For some reason, I thought we were going to get Hader. Just a gut feeling. Maybe it was because things were so quiet.
What also helped was the fact that there were teams not willing to give into Hader’s demands. From what I heard on MLB radio for the past two weeks that teams were balking at what he was demanding. I don’t know all the specifics, but Hader said he is a one inning guy. This falls in line with what @Nook stated about Crane telling his agent he needed an answer.
I mean, this had zero to do with Dana Brown (nor did the otherwise quiet offseason). It’s weird to ascribe any credit or blame to him for the offseason big splash/not splash.
Crane is and has been full involved in player signings, yes most of us know that. But some people like to blast Crane as cheap, lazy etc. Then some also blast Dana. He has been here for about a year. He has made a few moves to help then club. Some fans are spoiled. I however enjoy nearly every minute of this ride. Is the ride perfect? Hell no. But LA and NY have more Money than a swiss bank. The Astros are doing good work here.
All the middle reliever churning? I’m sure that’s all Brown. Signing Vic? Brown. But trading for JV and signing Hader was 100% Jim Crane.
I hope we move Brown back to that shared 7th inning role. If he can replace Neris, then that pretty much gets us back to square 1 in the pen. Closer Hader 7th/8th Abreu and Pressly 6th/7th Brown and Montero I would still like to get a Matt Moore or someone like that.
Crane told Luhnow he was going to get Verlander. Click insisted on handling Verlander contract negotiations. Click pissed off Verlander - Crane took over negotiations and signed Verlander after Click said it wasn’t possible. Crane made sure that Verlander would be traded to Houston. Brown just weighed value of minor leaguers in deal. Crane told Bagwell to sign Abreu. Crane came to Brown and said he was going to reach out to Hader and his agent and sign him. Crane told Luhnow to get Bryce Harper if the Nationals traded him. When it comes to particular players that Crane wants badly and if he thinks the team needs them - he steps in and does it. He usually doesn’t even have his GM involved in negotiations. I would have a problem with it except he has overall done very well stepping in. I don’t know how good Dana Brown will be. What I can tell is that he has put together what is considered an exceptional scouting/player development group, its full of star evaluators. Will it pay off? IDK.
The Astros will give Brown every chance possible to be a starter - but I am not sold on him being a starter long term. It is arguable that JP France will be as effective as Brown if given a chance. I will defer to Brown/Miller/Murphy on that… they are all very qualified to make the decision.
I have to believe that Brown was hired more to rebuild the scouting/development organization and rebuild the farm system. Those are things he excelled at doing at both the Blue Jays and Braves. He is likely learning on the job as far as handling the big league club as well. Now that his team is almost fully in place in the SDO, he can focus more time on being the GM. I'm not sure I like Crane getting so involved in personnel decisions, because he failed big time last year when doing it. This year he did step up after the injury and got the deal done with the best reliever on the market. But this team would be much better off without Abreu and Montero's contracts on the books and a guy like Brandon Belt at 1B.
Before game 7 Hinch said Harris was worn out and he pitched him anyways. Even if Harris wasn't worn out you dont have Cole in the bullpen and not use him. Learn from Bochy.
I completely disagree with this take. Montero is a relief pitcher. They are notoriously inconsistent. He has the stuff the organization covets and had just helped the team win a W.S. Crane paid what was needed to keep him from shopping around. Montero was excellent in the 2nd half last year and I think it's at least 50/50 that he has a very good year this season. Abreu was hurt the first 2/3 of the season. I think it's ridiculous that he would not tell the team what exactly was wrong and equally ridiculous that the team couldn't figure it out and kept playing him anyway. Once healthy, he was exceptional and should be again this year. Belt is a platoon player who can't hit vs LHP and Abreu is nearly as good vs lefties and righties. Belt is a far less player than Abreu. I like Belt, but only because Abreu is already on the team allowing him to only play 3-4 times per week at the most.
Unless injuries intervene, I absolutely see Brown as a significantly more effective starter moving forward than France. I would be shocked otherwise, honestly. Brown is very underrated by Astros fans.
And France is very over rated. It honestly would not surprise me to see him in AAA a significant part of the season if not the entire season.
