I'd feel a lot better about this season if I thought it would serve as a "Come to Jesus" moment for Crane but typically the way it works is people double down out of pride instead.
Next year's starting rotation: 1. Valdez 2. Blanco 3. Verlander 4. Brown 5. Arighetti Bullpen: Hader, Abreu, Montero, Dubin, Scott, Martinez, FA, Bloss/Ullola/Hernandez Is that good enough pitching to win a championship? I do not think so. Is there a viable path to getting championship-level pitching without giving up major league assets? I do not think so, with our current budget and commitments. I think, therefore, we have to trade Framber and Tucker at the deadline. Trade Tucker to Philadelphia for Andrew Painter and trade Framber to the Orioles for one of their outfielder prospects. 2026 rotation: 1. Painter 2. Javier 3. Brown 4. Blanco 5. Bloss/Arighetti/Blubaugh Maybe you can compete with that, if Painter is an ace and one of pitching prospects breaks out, starting in 2026 or 2027.
You’re missing Garcia and McCullers. The 2025 opening day rotation currently projects to Framber, Verlander, Blanco, Brown, McCullers, and Garcia, with Arrighetti, Bloss, Blubaugh, Gordon, France, and Ullola in AAA and Javier on the IL on track to come back in August. If all of those arms except Javier are all healthy then yes, it is good enough to win the World Series. That said, if they don’t turn it around the next 4 weeks then they’d be stupid not to shop Framber and Tucker for elite prospects that can turn their long term outlook around.
I could understand not counting on McCullers for anything. But there’s really not much reason to think Garcia won’t be a viable SP next season.
Waning days of the Roman Empire, long past the halcyon days of the Republic or the ruthless dominance of the Empire under Caesar and Augustus. Visigoths sacking Rome as we speak. It's bleak.
There were 400 years between Augustus and the Visigoths, including a rebound to the height of glory in the 100s after many decades of chaos, and another strong rebound 200 years later with Diocletian after yet more turmoil. Don't let a few down months (or centuries) deter you. Neither history nor baseball is linear.
I feel like if we don't make the playoffs this year, our run is over. Nothing about our front office leads me to believe we can just reload for a WS run next year. It was a great run. The 90's Braves are considered a dynasty and they only got 1 WS. We got 2.
This historical metaphor banter is high-brow and Dan Carlin would be proud. This is a banner day for ClutchFans!
I think this team and the projected team the next 5 years is not remotely the caliber of the past 7 year run. However, I certainly see the talent to make one final run next year. By 2026, Verlander, Bregman, Valdez, Tucker, Montero, and Caratini will all be gone and Altuve will be 36. That's a lot of proven stability to lose and replace with potential. The rotation looks to be very stout, pending health. McCullers and Javier have both been top of the rotation starters in the past and just need to return to pre-injury levels. Garcia, Blanco, Brown, and Arrighetti have all shown promise and still have middle of the rotation upside. I am excited about several of the prospects, but they are prospects. This team will need at least 2 above MLB run producing hitters to continue a run as contenders.
Dana Brown really should make minor trades. Trade AAA 26 year olds for another Need at 1B. Protect the Star Prospects, Astros do need to rebuild in a Year.
What's this Bloss kid like? Any good? I am admittedly an ignorant slut when it comes to these prospects we have.