Like Evan said before me, it is with a heavy heart that I am saying good bye to "I Remember Dome-Dogs." I will never be able to adequately express what this blog has meant to me in both of its inceptions. I will say that it has been a meaningful and important part of my life and it has been a joy and a challenge to make this place worthy enough for the regular readers to keep coming back. I thank all of you for your support. As Evan said so eloquently, this place as allowed me to grow not only as a baseball fan, but as a writer as well. Something that I'll always cherish.
With that said, I am thrilled to have been offered the opportunity to take our show on the road, but not far away to The Crawfish Boxes. I truly feel that this merger, of sorts, will result in one of the strongest blog communities for any MLB team around. What Evan and I have lacked in game-to-game detail will be made up by being able to spread the load. Further, the Sports Blog Nation will provide us with unparalleled resources to further the depth and quality with which we are able to treat the Astros and MLB in general. I thank Tyler Bleszinski and Thomas Johnson for the opportunity to come on board to such a fantastic Astros community.
I hope that you will come along because we are truly excited about what we will be able to accomplish with our new group. Expect bigger and better things from the former Dome-Dog's boys. We've been assured that we'll be given the freedom and opportunity to ratchet up our stuff to a new level. We won't leave you hanging either, and by that, I mean we're going to continue our Baseball Knowledge 101 series.
Some of you might be asking yourself, why the move? And I hope I've made clear, it's because we feel that it will allow us to be of better service to the "Astros Nation." Our do-it-ourself project has been fun and educational, but it's been stressful too. The move allows us to concentrate more on turning out top-notch analysis and less about how to keep generating readership and having to hassle with Blogger's short-comings.
We urge you to come along with us in the move. It's a great place to go. I will miss this place though. Thank you for supporting us, we hope we've done you proud.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Adieu
Unexpected News
Dome-Dogs Readers:
This past weekend, Stephen and I were offered the chance to become contributors to the Astros-centered blog The Crawfish Boxes, on the Sports Blog Nation. After quite a bit of thought, we both decided to accept the offer that was extended to us. Before I get into the logistics of what this all means, I want to thank everyone who has ever come to Dome-Dogs, and read what Stephen and I wrote. We have both tried our damndest to write the best possible articles for ya'll to read. It's challenging to be entertaining, informative, and relevant, and I hope that more often than not, we have succeeded in this pursuit, on some level. Because of our blog, we've grown as fans and writers, which has allowed us to reach an even bigger audience on the SBN network of blogs. Now, to the nitty gritty of what the switch-over means. If you all choose to continue following our writing, you'll see nothing at all change about our styles or articles. We will have the same creative freedoms we had here on our own blog. The Crawfish Boxes is a blog started by another very good writer, who has acknowledged that Stephen and my coming on board will improve what is already a great blog. In other words: our "where" has changed, but our "what" will not. We've been assured that this is the case, and if for any reason it does not turn out that way, I will not hesitate to return to writing for I Remember Dome-Dogs. I cannot speak for Stephen, but I am 99.999% sure he will say the same thing in his "Farewell Post". Again, I thank all of you for reading, commenting and having an opinion about my and Stephen's writing. It sounds cliche, but this blog is a huge part of who I am, and vicariously, those of you who read and comment have as well. It's not without some doubt and a twinge of regret that I will begin writing at The Crawfish Boxes, but I am very excited to take advantage of the increased readership that comes with writing for a sports-blog network such as SBN. I look forward to having as many of you as possible follow us over to The Crawfish Boxes, and hope the good baseball dialogue continues, as well.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Astros Take a Step In the Right Direction
Just when we think Ed Wade has no desire whatsoever to shore up his minor league system, he goes and does something remarkable. Supplemental pick Ross Seaton from Houston's Second Baptist High School has signed a record contract for a player chosen 119th in the draft. The $700,000 signing bonus is the highest ever agreed to, and allows the Astros to start Seaton on the path to the majors sooner rather than later.
This is a landmark signing for this club, because maybe, just maybe, Drayton McLane finally sees the importance of signing and developing young talent. He spared no expense in getting Seaton to sign, and first round selection Jason Castro was the second top 10 pick to sign on the dotted line with the club that drafted him. Baby steps. But steps nonetheless. Here's an article from Baseball Prospectus written before the June Draft. They list their top 50 prospects, and Mr. Seaton ranks 39th on their list. Impressive that the Astros got him 80 choices after that in the actual draft. He doesn't have a lot of experience, and he really only pitched lights out his senior season, but nonetheless, he has the sort of build, mechanics, and command that project him to be something special.
Error of my ways
Today, I, a beleaguered Astros fan, type with my head bowed, and with a heart full of regret. Yesterday I wrote some very unkind words about the General Manager of the Houston Astros, Edward Wade. As a passionate fan, I wanted the very best for my favorite baseball club, and when I felt the team was headed in the wrong direction, I spoke out. Rashly. Too rashly. Coming into this week I thought, (although some would say you need a brain to think, something that is still in doubt)that given our present place in the standings, perhaps it would be prudent to move a number of our veteran players for a few minor leaguers. Ya know, building blocks, stepping stones to a new generation of Astros baseball. How wrong I was. Red Sox send in a scout to take a look at some of our relievers, possibly even Miguel Tejada?? Rebuffed! And rightfully so- tell them to go jump in the Charles River. We don't need prospects from the team that has built two World Series Champions on the strength of their minor league system. Youkilis. Papelbon. Ellsbury. Lester. Lowrie. Moss. Masterson. Pedroia. Buchholz. Yea, well..I'll see that, and raise you: Pence. Towl..no, wait Hunter Pence. Ummm...Etc. Take a deep breath. Going through the names of players produced by our minor league teams can be both exhausting and exhilerating. Ready to go on? Ok. Sure, we didn't get any young talent, and sure, this club ages by the day- but so do younger teams like the Red Sox. It's true. Everyone ages at the same rate. Don't believe me- here, stuff this prediction in your hookah and then smoke it: At 9:53 AM on Saturday, August 2, 2008 we will all be exactly one day older. I shit you not. Same goes for Major Leaguers. I won't even limit it to the Red Sox and Astros: Ryan Braun, Ian Kinsler, Tim Lincecum- all will be one day older tomorrow. So will Doug Brocail. Ditto Darin Erstad. See where I'm going with this?? The Astros' complete disregard for young players is well founded.
At this point, Ed Wade has turned the baseball universe on its head and spun it like a top. You'd think that would be enough for one man to accomplish in a week's time. But not ol' Eddie. Nosiree. He's scheming. Planning.
What is he planning, you may ask? Maybe somebody should send Ed a text telling him that this isn't like the NBA draft lottery- we don't have a shot at getting the first pick in the draft unless we have the worst record. And unless these personnel moves were made in order for us to los....oh, Ed, you're good, you're good. I seemed to have discovered another plan of Ed's: for us to leapfrog (backwards leapfrog to be exact) the Washington Nationals/Seattle Mariners for the worst record in baseball. Be that as it may, let's take a look at his deadline moves. Therein lies his true plan. A pattern quickly comes into focus:
Alberto Arias claimed off waivers from Colorado
LaTroy Hawkins obtained in exchange for minor league second baseman Matt Cusick
What did Ed do last offseason? Revamped our bullpen. Added a number of guys who can fill multiple roles in our relief corps. Do you see what's devloping here??
Peer into the looking glass, people
It's been fairly obvious to some that Ed's been trying to be cutting edge this entire time. His recent trades prove that. He understands that it is both more cost effective and talent effective to have four starters and have his relief pitchers start the fifth game in the rotation. Call us prophetic, call us soothsayers, call us visionaries. Now Ed has wisened up. I was dumb for not seeing the writing on the wall, when I lambasted him. I'm sorry, Mr. Wade. Truly. Sorry.
