Wut. I am not a serious Astros fan nor baseball fan, but even I know McLane isn't cheap at all. He's just an idiot who seems to like veterans way too much and doesn't develop a farm system. Kind of like another former Rockets GM who liked washed up veterans a lot. Begins with "D" and ends with "awson." < Good >
Cuban can't seem to pass an opportunity to make trades. For a change, this is a sensible move that addressed their weaknesses. It's not like they got a Gasol type of deal. Still, I hate them even more for getting better, but I don't begrudge them for doing so. My main thought from this is that I actually would root for the Lakers over them in a hypothetical WCF, which is embarrassing.
Huge trade for the Mavs picking up Butler and Haywood. Stevenson is a pretty solid throw in by the Wizards. It will def be lot more interesting in the west with Lakers, Nuggets and Mavs with this new lineup . Haywood,Dirk,Marion,Butler,Kidd is pretty nasty .
That's before Daryl Morey became GM of the team. He didn't have the opportunity to surround the superstars with great roleplayers. His becoming GM of the team nearly coincides with them having health problems. Hence, he did not "spend to surround the team's superstars with great roleplayers". The Daryl Morey hate going around the GARM since the Dallas trade is hilarious. Sad too.
It can if the pieces mesh. Terry, Marion and Butler potentially give the team an excellent SG/SF rotation. Butler's midrange game could be lethal for teams who try to double Nowitzki. Depending on who becomes the starter, imagine what damage Marion or Butler can do coming off the bench. And we already know what Terry can do. Haywood can slide right in as the starting center, letting Najera do what he does best - play the sparkplug for the second unit. This is a great upgrade for Dallas, and if they can work out the kinks in time for the playoffs, they can be very dangerous.
Solid, smart move by Dallas. It sucks that they got the guys we wanted, but I guess Washington was really dead-set on moving Stevenson and Lord knows there's no bad contract or luxury tax amount Mark Cuban isn't ready to absorb. More power to them. It makes them better but it won't put them over the top. In other words: yet another flashy, monster swing-and-miss on part of the Ponies.
I can tell you don't live in Houston or follow Houston sports, outside of the Rockets. But, I'll keep this short Drayton McLane - Houston Astros - High Risk, Moderate to No Reward type deals (while being a bit meddlesome at times). One time, I even caught a blogger say that McLane was the opposite, which had me ROTFL. Though to be fair, I don't think he is as bad Jerry Jones or Al Davis, but he is a couple of notches under them.
Wayne Huzeinga (Marlins/Former Dolphins owner) is cheap. McLane is ... just McLane. To be fair, the Astros have signed high priced FAs over the years, the only problem is . . . do they pan out (and the problem with some was they were past their prime). It also doesn't help that he is perhaps been labeled as ... I don't know meddlesome . More Complaints about Ole Drayton: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2993768 http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=486 MLB Payrolls 2009: http://www.getlisty.com/preview/2009-mlb-team-payrolls/ 2008: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3324146 ($21 million by the Marlins 2007: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2007 This article correlates payroll spending with wins, as you clearly see that money isn't necessarily a problem for the Astros. 2006-08: http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2009/03/mlb-team-payrolls-2006-2007-2008-efficiency-analysis/ http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2009/03/20062008_payrol.php In that time span, eight teams spent less money, but averaged more wins than Houston. Drayton's earlier season 1993: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/1993/Payroll.asp 1994: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/1994/Payroll.asp 1996: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/1996/Payroll.asp 1998: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/1998/Payroll.asp 2000: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/2000/Payroll.asp 2002: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/2002/Payroll.asp 2004: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/2004/Payroll.asp 2005: http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Years/2005/Payroll.asp I have to say that, McLane actually does put money into the team, unlike some owners. Maybe, not as much as the Yankees or Red Sox, but he has put a fairly well-paid for team on the field. While, the Astros have been the 2nd most winning-est team in the National League, since 1993, right behind the Braves. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drayton_McLane,_Jr. Wow, can't believe I am actually somewhat defending McLane. But, I have to give him some credit for not being cheap, like the Marlins or Pirates.
Seriously, it's absolutely no use arguing with the influx of 14 year old posters these days. They think they know everything about basketball and business, and if they say Les Alexander or Drayton McLane are cheap, I say let them think that. And seriously, where was this guy last year when we had 3 SUPERSTARS.....hell, this year we have 2 "SUPERSTARS" on the payroll. The number of simple-minded posters is ridiculous these days. I swear, if Morey doesn't make a deal by tomorrow, the GARM is going to explode in a fiery ball of teen angst.
