What was it a few years ago, the White Sox who just totally gave up on their season while they were solidly in the postseason hunt? Started trading everybody. The fans and media went apes!!t. How do you think that would go over in Houston?
Dude is so nice I can't hate on him. He certainly did. . Hung put with him a little bit. I've heard a lot about Grace
Flash back to 2016 around here.. they were 2 games out of the wild card at the deadline. Of course that led to them focusing on what it would take to build a winner in 2017. No more of the boom/bust approaches at the plate. Go from leading the league in strikeouts to having the least. (and signing veterans like McCann and cough, Beltran, to help the plate approaches.... minus scandals!)
Then you have to know with a great degree of certainty that we can get enough offense and pitching back soon enough to sustain the lead. I'm not sure that's happening.
They have 4 starting pitchers currently on rehab assignments, so there’s a reasonable degree of certainty those guys will be back. Only the Astros front office knows when/if they can expect Pena, Alvarez, Paredes, and Meyers back. Either way, you don’t tank your season at the trade deadline when you’re leading the division, ever.
It sucks what has happened with the injuries, and the team is really, really hard to watch right now. However a lot of guys should come back and the Astros are still firmly in a playoff spot, fans have become spoiled. As long as you have a legit chance you take it. It feels like routine for us, but most of the league would consider this an amazing season and be excited for the possibilities in October. Winning is never guaranteed, just ask the Orioles and Braves
My memory sucks...it wasn't a "few years" ago, it was 1997, and Danny F'ing Darwin was involved The "White Flag" trade: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Flag_Trade
I forgot Paul O'Neill was a Red before a Yankee. He was a much better OF than Barry Bonds. Billy Hatcher sighting!!!
There's still a plenty of unknowns/possibilities.... but there are a ton of experienced markets/fan bases (especially in the northeast) that can see that if the Astros start getting all these reinforcements, who could all be very fresh in terms of not having to suffer the grind of a 6 month season, that this team is actually BETTER prepared to handle the 1 month free-for-all tournament vs. any other possible team out there (including the Dodgers). We saw first hand what the addition of just one marquee player does for the stretch drive back in 2017. Hell, even the mixed reaction trade of Kikuchi last year gave this team a little something extra. The clubhouse getting a jolt from not just one but SEVERAL guys over the upcoming weeks... in addition to whatever happens at the deadline... is something that can only be a positive. Sure, anything can happen in the playoffs. Hell, anything can (and has) happened during the season. They're in first place still with one of the worst everyday rosters in baseball history at this point of the season.... you can't not be excited on some level (even though its been frustrating AF to this point).
O'Neil Cruz's dad's favorite player was.... Paul O'Neil. That's why his name is what it is. Cool stuff.
Javier should be back for the Miami series week after next. Then you got the triumvirate of Arrighetti, Garcia and France following about a week to 10 days later (all 3 will have made their initial rehab start for the Hooks this weekend). So we'll have 6 potential starters plus Walter and McCullers by the middle of August. Trade deadline needs to focus on getting 2 bats.
It would not take much at all to convince me that the Astros are intentionally manipulating the injured list while they have a division lead to give their players rest and reset clubhouse vibe to get a jolt out of them returning as well as having everybody fresh and in peak form for the playoffs.
I stand by Eric Davis being the best player I’ve ever seen play. He was such a beast for a couple years.
