I will say this, though - it's been a fun year on this thread. Thanks, everyone.

Dusty baker coming back
Grienke is gone
Strom is gone

Strom will probably be the biggest loss

Dusty seemed to manage the pitching staff better in the playoffs than his reputation dictated he would. I don't know how much of that was Strom, and losing Strom will be big, but I'm not upset that Dusty might be returning.

I agree that Grienke is gone, I'm betting he retires.

I also hold out some hope that Crane pulls off a minor miracle and finds a way to keep Correa around.

Yuli is back per his ****ter

26th times a charm for dusty?

I guess I should have clarified that was from a source I was reading lol

Dusty's biggest mess up was in game 4 when he decided to use his long reliever for short and his short for long. Dusty has a tendency to over manage at times and it hurts him

Grienke actually said he wants to go to the NL now

Strom will definitely hurt. He was a major factor over the last 8 year

As for Correa and people are going to get pitch forks but I'd rather see him leave. His 60% effort in a due or die game was enough for me to see. He's too expensive and we need pitching. Let him go and pay for pitching. Correa has those fake leader vibes. It's all for show so he can get paid.

I don't know..... I'm not going to say Correa didn't give a full effort in game 6. But he did strike out, the ball went all they way to the backstop, and he jogged to first. If he runs, he's probably safe. Now, it was later in the game and wouldn't of mattered, but he for sure gave a half ass effort of that play in a win or go home game.

I also don't know how I feel about his leadership vibe. I mean I've never seen another player feel like they have to go to the mound every time a catcher, pitching coach, etc. goes to talk to the pitcher. Now maybe he does continue that in the locker room and practice and the guys really respond to it. I don't know, I'm not there. So really impossible for us to say how effective of a leader he is, one way or the other.

Yeah Correa has always seemed a little prima-donna ish to me. The best defensive shortstop in the league imo and really good offensively...sometimes. But overly concerned with looking hard/cool, etc (which includes not busting his ass to first). I'd love to keep him cause he's really good - but I don't think it's worth giving him the long term deal he's going to command.

By stark contrast personality-wise, Altuve was shopping by himself at Target yesterday in flip flops, shorts and a tshirt just 2 days removed from losing the World Series. And he almost always busts his ass to first. Love that dude.

Agree. Altuve would rather lead by example and probably appreciates Correra's style. Allows him to focus more on playing than leading.

I think Correra goes to the mound all the time to help translate with Strom and he knows the players well. Latin guys tend to be tight with one another. He stepped up big time in the ALCS last season when I think it was Framber was about to blow his top over something. As it was Framber stayed focus and got the out.

As for Correra and free agency by most metrics he's the most valuable free agent in the market. I can't begrudge the man for wanting to maximize his value. I can't begrudge the Stros for not wanting to overpay as overpaying free agents has cost teams dearly. It's the market. I think most of us if given the opportunity would love to maximize our value or at least explore it.

Correra helped lead us to 3 World Series in 5 years. He walked off two ALCS games against the Yankees in different years. I don't understand any angst an Astros fan has towards him. He served us REALLY well.

I hope we can find a way to keep him but if he's gonna get paid then go get paid. He's earned it playing a very difficult position at an elite level defensively while being a pretty good bat with plus power. Adam Everett he's not.

The stros didnt get where they are by overpaying for hot commodities. They got there by smart fiscal discipline and stocking the farm system with talent. Hope they take what they would have paid to keep correa and get some good young arms instead.

looks like bregman had wrist surgery. could explain why he sucked so much at the plate.

https://www.click2houston.com/sports/local/2021/11/08/astros-star-alex-bregman-undergoes-wrist-surgery-posts-that-all-went-well/

He lives in Tucson, so it kinda makes sense.

Verlander coming back!

The Wonderer said:

---

Serotonin said:

---

Verlander coming back!

---

So much money for a hope and prayer that he's even close to what he was pre-surgery.

---

Don't forget ticket sales and a hot wife.

Look at that water jug! I would leave town too if that is the kind of service he gets. Somebody is back there burning a heater while Carlito is dying of thirst.