(09-02-2014 10:51 AM)mrbig Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 08:58 AM)Lumberjack99 Wrote:  I like how they fire the coach yet don't have a plan for his successor. Good luck in finding a legitimate replacement when you show lack of stability in the job....

Pretty limited number of MLB managing jobs in the entire universe. There is currently 1 opening and probably hundreds of assistants, minor league managers, etc. who aspire to manage a MLB team. I doubt that will be a problem.

You're right finding another person to take the job wont be difficult. Plenty want the opportunity...I meant a legitimate manager with experience that can turn this thing around...let's be honest, Jeff is the issue...

(09-02-2014 07:18 AM)jhruzek Wrote:  I am rapidly becoming disgusted with Luhnow! The draft picks fiasco. His handling of Appel's promotion angered both Porter and current teammates. Now this. How is the team to continue progressing with constant change?

How does one continue progressing without constant change?

I don't think in the world of sports, constant change is a good idea. Especially when the team was improving. The players have to get used to the style if the manager. It doesn't happen over the course of just a season or two.

Too bad Ausmus is already managing.

(09-02-2014 09:25 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  I don't think in the world of sports, constant change is a good idea. Especially when the team was improving. The players have to get used to the style if the manager. It doesn't happen over the course of just a season or two.

But all progress is change. I agree that not all change is progress, and it's not clear whether this is or not.

The one thing that has been apparent for some time is that Porter's evaluation of talent and upper management's did not coincide.

(09-03-2014 01:52 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-02-2014 09:25 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  I don't think in the world of sports, constant change is a good idea. Especially when the team was improving. The players have to get used to the style if the manager. It doesn't happen over the course of just a season or two.

But all progress is change. I agree that not all change is progress, and it's not clear whether this is or not.

The one thing that has been apparent for some time is that Porter's evaluation of talent and upper management's did not coincide.

Porter was not perfect. In fact I have no idea whether he is a good manager or not, though you would think that a manager would know the pitcher substitution rules. However, Luhnow is not infallible either. Do you think JD Martinez might have a place in the OF right now? I keep waiting for JD to turn back into a pumpkin, but he hit his 19th HR, a game winning 3 run shot in the 9th last night for Detroit. He has a .911 OPS for the season. I think if Martinez, like Cosart after him, were Jeff Luhnow prospects rather than Ed Wade guys, there is no way that they get let go. I get the feeling Luhnow has a pretty big ego.

The big question for me is whether the Ryan's were fully on board firing Bo. If not then I wonder if Nolan and Reid are wondering if this will be a repeat of Nolan's Ranger experience where the line in the sand was drawn between the young GM and Nolan.

Another ex-Astro got a new managing gig today as Tim Bogar was named interim manager of the Rangers after Ron Washington resigned. Bogar and Ausmus both were great guys when I used to work for the Astros. I always got a kick out of Bogar telling the story to my brother and I that he lived on Main Street in Normal, Illinois during the offseason, and that you couldn't get any more Americana than that.

Astros are 3-0 under Tom Lawless so far having beaten the Angels twice at home and the A's last night on the road. Not too bad a start.

(09-06-2014 08:01 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Astros are 3-0 under Tom Lawless so far having beaten the Angels twice at home and the A's last night on the road. Not too bad a start.

Whoever fixed Chris Carter deserves a raise. He's been the best hitter in baseball the 2nd half of the season. Time will tell if he is a legit or this is just his Richard Hidalgo run.

(09-06-2014 10:59 AM)Mademen Wrote:  

(09-06-2014 08:01 AM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Astros are 3-0 under Tom Lawless so far having beaten the Angels twice at home and the A's last night on the road. Not too bad a start.

Whoever fixed Chris Carter deserves a raise. He's been the best hitter in baseball the 2nd half of the season. Time will tell if he is a legit or this is just his Richard Hidalgo run.

He's got a .290/.350/.662 slash line since July 1. That may not be best hitter in baseball, but it's in the conversation.

Peter Gammons ‏@pgammo

Quote:The Astros loss of David Post to Padres is great for SD, bad for Houston given he is/was their most respected scout. If they'd listened...

Dang - the Astros now have 2 of the top 5 picks in the upcoming draft. Think they can get this one right?

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-base...raft-order

(09-28-2014 09:21 PM)gsloth Wrote:  Dang - the Astros now have 2 of the top 5 picks in the upcoming draft. Think they can get this one right?

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-base...raft-order

I thought they pretty well nailed it in 2012. Whether all or none of Correa, McCullers, Ruiz, Fontana, and Tucker become big league stars, that was still a nice haul.

I would have taken Kris Bryant over Appel in 2013. One, I think of Appel as the guy he was for most of his Stanford career--great stuff, can't win. Two, I know they got the hometown discount and signing below slot is part of their plan, but I don't think you do that every year. I think the better strategy is to alternate. And a guy who can play four corners and hit 40+ homers a year is a special talent.

And I think they got too cute by half in 2014. If Nolan Ryan says take Tyler Kolek, you take Tyler Kolek (who's already #2 on the Marlins' prospect list). He goes below slot, you sign Nix, and Marshall was a nice flier but was always going to LSU. The Marshall slot, or one in the preceding rounds, could have gone for someone that was actually signable at a slight premium.

Overall though, they've done a good job. They've probably drafted and signed more talent 2012-14 than they did 2003-11.

(09-29-2014 04:03 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-28-2014 09:21 PM)gsloth Wrote:  Dang - the Astros now have 2 of the top 5 picks in the upcoming draft. Think they can get this one right?

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-base...raft-order

I thought they pretty well nailed it in 2012. Whether all or none of Correa, McCullers, Ruiz, Fontana, and Tucker become big league stars, that was still a nice haul.

I would have taken Kris Bryant over Appel in 2013. One, I think of Appel as the guy he was for most of his Stanford career--great stuff, can't win. Two, I know they got the hometown discount and signing below slot is part of their plan, but I don't think you do that every year. I think the better strategy is to alternate. And a guy who can play four corners and hit 40+ homers a year is a special talent.

And I think they got too cute by half in 2014. If Nolan Ryan says take Tyler Kolek, you take Tyler Kolek (who's already #2 on the Marlins' prospect list). He goes below slot, you sign Nix, and Marshall was a nice flier but was always going to LSU. The Marshall slot, or one in the preceding rounds, could have gone for someone that was actually signable at a slight premium.

Overall though, they've done a good job. They've probably drafted and signed more talent 2012-14 than they did 2003-11.

Marshall already left LSU to go to a Florida JUCO for a year and reenter draft. He said he thought he was going to the pros this year, but things fell through.

(09-29-2014 07:52 AM)Mademen Wrote:  

(09-29-2014 04:03 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-28-2014 09:21 PM)gsloth Wrote:  Dang - the Astros now have 2 of the top 5 picks in the upcoming draft. Think they can get this one right?
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-base...raft-order

I thought they pretty well nailed it in 2012. Whether all or none of Correa, McCullers, Ruiz, Fontana, and Tucker become big league stars, that was still a nice haul.
I would have taken Kris Bryant over Appel in 2013. One, I think of Appel as the guy he was for most of his Stanford career--great stuff, can't win. Two, I know they got the hometown discount and signing below slot is part of their plan, but I don't think you do that every year. I think the better strategy is to alternate. And a guy who can play four corners and hit 40+ homers a year is a special talent.
And I think they got too cute by half in 2014. If Nolan Ryan says take Tyler Kolek, you take Tyler Kolek (who's already #2 on the Marlins' prospect list). He goes below slot, you sign Nix, and Marshall was a nice flier but was always going to LSU. The Marshall slot, or one in the preceding rounds, could have gone for someone that was actually signable at a slight premium.
Overall though, they've done a good job. They've probably drafted and signed more talent 2012-14 than they did 2003-11.

Marshall already left LSU to go to a Florida JUCO for a year and reenter draft. He said he thought he was going to the pros this year, but things fell through.

Had not heard that about Marshall, very interesting. Can't say I'm totally shocked since he wavered between UGa and LSU. What about Aiken, what is he doing? Marshall was never going to be in the Astros' range to sign until Aiken developed the problem. As I say, I think they got too clever by half, probably thinking they could have the equivalent of three first round talents if Aiken would take the reduction for the arm trouble. I think they'd be better off with Kolek and Nix and some position player that they could have drafted later on and signed for $400,000 over slot or so, than to have one extra choice in 2015.

(09-29-2014 09:21 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-29-2014 07:52 AM)Mademen Wrote:  

(09-29-2014 04:03 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(09-28-2014 09:21 PM)gsloth Wrote:  Dang - the Astros now have 2 of the top 5 picks in the upcoming draft. Think they can get this one right?
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-base...raft-order

I thought they pretty well nailed it in 2012. Whether all or none of Correa, McCullers, Ruiz, Fontana, and Tucker become big league stars, that was still a nice haul.
I would have taken Kris Bryant over Appel in 2013. One, I think of Appel as the guy he was for most of his Stanford career--great stuff, can't win. Two, I know they got the hometown discount and signing below slot is part of their plan, but I don't think you do that every year. I think the better strategy is to alternate. And a guy who can play four corners and hit 40+ homers a year is a special talent.
And I think they got too cute by half in 2014. If Nolan Ryan says take Tyler Kolek, you take Tyler Kolek (who's already #2 on the Marlins' prospect list). He goes below slot, you sign Nix, and Marshall was a nice flier but was always going to LSU. The Marshall slot, or one in the preceding rounds, could have gone for someone that was actually signable at a slight premium.
Overall though, they've done a good job. They've probably drafted and signed more talent 2012-14 than they did 2003-11.

Marshall already left LSU to go to a Florida JUCO for a year and reenter draft. He said he thought he was going to the pros this year, but things fell through.

Had not heard that about Marshall, very interesting. Can't say I'm totally shocked since he wavered between UGa and LSU. What about Aiken, what is he doing? Marshall was never going to be in the Astros' range to sign until Aiken developed the problem. As I say, I think they got too clever by half, probably thinking they could have the equivalent of three first round talents if Aiken would take the reduction for the arm trouble. I think they'd be better off with Kolek and Nix and some position player that they could have drafted later on and signed for $400,000 over slot or so, than to have one extra choice in 2015.

Aiken and Nix have both been linked with Yuma Valley JUCO in Arizona (At least I think that was the name). Nix is also still trying to win a grievance against the Astros to be given his $1.5 million bonus and start his career. If MLB upholds its rules and Nix wins his grievance, the Astros would forfeit 2 1st round picks (including #5 in 2015) for exceeding the bonus money pool.

(09-29-2014 09:39 AM)Mademen Wrote:  

(09-29-2014 07:52 AM)Mademen Wrote:  Marshall already left LSU to go to a Florida JUCO for a year and reenter draft. He said he thought he was going to the pros this year, but things fell through.

Aiken and Nix have both been linked with Yuma Valley JUCO in Arizona (At least I think that was the name).

A Baseball America article by John Manuel two days ago said Marshall will be attending Chiploa College in Marianna, fla. (which is about halfway between Tallahassee and Defuniak Springs). Its baseball team is "led by long-time, widely respected coach Jeff Johnson, {who) has produced seven active major leaguers, including Pirates catcher Russell Martin and pitchers Pat Corbin (Diamondbacks, injured) and David Buchanan (Phillies)."

Manuel also wrote that "Aiken and Nix have UCLA commitments, and while neither is necessarily expected to play for the Bruins, UCLA’s fall semester doesn’t begin until Oct. 2, so that door is not yet closed."

The Astros hire AJ Hinch, who played college ball at Stanford, as their new manager.

This was the first time the club surpassed 70 wins since 2010. Luhnow has taken a lot of heat, but things are moving the right way, and a .500 season is a very realistic goal for next year with a healthy Springer and some bullpen help.

Y'all see the new Astros AAA affiliate?
Thankfully, my boys and I already have Astros hats!
Go Grizzlies (and Astros).