Larry Dierker's Astros column.

[UK1679666180]

I feel obligated by powers greater than mine to post Dierker's take on the Astros.

 

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/3108722 (3/29)

 

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/3120550 (4/5)

[abuck1220]

Of course, the walks will produce runs

 

pfft. :roll:

[CubinNY]

Dierker for manager. I sit shotgun UK.

[EasTexAstro]

You guys are just scaring me.

 

The picture of Mai Tai Larry in a Cubs hat just ain't right.

[Magnetic Curses]

You guys are just scaring me.

 

The picture of Mai Tai Larry in a Cubs hat just ain't right.

 

we have several BandWGN's around here. many others have unhealthy fetishes for other team's players. my personal favorite is rocket's obsession with adam dunn.

[imb]

If you think that is unhealthy, you should see my shrine to all things AJ Burnett.

[Guest]

If you think that is unhealthy, you should see my shrine to all things AJ Burnett.

Speaking of which, how much did those underpants cost you?

[imb]

If you think that is unhealthy, you should see my shrine to all things AJ Burnett.

Speaking of which, how much did those underpants cost you?

 

They came with the jockstrap.

[JC]

If you think that is unhealthy, you should see my shrine to all things AJ Burnett.

Speaking of which, how much did those underpants cost you?

 

They came with the jockstrap.

 

IMB collects underpants? What is he, a gnome?

 

"Step one, collect underpants.

Step two, *silence*

Step three, profit!"

[UK1679666180]

You guys are just scaring me.

 

The picture of Mai Tai Larry in a Cubs hat just ain't right.

 

Would Baker in a Astros hat ease your pain ETA? :D

[UK1679666180]

Dierker for manager. I sit shotgun UK.

 

I am only a co-pilot on the horny wagon, the Dierker for manager campaign is two years from gaining momentum.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If you think that is unhealthy, you should see my shrine to all things AJ Burnett.

 

I think I share the unhealthy obsession with you. He's on all my fantasy teams.

 

And Dierker is cool for me as a manager, but it's all about Jim Tracy for me. Of course he won't be leaving the Dodgers anytime soon. :(

[treebird]

You guys are just scaring me.

 

The picture of Mai Tai Larry in a Cubs hat just ain't right.

 

Would Baker in a Astros hat ease your pain ETA? :D

 

I have a picture of Baker in a Cardinals hate on my computer at home that I made during the 2003 season (thus proving my long-term distaste for him).

[UK1679666180]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/3132007

 

Latest Dierker article on the Stros. Spoke on how little can be determined in April, the various question marks on their roster, likes various members of their youth on the squad.

 

Dierker also mentioned mentioned how he enjoyed watching Wood's 20 K performance (although, I thought it ended 1-0 not 2-0).

 

Not mentioned in the article, Dierker loves Wrigley and would have interviewed for the Cubs managerial opening had it been offered after the 02' season.

[CubinNY]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/3132007

 

Not mentioned in the article, Dierker loves Wrigley and would have interviewed for the Cubs managerial opening had it been offered after the 02' season.

 

LOL

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Dierker also mentioned mentioned how he enjoyed watching Wood's 20 K performance (although, I thought it ended 1-0 not 2-0).

 

Not mentioned in the article, Dierker loves Wrigley and would have interviewed for the Cubs managerial opening had it been offered after the 02' season.

 

It did end 2-0. They got an extra run late in the game (7th inning?).

 

And to the second paragraph, all I can say is #-o.

[UK1679666180]

Here is the direct quote from his writings.

 

I finally received a call about managing in early November 2002. At that time, the Brewers, Cubs, and Mariners were still looking for a skipper. Alan Nero, who negotiated Art Howe's deal with the Mets, wanted to know if I was interested in getting back in the dugout. I didn't have any interest in the Brewers job because I didn't think stood a good chance of winning. The Cubs appeared to have enough pitching to make a run at it, I studied the Mariners and I was convinced that they had a good chance to beat the Angels and A's in 2003. I told Alan I would consider those jobs, but I never heard back from him. I still don't know if I threw my hat into the ring too late, or if they just weren't interested.

 

I have always had a fondness for Wrigley Field. I got my first win there, and though the day games always came too early in the city that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down, the atmosphere around the ballpark was terrific, I have been there in 5 different decades and that's just the half of it. In ten more years Wrigley will celebrate its onehundredth birthday. I have heard some talk about a new stadium for the Cubs, but I doubt it will come to that, as Wrigley is in a great neighborhood. Even though the Cubs haven't won, well, much of anything, the old park is full of fans almost every summer day.

[Shilzzz]

uk, can you please sum up why you love dierker so? i have heard others say you have persuaded them into fans, but i never read your posts on him...

[UK1679666180]

I think he's the best manager avail. at this time and likely two years from now, when I think the Cubs will be looking for a new manager.

 

He is a player's manager, who is above avg. as far as strategy; one example would be his thought process as far as BB'ing the 8th hitter to get to the pitcher, he knows that most #8 hitters are weaker and it is more important to leadoff the next inning with the pitcher than BB the 8th hitter to face the pitcher. I think that comes from having been a pitcher, a direction I'd like to see the Cubs take, either a pitcher or a catcher as the next coach. Also, there is no bias towards veterans from him, he'll play the best player avail., if Dusty can make a reference how was stuck behind Don Buford, Dierker has the fact he was playing the majors at age 18.

 

The main reason why I want him is he was productive, Houston finished 1st 4 out of the 5 years he was Houston and hasn't finished 1st since. I don't think this current Cubs roster is less talented than what he won with in Houston, I think the Cubs 04' squad had more talent than any of Dierker's teams.

 

He was fired b/c Houston lost to ATL repeated times in the playoffs, losing to a team with a manager like Cox with the talent that ATL has had is nothing to get fired for.

 

I like his approach to managing, as far as his ability to relate to players and of course, his in-game strategy.

[UK1679666180]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20050418&content_id=1019761&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp

 

An article based on slumps in MLB, speaks of his own personal experience in 2000', the only year the Astros did not finish 1st in his tenure. It mentions the adjustments he made to cure the slump and how it may have had a negative ffect.

 

After Craig Biggio went down with a knee injury we called up Julio Lugo and he brought more speed and enthusiasm to the lineup. We put Lance Berkman in the outfield when Roger Cedeno got hurt and Lance took advantage of the opportunity. We became a better team in the second half and actually had a winning record after the All-Star Game, but we still finished fourth.

 

More than anything, the enthusiasm that came when we started playing the rookies shook us out of our lethargy.

[UK1679666180]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/3143615

 

Talks about elite pitching and compares the elite pitchers from 30 years ago to now.

[dalgreen]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bb/3143615

 

Talks about elite pitching and compares the elite pitchers from 30 years ago to now.

 

Just curious, why didn't his name come up anywhere in the off-season? I'm just glad I haven't heard Art Howe's name. I think Dierker is a good manager, as I do Baker. But after a 7-7 start, there would be people calling Dierker an "idiot", "moron", too. :roll:

[UK1679666180]

Dierker's name was passively mentioned with the M's this past off-season, the previous year with the Red Sox.

 

Depends on the moves Dierker would do that would warrant criticism. Of course, there would be some who disagree with his moves as there as those who also agree with Baker's moves.

 

I tend to lean towards Dierker's thought process on managing moreso than Baker.

[dime]

I can't think of a single manager in my lifetime who has NOT been second-guessed on a daily basis. Bobby Cox has won what, 20 division titles in a row? And yet he is criticized all the time for not managing his bench properly or not getting along with jd drew etc etc.

 

Sports fandom simply has no tolerance, and in general our society equates criticism with intelligence. Anyone who manages the Cubs will be ripped as "stupid" after a loss, Dierker included.

[UK1679666180]

Agreed, and like Baker and every other manager, some of it is justified and some isn't.