If we don't get Contreras and the Red Sox decide to sell, we should consider Cristian Vasquez: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vazquch01.shtml

One surprising entrant in the category (controllable starting pitching): Houston, which, multiple general managers said, has expressed a willingness to trade from what clearly has been a strength. The Astros currently have six quality major league starting pitchers -- Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Jake Odorizzi and Jose Urquidy. Lance McCullers Jr. is on a rehabilitation assignment and looked excellent in his first start back. And Hunter Brown, a right-hander dominating at Triple-A, is, in the words of one scout, "a real dude."

The Astros, then, have plenty of options, so Urquidy is the most obvious candidate to move. He is 27 years old, is playoff tested and boasts a career 3.69 ERA over 52 games. He'll reach arbitration this winter and would slot in with any big league rotation. Javier, in the midst of a breakout season, and Garcia, who isn't due to hit free agency until after the 2026 season, would cost the most out of anyone in this category in return.

Farmer1906 said:

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One surprising entrant in the category (controllable starting pitching): Houston, which, multiple general managers said, has expressed a willingness to trade from what clearly has been a strength. The Astros currently have six quality major league starting pitchers -- Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Jake Odorizzi and Jose Urquidy. Lance McCullers Jr. is on a rehabilitation assignment and looked excellent in his first start back. And Hunter Brown, a right-hander dominating at Triple-A, is, in the words of one scout, "a real dude."

The Astros, then, have plenty of options, so Urquidy is the most obvious candidate to move. He is 27 years old, is playoff tested and boasts a career 3.69 ERA over 52 games. He'll reach arbitration this winter and would slot in with any big league rotation. Javier, in the midst of a breakout season, and Garcia, who isn't due to hit free agency until after the 2026 season, would cost the most out of anyone in this category in return.

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Thanks, I think we could actually outbid the Yankees on this one given the immediate return on pitching the Reds would get.

I agree we are heavy on pitching, even after you consider JV being a free agent after the year.

I think you could build your young pitching core around Framber, Javier, McCullers, Garcia, Brown.

That gives us 2 spots to put into play

Ag_07 said:

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Quote:

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astonishing to me that we're winning at the rate we are with a AAAA rotation over the last 2 years.

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Thanks for the chuckle this morning

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Hopefully it was at the comment that we've had a AAAA rotation at the CF position and not some out of context belief that our starting rotation has been AAAA level.

Deluxe said:

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Astros are 3-0 this year after losing the first two games of a three game series. Sweep avoidance is hallmark of a top tier team. Hope we can keep that going today.

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this will be Irvin's 4th start against the astros this year, and 3rd in the last 17 days. his innings/ER are:

5.2/1
6/2
6/1

will wait to see the lineup, but I am feeling a breakout hitting game for the astros today. dont think irvin has it in him to keep doing so well against us.

BMX Bandit said:

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Deluxe said:

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Astros are 3-0 this year after losing the first two games of a three game series. Sweep avoidance is hallmark of a top tier team. Hope we can keep that going today.

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this will be Irvin's 4th start against the astros this year, and 3rd in the last 17 days. his innings/ER are:

5.2/1
6/2
6/1

will wait to see the lineup, but I am feeling a breakout hitting game for the astros today. dont think irvin has it in him to keep doing so well against us.

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I think it's a safe bet that yordan gets the day off

Hahaha!

Ok...now THAT makes sense.

Harry Dunne said:

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Silent For Too Long said:

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We won the world series with Maybin in center and ****ing Gattis as DH.

Some of you think we need all star caliber players in every position or we aren't gonna win it all. That's simply unrealistic. Hopefully pick up another bat for the right price, but this team as currently constructed absolutely has the tools to win it all.

Bad teams nest good teams in baseball all the damn time. That's just how the game rolls.

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Gattis (.767) and McCann (.757) had the worst OPSs in that full playoff lineup with George in CF and Marwin in Left.

Our current lineup features Maldy (.582), Yuli (.669), Chas (.746) or Jake (.618), Breggy (.756). We'd kill to have 2017 Gattis getting a couple of starts a week at LF/DH and backing up at C.

I agree with the main point of your post, but Yordan and Tucker are the only 2 guys that would even start in that 2017 lineup.

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Because the ball isn't dead this year or anything. I'm not saying there aren't issues, but show me compared to the rest of the league each year if you want to compare.

How do yall watch most Astros games?

-Watch pre game, then the game, sit and watch it completely every pitch
-Tune in at first pitch and watch passively sitting on the couch/recliner
-Flip back and forth while watching multiple games/tv shows
-Other, please explain

Myself I usually tune in about 30-40 min late, click on the recording on the DVR. I watch mostly every pitch but miss a few here and there obviously. 4 clicks of the 30 second button as soon as the final out and I'm back to the next half inning. This method usually allows me to watch the first 2/2.5hrs of the game in about 90min. and I am usually watching the last two innings or so live by then.

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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How do yall watch most Astros games?

-Watch pre game, then the game, sit and watch it completely every pitch
-Tune in at first pitch and watch passively sitting on the couch/recliner
-Flip back and forth while watching multiple games/tv shows
-Other, please explain

Myself I usually tune in about 30-40 min late, click on the recording on the DVR. I watch mostly every pitch but miss a few here and there obviously. 4 clicks of the 30 second button as soon as the final out and I'm back to the next half inning. This method usually allows me to watch the first 2/2.5hrs of the game in about 90min. and I am usually watching the last two innings or so live by then.

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Option #2. I would like Option #1 but you can't get pre-game / post-game stuff on MLB.tv.

Fair enough, I'm sure someone can pull league averages and i'm sure OPS is lower this year than in 2017…

but it doesn't change the point that Tucker and Yordan are the only improvements on the 2017 lineup, and even so you had peak Reddick and trashcan Marwin in the corner outfield spots.

So I don't think the 5% difference or whatever it ends up being in 2022 offensive output in general changes the fact that this is the weakest offense we have had since then, and this is the first year I have felt like we really needed another bat at the deadline.

I'm one of the weird ones who watch every pitch of probably 75% of games. I guess that's what happens when you aren't married.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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How do yall watch most Astros games?

-Watch pre game, then the game, sit and watch it completely every pitch
-Tune in at first pitch and watch passively sitting on the couch/recliner
-Flip back and forth while watching multiple games/tv shows
-Other, please explain

Myself I usually tune in about 30-40 min late, click on the recording on the DVR. I watch mostly every pitch but miss a few here and there obviously. 4 clicks of the 30 second button as soon as the final out and I'm back to the next half inning. This method usually allows me to watch the first 2/2.5hrs of the game in about 90min. and I am usually watching the last two innings or so live by then.

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Option #2. I would like Option #1 but you can't get pre-game / post-game stuff on MLB.tv.

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Streaming, that makes sense. When im on the road traveling this is my method as well.

texasaggie2015 said:

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I'm one of the weird ones who watch every pitch of probably 75% of games. I guess that's what happens when you aren't married.

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With my method I watch every pitch of probably 150 games. It doesnt bother me to watch a game recorded either, If I know im going to do that I just stay off here and dont check areas of my phone that will tell me the outcome

Good topic.

For me it depends. I jump from TV to phone to computer and back. If I'm cooking, cleaning the kitchen, doing bath time, lifting, or ****ting I am on the phone. I am multitasking so every pitch doesn't get 100% of my attention. For later games, I watch in bed with the rib. She's not a super fan, but she happily watches 100+ games a year. When I feel like getting extra nerdy, I'll put it on the computer with one screen the game and the other baseball savant. I try to watch as much as possible but with 162, it's no big deal to miss some. I am not appointment setting regular season games.

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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texasaggie2015 said:

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I'm one of the weird ones who watch every pitch of probably 75% of games. I guess that's what happens when you aren't married.

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With my method I watch every pitch of probably 150 games. It doesnt bother me to watch a game recorded either, If I know im going to do that I just stay off here and dont check areas of my phone that will tell me the outcome

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Haha... I've tried this for both Astros games and Aggie football but can't resist the temptation to check the score on my phone

Astros GM James Click tell us on the @SSalisburyShow in regards to Yordan Alvarez and his hand, "I don't expect any limitations for the rest of the season". @SeanUnfiltered @JoeGeorgeRadio #LevelUp

— BLima (@BLima790) July 27, 2022

"If there is a rental that can help us this year, we're going to explore that. If they can help us this year and maybe next year we'll explore that too. It just depends on price point." Click discussing "rental pieces" at the trade deadline on the @SSalisburyShow. @SeanUnfiltered

— BLima (@BLima790) July 27, 2022

Harry Dunne said:

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Fair enough, I'm sure someone can pull league averages and i'm sure OPS is lower this year than in 2017…

but it doesn't change the point that Tucker and Yordan are the only improvements on the 2017 lineup, and even so you had peak Reddick and trashcan Marwin in the corner outfield spots.

So I don't think the 5% difference or whatever it ends up being in 2022 offensive output in general changes the fact that this is the weakest offense we have had since then, and this is the first year I have felt like we really needed another bat at the deadline.

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OPS+

2017
160
155
146
141
130
125
121
107
106
81

2022
199
146
128
124
116
115
110
89
88
63

More high-end depth and overall depth in 2017. But peak Alvarez tops MVP Tuve.

Add Contreras & Bell and drop Maldy & Gurriel. Boom 2017 replicated! (topped?)
199
154
146
136
128
124
116
115
110
88

That is great news (if true) about Yordan.

Early to middle of season, life gets in the way of about 50% of games. Maybe half of those I can watch the play by play unfold on score apps.

By this point in the season I push things and can probably catch 75% of the games. I may be streaming from a sideline or the car for parts of the game, but I'm watching.

I never watch pre game or post game stuff. I get all of that I want off of this thread.

Harry Dunne said:

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Fair enough, I'm sure someone can pull league averages and i'm sure OPS is lower this year than in 2017…

but it doesn't change the point that Tucker and Yordan are the only improvements on the 2017 lineup, and even so you had peak Reddick and trashcan Marwin in the corner outfield spots.

So I don't think the 5% difference or whatever it ends up being in 2022 offensive output in general changes the fact that this is the weakest offense we have had since then, and this is the first year I have felt like we really needed another bat at the deadline.

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And to address the last point

wRC+ by Year (2015-2022)

2019 Astros - 124
2017 - 121
2021 - 116
2022 - 113
2018 - 110
2015 - 108
2016 - 101
2020 - 98 (BELOW AVG!)

Not the weakest, but I would argue it has some of the biggest holes.

For me I typically watch every weekday game starting at first pitch. The game is on while I do shlt around the house and get the kids in bed then I watch from the couch the rest of the way. Depending on how moody everyone is on this thread I'll also keep up here. If it's a good game or something of note happens I'll watch the post game for a bit.

Weekends are a bit different since we've almost always got stuff going on. I'll turn the game on if I'm home and watch in the background while I work or grill or do stuff with the kids. If I'm out of town or driving I'll usually listen on the radio.

All in all I'd say I watch 140-150 games with varying levels of attention.

I used to watch pregame to get caught up on stuff but since I found this thread 2 years ago or so, I haven't really felt the need to watch.

Generally speaking, I watch the entire game. About the only time I don't watch the entire game is if I am traveling for work and have client dinner/drinks or if I have stuff going on with the kids.

I don't really have any shows that I watch regularly on TV so about the only time I am parked in front of the TV (outside of football season) is to watch the Astros or maybe MLB network.

I'd say I watch 120ish games. Mostly as background noise while I'm working on stuff.

I always have score updates via ESPN APP though and listen on the radio when I'm working on stuff outside.

Playoff games. Fully in front of TV hanging on the edge of my seat every pitch

In person attendance: from 2017-2021 I went to 15-20 games per year. This year and going forward it'll likely be 7-10 games a year since we just got a house and I'm getting married this weekend.

During the regular season, I watch here and there but don't make it appointment viewing like I used to. For me, keeping tabs on the 162 game high level trends is more interesting than watching each individual game. I try to watch enough to make sure I'm seeing with my own eyes how certain guys look though.

I watch every playoff game in full and go to as many as I can. It makes me a nervous wreck though. I'm borderline Billy Beane in terms of how much anxiety playoff baseball gives me. Sometimes I question whether or not it's worth it.

(It's definitely worth it though)

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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How do yall watch most Astros games?

-Watch pre game, then the game, sit and watch it completely every pitch
-Tune in at first pitch and watch passively sitting on the couch/recliner
-Flip back and forth while watching multiple games/tv shows
-Other, please explain

Myself I usually tune in about 30-40 min late, click on the recording on the DVR. I watch mostly every pitch but miss a few here and there obviously. 4 clicks of the 30 second button as soon as the final out and I'm back to the next half inning. This method usually allows me to watch the first 2/2.5hrs of the game in about 90min. and I am usually watching the last two innings or so live by then.

---

Pretty much option 2 but with most games muted on the laptop while I watch other stuff with the kids and/or wife. I catch pretty much every game unless I'm on the road for work and can't get the Fire TV stick to connect to the hotel's WiFi.

Good info, thanks.

You definitely can't make too much of the bad losses to bad teams that happen to every championship team, and even if we don't make any moves, we are going to be so much better with Uncle Mike back in the lineup, but man it would be nice to pick up another good bat juuust in case Yuli is toast.

And if the starting pitchers hadn't crapped their pants in both As games so far we wouldn't be talking about the offense nearly as much.

Home games I watch the majority of the game unless the wife wants to watch something else - then I monitor on the phone. West coast games I usually see a few innings then call it a night.

I watch some of probably 140 games a year. I monitor basically every game of the season on the phone unless I'm not in cell phone coverage area.