I'm with ya. Let's get my boy Spaghetti along the way here. Meanwhile, live look in on Brown right now... @The Drake @Nook
And nobody that they get on that wish list would provide as great a differential in winning percentage between here and there than mothballing Maldonado and putting Dusty in the same straight jacket where he isn’t allowed to be the decision maker as happens during the playoffs. I’m well aware they aren’t trading Maldonado nor taking the keys from Dusty. But, it would be the most impactful thing that could be done at the deadline.
To get an ace you trade Pena and go with Dubon and Kessinger at SS this year. Then look to trade for a SS this off-season. I would trade Gilbert and a guy like Knorr for JV. Then try to trade Barber and a pitching prospect for Hader. How would y'all feel about a Gordon and Ullola for Burleson trade? Load up on Pitching. Adding 3 more players by using the farm system isn't ignoring the future. Uness you don't believe in Brown's ability to do what he was brought here to do. Build the farm system up in short order. I believe in Brown, he's proven himself with the Jays, Braves.
Rough Houston equivalent for what the Jays gave up for Hicks would have been Spencer Arrighetti and Rhett Kouba. Steep for a rental RP with inconsistent history. Teams are overpaying. Despite my tendency to value the longer view over the short view, I am fine overpaying, so long as Houston comes out of it with a true difference maker; this season, that to me means a multiyear ToR SP. Verlander, Cease, or E Rodriguez (assuming they work it out to have him opt in), or Logan Gilbert are the guys I’ve seen rumored to be available who would qualify. I don’t want to give up Org Top 10 prospects for dudes who won’t move the needle like Lorenzen, Flaherty, Blackburn, Hill, Lugo, or Quintana; those guys don’t seem to be material upgrades over Urquidy/Bielak/Blanco/Dubin. There’s a middle tier of impact rentals (Snell, Stroman) and interesting upside arms (Kopech, Keller, Civale) that I think would be worth trying for but I doubt are actually available. I would have loved the Scherzer deal for Houston but other than that I’ve seen nothing but major overpays (including the Graveman deal), so if that doesn’t change then I’m fine with Brown standing pat and hoping the in-house options find a genie in a bottle in Sept-Oct.
Dusty plays too many fook around games. Instead of going all in to win each game, he lets the chips fall. Like pinch hitting for Maldonado in the 7th inning of all close games. Or putting Montero in close games waaaaay to many times, or allowing pitchers to get an extra inning to secure a win possibility when it's obvious they need changed. These things are the antithesis of managing a ball club. It's a clown trying to prove his way is best. As very evident by his recent comments. Just play to win Dusty. Put you best players out there mist of the time. Could you imagine if the Mariners coach did the same to Ken Griffey it A Rod when they were young? Christ dude. It's buffoonery
You aren't allowed to speak ill of Dusty! He's pressing all the right buttons bro and his lineups are great!
If Framber and Javier regain their form, Brown pitches like he did last night, France continues to impress then we have a chance with Eurquidy coming back. Still need some help in the pen.
The Rangers are relying on too many inexperienced hitters and their offense will continue to dwindle as the season progresses. The added pitching will help but won''t get them as far as they think.
I think we have the willingness but ourcupboard is depleted after damn near a decade of contention. How do we restock?
In other roster-expanding/acquisition news, yours truly is acquiring one baby girl prospect in the next few days (wife is due any day now with our first). Any fellow Astros dads with newborn advice? I’m hoping to master feeding while streaming games. Don’t worry—I already got her a rainbow uni for the playoff run.
To get an ace you trade Pena and go with Dubon and Kessinger at SS this year. Then look to trade for a SS this off-season. I would trade Gilbert and a guy like Knorr for JV. Then try to trade Barber and a pitching prospect for Hader. How would y'all feel about a Gordon and Ullola for Burleson trade? Load up on Pitching. Adding 3 more players by using the farm system isn't ignoring the future. Uness you don't believe in Brown's ability to do what he was brought here to do. Build the farm system up in short order. I believe in Brown, he's proven himself with the Jays, Braves. Agreed, but if I could trade Pena for an ace with control then it's a done deal
While adding a playoff-caliber starting pitcher would go a long way toward helping the Astros in October, it appears Houston will focus on building a better bullpen and a deeper lineup. https://sportsnaut.com/houston-astros-rumor-trade-deadline-focus/
