We don't have reliable pitching now--from the starters to the bullpen. Plus even in May-June, our historically hot offense struggled versus opposing aces. We got our record feasting on our weak division. Still time to right the offense when Springer and Correa comes back. But what do we do about pitching in the playoffs?
This series sucked. Actually violated my no weekday games at MMP rule twice this week. Both losses and both times dragging the next day. In the immortal words of Danny Glover.....
I'm not gonna lie, peoples meltdowns after the trade deadline are kind of amusing. It's one thing to not be happy about our non-moves. It's another things to just outright act like we are now a joke of an organization. But the GARM has conditioned me to it, now I just feel a little bad for people who freak out at every slight turn a season takes given how many happen over 162.
You're right buddy, Liriano is a bust. Martes is a bust. Whitely will NEVER be Kershaw. Lose-now is prospect-hoarding sucker, and will NEVER create a winning MLB team, because of his fascination with prospects. We are only something like 9-10 in our last 19 games (fact check me here), and our lead over the 2nd place team in the division has dwindled to ONLY 15 games. Instead of being 34 or 35 games over .500, we are an embarrassing 30 games over. Rumor is that even Orbit is still sad about the trade deadline failures. Probably that guy on the train too. I'm calling the season, this is all too much for me.
You don't get it seal, you just don't get it. You probably think Losenow can do no wrong. Take off your blinders man! Did you not watch the game last night where our only trade deadline acquisition have 3 lefties up? I'm not even sure that is accurate, because I believe it was a righty (who he coincidentally got out on a pop out to right), then 2 lefties, and then was lifted for a righty (Longoria if memory serves me correct). But somehow that equates to 3 lefties in a row with an OPS of over 1.000. OVER 1.000?!?! Did Liriano not think of the children? That ruthless, soul-less b*stard. Once again, I implore you to take off your blinders.
I thought it was clear this team is not going to perform as well with George Springer not suiting up everyday. He is not only a great player but he keeps the clubhouse loose and provides a spark all game long. Subtract Correa's bat from the lineup and we are obviously not going to look as potent. I do think Springer being out is a bigger blow though right now. Here's hoping he comes back soon and can stay healthy the rest of the way. I have been mostly optimistic about the starting pitching as McHugh and Kuechel seem to be improving with each start which is a huge sign. I wish we could have some relievers step up so Devenski can rest a little down the stretch. Maybe Martes can keep producing out of the pen to give us another weapon. If they are playing like this come playoff time then it is time to worry but this team can turn it on quickly. They will want to be playing their best baseball in late September/October and I trust that will happen as guys will be rested and/or getting into better shape by then.
From a fanbase perspective, this is kind of a miserable way to go down the stretch. We really have nothing to be happy about until the world series. We can only have failure. If we make the playoffs, big deal we were supposed to. If we win our first series, big deal we were supposed to. Anything short of making the world series is gonna be viewed as a complete failure. Hoping to win is fun, being expected to win is tough.
Yep. Hence why I made the post back in late May that they're really setting themselves up for a let-down if they can't/don't win the whole thing.... which is quite the change in expectation from a team that lost more than 100 games just a few short years ago, and hasn't won even a division title for 16 years. I know its taboo to ever make moves for just one season... but if there was ever a season to try and ensure as much as possible the best chance to win, this would have been it... and I have to imagine the players somewhat feel the same way.
Not even that, giving us a reason to expect one with a historic season start only to not care in the end is insulting. It is amazing how glaring our needs were. And to be the ONLY contending team not to do anything is inexcusable. If we made moves and Britton or Gray was having trouble then okay I would at least accept it. Watching our bullpen struggle and our SPs fail to make it far enough is just ridiculous.
Putting 50 years of expectations on one team is also bullshit. It's not their fault that the last 49 teams didn't win titles (2015 & 2016 excluded).
This is important. I've seen a number of fans cite the # of years of fandom as a reason they're allowed to be upset with the lack of moves at the deadline. As if the organization is a living, breathing person that has an effect across each season, no matter the players/manager/owner/GM. It's about this team, right now--and to whatever degree you prefer, looking forward.
I don't have a problem with expectations... that get somewhat magnified due to the historical failure of a franchise. If you want to be one of the best teams in the league, you get all the expectations and pressure that goes along with it. Its part of the territory in rooting for teams... and rooting for teams that have been around for awhile (unlike the Texans). Unfortunately, the Astros are now approaching some of the "longest suffering fans" territory that the media likes to beat the public over the head with... now that there's no more Cubs, Red Sox, Phillies, White Sox, Royals to focus on. Its pretty much the Indians and the Astros. The city has an inferiority complex as it is... and there's always the stigma that they don't get media attention because its not a sexy market. Well, part of it has also been that Houston was always a relatively "new" market, with teams that hadn't been around as long as the historical ones. Now, its getting to the point where they've got some history behind them... they now have 2 hall of famers, they've had enough previous post-season appearances to remain relevant... and fairly (or unfairly), the past franchise failure will be lumped into this team's... if they don't win it all. Does anybody think the first World Series win in franchise history won't be just a little bit more meaningful for a franchise and city that has never won one before?
I'm honestly finding it hard to complain, considering from 2011 to 2014 we lost 416 games. We're going to play meaningful baseball in September and October, people. I don't exactly remember us BLAZING into the 2015 playoffs, but the bats got hot and we were a few outs from moving on. We have a championship caliber club heading into dog days. This is ****ing fun. ps. yeah, I wish we had added a starter (Gray especially) at the deadline. Such is life. I'd still rather be in our cleats than in those of any of the other 29 teams.
It's the context for why some of us get upset. Is it fair to the current group of guys? No..but it's the reality of it. It potentially cuts the other direction, too...ask Curt Schilling and Kris Bryant about how it might cut the other direction. And I'm not blaming Luhnow for 50 years before he got here...I'm stupid (just ask my wife), but I'm not that stupid. It's the context of the fan base and the history of the franchise he was hired into though...it's certainly part and parcel of what Crane purchased. I don't feel too bad for either of them...the media in this city hits with pillows compared to many other cities.
