What Needs To Happen

[May 08, 2009

I know how to fix the Astros.

I'm preparing a multi-point plan to present to Drayton McLane. I can't reveal the details at this point, but I will share of some of it.

All I can say for sure is that I can fix the Astros within two years. I'll lower the payroll and improve the W-L record.

Here's a sample:

• Drayton McLane must remove himself from the process and allow his baseball people complete freedom to make every decision.

• Jed Hoyer will be put in charge of the baseball operation. He will be allowed to do his job. He will evaluate players in a different way. He will use a data-driven system along with traditional scouting.

• No player is untouchable.

• I would call a news conference and lay out a plan. I would tell fans that we've got ourselves into a mess and that it's going to take some time and patience to get ourselves out. However, we will get out of it and much more quickly than people think.

• Ticket prices will be rolled back 15 percent because the product is going to suffer some, and payroll will be rolled back temporarily. Truth be told, the product is already suffering.

• We're going young and cheap for awhile. No more $100-million signings. No more steroid guys.

• Jose Valverde, Miguel Tejada, Kaz Matsui, Carlos Lee and Pudge Rodriguez will be put on the trading block. If I have to pick up some salary or bribe the players to waive their no-trade clause, I will do it. I want only kids in returns. Good prospects, mediocre prospects, any prospects.

• I want a bunch of young players that are thrilled to be in the big leagues. I want guys that play with passion even when they're not playing well.

• Kids will be in the big leagues a year early. We may lose 110 games next year, but we're going to be patient and we're going to be resolute in sticking to our plan.

• We'll sign free agents, but only cheaper free agents, maybe older free agents. Every move will be made with an eye on winning with our own kids.

(No sooner had I posted the piece that people began screaming about firing the manager. Silly, silly people. How can you give a guy complete control of baseball operations if the first thing you do is order the manager fired? That's the same kind of thinking that got the Astros in trouble in the first place--people making decisions they weren't qualified to make. You hire good people and trust them to make the decisions.)]

That particular post is saying what I have been saying for years.

The have tried for years to to get people too understand that this is the case.

What I have done was to state what had happened in the early 1990's. Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio Had already been grought up and then they brought Servais ,Taubensee, and Reynolds. Then they were off and running on a ten to twelve year winning streak.

Please stop with Band-Aid general managing. You can not just get a veteran here and there and hope to win. You have to also work in some rookies or just go with all rookies or young players.

That is what needs to happen.