Yeah, that's nice and all, but I am holding out for another personalized message from Abby - the shooting star that one poster knows.Proudag06 said:
To: Texags
From: your WS MVP
Happy Valentine's Day
***Official Houston Astros 2022-23 Offseason Thread***
1,072,049 Views |
12340 Replies |
Last: 1 yr ago by Beat40
All good points. It might be a money thing. I bet we're going to make Tucker turn down something very significant before commit even more. Per Fangraphs we're sitting at 218. If we increase Frambers AAV from 6.8 to 19 (6/115) we're dangerously close to the limit. Even with a handful of guys falling off the books next year (Brantley, Maldy, Stanek, & Maton) there would be very little salary relief with Urquidy, Taylor, Dubon hitting Arb year 2 and Garcia, McCormick, & Abreu hitting Arb year 1. Maybe we're willing to do it for Tucker, but I don't think you do it for Framber. Unless you move to the Padres/Mets model, you can't pay everyone.
Yea. Maybe we give Ted our best offer and make him turn it down before allocating that $$ elsewhereFarmer1906 said:
All good points. It might be a money thing. I bet we're going to make Tucker turn down something very significant before commit even more. Per Fangraphs we're sitting at 218. If we increase Frambers AAV from 6.8 to 19 (6/115) we're dangerously close to the limit. Even with a handful of guys falling off the books next year (Brantley, Maldy, Stanek, & Maton) there would be very little salary relief with Urquidy, Taylor, Dubon hitting Arb year 2 and Garcia, McCormick, & Abreu hitting Arb year 1. Maybe we're willing to do it for Tucker, but I don't think you do it for Framber. Unless you move to the Padres/Mets model, you can't pay everyone.
Old Man McCann knows where ALL the bodies are buried and hasn't said a word.EastCoastAgNc said:Everybody in MLB knew this. It was only the crying coping fans who were trying to pretend the Astros were the only team to steal signs.
— 🏆HOES MAD DYNASTY 2022 WORLD CHAMPIONS🏆 (@2017WSChamps) February 11, 2023
Reminder this is McCann right AFTER the 2017 WS. Even the announcers knew the Dodgers cheated and still lost. pic.twitter.com/fr2WQG2aRc
SIAP
He needs to write a tell-all book. Crane should finance the publishing costs for him.cone said:
Old Man McCann knows where ALL the bodies are buried and hasn't said a word.
So the Yankees get a private letter from MLB but MLB just pretends the Dodgers didn't do anything.
If you were wondering which franchise can truly do no wrong.
If you were wondering which franchise can truly do no wrong.
losing Luhnow under no circumstances should be considered a mild loss
Only time will tell how big of a loss he is. Let's hope he left a strong enough foundation in place, and Crane leaves it alone, for us to continue the great scouting/drafting/development for a long time.cone said:
losing Luhnow under no circumstances should be considered a mild loss
cone said:
losing Luhnow under no circumstances should be considered a mild loss
Considering what we've done since he left I'd say mild loss is accurate.
As long as Crane is at the helm I'm confident this train will keep barreling down the tracks.
I'm serious when I say that I think Crane is one of if not the best owner in baseball and one of the better owners in the big 3 sports.
Rewatched game 1 against Seattle and noticed at 2:56:20 you can see our first base coach doing a windmill as if he thought it was a double or triple. I just found it funny that he was waving him around as if he wasn't going to be jogging around the bases anyway.
Oh and right after the first base coach windmill you get Servais with the bitter beer face...never gets old. God I hate that p*ick.
I would have like to have kept Luhnow and Hinch on the Astros staff. But I think their replacements have done decent, if not equal to their predecessors.
Of course, I tend to believe that GMs and managers get too much credit when things are going well, and too much blame when things go wrong. There are a few Nick Saban types in the world that seem to be skilled well beyond the rest--I'm assuming he sold his soul to the devil. Everybody else seems to fall into the next category, where skill combines with luck and timing to have what we think of as magical results.
AJ is a great example. Headed a talented Astros squad from 2015-2019 with good/great results. Takes over Detroit after serving his suspension, and coached them to about where they were the previous 6 years. AJ isn't a middling coach, but that what the Detroit results have been.
Of course, I tend to believe that GMs and managers get too much credit when things are going well, and too much blame when things go wrong. There are a few Nick Saban types in the world that seem to be skilled well beyond the rest--I'm assuming he sold his soul to the devil. Everybody else seems to fall into the next category, where skill combines with luck and timing to have what we think of as magical results.
AJ is a great example. Headed a talented Astros squad from 2015-2019 with good/great results. Takes over Detroit after serving his suspension, and coached them to about where they were the previous 6 years. AJ isn't a middling coach, but that what the Detroit results have been.
I believe that is true of the managers but not the GMs. This team, development processes, culture, strategy, etc is all based around what Luhnow created. Click continued it with analytics but he wasn't asked to do all that much. Just keep the gravy train going. Now Dana is going to have easy at first too, but major franchise altering decisions will need to be made soon.
Yordan walk-off home run
Luhnow traded for Yordan
Luhnow = genius
Luhnow traded for Yordan
Luhnow = genius
A.J. and the Tigers are in that situation because of terrible general managing
namely bad contracts and bad drafting
Miguel Cabrera and Javy Baez combined to make $50 MM last year...and they were both awful
namely bad contracts and bad drafting
Miguel Cabrera and Javy Baez combined to make $50 MM last year...and they were both awful
I can understand that point of view. I think the GM role is very important. Luhnow was innovative. But one of the downsides of success is that everyone else copies your strategies, and you no longer have the competitive advantage. The "tanking for draft picks" isn't unique. The Cubs were doing it at the same time. Many other teams rely heavily on analytics now. Dang near every team has caught up on spin rate, etc. Even if Luhnow where still with the team, his bag of tricks may not be as effective. Could he have adapted and innovated? It's a good possibility, but I don't think it was a sure thing. Unfortunately, we'll never know.
That being said, Click, depending on your point of view, either continued the Luhnow strategy, or at the very least, didn't do anything to screw it up.
Dana has several big decisions on the horizon. I hope he keeps the Luhnow formula and tweak it to his style and expertise. I think he needs to keep drafting key pieces, and hopefully finding some 5th and 6th round diamonds in the rough. International signings have been key in the past, and likely will be in the future. The franchise strategy throughout the minor league teams seems to be working, so maintaining/improving that seems logical. And, finally, making the tough decision on re-signing franchise players or letting them walk has worked out for the Astros in the past.
That being said, Click, depending on your point of view, either continued the Luhnow strategy, or at the very least, didn't do anything to screw it up.
Dana has several big decisions on the horizon. I hope he keeps the Luhnow formula and tweak it to his style and expertise. I think he needs to keep drafting key pieces, and hopefully finding some 5th and 6th round diamonds in the rough. International signings have been key in the past, and likely will be in the future. The franchise strategy throughout the minor league teams seems to be working, so maintaining/improving that seems logical. And, finally, making the tough decision on re-signing franchise players or letting them walk has worked out for the Astros in the past.
Happy V Day you SOB's.
It's almost that time of the year!
It's almost that time of the year!
very true.
one of the big feathers in Click's cap...he picked the right veteran players to let go.
Astros won the title without Springer and Correa
one of the big feathers in Click's cap...he picked the right veteran players to let go.
Astros won the title without Springer and Correa
Click had very little to do with those decisions.W said:
very true.
one of the big feathers in Click's cap...he picked the right veteran players to let go.
Astros won the title without Springer and Correa
Kind of a funny thread about Soto saying he'll need to speed up his shuffle given the advent of the pitch clock next season.
https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1128ksh/janes_breaking_asked_juan_soto_if_he_thinks_he/
I hadn't thought of this, but fans may do the NBA/College basketball thing where they count it down towards the end inaccurately if it's the opposing pitcher. Supposedly this was a thing in the minors.
https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1128ksh/janes_breaking_asked_juan_soto_if_he_thinks_he/
I hadn't thought of this, but fans may do the NBA/College basketball thing where they count it down towards the end inaccurately if it's the opposing pitcher. Supposedly this was a thing in the minors.
Quote:
I hope we introduce the shot clock countdown fan element against opposing teams. I just imagine NY giving Kenley hell when they play Boston
Quote:
Fans need to do the big brain move of counting down early in the first 6 innings, then starting the countdown late in the last 3 innings so players think they have more time.
Quote:
I was at a minor league game last year where people counted down early and the opposing pitcher rushed his pitch and threw multiple wild pitches in a row. It was pretty funny.
would disagree.
and to whatever extent...if it happened during his tenure...it goes on his ledger.
and in this instance...positive side of the ledger
and to whatever extent...if it happened during his tenure...it goes on his ledger.
and in this instance...positive side of the ledger
Can someone PLEASE try and justify THIS?
Houston Astros
Additions: 1B Jose Abreu (re-signed OF Michael Brantley and RHP Rafael Montero)
Departures: RHP Justin Verlander, 1B Yuli Gurriel, UT Aledmys Diaz, 1B Trey Mancini
The biggest mistake most World Series champions make is to simply bring everyone back and expect the same results. That's mostly what the Astros did in an offseason spent without a general manager after owner Jim Crane parted ways with James Click in early November and didn't hire Dana Brown until late January. The Astros made an upgrade at first base with Abreu, who had an interesting season with the White Sox: less power than ever (15 home runs) but a higher average with fewer strikeouts. I'm skeptical about how the three-year deal plays out at Abreu's age, but it should work for 2023. They still have enviable rotation and bullpen depth, but you don't just replace a Cy Young winner who went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA. The lineup is now also counting on four players in their 30s in Abreu (36), Brantley (36), Martin Maldonado (36) and Jose Altuve (33). Signing Cristian Javier to a five-year extension that runs through 2027 helps boost the overall offseason grade.
Grade: C+"
Houston Astros
Additions: 1B Jose Abreu (re-signed OF Michael Brantley and RHP Rafael Montero)
Departures: RHP Justin Verlander, 1B Yuli Gurriel, UT Aledmys Diaz, 1B Trey Mancini
The biggest mistake most World Series champions make is to simply bring everyone back and expect the same results. That's mostly what the Astros did in an offseason spent without a general manager after owner Jim Crane parted ways with James Click in early November and didn't hire Dana Brown until late January. The Astros made an upgrade at first base with Abreu, who had an interesting season with the White Sox: less power than ever (15 home runs) but a higher average with fewer strikeouts. I'm skeptical about how the three-year deal plays out at Abreu's age, but it should work for 2023. They still have enviable rotation and bullpen depth, but you don't just replace a Cy Young winner who went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA. The lineup is now also counting on four players in their 30s in Abreu (36), Brantley (36), Martin Maldonado (36) and Jose Altuve (33). Signing Cristian Javier to a five-year extension that runs through 2027 helps boost the overall offseason grade.
Grade: C+"
I bet we get Cs every year when we lose guys like Cole, Springer, Correa and JV and replace them internally. And every year the AL runs through Houston.
they hate us cause they aint usAll I do is Nguyen said:
Can someone PLEASE try and justify THIS?
Houston Astros
Additions: 1B Jose Abreu (re-signed OF Michael Brantley and RHP Rafael Montero)
Departures: RHP Justin Verlander, 1B Yuli Gurriel, UT Aledmys Diaz, 1B Trey Mancini
The biggest mistake most World Series champions make is to simply bring everyone back and expect the same results. That's mostly what the Astros did in an offseason spent without a general manager after owner Jim Crane parted ways with James Click in early November and didn't hire Dana Brown until late January. The Astros made an upgrade at first base with Abreu, who had an interesting season with the White Sox: less power than ever (15 home runs) but a higher average with fewer strikeouts. I'm skeptical about how the three-year deal plays out at Abreu's age, but it should work for 2023. They still have enviable rotation and bullpen depth, but you don't just replace a Cy Young winner who went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA. The lineup is now also counting on four players in their 30s in Abreu (36), Brantley (36), Martin Maldonado (36) and Jose Altuve (33). Signing Cristian Javier to a five-year extension that runs through 2027 helps boost the overall offseason grade.
Grade: C+"
LOL that he thinks we're counting on Maldonado
welcome to last night OKC and the fake news
A lot has already been said on the topic, but my issue with the rule is it aims to fix an issue that occurs approximately 2% (37 / 2,430) of an overall season.Beau Holder said:
Minority opinion but I don't really have an issue with it for regular season games. It's a long season with a ton of games and a lot of travel and weeknights. If it were in the playoffs, I'd riot.
I love baseball as much as anyone but don't need to see a 15-inning knock-down drag-out on a Tuesday night in May.
The 12+ inning game is rare and isn't really saving the wear and tear it supposedly claims to be saving. It's a rule for a rule's sake.
A reliver gives up a seeing eye single on the first pitch and the game is over without the winning team ever having to earn that guy on 2nd base all to fix an issue occurring 2% of the time. Just doesn't sit well with me.
Here's a paragraph from the article below:
"Approximately 10 percent of regular season games go to extra innings, historically. Last year 223 of 2,430 regular season games went to extra innings, or 9.2 percent. With the extra-innings tiebreaker rule, only seven games have gone as long as 13 innings the last three seasons. There were 37 13-inning games in 2019 alone, the last year with "normal" extra-inning rules."
MLB ghost runner rule: League makes extra-innings change permanent for regular-season games, per report - CBSSports.com
AustinCountyAg said:
welcome to last night OKC and the fake news
My bad, guys. I must have missed that. Carry on.
When you're at the top, its less common to go out and throw stupid money at guys like deGrom, Turner, Boegarts, etc. All the teams that did that got a high off-season grade. But off-season grades, don't win you baseball games.All I do is Nguyen said:
Can someone PLEASE try and justify THIS?
Houston Astros
Additions: 1B Jose Abreu (re-signed OF Michael Brantley and RHP Rafael Montero)
Departures: RHP Justin Verlander, 1B Yuli Gurriel, UT Aledmys Diaz, 1B Trey Mancini
The biggest mistake most World Series champions make is to simply bring everyone back and expect the same results. That's mostly what the Astros did in an offseason spent without a general manager after owner Jim Crane parted ways with James Click in early November and didn't hire Dana Brown until late January. The Astros made an upgrade at first base with Abreu, who had an interesting season with the White Sox: less power than ever (15 home runs) but a higher average with fewer strikeouts. I'm skeptical about how the three-year deal plays out at Abreu's age, but it should work for 2023. They still have enviable rotation and bullpen depth, but you don't just replace a Cy Young winner who went 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA. The lineup is now also counting on four players in their 30s in Abreu (36), Brantley (36), Martin Maldonado (36) and Jose Altuve (33). Signing Cristian Javier to a five-year extension that runs through 2027 helps boost the overall offseason grade.
Grade: C+"
Look at 2022.
Braves A good team stayed good, but couldn't replicate its 2021 success
Dodgers A Same ole Dodgers
Twins A- couldn't win the worst division in baseball
Tigers B+ almost lost 100 games
Giants B fell off the face of the earth after 107 wins
Rangers B still sucked
Brewers B missed the postseason
Cubs B- pretty much no improvement from its mediocre 21 season
Reds B- lost 100 games
Houston Astros
Additions/re-signings: Justin Verlander, Hector Neris
Other than re-signing Verlander for $25 million (with a conditional player option of $25 million for 2023 if he pitches 130 innings), it has been a quiet offseason for the Astros. They were rumored to be in on Carlos Correa post-lockout, but they apparently stuck with a five-year, $160 million offer. Given Correa's eventual deal with the Twins, it seems odd the Astros weren't willing to beat that. Their current $192 million payroll is still some $37 million below the $230 million luxury tax threshold. Granted, there weren't a lot of holes to fill, and they did bring back Verlander on what is essentially a two-year deal.
Grade: C
The World Series Champions got a flipping C
Let's play a game. Rank the following pitchers 1-3. Which one is the ace? All aces? No aces?
Pitcher A
ERA 2.95
ERA- 73
WHIP 1.19
FIP 3.44
xFIP 3.23
SIERA 3.40
Barrel% 8.3%
Hard Hit% 37.2%
K% 22.8%
BB% 8.89%
K-BB% 13.9%
Pitcher B
ERA 2.96
ERA- 70
WHIP 1.22
FIP 3.51
xFIP 3.66
SIERA 4.00
Barrel% 5.2%
Hard Hit% 38.4%
K% 26.7%
BB% 11.1%
K-BB% 15.6%
Pitcher C
ERA 2.95
ERA- 73
WHIP 1.04
FIP 3.68
xFIP 3.86
SIERA 3.46
Barrel% 5.8%
Hard Hit% 42.7%
K% 32.1%
BB% 10.4%
K-BB% 21.7%
Pitcher A
ERA 2.95
ERA- 73
WHIP 1.19
FIP 3.44
xFIP 3.23
SIERA 3.40
Barrel% 8.3%
Hard Hit% 37.2%
K% 22.8%
BB% 8.89%
K-BB% 13.9%
Pitcher B
ERA 2.96
ERA- 70
WHIP 1.22
FIP 3.51
xFIP 3.66
SIERA 4.00
Barrel% 5.2%
Hard Hit% 38.4%
K% 26.7%
BB% 11.1%
K-BB% 15.6%
Pitcher C
ERA 2.95
ERA- 73
WHIP 1.04
FIP 3.68
xFIP 3.86
SIERA 3.46
Barrel% 5.8%
Hard Hit% 42.7%
K% 32.1%
BB% 10.4%
K-BB% 21.7%
I'd say better than average on many of them. I'd say C is likely the ace. The others are likely #2 starters?
It's impossible to say without seeing the W-L record
A: 70%Deluxe said:
It's impossible to say without seeing the W-L record
B: 74%
C: 60%
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