The Chronicle is reporting that the Astros have announced that Larry Dierker will not be returning to his role as one of the club's TV analysts for 2006.
Dierk, who of course spent most of last year doing home games while JD did the road games, makes it sound as if he asked for a raise, didn't get it, and now won't mind playing the extra golf.
Or finishing his book.
And good for him.
Without knowing what he asked for, though, it definitely seems to me the Astros should have paid anything reasonable Dierker requested. Not only is he eminently knowledgeable, not only does he love and respect the game, not only is he entertaining and opinionated, but he also just happens to have spent more time with the Houston Astros than anyone in their slowly lengthening history.
He's a walking history book of baseball in southeast Texas, and a good deal of it outside the Lone Star state, as well. I don't wanna be morbid or anything, but look at the sportspages today. Examine all the tributes being written to the sadly departed Kirby Puckett, and see if you can measure the amount of importance Puckett had to the Twins organization.
OK. Got it? 'Coz Dierker has meant much more to the Houston National League baseball franchise.
Much more, and I don't think it's even arguable.
Why would you want anyone else to represent your organization?
I dunno, it just seems like you might want someone who's been your star pitcher AND your number one radio guy AND your TV analyst AND your manager, for Pete's sake, to hang around for as long as he felt like it.
Good baseball brains aren't plentiful, and you shouldn't toss them out the door without a good reason.
Perhaps it's because I don't live in Houston that the dismissal of Alan Ashby earlier this offseason didn't quite outrage me the same way it did some others around the Astros worldwide web. I mean, Ashby wasn't on my car radio when I drive to the store for a pint of ice cream or whatever. Maybe that's unfair a little on my part to Ash, who by all accounts was entertaining and insightful, and has more than a few years himself within the organization.
But I watched plenty of baseball last year that was accompanied by Dierk's accomplished commentary, and even if he doesn't appear to be upset, I don't mind saying that I am.
What's going on around here? The Astros win the pennant, and suddenly it's goodbye to everybody. Goodbye to Ashby, goodbye to Bagwell, goodbye to Clemens, goodbye to Dierker.
Sheesh.
Hope we win though . . . .
0 recs | 6 comments
Larry
I wish him well at what he does in the future. Though I am happy he has left because I get more JD. I think JD speaks to an era of Stros history that I relate to better ,and just a plain better era of Stros baseball. I don't think that Larry was the same after his brain surgery and should focus more on what makes him happiest and healthiest. I bet we still see him having a few brews at his lounge before most of the Stros games this year. If you want to tell him how much you appreciate him that is the first place I would look.Shamus - March 7, 2006
Mets 7 Astros 1
Buchholz 3 R, 1 ER over 3 4H 2BBBrian Gordon and Hector Gimenez are brief punctuations in an attack comprised of ohfers.
3 errors too. . .littlevisigoth had it right, paying attention to the WBC on this day.
rastronomicals - March 7, 2006
Ouch
Looks like you touched a nerve there Rastro. I think I see your point in making that comparison (more so than this responder), being that he's been involved with the organization in just about every way possible (as a player, he pitched more innings in an Astro uniform than anybody, is second in wins and third in K's all-time for the club, which may not amount to a hall of fame career, certainly qualifies him as a star in the modest history of Astros pitchers). I think the problem, and where you may have been a little cavelier in your comparison, is that as legendary as Dierker may be in Astros history, Kirby Puckett is probably more of a household name, even in Houston. Such is the fickle nature of Houston sports fans, and such is the legacy that Kirby has imprinted not only in Minnesota, but across the country (albeit solely as a player).I think I'm a bit younger than you Rastro, and I'm transplanted to Houston, so Larry's legacy probably doesn't mean as much to me, but it does seem like a shame the way that the Astros brass seems to so wantonly discard icons of club history that they should be more interested in clinging to, to give younger generations a feeling of culture and loyalty in the organization. I think part of what draws a lot of people to baseball as a sport (among many other things) is a feeling of holding onto something that is intrinsically linked to the past. The Astros past may not go as far back as some other clubs, but you really should capitalize on what you got.
It's unfortunate that this poster opted to take the low road with jabs at the club, but you can hardly fault somebody for brimming over with emotion when a city icon recently passes (I'm assuming he/she's a Minnesotan).
littlevisigoth - March 8, 2006
After a Lot of Thought
I'll just say that I stand by what I wrote, and that I'm sorry our visitor doesn't comprehend what Dierker has meant to the Astros as well as most Astros fans do.I have also decided to hold my tongue on the legacy and qualifications of Puckett, in both recognition of his recent sad passing and of the fact that he was obviously a great hitter for slightly more than a decade.
As far as the Twins, I'll say that despite the fact that the modern incarnation hasn't been to the playoffs as often as the Astros have, or as recently, I still find them an admirable organization.
:-)
rastronomicals - March 8, 2006
comparing the Astros and Twins
Are you serious?In my opinion it is not comparable. First off, the Twins may not exist in a couple of years, at least in the way that you know them. Every indication is that they are first in line to be moved or disbanned. They may have won two series but over the last 12 years the Astros have been a better team. Forbes says that the Astros are one of the only professional baseball teams that actually makes money every year. So if you want to keep watching the Twins I suggest that you and all of your cheap-ass friends go to more games and fork up for a new stadium.
Sorry if you are upset over Kirby's death. That is no reason to go around to different blogs and "put people in their place" so you feel good. It does not matter that I write this because I doubt you ever come back or have enough moxy to make another post, or even one with a name on it. Coward!
Shamus - March 9, 2006
The Fact That
the last thing I want on this poor little-frequented blog is a flame war was one of the main things that moderated my comment, and I'm glad that you respected it, because that was exactly the response I had hoped for.But at the same time, I kind of respected Shamus (and littlevisigoth too) 1) for defending the Astros and 2) defending me, when I hadn't exactly been in a position to respond with all my guns blazing if you get my drift.
Certainly if you're a diehard Astros fan, it didn't come through in the first post. And I'm not sure why what state you're from should affect your opinion on the quality of Dierker's pitching. As an example of things that might legitimately affect it, I might offer that Dirk had a career ERA+ of 104 (vs. Kirk Rueter's 97, by the way), or that he threw 25 complete game shutouts, or that he led the Astros in wins four times, and in ERA four more. Or that he threw a no-hitter.
But anyway, I've expressed myself too vociferously in the past and can't really hold that against anyone.
So we invite you to continue reading and posting here, and invite you, in fact, to take a user name, so that we know who you are when we hear from you in the future.
rastronomicals - March 9, 2006
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