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Friday, November 11, 2022

Astros and general manager James Click are going their separate ways after winning World Series - CBSSports.com

“Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan”

Jim Crane thinks he’s a single parent.

jimfurtado Posted: November 11, 2022 at 01:08 PM | 43 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: astros, james click

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1. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: November 11, 2022 at 01:38 PM (#6105144)

there's some strange shit goin' on here, Coleman

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 11, 2022 at 01:39 PM (#6105146)

They got tired of all the winning.

3. SoSH U at work Posted: November 11, 2022 at 01:42 PM (#6105148)

Thus setting the stage for the triumphant return of Brandon Taubman.

4. John Northey Posted: November 11, 2022 at 02:11 PM (#6105154)

The Reds would be smart to jump on him quickly. Angels could use a GM who can do more than sign big names.

5. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: November 11, 2022 at 02:23 PM (#6105156)

The Athletic is reporting that he was, in fact, offered a 1-year contract, but he declined

6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 11, 2022 at 02:31 PM (#6105157)

I have read Larry McPhail with the '47 Yankees is the last GM fired after winning the World Series.

7. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: November 11, 2022 at 02:53 PM (#6105159)

I have read Larry McPhail with the '47 Yankees is the last GM fired after winning the World Series.

he was fired after a drunken performance at the victory party where he was insulting Webb and Topping

8. DFA Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:01 PM (#6105165)

The Athletic is reporting that he was, in fact, offered a 1-year contract, but he declined

I mean that essentially is firing him? If the expectation is a five year deal for a hefty sum as his team just won a World Series and you're offered a one year deal?

9. Dag Nabbit: Sockless Psychopath Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:06 PM (#6105166)

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
The Houston Astros also fired assistant general manager Scott Powers, sources told ESPN. Powers was a former R&D executive with the Dodgers who was brought in as an AGM by James Click in January. Now Click and Powers are gone from the World Series champions on the same day.

Just like you'd expect a team that just won a World Series to do.

10. The Duke Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:26 PM (#6105168)

Didn't the 64 Yanks - Cards lose their managers after the World Series.

11. The Duke Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:29 PM (#6105169)

12. cardsfanboy

Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:40 PM (#6105170)

Didn't the 64 Yanks - Cards lose their managers after the World Series.

1967 Cardinals lost their General manager. Stan wasn't fired though, he quit. 64 was Howsam who stuck around until 1966. (Their field manager left after 1964 though)

13. cardsfanboy

Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:41 PM (#6105171)

I mean that essentially is firing him? If the expectation is a five year deal for a hefty sum as his team just won a World Series and you're offered a one year deal?

Agreed, a 44 year old with established success isn't looking for a one year deal, this is different than Dusty Baker, who is at an age he wants to probably control if he sticks around for another year and is set for life already.

14. Zach Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:44 PM (#6105172)

It's not truly a dynasty until the vicious backstabbing begins.

15. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:45 PM (#6105173)

Didn't the 64 Yanks - Cards lose their managers after the World Series.

The yankees had already decided to fire Yogi then they went on a late-season run; ,Keane knew that the Cardinals was in talks with Durocher to take over, so he actually wrote a letter of resignation in mid September; then THEY went on a run and caught the Phillies

so both managers were actually gone well before the WS

16. Walt Davis Posted: November 11, 2022 at 05:46 PM (#6105174)

Dusty Baker got a one year deal and was fine with it. Click should have taken it. So what if it's not perfect ? Another Title buys him a job for life anywhere in MLB. Now he looks like a disgruntled employee.

Huh? Win a title in your last contract year then move on = disgruntled employee while win two titles in last contract years then move on = happy bunny?

Click would be a moron to have accepted a 1-year deal. He'll have a nice multi-year offer in no time. Crane is the one that looks like a disgruntled jackass in this situation.

17. McCoy Posted: November 11, 2022 at 06:27 PM (#6105179)

You never go full autonomy for Dusty Baker. Never

18. Tony S Posted: November 11, 2022 at 06:31 PM (#6105180)

Wow, what an organizational buzzkill.

It's also not the first time the Astros have committed front-office seppuku in the wake of a title (Tal Smith, 1980).

Narcissists gotta narcis, I guess.

Click's going to find a new organization within a month. One that actually appreciates winners.

So much for the afterglow.

19. cardsfanboy

Posted: November 11, 2022 at 06:36 PM (#6105181)

Click would be a moron to have accepted a 1-year deal. He'll have a nice multi-year offer in no time. Crane is the one that looks like a disgruntled jackass in this situation.

Yep, I can't see how anyone could think Click is the bad guy here. He righted a badly damaged ship, he has earned a bit more respect than a single year offer. Mind you we don't know the amount it was for so there is always that aspect to consider also. He made 1mil last year and supposedly it was a raise offer. (Cashman makes 5mil a year and has a five year contract, I assume he's the upper tier of front office pay) (based upon 2016 numbers it's hard to get 1mil for a gm job though)

20. Tony S Posted: November 11, 2022 at 06:51 PM (#6105183)

So for about a week, the Astros were probably the best organization in baseball.

The owner, I guess, couldn't stand that.

It was a nice week.

21. The Duke Posted: November 11, 2022 at 06:52 PM (#6105184)

I think the disgruntled comment came from click complaining about his lot in life at the GM meetings. To me it's like a QO, opt out and see what's there or stay, maybe win another title and leave as a decorated free agent.

22. Zach Posted: November 11, 2022 at 08:21 PM (#6105191)

With rare exceptions (ancient guy who doesn't want to commit to longer) a one year contract in MLB means the guy's on the hot seat.

If you win the World Series and your boss is not willing to take you off the hot seat despite knowing how it looks, that tells you all you need to know. You will never be off the hot seat, so you should seek a better situation somewhere else.

23. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 11, 2022 at 09:20 PM (#6105193)

Dusty Baker got a one year deal and was fine with it. Click should have taken it. So what if it's not perfect ? Another Title buys him a job for life anywhere in MLB. Now he looks like a disgruntled employee.

He'll have no problem getting a job anywhere. Might be better to leave anyway - he gets out from under Luhnow's shadow and gets to build something on his own elsewhere.

24. DL from MN Posted: November 11, 2022 at 09:29 PM (#6105195)

He's a free agent. I'm pretty sure he can find better than a one year deal elsewhere. Is Justin Verlander disgruntled because he filed for free agency?

25. Cooper Nielson Posted: November 11, 2022 at 09:37 PM (#6105198)

He'll have no problem getting a job anywhere. Might be better to leave anyway - he gets out from under Luhnow's shadow and gets to build something on his own elsewhere.

Yep, he shouldn't have trouble getting his next job, and it will be with a team that directly or indirectly competes with the Astros. Why should he spend a year trying to strengthen Astros (his future competition) if he's pretty sure he's going to move on anyway?

26. cardsfanboy

Posted: November 11, 2022 at 09:53 PM (#6105200)

Why should he spend a year trying to strengthen Astros (his future competition) if he's pretty sure he's going to move on anyway?

That is a very good point. A gm's job is to look at multiple years down the road, if you aren't willing to spend to keep me multiple years, why would I be motivated to work for multiple years planning? I mean a one year gm contract is saying "win for this year to get a new contract." a guy with that motivation is going to trade the future for today.

27. Tony S Posted: November 11, 2022 at 10:25 PM (#6105203)

At least Spec Richardson is not available as a replacement.

28. The Duke Posted: November 12, 2022 at 08:25 AM (#6105212)

29. SoSH U at work Posted: November 12, 2022 at 09:12 AM (#6105213)

Seems odd to think he will find a better job elsewhere.

For 2023, he may not. But he'll get hired into somebody's front office fairly quickly and likely have a job as a GM (or whatever the going title is) by 2024.

30. The Duke Posted: November 12, 2022 at 12:24 PM (#6105225)

Also note by speaking out he also got his second in command fired too.

31. Astroenteritis Posted: November 12, 2022 at 12:30 PM (#6105226)

At least Spec Richardson is not available as a replacement.

Oh Tony, the mere mention of his name sends us old Astros fans into a rage. Thanks for the brief blood pressure boost!

Yeah, I'm afraid Crane is going Jerry Jones on us, but I'm going to hope for a decent GM hire.

32. JJ1986 Posted: November 12, 2022 at 01:32 PM (#6105232)

Also note by speaking out he also got his second in command fired too.

Sounds like a great work situation.

33. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: November 12, 2022 at 03:59 PM (#6105256)

Seems odd to think he will find a better job elsewhere. What are the chances that the top job at one of the other 29 teams opens in the next 4 months? What are the odds he can keep his family in Houston or his kid in school in Houston when he gets his next job ? What are the odds he can find any job paying $1 million plus any time soon?

The guy just won the World Series. The odds are pretty good, and I'm sure he had a decent idea of the opportunities out there before he declined.

Agreed, a 44 year old with established success isn't looking for a one year deal, this is different than Dusty Baker, who is at an age he wants to probably control if he sticks around for another year and is set for life already.

Dusty should do whatver he wants, but he could have signed a long-term deal and then retired after a year. A long-term deal would only have taken away his ability to go to another team.

34. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: November 12, 2022 at 04:01 PM (#6105257)

Stearns just announced he is not a candidate

35. The Duke Posted: November 12, 2022 at 04:14 PM (#6105261)

This was probably Clicks first big payday. He made a $1 million for two years and who knows what he actually turned down for this year. I'm guessing he was making 100-250K prior to this. His contract expired 10/31. So he loses 83K a month (at a minimum) until he finds work which will likely pay him in the 100-250K range again. He lost his health care and now has to sell his house in a bad market. I'd have taken the contract on offer and started talking to headhunters.

I still don't get what the harm is in accepting - he'll never recoup that money and now he's out of work

36. base ball chick Posted: November 12, 2022 at 04:29 PM (#6105268)

you are kdding, right?

i think crane made it MORE than clear that click was not wanted back. you don't think that the first sign of thingd not going perfect and he wouldn't be fired?

crane is going all drayton mclane and thinks he don't need no stinkin GM seeing as how he did the big deals by his lonesome like drayton did with clemens. and you know how THAT worked out when gerry hunsicker, um, resigned. when you win 2 pennants in a row including a WS and your boss won't give a multi year contract like any other GM whose teams are top of the league for HOW many years running, well, you KNOW before you sign that you are for the chop as soon as possible. you know a 1 year contract for a GM is already beyond diss. you read the writing on the wall

cmon

he CAN buy a health care policy from the ACA you know.

37. Tony S Posted: November 12, 2022 at 04:57 PM (#6105274)

If you made two million in two years, you can afford to temporarily walk away from your job unless you're just terrible with money.

And the "temporarily" won't be very long when you just won a championship.

I'll bet Click has a brighter future than the Astros do. I hate to lose him, but good on him for sticking up for himself.

Long term thinkers succeed in life far better than short term thinkers.

38. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: November 12, 2022 at 05:34 PM (#6105282)

He will have 18 months of COBRA coverage if he needs it.

I believe tampering rules make it tougher to explore other job options once he accepts the offer.

It's not without risk but he's betting on himself.

39. Dag Nabbit: Sockless Psychopath Posted: November 12, 2022 at 06:31 PM (#6105296)

Re: health care

Aside from COBRA and ACA and the fact he should have some nice savings - he's also married, and it's possible his wife has a job that can provide benefits for the family.

Man, if a GM who just won a World Series can't bet on himself, then who the heck can?

40. McCoy Posted: November 12, 2022 at 06:54 PM (#6105299)

I was out of work for a year while I waited on a good job offer to work out. I didn't go homeless, get my car repossessed, my savings emptied, and get my calories from ramen packets. Click will do just fine. If he wants to work I'm sure some media company will be happy to pay him.

41. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: November 12, 2022 at 07:57 PM (#6105311)

When I was 26, I quit my job with nothing else lined up (I was burnt out by my finance job), and it took 6+ months to land a new one. I went on COBRA and survived just fine--and I had earned a lot less up to that point than Click.

42. Tony S Posted: November 12, 2022 at 09:54 PM (#6105327)

Oh Tony, the mere mention of his name sends us old Astros fans into a rage. Thanks for the brief blood pressure boost!

Yeah, I'm afraid Crane is going Jerry Jones on us, but I'm going to hope for a decent GM hire.

Ah yes, the guy who traded away Joe Morgan and Rusty Staub and Jerry Reuss and Jack Billingham and John Mayberry and several others for a few sets of shiny hubcaps. I remember sifting through my baseball cards in the mid-seventies, and noticing how many good players had "Astros" printed in their past seasons' career lines in the back.

Say what you will about Jerry Jones, but at least he has *some* football smarts and the Cowboys are almost always competitive. I don't think Crane has that kind of background.

43. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: November 12, 2022 at 09:58 PM (#6105329)

This was probably Clicks first big payday. He made a $1 million for two years and who knows what he actually turned down for this year. I'm guessing he was making 100-250K prior to this. His contract expired 10/31. So he loses 83K a month (at a minimum) until he finds work which will likely pay him in the 100-250K range again.

Are you talking our of your arse? At $1mil per he was already underpaid. This guy will get hired by another team as an assistant to someone and make like $600K right out of the gate; whilst waiting for his next GM job which he'll land at like 3 years, $6 mil total.

I don't know what planet you are on but a good plumber makes $125-150K per, you really don't think Click is pulling more then that next year?

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Astros and general manager James Click are going their separate ways after winning World Series - CBSSports.com

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