You accused Crane of being cheap, but his actions over the last five years prove otherwise. No Astros’ fan was angry that Crane gave Justin Verlander a short-term extension during the 2019 season. Especially with Gerrit Cole leaving. Also, Verlander didn’t develop issues with his UCL in his pitching arm until the following Spring Training after Crane extended him. If something had shown up on his mandatory physical after agreeing to the extension, it falls through. It was horrible luck that Verlander hurt his arm in Spring Training last year and tried to rehab it until September. If he has surgery after the one start in July 2020, he could have contributed in the postseason this year in some capacity. You also missed the point about Zack Greinke. When the Astros needed a third starter for the 2019 postseason, Jim Crane told Jeff Lunhow to do what it took to get the Greinke deal over the finish line and the Astros absorbed a 24M contract for the 2019-2021 seasons. Without Crane stepping in, the deal doesn’t happen. Unfortunately, Greinke declined badly the second half of this season, but Crane was the opposite of cheap in taking on the contract in the first place. When Framber Valdez went down in Spring Training this year, Crane allowed James Click to sign the best free-agent starter remaining in Jake Odorizzi to provide depth. He extended Lance McCullers with a 5-year, $85 million deal in Spring Training. Gave Bregman a six-year extension and Altuve a five-year extension a few years ago. The Astros payroll was $194.4M this season. Only three teams spent more: the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets.
The Dodgers also with their astronomical payroll went to 3 World Series as well and only won once which you can also put an asterisk on it for being a 60 game season. Look at these same Braves in the 90’s, all those World Series appearances and one championship to show for it. Postseason Baseball is cruel sometimes and has a lot of luck to it. Teams win it once in a life time and you never hear from them again such as The Marlins, Royals, Nationals, or the recent Cubs. I honestly don’t know how the Yankees and other teams were dominating many years before. This one will hurt but I didn’t expect them to be here honestly after all that they have been through and loses of players over the last few seasons. 2019 will still hurt the most because that team was supposed to win and was stacked and they put themselves in a position just needing one more win from two at home and couldn’t get it done. Its hard to create dynasties in baseball.
We will lose Correa & Yuli. That's a given. We have the bats. (although we looked horrid this series) We need pitching. I'm not sure what is out there.
Yuli has one year remaining but after 2022 I honestly expect him to go to the Jays since I’d imagine he’ll want to play with his brother before retiring. Pitching, I’ve been banging the drum for Gausman. Aside from him there’s plenty of other names in FA and trade.
One interesting thing is he received a qualifying offer last year so he can't get it this year so no compensation pick attached. Although not sure how worried the Astros are with losing a pick and whatever else you lose.
You never said a single word for the entire Astros Season, but you show up now like a jake. Not surprising at all, really.
After all the dust settled and facing reality. This one hurts more than 2019 because knowing what we know now, this was supposed to be the revenge tour. Revenge tour on the league for making the astros the scapegoat. Gawd. This sh it fuc king suck. So disappointed. All those grandslams and homeruns against the astros. Smh. The only person to hit a hr in the world series was Altuve. Correa, ghost. Alvarez, ghost. Tucker, ghost. Bregman, ghost. Why? Why do I watch? Smh. Let me go cry in the corner.
Im a fan win or lose. Just bought a new authentic navy rainbow Altuve jersey with the patch. On to the offseason and watching the Rockets rebuild.
I have a feeling that we will sign a significant SP this off-season. We will rejoice again for next Spring.
i mean.. at least strose are like western conference champs ya? imma get me an altuve jersey before he retires (is he retiring?)
It was a good season. Crappy way to end it, but that’s baseball. Hopefully Valdez, Urquidy, and Garcia can put it together and develop consistency. They have a lot of talent when they’re on, but seemed to fall apart when they ran into bad luck with ball/strike calls or errors. The offense is totally different when playing from behind then when they had a lead. Give the Braves pitchers credit, whatever they did seemed to really keep the hitters off balance. Really disappointing to see such weak contact and even game 2 was more flukey than great hitting. Would still like to see Dusty and Greinke get a World Series.
You accused Crane of being cheap, not spending money, then proceeded to move the goalpost as you were called out. "I don't care what the payroll is" - YOU ACCUSED HIM OF BEING CHEAP Do we need to address what your working definition of cheap is? Or "not willing to pay" Then, it changes to: "well, whatever about all these accurate counterpoints, it wasn't smart to pay Verlander and get Greinke" Oh, okay I get it. Is that what you think, Captain Hindsight?
Brent Strom will not return as Astros pitching coach https://www.houstonchronicle.com/te...not-return-Astros-pitching-coach-16587390.php
I wouldn’t mind bringing back Greinke if the price is right (so not 30 million). Even with his issues are the end of the season he led the team in innings pitched. Both in 2019 and 2021 he also seemed like one of the few guys who didn’t let the moment get to him. He’s probably not going to get the same type of contract Verlander or Scherzer will so maybe the price will be right.
