Suck? OK maybe thats a little strong....but I do think we will struggle and it would be very surprising to me if we made the playoffs. I see us being somewhere around 80-85 wins MAX. It wouldn't shock me if we were under .500.
Max, there is no point in arguing with him. There is no way for us fans to be optimistic becuase, well, I guess because NJRocket says so. I'm going to say it for the last time. I am an Astros fan win or lose and have been for 25 years. They could go 0-162 for all I care (I went to more games in 2000 than I did in 1999, even after I moved to Austin). I will still go to games. I will still proudly wear Astros gear. I will still support my team. They lost Beltran. He didn't want to be here anyway so screw him. I will cheer for whomever plays in CF. Jeff Kent is gone. I've been waiting to see Chris Burke for 2 years. They let Wade Miller go. Is it possible they know something we don't? Either way, I'll support whomever takes his spot, even if it is Redding or Duckworth. So, say what you will about the moves this offseason (or lack thereof), I will still support the Houston Astros, their owner, their GM, and definitely their players.
When did i ever tell anyone that they coudn't be optimistic. It was actually some of you people telling me that I was an idiot for being pessimistic.
If I'm such a brat, put me on ignore. I'm thankful for being able to root for a team that, for the last decade, has gone down close to the wire every year save one competing for a playoff spot. In a sport where only 8 teams out of 30 make the playoffs every year, that's an accomplishment to me. I'm thankful that we're not the Brewers, Royals, Rangers, Devil Rays, Blue Jays, Orioles, Nationals, Pirates, Reds, Rockies, or the Tigers. I don't know what Purpura and McLane are doing behind the scenes, but I know they're doing something. GMs don't sit at their desk every day twiddling their thumbs. Every day, they're exploring possibilities that could make their team better. Not everything is planned out. You think in 1998, they had a plan in place at the beginning of the year to trade for Randy Johnson in July? I do know that they're planning on trying to put together one of the best rotations in baseball. If that happens, you never know what could happen. Burke and Lane could take full advantage of their first real opportunity at starting and floursish. We could be in contention come June or July when the list of available big name players inevitably comes up. And assuming we don't make a huge trade before then, we'll have the payroll flexibility to make a deal for someone who can help our team. Just like we did last year with Beltran. And three years ago with Astacio and Mike Williams. Or in 1998 like we did with Randy Johnson.
Who called you a brat? this is where the optimists are allowed to assume we are planning to do something....and the pessimists aren't
Oops, misread. When did any optimist say that? What I read from the ingrates (I prefer that over pessimist) is that they don't think they're doing anything over there other than signing crappy (not my generalization) players like Duckworth and Burba.
Both sides have their arguments out there... and they both have validity. NJRocket is understandably upset about Beltran, and the rest of the losses... frankly, we all were. But while many here saw last year's success as something to be thankful for, and we were all simply "happy to be there", NJRocket wanted more... and once he got a taste of that success, he didn't want any less. Most of the rest of us are die-hard optimists, and we'll follow the team regardless... but we have to face the criticism when it is warranted, and if you're a fan who only wants to see the best out there... then those fans are bound to be dissapointed. I agree that NJRocket has every reason to be pessimistic about the upcoming season... but when he gets pessimistic about EVERYTHING Astros-related ("the fact that Berkman only has one leg, and the astros are lucky to have that... he won't sign here long-term because they didn't lock him up earlier... etc.), I have to start believing that he's just really upset about the off-season and that's leading him to make harsh statments about everything else. As Leroy420 said... forget about Beltran... he never wanted to be here. Forget about Kent... our offer was more than fair, and he's only got, at the max, 2 more years in him anyways... who cares. Forget about Miller (why people are crying over him, I have no clue)...who had basically nothing to do with this team winning the wild card and getting to the NLCS. Worry about the team we got... there's definitely some warranted skepicism about the performance of the following players this year: Lane, Burke, Backe, and even Pettite. If half of those guys performs up to expectations, or above expectations, we will be in great shape no matter what. Lastly... I just gotta say that between the Rockets forum arguing over how Yao Ming is "finished", and this place arguing about how the Astros are "finished", its a great testament to the fans that continue to stick up for their players and their teams... even though we all know that the negative statements are being made in reactionary (following one bad off-season), or short-sighted (Yao is in a slump) fashion. Only 1 more month till pitchers and catchers report...
we ingrates are just calling them as we see them...im not assuming we are or arent doing anything....but it sure seems like the latter...granted, most deals that happen aren't the ones that you constantly read about being rumored, but i prefer to see some results with p's and c's reporting in less than a month
good post Nick......don't get me wrong though...i will follow and support them once the season starts...I just hope we are better than I think we will be.
Good post Nick. I'll lay off the ingrate stuff on NJRocket for a while, provided he promises to give us optimists our props when we're making the big trade in July to push us over the top.
I am and always will be loyal to the Astros, Rockets, Texans... But, that does not keep me from criticizing the guy that contantly deceives this town about the Astros' financial situation. I don't have a problem with an owner making a decision regarding his business. Just don't be untruthful about the reasons for making such decisions. Don't tell me the team is losing money when it is not true, don't tell me we need a new stadium to be compete with the big market teams when you have no intentions on doing so, don't tell me there is a plan B when plan B is to rebuild, dont tell me Boras pulled a fast one on you when you negotiate major deals on an "everyday" basis. Drayton is worse than Bud. We ran Bud out of town, it's time to run this snake out also. Come on Mr. Landry's Restaurant, buy this team.
Man....Landry as the owner? That would be wierd. But ehh...he does have a BIG pocket book. Anyways, either way. No matter what happens this season I am still excited about it and can't wait to see MMP park again. The stros will pull out a good performance no matter what this season, and I do see a good trade happening late in the season to push us over the top.
The debt/equity rules prevent him from borrowing what he would have to borrow to purchase the club. I don't think most people actually realize how exclusive the owner's club really is. He would have to have significant, like 49.99%, minority ownership, I would imagine. No way he goes and sells a bunch of Landry's stock. Shareholders would lynch him. No way Landry's Inc. buys a pro sports team. Shareholders would lynch him. Plus, they're preparing to get into the casino/hotel biz. Of course, I'm not his accountant, and his family had ties to organized crime, so maybe he has $400M in cash in his wall safe.
