What a colossal failure. Set the franchise back 5-10 years. Hired someone from a place whose last decade has been defined by perpetual mediocrity. Way to go Jerruh Crane
***** Official Houston Astros 2026-27 Off Season Thread *****
120,891 Views |
1502 Replies |
Last: 20 min ago by Farmer1906
Crane playing 4d chess
Dude comes from the Cardinals
Cards hacked all our shlt back when Luhnow was running circles around the league
He's knows the way
This is essentially hiring Luhnow
Dude comes from the Cardinals
Cards hacked all our shlt back when Luhnow was running circles around the league
He's knows the way
This is essentially hiring Luhnow
"Throughout the week, some league sources said Kleine has sought a president of baseball operations title in Houston. Crane has not given designation to either of the Astros' past two general managers. Jeff Luhnow did have it at the time of his dismissal in 2020, but only after receiving a contract extension and promotion to the role in June 2018 seven years after he was hired."
Jim still hasn't learned his ego is one of the two largest limiting factors to this organization
Jim still hasn't learned his ego is one of the two largest limiting factors to this organization
Ag_07 said:
Crane playing 4d chess
Dude comes from the Cardinals
Cards hacked all our shlt back when Luhnow was running circles around the league
He's knows the way
This is essentially hiring Luhnow
Funny enough, this is the guy the Cardinals hired to replace the dude who went to jail for hacking the Astros
"Almost all of Flores' front-office experience is in scouting, which is a similar trajectory to Brown, the man he could soon replace. Unlike Brown, though, Flores has held an assistant general manager title and been involved in major-league operations, including the trade deadline. Flores oversaw both the amateur and pro scouting staffs in St. Louis."
So Dana 2.0
So Dana 2.0
AstroAg21 said:
Matt Kleine wanted full control of the baseball ops group and Jeff Bagwell out the room. That request was denied by Jim Crane. So, here we are.
This just pisses me off.
So all those hires from the past week were not, in fact, made with someone in place.
Randy Flores is an excellent scout. The Cardinals have the 4th best farm system in MLB. He uses analytics and video to evaluate and he played Major League Baseball.
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) October 31, 2026
Can he lead an organization though?
Can he manage contracts, trades, and everything it needs to be a GM. We’ll…
said:Three teams left, and all three have bigger-than-average analytics staffs.
— Zack Scott (@ZackScottSports) October 18, 2026
Brewers: 46 (2nd in MLB)
Rays: 39
Guardians: 30
League average: 28.5
The Phillies have the biggest staff in baseball, and they're already home. Like payroll, it's one input. Everything else combined… pic.twitter.com/EbV5BXkpnr
So, are the Cardinals an analytics organization?
Three teams left, and all three have bigger-than-average analytics staffs.
— Zack Scott (@ZackScottSports) October 18, 2026
Brewers: 46 (2nd in MLB)
Rays: 39
Guardians: 30
League average: 28.5
The Phillies have the biggest staff in baseball, and they're already home. Like payroll, it's one input. Everything else combined… pic.twitter.com/EbV5BXkpnr
Moreso than the Astros, but below average for the league.
I want to scissor kick crane in the balls so bad right nowAstroAg21 said:
Matt Kleine wanted full control of the baseball ops group and Jeff Bagwell out the room. That request was denied by Jim Crane. So, here we are.
While the Astros were after Matt Kleine first and Randy was no longer in the running earlier this week, things change. After moving on from Kleine, they hire “Flo”. This is a much better hire, and I ranked him first on the list when @JBristolKHOU and I did Extra Bases two…
— Jeremy Booth (@_JeremyBooth) October 31, 2026
lol Friday night PR dump
10 years in the desert. Start the clock and tell me I'm wrong.
Jim Crane will not be Astros owner the next time the Astros make the playoffs.
Jim Crane will not be Astros owner the next time the Astros make the playoffs.
I love Texas Aggie sports, but I love Texas A&M more.
BadAggie said:
lol Friday night PR dump
lol exactly my thought. What a mess.
I hope the Randy Flores hire works out for Jim Crane and Jeff Bagwell. From a farm system standpoint, Dana left the organization in a solid position with a few nice prospects but still needs a lot of improvement.
But for right now Who's your manager? You need to act quickly. What's the plan with Yordan? He has 2 yrs left on his deal. How are you going to handle the Paredes / Correa situation? Paredes needs to be on the roster. You can move Paredes to move first base but walker will be hard to move even with paying a majority of his salary.
But for right now Who's your manager? You need to act quickly. What's the plan with Yordan? He has 2 yrs left on his deal. How are you going to handle the Paredes / Correa situation? Paredes needs to be on the roster. You can move Paredes to move first base but walker will be hard to move even with paying a majority of his salary.
What a ****ing joke
Simply amazing. Even WORSE than I had prepared for
This guy is a great talent evaluator. Cardinals are not happy to lose him.
Sounds like more of the same with Crane having his thumb on everything though.
Sounds like more of the same with Crane having his thumb on everything though.
This whole situation absolutely blows and all of it rests at Cranes feet.
Next thing we'll hear is that JimBag are handling all the trades and signings so Flores can focus on draft and signings of random dudes for a couple million max.
We just hired the same guy we fired and inexplicably are hoping for a different outcome.
Next thing we'll hear is that JimBag are handling all the trades and signings so Flores can focus on draft and signings of random dudes for a couple million max.
We just hired the same guy we fired and inexplicably are hoping for a different outcome.
AstroAg21 said:
I hope the Randy Flores hire works out for Jim Crane and Jeff Bagwell. From a farm system standpoint, Dana left the organization in a solid position with a few nice prospects but still needs a lot of improvement.
But for right now Who's your manager? You need to act quickly. What's the plan with Yordan? He has 2 yrs left on his deal. How are you going to handle the Paredes / Correa situation? Paredes needs to be on the roster. You can move Paredes to move first base but walker will be hard to move even with paying a majority of his salary.
So help me if they drag Tony LaRussa out of the nursing home to manage this team...
I would not be shocked to see Yadier Molina on the short list of potential managers for this job. He's a special assistant to the cardinals president of baseball operations right now.
That would make me very excited
Who is going to tell him all those things he is worried about will not be part of his job duties?agproducer said:Randy Flores is an excellent scout. The Cardinals have the 4th best farm system in MLB. He uses analytics and video to evaluate and he played Major League Baseball.
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) October 31, 2026
Can he lead an organization though?
Can he manage contracts, trades, and everything it needs to be a GM. We’ll…
Could you imagine Pujols managing the Astros?
I was at the winter meetings in Dallas the week the Astros hired Jeff Luhnow. The expectation was that they were going to hire Rockies AGM Bill Geivett. Rockies people thought it was a done deal and were thinking they would join him in Houston https://t.co/cYxdH2lii6
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) October 31, 2026
I believe Randy will be better prepared to lead the organization than Dana was when he was hired. Randy has sat in on the meetings about contract negotiations, trade discussions, the hiring of staff both on and off the field, and research and development.
The key difference between them is how they make decisions. Dana relied mainly on the 'eye test' and used analytics when needed. Randy is likely to lean much more heavily on analytics to make final decisions. Still, the biggest obstacle Dana faced, and the one Randy will face too, is that any deal must ultimately be approved by Jim and Jeff.
The key difference between them is how they make decisions. Dana relied mainly on the 'eye test' and used analytics when needed. Randy is likely to lean much more heavily on analytics to make final decisions. Still, the biggest obstacle Dana faced, and the one Randy will face too, is that any deal must ultimately be approved by Jim and Jeff.
Interesting FYI on new #Astros GM Randy Flores, he was introduced as Cardinals new scouting director in September 2015. Less than a year later the Cardinals signed Cuban free agent OF prospect, 21-year old Randy Arozarena. Arozarena, now 31, is a free agent this offseason, coming…
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) October 31, 2026
The Astros initially offered Matt Kleine the general manager position, per @Chandler_Rome:
— Nosebleed Baseball (@Baseball_NBS) October 31, 2026
“The Astros offered Kleine the job shortly before the Brewers won the World Series on Wednesday night, according to multiple sources. Throughout the week, some league sources said Kleine… pic.twitter.com/KWHwcmySPR
Hope I'm wrong but seems like another scapegoat to fire in a few years when Crane and Bagwell's genius moves somehow don't work out
If there was anyone doubting that we have a Jerry Jones clone running the Astros now, this should nail that coffin shut. For anyone wondering, the last time the Dallas Cowboys made the NFC Championship game, much less a Super Bowl, was when I was in college at A&M. Do the math.
The ONLY thing I don't hate about this is he may be able to rebuild the farm system.
The ONLY thing I don't hate about this is he may be able to rebuild the farm system.
I think some of ya'll are doing some serious overreaction here.
I'm willing to give the guy a shot. It's really hard to determine which AGMs from various clubs will shine in the actual GM role.
And just because we're riding high on the Brewers this year doesn't mean that Kleine was primarily influential in that outcome. He may or may not do well as an actual GM. These things are just unproven with lots of variables in play. Just look @ David Stearns for the Mets. Guy was one of the most hyped GMs in the league and is now the highest paid at 10 million per yet for the Mets. How's that going for them so far?
Relax. I'm just glad we have closure. Let's see what Randy can do.
I'm willing to give the guy a shot. It's really hard to determine which AGMs from various clubs will shine in the actual GM role.
And just because we're riding high on the Brewers this year doesn't mean that Kleine was primarily influential in that outcome. He may or may not do well as an actual GM. These things are just unproven with lots of variables in play. Just look @ David Stearns for the Mets. Guy was one of the most hyped GMs in the league and is now the highest paid at 10 million per yet for the Mets. How's that going for them so far?
Relax. I'm just glad we have closure. Let's see what Randy can do.
I may be in the minority but I really don't have an issue with the Flores hiring. The Cardinals organization spoke very highly of him. Hopefully Crane and Bagwell will stay out of the way and let him do his job without interference. But that might be asking too much.
I'm excited to see what he can do. I think it's good to have an experienced pitcher that also is a proven AGM, because pitching is always a number one priority for any club. He has a very long career in the game of baseball from player to front office roles.
He apparently invented some pitching analytics techniques before they were widely adopted.
People around the league thought Randy was going to sign with the Angels.
Some good discussion:
He apparently invented some pitching analytics techniques before they were widely adopted.
People around the league thought Randy was going to sign with the Angels.
While the Astros were after Matt Kleine first and Randy was no longer in the running earlier this week, things change. After moving on from Kleine, they hire “Flo”. This is a much better hire, and I ranked him first on the list when @JBristolKHOU and I did Extra Bases two…
— Jeremy Booth (@_JeremyBooth) October 31, 2026
Some good discussion:
we'll see what Flores can do
the Friday night announcement was hilarious
PR101
the Friday night announcement was hilarious
PR101
Featured Stories
See All
SEC Round-Up: Bayou Bengals could bolster their CFP resume
by Olin Buchanan
Key Matchups: Texas A&M at No. 21 South Carolina
by Olin Buchanan
Keys to the Game: Texas A&M vs. Northern Kentucky
by Luke Evangelist
7:39
1h ago
456
Spring ball helped KK Johnson learn what it takes to play tight end
by Ryan Brauninger
Sdcable
2027 Sierra Canyon MB/OPP Kendall Omoruyi commits to A&M volleyball
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
26
MarcAg
2027 Sierra Canyon MB/OPP Kendall Omoruyi commits to A&M volleyball
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
21
mlambert77
2027 Sierra Canyon MB/OPP Kendall Omoruyi commits to A&M volleyball
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
15
HiddenAg2
2027 Sierra Canyon MB/OPP Kendall Omoruyi commits to A&M volleyball
in Billy Liucci's TexAgs Premium
12