***Official Houston Astros 2022-23 Offseason Thread***

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Mr.Bond
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In reply to CoachRTM • 9:35p, 2/14/23
AG
CoachRTM said:
As someone who plays MLB the Show, I can't trade Luis Garcia away from my team fast enough.

His windup is painful and any game with him takes about 30% longer to get through.



I just go change it in his settings
Im looking for Ray Finkle.... and a clean pair of shorts. Im just a very big Finkle fan. This is my Graceland, sir.


MAGA

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Keeper of The Spirits
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2:04a, 2/15/23
AG
It's a shocking windup everytime I see it
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n_touch
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In reply to YellAg2004 • 7:15a, 2/15/23
YellAg2004 said:
McInnis said:
Has anyone read why they're making the bases larger? Is it supported to reduce injuries?


I think it was player safety (wider target reduces # of collisions between batters/runners and fielders. I can't remember if they explicitly cited it, but I believe it was also done to increase offense. Casual and non-baseball fans always want more offense and more runners and steals will inevitably lead to more runs.
Why not have the pitchers alternate pitching arms every inning? Would save the bullpen, allow pitchers to go deeper into games, and really let the offenses get going.
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AustinCountyAg
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7:56a, 2/15/23
listening to the Sean Salsibury show this morning I had these thoughts about the new larger bases. I've seen that they did it to make it safer (less collisions at bases on slides, bigger base/bigger target to plant and to prevent injuries when rounding the base). Also more action on base paths.

Here are some general thoughts.

1. In terms of twisting ankles with running bases you'd think they could make the crown in the center higher (more pyramid shape). Give runners more of a platform to plant off of when rounding a base?
2. I know the minors saw a 1-2% increase in stolen bags. Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't that only over last season? Is that really that much of a data point to proclaim steals will increase?
3. To reduce collisions they need to increase distance between bags, not decrease. I forsee more bang bang plays at 2nd on double plays, and actually think MORE challenges from teams/umpires.

What does this do to stolen bases records and #'s? Aren't they less significant now since runners aren't traveling as far? Place an * by records and #'s set from year 2023 on?

I think the new base rule is stupid.
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Coby
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In reply to AustinCountyAg • 7:58a, 2/15/23
AG
I think they increased the distance between bases a bit to account for the increased size.
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Moe Jzyslak
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In reply to AustinCountyAg • 8:03a, 2/15/23
AG
Quote:
What does this do to stolen bases records and #'s? Aren't they less significant now since runners aren't traveling as far? Place an * by records and #'s set from year 2023 on?
I think overall the stolen bases won't change much at all across the league with how analytically driven teams are. The harm a caught stealing does outweighs the benefit of a successfully stolen base. We won't suddenly see players hitting 80, 90, or 100 SBs a season
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Wabs
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8:18a, 2/15/23
AG
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Ag_07
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In reply to Wabs • 8:23a, 2/15/23
AG
Maldy better be taking reps in the cage already.
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McInnis
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In reply to Mr.Bond • 8:26a, 2/15/23
AG
Mr.Bond said:
CoachRTM said:
As someone who plays MLB the Show, I can't trade Luis Garcia away from my team fast enough.

His windup is painful and any game with him takes about 30% longer to get through.



I just go change it in his settings
He does that is real life! Sometimes he pitches out of a normal windup even with no one on base. You know the Astros analyze everything so they know his effectiveness both ways. I guess if there was much difference they would try to force him to do always do it one way or another. I wonder how much it annoys batters?
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Eso si, Que es
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In reply to redline248 • 8:27a, 2/15/23
redline248 said:
He did it with guys on 3rd. One runner attempted a steal of home and he cut down the salsa step to throw home. Other team wanted a balk, but didn't get it. Not sure if new directives would result in a balk, but imo changing your delivery like Garcia did on this play isn't illegal.
The way it was explained to me is that a balk is an attempt to deceive the runner. In 2017 mlb implemented the "Price rule" forcing pitchers to declare full wind up or from the stretch when runner is on third, as pitchers sometimes revert to full wind up in that situation. A partial windup is deceitful to the runner, and that is why LuAce was once called for a balk. Since his normal windup is with salsa step, he technically should not be allowed to take it out with a runner on third, or maybe he has to declare it, not sure. Grienke is also not allowed to put in his double leg kick, as it is a variation of his normal wind up and could be considered deceitful to the runner.

This is the price rule:

https://calltothepen.com/2017/03/02/mlb-the-price-rule-helps-umpires-and-takes-effect-in-2017/

Here are the ways a pitcher can balk:

https://danblewett.com/what-is-a-balk-in-baseball/
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EastCoastAgNc
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8:28a, 2/15/23
AG
As an FYI, sounds like they aren't opening up to media until tomorrow, so don't expect to see any news / interviews today. Javier's extension presser will be tomorrow.
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redline248
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In reply to McInnis • 8:28a, 2/15/23
AG
McInnis said:
Mr.Bond said:
CoachRTM said:
As someone who plays MLB the Show, I can't trade Luis Garcia away from my team fast enough.

His windup is painful and any game with him takes about 30% longer to get through.



I just go change it in his settings
He does that is real life! Sometimes he pitches out of a normal windup even with no one on base. You know the Astros analyze everything so they know his effectiveness both ways. I guess if there was much difference they would try to force him to do always do it one way or another. I wonder how much it annoys batters?
I don't think batters care (probably a few exceptions). What Luis does is the same every time. It's way more annoying to face someone like Nestor who has about 37 different windups
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Deluxe
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8:28a, 2/15/23
AG
A few pitcher/catcher non-roster invitees I'm excited to monitor this spring:

C Luke Berryhill - has already flashed a little power in the low/mid minors and supposedly re-worked his swing mechanics to hit the ball harder

P Jayden Murray - unheralded prospect that was steamrolling through the Rays' system when we acquired in the Mancini trade last year

P Misael Tamarez - Dominican arm that reached AAA as a 22 year old last year, fastball velocity has spiked up to the mid/high 90s
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McInnis
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In reply to Eso si, Que es • 8:37a, 2/15/23
AG
Eso si, Que es said:
redline248 said:
He did it with guys on 3rd. One runner attempted a steal of home and he cut down the salsa step to throw home. Other team wanted a balk, but didn't get it. Not sure if new directives would result in a balk, but imo changing your delivery like Garcia did on this play isn't illegal.
The way it was explained to me is that a balk is an attempt to deceive the runner. In 2017 mlb implemented the "Price rule" forcing pitchers to declare full wind up or from the stretch when runner is on third, as pitchers sometimes revert to full wind up in that situation. A partial windup is deceitful to the runner, and that is why LuAce was once called for a balk.

This is the price rule:

https://calltothepen.com/2017/03/02/mlb-the-price-rule-helps-umpires-and-takes-effect-in-2017/

Here are the ways a pitcher can balk:

https://danblewett.com/what-is-a-balk-in-baseball/


A few years ago the company I worked for hired a high powered Washington DC lawyer with a billing rate of $1,000 per hour to help mitigate a tricky wastewater issue with the EPA. He was talking about some complicated regulation and he said it was the most complex rule known to man. Then he added "except for baseball's balk rule". I laughed too loud.
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The Porkchop Express
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9:45a, 2/15/23
AG
10 days until our first spring training game. 2/25 vs. the Mets, trying to figure out how they can overcome the loss of All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa.


It's also 45 days until Opening Day, so I thought we could do a countdown by jersey number with some of our former and current greats (and not so greats). I'm not going to name everyone, but feel free to chime in on who I missed.

So at 45, we have:

Current Astro Kenny Powers



Gerrit Cole, here's a picture of his hot wife instead.




Carlos Lee (2007-2011). 6 years in the H, .286/.338/.479 slash. Had three great years in a row from 2007-2009 where he hit over .300, drove in 100+ HR, and hit at least 26 HR.



Dave Smith: 1980-1990: 2.53 ERA with 199 saves in 11 years including a then-team record 33 in 1986. Also went 3 for 43 at the plate with an RBI. 2 All-Star game appearances. 48th all-time in saves. Smitty was an Astros' original, drafted in the 8th round of the 1976 draft. That was an outrageously ****ty draft for the Astros outside of Smith. They drafted Floyd Bannister with the #1 pick overall. He pitched 29 games in Houston between 1977-1978 and then was traded to the Mariners for Craig Reynolds. The only other name of note from that draft was utility man Jim Pankovits.





Life is better with a beagle
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spadilly
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10:01a, 2/15/23
S
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W
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10:05a, 2/15/23
AG
the tough thing about Dave Smith...he was really bad in the playoffs.

allowed 8 hits, 5 walks, and 4 earned runs in 6.2 career playoff innings...and zero saves
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The Porkchop Express
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In reply to W • 10:12a, 2/15/23
AG
Yeah I just looked that up. Now granted in Game 6 of 86 he was not helped by Hatcher playing really shallow on Dykstra's big hit, but definitely shaky. Pressly blew my mind on how money he was last year in the playoffs.
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07ag
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In reply to EastCoastAgNc • 10:28a, 2/15/23
AG
EastCoastAgNc said:
https://ts.la/eric59704
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EastCoastAgNc
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11:01a, 2/15/23
AG

Lots of local baseball networks are gonna get caught up in this...including the rangers
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The Porkchop Express
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In reply to 07ag • 11:02a, 2/15/23
AG
07ag said:
EastCoastAgNc said:
I don't know if there's ever been a picture begging Photoshop action more than this. Damn you TexaAgs, I've had 2 good days of productivity back to back!
Life is better with a beagle
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The Porkchop Express
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In reply to 07ag • 11:13a, 2/15/23
AG
07ag said:
EastCoastAgNc said:
Life is better with a beagle
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Prosperdick
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In reply to Moe Jzyslak • 11:13a, 2/15/23
AG
Moe Jzyslak said:
Quote:
What does this do to stolen bases records and #'s? Aren't they less significant now since runners aren't traveling as far? Place an * by records and #'s set from year 2023 on?
I think overall the stolen bases won't change much at all across the league with how analytically driven teams are. The harm a caught stealing does outweighs the benefit of a successfully stolen base. We won't suddenly see players hitting 80, 90, or 100 SBs a season
Plus there really isn't any need for asterisks as nobody is touching Ricky's records, big bag or not.
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Ag_07
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In reply to EastCoastAgNc • 11:22a, 2/15/23
AG
EastCoastAgNc said:

Lots of local baseball networks are gonna get caught up in this...including the rangers


It's so poetic because when the Astros weren't on TV they were laughing their asses off at us but here we are with 2 rings and they're in jeopardy of not being able to watch their craptastic team of over paid shortstops finish 30+ GB
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McInnis
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In reply to Moe Jzyslak • 11:27a, 2/15/23
AG
Moe Jzyslak said:
Quote:
What does this do to stolen bases records and #'s? Aren't they less significant now since runners aren't traveling as far? Place an * by records and #'s set from year 2023 on?
I think overall the stolen bases won't change much at all across the league with how analytically driven teams are. The harm a caught stealing does outweighs the benefit of a successfully stolen base. We won't suddenly see players hitting 80, 90, or 100 SBs a season


That's true, for today's game which is dominated by home runs and strikeouts. I hope that eliminating the shift will encourage batters to start trying to make better contact and restoring a little balance to the game, but I'm not holding my breath on that.
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Bulldog73
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11:31a, 2/15/23
AG
I think eliminating the shift will do a lot to bring back small ball. Lots of would be singles were snagged due to a 2B in super shallow RF.
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Farmer1906
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11:36a, 2/15/23
AG
And so it begins….

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Mathguy64
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In reply to The Porkchop Express • 11:46a, 2/15/23
AG
Dave Smith's biggest claim to fame is allowing Billy Hatcher to accidentally use his super ball laden batting practice bat for real which led to a shower of super ball pieces all over the infield. And of course a suspension for Hatcher. Purely an accident wink wink nod nod.
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Hub `93
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11:48a, 2/15/23
AG
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EastCoastAgNc
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11:52a, 2/15/23
AG
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agproducer
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In reply to Ag_07 • 11:54a, 2/15/23
AG
Ag_07 said:
EastCoastAgNc said:

Lots of local baseball networks are gonna get caught up in this...including the rangers


It's so poetic because when the Astros weren't on TV they were laughing their asses off at us but here we are with 2 rings and they're in jeopardy of not being able to watch their craptastic team of over paid shortstops finish 30+ GB
I'm not sure what this means, but apparently, CSN Houston underpaid its rights fees obligations, despite it being one of the top 5 RSNs when the Astros are playing.

https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2023/wbd-att-rsns-light-on-mlb-rights-payments-1234709889/?cx_testId=9&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=3&cx_experienceId=EXAKGDTXOYL0#cxrecs_s
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Mathguy64
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11:59a, 2/15/23
AG
I'm no expert but this feels like a direct consequence of streaming and alternate sources like Roku, Hulu, etc that people now use instead of one integrated provider. All the RSNs aren't monetizing all their providers correctly.
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OKCAg2002
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12:00p, 2/15/23
AG
MLB's distribution rights on networks is so messed up. I just want to be able to buy an MLB.tv streaming package and be able to watch the good guys without a stupid VPN. That shouldn't be so hard. However, the way these networks demand exclusivity makes OKC a "region" for the Houston Astros and we are under blackout restrictions. That's so, so stupid.
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Deluxe
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12:01p, 2/15/23
AG
JJ Matijevic made big strides in the "look test" this offseason
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Moe Jzyslak
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12:05p, 2/15/23
AG
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