September 2009
…..NEXT!!
Here we go….again. I’m not complaining, but could this happen less often? Here is some friendly advice to the next pawn:
If you are selected to be the next Houston Astros manager don’t get too comfortable. In fact, I wouldn’t totally unpack.
If history holds up, you will be manager for approximately 3 years. During that time, Drayton (with Wade’s help) will have managed to screw up enough that the players, fans, and the local media will turn on you. You will be the fall guy for these mistakes.
When you continually have problems in a business like this, you fire the manager. After the dust has cleared, and those same problems still exist…you head straight for the top buddy. Unfortunately, you can’t fire the owner. Drayton is on my **** list. I know he is hiding behind Wade’s skirt right now, but he should be looking at the man in the mirror, and asking him to change his ways. We can only hope that someone has had a “come to Jesus” meeting with Drayton McLane, I doubt it, but one can hope.
As far as candidates are concerned I like Tim Bogar. I’m not sure what his managerial style is, but I liked him as a player. I hope he isn’t too laid back. I firmly believe this team does not need another laid back “let the inmates run the asylum” kind of manager. Jim Deshaies mentioned that teams seem to go back and forth from laid back to disciplinarians. They need a manager they will respect, and not make cutesy t-shirts that say “Really?” under their jerseys and behind his back. We have some adolescent behavior going on in the clubhouse, and someone needs to come in and rip them a new one. If you want a name that will cause a real media frenzy try this one:
Alyson Footer. First of all she is from O-High-O…..ok, moving on. She obviously knows how to handle the media. I don’t know Alyson, but from listening to her on 1560 the game and following her on Twitter, etc. I am confident when I say she isn’t laid back. I don’t think she’s a “crier” either so that’s good (you know, there’s no crying in baseball.) I’m kidding! She would be the first female skipper in MLB, so it would be history. She doesn’t need to have experience with a pitching staff, etc. Nahhh. What do you think a certain President did when he had no idea how to run a country? He surrounded himself with smart (and corrupt) people who did. If you are insecure with how to handle a pitching staff, you hire a Mike Maddux type to consult with. Problem solved. She understands the game of baseball and what it takes to be successful.
Wow, that was fun. Someone to keep an eye on for the next round, but I actually meant…
Kirk Gibson. Talk about a “name.” This would be a huge media splash, wouldn’t it? We could call it “Splash Day.” If you really want a media circus that goes on forever, hire that guy. The media will be slobbering all over Houston. After that, I don’t know his style either. I think I would like it.
Bottom line…Happy Birthday to my wife!! Hopefully, she’ll read this. 
The Coop Has Flown
First of all, let me say this; no one wants to kick a guy when he’s down (most people anyway.) So let me get the obligatory “it’s not personal, it’s business” out of the way. There. Now I can trash the guy.
I actually feel a little better about this season now. I have been tortured all year with this manager, and I don’t like pain. I’m not a masochist (but as a sadist, let me just say I’m glad they exist.) Seriously, most fans are relieved that he’s been relieved of his managerial duties. This took way too long. Then I couldn’t believe it….there were fans/media asking why they didn’t wait until the end of the season? “Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do today.” That’s what Grandma always said.
Wade has been discussing how the rest of the season will play out, and he has basically said that he won’t disrespect the potential free agent vets who may or may not be back with this ball club next season. This means he won’t be sending out the youngsters like CJ and Manzella to play as much as they should be. He said that we all get to wait until spring training to look at them. Great idea! It sure will be a lot easier for them there. WTF? I don’t like it. I’ve seen enough from the veterans this year, and do I have to say that I’m not real impressed? All of our sluggers are hitting mid to upper 20′s for home run totals. This is unacceptable. That was Pence’s total for last year, and probably this one too. Ahem, he’s not considered to be a big bopper. This potential power outage should be a major concern for all fans, players, media, and management going into ’10.
I came across this quote on twitter. It’s Geoff Blum on Dave Clark:
“He’s one of those guys who didn’t forget to take the ‘I forgot how hard it was to play pill.’”
I don’t know about you, but I think the wording in this quote bites. Who knows, maybe Tags didn’t jot it down correctly. I actually expect more from Blum. He is my candidate for player/manager, that’s right, the next Pete Rose (without the gambling issues.)
Bottom line…I don’t give a **** about which veterans need to showcase their talents for their next lucrative contract. Let the youngsters play.
The battle is almost over
It is getting tough. It’s a battle to muster up a blog entry about this team right now.
The aches and pains that have plagued most MLB players are shutting them down for the season. I’m not just talking about the Astros, all MLB teams are shutting players down. This makes it difficult for the fantasy teams that are in the playoffs (which start next week.) I don’t think I have ever seen so many pitchers go down so soon. Several MLB teams are placing pitchers on the shelf because of innings pitched. Basically what this means is management pushed them too hard during the year, and now I guess it’s time to pay the fiddler. Thanks a lot. A prime example of this is Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers. They have announced his last start will be today. Could somebody PLEASE find me a couple of Larry Dierkers? How about some more Nolan Ryan’s?? I’m tired of these prima donnas and their “dead” arms. I don’t think Larry Dierker knew what a “dead arm” was. If he did, he bucked it up and played through it. I sure miss those days.
I’m thinking all fantasy playoffs need to start and end by the first part of September. That way it won’t matter who fades off into the sunset. Speaking of sunsets….the sun is setting on the Astros 2009 season.
Bottom line. If someone asked me to choose a movie that would best describe how I felt about this season….I’d go with Misery.
Cut Coop loose/Paulino can stay
This countdown is agonizing. Day after day after day…I check Astros.com looking for the headline “Coop is canned.” I feel dejected, but move on with the hope that tomorrow is another day and possibly that day could be the one where he gets “rung up.” I’m not sure what else you need to do wrong as a manager to be terminated. Not show up for a game? Take a nap in the dugout? (trust me he’s done that, ask Blum.) I will admit he’s a great prognosticator. His prediction of 90 wins can still happen if the team can somehow pull off a 27-2 record to close out the season. It could happen. O.k., no way in hell.
Paulino looked good yesterday. It was almost a carbon copy of his performance against the Rockies back in June where he his stat line looked like this: 6.0 IN 5H 2ER 1BB 7K. Compare that to yesterday’s stat line: 6.0 IN 4H 2ER 2BB 7K. Not bad Paulino. His best start was against the Tigers in June where he posted 7.0 IN 3H 1ER 0BB 9K. Awesome. I think we’re at place now that this team can keep him in the rotation, and he can work through some of the issues that had him yanked earlier. He has shown flashes of brilliance, and with some fine tuning, he’ll be ready for next year.
Hampton has been excused from his pitching duties for the remainder of the season and now has opted for multiple surgeries (pitching shoulder and both knees.) This is even too much action for an old Bulldog like Hampton. My prediction: He won’t pitch in Houston again, and I doubt he’ll even make it back to the show.
Bud Norris toes the rubber once again on Sunday. He’s had some extra rest so we shall see what kind of game the youngster brings. He keeps it interesting, doesn’t he?
Am I the only one that thinks of dentistry when I hear the name Moehler? The potential 5th starter for ’10 was let down by his defense on Tuesday. He’s won only one game since July 20th, and honestly, I’m not impressed. I do feel o.k. with him as a 5th starter next year, but he isn’t #5 now is he?
Things do not get any easier on Friday. We have the newest addition to the Phillies, Cliff Lee, coming to town and he’s had a fantastic season. He’s 12-10 but most of that has been with the lowly Indians. I have bad news though, he had his stink game last time out (6 ER) so the chances he’ll have two stink bombs in a row are slim. Do you know how many runs he normally gives up? Since July 16th (other than his last stinker) he has basically given up one run or less. Wandy better be on top of his game.
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