10 questions for Jim Crane

When you have a brain like mine, the ideas for a post come out of the blue or not at all. After struggling for a couple of days for the next topic, this one appeared out of the ozone (what’s left of it).

If you were allowed to ask 10 questions of Astros owner Jim Crane, what would you ask him?

Here are mine…..

1. How did “IT” (Chipalatta’s abbreviation for the cheating scandal) change your view of your team and your interactions with those in charge?  We know that you either chose to or, more likely, were forced to fire manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow, but like any divorce situation, how did that affect your relationship with those that followed, including James Click, Dana Brown, Dusty Baker and Joe Espada?
2. How much was your shadow government, including yourself, Jeff Bagwell and previously, Reggie Jackson and Craig Biggio, involved in second guessing the men who supposedly were in charge of the team the last few seasons? We have to assume that there were times (like the veto of the trade of Bryan Abreu for Trevor Larnach) where it was more than just second-guessing and actual intervention. Was that because you knew Dana Brown was on his last legs or had that been happening along the way?
3. What is the plan going forward, and who is in charge of putting it in place? Ever since Luhnow left, fans have felt there is just reactive, not proactive, leadership with the team.
4. We are reading that the team that was cutting edge in analytics under Luhnow is now bottom 5 in number of folks working on this for the team. Why is that and will that change going forward? We once thought this team was ahead of the curve on everything analytical and now, we do not. That sounds wrong and cheap.
5. Your view of the team has seemed to be that they have entered every season with a chance to win it all. After the descent of the last 3 seasons, do you still feel that way or are you stubbornly putting on an optimistic face for the public that laughs at that view? It is not that we don’t love our club, but we believe that in order for the team to get better, you have to admit you have a problem. And you have many problems.
6. Are you hiring a general manager before the manager and will the general manager have a say in the manager’s hiring? Folks feel like if you are going to hold your GM accountable, he should have this power (unless you are hiring Jeff Bagwell as the GM).
7. You told the truth when you said you would cut the payroll to the nub, but then spend plenty of money when the team was rebuilt and needing a boost to get over the top. How do you feel now when spending right at the luxury tax level leaves you far below the Dodgers but far above the Brewers and the Rays?  Just saying you want to run the team like the Rays run their team is not enough. How do you plan to get there across the board – majors, minors, budget, scouting, analytics, etc.
8. Heading into a potential lockout/strike situation, where do you stand on what you want out of the new labor agreement? A salary cap? With a salary floor? A modified luxury tax situation? We don’t really know where you would stand on this. Would you want the CBA to control your out-of-control owner-peers?
9. Do you regret any of the moves you have made as a GM or manager? Do you wish you had stood up to MLB and just allowed AJ and Jeff to sit out a season before coming back (like happened with Boston manager Alex Cora)? Do you wish you had told Dusty to deal with it rather than offering James Click a one-year extension/insult to rid the club of him for a manager who was not here long term?
10. At the time, Drayton McLane seemed to morph from one of our better owners to one of our worst as he let the place deteriorate before the sale. You were the very best owner this franchise has known, but your Jerry Jones-ish last couple of seasons have certainly tarnished your star a bit. Where are you headed and what will be your legacy?  Hey, you deserved the praise for most of the last decade, but the blame for the last few seasons. Are we ungrateful? Well, you held Espada and Brown responsible, and we hold you responsible. It seems fair.

Okay, your turn, dear readers – you don’t have to have 10 questions, but whatever amount you want to throw out there is welcome here.