Austin Sports Editor Unloads on Astros

by pel on Jun 16, 2008 7:52 PM CDT

Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman writes:

Drayton McLane was doing his usual glad-handing around the Astros
clubhouse before Sunday's series wrapup with the Yankees, going from
locker to locker and spreading good cheer.  
		
In between, he told a visitor he would be the keynote speaker at a meeting
of state sports editors in town this week.
	  	 
When the Astros owner was asked the topic of his address, McLane
smiled rather sheepishly and said he will talk about what it takes to
be a champion. 

We're assuming he's using a ghost-writer, because this franchise has
never won anything more than a NL pennant under his ownership or anyone
else's. Maybe he'll ring up someone in the Steinbrenner family tree for
some direction.

Of course, sometimes I think he has a personal grudge against the 'stros. I recall back in June of '05 when he was extolling the success of the Rangers and was ready to leave the Astros for dead, saying that the only way to salvage their season was to trade Roger Clemens.

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Well

Drayton is a champion business owner… and for what it’s worth… over the last 5-8 years, the Astros have been one of the better teams in baseball… well, minus the last 2 years or so.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jun 16, 2008 10:41 PM CDT reply actions

Unforgiving Sports Editor

Yeah, like I said, Bohls has it in for the Astros. He is quick on the anti-Stros bandwagon and rarely talks about them. Usually only when they’re down for the count.

by pel on Jun 17, 2008 9:48 AM CDT reply actions

I have noticed that too.

by clack on Jun 17, 2008 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

I would talk shit about them too.

I do all the time. :p
But I still love them. Even if they disappoint me every day. lol

by entropic soul on Jun 18, 2008 1:03 AM CDT reply actions

Drayton's well deserved reputation

for micro-management is at the root of most of the Astros’ problems. He drove away Gerry Hunsicker, one of the brightest minds and best GMs in the game in 2004. Hunsicker built the Astros’ minor league system into one of the best in baseball during his tenure, and the Astros themselves, despite being tied to a small payroll, were exciting and competitive. After his departure, the team hung on for that great year in 2005, but under Tim Pupura (who was a front for Drayton’s decisions) the team’s minor league system and its major league competitiveness eroded. It won’t change with Wade (affectionately known to his peers as “Dr. Yes”) and it won’t change until Drayton changes his management philosophy (unlikely) or sells the team (unlikely).

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays, under Gerry Hunsicker, have in four years developed, you guessed it, one of the major league’s most improved farm systems and become a competitive and exciting team, despite being tied to a relatively small payroll. Sound familiar?

It takes more than pitching to win a pennant, but not much!

by bwhite2323 on Jun 18, 2008 1:22 PM CDT reply actions

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