Happy Jim Crane Day! Welcome Houston's Newest Owner
by David Coleman on Nov 22, 2011 8:01 AM CST
in Houston Astros News
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PrintYou can't fire the owner.
That's been almost a Houston hallmark motto over the past 25 years. They've had some pieces of work come through, both owning the Astros and other professional teams in the Bayou City. From John McMullen to Bud Adams, Houston hasn't been blessed with the most benevolent of owners.
There was a long stretch when I would have counted Drayton McLane in that group. I blamed him for the team trading away Mike Hampton and Carl Everett. I blamed him for not signing Darryl Kile or Randy Johnson. I blamed Billy Wagner and Drayton for what happened between the two of them.
Most of all, I blamed Drayton for chasing off Gerry Hunsicker. I don't care who got the credit in the end. I just knew that Hunsicker was one of those guys that would be hard to replace. Tim Purpura and Ed Wade seem to be showing just how hard that would be.
There were a lot of reasons why I wanted Drayton gone for years. Then 2005 happened and Drayton built up a lot of goodwill with Astros fans. He kept Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell around until the ends of their careers. It was a nice cap to his time with the team.
10 years ago, I would have been thrilled that this day finally had come, that a new man was in charge of the Astros. But, apparently, Bud Selig won't let us have nice things...
The day finally comes when a new man is set to buy the Astros, and it's Jim Crane. He of the questionable business dealings and hiring practices. He of the American League switch for a tidy sum of money.
Jim Crane, your first day on the job will not be easy.
This should be a great day, a turning point in the franchise's history. For just the fifth time in nearly 50 years, the team has a new owner. And yet, as Steph Stradley so nicely summed up Sunday, this is not a great day for fans. They've been betrayed by this league switch.
That's the kind of goodwill that will take more than just ticket prices lowering will fix. It'll take more than a uniform switch back to the navy blue and orange of old. It's going to take winning, which starts at the top.
As easy as it was to poke fun at Drayton for his "Champion" comments, there was a definite push to get to that level each year. The problem was, it was a plan with no middle. Step 1: Buy baseball team. Step 2: ???. Step 3: Be a champion.
At least Crane brings the promise that things will change from the very top. If Crane keeps his hands off after putting his management team in place, I'll be thrilled. Let's leave the baseball decisions to the baseball people and forget the Carlos Lee deals or the Miguel Tejada trades. Let's leave the days of ownership mandating a move in the past.
Crane has plenty of tough talk in his opening press conference last week. We learned the team's payroll would stay low. That means any dreams we had of Jose Reyes are gone. Heck, any dreams of Clint Barmes are apparently worthless too.
To me, that practicality of lowering the payroll until revenue increases, of staying away from big ticket free agents until the farm starts producing a solid core of a team, that's what is so encouraging. Yes, it sucks in the short term, but it also shows a recognition of how building a baseball team works.
Tuesday marks Crane's first official day on the job as owner of the Houston Astros. It probably won't be substantially different than Monday. But, at least there's a possibility for change.
After all these years, I'd forgotten that we could hope for that. We can't fire the owner, but we can trade the owner. Now, we have to hope the deal works out better than Brett Wallace for Anthony Gose.
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Happy?
It should be a happy day, getting rid of the penny pinching Drayton. But it is to early for the fans to be happy. We see the new owner as a traitor that can be bought for 70 million, one that is willing to throw away the history of the team, and the will of the fans, for money. We are wondering what else is he willing to sell out?
The will of the fans
has been dwindling since 2007.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 22, 2011 8:29 AM CST up reply actions
Which was the year
that they should have blown the whole thing up.
Well actually they should have done it during the 2006 season but the moment I knew the team was too flawed to fix simply by adding some payroll came in early 07.
you see him as a traitor, not me. The team was going to move regardless of who was there. How hard is that to understand? Crane or no Crane the Astros were going to the AL West regardless.
by Reverend Koosh on Nov 22, 2011 8:59 AM CST up reply actions 5 recs
Got any hard proof of that?
You are making it sound like anybody who believes otherwise is a fool. What if Drayton decided to pocket the team for another 4-5 years. You don’t think with all the behind the scenes stuff the Dodgers are going through, they wouldn’t get a look?
by Its Gonna Happen on Nov 22, 2011 2:13 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Why do the fans get to decide what Jim Crane get’s to buy and doesn’t get to buy. He’s got the means to OWN the team which means in the end it’s his decision to take or not take the deal. We might think we own a part of the team but the truth is that Crane is the one with the deed.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 22, 2011 2:30 PM CST up reply actions
Loyalty cuts both ways. The Astros want the fans to be the loyal to the team. One of the things that upset me the most is that Jim Crane sent the fans a message that he doesn’t care what they think or want. When you have an emotional attachment to a team, an action like that can shock you back to your senses, realizing that the level of fan attachment was unwarranted. Yes, Jim Crane can spend money on whatever he wants, but that doesn’t mean that fans will continue to be loyal to his team.
by clack on Nov 22, 2011 3:20 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
The only possible scenario where the Astros wouldn’t move to the Al would be if Drayton McLane had kept the team. Which he wasn’t going to do. And which would have been worse for the fans than this move.
Drayton McLane agreed to the move to the AL when he put the team up for sale. From what I read, it sounds like the agreement was between McLane and Selig. If Crane wanted the Astros, that’s the only way he would have gotten it. Kudos to him for knocking 70 million off the debt owed.
There was no way that Selig could force the Astros to move to the AL after the deadline for the Collective Bargaining Agreement in December. That’s because the league alignments and playoff changes are part of that agreement. So, if McLane had “waited out” Selig, then the realignment issue would have disappeared. Or else Selig would have been forced to seek another team to move (if he could).
by clack on Nov 22, 2011 3:23 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Also, McLane and Crane have both denied that the AL move was considered when the team was put up for sale or when the sale price was agreed to. Crane said he wasn’t aware of that condition until later this past summer, and when he learned of that condition, he took the position that the sales price had to be changed. McLane has stated that he did not support the AL move, but that the issue “was between Bud Selig and Jim Crane.”
by clack on Nov 22, 2011 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Think about it: Crane asked for a reduction to the sale price because of the AL move. He couldn’t have asked for that if the AL move was known at the time he and McLane agreed to the sale price.
If I could post a picture here
I would find one of Eddie Murphy from the end of Coming to America where he’s dressed up as an old white guy in a barber shop and the caption would read “AAAKHHHHAAAAA….”
by Its Gonna Happen on Nov 22, 2011 11:36 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
If you move the Dodgers....
Then you have to move another team so the NL West has 4 teams. The Central was the only division with an extra team. It was going to happen and the Astros we the likely candidate unless somehow Milwaukee was going to move. Bud wasn’t going to move his old team again.
What do you mean his "old" team?
You know he still secretly owns the team and runs baseball, he just can’t tell anyone because the might think he’s bias…HA! (Like Bud could be bias)
by Its Gonna Happen on Nov 22, 2011 11:40 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
A lot of fans would of been fine with that. It’s the switch to the AL that has got people upset.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 23, 2011 7:10 AM CST up reply actions
Jeebus....
1st. This was going to happen if Drayton sold the team or not. It was part of the CBA. Now did Drayton and/or MLB make it easier by selling the team? It sure looks that way, but it’s not Jim Crane’s fault that MLB and the players wanted two 15 team leagues. Had someone else bought the team that guy would be owning an AL team come 2013 as well.
btw, there’s absolutely no way baseball is going to give up Dodgers/Giants rivalry. The Astros have nothing that remotely resembles that type of rivalry. nothing.
by Reverend Koosh on Nov 22, 2011 5:29 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
It is in the CBA because the Astros were coerced into agreeing to it. If the Astros hadn’t agreed to it, realignment would not have occurred. I recall that Selig said that he didn’t know in mid-summer whether the playoff system would change and realignment would occur because he didn’t know whether the Astros ownership change would occur in time. I disagree with your conclusion….but really there’s no use continuing to argue about it. I don’t totally blame Crane, but on the other hand, I think he and mlb spinmeisters are spinning the story in a way that isn’t completely accurate.
I get they had to agree to it, but the way it worked out for MLB and McLane was way too convenient. Since McLane has been Selig’s lap dog for the past 6 or so years, it looks like this was something they had agreed to prior to this year, regardless of the quotes you read in the newspapers.
by Reverend Koosh on Nov 22, 2011 6:21 PM CST up reply actions
While I don’t disagree with you and think there is some validity to the argument, we would be entering the tin foil hat zone. Overall it comes down to the MLB needing Crane just as much as Crane need MLB. In that regard there was still no other option. If Crane walks away the CBA is in a mess AND the Astros are going to continue to be in a mess.
I know some fans would be happy for the organization to be in a mess if it meant they could continue watching NL ball, but I’m not. And there’s no guarantee that the next potential owner is asked to the AL as well.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 23, 2011 7:14 AM CST up reply actions
Traitor? WTH!??....Jimmy Dugan said it best...There's no cryin' in baseball!!!
Fans feel, emote, cheer, grouse, etc…etc…all great and good.
But no one ever put a gun to someone’s head and said you are going to be a fan or else. If you don’t like something? Turn it off…don’t go…stop spending your money.
Traitor?
Other than buying your Go Astros foam finger what on earth have the Astros ever done to you or ANYBODY in a material fashion that would cause anyone to essentially “run onto the field” metaphorically speaking and jack with the business/game/people…etc…
Let’s reserve our real outrage for examples like Penn State when REAL people are damaged and REAL crimes are committed and we all feel and recognize REAL outrage.
If someone wants to put the Astros in a metaphorical “time out” in their lives…more power to them…but Traitor?…give me a frickin’ break.
by YoDaddyO on Nov 22, 2011 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
A rec for you, sir.
The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.
by Stupendous Man on Nov 23, 2011 8:59 AM CST up reply actions
Happy...
as soon as Tal smith is gone
by GhostOfGlennDavis on Nov 22, 2011 9:13 AM CST reply actions
that's a start
Ed, Bobby, and Ricky too…
by Reverend Koosh on Nov 22, 2011 9:25 AM CST up reply actions
I'm happy.
Change isn’t always good, but it was long overdue as I think everyone knows. I just want to see what Crane’s front office plans are.
"In the biographies of men and nations, success often arrives in a mask of failure"
crane stay the course for a while
mr. crane,,, ed wade knows how to rebuild…astros need to finish rebuilding…next move is to trade wandy get a bunch more assets…. trades in past two yrs have yielded phenominal results….2012. is yr to solidify the team into a contending group…sort of fix the lineup… if u could trade clee…but not a fire sale…he is a 100 rbi hitter…save some $$$.. starting lineup…jcastro…c paredes 3b villar ss or downs ss…downs 2b or bourgois 2b…lee at 1b or wallace or singleton… hernandez lf, schafer cf, bogusevic rf… pitching staff is actually loaded and ready to go…. 5 good starters and 3 or 4 potential starters in minor leagues….bullpen looks…good… melancon is very good…a lot of others got chances last yr and experience… you do not have any $$$…attendance is not going to jump up because of you… have to get on road to winning… (see aforesaid)..it doesnt happen overnight… but this yr we could and shcould be a .500 team…i am a lifetime astro fan and not going anywhere….magnus
i wish i was looking through your glasses!
by GhostOfGlennDavis on Nov 22, 2011 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
What are the odds for various changes in the next 3 or 4 months?
My guess….
replace Ed Wade 60%
replace Bobby Heck 40%
replace Brad Mills 5%
Wade seems like a no-brainer for replacement; it’s the most visible way to put the “change” mark on the organization. However, it’s not that easy to change GMs at this point, with on-going activities like the Rule 5 draft and evaluating/negotiations for off-season trades and free agent market. It’s not only difficult for the Astros’ front office, it’s difficult because Asst. GMs who may be candidates are involved in their own teams’ trade/free agent strategy. So, there is a distinct possibility that Wade gets another year on the job. Or maybe he gets a few months on the job, to get through this roster development period.
If a new GM is hired, I think there is a good probability that the GM brings in his own choice for scouting director, which creates the possibility that Heck won’t survive—-despite his good reputation in the scouting community.
Look, it will be very difficult to attract a new manager with the desired experience. The managing situation in Houston holds the potential to ruin reputations, because the team will lose so many games for a number of years. On the other hand, Mills seems to run a good clubhouse and can provide instruction for young players; I think it’s easier to keep him this year. If a new GM is hired, he may use this season to see if he likes Mills. If Mills is fired, I think it would solely be a public relations move, and most likely a guy like Clark would be promoted.
Those are my guesses.
Astros to the AL this year?
http://www.astroscounty.com/2011/11/hey-i-think-astros-are-moving-to-al.html?m=1
Astros county posted this Buster Olney tweet. They did update the story saying it could happen without the Astros changing leagues, but I’m not for sure.
by conroestro on Nov 22, 2011 12:43 PM CST via mobile reply actions
There is no impediment to adding a wild card and keeping the Astros in the NL. The number of playoff spots as a proportion of total league teams would be unequal between the AL and NL. But that is true now and has been true since 1997. There is no reason to link realignment with the addition of a Wild Card team, other than the preference of Bud Selig and the Player’s Association for equalizing league size. Their preference can be remedied in 2013 independent of the date that the playoff format changes.
The scheduling problems associated with a change at this late date mean that the Astros will stay in the NL next season.
Not sure what to think about new CBA with all these taxes on going over recommended slot junk
But it looks like we can’t make big splashes in the Dominican like we were previously allowed to do (even though we didn’t). Rebuilding just got harder. Another punch in the face by Bud Selig.
Something that poses a concern to me:
Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
Clubs have been concerned about shrinking talent pool, and the draft slotting/inter. signings cap risks chasing away would-be ballplayers.
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Apparently the signing deadline has moved from August 15 to somewhere between July 12-July 18.
by Woodlands'stro on Nov 22, 2011 12:56 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
At least players will get some time to play in short season if they sign at the deadline.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
the devil’s in the details (which we don’t know yet), but I tend to agree with you that the proposed soft caps / taxes will make rebuilding more difficult. Also, it appears that minimum salaries will go up about 20% in 2013. I think that’s probably fair to the players. But for an owner who intends to continue moving payroll backwards (to use Crane’s term), this could put a serious crimp on the discretionary amounts available in the budget. Given what Crane has said about the budget, it’s probably fortunate that a tax will be put on teams with payrolls that are below a floor threshold.
And another thing I like is a tax on teams with too much payroll
Like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Drayton:
Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
call me a contrarian ...
but I am completely in favor of the door hitting his ass on the way out.
by reillocity on Nov 23, 2011 12:16 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
New York Times article
On “Jim Crane Day,” the New York Times takes a few slaps at Crane’s past history. This is the first I can recall that the NY Times has written about Crane’s history. The article has a skeptical attitude toward MLB’s investigation of Crane’s past. Otherwise you probably have already read about the accusations.
Interesting new rules:
For the first time, there will also be something called a Competitive Balance Lottery. Teams with the lowest revenues and in the smallest markets will have the opportunity to obtain additional draft picks through a lottery. Of course, even with more draft picks, new limits on total draft spending will severely restrict how teams use those picks.
For the 2012-2013 signing season, teams will have the same international signing bonus pool. In later years, the teams with the worst records the prior year will have $5 million to spend in signing international players. Teams with the best records will get only $1.8 million. Beginning in the 2012-2013 off-season, teams will be able to trade “cap room” to spend more in the international market.
Caps on international spending — like the bonus signing pools for the amateur draft — will impact certain teams that have been very active in the international market. The Rangers, for example, spent $17.6 million over the last several years on international players; the Cincinnati Reds spent nearly $29 million. Again, scouting and player development experts are very concerned that limits on international spending will substantially lower the overall talent level of players drafted, signed and eventually make to the majors.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
I’m not sure it will necesarily lower the available talent. Instead talent will be forced to sign with other teams because they won’t be able to sign with the big spenders. It will just create more competition among internation signees by them trying to compete to sign with the bigger teams first.
The competitive lottery is interesting, especially since crane is trying to lower payroll. Although, it could lower the overall quality of signings if you have those picks. Teams are still going to try to sign 30 players and will have to more evenly distribute those funds with the added high end pick. Just like the 2010 draft, to save money, we drafted an easily signable slot guy in the supplemental round.
Buc's Dugouts thoughts on the new draft rules...
They think that the amateur draft caps will hurt the rebuilding teams like the Pirates. He points out that the penalty for going over the draft cap is loss of 1st and 2d round pick in the next draft, but that this penalty is more severe for a team that drafts at the top, like the Pirates, as opposed to teams like the Yankees that draft near the bottom, because the loss of the high first round picks have so much more value.
It seems pretty shady that the penalty for going over slot is greater than the penalty for exceeding the threshold of the luxury tax or for signing away another teams top player or for throwing at a players head for that matter…or for forcing a team into an unnatural league…
by ntn on Nov 22, 2011 4:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
gone are late rounders signing for 500K as well. This not only hurts rebuilding teams but also hurts the talent coming into professional baseball. Instead of getting big money these kids will go play other sports.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 23, 2011 7:16 AM CST up reply actions
Im not "feelin" these new rules
NFL…your welcome
by Its Gonna Happen on Nov 22, 2011 3:15 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Yeah I need more details but I’m worried the only thing that Selig accomplished with these changes is continuing to lose ground to the NFL.
And of course he completed an epic & historic screw job of the Astros.
by man07 on Nov 22, 2011 3:40 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Some thoughts as I read the CBA summary...
1. Type A/ Type B free agent compensation is largely dismantled. Team has to make an offer equal to the average salary of the top 125 MLB players to its departing free agents in order to be eligible for free agent compensation. A team has to keep a player for the full season (no trading for them at mid season) in order to obtain the benefit of free agent compensation.
2. NRIs have to be paid an extra $100 K if the team doesn’t put them on the major league roster at the end of spring training.
3. More Super 2’s will get early arbitration.
4. MLB minimum salaries increase by $100 K by 2014.
5. Drafted players can only sign minor league contracts. July 14 – 18 signing deadline for draftees, depending on All Star game.
6. Aggregate signing bonus pool (cap) for draft applies to first 10 rounds. Bonuses in excess of $100 K cannot be given after round 10, or else the bonus will count against the aggregate cap. I think the Astros will be limited to $11.5 million this year.
7. Penalty for exceeding bonus pool cap is both monetary and includes loss of future draft picks. Monetary penalties are distributed as revenue sharing to teams that don’t exceed their cap. Forfeited draft picks are given away to other teams in a lottery.
8. Competitive Balance Lottery: Composed of teams with the 10 lowest revenues and 10 smallest markets. Lottery is in two rounds and will occur at the completion of the first round and the second round. Six draft picks given away in lottery. With certain restrictions, the lottery draft picks can be traded.
7. A future international draft will be discussed.
8. For 2012 and 2013, each team will be assigned an equal international signing bonus pool. After 2013, each team will be allocated an international signing bonus pool based upon its (reverse) winning record. With restrictions, in 2013 and later, international signing bonus pool cap space can be traded. Penalties (similar to amateur draft) applied to teams that exceed their cap space.
9. The teams in the 10 largest markets will be disqualified from receiving revenue sharing by 2016. The money will be returned to the teams which generated the revenue.
10. Players will be subjected to a policy regarding the use of social media.
11. Instant replay expanded to include “fair/foul” balls and “trapped” catches.
It’s ironic that MLB has finally instituted a cap, only it’s going to hurt competitive balance instead of help it.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 23, 2011 7:22 AM CST up reply actions
My Prediction on Impact of New Rules:
Teams’ success will depend on the ability of teams to hire “experts” in the new soft cap rules, and some teams will jump ahead of others by figuring out how to game the new rules. The ability to trade cap space in the draft and international pool adds complexity, but could increase ability to maximize benefits for those who are good at it.
In both the NBA and NFL, the league went through a period where some teams gained a big advantage by hiring or developing the best “capologists.” It’s a lessor impact in the MLB CBA, because the caps only apply to acquiring amateur players, and not the overall payroll. But, still, I can see some similar initial impacts in baseball.
Wow. Alot of changes are taking place.
Does that start for this 2012 draft, or does it start in 2013.
by conroestro on Nov 22, 2011 5:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Ouch. So that means the Astros lost their compensation draft pick for Clint Barmes then.
by conroestro on Nov 22, 2011 6:24 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Didn't Barmes sign with the Pirates yesterday?
In that case, I’m pretty sure we have a compensation pick secured.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Okay good deal.
So if he signed before the CBA stuff then we are good. I am still at work and haven’t had a chance to read this CBA stuff in detail.
by conroestro on Nov 22, 2011 6:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah
The feeling I’m getting from all these new rules being put into place is the feeling of transforming from a democratic society to a communist one. So many rules. So many penalties. What is this? You know.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Do the penalties and fines for going over slot count for this year.
by conroestro on Nov 22, 2011 7:17 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
No, but it starts in 2012.
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Compensation goes away next offseason. Phillies will still get a pick for Rollins and Madson.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 23, 2011 7:24 AM CST up reply actions
the intersting part will be at what value is the excess in LA cap worth?
Many teams are just not interested in LA. At what point will a team like Balt be willing to dump LA cap room for a marginal prospect or on the back side of trades to makes an imbalance for teams competing in division..
The real area to exploit is going to be tacking on draft or LA cap $$ to deals instead of targeting LA players you missed out signing and trading for them in Low A or Rookie ball…
How much cap room is worth absorbing the entirety of a bad contract? Would it be 1 to 1 or something else? If you can hypothetically dump Carlos Lee by not sending any cash on the deal while willingly hampering the international budget or draft for the year, is that a better alternative than kicking in the 5 to 10M to send him?
JD’s like, "you want some f*&#ing pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, b*#&hes!"- RCCook
LSB: "Oh s#*t, JD. You crazy!"
if the article i read is true
I am seriously pissed at nolan ryan. It makes you wonder if he was just pissed he wasn’t offered the tal’s job, or gm or whatever, or if he and drayton had a serious falling-out.
by HTown80 on Nov 22, 2011 10:04 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Back to Crane v Drayton for a moment
Hopefully my first effort here won’t be my last optimistic post, but I actually see some potential upside even with so much up in the air having much confidence about how things will fall out is challenging.
I’m quite pleased to be shed of disingenuous Drayton. His blatant disregard of hardcore fans for the lure of the larger market from casual fans pretty well killed my fanaticism and replaced it with passing interest. Our radio guys are serious contenders to match the on field Astros’ worst in baseball rankings, Aramark is a purveyor of school cafeteria food, Faith and Family nights pander to religious fervor to increase ticket sales and stupid splash signings which were perhaps the most egregious baiting of the great unwashed of all those slaps in the faces of hard core fans. Obviously ticket sales and marketing are important but Drayton never did seem to grasp that a winning team needs very little marketing. Even when he stumbled into winning teams I don’t think that he fully grasped the direct relationship between those win/loss records and 3M attendance. Perhaps the difficulty of building a quality team was too much for him and locking in the first 10K fans with bobbleheads and repetitious cheap tribute nights was too easy. I suppose that’s my bottom line on Drayton, while he does not deserve his common penny pinching label he certainly sold out his core fan base on the cheap plenty of times.
Jim Crane (full name until he earns a nickname) may be the devil you don’t, but I’m very willing to see what we have. I am firmly in the camp with folks who have no issue with him being responsible for the AL move debacle. That’s on Drayton and the other owners. Slimy Selig is simply their mouthpiece. If I had been in Jim Crane’s shoes I would have done the same thing. If I had been on the precipice of owning a team and burdened by the reality that this was very likely my last shot at ownership I would have started DH shopping immediately. Those who feel that he sold out the ‘Stros are simply responding to the pain of loss I think. I certainly sympathize. I have loathed the more-offense-for-marketing-roster-position since its inception, probably since I grew up on speed, defense and pitching as the mantra to winning in the Dome. On the other hand I have experienced enough episodes of perceived potential disaster morphing into positive if not actual desirable realities to keep an open mind on the AL switch. I’m pretty frowny faced right now but let’s see how things unfold. If Jim Crane dumps the radio guys, brings back Orbit, sends Aramark back to the schools when the contract is up, sends Tal into retirement and bad timing Ed Wade off to another title with another team, shrewdly builds from the farm up and throws the occasional bone to folks from the club that posts here and other OCD sites then I would say we are headed for much better days in spite of having to deal with the DH.
anyone in any kind of business that wants to make money is going to cater to the hardcore fan. And quite honestly if you’re a hardcore fan you should be rooting for that because the casual fan is what helps sustain success for an organization not the hardcore fan.
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 23, 2011 7:26 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
No doubt about that timmy. My optimism is rooted in your initial statement. It will be interesting to see if Jim Crane et al will recognize the benefits of networking the hardcore fan club or choose Drayton’s apparent attitude that they will come regardless so ignore their interests.
ya that was supposed to be “isn’t.” Anyone in any kind of business that wants to make money isn’t going to cater to the hardcore fans.
What are the hardcore interests?
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by Timothy De Block on Nov 24, 2011 6:50 PM CST up reply actions
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
25 | 20 | .555 | 0 | Lost 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
25 | 21 | .543 | 0.5 | Lost 2 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 23 | .488 | 3 | Won 4 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
21 | 24 | .466 | 4 | Won 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 26 | .422 | 6 | Won 2 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 30 | .333 | 10 | Lost 10 |
(updated 5.26.2012 at 6:14 PM CDT)
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