DrZ said:

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After we lose tonight we will have the same record as last year at this point. I dont remember being this discouraged but maybe i was.

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Maybe because we still had some heart in the locker room with Correa. Everything seems very mute now that both he and Springer are gone.

Angel missed one by over 6" a couple of days ago. Worst miss of the year

wangus12 said:

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DrZ said:

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After we lose tonight we will have the same record as last year at this point. I dont remember being this discouraged but maybe i was.

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Maybe because we still had some heart in the locker room with Correa. Everything seems very mute now that both he and Springer are gone.

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It also doesn't help that our manager barely has a pulse.

#Astros' initial 16 games last three seasons:
2020 7-9
2021 7-9
2022 7-9

— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) April 26, 2022

Texaggie7nine said:

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#Astros' initial 16 games last three seasons:
2020 7-9
2021 7-9
2022 7-9

— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) April 26, 2022

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I can't believe all of us here have been supporting an under 500 team

Texaggie7nine said:

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#Astros' initial 16 games last three seasons:
2020 7-9
2021 7-9
2022 7-9

— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) April 26, 2022

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username checks out

Two balls were used last season.

The original ball intended for use in 2021, according to a memo obtained by The Athletic, was supposed to reduce batted ball distance by around two feet.

That ball, MLB says, is the only one in circulation this season.https://t.co/K1qbLgde6B

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 26, 2022

Manfred screwing with the game yet again

Texaggie7nine said:

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#Astros' initial 16 games last three seasons:
2020 7-9
2021 7-9
2022 7-9

— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) April 26, 2022

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That's what I've been saying.

Happy Birthday, Blummer! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/vm2ucET3Cp

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 26, 2022

My 6 month old son rocking his first Astros hat today.

So let's stop dancing around data and metrics and talk about why the offense is lethargic. The answers are leadership and protection.

Here's our opening day starting lineups from the last 4 years.

2019: Springer, Altuve, Bregman, Brantley, Gurriel, White (sorry I blacked out there), Chrinios, Diaz, Marisnick (Correa was hurt)

2020: Springer, Altuve, Bregman, Brantley, Gurriel, Correa, Reddick, Diaz, Machete

2021: Altuve, Brantley, Bregman Tucker, Correa, Alvarez, Gurriel, Straw, Machete

2022: Altuve, Brantley, Bregman, Alvarez, Gurriel, Tucker, Pena, McCormick, Machete

And last night's lineup:

McCormick, Brantley, Bregman, Alvarez, Gurriel, Tucker, Diaz, Castro, Pena

Observations:

1. We don't have a leadoff hitter with Altuve out. Or more correctly, Dusty hasn't identified one. Your leadoff guy has to know multiple ways to get on base and be a smart base runner when he's there. So either put the kid up there, since he has shown decent bat control to get a walk, or go back to the 2018 playoffs and put Bregman leadoff. He's your best OBP guy long term.

2. There's not a leader in the everyday lineup with Altuve hurt. George was that high energy guy. Carlos became that high energy guy. Bregman is that guy when he's doing well at the plate, but when he's not, he goes into a shell and sulks. He's the obvious candidate to become the always talking, always bouncing around guy, but he needs to match the enthusiasm to all situations.

3. Tucker and Alvarez have to evolve from the young guys who are the hope of tomorrow to the mentality of THIS IS OUR TEAM. Tucker especially. He looked like a space cadet last night. Not running out of the box, not hustling, those are totally unacceptable, at any level by any person. You can't be an MVP candidate at age 25 and be disinterested in running as hard as you can down the line. Alvarez needs to spend some time with David Ortiz and learn the finer points of being the big scary guy and intimidating the other team to the point where if there's a brawl, you're convinced he's going to potentially kill you.

4. The bottom of the lineup is horrific. No ****, right? We gotta trade for a bat to DH or find some Jack Parkman esque catcher who can hit 20 HR and bat his weight. Anything. Tucker went 3 for 4 to get his average up to .169 last night. There is no reason on earth for any opposing pitcher to give him anything to hit with Diaz and Castro/Maldonado coming up behind him. Even if he's patient enough to get a walk, those guys aren't getting him in. The black hole has to end. Castro is hitting .067 and Maldonado is hitting .065. A platoon that goes 3 for 46 isn't quite what we had in mind.

5. Until you can do that, protect your guys the best you can: Build a lineup that can score a few runs and not turn into a coma patient past spot #6 Give Tucker the Derek Bell treatment and get him between two guys where they have to pitch to him.

Pena
Brantley
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Gurriel
McCormick
Diaz
Lifeless Corpse Catcher