hot streak only to cool that hot player off by keeping his bat on the bench. I've seen many instances like that with Blum/Ensberg. As good a player as Blum is at filling different positions in the infield, I'd feel much better off in the longrun keeping Ensberg's bat in the game over Blums. You can argue that Ensbergs bat has had it's share of cold streaks as well, but you don't see him showing as much patience to Ensberg as he's shown Biggio, or Bagwell who've had more then their share of 0-10 streaks. I honestly feel Ensberg could of been atleast a 30 HR hitter this year and could of shown more promise then an aging veteran like Blum, who again is good, but just shouldn't be plugged into 3rd base over another 30 HR power hitting 3rd basemen. Also Bobby being a manager who's already dealt with media frenzies like the ones in NY, I think the fact that he'll have less media coverage in the Astros organization could only help him get this team to succeed. But in addition to the fact that he has dealt with harsh environments before under the media, were the Astros to get in the playoffs with him as their manager, I think he'd be able to alleviate any pressure under guys like Biggio, and Bags who have a well known reputation for choking in the playoffs. Hell, having dealt with big name contracts before he might even be able to attract more quality players to the organization who like his managerial style. I wouldn't mind seeing him recruit Leiter or Trachsel from the Mets to the Astros organization. It doesn't mean he has those kinds of connections, but I know he is a well liked manager by his former players. Perhaps Bobby Valentine isn't the right player for the Astros job, but I'd like an enthusiastic coach like him to take the position atleast.
OK, I concede that Dierker had better pitchers, BUT, is that because he KNEW how to handle them better? That is my contention. Also, Jimy has a FAR more explosive offensive team........but still no playoffs. I am just not impressed with an average manager like Williams. DD
