I choose to black out everything from 2010-2013 and remember the good of his time.
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Hand to the Blue Jays.
I have a very good friend who is a Mariners fan.
( actually since I live in the NW, many but one specific to this story)
He texted me Tuesday afternoon " Please tell.me Toro is a stud and help me feel better about this trade"
I have talked to him and others, and read some Mariners fan boards.
Most fans feel the trade was a good one, most even acknowledged that they have been talking about trading Graveman for months, but they hate 2 things, almost to a person
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the timing. They feel this happening when they were playing well and closer to the playoffs than in years was a gut punch. Especially to the Astros after the big win.
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The players all talk about DiPoto not telling them. They found out on social media or from other players.
In the end, I think they will be happy and will win the trade.
Just like Verlander, if the Astros win the Series they feel they won the trade regardless of what Toro ends up doing, and I hope he becomes a star. ( but struggles against the Astros)
It did get me wondering though, Luhnow was thought of as all business, analytics, not treating or considering people as people.
2015 was different: on July 27 the Astros were 1 game out of 1st in the division and had a 2 game lead for 1st WC.
Luke Gregorson finished season at 7-3 3.10ERA and 31 saves.
How would we have reacted if Luhnow traded him away July 27?
Instead he traded prospects for Kazmir, Gomez, and Fiers.
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For the record, despite the 2 bad trades 2015 was a GREAT year for Luhnow.
Traded for Gattis, Valbuena, and Giles in deals that benefitted the Astros.
Drafted: Bregman, Tucker, G.Stubbs, Straw, and Garza
Also drafted : Cameron, Thornton, Sandoval, and Eschelman who where later traded to improve the team.
Signed Rasmus, Urquidy, Javier, Valdez, Enoli Paredes, and Tony Sipp who all helped the team at various times.
It’s being reported now that Scherzer will NOT approve a trade to the Astros or Phillies. This from MLB Trade Rumors and ESPN’s Jesse Rogers.
Mack has a memory like an elephant. When he was still HC at UT he bought some golf clubs from my daughters’ company. He told her and some of her co-workers to come by Belmont sometime and he would arrange a tour. When they did it and were there touring the facilities he passed them in the hall and called her by name in greeting. He also posed for a photo with her.
I think Toro can play and have for a while, but I do NOT think they will win the trade. I think Graveman will sign with us if we want him, but regardless, this was a great trade.
Interesting stuff re DiPoto
He is trying to control a trade to the West Coast if this is true.
I liked the Kazmir trade.
I liked the trade when it happened but Kazmir was a shell of what I expected/hoped for.
He pitched well at first but later not so much.
I guess all GMs can do is make decisions based on info available.
They don’t have any control over how the player performs once he gets him.
Here is what Mack Brown did for my daughter:
I took her to the UT Club for lunch and was talking to DeLoss Dodds while Elizabeth was at the salad bar. Brown came in, and I asked DD if he would introduce Elizabeth to MB if it was not interrupting anything. Brown was there for a meeting and sat down at a large table with lots of people. I told DeLoss “Never mind. Coach Brown is busy,” and I went to get my food.
Elizabeth and I ate our lunch, I signed the bill, and we were leaving. I heard someone call my name so I turned around, and here comes Mack Brown. He greeted me like we were old friends (I may have met him once or twice with others over the years but no way he would remember me), mentioned my UT baseball, then said “Is this your daughter Elizabeth?” He proceeded to chat with her for 10-15 minutes, and she left the Club with stars in her eyes. I never saw Dodds go talk to MB during our lunch, but he must have.
Truly amazing.
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Yeah, I think if he’s moved he goes west too, but apparently he hasn’t crossed Boston off his list.
I forgot that Kazmir pitched well at first.
I just looked it up
No runs in 14 2/3IP his first 2 starts.
3 or less ER in 6 of first 7 starts.
Then the September wall :
Only pitched 5IP in 2 of 6 starts with 6.52ERA and 8HR in 29 IP after giving up 12 in 153.3 IP before that.
If I recall his playoff start correctly, he pitched pretty well but had some bad luck. I was sorry they did not re-sign him.
Sorry, Jim.
Better them than LA.
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I’d rather bring Morton back.