TEXANS IN TURMOIL
Texans latest example of getting in their own way has strained yet another relationship
Jan 11, 2021, 1:55 pm
TEXANS IN TURMOIL
Late last year the Houston Texans paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to a high-falutin', nationally respected search firm to help them find their next general manager.
The Korn Ferry company did deep background checks and proposed two names as the most qualified candidates: Pittsburgh Steelers executive Omar Khan and ESPN football analyst Louis Riddick.
Last Friday the Texans called a major press conference to announce their new hire as general manager: Nick Caserio.
Huh? What happened? Why would the Texans pay all that money to a headhunter … and then ignore its advice?
Here's what reportedly happened: Jack Easterby, the Texans butt-smooching, back-stabbing executive and personal Svengali to Texans CEO and Chairman Cal McNair got involved.
According to reports from ESPN, ProFootball Weekly and other national media, Easterby convinced McNair to hire Caserio. You remember Easterby, the focus of a long, vicious profile in Sports Illustrated that painted him as a sneaky, conniving, not always truthful office snoop.
McNair confirmed, "I sought out Jack's feedback on Nick." Caserio added, "Jack and I have a really special relationship." Easterby and Caserio formerly worked together with the New England Patriots.
McNair's announcement of the Caserio hire reportedly infuriated Deshaun Watson, the Texans' divinely talented quarterback. Watson claims that McNair promised that he'd be involved in the general manager decision. Watson wasn't. He learned about the Caserio hire on social media.
Watson also has urged the Texans to consider Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as their new head coach. So far, the Texans have failed to invite Bieniemy for an interview. The Texans are the only team with a head coaching vacancy to snub Bieniemy for at least an interview.
Watson reportedly feels betrayed by the Texans' hiring practices and failure to be more active on social issues. ESPN said reports of Watson's unhappiness with Texans' management are true. According to ESPN sources, Watson would accept a trade to the Miami Dolphins. Hypothetically, the deal would have the Texans receiving Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a bunch of draft selections. That's the Texans' style, exiling an All-Pro and getting far less in return.
Houston now has a football team with its best player wanting out, a basketball team with its best player wanting out, and a baseball team with one of its best players accepting offers from other teams.
The Houston Astros will look to even their three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night at Daikin Park, with ace-in-the-making Hunter Brown taking the mound.
The Astros (55-36) dropped the series opener 7-5 on Monday, snapping a stretch that saw them win six of their last eight games. But they'll have their best arm on the hill in Brown, who enters with a 9-3 record, a sparkling 1.82 ERA, and a microscopic 0.90 WHIP. The right-hander has been the definition of dominant this season, striking out 126 batters and giving Houston a clear edge in any matchup he starts.
Cleveland (41-48) will counter with Joey Cantillo, who has impressed in limited action. The lefty owns a 3.41 ERA and will face a Houston lineup that has been red-hot, batting .298 over the last 10 games and piling up runs behind contributions from Victor Caratini, Cam Smith, and Jose Altuve.
Despite Monday’s setback, the Astros are still 32-15 at home and boast a 43-13 record when outhitting their opponent. Cleveland, meanwhile, has lost nine of its last 10 and is hitting just .187 over that span — though Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan remain threats to change a game with one swing.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jake Meyers has 15 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 21 RBIs for the Astros. Meyers is dealing with a calf issue and was out of the lineup for Game 1 versus the Guardians.
Caratini is 10 for 38 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.
Tuesday marks the fifth meeting between the two clubs this season, with the series tied 2-2. With Brown on the mound and the offense continuing to click, Houston will try to reclaim control and keep pace atop the American League.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -211, Guardians +173; over/under is 7 runs.
Lineup breakdown
Here's an early look at Houston's lineup for Game 2. Spots 1-6 are the same as Game 1, except Cooper Hummel is playing left field, with Altuve in the DH spot. Mauricio Dubon is hitting seventh and playing second base, with Zack Short (SS) hitting eighth, followed by Taylor Trammell batting ninth and playing center field. Jake Meyers is out of the lineup again with a calf issue.
Image via: MLB.com/Screenshot
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