Comments on: Jim Crane will get $50 million price break to move Astros to AL

By: kellyb9

kellyb9 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:13:17 +0000

I don’t believe its that the AL will make the Astros a less valuable franchise. There are bunch of factors which would make a change between leagues undesireable. First, the DH.. one more power hitter you need to throw a whole barrel full of money at. Second, they are built to play national league teams… they know those teams tendencies, players, etc. Third, they are getting money to switch… because they can, and its a good move on their part to squeeze as much out of MLB as possible.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:51:42 +0000

There isn’t anything to buy at the South Pole, and burning that money won’t keep you warm for long….good luck.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:46:56 +0000

Gee, I don’t know…maybe the fact that multiple extant teams are unhappy with their facilities and that the economy has finally made local politicians start to stand up to their extortion attempts rather than throw 100s of millions of dollars at billionaires to house they expensive toys?

Or that with the current financial structure of MLB, about 1/2 the teams can not compete for top FAs or can not sign more than 1 of them without severely handicapping their ability to field a competitive roster…resulting in them trading those players off mid-contract?

Or that fact that expansion teams have a hard time competing financially because they have no traditional fan base, and after that new team smell wears off they typically suffer an extended down period of fan support.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:36:42 +0000

Give me 80 mil, and I would move to the South Pole.

By: cavredleg15

cavredleg15 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:15:24 +0000

What is wrong with a further expansion? Keep the current playoff system. Expand by 2 teams. 32 team league. Division Champions to the playoffs. No more wild card. Each division champion gets to the playoffs. 1-4/2-3. Eight Teams still make the post season.

By: jwbiii

jwbiii — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:41:48 +0000

hushbrother: TV ratings. By moving to the AL West, they will play a lot of games in the Pacific Time Zone in the 9pm – 12m time slot. These draw lower ratings than games in the 7pm – 10pm time slot. The Rangers have been complaining about this for years; they are probably very happy to have another Central Time Zone team, as well as an in-state rival, in their division.

By: danielcp0303

danielcp0303 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:33:10 +0000

The fact that he’s asking for a price reduction makes him the opposite of McCourt. Why wouldn’t a guy wanna pay 600 million rather than 680 million? That’s a full season of payroll and then some. All the other owners have to do is make sure he isn’t buying this team mostly with debt. If he is paying with some debt, 80 million dollars off the top sure does help to pay it.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:18:27 +0000

For the purposes of my amusement I look forward to Carlos Lee as a liability DH.

By: cctwinsfan

cctwinsfan — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:42:04 +0000

I love it as at least they will play the Twins every year so I can see Twins games live! Twins haven’t been in Houston since 2006 (went to all three games) so this will be great!

By: clydeserra

clydeserra — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:34:46 +0000

Carlos lee would move from a liability in the field to a liability as a DH

By: clydeserra

clydeserra — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:33:39 +0000

AL has a higher income potential because of the huge national following of the yankees and red sox.

I am not sure what your point is. There is a great natural rivalry between the Cubs and Brewers and Rangers Astros.

Sure we could point to reasons for the status quo or the Brewers moving back, but, why? “Thou shalt have Houston in the NL” is not one of the 10 commandments.

By: hcf95688

hcf95688 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:57:21 +0000

I’m in favor of the move. If for no other reason than just to hear the dozen or so Astros fans that care (or have a reliable internet hook up) whine about changing leagues.

By: hcf95688

hcf95688 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:55:23 +0000

…and before the Pilots became the Brewers, the Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta. That city has a deep association with the National League.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:29:18 +0000

Plus adding the DH to their anemic offence would give them some needed oomph. Astros got a tradition of loosing in the NL. Why do they want to keep it?

By: hushbrother

hushbrother — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:47:29 +0000

Someone explain to me why being in the AL would make the Astros less valuable.

I would think getting out of a six-team division and the subsequent increase in probability of reaching the playoffs would ADD value to the team.

By: hushbrother

hushbrother — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:45:37 +0000

Someoy explain to me why being in the AL would make the Astros less

By: dmccarrie

dmccarrie — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:37:30 +0000

I honestly don’t understand why the Brewers don’t move to back to the AL and leave the Astros alone. I mean, I understand “WHY” …Ahem, Looking at you Bud.

It’s kinda silly to take away the Astros from the NL when there are plenty of other NL teams that could move without as much of a whimper….Arizona and Florida.

By: 78mu

78mu — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:10:57 +0000

During the Bagwell, Biggio and Berkman years the Astros had a great rivalry with the Cardinals. And during those same years the Brewers were everyone’s favorite opponent for homecoming since they were an easy win. Teams change so it is unlikely the Astros will be bad for the next 100 years (sorry Cubs fans).

So the Brewers have been in the NL for 15 years. The Astros have been in the NL for 50 years. As I get out my supercomputer and input the data, the answer is…………50 is longer than 15.

While the Brewers have been in the NL for 15 yearrs, they were in the AL for more than 25 years. So other than the 50 million (which won’t go the fans) it’s hard to see why the Brewers stay and the Astros go.

By: crankyfrankie

crankyfrankie — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:04:19 +0000

I think this guy could be the next McCourt. The fact that he is asking for price reductions give me cause for concern. Additionally the idea of 15 and 15 might look good on paper but combined with the additional playoff team is another step in the NFLisation of MLB.

By: gallaghedj311

gallaghedj311 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:01:24 +0000

Good for everyone except berkman. And I don’t care about him anyway.

By: mvp43

mvp43 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:13:26 +0000

As much as I hate to see them leave, it makes the most sense. I know many have stated that it should be the Brewers that leave, but I disagree. Even though the Brewers are historically an AL team, they’ve been in the NL for 15 years and have a great rivalry with both the Cubs & the Cards. Each one of those teams sell out every game and are competive (okay, the Cubs will be). The Astros on the other hand don’t have any real rivals……..now they do with Texas. Rivalry is good business!

By: clydeserra

clydeserra — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:58:07 +0000

That seems like a lot. More games against the Rangers, Yankees and red sox, less games against the Card, and cubs.

I think Mr. Crane is making out like a bandit.