Rats I was hoping for Greenspan being named...after all he has the same PR touch Crane has.

Cool. I can say that I gave up at least 2 dingers in one beer league softball game to the prez of the 'stros. That should improve the old resume.

Certainly won't help Reid's!

(05-16-2013 10:47 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Rats I was hoping for Greenspan being named...after all he has the same PR touch Crane has.

Plus that solves a problem on this end.

(05-16-2013 02:50 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Certainly won't help Reid's!

You are right about that Tomball. It was a one home run league and I think Reid and his flat bellies hit 7 or 8 out. The assorted lawyers and state employees (including the self declared "fastest fat man in Texas) put a whoopin' on them -- possibly because they couldn't take us seriously.

The good news as I recall is Rice used to whip up on both of the Ryan boys when they were at TCU.

I'm a little surprised by this move since doesn't Nolan still have a lot of ill will towards the Astros? One of the first things Reid needs to do is to bring back the Astros Wives Gala.

(05-16-2013 04:35 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The good news as I recall is Rice used to whip up on both of the Ryan boys when they were at TCU.

I'm a little surprised by this move since doesn't Nolan still have a lot of ill will towards the Astros? One of the first things Reid needs to do is to bring back the Astros Wives Gala.

He needs to make Round Rock the Astros Triple A affiliate. Again. And then get them back in the National League where they belong.

(05-16-2013 04:35 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The good news as I recall is Rice used to whip up on both of the Ryan boys when they were at TCU.

I'm a little surprised by this move since doesn't Nolan still have a lot of ill will towards the Astros? One of the first things Reid needs to do is to bring back the Astros Wives Gala.

I think Nolan's ill will was with Drayton.

(05-16-2013 06:51 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 04:35 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The good news as I recall is Rice used to whip up on both of the Ryan boys when they were at TCU.

I'm a little surprised by this move since doesn't Nolan still have a lot of ill will towards the Astros? One of the first things Reid needs to do is to bring back the Astros Wives Gala.

I think Nolan's ill will was with Drayton.

I never really picked up on any ill will. I thought he had an overwhelming lack of good will, though. Plus, wasn't Ryan gone by the time that Drayton McLane came along? Why would he have hard feelings towards McLane?

Nolan Ryan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Ryan Wrote:Teams
Houston Astros (1980–1988)

Drayton McLane, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drayton_Mclane Wrote:From the time he purchased the team in 1993 to 2005, the Astros ranked fifth in the Majors and second in the National League in winning percentage (.543).[6]

It was McMullen who did not resign Nolan Ryan.

(05-17-2013 11:42 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 06:51 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 04:35 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The good news as I recall is Rice used to whip up on both of the Ryan boys when they were at TCU.

I'm a little surprised by this move since doesn't Nolan still have a lot of ill will towards the Astros? One of the first things Reid needs to do is to bring back the Astros Wives Gala.

I think Nolan's ill will was with Drayton.

I never really picked up on any ill will. I thought he had an overwhelming lack of good will, though. Plus, wasn't Ryan gone by the time that Drayton McLane came along? Why would he have hard feelings towards McLane?

Nolan Ryan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Ryan Wrote:Teams
Houston Astros (1980–1988)

Drayton McLane, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drayton_Mclane Wrote:From the time he purchased the team in 1993 to 2005, the Astros ranked fifth in the Majors and second in the National League in winning percentage (.543).[6]

(05-17-2013 12:12 PM)75src Wrote:  It was McMullen who did not resign Nolan Ryan.

(05-17-2013 11:42 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 06:51 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 04:35 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The good news as I recall is Rice used to whip up on both of the Ryan boys when they were at TCU.

I'm a little surprised by this move since doesn't Nolan still have a lot of ill will towards the Astros? One of the first things Reid needs to do is to bring back the Astros Wives Gala.

I think Nolan's ill will was with Drayton.

I never really picked up on any ill will. I thought he had an overwhelming lack of good will, though. Plus, wasn't Ryan gone by the time that Drayton McLane came along? Why would he have hard feelings towards McLane?

Nolan Ryan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_Ryan Wrote:Teams
Houston Astros (1980–1988)

Drayton McLane, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drayton_Mclane Wrote:From the time he purchased the team in 1993 to 2005, the Astros ranked fifth in the Majors and second in the National League in winning percentage (.543).[6]

IIRC, McMullen offered a contract, but with a pay cut.

You're missing a critical point. The Astros have lost Ryan to the Ranger TWICE. Once as a player, under McMullen. Second time as an executive, and that was under Drayton.

Ryan and Don Sanders (who also had a falling out with McMullen, when Don was a limited partner in the Astros) owned the Round Rock and Corpus Christi franchises which were the Astros' AAA and AA farm clubs. Ryan wanted to move into an executive position with the Astros, and was interested in possibly buying the club. He and Drayton clashed over philosophies--Ryan wanted a scouting and player development emphasis (probably understandable as a farm club owner), whereas Drayton wanted to keep signing big money free agents to stroke his own ego. So they parted company and Ryan ended up in the Rangers' ownership group. And as I've said before, I think losing Nolan as an executive may end up hurting more than losing him as a player did.

(05-17-2013 03:42 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  You're missing a critical point. The Astros have lost Ryan to the Ranger TWICE. Once as a player, under McMullen. Second time as an executive, and that was under Drayton.

Ryan and Don Sanders (who also had a falling out with McMullen, when Don was a limited partner in the Astros) owned the Round Rock and Corpus Christi franchises which were the Astros' AAA and AA farm clubs. Ryan wanted to move into an executive position with the Astros, and was interested in possibly buying the club. He and Drayton clashed over philosophies--Ryan wanted a scouting and player development emphasis (probably understandable as a farm club owner), whereas Drayton wanted to keep signing big money free agents to stroke his own ego. So they parted company and Ryan ended up in the Rangers' ownership group. And as I've said before, I think losing Nolan as an executive may end up hurting more than losing him as a player did.

Ok... That's something I wasn't really aware of, or had forgotten. I thought he was solidly in the Rangers camp at the point that he retired. If I'd heard talk of him returning to the Astros, I probably discounted it.

(05-17-2013 08:49 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(05-17-2013 03:42 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  You're missing a critical point. The Astros have lost Ryan to the Ranger TWICE. Once as a player, under McMullen. Second time as an executive, and that was under Drayton.

Ryan and Don Sanders (who also had a falling out with McMullen, when Don was a limited partner in the Astros) owned the Round Rock and Corpus Christi franchises which were the Astros' AAA and AA farm clubs. Ryan wanted to move into an executive position with the Astros, and was interested in possibly buying the club. He and Drayton clashed over philosophies--Ryan wanted a scouting and player development emphasis (probably understandable as a farm club owner), whereas Drayton wanted to keep signing big money free agents to stroke his own ego. So they parted company and Ryan ended up in the Rangers' ownership group. And as I've said before, I think losing Nolan as an executive may end up hurting more than losing him as a player did.

Ok... That's something I wasn't really aware of, or had forgotten. I thought he was solidly in the Rangers camp at the point that he retired. If I'd heard talk of him returning to the Astros, I probably discounted it.

Let me clarify, I don't believe he ever went back on the Astros payroll. He and Don Sanders owned the Astros' two top farms and he wanted to get back with the Astros in an executive position. But he and Drayton did not see eye on player development, so Drayton would not bring him in. He was part of a group that approached Drayton about buying the team. Drayton turned them down and Ryan went on to join the group that bought the Rangers out of bankruptcy. I don't believe the Rangers group is the same as the group that tried to buy the Astros, but there may be other members in addition to Ryan who were/are part of both groups. I'm pretty sure Don is not part of the Rangers group and I don't recall whether he was part of the Astros group. I'll try to remember to ask him next time I see him.

Nolan has basically imposed his ideas about player development--particularly pitcher development--on the Rangers, and it seems to be working fairly well.