Threadbare said:

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3 Toed Pete said:

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Harry Dunne said:

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Buck Compton said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Buck Compton said:

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It's not a discussion and the answer is no. There's already too many up there.

Being in the rafters should mean you were an all-time great and spent like 85% of that career (and most of those accomplishments) in Houston.

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so no Ryan for Verlander for you?

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Ryan was a mercenary and played for a long time for 4 teams. He isn't iconic for us, hell he's in the actual HOF as a Ranger.

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One of the most ignorant takes I have read in a long time. Nolan Ryan is not iconic for the Astros?!?!

Even if you weren't around in the 80s when Nolan WAS the Houston Astros, the amount of #34 jerseys you still see at every game should tell you otherwise.

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Yes. Calling him a mercenary is ridiculous. The only reason he left Houston is because McMullen wouldn't resign him at a reasonable price because of his age. He didn't have much choice but to leave Houston.

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Yeah, but the Astros signed Jim Clancy in his place for a little less money, so it all worked out well for them...

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I think we were reading here a couple of months ago about a game he started in '89 and gave up something like 8 runs in the first inning without recording an out.

I know it's tempting to hope that Cole will sign with the Astros for a discount. But he won't for the same reason that Nolan walked away from the Astros. He didn't need the money but he felt an obligation to other players not to mess up the salary scale. He said that at the time and I think he meant it. And we've already heard Cole thank players before him for the opportunity he's about to get.

Cynic said:

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gigemJTH12 said:

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Long way to go to win this thing.


I will say this though. With Verlanders 0-5 World Series Record and 1-3 this postseason off a Cy Young season, it sure feels like the perfect opportunity for a great person and great baseball player to right those wrongs and have a career altering performance to bring home the trophy.

would be really freakin awesome.

Go 35. Do it.

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Not sure if this is accurate but I don't think he has closed out a series for us yet.

2017 Game 6 WS - Lost
2019 - Game 4 ALDS - Lost
2019 - Game 5 ALCS - Lost

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This.

I love Verlander, but he's 0-5 lifetime in the WS (as noted above) with a 5.73 ERA.

If he doesn't win this game, and the Astros go on to lose in 7, he's getting into Kershaw territory, at least for WS appearances. (ALCS and ALDS numbers are solid though).

EDIT: His WS numbers are actually worse than Kershaw.

The game 6 starting pitching advantage is clearly on the side of Washington.

Safe at Home said:

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Threadbare said:

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3 Toed Pete said:

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Harry Dunne said:

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Buck Compton said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Buck Compton said:

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It's not a discussion and the answer is no. There's already too many up there.

Being in the rafters should mean you were an all-time great and spent like 85% of that career (and most of those accomplishments) in Houston.

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so no Ryan for Verlander for you?

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Ryan was a mercenary and played for a long time for 4 teams. He isn't iconic for us, hell he's in the actual HOF as a Ranger.

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One of the most ignorant takes I have read in a long time. Nolan Ryan is not iconic for the Astros?!?!

Even if you weren't around in the 80s when Nolan WAS the Houston Astros, the amount of #34 jerseys you still see at every game should tell you otherwise.

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Yes. Calling him a mercenary is ridiculous. The only reason he left Houston is because McMullen wouldn't resign him at a reasonable price because of his age. He didn't have much choice but to leave Houston.

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Yeah, but the Astros signed Jim Clancy in his place for a little less money, so it all worked out well for them...

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I think we were reading here a couple of months ago about a game he started in '89 and gave up something like 8 runs in the first inning without recording an out.

I know it's tempting to hope that Cole will sign with the Astros for a discount. But he won't for the same reason that Nolan walked away from the Astros. He didn't need the money but he felt an obligation to other players not to mess up the salary scale. He said that at the time and I think he meant it. And we've already heard Cole thank players before him for the opportunity he's about to get.

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Yeah, Cole made it clear that he intends to break the bank, and he can. My guess (as so many have suggested) is that he ends up in a Yankees uniform.

The criticism they got this year for not getting another elite starter has been savage and stinging.

I think Cashman will get the go-ahead to open up the vault...

If the Yankees and Angels get into a bidding war Cole could end with $400 million. I have no doubt that is Boras's plan.

n_touch said:

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Quote:

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My guess (as so many have suggested) is that he ends up in a Yankees uniform.

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Doubtful. They may offer it but he will take less than their offer to play for the Angels or another Cali team.

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I don't think he'll take much less.

His comment about the free agents that went before him spoke volumes.

I think he feels an obligation to at least come close to maxing it out.

n_touch said:

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Quote:

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My guess (as so many have suggested) is that he ends up in a Yankees uniform.

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Doubtful. They may offer it but he will take less than their offer to play for the Angels or another Cali team.

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He'll probably want to play for a winner in SoCal...ie the dodgers

250 million over 7 years is about what I expect for Cole

Farmer1906 said:

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Now back to the most important topic.

Who gets the start in right tomorrow?

My vote if TED.

Reddick's OPS is only higher than Urquidy, Cole, Greinke, and Diaz (only 2 ABs).

He's made contact 15x (includes foul balls) and has yet to crack 90 MPH exit velo. His hit was smashed a whopping 62.1 MPH/

Teddy Baseball on the other hand show the ability to draw a few walks and actually hit the ball with a little velocity in his very limited ABs. (hard hit foul off of Hudson & a line drive single just under the hard-hit minimum).

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I think the Astros are going to want to start a grizzled veteran at striking out, popping out, not taking a walk, no base stealing threat (not that it matters if you don't get on base), and making routine fly balls look heroic.

the obvious answer is Reddick

Sid Farkas said:

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n_touch said:

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Quote:

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My guess (as so many have suggested) is that he ends up in a Yankees uniform.

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Doubtful. They may offer it but he will take less than their offer to play for the Angels or another Cali team.

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He'll probably want to play for a winner in SoCal...ie the dodgers

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I think him going to NY is less likely than him staying in Houston

Buck Compton said:

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Harry Dunne said:

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Buck Compton said:

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My use of the term mercenary was because he spent significant time with 4 teams (4 NYM, 8 Angels, 9 Houston, 5 Rangers). Not as a slight on him as a person, but because that's how his career reads when you make a decision to retire a number. You could actually argue that his best numbers were with the Angels

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You probably should have used "journeyman" or something then. "Mercenary" means someone whose loyalty is determined strictly by money, but isn't used for everyone who just takes the best deal available. It has a negative connotation.

Quote:

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. "Mercenary" means someone whose loyalty is determined strictly by money

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Like picking HoF hat based on who pays you?

Start with Rondon.

Section 309 tomorrow. Some decent deals on Vividseats rn.

2 things:

1. The Nolan Ryan angst about his hat in the hall of fame will all be relieved when Verlander wears an Astros hat.

2. I once waited behind Clyde Drexler in Vegas for a cab. Me and my buddies started whispering that we recognized him. He heard us and looked back at us and winked then fell face first into the back of the cab. Dude was a having a really good time that night apparently.

Just bought my ticket for section 421!

This board is losing focus on what's really important ... did we decide on the top 5 baseball movies?

the last of the bohemians said:

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This board is losing focus on what's really important ... did we decide on the top 5 baseball movies?

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Major League
Bull Durham
The Natural
Sandlot
61*

the last of the bohemians said:

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This board is losing focus on what's really important ... did we decide on the top 5 baseball movies?

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Sandlot
The Rookie
Major League