Starfleet Command

I’d love for them to sign Correa but I just don’t see it happening. Personally, I don’t think Crane wants be stuck paying Correa after the Astros’ window closes. Crane has shown a willingness to spend up to the LT threshold when the Astros are competitive, but will likely cut payroll down the bone like he did last time when they are rebuilding. It sucks but at least we’re not like the A’s and Gaurdians and look to limit payroll in the middle of a competitive window. All in all, I think he’s a savvy owner who makes good hires (Dusty excepted) and is at least willing to spend when he believes it’s in his interest as an owner to spend. Also, I don’t think the world will end if the Astros fail to sign Correa. There are other areas where they can spend to improve the team and reach the LT threshold, which I think they will do. Ultimately the success of the Astros in the next 5-8 years will depend on Click’s transactions, drafting, IFA signings, and luck. I don’t think Click’s an idiot and he was a solid hire at the time but I think some causes for concern are beginning to emerge with him. Luhnow IMO could be scummy in how he operated but I don’t think Click will end up performing at his level in keeping the Astros at the bleeding edge of talent evaluation/development.

on3 too cheap to use the Skycam feed for these GIFs? Can't see shit here.

He gave Baez a $6M AAV deal. The Astros have Pressly and a bunch of mediocrity in the pen available for next season. They need another sub-3.5 FIP guy with Graveman leaving. Also, like the A's the Astros also have a number of good SPs in LMJ, Garcia, Framber, and Urquidy, but they could really use a legit ace. Those guys are so important in the playoffs where you can really leverage them. I just don't see them signing a good SS who would block Pena/Leon.

The only thing that will help with the Correa negotiations is if Correa is willing to handicap his total earnings potential and agree to a substantially shorter deal than what he can likely get on the market. I think the Astros go cheap at SS hoping Pena is ready sometime next season and spend money elsewhere, maybe in the pen (as Click did last season with that big AAV Baez deal) and maybe for a TORP.

lol Ian is so dug in on Card.

His PFF grade was putrid, so I imagine his performance does not look good at all on film. Good on Sark to set his ego aside and do what's best for his team to win this season.

This is a fantastic read. Can’t recommend Peter Dale Scott’s work enough. https://covertactionmagazine.com/2021/09/11/the-twenty-year-shadow-of-9-11-u-s-complicity-in-the-terror-spectacle-and-the-urgent-need-to-end-it/

I just don't see how they overcome the glaring personnel issues on offense unless Sark is able and willing to somehow retool the offense around Casey mid-season. It would take a miracle for the OL to function in his scheme at an acceptable level with the available personnel by the end of the season. I have more hope in the defense and I think our struggles had more to due with a terrible gameplan from PK than glaring, insuperable personnel shortcomings.

It blows my mind how Strong managed to succeed at Louisville for the time he was there given how awful he was here and at USF. Just obviously in over his head.

Mack was the one who destroyed the program by sticking around three seasons too long. He should have done what Stoops did and bowed out before the train went off the rails.

lol worse than any of the OL grades for Card.

Card certainly fits Sark’s system better, but I’m not sure if he’s a better fit for the personnel on hand.

If I recall, these look better than the first week grades outside of Majors.

When the other team can get pressure and stop the run while routinely dropping eight into coverage, you’re going to get stomped. I don’t know if it would have made much of a difference who was playing QB, although I’m surprised he didn’t try Casey coming out of the half to just shake things up if anything. It’s bewildering that Sark has abandoned RPOs, which would have punished Arky’s run supporters. Can neither QB execute these plays? What’s going on?

I think it’s really hard to get back to being consistently good when you let the program go to shit like we did in Mack’s three year going away party. Also, unless someone like Saban or Meyer falls in your lap, hiring a head coach is hard and unpredictable. Strong was a terrible HC and was a joke at USF. Herman had a thinner resume than Strong when he was hired and was mediocre but not terrible here. I couldn’t believe they hired Sark when it was announced given all the red flags, so maybe it shouldn’t come to much of a shock if he fails here too. It’s not like he set the world on fire at UW/USC. Still though, as ugly and inexcusable as this loss is, you can’t ever read too much into a single game. Let’s hope Sark somehow turns it around and is competitive in conference play. That’s all we can really do.

Good thing they kept that insanity quiet.

No reason to run the ball at all unless it’s outside zone.

You get points here and this is still technically a game.

Dicker is an abomination. We’re just never not going to suck are we.

They have to commit to the short/intermediate passing game. We aren’t running for shit against them.

Desperately need points on this drive.

This offensive line fucking sucks.

Might want to think about passing the ball on first down sometime.

A&M would be the fifth best team in the Big 12 this season.

Haynes has a similar build as Case. Case was probably tougher though.