Comments on: No one wants to be the Astros’ general manager

By: stex52

stex52 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:54:55 +0000

A step in the right direction, but we need someone to take us to the next step.

By: jeffa43

jeffa43 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:23:32 +0000

The world economy is falling apart…

There is sadness around every corner… you come on here, and everyone is bitching about the Astros position.. I know, I know it is not good in Houston…. but,

Please…

Lets all unite and rejoice, just give thanks this Christmas for Wades Departure.

Thank you Lord!

By: jeffa43

jeffa43 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:15:37 +0000

Drayton owned the team for 20 something years, and Tal Smith has been there for 35 years. You have to think the problem is another example of how Drayton never had a open door policy.

How do you know the owner is leaving for …a couple years now, and not discuss your compensation in departure?

With that said, as a (gulp) loyal follower for 32 years now, Tal Smith got TEN YEARS …10, of compensation. He was paid for 10 years, afrer he should have been fired.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:36:27 +0000

This is complete organizational rebuild, it will take years….lots of them. It is probably not the right opportunity for the vast majority of people that have never been a GM before…it is highly likely that the next GM will be long gone before the organization is in any condition to compete. A GM with experience and a reputation already built might be able to weather the next 5 years of constant losing….someone taking the job over for the first time will probably start getting “is this person right for the job” questions by the end of year 2.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:33:10 +0000

No, it is not arrogant. There is more to life than promotion, even for the ambitious. If you like the situation you are in, prefer it to what it offered, and can live with the fact that you may never get another chance at such a job, then it is logical (not arrogant) to turn down the opportunity.

Every opportunity is not the right opportunity for everyone.

What is arrogant is assuming you know what is best for people you don’t even know.

By: cintiphil

cintiphil — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:24:39 +0000

What is so bad about this job? You only have one way to go. If a GM can be successful in Houston, he will command his own salary. This has to be viewed as an opportunity by anyone looking to manage a MLB team. You have a large market team with lotsa of potential money to spend and rebuilding is the only kind of job which pays big dividends. Why would one want to be the GM of the Yanks? There is a long way down with them, and any small error in judgement could cost a lot. With the Astros, it would hardly be noticed.

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:06:24 +0000

Three possible explanations:

1. Word is out that Jim Crane is a bad boss.

2. Word is out that Jim Crane isn’t committed to the complete organizational rebuild the Astros need.

3. Both.

By: crankyfrankie

crankyfrankie — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:48:08 +0000

I nominate Utley’s hair or Johnny5. I am sure there are a few people RAJ would like in the stros system.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:09:02 +0000

Even so, if I were offered the choice between being the general manager of the Astros or director of sanitation and hygiene in Fukushima, I would need a few days to think it over.

By: cur68

cur68 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:06:01 +0000

Same thing every guys says when he asks a chick to the high school prom, I’m sure.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:52:26 +0000

Let’s hope Theo doesn’t end up with Bucket of Pig Blood cracking his skull.

By: dparker713

dparker713 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:43:14 +0000

It’s beyond arrogant to turn down an interview for the Astro’s GM job. There are a total of 30 MLB GM jobs in the world, how many opportunities do you think these people are going to get?

The O’s job is one thing – Angelos has setup that job for people to fail. But the Astros have a new ownership group talking about taking the long view on roster building and essentially a clean slate at the MLB level.

Sure, 2 or 3 of these jobs open up each year, but there are well more than 2-3 qualified candidates with more gaining the qualifications every year. These guys will only be the prettiest girls at the dance for so long.

By: thekingdave

thekingdave — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:40:43 +0000

Cry me a river, a millionaire exec who sucked at his job in recent history and overstayed his welcome for almost 10 years didn’t get a severance. Boo hoo. Take the hill, the “Eat more fowl” poles, and choo choo train with you.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:32:56 +0000

Wow…smart people already in good situations don’t want to interview to work for a flaming asshole and war profiteer? Who knew?

By: jimbo1949

jimbo1949 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:20:29 +0000

So is Steve Phillips & Jim Bowden

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:17:56 +0000

I’d rather run the Stros than the O’s, at least there’s some light at the end of the tunnel that isn’t blocked out by the Yankees and Red Sox. In both cases, though, it’s going to be a long slog.

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:13:02 +0000

Yes, because the team was 100% in Tal’s command at every aspect.

I don’t care who he is, you show long-tenured execs more respect than that. Dishing out a few more bucks and telling him they’re sorry he found out that way is all they have to do to kick him out of the door but with less of a footprint on his back.

By: hoopmatch

hoopmatch — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:07:56 +0000

I understand Jim Hendry is available…

By: thekingdave

thekingdave — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:06:06 +0000

If the Astros reel in Friedman none of it matters. Any aspiring executive should jump at opportunities to be an MLB GM. Bad PR regarding Tal Smith? Seriously? I have no sympathy for a guy who’d been there far too long and watched the Astros nose dive from NL Champs to cellar dwellers.

By: cur68

cur68 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:58:35 +0000

The Orioles and Astros = the 2 ugly desperate girls at the dance. So far, the Orioles have “settled” and are hoping for big things (while living on deep fried food) and the Astros are getting shot down by the guys with a chance of getting them out of that hick town they hate so much.

The Sox are the pretty girl but she’s just a crap load of maintenance and she whines a lot. Also, while she can dance, she spends so much time in the bathroom its always a surprise when she comes out and actually does what she’s there for. She’s landed the Jock who’s behaviour and comments always seem to get him in some sort of weird trouble.

And Theo to the Cubs, you ask? That’s like when Carrie goes to the highschool prom with Tommy Ross…

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:53:22 +0000

Between their awful season and the bad PR regarding Tal Smith, would you want that gig?

…okay, so most of us readers make 5-10% of what an average GM does, so a lot of us probably would. But still, most qualified candidates have little reason to.

And it’s not like any of those candidates feel like a GM gig is all that rare to have open these days – Baltimore, Chicago, Boston, Anaheim (or whatever the hell the Angels call themselves) & New York have all proven that recently.

By: kjkulsrud

kjkulsrud — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:53:06 +0000

Alright alright, I’ll do it… but only if I get access to a private jet and the ability to work remotely.