I was able to snag a copy of the new SI issue with Springer and Altuve on the cover today. Heard folks are buying these in bunches and re-selling on ebay/craigslist/etc. Who has the time for that ****?

iBrad said:

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Free Agents now that Beltran has retired:

Liriano ($13.7M)
Gregerson ($6.3M)
Clippard ($6.2M)
Maybin ($9M)

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I see no point of keeping any of these relievers besides maybe clippard.

Maybin is a heck of a player that I like, but where does he fit? Marisnick fills that role and you still have fisher and Moran among others that could be contributors next season.

Spring training is going to be intriguing...maybe the most we have ever experienced.

With JV who gets left off the rotation? Fiers makes sense.

What to do with peacock? I personally move him back to the pen and keep him in that long relief or setup role.

Musgrove - I think a full offseason and spring training in the pen and this guy is going to be solid for us.

Will feliez or martes figure it out? They might have the best stuff of the bunch but not certain where the ball is going half the time.

Is tucker ready?

One thing is certain there are going to be SEVERAL very good players sitting in AAA to start the year.

Getting a LH in the pen is an obvious must, I would also pursure any type of FA closer. Wouldnt hurt to get another #3 type SP and move morton to 4 and mccullers to 5. That would be a SALTY starting rotation. Other than filling DH void (preferrably LH bat as we have gattis) I would leave the fielders alone

Is it time to move this convo to the offseason thread?

unaware there was one......I dont like change

I like the idea of trading for Brad Hand. And call me crazy, but I think Giles can still be a good closer for us. It's obvious that the new balls they used for the world series made slider pitchers largely ineffective.

BowSowy said:

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I like the idea of trading for Brad Hand. And call me crazy, but I think Giles can still be a good closer for us. It's obvious that the new balls they used for the world series made slider pitchers largely ineffective.

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Giles is just to......erratic is maybe the word im looking for. I understand there are only maybe 5 true shut down closers in this league. But it drives all of us absolutely insane how often he cant get through a clean inning. And who knows how his psyche is after the WS benching. Closers in general seem to have very brittle egos. We can wait to see if he bounces back, but personally Id go throw cash at Wade and let Giles set up.

BowSowy said:

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I like the idea of trading for Brad Hand. And call me crazy, but I think Giles can still be a good closer for us. It's obvious that the new balls they used for the world series made slider pitchers largely ineffective.

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So what do we do with him next WS?

Farmer1906 said:

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BowSowy said:

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I like the idea of trading for Brad Hand. And call me crazy, but I think Giles can still be a good closer for us. It's obvious that the new balls they used for the world series made slider pitchers largely ineffective.

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So what do we do with him next WS?

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You hope that MLB doesn't screw up the ball situation again. Giles can't be effective with a flat slider and I have to imagine that his slider was wither affected by the change in balls or at least the perceived change in balls. I would love to see us get a shut down closer and move Giles to Gregerson's role but I wont be panicked if he is our closer next season.

Was it ever confirmed that the WS balls were different? I know lots of players complained about that, but I just can't imagine that is a real thing that MLB would do (well yes I can imagine it because it's the MLB, but still).

gougler08 said:

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Was it ever confirmed that the WS balls were different? I know lots of players complained about that, but I just can't imagine that is a real thing that MLB would do (well yes I can imagine it because it's the MLB, but still).

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Whether they were changed or not the player thought they were changed and that makes almost as big of a difference.

I think the results on the field showed there was a change to the ball.

bullard21k said:

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I see no point of keeping any of these relievers besides maybe clippard.

Maybin is a heck of a player that I like, but where does he fit? Marisnick fills that role and you still have fisher and Moran among others that could be contributors next season.

Spring training is going to be intriguing...maybe the most we have ever experienced.

With JV who gets left off the rotation? Fiers makes sense.

What to do with peacock? I personally move him back to the pen and keep him in that long relief or setup role.

Musgrove - I think a full offseason and spring training in the pen and this guy is going to be solid for us.

Will feliez or martes figure it out? They might have the best stuff of the bunch but not certain where the ball is going half the time.

Is tucker ready?

One thing is certain there are going to be SEVERAL very good players sitting in AAA to start the year.

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My guess on the starting rotation: Verlander, Keuchel, Morton, McCullers, McHugh/Martes. I think Martes is a definite starter in their eyes and I bet he starts quite a few games. I agree about Peacock and Musgrove, I think both of those guys would be money as relievers. I'd bet we have a bullpen of Peacock, Musgrove, Devo, Giles, Liriano, Harris, Feliz, and someone we bring in through trade or free agency.

Tucker seems like a 2019 guy to me, maybe a late call-up this year depending on how guys like Marisnick, Reddick, and Fisher are playing.

I'm curious how we'll fill the DH spot this year. Do y'all think we have Gattis as the full-time DH and have Ceteno and McCann as our two catchers?

It would mildly surprise me if Tucker wasn't in the big leagues by August.

i saw that SI had two different covers on the issue...so naturally i bought both

gambochaman said:

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i saw that SI had two different covers on the issue...so naturally i bought both

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But there are 3 magazines:

1) The Springer remake of the 2014 cover World Series commemorative edition

2) The Astros celebration World Series commemorative edition

3) and SI's normal weekly maganize print with Springer and Altuve

Yup. I bought all 3.

Bought the bottom one (which is their national version I think) tonight

Thanks. Just did this.

^^^^bad ass

dlance said:

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If any of you guys that attended a game and got the cheap gate printed tickets want a commemorative ticket and display, the following site will customize a commemorative ticket with your seat and price information.

http://www.thatsmyticket.com/2017-world-series-champions-commemorative-ticket-display-stand-houston-astros.html

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That's pretty sweet. Going to get them made for my Dad for Christmas.

dlance said:

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If any of you guys that attended a game and got the cheap gate printed tickets want a commemorative ticket and display, the following site will customize a commemorative ticket with your seat and price information.

http://www.thatsmyticket.com/2017-world-series-champions-commemorative-ticket-display-stand-houston-astros.html

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Anyone know if you might be able to call the box office and they'll send you the actual ticket for free/minimal charge?

NotGibbs said:

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dlance said:

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If any of you guys that attended a game and got the cheap gate printed tickets want a commemorative ticket and display, the following site will customize a commemorative ticket with your seat and price information.

http://www.thatsmyticket.com/2017-world-series-champions-commemorative-ticket-display-stand-houston-astros.html

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Anyone know if you might be able to call the box office and they'll send you the actual ticket for free/minimal charge?

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I mailed in my seat locater tickets for game 5 (with a self-addressed envelope included), and the box office will print and send the actual game ticket.

chemical toilet said:

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NotGibbs said:

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dlance said:

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If any of you guys that attended a game and got the cheap gate printed tickets want a commemorative ticket and display, the following site will customize a commemorative ticket with your seat and price information.

http://www.thatsmyticket.com/2017-world-series-champions-commemorative-ticket-display-stand-houston-astros.html

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Anyone know if you might be able to call the box office and they'll send you the actual ticket for free/minimal charge?

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I mailed in my seat locater tickets for game 5 (with a self-addressed envelope included), and the box office will print and send the actual game ticket.

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Tell me more.

I made a copy of the two seat locators just in case. Mailed the originals in with a self-addressed and stamped envelope, and a little note requesting a game ticket for the date listed on our seat locators to:

Astros
Attn: Box Office
501 Crawford
Houston, TX 77002

I also included my contact info on the note just in case.