Thanks for joining me here in part two, which is really just part 1A of an obscenely long post I felt like breaking into two. What’s really the problem with the Astros? As I suggested earlier, it’s a combination of McLane’s overbearing personality which led to the hiring of problem number two, Special Ed.

It starts at the top with Drayton. You can’t completely begrudge the work he’s done – he introduced a modicum of stability and success into a franchise that had lost its way. He saved the franchise from being moved in the early 90s. That being said, the best owners keep a watchful eye on their franchise but leave the iron fist at home. Not so with Drayton and I think this is best illustrated by two problems. First, the Hunsicker departure. For once, Dickie Justice is right – running Hunsicker out of town was a terrible idea. He’s responsible for our one and only World Series appearance and (just look at the Devil Rays) clearly knows what he’s doing. You keep that sort of talent around even if you disagree with him at times.

Things are in a right awful state at Minute Maid Park. As much as I enjoy Shawn Chacon going Stone Cold Steve Austin on Ed Wade, that is a downright frightening indicator of the cancerous state of the clubhouse. I’ve got my own theories, mostly premised on two things: (1) Drayton McLane is a despot, and (2) Ed Wade makes me wish Steve Phillips was in charge. But all joking aside, it’s time to be extremely worried about your hometown heroes.

What started as one long post – I’ve decided to break into two parts. The idea is pretty simple: accountability is lacking in two places – the Astros and the coverage. Welcome to part one, where the average fan gets no answers from the media!

Now I usually steer clear of the Chomicale, but these guys have access to the clubhouse – and if I’m going to get a straight answer about what’s going on, I need to give Little Dickie Justice and the merry bad of ass-clowns over there a chance to inform me. How many times must I burn my hand on the stove?

I don’t get home to Houston much and when I do it’s usually holiday season - which means no baseball.  So whenever I get a chance to catch a game at Minute Maid, I’m usually pretty damn excited about it.  Just such an occasion presented itself to me this year.  Of course the only series I could see was against the Washington Nationals - a team I’ll spend all summer watching since I’m living here - but whatever!  It’s Astros baseball!  It’s Minute Maid!  It’s cheering for the home team for once!

But something peculiar caught my eye when I was purchasing tickets.  There were two sets of prices - one column of costs a full 50% more than the regular ticket prices!  “Have we started charging for premium games against the Cubs and Cardinals or something?  Rivalry games?” I asked myself.  Oh no.  These were the special costs for the home series against the Yankees and Red Sox.  Areyoufreakingkiddingme?

Look - I can understand the idea of fleecing every Masshole and Bleacher Creature roaming the streets of the Greater Houston Area.  But that’s the sort of bullshit gimmick reserved for teams that can’t sell out the cheap seats.  The Astros don’t have that problem.  Despite hiring Ed Wade and fielding a beer league softball team - the team still sells tickets.  The fans still come out.  People still care - and more importantly still PAY.  So to jack up the prices on everyone just because the storied Yankees and Red Sox are coming to town is an insult to any and every Astros fan.

What exactly are you charging me extra for?  To see the decaying corpse of Mussina take the mound?  The right to boo Andy P?  The chance to high-five Manny when he jumps the fence for no good reason? (Ok that I’d pay to do.)  But the point remains - what makes them so damned special?  If Bristol wants to fluff these two teams nine months out of the year, that’s their prerogative.  But for Uncle Drayton to pass the buck on to the regular Astro fan - that’s unconscionable.

Just needed to get that off my chest.  If any of you lads bit the bullet and paid the premium - please share with me below why!  And if it was worth it.

OFF TOPIC:  RIP Tim Russert.  For a political junky like me, Meet the Press is as much a part of my week as box scores and breakfast.  He was the finest and most objective political journalist left - and he will be missed.