Not hard to evaluate talent if it’s established guys like Sonny Gray or Joe Ryan coming back in the deal. If you aren’t trading for one of those types, then might as well sell like some others have been asking for. The guys returning aren’t going to significantly change the trajectory of this team. That said, there’s no way Dana is going to go to Crane trying to convince him to sell.
The Astros get their heads kicked in way too often to even consider themselves a contender no matter how lousy the division is. They would be shipping propects out for what? The chance to lose the division by three games instead of by 8? They suck even with Yordan Alvarez hitting like prime Ted Williams this year. Their manager and GM are not good at their jobs. I hope Crane returns to being good at his.
They would be shipping out prospects to get starters who don’t get their heads kicked in. Really not that difficult to understand. If the bullpen sucked and we had zero starters worth a damn, then yeah it wouldn’t be possible to fix this. The bullpen is elite, we have an ace, and Lambert appears consistent. Probably can find a #4/5 from the rest of the guys on the roster. Again, this team would be way over .500 right now if you replaced Burrows and Imai with Sonny Gray and Casey Mize. Whether the cost is worth it is another question.
Astros could be in first place in MLB in walks allowed this season after tonight. Up to 411 in 95 games.
Brown (at beginning of year/season): .."yeah we have pitching depth"... Now we all know that yes, we have the Replacements or Bad News Bears depth-wise, we just don't have a SOLID, FEARLESS rotation that has 3-4 trusted, TOR (1/2, 2/2.5) strong workhorse pitchers. Remember when we had 4-5 STUDS who wouldn't ever get injured and could pitch SOLID 6-7 innings?? Yeah, WTF happened.
Since June 1st Astros starters: 5.69 FIP (last) 6.04 ERA (only COL and ATH are worse and both play in bandboxes) 4.0 BB/9 (5th worst) That was before tonight’s blow up so it just got worse. Only COL and ATH have worse ERAs and FIPs for the entire season from their rotation. Both of those are above 5.
Meanwhile, the Astros bullpen since June 1st: 2.63 ERA (2nd in MLB) 3.40 FIP (2nd) 27.9% K rate (1st) 8.6% BB rate (8th) That’s with the rotation constantly putting them in bad spots and having to cover way too many innings.
Luis Garcia Lance McCullers Jose Urquidy Christian Javier They were all excellent, young pitchers who just have not come through because of injuries. We also lost Brent Strom and Bill Murphy in the last 5 years.
I’m not sure I agree he can’t evaluate talent based on one bad trade (Burrows). Seems to be widely believed Imai was largely Crane. He’s traded away plenty of players now and hasn’t been burnt on any of them. Everyone freaked out about the Kukuchi trade and look at where those guys we traded are now.
Bunch of non-strike throwing starters at the moment: Imai, Burrows, Arrighetti, McCullers, Javier, and (recently) Brown. Just can't consistently that way.
Astros tried their damnest to reel me back in these last few weeks but I ain't breaking... This team ain't good , injuries or not..
Astros showing a new strategy. Instead of winning series while getting outscored, they now lose series and get outscored. Gotta get outscored for the differential.
