It costs them no extra money to keep him and put him down in AAA. The only thing that would prevent Montero from going down is ego and another team offering him money and a change of scenery.
Astros would kill for 2nd half 2023 Abreu right now. He did have that last run in him. Not sure Big Jon/platoon could ever replicate that, but they’re still better than the 2024 version.
I got the squirts really bad a couple of days ago. I cannot figure out how yet, but I am sure it is Jeff Bagwell's fault.
Montero needs to be humbled .... and he needs to listen to the coaches that helped save his career. He CAN call his own game, but that doesn't mean that he should.
Spoiler Who started the “back of the baseball card” ****? Wow, now the rookie manager and new GM who came from a totally different organization are spouting the same bullshit? Never once heard Luhnow or Click talk about “the back of the baseball card”. Spoiler _________________ “And between the four or five people that make the decisions with the Astros, we don't play that game." The group Jackson is referencing includes himself, owner Jim Crane, former Astros Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, and general manager Dana Brown.” _________________ https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1792255107645464682 https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1658640250145587201 https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1618712637616816128 https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1599899593835102209 https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1597625146713456641 Dana & Joe were speaking to the community outreach executive about when Abreu could rejoin the team? Dana Brown spoke to the spring training roving instructor during his job interview? Dusty Baker was speaking to the community outreach executive regarding baseball operations? Spring Training rover instructor sent to Miami to negotiate the deal? _________________ https://ouresquina.com/2023/jose-abreu-in-stage-he-envisioned-last-november/ The champagne had barely dried in the home clubhouse at Minute Maid Park last November when Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell traveled to meet Jose Abreu. Joined by Abreu’s longtime agent Diego Bentz, they gathered at a private room at Graciano’s in Coral Gables, Fla. From early afternoon until the evening that day, Bagwell and Jose Abreu spoke for almost four hours. They spoke in the Cuban Abreu’s native Spanish and Bagwell’s English. Astros bench coach Joe Espada and former assistant GM Bill Firkus were also in attendance. In the Astros, Abreu saw a legitimate opportunity to chase a World Series. In Abreu, Bagwell saw a slugger who could help Jim Crane bring a third World Series title to his adopted hometown. “The setting was very conducive to create a conversation instead of an interview,” Bentz said. “It was a conversation between two great baseball figures. The connection between Bagwell and Abreu was natural.” It was the first of multiple meetings between the Astros and Abreu. Crane eventually met with Abreu as well. The Astros ultimately signed Abreu to a three-year, $85 million deal. _________________ wE’Ve gOnE ToO FaR! **** AnAlYtIcS! **** WhAt gOt uS HeRe! https://www.houstonchronicle.com/te...-James-Click-analytics-Jim-Crane-17618598.php Jeff Bagwell on Tuesday bemoaned the Astros' reliance on analytics and asserted that “this game is played by humans, man. It’s not played by computers.” “The game has advanced so much,” Bagwell said. “But at the end of the day, it’s about driving runs in, scoring runs, getting 27 outs before the other team. That never changes. Trying to get a mix of both of those is what I’m trying to get some of up there because that’s what (owner Jim Crane) wants.” Crane sent Firkus and Bagwell to Miami to finish Abreu’s contract, the latest example of Bagwell’s increasing importance within the organization. Asked whether the Astros had gone “too far one way,” Bagwell replied, “Personally, for me, yes. “There are certain things that go on that the numbers can’t explain,” Bagwell said. “This game is played by humans, man. It’s not played by computers. There’s a lot of things that go on — stuff at home, a lot of things that can happen throughout the year that mean something, and it affects players in certain ways.” Bagwell’s comments should come as no surprise. He’s taken both veiled and blunt shots at some of the game’s modern changes during appearances on Astros television and radio broadcasts. Crane fired Powers on the same day he parted ways with Click. Powers oversaw the team’s research and development and performance science departments. In a statement announcing his hire, the Astros claimed Powers would “continue to move the Astros forward in analysis and innovation.” Bagwell’s musings Tuesday make it unsurprising Powers is unemployed. It’s clear that since Click’s departure, Bagwell wields far more influence than his current job title of community outreach executive. _________________ You’re gonna say he wasn’t hired so who cares or he wasn’t hired so see, Bagwell’s influence is overstated…why was Ausmus runner up for GM/Manager in three different offseasons? Go ahead, say it with a straight face, “he’s a good GM”, “He’s a good manager”, “He’s the best guy for the job.” https://x.com/OrtizKicks/status/1617900949204512768 https://x.com/jonmorosi/status/1618001210224836610 https://x.com/FabianArdaya/status/1222927205941907456 https://x.com/MarkBerman_/status/1597656713859325952 https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1717579690972524963 https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1618683071653646337 https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1727103841324417498 _________________ https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/st...on-astros-inner-turmoil-2022-world-series-run Crane, sources said, felt coming into the 2022 season that the team needed more "baseball men" involved in operations decisions and invited Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell and Reggie Jackson into the team's weekly senior baseball-operations meetings. Bagwell, who "Jim might trust more than anyone," according to one source familiar with their relationship and corroborated by another, was critical of the Astros' player-development system, even as it was graduating eventual ALCS and World Series MVP Jeremy Peña. Jackson, who joined the Astros in May 2021 as an "executive assistant" despite never playing for the organization, yelled at members of the team's front office this year and later would apologize, according to sources. Firkus, along with Andrew Ball, one of Click's assistant GMs, and Charles Cook, whom Crane promoted to assistant GM earlier this week, remain. They are the braintrust, though multiple people in the organization fear their authority, like Click's, will be usurped by the former players to whom Crane regularly listens. Internally, multiple names have surfaced for who could take over as general manager, from Baltimore assistant general manager Sig Mejdal (also a vital front-office member of the Astros during the Luhnow era) to recent Oakland A's bench coach Brad Ausmus (the former Astros catcher was in Houston on Friday, according to sources, and met with Bagwell, though it was unclear whether the possibility of Ausmus joining the front office was broached). _________________ He’s wAtChInG ThE GaMe. WhY Do yOu tHiNk tHiS MeAnS He hAs aNy iNfLuEnCe iN ThE FrOnT OfFiCe?! cAn hE NoT WaTcH A GaMe?! https://x.com/BenVerlander/status/1818107076218081643 _________________ He played here! He’s a legend! He can’t be criticized! He has no role other than spring training roving instructor! BuT BuT BuT ClIcK, lUhNoW, wAdE, PuRpUrA, HuNsiCkeR & bOb WatSon WoUlD’Ve sIgNeD AbReU AnD MoNtErO ToO! Shut the **** up! He’s not involved! OK so maybe he’s involved but it’s just a little. Just Spring Training or Community Outreach. He’s involved but he’s not making the decisions. He’s totally involved and it’s a good thing he’s involved! **** Jeffrey Robert Bagwell. Go disappear. Go back to groping your wife behind home plate. I don’t want Bagwell, Biggio, Ausmus, Clemens, Jackson, --choose an Astros Legend™-- anywhere near the team or Jim’s ear. Spoiler _________________ Their (semi-)“big moves” since firing Click 11/15/22: Astros sign Rafael Montero (3y/$34.5M) 11/28/22: Astros sign José Abreu (3y/$58.5) 12/21/22: Astros sign Michael Brantley (1y/$12M) 07/28/23: Astros trade Korey Lee for Kendall Graveman 08/01/23: Astros trade Drew Gilbert & Ryan Clifford for Justin Verlander 12/07/23: Astros sign Victor Caratini (2y/$12M) 01/22/24: Astros sign Josh Hader (5y/$95M) 07/29/24: Astros trade Jake Bloss, Joey Loperfido & Jake Bloss for Yusei Kikuchi It’s curious who they pay and don’t pay. Don’t pay Graveman (3rd year supposedly was the “deal breaker”; 3/24 from White Sox); Trade for Graveman a year later Pay Montero 3/34.5 (his best year, a contract year, won the World Series; gave him the 3rd year) Don’t pay Verlander; Trade for Verlander a few months later (yes, albeit at a discount/Mets paying some of it) Pay Hader
People can ignore it if they want, but Bagwell and Jackson are involved and has had some influence into Crane's ear with the signings. But I wholly blame Crane for these failed signings; in the end it's up to him.
If those two don't have influence, why are they showing up to the office (not just the games) every day? I hear specifically that Bagwell treated it as a job.
Yeah; the issue was never the targets - it made perfect sense to keep a key bullpen arm from a world championship team and upgrade a position of need with what was widely considered the best available bat at the position. The problem was always the years... And I have to believe that's the area where Click's departure made the biggest difference. I just can't fathom Click would've handed out a 3-year deal to either player - he's too smart for that. Possible Crane bulldozes the negotiations even if he retains Click. But given that Hader also got *way* too many years - and Crane is the lone link between the two - this seems like a Jim Crane issue.
lol…. All we need is Bagwell recording a clip, like the Tracy McGrady interview saying it was all his fault.
True, but Bagwell was hanging around Florida when Abreu was signed and I believe he was at the Abreu press conference?
I'm sure Bagwell, Jackson, and whoever else talk to Crane and he listens. About baseball and players- who they like and why. They know the game and performed at, literally, a HOF level. They know the game and a player when they see one. But the idea that any of the former players in the organization had any connection to the contract decisions or that the "nerd cave" didn't also have input is laughable.
Crane is getting what he deserves for not standing up for Luhnow and also for changing the successful Luhnow model. I wonder if Manfred marane change the model. I'm pretty sure Manfred made Crane fire Luhnow and Hinch
They know the game and performed at, literally, a HOF level. They know the game and a player when they see one. signed, Michael Jordan Isiah Thomas Magic Johnson Kevin McHale Magic Johnson Derek Jeter Matt Millen Elgin Baylor
