oofHarry Dunne said:redline248 said:
Lance is sore? Oh no what will we do? Who cares, it's Feb 17? I'm gonna wait until he misses a couple spring training appearances before I pay attention.
***Official Houston Astros 2022-23 Offseason Thread***
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Last: 1 yr ago by Beat40
So bummed about Lance and just as bummed that Yordan's hand is still a concern
F it ... still gonna go win the whole damn thing
F it ... still gonna go win the whole damn thing
Lance having a "minor" injury seems as inevitable as taxes at this point. Has there been a year where he has been fully healthy through the playoffs since 2017-2018?
tjack16 said:
Lance having a "minor" injury seems as inevitable as taxes at this point. Has there been a year where he has been fully healthy through the playoffs since 2017-2018?
2020
Farmer1906 said:tjack16 said:
Lance having a "minor" injury seems as inevitable as taxes at this point. Has there been a year where he has been fully healthy through the playoffs since 2017-2018?
2020
Lol.
Is he the Prince who was promised???tremble said:
Time for the entry of the Prince, one Forrest Whitley.
Check this thread out from Ryan Thompson, Rays reliever, on his arbitration process. It's quite comprehensive, from a player's perspective.
My thoughts concerning arbitration: (THREAD)
— Ryan Thompson (@R_Thompson15) February 23, 2023
I want to make clear that although I lost my case, there is absolutely no ill-will towards the Rays as they were as professional and respectful as possible considering the circumstances. This is merely a review of the process.
Sounds like Ryan needed a better agent. He prepared for the exam but he didn't like that it didn't only follow the textbook but the lecture too. And I feel for him. He's probably right, but the objective isn't to be the most right, it's to convince the arbitrators.
That's interesting.
And I have to agree that it is a bit unnerving that they can use their phones (ie evidence not presented in the case) and make the decision over drinks at the bar.
And I have to agree that it is a bit unnerving that they can use their phones (ie evidence not presented in the case) and make the decision over drinks at the bar.
He makes the point about arbitrators possibly having no knowledge of the cases they're potentially ruling on. That's a general problem with arbitration in the broader sense (business, sports contracts, whatever). It's a broken, easily manipulatable system that is incredibly inconsistent and often does not favor the individual when going up against the larger entity.
Players hate arbitration because it's painful to have your employer try to undercut your pay and crap all over you in the process. Teams hate arbitration because it doesn't allow them to put significant restrictions on the salaries of controllable players. Not sure how it gets fixed in the end, but MLB tried to get rid of it in the last CBA, but the players said no.
Players hate arbitration because it's painful to have your employer try to undercut your pay and crap all over you in the process. Teams hate arbitration because it doesn't allow them to put significant restrictions on the salaries of controllable players. Not sure how it gets fixed in the end, but MLB tried to get rid of it in the last CBA, but the players said no.
MLB's Top 5 lineups 🔥 @brandonkscott pic.twitter.com/3PgD7szzr5
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) February 22, 2023
Sounds like his agent didn't know the process - where other agents that have done this several times would've known they were playing with a different set of rules. Would love to hear what the Astros used against Tucker.
They called in Tarpon Chaser.Big Al 1992 said:
Sounds like his agent didn't know the process - where other agents that have done this several times would've known they were playing with a different set of rules. Would love to hear what the Astros used against Tucker.
Does Kyle Tucker being with the big club piss anyone off?
Life is better with a beagle
If only Kyle Tucker had watched as many YouTube instructional hitting videos as TarponChaser. He'd be $2.5MM richer this year.The Porkchop Express said:They called in Tarpon Chaser.Big Al 1992 said:
Sounds like his agent didn't know the process - where other agents that have done this several times would've known they were playing with a different set of rules. Would love to hear what the Astros used against Tucker.
Does Kyle Tucker being with the big club piss anyone off?
I would as well, but wasnt tuck asking for the largest number ever at his position and for a first year? That right there basically is going to lose for you, IMO. Who can you use as comparisons to make the case you are worth more...and thus you loseBig Al 1992 said:
Sounds like his agent didn't know the process - where other agents that have done this several times would've known they were playing with a different set of rules. Would love to hear what the Astros used against Tucker.
Parker Mushinski has lower back spasms and has been shut down from throwing. The Astros say he is day to day.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 23, 2023
Asked whether the Astros considered adding a veteran starter this wintee, Dusty Baker said “you got to ask the powers that be. I got the power, but not the authority. That was always a consideration for me … we didn’t have a general manager in place in order to make that move.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 23, 2023
He has power, but not authority? Wtf does that mean
No idea…redline248 said:
He has power, but not authority? Wtf does that mean
Did Dusty say that or is that a Yogi Berra quote?
Anyone else singing this Snap! song in their head now?
No. He's got the power.
7nine
Now just 37 days until Opening Day gets us to #37, worn by a couple of beloved pitchers of yester-year, one who was maybe the greatest and unfortunately briefest flashes in the pan the team has ever had, another who was the workhorse of the team as it built back from being terrible to being great again.
My favorite #37 of all-time has to be Charlie Kerfeld, who had a storybook 1986 rookie season in which he became the Astros' set-up man, going 11-2 with a 2.59 ERA. I'm pretty sure that's the Astro record for wins by a reliever. He also was the subject of possibly the best picture in human history.
He would occasionally wear Conehead masks with Dave Smith and Larry Andersen out int he bullpen, and immortalized them at the 1986 NL West victory celebration as well.
And perhaps greatest of all, he gave a totally drunk interview live on HSE with Bill Worrell after Scott's no-hitter that day and mixed it up with Nolan during his interview with MIlo and Dierker.
Kerfeld was born in the hilariously named town of Knob Noster, Missouri and grew up in Carson City, NV. He was drafted by the Mariners but didn't sign, and the Astros took him with the #5 pick of the 1982 June draft. He was electric from thes tart, going 16-10 in 1983 with a 2.91 ERA at Asheville at age 19. He made the roster in 86 and was brilliant, going 2-0 with 2 saves, 2 holds and an 0.52 ERA in April. His numbers fell off some in August and September, and unfortunately he took the loss in Game 5 vs the Mets, giving up a 12th inning single to Captain Vitamin D milk himself.
When he heard Jim DeShaies, also a rookie, got a raise to $110,000 for 1987, he asked for and received a salary of $110,037.37 plus 37 boxes of Orange Jell-O. He also wore a Jetsons' T-shirt featuring Astro the dog for luck under his jersey when he pitched.
Unfortunately, 1986 was a one-hit wonder for Chuck. He started 1987 with a 6.67 ERA through 21 games and got sent back to Tucson, where he also struggled. In 1988, he was down to AA Columbus, and by 1989 even saw a few games in High A Osceola as he tried to find his groove. In 1990, he was traded to the Braves for a couple of other guys and only pitched 30 more innings in the Bigs. But he didn't quit baseball, becoming a manager and eventually joining the Phillies as a senior advisor to the GM.
About 180 degrees removed from Kerfeld's personality was that of Shane Reynolds, a third-round Astro pick from Bastrop, Lousianna who wore #37 from 1992-2002.
After two cups of coffee in the early 1990s, Shaner appeared in 33 games and got 14 starts in 1994, going 8-5 with a 3.05 ERA to finish 11th in the ROY standings.
He had his big breakout year in 1996, going 16-10, and his best year in 1998 when he went 19-8 with a 3.51 ERA and 209 strikeouts, finishing 9th in the Cy Young voting. He was an artist at keeping his walks down. He never walked more than 53 guys in a season, and that was in 1998 when he pitched 233.1 innings. In 11 years with the Astros, he was 103-86 with 20 complete games and 7 strikeouts.
His greatest game came in Game 1 of the 1999 NLDS when he pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball against the Braves, defeating Greg Maddux 6-1. To make you feel really old, that game was highlighted by home runs by Daryle Ward and Ken Caminiti. Reynolds got a single off Maddux but was somehow thrown out going first to third.
If you have 2-1/2 hours to spare, here's that game. IF you go to 1:28.00, you can see Shane strike out Ryan Klesko to end a bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the fifth, and Ward hitting the first pitch of the 6th for a homer. Then fast-forward to 2:14.30 and watch Caminiti destroy a Mike Remlinger pitch for a three-run jack.
My favorite #37 of all-time has to be Charlie Kerfeld, who had a storybook 1986 rookie season in which he became the Astros' set-up man, going 11-2 with a 2.59 ERA. I'm pretty sure that's the Astro record for wins by a reliever. He also was the subject of possibly the best picture in human history.
He would occasionally wear Conehead masks with Dave Smith and Larry Andersen out int he bullpen, and immortalized them at the 1986 NL West victory celebration as well.
And perhaps greatest of all, he gave a totally drunk interview live on HSE with Bill Worrell after Scott's no-hitter that day and mixed it up with Nolan during his interview with MIlo and Dierker.
Kerfeld was born in the hilariously named town of Knob Noster, Missouri and grew up in Carson City, NV. He was drafted by the Mariners but didn't sign, and the Astros took him with the #5 pick of the 1982 June draft. He was electric from thes tart, going 16-10 in 1983 with a 2.91 ERA at Asheville at age 19. He made the roster in 86 and was brilliant, going 2-0 with 2 saves, 2 holds and an 0.52 ERA in April. His numbers fell off some in August and September, and unfortunately he took the loss in Game 5 vs the Mets, giving up a 12th inning single to Captain Vitamin D milk himself.
When he heard Jim DeShaies, also a rookie, got a raise to $110,000 for 1987, he asked for and received a salary of $110,037.37 plus 37 boxes of Orange Jell-O. He also wore a Jetsons' T-shirt featuring Astro the dog for luck under his jersey when he pitched.
Unfortunately, 1986 was a one-hit wonder for Chuck. He started 1987 with a 6.67 ERA through 21 games and got sent back to Tucson, where he also struggled. In 1988, he was down to AA Columbus, and by 1989 even saw a few games in High A Osceola as he tried to find his groove. In 1990, he was traded to the Braves for a couple of other guys and only pitched 30 more innings in the Bigs. But he didn't quit baseball, becoming a manager and eventually joining the Phillies as a senior advisor to the GM.
About 180 degrees removed from Kerfeld's personality was that of Shane Reynolds, a third-round Astro pick from Bastrop, Lousianna who wore #37 from 1992-2002.
After two cups of coffee in the early 1990s, Shaner appeared in 33 games and got 14 starts in 1994, going 8-5 with a 3.05 ERA to finish 11th in the ROY standings.
He had his big breakout year in 1996, going 16-10, and his best year in 1998 when he went 19-8 with a 3.51 ERA and 209 strikeouts, finishing 9th in the Cy Young voting. He was an artist at keeping his walks down. He never walked more than 53 guys in a season, and that was in 1998 when he pitched 233.1 innings. In 11 years with the Astros, he was 103-86 with 20 complete games and 7 strikeouts.
His greatest game came in Game 1 of the 1999 NLDS when he pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball against the Braves, defeating Greg Maddux 6-1. To make you feel really old, that game was highlighted by home runs by Daryle Ward and Ken Caminiti. Reynolds got a single off Maddux but was somehow thrown out going first to third.
If you have 2-1/2 hours to spare, here's that game. IF you go to 1:28.00, you can see Shane strike out Ryan Klesko to end a bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the fifth, and Ward hitting the first pitch of the 6th for a homer. Then fast-forward to 2:14.30 and watch Caminiti destroy a Mike Remlinger pitch for a three-run jack.
Life is better with a beagle
I would have bet a lot of money that the Astros never scored six runs total against Atlanta in the playoffs during the entire decade of the 1990s.Quote:
His greatest game came in Game 1 of the 1999 NLDS when he pitched 6 innings of 1 run ball against the Braves, defeating Greg Maddux 6-1.
I hope you keep these coming Porkchop. Lot's of good memories, and some not-so-good.
Seeing Bobby Cox give Bagwell a free pass in a playoff game makes me chuckle a bit.
There's a channel on YouTube that has thousands of games from the 1990s and 2000s. It's fun when you want a dose of nostalgia. Some of them even have the commercials in them still.
Top 5 batting lineup, arguably #1.
Top bull pen, indisputable
Top 5 starting rotation
Above average defensive play
I'm eyeball deep in the pre-season Kool-Aid
Top bull pen, indisputable
Top 5 starting rotation
Above average defensive play
I'm eyeball deep in the pre-season Kool-Aid
I always remember Reynolds for being notorious for giving up all his runs in the first inning and then finding a groove and coasting through the next 5-6 innings
First time I ever went to Fan Day as a kid was 1998 at the Dome. Shane Reynolds was the first player at the autograph booth that day. He signed my gold brim cap and we snapped a picture. Shane was never my favorite player, but will always remember him as the first Astro I ever met!
The Astros knew Verlander would get his rightful deal, McCullers might take time, but besides rotation Brown, they rejected several serious inquiries for Bryan Abreu, who many from the pitching and international side believe can be a top three starter.
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 23, 2023
Farmer1906 said:tjack16 said:
Lance having a "minor" injury seems as inevitable as taxes at this point. Has there been a year where he has been fully healthy through the playoffs since 2017-2018?
2020
Are you sure he was completely healthy that year?
He did give up bomb after bomb during the playoff that year. Go back and watch how little movement his ball had on it that post season.
Other than watching a game, my favorite thing about baseball has always been revisiting the past and learning those stories and writing about them, so it's a real treat. I can't tell you how many times I've put off work for 30-60 minutes to get one of these or my 2022 recaps done. Baseball numbers tell so many stories, I can never get enough. If Baseball-Reference.com charge $500 for a yearly subscription, I wouldn't even blink.
Life is better with a beagle
astros4545 said:The Astros knew Verlander would get his rightful deal, McCullers might take time, but besides rotation Brown, they rejected several serious inquiries for Bryan Abreu, who many from the pitching and international side believe can be a top three starter.
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 23, 2023
Whether he becomes a starter or our closer, Bryan's stuff is nasty.
I'm too lazy to look it up but last year I talked about Abreu potentially as a starter. It's intriguing to think about and would really bolster our starting rotation but obviously it's not going to happen anytime soon (unless we start to have major issues/injuries pile up).astros4545 said:The Astros knew Verlander would get his rightful deal, McCullers might take time, but besides rotation Brown, they rejected several serious inquiries for Bryan Abreu, who many from the pitching and international side believe can be a top three starter.
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 23, 2023
The organization thinks Abreu can be an elite starter. Not sure if they have plans to give it a try.
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