What happened to Dana Brown? TK and Blum interviewed him but it’s been several weeks since he’s been in the booth.
They remind me of us a few years ago in many ways. From the 100 loss seasons, to becoming a perennial playoff contender.
The Astros pitching is toast. They were #2 in the AL in pitching and now are like #8. The injury to McCullers and Urquidy early. Javier and Pressly pitching through the WS and WBC. Valdez pitching so much the last few years. The combo of losing Verlander for half the year and then with injuries having to depend on Brown and France as rookies has just been too much. The 2023 Astros are toast. The offense is very good now but the pitching is exhausted and done. At this point they aren’t as good as the Mariners but even if the Astros win the division, they aren’t as good as Tampa or Baltimore or Atlanta or LA. It’s frustrating but I’m not even mad - the staff has had a lot of issues. I think the 2024 Astros can be good enough to win a WS but it’s going to take shrewd free agent signings for the bullpen coupled with signing an inning eater. I also will always love Dusty Baker for 2022, but I don’t want him near the Astros in 2024. Diaz needs to catch and Chas needs to start 150 games. I think the pitching outside of maybe one reliever will have to come from outside the organization and will require frugal but smart signings by Brown. The starter can be someone with a 4.5 era, it won’t matter if the offense is healthy.
Yep. Pitching is everything. Doesn’t need to be historic… but this team has had basically only one plus starter the entire season (Valdez). Garcia’s injury ended up being much more critical than anything. He will be back… and is young and under club control for some time. You can build a rotation around him and Valdez. Would be nice to know Javier could also be relied upon… but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest he’s not a full time starter (unless he really commits to a conditioning/workout program this off season).
5+ ERA relievers and we can’t make a dent. At this point it’s fair to think that this team isn’t up for it.
The most frustrating thing is the pitching didn't have to be exhausted right now. Management has sat back and wished upon a star gassed players would miraculously turn **** around by continuing to play games without any relief. The other most frustrating thing... Dusty's marriage with Maldonaldo. Ugly children.
Javier isn’t likely to be below average next year. He even was strong the first couple months this year - he ran out of steam. He has never pitched this much before coming off the World Series, etc. Verlander and Valdez shouldn’t be taken for granted, eventually pitchers slow down - but realistically neither has really had a decrease in “stuff”. As for France - he deserves a shot and he has been good until late in the season. He really only needs to be a #4-5. McCullers should be back and I expect the Astros to wisely sign an inning eater starter. I would move Brown to the pen personally and let him pitch in high leverage spots with Pressly/Abreu/Graveman. The Astros have the pieces but they need to handle them better… I would also deal Urquidy for a reliever I liked.
Astros are about to be under 500 at home. Joining only the tigers, angels, white Sox, royals and A's as the only American league teams with a losing record at home. Pathetic
Last night's game really hurts like a mug. Brown shouldn't have pitched today and Javier shouldn't pitch tomorrow.
Isn't Baltimore run by the leftovers of the Luhnow front office and we got stuck with a 'look at the back of the baseball card' crippled first baseman?
