a note on the tiebreaker at stake in Detroit

the Astros lead the season series 2 games to 1

if the Tigers win 2 of 3...and the season series ends tied at 3

then intradivision record decides the tiebreaker

the Tigers are 24-13 inside their division, while the Astros are 16-17

Astro Pitching Lab is the reason the team has been able to make it to this point, with credit to Pena and Paredes.

Until Dana's drafting starts to pay off, strategically the Astros could eventually deal off some of their excess starters they've developed.

looking back one year...

the 2024 club has almost caught the 2025 team

after 124 games:

2024 ---> 68-56 with 5-game lead

2025 ---> 69-55 with 1.5-game lead

Candidates to go to the pen

McCullerd
Alexander
France

Really like the idea of starters in the pen giving you multi inning flexibility though starting and relief are two different animals

But with no clear setup man at the moment going to have to think outside the box

W said:

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looking back one year...

the 2024 club has almost caught the 2025 team

after 124 games:

2024 ---> 68-56 with 5-game lead

2025 ---> 69-55 with 1.5-game lead

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Such different seasons, this year's team has significantly over performed given the injuries while last year's just mailed in the first 25 games before catching fire

Does Joe go with defensive oriented outfield lineup in Detroit meaning two of Trammell, Chas, and Melton start? He could at least DH Caratini and start Altuve at 2B.

Sanchez won't start v Skubal

Joe should go max offense on Monday, so just one of Trammell, Chas, and Melton in the lineup. Arrighetti's looked a little shaky so I'm assuming you'll need to score more

For the Brown and Framber starts you go with a little more defense as path to a W looks like quality starts and a low scoring affair

I think Joe has to go with a defensive outfield given the dimensions at Comerica.

If the Hershey squirts is going around the clubhouse, we may see some pretty head scratching lineups for the next week.

BadAggie said:

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Candidates to go to the pen

McCullerd
Alexander
France

Really like the idea of starters in the pen giving you multi inning flexibility though starting and relief are two different animals

But with no clear setup man at the moment going to have to think outside the box

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Alexander is pitching significantly better than Spaghetti right now. Rather see Spencer in the pen or teamed with Garcia/Javier.

and then the next series...

the 4-game rematch vs. the Orioles

both teams will see the same starters from this past weekend (plus one additional)

theoretically that should favor the hitters -- we'll see

Prosperdick said:

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CFTXAG10 said:

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Mariners lose

Still 1.5 up

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If we would have swept the O's like we should have we'd be 3.5 up but the way we're playing up 1.5 is a minor miracle, hell a MAJOR miracle.

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It wasn't like they got lucky in their two Ws. We weren't particularly close to scoring a run.

If anyone was going to get swept like they should have it was us. We pickpocketed the Sox too despite being manhandled in aggregate.

I have a good feeling about today. Can't explain it and have no reason to… But I feel like we will gain a game today in the standings and be up by 2.5.

70 coaches on hand at the Orwall Baseball Coaches Clinic today at Infinite Hitting Clubhouse, Oak Ridge North near The Woodlands. Infinite Hitting: owned by Jeremiah Randall, the Astros head athletic trainer, and his wife. pic.twitter.com/vlqOiVKnGF

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) August 18, 2025

Distractions distractions

Astros offensive stats

AVG: 3rd
OPS: 13th
Runs: 21st
Walks: 25th
HR: 17th

Not much room for error for the pitching staff and defense with those numbers. Lack of power and extra base hits (with RISP) to me is where I've been the most frustrated and the numbers show it.

tjack16 said:

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Astros offensive stats

AVG: 3rd
OPS: 13th
Runs: 21st
Walks: 25th
HR: 17th

Not much room for error for the pitching staff and defense with those numbers. Lack of power and extra base hits (with RISP) to me is where I've been the most frustrated and the numbers show it.

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The stats are somewhat meaningless in that we haven't had our "real" lineup in awhile. You can only rely on AAA scrubs for so long. If we don't get a healthy Yordan back this team is dead in the water. Meyers is obviously less critical but also moves the needle some.

tjack16 said:

---

Astros offensive stats

AVG: 3rd
OPS: 13th
Runs: 21st
Walks: 25th
HR: 17th

Not much room for error for the pitching staff and defense with those numbers. Lack of power and extra base hits (with RISP) to me is where I've been the most frustrated and the numbers show it.

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We are who we are. A singles hitting team with little team speed that moves station to station and hits into a lot of GiDP. It's been that way all season.

the Astros are not the only team that has suffered injuries to their lineup

the Red Sox traded away Devers and lost Bregman for 45 games...4th in runs scored

W said:

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the Astros are not the only team that has suffered injuries to their lineup

the Red Sox traded away Devers and lost Bregman for 45 games...4th in runs scored

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Not nearly as significant as our losses but they also have a top 5 farm in the game. We do not. People love to point out that we creat MLB players with a poor farm as if that means those rankings are meaningless but I think we've found out quite clearly they do matter, at least as it pertains to bats.

Get at me when the Red Sox have an entire 25 man roster on IL.

At one point not long ago we literally ran out of bodies to recall. Picking up guys on the junk pile just to field a ML team.

That's what I don't think many truly grasp and why it's absolutely mind blowing that with 38 games left we're in 1st place by 1.5 games.

And yes we can pull our hair at the turd they laid this weekend but in the grand scheme of things this team is battling and it's a testament to the resiliency of this squad that they are where they are now.

BadAggie said:

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Astro Pitching Lab is the reason the team has been able to make it to this point, with credit to Pena and Paredes.

Until Dana's drafting starts to pay off, strategically the Astros could eventually deal off some of their excess starters they've developed.

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curious what "excess starters" the Astros have. We've needed everyone to step up this year and start games. Walter, Okert, Blubaugh, Gordon, etc.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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70 coaches on hand at the Orwall Baseball Coaches Clinic today at Infinite Hitting Clubhouse, Oak Ridge North near The Woodlands. Infinite Hitting: owned by Jeremiah Randall, the Astros head athletic trainer, and his wife. pic.twitter.com/vlqOiVKnGF

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) August 18, 2025

Distractions distractions

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Good news, everyone: According to the MLB Facebook ad that showed up on my feed this morning, Jose Abreu jerseys are still available! Get 'em while they're hot!

Seems like some progress with Jake & Yordan.

Maybe it is all the "now this" moments throughout this season influencing my perspective, but I am skeptical that we get versions of Yordan & Jake that are in alignment with their respective averages.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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70 coaches on hand at the Orwall Baseball Coaches Clinic today at Infinite Hitting Clubhouse, Oak Ridge North near The Woodlands. Infinite Hitting: owned by Jeremiah Randall, the Astros head athletic trainer, and his wife. pic.twitter.com/vlqOiVKnGF

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) August 18, 2025

Distractions distractions

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How many of the coaches went home with soreness or discomfort?

First the Manfred Mann -- now this. I thought I hated Bud Selig, but Manfred is making Bud look like a friggin' saint.

Manfred discusses geographic realignment

Listen

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/gHWzlMR1kV

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) August 18, 2025

On the surface, I don't hate it. The practice would probably be dumb, but since both leagues have DH now, there really isn't anything the distinguishes them.

With standardized rules and scheduling formats where you play every team annually, aome geographical realignment is overdue. Naturally, there are some rivalries that have to be protected (which gets tricky when you put pen to paper), but we are all know that the Astros don't belong in a West Coast division.

The problem is that the West is way more spread out than the East, which makes it challenging .

Probably would get something like:

Rangers
Astros
Diamondbacks
Rockies

I wish we could get:

Rangers
Astros
Cardinals
Royals

Cynic said:

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The problem is that the West is way more spread out than the East, which makes it challenging .

Probably would get something like:

Rangers
Astros
Diamondbacks
Rockies

I wish we could get:

Rangers
Astros
Cardinals
Royals

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The problem becomes what to do with the 5th west coast team. You have Mariners, Giants, Dodgers, Angels, and Padres. Which 4 do you put together? I am assuming the Padres are the odd one out. So then you get Padres, Vegas As, Diamondbacks, and Rockies. Kind of leaves the Astros with your preferred alignment.

This would be a good thing for the sport and business of baseball just like the majority of the things Manfred has done.

Astros
Rangers
Cubs
Cardinals
Royals

That protects the Astros/Rangers and Cubs/Cardinals rivalries while also bringing back some of the NL Central beef with the Cards.

Rivalries would need to be preserved as much as possible. AL teams should stay in the AL and NL teams should stay in the NL as much as possible. I've seen suggested realignments that turn things into a free-for-all.

Here are Jim Bowden proposed realignment

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/l0xLhvgfAQ

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) August 18, 2025

I don't like that.

The extra innings rule sucks. The pitch clock is meh (is it contributing to more injuries?). 3-game WC series is no-good -- there's too much chance in a 3-game series -- it needs to be 5.

If Manfred really wanted to help the sport -- get rid of the blackouts!

Blue Jays, O's and Rays would fight that tooth and nail. Not playing Boston and more importantly NYY with those home dates are a massive deal.

I'd love the 4 team divisions. Arlington, KC and St. Louis make sense. But I could also see Arizona and Colorado being in ours

Playoff format: 4 division winners, 2 wild card. So you keep the 6 playoff slots. Or you could do NFL style of 4 division winners, 3 wild card (top seed gets bye)