So Spencer might get TJ too? The Astros pitching coaches have to be causing this ... BTW - anyone else think that by Friday we will be out of the division lead and on the way to being out all together? I just don't see this team has what it takes. DD
SP: Brown, Valdez, Javier, Blubaugh RP: Abreu, King, Okert, Kimbrel, De Los Santos, Murray, Ullola, France, Alexander Really, really hard to envision Houston winning a World Series with that bullpen but stranger things have happened. But I’m not scared at all of a 2026 rotation of Brown, Blubaugh, Pecko, Ullola, and Javier.
You mean chas , Melton , and brown pitching lefty after his right arm has fallen off Astros need a serious overhaul of medical staff and pitching development philosophy
I would be very surprised to find out that the Astros pitching staff started a new regime this year that is the cause of the injuries. I am sure that Crane et al will take a deep look into what i.f anything has cause this rash of injuries. This year could be just a case of extremely bad luck ... like 2022 was a case of extremely good luck
I think that they are done and if they are, I am not mad at them at all. I suppose Javier and Blubaugh could step up, but it’s pretty clear that Abreu isn’t Hader and King isn’t Sousa. I know where your optimism for 2026 is coming from with pitching, but I would be shocked if the Astros don’t add 1-2 starting pitchers. Brown did his job at the deadline but he is going to look at Verlander and Kelly and others and wish he had gotten something done. Brown is healthy (so far) Javier is healthy (for how long) Valdez is gone Blanco will be back at best mid 2026 Wiesnieski will be back at best mid 2026 Garcia is done as an Astro Arrighetti is out for 2026 Sousa and Hader are up in the air for 2026 Walter is out for 2026… This is nothing I heard from the Astros, but I suspect they may try to get someone like Phil Maton because he can eat innings and is durable. He isn’t fantastic but is competitive. I wouldn’t be shocked if they look at someone like Verlander or Urquidy if he ends up a FA. After the last few years and injuries to pitchers - I think we will see them add more than usual.
I am at acceptance stage that we now suck. The dynasty is over and we are going out like the Romanovs.
I have been b*tching half a season players doing what they want, there is not even hint of demanding of good fundamentals or good AB's and players playing for themselves rather than doing little things to help team win. I know, injuries and one can't just change player by demanding something. But still I have had a feeling Im missing something obv. The winning formula worked when you had double aces going, then King/Sousa - Abreu - Hader. But even then winning I felt there is something here to see and realise. First, team does not respect Espada at all, he has no authority or social currency to confront or give critical feedback even behind closed doors. But the main thing plain to see: -Espada is not "playing" for the team either. Every even little sniff of chance to win he has been glad to sacrifice coming games and season with usage of BP, not resting Altuve and somehow whole season has felt like now is the game that defines our season. This just reeks of desperation and man trying to do anything to keep his job for 1 more season because there is not another manager gig coming after this. We are crawling to WC and bow out there if oppo don't get some brainfart and throw strikes to our lineup. -Altuve does dumb s**t. That is what he does. But it's so clear he is mentally and physicly totally burned now. We have Urias who is great in D and have had moments with a bat. He has a aura of moment is not too big for him. Espada writes Altuve's name at 2B desperately trying to "get him right" and save his own job. In process does not protect our Team Legend and let's him make a fool of himself on top of losing. If dictionary had a picture for "does not instill confidence", it would be Espada's talking about tough oppo SP and our good effort against 5-6era pitcher. That manager keeps repeating mistake (not resting Altuve) that got us to this situation is such that Im ok with Crane/Dana walking to Espada's office on Wednesday and taking the squeeky toy out his hands like manager the ball out of his pitcher's. -Non tender Garcia. Tough luck but we don't need to be paying 2m for this rehab cycle anymore. -Please sit Altuve now and also Dubon. I just can't watch either. -Don't know what else to do with this team. Getting Framber right(his curve) and somewhat pro aproach at plate having control of zone with hint of sit.hitting might not change the outcome of this season which is WC exit 2-0 to Seattle. Texas has won against Brewers as a suprise (to me) so I guess we might go out of playoffs too if we really try. I just want Espada out, maybe to be sure the hitting coaches too. The culture smells bit rotten/unprofessional and like teaching philosophy to raging 5y olds so don't actually know do hitting coaches have any part on results and process being what it is. Correa took a truth serum couple days ago and said "we have many guys right now going into box feeling very very unsure so it's hard...". Does that sound like the Alfa Correa who has been prepared and coached to face tough opponent and who can be leader of a team. They are running scared, just like Espada. When they reach that min goal of WC, there will be huge sigh and relief leaving hopefully something in the tank. Stupid rant again. I can't spew this on the spouse but have to get it out .
I just don’t see where they’re gonna get the money to sign free agent pitching. As it stands after their arbitration class they are going to go into the offseason <$10M under the CBT and that’s if they nontender guys like McCormick and Garcia. So the choice is to robb Peter to pay Paul by selling low on higher paid position players or trading prospects. Reality is every time a MoR SP goes down to TJS it’s a $20M+ hit in value and they’ve lost well over $150M that way between 2024 and 2025 and 2026. That factor combined with all the draft pick penalties (another $100M+ hit in value), the poor free agent deals (Abreu, Walker, Hader), and the inevitable aging and free agency of their stars and it was all just too much to overcome despite them doing a lot of good things (pitching development). They don’t necessarily need a full rebuild, but it’s time to reset.
The dynasty is over It was a great ride, except for the scandal should’ve won more than the 2 WS but it was still fantastic. It really ended with the WS win in ‘22. The team has been in decline since then.
Moving Walker seems like the most obvious thing to do, but it is not ideal. I like the idea that has been floated of swapping Walker for Eduardo Rodriguez, if the Diamondbacks would go for it (Houston would probably have to eat money or throw in a prospect). Dubon’s versatility is very valuable, especially on an aging/injury-prone roster like Houston has. His number is creeping up there so it’s definitely debatable what to do with him, but he definitely has more value to Houston than Walker does imo (the fact that I think trading Pena is a good idea also plays into my reticence to trade Dubon). My offseason plan for now would be: trade Pena and Walker to restock the rotation and farm system, sign a good 7th inning RP, and see what happens. That’s built around: Houston being able to identify underrated pitching, Houston having several young players (Smith, Matthews, Melton, Dezenzo, Pecko, Blubaugh, Ullola) that could break out next season, Dana Brown’s drafts moving quickly thru the system and providing star level players starting in 2027, Pena being at peak value and due for offensive regression, and the 2026 draft representing an inflection point similar to what the 2012 draft was.
I’m not opposed to trading Pena but it would obviously depend on what we get offered for him. I highly doubt they do that though - I don't think they want to move Correa back to SS.
