Great dog name. I know a guy that named his daughter Ripley. He actually said “original name huh? I bet you don’t know why I choose that name.” Rather than humiliate him I said “You got me, why?”… and after he answered I said “I’m not sure if I believe it or not”… and he said “I don’t get it”. That is my old man **** story of the day.
At some point Crane is going to get a reputation as a toxic owner for GMs and potentially great GMs will wait for the next opening. Not sure if that is already situation but if he fires Brown he might be there.
I think firing Brown is defensible if they enter a rebuild. It was a tough situation for Brown to be in, but he's been there 3 years and they got worse each year. He hasn't had a lot of draft capital to work with, but the early results aren't so overwhelming that it makes him indispensable in leading a rebuild. If Crane thinks Brown isn't the guy to lead the next good Astros team, it's probably fair to bring in someone to build their vision. It's the meddling in free agency and trades that worries me about Crane. I think he's smarter than Arte Moreno, but he'd be smarter to trust the people he hires.
I wish I knew names of unemployed baseball execs in a way that I could throw names out there. The last two guys we had in the job were both better at it and both of them are still out there, I think. What I feel sure of is that Brown isn’t it. And he’s on the hot seat. I don’t think he’s correctly incentivized to think long term in finding trades to rebuild a team. And he’s might make things worse if he’s making deals to keep his job. I also don’t think he’s this master young talent evaluator that you have faith in. I haven’t seen it. His guys haven’t lit the league on fire and our farm system remains barren and ranked near dead last. He’s gotten a longer leash than Tim Pupura did but I wasn’t upset when that guy lost his job, either. The fish rots from the head and it’s time for a full house cleaning.
He never had to deal with fans or the league being upset at him over Luhnow because everyone knew the league forced him to fire Luhnow…. With Click, there would have been blow back but Click was so bad at the Winter Meetings that it took pressure off Crane not offering him a more lucrative extension. As for Dana, he is very well liked by other baseball people from the bottom up. I don’t think most of them would blame Brown for the current Astros. Crane really should pull Brown aside, offer him a raise and tell him he will remain the GM but he is bringing in a President of Baseball Operations to handle a lot of the duties Brown seems less good at. Crane is responsible for most of the free agent signings and even extensions. Not many experienced GM’s will want to deal with that.
Firing Dana wont keep other people from taking the job IMHO If Stearns is fired by the NYM I could definitely see Crane hiring him.
I’m sure Brown is on the hot seat. Crane doesn’t like to lose. As for Brown as a talent evaluator, his record speaks for itself. He is largely responsible for the Braves younger core and he did very well in Toronto as well. In both places the person running the organization gave Brown credit for it. The Astros are the 4th organization he has worked for and was one of the best in Toronto and was considered the best in the game in Atlanta. Does that guarantee success now? No, but it’s a pretty good indicator that he knows how to scout young players. His two guys from 2025 are both expected to be in the top 100 prospects as teenagers by the end of the year. If Crane decides to clean house, I will understand it and not be shocked. There are many things about Brown I don’t like - I don’t really feel he is great at hiring people or the detail that great GM’s have. However, if the Astros are going to trade vets for minor leaguers - I trust Brown to do that well.
I actually think a rebuild is where Brown would flourish. Its running a team that is supposed to be a contender that gives me doubts.
Astros get: RP Devin Williams SP Kodai Senga $25M Mets get: P Cristian Javier P Alimber Santa P James Hicks P Javier Perez Astros and Mets swap overpaid injured pitchers, with Senga having more upside and a club option for 2028. Senga is also Japanese and might be able to help Imai settle in (they may actually help each other). Williams is slightly overpaid but with the Mets eating money he makes sense to fortify the bullpen and replace Abreu after this season. Mets pick up 3 middling pitching prospects for their trouble.
Red Sox Get: Isaac Paredes, Bryan Abreu Astros Get: SS Franklin Arias OF Enddy Azocar SP Anthony Eyanson SP Jake Bennett Sox get their 3B that they so badly need, and a bullpen arm that looks much better although not the dominant guy he has been Astros get their SS of the future, two high upside arms and an upside OF Blue Jays Get: Jeremy Pena Astros Get SS Arjun Nimmala SP Johnny King SP Gage Stanifer SP Brayden Fisher Blue Jays get a big upgrade for 26 and 27 at SS, Astros get another really good SS prospect plus three more Plus arms for the system which is needs badly
Boston is not giving up the #11 prospect in the league for Paredes. Especially in a season where they are already 11 games back in the division. The Toronto Pena deal seems like a reasonable trade, I’d be ok with that deal.
If they think he is the #11 prospect in the league then I would agree with you, most places I use have him more as a back end top 100 type. In any case, he doesn't have the loud tools (big power or big speed) that Dana likes so he wouldn't likely be a target of his anyway. Heck, he doesn't strike out near enough for Dana to go after him
Eyanson is a guy who isn't high on prospect lists coming into the season, but the ones that update soon would likely have him in or near top 100
Glad to see him doing well. I'm a fan of his after watching him help lead LSU to a title. Good stuff/Great makeup.
Y’all know damn well that if they traded Yordan to a larger market he would stay healthy, get glazed by the media, and win multiple mvps.
