regarding clubhouse chemistry...the Astros are a very Latin-heavy team

more than half the starting lineup and more than half the starting rotation

so the communication aspect is an important part of the managerial search

a plus for Espada

W said:

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I guess we'll see when and if Ausmus gets an interview

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Fun off season game and something for the front office to read since we know they lurk here.

Things better than Ausmus as the Astros New Manager.

1. Prostate exam by Shaq

I also don't personally think Bagwell's influence has to be that strong for Crane to have some really dumb ideas, based on his past offseason. He may be perfectly enamored of bad potential managers and other poor decisions on his own.

W said:

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I guess we'll see when and if Ausmus gets an interview

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Bagwell's Q's:
Question 1: Youre so handsome. How do you think that would come into play during the season?
Question 2: Remember when we beefed in the elevator and ran out in Panama City Beach?

Thank you. You'll be hearing from us shortly, and I think you're gonna like the call you're going to receive.

But Bagwell is ABSOLUTELY the Ausmus promoter. Crane has no connections to him and no one else in the industry is in a hurry to offer him another gig.

Bagwell's role in other decisions may be overestimated, but every time Ausmus comes into play, you KNOW where it is coming from.

I would probably choose Maldy for manager (despite no coaching experience) before I would consider Ausmus at this point.

And I am absolutely worried that Dana Brown might jump ship if gets overruled and another "smartest guy in the room" analytics denier gets hired.

SpaceCityAg05 said:

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But Bagwell is ABSOLUTELY the Ausmus promoter. Crane has no connections to him

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Source?

texasaggie2015 said:

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SpaceCityAg05 said:

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But Bagwell is ABSOLUTELY the Ausmus promoter. Crane has no connections to him

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Source?

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I can't speak for the Crane connection or not, but Bagwell and Ausumus are close.

Bagwell would stay with Ausmus in San Diego back in the 90s on road trips.

Ausmus gave a speech during Bagwell's number retirement.

During last year's GM search:

Quote:

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Ausmus, a former Astros catcher and close friend of Bagwell declined an invitation to return to Mark Kotsay's coaching staff in Oakland next season in hopes of landing a front office job, and on Tuesday Bagwell endorsed the idea of him returning to Houston.

"I think Brad would be an amazing front office guy. I think he can use analytics and his knowledge of playing to really benefit whatever team he's with."

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Countless articles reference this relationship. I am pretty sure your comment is tongue-in-cheek or just references the Crane comment.

Hello? Did y'all forget he went to Dartmouth?

In before someone makes turns the big Dusty head into a big Ausmus head.

Oh I'm well aware Bagwell and Ausmus are close. I just highly doubt Crane has no connections to Ausmus whatsoever.

Willy Wonka said:

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Hello? Did y'all forget he went to Dartmouth?

In before someone makes turns the big Dusty head into a big Ausmus head.

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I am not trying to say I have first hand knowledge as fact or am an expert.

I am simply saying that there is plenty of precedent for Bagwell promoting Ausmus for a role with the Astros.

And while I cannot say for sure that Crane has no connections with him, there are no obvious ones of which I am aware, other than general awareness.

Therefore, while I cannot state it as a sure fact, I think it is a plenty reasonable conclusion to make that Bagwell is the primary proponent of any Ausmus efforts. If you know differently, feel free to share - it would certainly not be the first time I have been wrong in my life.

SpaceCityAg05 said:

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I am not trying to say I have first hand knowledge as fact or am an expert.

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Well maybe stop using terms like ABSOLUTELY and you KNOW

Touche!

See what Ausmus has brought me to! He hasn't even been hired and it is already his fault!

we're all a little emotional this week.

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

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we're all a little emotional this week.

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Haha what a wild week.

Altuve dinger to win g5
Lose g6/g7 at home and miss world series
Dusty gone
Ausmus!?!?

I need a vacation

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

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Does anyone else think Pena is a huge problem? Im not saying he's someone we should be upgrading with the other glaring holes we have, but sheesh he's approaching maldanado level of production.

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He's fine. He's 26. Plus defensively. Showed signs of a better approach. He's still got a lot of room to grow.

But he went to DARTMOUTH.

Ag_07 said:

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So since this is the offseason thread...I need something to watch on TV now that my evenings are free.

Hit me with some recs

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I've never watched The Sopranos, so I just started that from the beginning.

Ragnar Danneskjoldd said:

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Not pot stirring, what makes espada the shoe in everyone wants? Just that he gels with the team? I dont know enough about him to have an opinion. Would he pull Greinke in the world series?

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But seriously, my opinion is he worked under Hinch and he worked under Dusty. He didn't hesitate to pinch hit Diaz for Peña and Singleton for Maldy in G5. So it would be my hope that he didnt pick up too much "big brain" from Dusty, butt maybe some of the leadership skills.

IMO, the most important characteristic we should be looking for is someone who continues the culture of our clubhouse, a culture that demands excellence. Go back and listen to JV's interview when he came back this year, he said it very clearly that the players expect to win and expect everyone to do their part to continue that culture. The expectations are high with our players and they maintain the tone that is set at the top and permeates throughout the org (talent acquisition, development, etc).

Unless some of our clubhouse leaders were against Espada being hired, then I think he should be the only interviewee.

Tags on Brad Ausmus:

"Ultimately, I don't think he will get the job. I think they will go in a different direction."

"I think they're going to get a younger, analytical... someone who's going to be on the same page with the front office." https://t.co/22eTbdx4oK

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 26, 2023

This excites me if true

"I think they're going to get a younger, analytical... someone who's going to be on the same page with the front office."

This is practically word for word what I've been told.