one thing the Texans and Astros have in common...

first time head coach / manager who is very player-friendly

between Urias and Dubon...one will be gone in the offseason -- maybe both

the Astros have too many average-to-below-average position players clogging the major league roster

It was a great 10 year run, y'all. But it's clearly over. This thing has to be blown up. Not sure Joe is the answer. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT sure Cintron and Snitker aren't.

The only suspense left is to see if Arlingtard can win 8 out of their last 6 to hit that 87 win mark

This was a sad, sad HTown day. Sickening

Who else is excited for some late night West coast games to play out the string/decide our fate? At least Thursday is a getaway matinee.

Drunken Overseas Bettor said:

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My offical stance on Joe Espada is a huge p*ssy then until I see otherwise.

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He is a bench coach, not a manager. The bench coach is everybody's buddy and smoothes things over when the manager makes the unpopular decisions that need to be made for the good of the team. Joe isn't ready to make those kinds of decisions and might not ever be ready for it.

Lots of folks on here said we could see it all coming down to Seattle series. I would've never guessed we would've sh** the bed this bad after everything this team went thru this season. What a collapse.

All right… So what are we officially think? I think we end up missing the playoffs by ending this season tied with Cleveland at 88-74

W said:

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Altuve, Correa, Paredes, Pena, Yordan, and Cam are the 6 core position players for next year

everyone else is movable or has to be moved

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If we're going to be serious about a hard reset, Yordan, Pena and Paredes are not untouchable. Along with HB, those are the players that would bring in the most in trade.

Cam is part of the future. No one will trade (or trade much value) for CC or Altuve, and that's ok. They will be here to mentor the youth movement.

W said:

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Sanchez has been a disaster

.198 BA and .612 OPS with the Astros

take away his 5-hit game...and he's hitting .168

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And he still smiles at every at bat.

I fear the song has been sung

Better to be put in a pickle, than to have a pickle be put in you.

Texaggie7nine said:

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Better to be put in a pickle, than to have a pickle be put in you.

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You pegged that right.

Houston (84-72)
@ A's
@ Angels

Cleveland (84-72)
vs. Tigers
vs. Rangers

Detroit (85-71)
@ Guardians
@ Red Sox

Boston (85-71)
@ Blue Jays
vs. Tigers

It's wild how many scenarios are still possible going into the final week of the season. Fangraphs has us slightly ahead of Cleveland to clinch the final wild card spot. Although I would argue Detroit has the tougher finish.

wessimo said:

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I fear the song has been sung

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I'm imagining her singing Still Tippin but in an operatic style

Wabs said:

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W said:

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Altuve, Correa, Paredes, Pena, Yordan, and Cam are the 6 core position players for next year

everyone else is movable or has to be moved

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If we're going to be serious about a hard reset, Yordan, Pena and Paredes are not untouchable. Along with HB, those are the players that would bring in the most in trade.

Cam is part of the future. No one will trade (or trade much value) for CC or Altuve, and that's ok. They will be here to mentor the youth movement.

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Astros won't make a hard reset after all the injuries. They happen every year but this year cost them a dozen games or more.

First Base, Second Base, and DH were holes all year by WAR. Yordan coming back will help that. Paredes could learn first base. Altuve is very limited defensively but is still hitting at 112 OPS+.

Meyers was having his best year with 106 OPS+ and 2.5 WAR.

Yainer had positive WAR and will be in year 1 of arbitration. He and Caratini created an above average catcher position. That's the starting 9 with some younger players getting outfield reps.

Pena - 131
Correa - 100
Yordan - 121
Paredes - 127
Altuve - 112
Yainer - 91
Meyers - 106
Cam - 89
Left Field - FA or young players

That's a lineup that can be in contention. You have two below average hitters who should improve with age.

Astros have the #4 Starting pitching staff and #2 relief staff by WAR. Even if Framber walks and Walter and Arrighetti miss next year you have enough pitching.

There is almost certainly a work stoppage in 2027 and acquiring Correa all but guaranteed the Astros will be over the tax threshold i 2026 so I wouldn't be surprised to see them bring in a starter and an outfielder with Montero and Abreu coming off the books.

My off-season moves

- dump Walker
- work Paredes at first all offseason
- pick up a 3 starter on the market (preferably one that has had TJ previously and has already pitched since recovering from surgery)
- pick up 2 bullpen arms that have actually done something in the majors and aren't "projects"
- pick up a left handed bat that can hit over .250
- new hitting coach and training staff

tjack16 said:

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My off-season moves

- dump Walker
- work Paredes at first all offseason
- pick up a 3 starter on the market (preferably one that has had TJ previously and has already pitched since recovering from surgery)
- pick up 2 bullpen arms that have actually done something in the majors and aren't "projects"
- pick up a left handed bat that can hit over .250
- new hitting coach and training staff

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A Kyle Tucker reunion?

AggiEE said:

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tjack16 said:

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My off-season moves

- dump Walker
- work Paredes at first all offseason
- pick up a 3 starter on the market (preferably one that has had TJ previously and has already pitched since recovering from surgery)
- pick up 2 bullpen arms that have actually done something in the majors and aren't "projects"
- pick up a left handed bat that can hit over .250
- new hitting coach and training staff

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A Kyle Tucker reunion?

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He said "that can hit over .250."

I think yall are sleeping on Sanchez. Yes I'm aware his numbers were very pedestrian since coming on board at the deadline but I think he has a lot of potential.

He's young and I think he has room for development. Reminds me of the same position Pena and Jake were in a couple years ago. Do I think he's gonna develop into an AS caliber player? No...But I can see him being a decent LFer with some pop who can hit in the middle part of the lineup.

Potential is there but needs to take that next step and put it all together.

the plan for 2026 cannot be to just bring back the same players

because they will bring back the same problems

GiDP's, no slug, no walks, no steals, first-pitch swinging, etc..,

Ag_07 said:

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I think yall are sleeping on Sanchez. Yes I'm aware his numbers were very pedestrian since coming on board at the deadline but I think he has a lot of potential.

He's young and I think he has room for development. Reminds me of the same position Pena and Jake were in a couple years ago. Do I think he's gonna develop into an AS caliber player? No...But I can see him being a decent LFer with some pop who can hit in the middle part of the lineup.

Potential is there but needs to take that next step and put it all together.

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Please dear sweet 8 lb 6 oz baby jesus, don't let Cintron and Snitker do the development...

Wabs said:

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W said:

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Altuve, Correa, Paredes, Pena, Yordan, and Cam are the 6 core position players for next year

everyone else is movable or has to be moved

---

If we're going to be serious about a hard reset, Yordan, Pena and Paredes are not untouchable. Along with HB, those are the players that would bring in the most in trade.

Cam is part of the future. No one will trade (or trade much value) for CC or Altuve, and that's ok. They will be here to mentor the youth movement.

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I agree, but I just don't see Crane willing to go for a complete tear down and rebuild of the type that would rebuild the farm and set us up for another 7-10 year run like we just had. Yordan would seem to be a keeper because he is so cheap for several more year, but expecting a long shutdown in 2027, he is also the most valuable to somebody in 2026 and likely to give us a return of prospects that can set us up at several positions long term. If we keep him and Altuve (who is a no-brainer keep), we have two guys we would prefer to play at DH and one will have to play in the field every night, which is less than ideal.

Yordan's salary jumps to $26 MM next season -- he's not cheap anymore

especially for 100 games or fewer

This season is part of MLB's cheating penalties coming home to roost.

Wholesale changes are needed next year in the bullpen, coaching staff and offensively.

Cintron and Snitker need to be gone ... like yesterday. The training staff -- gone. Espada -- gone.

Outfield needs help. Unload Chas for a pile of peanuts. The guy needs a fresh start. Get a LHH FA like Mullins or Grisham. Then, OF could be Sanchez, Meyers, Smith, FA and Cole for when Meyers inevitably gets hurt.

For the IF, we are set. See if you can trade Walker. This year, his K% is up, BB% is down. Other stats are close to his career averages. He kind of is what he is. Eat some of the money and get some prospects.

Rebuild the bullpen with semi-proven or proven pieces. No one off the trash heap. No reclamation projects.

For the rotation -- Hunter, Javier, (3rd starter FA) Costanza, Spaghetti. Ullola would be nice to slot in here a few times. For the FAs, maybe Gallen or Civale.

agproducer said:

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This season is part of MLB's cheating penalties coming home to roost.

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How so?

Quote:

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No one off the trash heap. No reclamation projects.

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This just isn't feasible. We're not the Yankees or Dodgers who can just buy whoever they want.

There will have to be diamonds in the rough and reclamation projects. Besides that...Those are the kinds of guys our pitching staff excels at.

FWIW...I also don't think the BP needs that much work.

The team has no depth -- no real influx of young talent other than Smith and Cole. The missed high draft picks of the last few years who would likely be part of the team by now are not here. It's been a constant turnstile of mediocrity with the exception of a few.

I'm not saying go get high-priced BP pieces. We can get some middle-of-the-road guys to patch holes. I just don't want them to grab relievers again who have been up and down between MLB and AAA. Maybe you will find one that hits -- but more often than not -- it's scrap heap.

May be in the minority here, but I don't want a "half" reset. Either go all in with free agent signings to rebuild the roster or tear it down to the studs and start the hard rebuild. I don't think Crane would spend the massive amount of money required for the former, and even if we did, we haven't been exactly successful at bringing "high end" talent (Abreu, Walker, etc.). IMO the answer is a total rebuild. We need an infusion of young talent, and alot of it. The best way to get there is to put everyone on the trading block, except for Altuve, CC and Cam.


In any case, I'm 100% in favor of getting rid of Joe and the entire coaching staff.

Mentioned it the other day but in the time I have known Jim Crane, or at least the people who work for him, he is not a very patient person. He demands results. If the Astros miss the playoffs I would be very surprised if there are not an abundance of changes, even given the injuries.

CFTXAG10 said:

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Mentioned it the other day but in the time I have known Jim Crane, or at least the people who work for him, he is not a very patient person. He demands results. If the Astros miss the playoffs I would be very surprised if there are not an abundance of changes, even given the injuries.

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I would be surprised as well which makes me wonder how much Dana's job is in jeopardy if we miss the playoffs considering Joe is his guy.

Astros Bingo Update - The Final Week Begins

First of all, you're all welcome for the Indians losing. I picked up their starting pitcher yesterday in fantasy baseball so naturally they collapsed.

Second, we've had our first participant reach the end of their card, that being board guru: Mathguy64
Mathguy got 6 squares, which currently has him tied for third. He scored big money on Pena, Lance, Javier, and Chas getting the boot.





Updates
Meanwhile, if you picked the 6+ losing streak, you might just get a reward here at season's end.

Isaac hit his 20th HR. If he hits 5 in the last 6 games to get to 25, I'll gladly eat that crow.

I'm wiping out Altuve's 90 R score square. He needs 12 in the last 6 games. That's 13 people taking a hit by losing a square.

If you picked the 90-94 win square, you need the Astros to go 6-0

It's really weird that Pena is at 17 HR and 20 steals since those are the exact #s on his squares. Pena needs 3 HR to give a few people the 20/20 square.

Our only other distant possibilities are Walker hitting 2 HR and getting 8 RBI the last 6 games to get to 25 and 90. He has 1 RBi since September 15.

Sounds like Tucker might play the final weekend, although that seems weird they're up 3 on SD for 4th place with 6 to go, but for the time being I'll leave his 25+ HR square open.

The A's are stuck on 73 wins, need 75 for their square. Fortunately, team trainwreck is heading to Sacramento.

As soon as the Rangers are eliminated, 7 people will earn a square.

8 people have a point riding on Rafael Montero <>4.50 ERA. he's at 4.60 right now.

Judge needs 6 HR in 6 days to get to 55.

We might not win the AL West i t turns out.

I accidentally shorted TJACK16 a point. The standings are corrected now.

And the GOAT REPORT, as always.

Jose had 2 hits for a second straight game, getting him to 2,384 for his career. He passed Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter and is now 130th all time. Jose has two more spots he can move up before the season ends. He's 2 behind Ryne Sanderberg (2,386) and four behind Nick Markakis (2,388). Markakis is high on my list of "what are you doing on here?" players high up the hit chart.


Slaughter played 19 years and is a Hall of Famer. He batted .300 for his career, which started in 1938 with the Cardinals and ended with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959. A lot less well known than a guy like Ted Williams, you can make a strong case that World War II costs Slaughter a great chance at 3,000 hits. He missed all of 1943-1945 when he was 27, 28, and 29 years old. In 1942 he had 188 hits and in 1946 he had 183. If you have him 185 a year for those three seasons, he'd be at 2,938.

Slaughter played from 1938-1953 with the Cardinals. He led the league in doubles in 1939 with 52, in hits and triples in 1942 (188 and 17), in RBI in 1946 with 130 and again in triples in 1949 with 13. Six times in his career he had double digits in homers, triples, and doubles in a year. He finished with 148 career triples, right outside the top 50 all-time.

He played in 5 World Series and notched four rings, '42 and '46 with the Cardinals and 56 and 58 it the Yankees.

Now here's some super heavy duty trivia for you that I bet makes him 1 of a kind.

He played 1941-1942 and 1946-1953 with Stan Musial for the Cardinals

In April 1954 he was traded to the Yankees, for Bill Virdon coincidentally. He played for the Yankees in 54, and 56-59. So he played 2-1/2 years with Mickey Mantle.

He got signed by the Milwaukee Braves in September 959 and played the last 21 games of the year with Hank Aaron

So in a 6-year span from 53-59, he was teammates with Musial, Mantle, and Aaron.

now that is a good question...

is Dana's job in jeopardy?

hmmn...I think Dana is savvy enough and shrewd enough to avoid getting fired. The coaching staff will go first

Drunken Overseas Bettor said:

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I picked up their starting pitcher yesterday in fantasy baseball so naturally they collapsed.

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You know what you have to do now...