Astros, Josh Hader agree to 5 year, $95 million contract

Everybody is...

The 2017 team was drastically different from the 2022 team even though it didn't seem like they made a lot of drastic trades or major FA signings... it just happened somewhat organically.

A lot changes in 5 years for all sports teams, no matter what foundational pieces you may or may not already have.

 

The growth of the team was also organic. Framber and KTuck were non factors or even negatives in 2019, but patience paid off.

 

To be fair... they were also nonfactors in the 2023 playoffs.

 

Damn….

 

The one thing that Dana Brown stated in the beginning of the conference that I wasn't a big fan of was he consulted with Jeff Bagwell. @Nook might be able to shed some light on this, but it seems like Jeff is still involved on major decisions.

I still think there is another move to be made based on Dana Brown's comments.

 

Dana Brown is a good guy from everything I have heard- even people that have had heated arguments with him say he is a good man.

Having said that - you cannot take anything he says at face value. He has repeatedly done the opposite of what he says and has contradicted himself at later dates.

No idea what the reason is, but what Brown said at his press conference is different than what I heard - but this isn’t the first time - it was the same for the Verlander press conference.

Brown didn’t suddenly decide he wanted Hader - that decision was made by Jim Crane. Same with Verlander last year.

As for Bagwell - it’s not like the Astros kicked him off the island. He is one of a number of voices in the organization, but is willing to be more high profile than others like Enos Cabell, Reggie Jackson, etc.

At the end of the day - big decisions like Hader, Verlander, Correa, Springer, Altuve - they are and have been made by Crane. Even the draft, Crane is involved in (but defers to Brown).

 

I will be happy. All year long.

 

He’s certainly saying all the right things and genuinely seems happy to be here

 

Actually they were HUGE factors due to being non-factors.

 

I don’t post this much but LFG!!!

 

It’s hilarious to me how much hate Bagwell gets because people think it was his decision to extend Montero and sign Abreu

 

It was with reason:
1) contending the Astros went too analytical heavy after WINNING the World Series
2) being front and center in bragging that he closed out the Jose Abreu signing
3) claiming LMJ and Brantley would be ready opening day
4) being smug about telling fans to look at the back of a baseball card in the same manner as Dusty
5) thinking he knows how to win the postseason despite being the Tmac of baseball, which is worse than being Harden

 

Abreu was awesome in the playoffs when he wasn't injured. Montero could be nails again this year because most relievers are very up and down. He really has only been bad for a month a so. He was just so bad, everyone remembers.