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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 29, 2023 6:56:26 GMT -6
I’m rooting for the DBacks, but is it weird if I think if the Rangers win, it might compel Crane to spend more money in the offseason? If that’s what it takes for him to spend more, we’re not in the best place. |
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Post by thomasj13 on Oct 29, 2023 7:07:17 GMT -6
I’m rooting for the DBacks, but is it weird if I think if the Rangers win, it might compel Crane to spend more money in the offseason? If that’s what it takes for him to spend more, we’re not in the best place. It’s tough rooting for the DBs against the DBacks |
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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 29, 2023 7:45:59 GMT -6
If that’s what it takes for him to spend more, we’re not in the best place. It’s tough rooting for the DBs against the DBacks I still wouldn’t. Screw the Rangers. |
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Post by thomasj13 on Oct 29, 2023 7:48:57 GMT -6
It’s tough rooting for the DBs against the DBacks I still wouldn’t. Screw the Rangers. That’s what I was thinking! |
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 29, 2023 11:41:16 GMT -6
With the first "dumb Astros fan blog trade suggestion article," it's officially Hot Stove season. With like 8 starting pitchers on the roster, let's make a marginal upgrade with an oft-injured Shane Bieber, who has one year of control left and who has lost almost 3 MPH since his peak, by dealing the next three years of our potentially five-win centerfielder Chas McCormick, giving us one outfielder on the whole roster who can hit, just a few months after dealing our last remaining elite hitting prospect. Woof. www.si.com/mlb/astros/news/could-houston-astros-pull-off-game-changing-trade-guardiansHow much do you think the winning bid will be for YY, if his Japanese team posts him this year? And does any non-West or non-East coast teams have a shot? He's been absolutely elite and he's only age 26, career 1.82 ERA as a starter against the highest level international baseball league on the planet. He's flat better than Kodai Senga was and is half a decade younger; Senga got $15 million per year for five years and an opt out, and Senga rewarded Cohen by posting a sub-3.00 ERA as a starter. I would be stunned at less than five years, $20 million per year. Six years, $25 million per is quite possible. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 29, 2023 11:53:01 GMT -6
I don’t know, shouldn’t they focus on guys like Yamamoto or Montgomery instead of trading assets for Bieber? Just to be clear, this is a fan blog article. The guy is just throwing out his own idea, no sources or anything. Yes, they would be nuts to trade for Bieber unless the cost was quite low. Chas for Bieber would be asinine. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 29, 2023 11:55:51 GMT -6
I’m rooting for the DBacks, but is it weird if I think if the Rangers win, it might compel Crane to spend more money in the offseason? I don't think Crane is that reactionary, or that dedicated to winning at all costs. Based on his history, he will not go over, at least not far over, the luxury tax threshhold. I guess we could hope that he had a long game in mind, the stay under it strictly while the team was coasting on the strength of the rebuild draft picks, and then start going over when it was truly needed as the window is shutting (I.E. now), but I'll believe it when I see it. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 29, 2023 13:01:00 GMT -6
Here is Chandler Rome's article about managerial candidates from a few days ago:
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With Dusty Baker retiring, the Astros need a manager. But before they decide on one, they must answer the question that has swirled around the organization for much of this season: Who is making that decision?
Is it owner Jim Crane, who continues to wield considerable influence in baseball operations? Is it general manager Dana Brown, entering his first full offseason in charge? How influential are Hall of Fame advisers Jeff Bagwell and Reggie Jackson in the process?
Anyone who watched the team’s trade deadline understands Crane engineered the deal for Justin Verlander. Bagwell helped Crane craft much of the Astros’ wretched 2023 winter, when José Abreu, Rafael Montero and Michael Brantley commanded $105 million and compiled negative-0.4 wins above replacement, according to Baseball-Reference.
Bagwell and Crane will have immense say in the managerial search alongside Brown. Those who work with and around Crane say he enjoys making a splash and hiring big names. Bringing on Dusty Baker in 2020 is proof of that.
The person who replaces Baker will inherit an impressive core and Crane’s enormous expectations to win. The curious front-office power structure notwithstanding, this is a premier job with potential for an eighth consecutive American League Championship Series appearance. Here are 12 names to keep an eye on, listed in alphabetical order.
Brad Ausmus
Former Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels manager
Ausmus, a former Astros fan favorite who remains close with Bagwell, nearly became Houston’s general manager last winter before Crane hired Brown. Earlier this month, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported Ausmus is “interested in pursuing managerial openings” this winter after serving as Team Israel’s bench coach in the World Baseball Classic. Ausmus’ first two managerial stints with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels did not end well. His Angels tenure involved the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs and subsequent revelations, under oath, that a communications manager illegally purchased and distributed pills in the Angels clubhouse during the 2019 season. It’s difficult to place blame on Ausmus, but the manager is in charge of the clubhouse. Logic suggests Ausmus will have to answer difficult questions if he does receive an interview. Ausmus’ friendship with Bagwell, and how close he came to the general manager’s job last winter, can’t be overstated in discussing his candidacy.
Craig Counsell
Milwaukee Brewers manager
Counsell reuniting with David Stearns and the Mets seems like a fait accompli, but it would be a dereliction of duty if the Astros don’t gauge his interest and attempt to secure an interview. Counsell is the most accomplished manager available in this hiring cycle, even if his postseason record leaves something to be desired. Still, he led the small-market Milwaukee Brewers to three 90-win seasons, another 89-win campaign in 2019 and five postseason appearances. He is a former player, which should satisfy Bagwell and Jackson, but just finished nine seasons in one of the sport’s most analytically forward organizations. And, if Crane wants a splash, none would register more than luring Counsell.
Joe Espada
Houston Astros bench coach
If maintaining continuity is the Astros’ goal, Espada is the most logical choice. He’s been Houston’s bench coach since 2018 and has formed a tight rapport with most of the team’s returning core. Espada has interviewed for at least six managerial openings since his arrival in Houston, but never broken through, inviting wonder why it’s been so difficult for such an attractive candidate to become a manager. No job better suits Espada than Houston’s. He should receive a formal interview, and Crane, Bagwell and Brown should look no further than the ninth inning of Game 5 in the ALCS for an example of how Espada handles pressure. His two pinch-hit decisions, and the order in which Espada sent them up, precipitated the Astros’ comeback following the benches-clearing incident and Baker’s ejection.
Mark Kotsay
Oakland A’s manager
Kotsay interviewed with the Astros in 2020 and, according to some involved in the process, emerged as a standout before Crane ultimately settled on Baker. Kotsay has been handed a no-win situation in Oakland, but kept the club together this season after a terrible start. Houston saw it firsthand in September, when the A’s took two of three at Minute Maid Park amid the Astros’ playoff push. Kotsay is under contract with the A’s through the 2024 season and has a club option for 2025. Two years ago, Oakland allowed Bob Melvin to interview with the San Diego Padres and depart for their managerial job when the A’s rebuild began. Might a similar situation unfold here?
Kotsay’s inclusion here as a sitting manager under contract will invite similar questions as to whether a reunion with A.J. Hinch is feasible. Hinch, who is reportedly under contract through 2025, is building more momentum with a Detroit Tigers franchise with far more stability than Oakland’s. It’s difficult to envision Hinch abandoning that after just three seasons.
Rodney Linares
Tampa Bay Rays bench coach
Linares once looked like an Astros lifer. Hired as a minor-league instructor in 1999, Linares spent 20 seasons in Houston’s organization, including 12 seasons as a minor-league manager. Alex Bregman, Lance McCullers Jr, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and Framber Valdez all played for him at one point or another during their minor-league careers. The Tampa Bay Rays hired Linares after the Astros parted ways with him following the 2018 season. Linares managed the star-studded Team Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic in March and has worked in one of the sport’s most progressive organizations and under one of its most heralded managers in Kevin Cash. Linares still has many connections within the Astros organization and is the one outside candidate who could maintain some stability if he’s hired.
Omar López
Houston Astros first base coach
Most discussion about internal candidates surrounds Espada, but López boasts more managerial experience than anyone on Houston’s current coaching staff. The 46-year-old managed 12 seasons in the Astros’ minor league system before his promotion to the major-league staff in 2019. In March, López managed Team Venezuela to the World Baseball Classic semifinals, too, before ultimately losing to Team USA. López is close with second baseman Jose Altuve, whom he helped to sign as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela and managed in Altuve’s first full season of professional baseball. López has spent 25 seasons in the Astros’ organization, longevity that deserves legitimate consideration for this job.
Joe Maddon
Former Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels manager
Maddon is open to managing again after his Angels tenure failed — but the reason it did raises questions as to whether he’s an ideal candidate for the Astros. In the aftermath of his firing last year, Maddon described a rift between the Angels’ analytic inclination and his baseball instincts when it came to decision-making.
“I’m into analytics, but not to the point where everybody wants to shove it down your throat,” Maddon told Ken Rosenthal shortly after his dismissal. “Real baseball people have felt somewhat impacted by all of this. You’re unable to just go to the ballpark and have some fun and play baseball. It’s too much controlled by front offices these days.”
Despite claims to the contrary, the Astros are not going away from analytics. Brown allowed Baker full autonomy for his on-field decisions, but did publicly disagree with some of them on numerous occasions. If Maddon is afforded the same leeway, and allowed to digest the deluge of information Houston’s front office gives him, few managers carry the same caché. Crane, as noted, enjoys associating himself with such names.
Don Mattingly
Toronto Blue Jays bench coach
Speaking of big names, few are more appealing than Donnie Baseball — and Jackson can give his boss a better Mattingly analysis than most. Mattingly’s .483 managerial winning percentage is not sexy, but most of the setbacks came during a difficult stretch with the Miami Marlins, who endured the untimely death of homegrown ace José Fernández and a subsequent selloff on Mattingly’s watch.
Buck Showalter
Former Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and New York Mets manager
Showalter interviewed for the Astros’ job when it went to Baker. He is interested in managing again after his circuitous tenure with the Mets and reports have linked him to the Los Angeles Angels, where he remains close with general manager Perry Minasian. However, Showalter is, in some ways, similar to Baker and it’s worth wondering if the Astros want to go in a different direction philosophically. Showalter, though, would fit Crane’s desire for a big name.
Will Venable
Texas Rangers associate manager
Venable interviewed in 2020, too. He has already declined an interview request with the Mets, according to the New York Post, and the Rangers’ spot in the World Series could delay any possible overtures from the Astros. Venable, a 40-year-old Princeton product who played nine seasons in the big leagues, could fit the aforementioned “different philosophical direction.” Crane could take pleasure in poaching one of the Rangers’ top up-and-coming coaches, too, especially given how the Astros’ 2023 season concluded.
Walt Weiss; Eric Young
Atlanta Braves bench coach; Atlanta Braves first-base coach
In a scenario where Brown has full autonomy to hire his own manager, both Atlanta Braves coaches are obvious candidates. Brown spent four seasons with the Braves before arriving in Houston last February. He and Young were high school teammates at New Brunswick High School while Weiss has four years of managerial experience with the Colorado Rockies.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Oct 29, 2023 15:15:32 GMT -6
With the first "dumb Astros fan blog trade suggestion article," it's officially Hot Stove season. With like 8 starting pitchers on the roster, let's make a marginal upgrade with an oft-injured Shane Bieber, who has one year of control left and who has lost almost 3 MPH since his peak, by dealing the next three years of our potentially five-win centerfielder Chas McCormick, giving us one outfielder on the whole roster who can hit, just a few months after dealing our last remaining elite hitting prospect. Woof. www.si.com/mlb/astros/news/could-houston-astros-pull-off-game-changing-trade-guardiansIt amazes me that the team is still trying to do trades instead of spending more money. This team will be wrecked in a couple years when its stars start to age out. How are they supposed to spend money when they stay pretty much right up against the cap? |
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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 29, 2023 16:30:34 GMT -6
It amazes me that the team is still trying to do trades instead of spending more money. This team will be wrecked in a couple years when its stars start to age out. How are they supposed to spend money when they stay pretty much right up against the cap? Whatever it takes to stay competitive. Without good prospects you kind of have to spend more if you want the window to remain open. Going over the cap doesn’t cost you draft picks anymore. |
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Post by bearbryant on Oct 29, 2023 17:22:19 GMT -6
I'd forgotten the Skaggs incident happened on Ausmus' watch. I'm surprised he'd be a candidate to be honest with the culture Crane's been trying to cultivate with personnel staying out of trouble
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 29, 2023 18:04:18 GMT -6
It amazes me that the team is still trying to do trades instead of spending more money. This team will be wrecked in a couple years when its stars start to age out. How are they supposed to spend money when they stay pretty much right up against the cap? Any owner can spend as much as they want. The "cap" isn't like in the NBA and NFL that actually prevents spending. Draft pick losses no longer happen either. You can have a billion dollar payroll if you're willing to pay the luxury tax. Which is not to say Crane has some obligation to spend X, just that we shouldn't be under the impression he cannot if he wanted to. |
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talshill
Arbitration Eligible
Vini, vici, pavori.
Posts: 2,009
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Post by talshill on Oct 29, 2023 18:15:46 GMT -6
Of that list 2 names are intriguing, one is “maybe” and the others are all, “hell naws”.
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Post by thomasj13 on Oct 29, 2023 18:30:05 GMT -6
Of that list 2 names are intriguing, one is “maybe” and the others are all, “hell naws”. If it’s not going to be Espada, who I thought had to be promised under the table, for never signing elsewhere, I would take in this order 1. Linares 2. Counsell 3. Venable |
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 29, 2023 19:00:28 GMT -6
Of that list 2 names are intriguing, one is “maybe” and the others are all, “hell naws”. Counsell is a great target, but Rome is right, Cohen is probably going to drop a bank on his house and that's that. The Kotsay idea is not bad though. |
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Post by Saint on Oct 29, 2023 19:56:59 GMT -6
That's nonsense. Come on now. Crane doesn't want to be a loser. Would Crane have fired Dusty right now if Dusty hadn't retired first? I'm not convinced. And I'm not convinced his buddy Bagwell wouldn't be able to convince him whatever is going on in the future isn't Ausmus' fault. Someone talked Crane into (or he himself thought it was a good idea!) the Montero signing, the Abreu signing, the Gilbert trade. I'm sure Crane doesn't want to be a loser. I'm not sure he has enough sense to see what the problems are in order to fix them, and Bagwell stumping for Ausmus certainly won't help matters. I've asked before and nobody answered. Why is Ausmus a BAD candidate? |
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 30, 2023 4:56:08 GMT -6
Would Crane have fired Dusty right now if Dusty hadn't retired first? I'm not convinced. And I'm not convinced his buddy Bagwell wouldn't be able to convince him whatever is going on in the future isn't Ausmus' fault. Someone talked Crane into (or he himself thought it was a good idea!) the Montero signing, the Abreu signing, the Gilbert trade. I'm sure Crane doesn't want to be a loser. I'm not sure he has enough sense to see what the problems are in order to fix them, and Bagwell stumping for Ausmus certainly won't help matters. I've asked before and nobody answered. Why is Ausmus a BAD candidate? You can think he's not a bad candidate and still not think it's a good idea to hire him. But frankly Bagwell's support of him, knowing what Bagwell believes about analytics, is concern enough IMO. If he were very metrically-inclined, it's reasonable to assume Bagwell would not be as fond of him. It could be wrong, but there are plenty of candidates that don't have that cloud hanging over them, and the concern that Bagwell's influence would make him harder to fire if need be. To trump those concerns, someone would have to explain to me why Ausmus is a clearly better target than everyone else available. |
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Post by Saint on Oct 30, 2023 6:10:38 GMT -6
I've asked before and nobody answered. Why is Ausmus a BAD candidate? You can think he's not a bad candidate and still not think it's a good idea to hire him. But frankly Bagwell's support of him, knowing what Bagwell believes about analytics, is concern enough IMO. If he were very metrically-inclined, it's reasonable to assume Bagwell would not be as fond of him. It could be wrong, but there are plenty of candidates that don't have that cloud hanging over them, and the concern that Bagwell's influence would make him harder to fire if need be. To trump those concerns, someone would have to explain to me why Ausmus is a clearly better target than everyone else available. So again, the only reason people are down on him is because he's a friend of Bagwell... I just don't get that. The only thing that we know Bagwell has had much say in is bringing in Abreu...which almost everyone was in favor of, and, despite a bad year, came up big in September and the postseason. Just seems like lots of misplaced panic to me. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 30, 2023 6:42:47 GMT -6
You can think he's not a bad candidate and still not think it's a good idea to hire him. But frankly Bagwell's support of him, knowing what Bagwell believes about analytics, is concern enough IMO. If he were very metrically-inclined, it's reasonable to assume Bagwell would not be as fond of him. It could be wrong, but there are plenty of candidates that don't have that cloud hanging over them, and the concern that Bagwell's influence would make him harder to fire if need be. To trump those concerns, someone would have to explain to me why Ausmus is a clearly better target than everyone else available. So again, the only reason people are down on him is because he's a friend of Bagwell... I just don't get that. The only thing that we know Bagwell has had much say in is bringing in Abreu...which almost everyone was in favor of, and, despite a bad year, came up big in September and the postseason. Just seems like lots of misplaced panic to me. Maybe because the acquisitions he headed up this past offseason combined for negative value? You’re asking him to once again be in charge of a significant organizational move. It’s not too difficult to understand the perspective of these fans. Does he have a good amount of baseball knowledge? Yes. Does he have extensive front office experience? No. Is he overseeing a man who’s played a major role in making the Braves a current success? Also, yes. Let Dana Brown be the man they paid him to be and get out of his way, or else you’ll have another James Click situation. |
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Post by bearbryant on Oct 30, 2023 9:17:40 GMT -6
So again, the only reason people are down on him is because he's a friend of Bagwell... I just don't get that. The only thing that we know Bagwell has had much say in is bringing in Abreu...which almost everyone was in favor of, and, despite a bad year, came up big in September and the postseason. Just seems like lots of misplaced panic to me. Is he overseeing a man who’s played a major role in making the Braves a current success? Also, yes. Let Dana Brown be the man they paid him to be and get out of his way, or else you’ll have another James Click situation. Whether this is an accurate description of Baggy's role, picking the manager isn't that significant of an organizational move that fans with this perspective are making it out to be. All managers for the most part are competent to a degree and have foibles that annoy us to a degree. Rarely there's a candidate one can point to and say we would've won the pennant if that guy was available |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Oct 30, 2023 9:23:49 GMT -6
Brian is just stuck in his "metrics to the exclusion of everything" feedback loop, like always.
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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 30, 2023 10:55:00 GMT -6
Is he overseeing a man who’s played a major role in making the Braves a current success? Also, yes. Let Dana Brown be the man they paid him to be and get out of his way, or else you’ll have another James Click situation. Whether this is an accurate description of Baggy's role, picking the manager isn't that significant of an organizational move that fans with this perspective are making it out to be. All managers for the most part are competent to a degree and have foibles that annoy us to a degree. Rarely there's a candidate one can point to and say we would've won the pennant if that guy was available It’s interesting. I see a manager as a reflection of team philosophy rather than having a significant on-field impact. What I’d look for more in the role is mainly more of a synergy with Brown and the ways he’s brought with him from Atlanta. I agree with Bagwell and Reggie that analytics has taken over a huge deal in the game, but I don’t think it should be cast aside by know-it-all ex-jocks either. My theory was that Click was dismissed by the top brass, who took credit for the success and effectively pushed him out the door with an insulting one-year deal. I hope I’m wrong about the former. Skeptics like Brian and me are wary about a redo of all that transpired with Dana Brown. Ideally, the best manager would be at a level between Hinch and Dusty. In short, they need a manager with instincts more like Dusty and lineups more like Hinch. That person would be cognizant of the analytics and use them to base his decisions while also not ignoring gut instinct on whether or not a pitcher or hitter has it that night. Pitching moves should not solely be determined by the spreadsheets. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Oct 30, 2023 13:33:41 GMT -6
You can think he's not a bad candidate and still not think it's a good idea to hire him. But frankly Bagwell's support of him, knowing what Bagwell believes about analytics, is concern enough IMO. If he were very metrically-inclined, it's reasonable to assume Bagwell would not be as fond of him. It could be wrong, but there are plenty of candidates that don't have that cloud hanging over them, and the concern that Bagwell's influence would make him harder to fire if need be. To trump those concerns, someone would have to explain to me why Ausmus is a clearly better target than everyone else available. So again, the only reason people are down on him is because he's a friend of Bagwell... I just don't get that. The only thing that we know Bagwell has had much say in is bringing in Abreu...which almost everyone was in favor of, and, despite a bad year, came up big in September and the postseason. Just seems like lots of misplaced panic to me. Bagwell has become Crane's biggest advisor after helping chase Click out. He was there for Montero and Brantley as well. The three off-season acquisitions as a whole cost over $100 million and brought negative value. Last off-season I was told I was worrying about nothing re: Bagwell and look what happened in just one off-season. Are you really not concerned at all? Not at all? How many more atrocious signings and moves will it take? Will we have to miss the playoffs (as we almost did this year) before it's not misplaced panic? My contention is that Bagwell has shown himself to be incompetent and backwards as an executive to such a degree already that any move he's in support of should be treated with healthy skepticism. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 30, 2023 14:15:19 GMT -6
So again, the only reason people are down on him is because he's a friend of Bagwell... I just don't get that. The only thing that we know Bagwell has had much say in is bringing in Abreu...which almost everyone was in favor of, and, despite a bad year, came up big in September and the postseason. Just seems like lots of misplaced panic to me. Bagwell has become Crane's biggest advisor after helping chase Click out. He was there for Montero and Brantley as well. The three off-season acquisitions as a whole cost over $100 million and brought negative value. Last off-season I was told I was worrying about nothing re: Bagwell and look what happened in just one off-season. Are you really not concerned at all? Not at all? How many more atrocious signings and moves will it take? Will we have to miss the playoffs (as we almost did this year) before it's not misplaced panic? My contention is that Bagwell has shown himself to be incompetent and backwards as an executive to such a degree already that any move he's in support of should be treated with healthy skepticism. Agreed. Dusty had his faults but let’s not forget that the offseason moves nearly sunk their chances at a postseason berth. Montero: Absolute dud. Brantley: Typical short term veteran deal, dud. Abreu: This was just unfortunate, I can’t really blame them. |
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Post by bearbryant on Oct 30, 2023 14:44:54 GMT -6
Whether this is an accurate description of Baggy's role, picking the manager isn't that significant of an organizational move that fans with this perspective are making it out to be. All managers for the most part are competent to a degree and have foibles that annoy us to a degree. Rarely there's a candidate one can point to and say we would've won the pennant if that guy was available It’s interesting. I see a manager as a reflection of team philosophy rather than having a significant on-field impact. What I’d look for more in the role is mainly more of a synergy with Brown and the ways he’s brought with him from Atlanta. I agree with Bagwell and Reggie that analytics has taken over a huge deal in the game, but I don’t think it should be cast aside by know-it-all ex-jocks either. My theory was that Click was dismissed by the top brass, who took credit for the success and effectively pushed him out the door with an insulting one-year deal. I hope I’m wrong about the former. Skeptics like Brian and me are wary about a redo of all that transpired with Dana Brown. Ideally, the best manager would be at a level between Hinch and Dusty. In short, they need a manager with instincts more like Dusty and lineups more like Hinch. That person would be cognizant of the analytics and use them to base his decisions while also not ignoring gut instinct on whether or not a pitcher or hitter has it that night. Pitching moves should not solely be determined by the spreadsheets. If the new manager can manage the bullpen and the players like him he'll probably have a successful stint like the last two did. If he fails on either front he'll probably get the hook |
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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 30, 2023 15:46:39 GMT -6
It’s interesting. I see a manager as a reflection of team philosophy rather than having a significant on-field impact. What I’d look for more in the role is mainly more of a synergy with Brown and the ways he’s brought with him from Atlanta. I agree with Bagwell and Reggie that analytics has taken over a huge deal in the game, but I don’t think it should be cast aside by know-it-all ex-jocks either. My theory was that Click was dismissed by the top brass, who took credit for the success and effectively pushed him out the door with an insulting one-year deal. I hope I’m wrong about the former. Skeptics like Brian and me are wary about a redo of all that transpired with Dana Brown. Ideally, the best manager would be at a level between Hinch and Dusty. In short, they need a manager with instincts more like Dusty and lineups more like Hinch. That person would be cognizant of the analytics and use them to base his decisions while also not ignoring gut instinct on whether or not a pitcher or hitter has it that night. Pitching moves should not solely be determined by the spreadsheets. If the new manager can manage the bullpen and the players like him he'll probably have a successful stint like the last two did. If he fails on either front he'll probably get the hook I don’t think people have a problem with Ausmus so much as they’re worried about back to back crappy offseasons. |
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Post by bearbryant on Oct 30, 2023 16:07:57 GMT -6
If the new manager can manage the bullpen and the players like him he'll probably have a successful stint like the last two did. If he fails on either front he'll probably get the hook I don’t think people have a problem with Ausmus so much as they’re worried about back to back crappy offseasons. Bagwell's not going to be involved in acquisitions. Last winter was different cause the GM position was vacant |
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Post by Saint on Oct 30, 2023 17:03:16 GMT -6
So again, the only reason people are down on him is because he's a friend of Bagwell... I just don't get that. The only thing that we know Bagwell has had much say in is bringing in Abreu...which almost everyone was in favor of, and, despite a bad year, came up big in September and the postseason. Just seems like lots of misplaced panic to me. Bagwell has become Crane's biggest advisor after helping chase Click out. He was there for Montero and Brantley as well. The three off-season acquisitions as a whole cost over $100 million and brought negative value. Last off-season I was told I was worrying about nothing re: Bagwell and look what happened in just one off-season. Are you really not concerned at all? Not at all? How many more atrocious signings and moves will it take? Will we have to miss the playoffs (as we almost did this year) before it's not misplaced panic? My contention is that Bagwell has shown himself to be incompetent and backwards as an executive to such a degree already that any move he's in support of should be treated with healthy skepticism. Why would you think he helped chase Click out? If anything Dusty had a big role in that. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Oct 30, 2023 17:04:25 GMT -6
Bagwell has become Crane's biggest advisor after helping chase Click out. He was there for Montero and Brantley as well. The three off-season acquisitions as a whole cost over $100 million and brought negative value. Last off-season I was told I was worrying about nothing re: Bagwell and look what happened in just one off-season. Are you really not concerned at all? Not at all? How many more atrocious signings and moves will it take? Will we have to miss the playoffs (as we almost did this year) before it's not misplaced panic? My contention is that Bagwell has shown himself to be incompetent and backwards as an executive to such a degree already that any move he's in support of should be treated with healthy skepticism. Why would you think he helped chase Click out? If anything Dusty had a big role in that. Could possibly be both. However, I doubt Dusty had as much power to get rid of Click as Bagwell. |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Oct 30, 2023 17:22:27 GMT -6
Why would you think he helped chase Click out? If anything Dusty had a big role in that. Could possibly be both. However, I doubt Dusty had as much power to get rid of Click as Bagwell. Actually, if you remember, it was Dusty who vetoed some trades by Click (that Cubs catcher, for one). |
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