In the corporate world, succession plans = culture change, so yes expect to see a lot of mid and lower level personnel leave over the next year ....hopefully whoever the true innovator is of Astroball is not one of them

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bleacher-blums/id1442621474#episodeGuid=e4b7dba0c9954916b2a876b82b5dd220

I thought they ran a logistics company?

Spray chart for every AL Silver Slugger

AustinCountyAg said:

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A close friend of mine has dealt with Jared Crane quite a bit over the past several years in the energy sector and has nothing but positive things to say about him. Everything I've heard about the guy makes me have full trust in him (for now). The stories I've heard about Jared are very similar to the stories that get tossed around about Jim

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Thanks. If he runs the team like his Dad (lets Luhnow make the baseball decisions, writes the checks, and poses with the trophies), I'm totally fine with this.

Farmer1906 said:

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agsquirrel97 said:

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First impression, Bregman has got to stop pulling the ball.

2nd impression, what a crappy HR by Betts, he should be embarrassed hitting that slice 280 feet. Seriously, move your foul pole Fenway!!

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He's got to stop? Clearly it's working. He won the asS and will finish top 3 in the MVP.

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Fair enough, I should have said stop trying to pull every ball. Even he was really frustrated earlier in the season when everything was a homer or an out. He was very different as a straight pull hitter this than over years past.

Hell, look at 2017-2018 Reddick versus April - June 2019 Reddick. Guy was hitting to all fields early this year and over 300 while Bregman was at .230 and mental.

https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/cole-hamels-open-to-return-to-phillies

Looks like Cole Hamels open to a 1 year deal with a win-now club. That article is from the Phillies perspective but could probably apply to alot of teams. I wonder how we'd feel about him as our #4 starter next year behind JV, Greinke and LMJ?

A 1 year, $7-9 million deal would be pretty team friendly relative to his projected output. His 4.09 FIP last year wasn't anything to write home about, but he spent half the season in Arlington. When he got to Chicago, his FIP lowered to 3.42. So it seems like there's still gas in the tank. And maybe our pitching brain trust can squeeze a little more out of him.

Philip J Fry said:

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I prefer Bregman getting doubles/clutch hits to homers. I can't remember him ever hitting away this season.

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Because I don't think that's what he does.

His hands are so quick and his swing is so compact he's able to stand on top of the plate and hammer pitches middle-in (pull pitches). Think that's where most his power is.

I wouldn't consider Bregman a big gap to gap guy like Springer and Yuli.

Deluxe said:

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https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/cole-hamels-open-to-return-to-phillies

Looks like Cole Hamels open to a 1 year deal with a win-now club. That article is from the Phillies perspective but could probably apply to alot of teams. I wonder how we'd feel about him as our #4 starter next year behind JV, Greinke and LMJ?

A 1 year, $7-9 million deal would be pretty team friendly relative to his projected output. His 4.09 FIP last year wasn't anything to write home about, but he spent half the season in Arlington. When he got to Chicago, his FIP lowered to 3.42. So it seems like there's still gas in the tank. And maybe our pitching brain trust can squeeze a little more out of him.

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Wasn't Houston on his no trade list back when he was traded to Arlington?

bearkatag15 said:

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Deluxe said:

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https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/cole-hamels-open-to-return-to-phillies

Looks like Cole Hamels open to a 1 year deal with a win-now club. That article is from the Phillies perspective but could probably apply to alot of teams. I wonder how we'd feel about him as our #4 starter next year behind JV, Greinke and LMJ?

A 1 year, $7-9 million deal would be pretty team friendly relative to his projected output. His 4.09 FIP last year wasn't anything to write home about, but he spent half the season in Arlington. When he got to Chicago, his FIP lowered to 3.42. So it seems like there's still gas in the tank. And maybe our pitching brain trust can squeeze a little more out of him.

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Wasn't Houston on his no trade list back when he was traded to Arlington?

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Yea I was just reading about that. That was back in 2015 so maybe he feels differently now that we're a juggernaut, but it's possible there's something about Houston that he's not interested in. Either way, may be worth a phone call.

Yep and he I think I remember him throwing some jabs at Houston and saying he didn't want to play here.

I would sign him but I'd make him get on his knees and beg and issue a public apology.

This article says Hamels probably would have accepted the deal to Houston if he his contract term had been shorter at the time (2015):

https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/cole-hamels-texas-rangers-houston-astros-no-trade-clause-aj-hinch-080415

Quote:

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"It was probably one of the tougher decisions because I know they're a great team and I know they're going to go out and win. I have the utmost respect for A.J. (Hinch). I played with him when I was very young. I've seen what they've done and I think they've done great things. I have a four-year contract still."

That four-year contract, Hamels maintains, was a big part of the decision to accept a trade to the Rangers but not the Astros: "So if it was a different situation where I had a year left or a year and a half I probably would have gone. But because it is more of a longer term I had to weigh those sorts of variables for those nine teams that I had on the list. I didn't want to budge from that."

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To me, that insinuates he'd be open to a 1 year deal with us right now.

Ag_07 said:

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Philip J Fry said:

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I prefer Bregman getting doubles/clutch hits to homers. I can't remember him ever hitting away this season.

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Because I don't think that's what he does.

His hands are so quick and his swing is so compact he's able to stand on top of the plate and hammer pitches middle-in (pull pitches). Think that's where most his power is.

I wouldn't consider Bregman a big gap to gap guy like Springer and Yuli.

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This is the correct response/answer/retort. It's about doing damage, regardless of what part of the park that is. Also plays half his games on a field that has a short porch in left.

Deluxe said:

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This article says Hamels probably would have accepted the deal to Houston if he his contract term had been shorter at the time (2015):

https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/cole-hamels-texas-rangers-houston-astros-no-trade-clause-aj-hinch-080415

Quote:

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"It was probably one of the tougher decisions because I know they're a great team and I know they're going to go out and win. I have the utmost respect for A.J. (Hinch). I played with him when I was very young. I've seen what they've done and I think they've done great things. I have a four-year contract still."

That four-year contract, Hamels maintains, was a big part of the decision to accept a trade to the Rangers but not the Astros: "So if it was a different situation where I had a year left or a year and a half I probably would have gone. But because it is more of a longer term I had to weigh those sorts of variables for those nine teams that I had on the list. I didn't want to budge from that."

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To me, that insinuates he'd be open to a 1 year deal with us right now.

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We have lost over 400 games from '11-'14. We played a strong 80-90 games (leading to the deadline in 2015) but from an outsider's perspective I understand why he didn't want to lock himself into this organization for 4 years. Now he clearly didn't have the pulse of what was coming and maybe even regrets not being apart of it. I highly doubt he has any ill will bout coming now if we make a strong offer.

agsquirrel97 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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agsquirrel97 said:

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First impression, Bregman has got to stop pulling the ball.

2nd impression, what a crappy HR by Betts, he should be embarrassed hitting that slice 280 feet. Seriously, move your foul pole Fenway!!

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He's got to stop? Clearly it's working. He won the asS and will finish top 3 in the MVP.

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Fair enough, I should have said stop trying to pull every ball. Even he was really frustrated earlier in the season when everything was a homer or an out. He was very different as a straight pull hitter this than over years past.

Hell, look at 2017-2018 Reddick versus April - June 2019 Reddick. Guy was hitting to all fields early this year and over 300 while Bregman was at .230 and mental.

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Given how close he is to the plate, don't expect him to NOT pull the ball.

Deluxe said:

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I think a 2020 opening week 2-4 of Greinke, LMJ and Hamels beats our 2019 opening week 2-4 of Cole, Miley and McHugh.

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Hamels pitching to Chirinos (if both signed) would give me really bad Ranger vibes.

Nolan Ryan is no longer an advisor and Reid has been demoted.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-plan-changes-at-Minute-Maid-on-suite-14274302.php

Quote:

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The right field upgrades, which will result in the removal of some second deck seats, will include what Ryan described as premium food and bar service and a staircase that will include standing room space, similar to the center field area that was renovated in 2018.

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Answered above. Never mind.

Have we ever seen renderings of what they have planned or just the Chron article?

I haven't enjoyed myself the few times I've sat in those seats. It's the only section I've sat in on any level that felt removed from the game. I think making it more like what they've done in CF will help with that.

Sat near there for Game 2 of ALDS this year and it was pretty warm and cramped up there. Good idea to make it a little more fan-friendly.

Didn't realize they were going to chop out part of the upper deck for that. Seems like it will be ugly but we'll see.

Remove some of the worst seats in the house. Always a good idea.The upper decks need some fun areas like the lower ones.

The worst seats in Coors is the biggest party area. The rooftop.

Does this mean Yordan's orange chair only lasted a couple of months?