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Here's why Nick Caserio is built for this, despite evidence to the contrary

Here's why Nick Caserio is built for this, despite evidence to the contrary
Caserio is tasked with doing something he's never done before. Composite image by Jack Brame.
Texans General Manager Nick Caserio

By now, we can all agree the Texans are in rebuild mode, right? Okay. Cool. Glad we got that out the way so we can move on to the next order of business for this column. With the team in rebuild mode, people often ask questions about who's in charge and are they qualified to lead a team rebuilding.

Enter Texans general manager Nick Caserio. He's been on the job a little over a year now. While he's had his fair share of missteps, he's also made some headway in bringing this team towards respectability. He was tasked with a tall order and was given the proper tenure to his contract to reflect the type of security a man in his shoes would need. I saw an interesting post and reply the other day on Twitter that brought this all about:

Sarge made a fair point: does Caserio know how to rebuild since he was part of a dynasty from the start? However, Dune countered: how is he qualified because he's never had to rebuild anything? Caserio may not know how to "rebuild" a team because he's never been part of a rebuild, but he damn sure knows what a well-run organization looks like!

The fact that he's never rebuilt a team from scratch after it was cremated alive doesn't mean he's not capable. Guys who've done that successfully before are often not available to hire because teams will keep them around to see things through. This is why the copycat culture of the NFL is so pervasive. Teams want to mimic other teams all the time. The easiest way to do so is to pick fruit off those teams' vines in hopes of replicating their harvest. Easier said than done.

This whole "Patriot Way" thing is funny to me. When I think of what that means, it's Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and their supporting cast over the years. When you don't have them, you won't get the "Patriot Way." Plucking random fruits from a bountiful tree won't get you a twin of that tree. If lucky, you may end up with a decent seed that'll yield something worthwhile, but it won't get you anything close to the real deal.


What Caserio is asked to do, and what's fully expected of him, is to build a model similar to the one he came from. He's a contractor who's spent the majority of his career supervising a project for someone else but is now tasked with remodeling his own building as the lead dog. Can a general contractor build a home that was burned down? Yes. Will he be the first to do so? No.

Personally, I think he'll do a fine job. As long as he drafts very well, spends wise free agent money, re-signs the right guys, and brings in a coaching staff that can grow with the talent he's acquiring. This is why he's reportedly paid $6 million dollars a year over six years. Fans want to see results, or they'll come for their pound of flesh. I think he's on the right track. This off-season's moves will go a long way to establishing his legacy. Here's to Caserio seeing six years and beyond here in Houston!

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Javier is headed to the IL. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Houston Astros right-hander Cristian Javier was scratched from Sunday’s start at the Washington Nationals because of neck discomfort.

He will be placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to April 14.

Right-hander Hunter Brown (0-3, 10.54 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season in the series finale at Washington. Brown suffered a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves on April 16 despite allowing only two runs in six innings.

“Neck discomfort, started a few days ago,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He tried to work through it but just couldn’t happen. This kind of just came out of nowhere. So, we are going to see what happens here.”

The Astros called up right-hander Spencer Arrighetti from the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Arrighetti struggled in his first two starts this season, going 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA.

Espada said JP France and Justin Verlander will start in Chicago for the next series against the Cubs, but the order was not announced. Arrighetti could also get one of those spots, as could veteran left-hander Framber Valdez (left elbow inflammation), who has been throwing during the road trip.

“He just played catch right now,” Espada said of Valdez on Sunday. “We will see how he feels. Once we see how he feels we will start talking about the possibilities if he can pitch in Chicago or not.”

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