Kevin Alvarez went 3-4 last night with two doubles and a triple:

Gameday: DSL LAD Bautista 4, DSL Astros Blue 13 Final Score (08/11/2025)

Brings his average up to .319 and OPS over .900 over 135 ABs.

Obviously a long way to go, but it's hard not to be excited about this kid. Only 17 years old.

Trout hits terribly in Houston.

Any word on how worried we should be about Josh Hader?

No

tjack16 said:

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If Hader comes back soon… Joe needs to ONLY use him in save situations. No more 2 innings or pitching in a tie game or blowout

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So you're saying in the Mariners home series next month, and it's still a dogfight for the division, if it's tied in the top of the 9th and they have Cal, Naylor, and Suarez up to bat and the Astros would have Peña, Correa, and Altuve up on the bottom half and Abrue isn't available for that game Joe should NOT use Hader in that tie situation?

MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Trout hits terribly in Houston.

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You're right… maybe I was thinking of somebody else on the angels

Christian Walker in 32 games since July 1st:

.302 BA/.366 OBP/.508 SLG, 8 2B, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 143 wRC+

The only AL first basemen with a higher wRC+ during that time are Nick Kurtz and Vlad Guerrero Jr. #Astros #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/k2tlNnaO0T

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 12, 2025

Is that good? It seems good.

MosesHallRAB04 said:

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Trout hits terribly in Houston.

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I mean, Astros pitching has been pretty damn good the past decade…

Beat40 said:

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tjack16 said:

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If Hader comes back soon… Joe needs to ONLY use him in save situations. No more 2 innings or pitching in a tie game or blowout

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So you're saying in the Mariners home series next month, and it's still a dogfight for the division, if it's tied in the top of the 9th and they have Cal, Naylor, and Suarez up to bat and the Astros would have Peña, Correa, and Altuve up on the bottom half and Abrue isn't available for that game Joe should NOT use Hader in that tie situation?

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In the series mid September and that exact scenario? Yes Hader should be used

I'm talking about these types of games the past two weeks (highlighted). Down 1 and up 4, why is he pitching? He's already almost leading the AL in appearances.

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Would you trade Meyers for Trout plus $15 million per year for the life of the contract?

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Nope. Trout blows at the Ice Box

Mike Trout Career at MMP
.204 BA
.427 SLG
.761 OPS
25.5% K rate

Because last night happens when he doesn't.

We were up 7-2 late so Joe throws his B team BP guys and what do you know...It became a nail biter that we barely got out of.

Damn DP

He's only doing better because we're vocalizing our hatred for him. I will not back down

Ag_07 said:

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Because last night happens when he doesn't.

We were up 7-2 late so Joe throws his B team BP guys and what do you know...It became a nail biter that we barely got out of.

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I can agree with that but now that we know he's hurt you need to limit his usage unless it's a save situation. That was the point I was making.

I've mentioned this before (and this might not apply every time) but Hader is very specific about his workload and how often he pitches. He likes a routine. Not super uncommon for bullpen guys.

I imagine most of the time he's used in an odd situation, it's planned and something he wants to do.

Not saying he should - just giving context.

It's a fine line for sure

And It's becoming more and more apparent as we go down this stretch run why Dana wanted another arm so bad. Whether it was a starter or a BP arm it would've resulted in another arm being added to the pen.

And while we're at it how TF do the Rangers have the best starter ERA and the 3rd best BP ERA in all of baseball but are dead in the water MAYBE finishing above .500? I don't know...maybe a bat would've been a better trade deadline addition.

Easy answer. Every single offensive player isn't having a monster career year. Still have to score to win.

Seattle did that for years.

I wouldn't say South Oklahoma is dead in the water just yet. They aren't too far behind in the WC and if they get to the postseason they may have the best pitching of any team in the tournament.

Ag_07 said:

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Would you trade Meyers for Trout plus $15 million per year for the life of the contract?

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Nope. Trout blows at the Ice Box

Mike Trout Career at MMP
.204 BA
.427 SLG
.761 OPS
25.5% K rate

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But is that only because we know how to pitch him?

Carlos Correa, Jesus Sanchez and Ramon Urias combined stats since being acquired by Houston:

.323 BA | 9 2B | 3 HR | 11 RBI | 1.0 WAR

Shoutout Dana Brown! #Astros #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/DcV1wWZtny

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 12, 2025

the three of them being on pace for 16 WAR over a full season is hilariously good. Deadline is always a dice roll, but Dana cooked here

I don't think so.

He's said publicly before that he doesn't like hitting here. He doesn't see the ball well and never seems to be very comfortable in the box.

Gotta give Dana an A++++ for additions to the offense (and adding Correa's leadership). But I do wish we would have added an arm. I wouldn't have overpaid to SD for Cease, but it seems we could have picked up another SP, like Wacha or someone of that ilk.

I know it's early, but does anyone want a plate of crow on the Correa trade? I seem to recall several who wanted nothing to do with a washed Correa.

Farmer1906 said:

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I know it's early, but does anyone want a plate of crow on the Correa trade? I seem to recall several who wanted nothing to do with a washed Correa.

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I'll admit that I didn't want it at first - unless MIN was willing to eat a good chunk of the salary. But over the next couple of days the idea grew on me because I started to think about the intangibles CC would bring, particularly vocal leadership (which I think the team needed). Very glad to see him back in the Stros uniform.

Farmer1906 said:

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I know it's early, but does anyone want a plate of crow on the Correa trade? I seem to recall several who wanted nothing to do with a washed Correa.

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I was ambivalent to it. I warmed up to it, especially seeing how much Minnesota is paying of his salary.

I'm gonna keep beating this drum but rejuvenated CC is gonna be a dude. This isn't the same player MIN had.

He's inserting himself as a leader (which I think this team needed) and is locked in.

Chas mentioned it last night in his postgame interview. Said even after falling behind early Carlos is the guy in the dugout making sure to keep them calm and preaching not to press and stick to the gameplan.

Farmer1906 said:

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I know it's early, but does anyone want a plate of crow on the Correa trade? I seem to recall several who wanted nothing to do with a washed Correa.

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Had to go back a bit but this was my first post in the Correa rumors. I stand by it and am glad to say I was on the right track. Sanchez was a big get too IMO.

Brice Matthews, the only Astro on the list, checks in at 98 https://t.co/5S2WTjSi5r

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 12, 2025

I honestly have grown to not give two ****s about these pipeline lists

Here are a few. I'll leave names off.

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Correa is having the worst year of his career without an injury to blame. No thanks.

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With his salary, his .700 ish OPS, and Pena coming back at Short Stop, file this under BULL*****

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Correa has not been good. We've seen how disastrous Jim's nostalgia trades have turned out (JV). I hope he has learned his lesson and will quit trying them.

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I really don't like this. Correa is bad this year.

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The Correa scenario doesn't excite me. Rather have Willi Castro. Carlos is too injury prone and not getting any younger.

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To be fair, I don't falt anyone who looked at the performance, contract, and health and didn't want Correa. Its a logical take.

Half of our "pipeline" guys are playing on the major league club.

Wabs said:

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I honestly have grown to not give two ****s about these pipeline lists

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Yeah our track record shows whoever is compiling these lists doesn't have the first f***ing clue.

Wabs said:

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I honestly have grown to not give two ****s about these pipeline lists

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Especially since it feels like we never have anyone on them over the last 6 or 7 years yet we keep producing major league talents

Who on our current roster was ever on those top 100 lists?

I'm guessing Correa, Pena, brown, and Cam?