ESPN has turned into a regional network for Los Angeles and Boston/NYC just like TNT/TBS is for Atlanta and WGN is for Chicago. No one that knows this team would even consider putting Correa's arm in a position where Altuve/Biggio's arm was considered adequate.
Championship teams need guys like him to win... just like the Dodgers have guys like Kike and Edman. But you can't have him playing everyday or batting anywhere other than 8th or 9th... and if you're finding yourself needing to do that, your team isn't good enough in all other aspects.
This is not a new thing. ESPN has always been biased towards big markets and blue bloods of sports. They have also been biased towards the big marketable players, who are typically in big markets. The only network that I’ve seen where the Astros get love is MLB Network — and sometimes that’s few and far between.
Back in the day when we had Mike and Mike, my entire am was consumed to listening................I haven't watched more than 5 minutes of them since they broke up, its unbearable now to watch them try to mimic what S Scott did back in the day.
Fangraphs is still updating their depth chart projections but when it’s done I suspect the Astros will rank among the 10 best offenses in the league and be middle of the pack in pitching (partially due to them overrating McCullers), so ranked in the 8-12 range in the league in total projected fWAR.
ESPN basically doesn't even cover baseball anymore, their baseball content is entirely meaningless at this point because of it. The Astros get plenty of love from all other baseball media outlets (even Jomboy). Idk where the delusion that the Astros don't get that attention comes from (Rockets fans are sometimes the same). Our players and team get a ton of coverage, probably top 5 in baseball, frankly. We aren't some scrappy, podunk, small market team. The Astros are treated nationally as a premiere franchise in baseball, and rightfully so.
If I were building a roster: At least 4 of 10 position players w/ most projected PAs still pre-arb. At least 1 pre-arb pitcher should start 20+ games. At least 4 average-ish relief pitchers should have options. At least 3 and no more than 7 of 10 hitters with most projected PAs should hit lefty/switch. At least 1 of top 4 SP should be a lefty. At least 5 guys who project 20+ HR At least 2 guys project 500+ PAs & .850+ OPS At least 5 more guys 350+ PAs & .750+ OPS At least 3 guys project 15+ SB. Have At least 10 SP who can be counted on to go 5+ innings and allowing 3 or fewer runs consistently. (A few always at AAA) Off top of my head. Team is too old and right handed. I like trading for Mackenzie Gore. (Matthews, Sullivan, and a couple of pitchers in the 10-20 range depending on who Washington likes - Pecko, Fleury, Hicks, Mayer, etc.) Still may not he enough. Jake Meyers to NY Mets for Brett Baty. Add a prospect on one side or the other to balance out the value. Meyers is the defensive CF Mets needs and don't need run production from him. Baty replaces Matthews but hits lefty to balance lineup. Cam, Melton, Cole, and Dezenzo man CF/RF. Leon may pitch in (?) Dubon gets some starts vs lefties. Yordan plays 50 games in LF. Maybe Baty can pick up some LF? Whitcomb? Dezenzo if not needed in RF. They key is giving the young guys a chance to play in the OF since the infield is full of old guys who aren't going to sit ( and are all right handed)
Categorizing what Dana Brown’s response should be when asked about trading each player on his roster: “He is not available”: Altuve, Correa, Alvarez, Brown, Pearson “He is only available if you’re willing to bowl me over”: Pena, Paredes, Smith, Matthews, Abreu, Hader “Make me a fair offer that presents a good value for my organization and he’s yours”: Meyers, Diaz, Dubon, Melton, Cole, Arrighetti, Blubaugh, King, Okert, Sousa, Dezenzo “We need to clear some payroll so if you take on enough of his contract he’s yours”: Walker, Javier, McCullers “We are actively listening on him, make your offer”: Sanchez, Urias “Sure but I want more than just cash”: Alexander, De Los Santos, Gordon, Murray, Salazar, Corona, Leon, Whitcomb “Sure, toss in some cash and he’s yours”: France, Rooney, VanWey, Trammell “Take him, we were gonna non-tender him anyway”: Garcia, Ort, McCormick “He’s recovering from surgery so we’re not discussing him”: Blanco, Wesneski, Walter
Like the Ringer, Yahoo, CBS, and even WaPo all give a loooot of attention to the Rockets and Astros in a positive manner. The Texans don't deserve much attention anyways.
Trading Hader would open a gaping hole at the back of the bullpen. He is not underwater at $57M/3yrs, so if they did trade him they should offload the whole contract and get a decent 2nd or 3rd tier prospect. That said, my understanding is that Hader is very well liked by the big man and he’s well liked by the players so I would be shocked if he was traded.
Too funny! They need to hire editors (or use AI) for these news-type tweets. Too bad Cam fell off, but (presumably) 4 top 50 draft picks is a big chance for GM Brown to restock the farm system.
This is huge. If Houston gets a 2nd rounder for Framber, they may end up with one of the top 9-10 bonus pools in the league in the next draft.
Even if the Framber comp pick is after the 4th round, the Astros should be gearing up for the most draft capital they’ve had in the past decade when you factor in draft penalties, luxury tax penalties, and constantly selecting later in rounds. This is going to be Dana’s chance to really lay the foundation for the future of the Astros
