And there has yet to be a clear scape goat identified.

I saw these quotes about Selig from anonymous Phillies players after the rain delay game…kinda sounds like something from the Astros’ clubhouse after Ike:

“That (expletive deleted) guy,” one pitcher said as he saw commissioner Bud Selig before walking out the back door of the clubhouse. “I wouldn’t let him supervise one of my (bowel movements). He has no clue. Not one (expletive deleted) clue.”

“(Expletive deleted),” one position player said in the direction of one television pausing only for a moment before leaving. “He’s a moron. How stupid can one person be?”

I’m surprised that you didn’t have the dynamic duo of Shawn Chacon and Ed Wade on the list of potential scapegoats. The confrontation/fight between those two seemed to be associated with that terrible stretch of June losses. The whole deal epitomized the perception of a dysfunctional clubhouse and the manager’s lack of control during the period.

but, really, the scapegoat for the season should be Tim Purpura and Drayton McLane. Wade did what he could (and most of his moves – besides the Tejada deal – worked out), but the reason the Astros sucked most of the year is because of the terrible management that has gone on since 2005.

Oh, and Bronson Arroyo. Would have been nice to have El Burro hitting during that playoff run. Probably would have hit a line drive into Zambrano’s smarmy face during the first Milwaukee game.

JR remains blameless.

Why can’t we just leave it as the team wasn’t good enough?

But the month of June did give me pause.

And now after I’ve already voted, I’m looking at Villareal.

Seeing that there were six losses where the number of runs he gave up was greater than or equal to the final score differential.

So if I’m gonna blame June, when we were six under, I can also blame Villareal, who was six under all by himself.

But I digress.

I’ve voted for Bourn, and I’m sticking to it. Suckitude like that extended well past six measly games.

I couln’t blame any of the on field people. I think Migeuel Tejada hurt the team a lot during a long stretch in late june and I forget whenit ended ; and hssi second half was poor until September. So he comes close.

I cannot blame McLane – after the rest of us had written the team off he okayed adding two pitchers that almost turned the team into a playoff team. Tht point was really brought homet me since I am in “Braves territory” and saw the Braves management give up on the season (And soon after so did the team). Braves and Astros were about in the same position when they suddenly took different paths to the last part of the season.

Hurrincane Ike hurt the Astros ; but the Astros were hurt even more by how Selig handled the situation. Forcing the Astros to play at all – not just the move to Milwaukee — beofe the payers had a chance to assess and phantom the situation in Houston and to their friends and families and tei rhomes – unti they kwew all were safe and had the essentials to be comfortable and safe until the players were out of town was inhumane. Teh plyers were not able to pay the games againteh Cubs. Becaause they still were in the dark about Houston when they traveled to Florida, they were not ready to play there either. If they had not played Milwauke they may have been emotionally ready to play in Florida. who knows.

Anyway, when I reflect back on the the season , My anger is aimed at Bud (I’m named after a beer company" Selig.