Daily Archives: August 7, 2005

Stros 2005 Review: Checking in on the Stros

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Astros-Logo8.jpgSince last checking in on the Stros (60-51), the club has cooled off a bit, losing four of their last seven games. However, the Stros come home for their longest homestand of the season on the uptick, as Jason Lane‘s (-3 RCAA/.300 OBP/.479 SLG/.779 OPS) three run yak broke open a close game and notched a well-deserved 8-1 win for the Rocket over the Giants (48-62).
The Stros continue to lead in the race for the NL Wild Card playoff spot, and the competition in that race increasingly looks like it will come out of the NL East where the Phillies (58-54), Mets (57-54) and Marlins (57-52) all appear primed to remain in the race. My sense is that the Nationals (58-53) will continue to fade and will be out of the race by Labor Day. Both the Cubs (54-56) and the Brewers (56-56) should both be in the race. However, just like the 2004 season, it appears that Manager Dusty Baker is mismanaging the Cubs sufficiently to keep that club out of the race, and the Brew Crew — although the most balanced club in the NL except for the Cardinals — just can’t seem to put the long winning streak together that is necessary to get a leg up in the race for the Wild Card playoff spot.

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Update on the talented Mr. Munitz

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munitz4.jpgFollowing on this post from earlier this summer on former University of Houston chancellor, Barry Munitz, this NY Times article indicates that the heat is being turned up on current Getty Trust executive director.
Reporting on a LA Times article from this past week, the Times reports that the California attorney general has opened an investigation into the finances of the Getty Trust, particularly the financial records relating to Mr. Munitz’s eight-year tenure. The state is examining whether those expenditures had violated state laws governing its tax-exempt status, as well as a real estate deal between the Getty Trust and L.A. billionaire, Eli Broad, who happens to be one of Mr. Munitz’s buddies.
Mr. Munitz is one of the best-paid executives of a nonprofit institution in the nation, with salary, benefits and perks totaling over $1 million annually over the last several years. It appears that everything that Mr. Munitz received was approved by the Getty Board, so it appears that the primary purpose of the investigation is to embarrass Mr. Munitz and the Getty board. My sense is that neither Mr. Munitz nor the Getty board really cares.