I do say this… the Astros have a roster (or at least a roster of pitchers) full of guys with big ass nuts. Nobody seems phased at the situation. Even after meltdowns, guys are bouncing back. They have swagger. They have fire. (I know nobody wants to give credit to anybody in the clubhouse for some of these aspects, but its certainly palpable on this current stretch).
There are only 2 guys in here (maybe 3) who won’t give any credit to Joe. They actually root for the Astros to lose. Everyone else is fine with giving credit where credit is due
The Astros are a good, tough team. Tucker gone, Bregman gone, Yordan and multiple important pitchers injured and they just keep grinding out wins.
Every RP on their staff has elite stuff with high leverage lockdown potential. Whitley and Sousa and Dubin have gotten off track with injuries over the years and Ort has battled control issues but they all 4 have badass stuff. When/if everyone is clicking this is the best bullpen in baseball.
This team is way clutcher than than the team of the last couple seasons. I have more confidence in Parades at the plate in the end of close games than 23 and 24 Breggy.
Stuff is one thing… getting them to have the stuff between the ears and be ready at any point (in any siutation) has impressed me even more. Hader also has found something on his slider that has made it invisible. I don’t think this is just him “getting back to form”… he’s generating prime Lidge/Gagne/Hoffman type swing/misses on it. If that’s the current ability of the decision sciences pitching/coaching staff here, Crane has every reason to feel confident AF.
