Comments on: Tal Smith got two weeks’ severance pay after 35 years with the Astros

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:34:35 +0000

It’s still disrespectful I think, Berardi. The dude had been there since the12th season they were even caleld the Astros and not the Colt .45′s; that’s a long time. You have to pay your respects, I believe, to senior long-tenured employees, and not just in MLB. That’s just ethical business practice in my book.

And the fact that the man had to read about it? I mean, how would you feel? Crane’s already coming off as a horse’s ass.

By: purnellmeagrejr

purnellmeagrejr — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:33:48 +0000

Look at how the Astros have done over the last 35 years – he’s lucky he didn’t get jail time (or at least community service.)

By: mojosmagic

mojosmagic — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:58:15 +0000

Tal deserved better and that is a bad Karma start. Ed Wade as usual comes out smelling like a rose. In 4 short years he decimated a team 2 year removed a World Series when he got the job. Trade all the stars and gets back C level prospects.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:25:46 +0000

Tal = Landry? Seriously?

This is closer to a team firing long-time club house attendant.

By: stex52

stex52 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:46:09 +0000

Well-respected organizations with winning records in the 80′s; pretty much through the 90′s and into the first half of this decade. Not so much since.

But 35 years of employment is a pretty good severance cushion in itself.

By: xpensivewinos

xpensivewinos — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:33:20 +0000

Hate to be too cynical, but he’s been in a position of tremendous authority for 35 years and what is the Astros’ body of work over that time? Many would argue they’ve been overpaying him quite a bit for the past 35 years and he can consider that his severance.

By: stex52

stex52 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:16:06 +0000

It’s always tough when a guy has been with an organization as long as he has. He did a lot of good things. But he had never even talked to the owner, and he knew a new CEO was going to be appointed. What did he need for warning?

When I got to 35 years in my job and the signs turned negative, I found a new job and retired on my own terms. Tal should have been out looking himself.

Severance packages are not and should never be a guaranty unless you have negotiated them in advance.

At least we will always have Tal’s hill to remember.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:31:00 +0000

It’s better in Yiddish:

: If… if. Ven die bubbah halla tsehen qulishkes, het gehaya zadeh.

By: tcostant

tcostant — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:24:26 +0000

Reminds me when Jerry Jones fired Tom Landry.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:15:25 +0000

If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:15:01 +0000

I mean… he’s an at-will employee and the new owner doesn’t want him working there anymore. I’m surprised he got the two weeks.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:13:24 +0000

Nailed it.

By: birdsnblues

birdsnblues — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:03:17 +0000

If he could throw 96 he’d still have a job

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:57:33 +0000

Silly question but since Smith was not under contract and he served as an at-will employee shouldn’t he have been smart enough to work out a severance package with the previous owner. He had to realize he was going to be fired once the Astros sale went through.

By: thekingdave

thekingdave — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:56:38 +0000

It all balances out, he’d been stealing from the Astros for some time. If he’s still not satisfied, sell Tal’s Hill to a putt putt golf course and mail him the proceeds.

By: cur68

cur68 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:54:37 +0000

And so, with the sound of hatchet chops, the Jim Crane era in Texas begins…