How good would the 2017 Astros have been if Altuve had missed over 100 games and Bregman missed 2 months and only been able to DH the last 2 weeks of the season and Fiers/Peacock/McCullers had been hurt for 90% of the season including being out of the playoffs? How good would the 2022 Astros have been if Urquidy/Garcia/Javier had all missed the season and Alvarez had missed over 100 games and Bregman missed 2 months? No team, regardless of how talented and deep they are, can be expected to withstand the volume/impact of injuries the Astros have suffered this season. If they make the playoffs, they’ve played way way way above their luck. If they actually advance in the playoffs, the biggest takeaway will be the question of what might’ve been, because it’ll be obvious this could have been a 100+ win, dominant WS team if everyone had been healthy.
This is now the most likely scenario. That Skubal start and loss psychologically screwed with their heads. They were banking on a win. They are in freefall. When Detroit was 1 game out from the best record in baseball over 2+ months ago, I couldn't understand how they were doing it, seemed like smoke and mirrors. The lineup isn't impressive, the starting pitching beyond Skubal was nothing to write home about, and the bullpen was just decent at best (they still don't have a bonafide closer, that's a problem).
If Crane fired Click after winning a World Series, he can still fire folks if we make the playoffs and flame out.
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/qualifying-offer Just so everyone's on the same page. You will have to read, though.
The Tigers and Astros both free falling out of the playoff race....but at least the Astros can point to having the most players on the IL in MLB history to blame for their collapse.
People have previously posted here that Hunter & Framber carried the majority of the team's good record, and the rest of starters had a mediocre record. But importantly, it was noted that EVERY team has that same issue, of their 1-2 aces carrying team and other pitchers just scuffling by. Novice outlook - Doesn't that only mean that the greatest advantage in the game, is to stack as many aces as possible? To replace the #3-5 pitchers with 8/10 & up pitchers? I know every team can't get 3 Hunters & 3 Frambers. But it can justify an overpay for premium arms in signings & trades, knowing it will probably get directly reflected in the record
Alright... for my mental health... won't take advantage of MLB.tv while on vacation when out-of-market. I'll say this... the injuries this season didn't help but the complete lack of accountability on the field and off from the coaching staff did not help. Enabling Framber contributed to the downfall of the empire.
We still have a fighting chance to make the playoffs if we win today. Boston, Detroit and Cleveland all have much harder schedules and play each other. We have the most injured team in the history of the league and people are throwing so much hate around it’s pathetic. We are a super spoiled fan base.
As if easier schedules have helped us this year with the lackadaisical effort against the As, Rockies, Rays, etc.
Thanks for that timely posting. I had not really considered it in relation to Framber. I have rethought my idea of what would be the best way to deal with him at the seasons end as a result of that reading.
I’m as down as everyone else but the season isn’t over. Even with a loss today they can still sneak into the post season and cause some chaos.
All this talk of lackadaisical is just B.S. Anyone thinking these guys aren’t trying is just stupid. When baseball team’s are playing well they look like they are energized. When they are losing they look like they aren’t. They look energized and happy against the Rangers. Now they look lackadaisical. What a joke.
The Tigers have a 3 game series with the Guardians. So that’s at least three losses across those teams. If the Astros take care of business in the last 7 games they’ll make the playoffs still. Losing 2 to Seattle hurts because of the tie breaker.
I am speaking of focus not effort. Treating certain teams as beneath them is very much like the Malone-Kobe-Shaq-Payton Lakers
