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DK

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by body slam, Jul 19, 2018.

  1. body slam

    body slam Member

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    Not every player deserves to have their number retired, but some players earned a special place in the hearts of Astros fans. I really like the DK honoring Darryl Kile. Its something nice and simple. Honestly I would not mind seeing more of these pop up around Minute Maid Park. I'm not sure if Puma deserves to have his number retired or not. I do think he at least deserves a LB. BW and KC might be kind of cool as well.

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. Astrodome

    Astrodome Member
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    MS and GD over BW but that is just my opinion. If they are posthumously only then KC and JL would be OK.
     
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  3. The Beard

    The Beard Contributing Member

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    Lima was fun, but he basically quit as soon as he saw the Crawford Boxes

    RIP Jose, but no JL on the wall of a building he despised (and a great stadium at that)
     
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  4. body slam

    body slam Member

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    33 is already retired or are you thinking of a different MS?
     
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  5. sealclubber1016

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    I wish they had a memorial of some kind as opposed to retiring numbers for the players that passed away.

    It's just odd for us to have 10 retired numbers already. If they retired Wynn and Mike Scott's numbers, there's absolutely no doubt Berkman and Oswalt should have their numbers retired.

    Oswalt in particular is statistically the greatest pitcher in Astros history, and the 4 guys behind him all have their numbers retired.
     
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  6. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    Number retirements was a gimmick to sell tickets back in the doldrum days of the Astrodome.

    No need to do so now... they can keep doing the ring giveaways!
     
  7. Buck Turgidson

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    Astros have the same amount of retired numbers as the Dodgers and Pirates, 1 more than the Tigers who have been around since 1901, I wish they would unretire a few. I have no problem with Oswalt & Berkman being up there. Biggio, Bagwell, Ryan & Cruz (both of them as much for fan popularity as performance), that's it.
     
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  8. Hey Now!

    Hey Now! Contributing Member

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    I would put Dierker over Ryan, add Wynn. Wynn was the greatest Astros at the time of his retirement and still prominently ranks top 10 in a lot of offensive categories despite playing in dead-ball/Dome eras.

    #5, #7, #24, #25, #49.

    I'm a hard yes on Berkman (#17) and Oswalt (#44). And they need to save room for #27.
     
  9. Hey Now!

    Hey Now! Contributing Member

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    Not to be "technically" guy but........ technically, they have 9. Jackie Robinson is the 10th.

    But I would only remove Umbrecht, Wilson, Ryan and Scott. The other five, I think, are wholly justifiable.

    I know Ryan's removal would spark outrage but here's my justification: 1) he only played here 9 years, which represents only 1/3 of his career; 2) he was just as good, if not better, with California and Texas; 3) his most iconic, enduring moment - pummeling Robin Ventura - was as a Ranger; 4) he's......... a tad overrated. I mean, to some degree, he's equally underrated (he should have won the CYA in '87 but had a 8-16 record). But if you look at his individual seasons here... I mean, other than '81 (which was strike-shortened) and '87, which of his years here were *great*? He's always going to have a remarkably low FIP because of his strikeouts - but look at his WHIP (1.206); career 110 ERA+ as an Astro; just 3 seasons of 3+ bWAR...........

    I understand the emotional appeal of retiring Ryan's number. And if the retirement has more of a career-achievement underscore to it, I'd understand that (disagree with it; but understand it). But strictly as as Astro............... I think it's hard to justify, IMO.
     
  10. Hustle Town

    Hustle Town Contributing Member

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    I agree that we should unretire numbers and think that this is a good proposal. In regards to the OP, I don't want to see random initials around the ballpark. Unpopular or not, I don't think DK needs to be up there permanently. Only retired numbers should hang from the rafters, and unretiring some of the numbers will make that even more prestigious.
     
    #10 Hustle Town, Jul 20, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2018
  11. Hey Now!

    Hey Now! Contributing Member

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    For the record, I'm not proposing that the Astros *literally* unretire numbers... I was speaking more with the gift of hindsight/time travel. What's done is done.
     
  12. MadMax

    MadMax Contributing Member

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    You're singing my song about Nolan. I think he is ENORMOUSLY overrated, particularly throughout the state of Texas.
     
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  13. Hey Now!

    Hey Now! Contributing Member

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    If he'd worn #30 (which, IIRC, was his # in California? 36?), I wonder if its retirement would be viewed at least a little more critically? I think the linking of 34 is nice and convenient but, IMO, Ryan's nowhere near as good - as a HOUSTON athlete - as Campbell and Dream. I mean, they're in different galaxies. Again, looking just at his career as an Astro. Overall, he's certainly in their class so, again, the #34 link is almost unavoidable.

    Also, I think him being pushed out of here by a wildly unpopular owner, only to have him go to Dallas and rub our faces in it, elevates his status here; there's some built-in, like, reparations, I think, in the embrace of him, if that makes sense.

    Having said that, if he'd never left and retired an Astro with 14 years in Houston (assuming similar numbers those final five seasons)...... I'd feel differently. But 9 of 27 years is just..... it's not much.
     
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  14. Buck Turgidson

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    Absolutely. Nolan the hometown icon was much better than Nolan the Astro. But that plays into it.

    If Dierker hadn't been a beloved broadcaster his number wouldn't be up there either.
     
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  15. Hey Now!

    Hey Now! Contributing Member

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    Well, he was a pretty successful manager, too.........
     
  16. Buck Turgidson

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    I am aware.
     
  17. BigM

    BigM Contributing Member

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    Oswalt and Berkman are jersey retirement level players. It’s not their fault we put up too many jerseys before they came around. Raise the standard but don’t do away with the ceremony just because we already have too many.

    I like the DK as a subtle acknowledgement to a great that’s no longer here. I wouldn’t use initials to recognize living former players though.
     
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  18. PhiSlammaJamma

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    If you wear your DK shirt and look in the mirror, so you see KD?
     
  19. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    They had a ceremony for Oswalt and Berkman... but the standard has justifiably been raised.

    The Texans face a similar scenario for their new ring of honor. At one point, people expected Duane Brown, Owen Daniels, and Arian Foster to be automatic locks, along with a Gary Kubiak mention. Now? Not so much.

    They could always relegate some of the numbers (unretire them) just like they eventually took down the now less significant division championship banners.

    This organization has raised the bar... pennants only for league/WS championships, and retired numbers only for those deemed HOF worthy.
     
  20. tmacfor35

    tmacfor35 Contributing Member

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    So I would be willing to trade DK right now for someone under team protection or prospects.

    What you have for me MLB?
     

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