Now that all THAT's done... what do we all expect the Astros to be at this year? Still a contender? Just miss the playoffs like in 2016? Win it all? I don't even know. I'd love to see the Astros give the middle finger to the league by winning it all in spite of all this BS going on. Thank God we still have Strom.
The Astros are gonna win over 95 games, win the division, and have a chance at another WS. The players are still really good, and the nerd cave wasn't disbanded. They will be given no credit, and people will undercut everything they accomplish, which at this point I don't care about. I just want to force everybody to kiss the ring. If no young players step up, we could be rebuilding next season, the season after that at best.
The Astros are going to be a very good team and still have the upside of winning a World Series. We haven't gotten a full season of prime Correa yet. If he remains healthy all season he will hit over 40 homers. Bregman is one of the 3-4 best position players in the world. Springer is in his prime. Gurriel and Brantley are natural hitters. Tucker has high upside and doesn't need to do much to increase the production we got from Reddick last year. We will likely get less from the catching position but any effort to spend money was put on hold with all of the other stuff going on. Verlander is likely still a top 5 pitcher. Greinke can be very good. McCullers is back and entering his prime. Urquidy has under rated upside. The Astros also have a very talented option in Forrest Whitley. The pen has lots of talent. So the upside is winning the World Series. Luck plays a big part in a post season so the Astros will have a chance. The likely outcome is 95-98 wins in my opinion but others say more. If the Astros promote a competent GM or bring in someone qualified, and Crane will spend some money, then the Astros can be one of the 2-3 best teams in baseball. Winning a World Series would be fitting.
How sweet would it be to have Urquidy or Whitley beat Cole in a decisive game 7 ALCS game in NY..... then beat the Dodgers in the World Series. My guess is under MLB guidance, the Astros will start to rehabilitate their image.
This team still has Altuve, Bregman, Springer, Brantley, Yordan, Correa, Verlander, Greinke, etc. They’re going to be extremely good in 2020 and be one of the best teams again As far as beyond the next year or two that remains to be seen with the right hires
Next time Fiers pitches in Houston the umpires have to forfeit the game due to trash being thrown on the field and the fans refusing to stop. Astros will finish 3nd in the division with 80 something wins. Players will routinely get taunted by opposing fans calling them cheaters. Think this will have a mental effect on them and their performance so I see down years. Players will be traded at the trade deadline to replenish their prospects. Osuna will be traded before the year begins Yankees win the World Series and Cole gets the Cy Young Astros become irrelevant and a punch line A new 100+ loss season losing cycle begins in 2021
This team is still one of the three most talented teams in baseball, and they should have plenty of motivation after yesterday’s news and losing in game 7 of the World Series. I expect them to win the division and at least make the ALCS again.
It would be amazing if this team is able to battle back through this adversity to make another trip to the playoffs. I just think how Luhnow and Hinch said it was player driven they are going to have that weighing over them all through next year. Other players and fans will make fun of them, and show them no respect. Might be too much for them to deal with and only a change of scenery for all will help.
Division is still ours, at least 95 wins and again in the playoffs. Yankees-Astros rematch in the ALCS most likely. Absolute brutal fan roasting from other teams and the media. Zero credit given to the Astros, and their accomplishments. Anything but a WS win for this team will be a win for every non-Astro fan and validation of their hatred towards our team.
Then, prepare to be amazed. You don’t win more than 100 games in each of the past three seasons simply through electronic sign stealing. The Astros have been and still are one of the most talented teams in baseball. That’s been lost in all of this. They also have plenty of veteran leaders like Justin Verlander that will keep them focused and in the right place mentally. I would be beyond shocked if they don’t win 90-plus games again, regardless of the distractions and taunting from opposing fans. Talent wise, they should at least make it to the ALCS for another rematch with the Yankees.
2020 F-U tour ending with a World Series Championship. Astros games garner high TV ratings nationally. Stadiums see a boost in attendance when the Astros are in town. The scandal actually provides a financial gain for MLB due to more interest in the Astros.
How comfortable is that when players and fans of opposing teams make fun of you then only to be traded or sign with that team. I like to see Correa going to the Dodgers, Yanks, or even Cinci to hangout with Tyler Bauer. That would be fun.
People act like this team didnt almost win the WS last year playing C baseball at best in the postseason. Let. Them. Hate.
This team is going to win in the range of 100 games Even with Lance innings being limited, there are only a handful of teams who has a stronger 1-2-3 than Verlander, Greinke and Lance Regardless of your personal feelings of him, Osuna at the back end of a pen with Presly, Smith is strong. And we have high upside arms battling for spots here Springer Altuve Bregman Alvarez Brantley Correa Yuli Tucker Maldanado That's an insanely stacked lineup Yes, when we go on the road we are going to get booed, and booed tremendously, and it will last all year, and probably get worse in the playoffs These guys don't seem like the kind of men who will cower down in that situation though. The Astros players seem more like the kind of guys that will thrive off of stuff like that Now, as for winning it all, we will probably need another front end arm, or a fill in for a major injury, or a catching upgrade, or something along those lines. Luhnow was great picking up Verlander in 17, Greinke in 19 for the playoff runs (man, if only he hadn't traded for Fiers huh)......so the new GM will likely have a huge impact on how it plays out in the end, will they be able to make a deal that helps, will they strike out trying to make a deal, will they deal for someone who goes full Carlos Gomez on us???? Time will tell But this team is loaded and I can't wait for opening day
