8 year old Nicky from Katy lost his Grammie (Great Grandmother) this month. At Sunday’s @astros game he held up a sign “Astros hit a HR for my Grammie!” So when @JoseAltuve27 hit his Grand Slam HR & @gunnarhollier6 caught the ball, he gave it to Nicky! Wow what a moment! @KHOU pic.twitter.com/8YzVR5y7Q1
— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) May 30, 2023
***** 2023 Houston Astros Season Thread *****
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Last: 1 yr ago by texasaggie2015
Got a little misty in here. That's a moment that boy will never forget.
I love how he had zero hesitation about who to give the ball to
taking the kiddos tonight with their buddy club tickets....three rows from the top.
It was either those or the first three rows of the 400s, which are terrible seats with the rails in the way.
It was either those or the first three rows of the 400s, which are terrible seats with the rails in the way.
Everybody on here keeps assuming the Rangers are going to fall off.
I think it's time that we consider that probably will not happen. They are just flat out good and not the same rangers from previous years. Made a lot of big moves over the last two off-seasons and they are paying off.
I think it's time that we consider that probably will not happen. They are just flat out good and not the same rangers from previous years. Made a lot of big moves over the last two off-seasons and they are paying off.
They will face some adversity at some point. So far, they have not.tjack16 said:
Everybody on here keeps assuming the Rangers are going to fall off.
I think it's time that we consider that probably will not happen. They are just flat out good and not the same rangers from previous years. Made a lot of big moves over the last two off-seasons and they are paying off.
It may not be a fall off, but they will face some struggles. They have several guys on career-year paces, and chances are they won't be able to keep that up.
Farmer likely has more insight --- I think he made a post awhile back on this.
Right now I'd put the Rangers as a likely 95 win team. And I think we are too. The division will likely come down to the final games IMO.
95 wins is falling off. They're on pace for 104.
Farmer1906 said:
95 wins is falling off. They're on pace for 104.
To me "falling off" is like what happened to the Angels last year. Like first place to missing playoffs.
Winning 95 games and getting the 3 or 4 seed isn't really falling off.
My point is people on here are dismissing them solely based on previous years, and that is foolish. They are a really good team that is a threat.
Hot take: I'm personally ready to cut bait with the olds who are either hurt or underperforming:
Brantley
McCullers
Abreu
Get what pitching you can.
Start Jouks to LF. Yordan to 1st. Rotate Dubon to rest starters and get regular at bats.
Lineup:
Dubon (DH)
Altuve
Bregman
Alverez
Tucker
Peña
Jouks
Meyers
Maldy
Bench:
McCormick
Salazar
Diaz
Brantley
McCullers
Abreu
Get what pitching you can.
Start Jouks to LF. Yordan to 1st. Rotate Dubon to rest starters and get regular at bats.
Lineup:
Dubon (DH)
Altuve
Bregman
Alverez
Tucker
Peña
Jouks
Meyers
Maldy
Bench:
McCormick
Salazar
Diaz
Strategy said:
Hot take: I'm personally ready to cut bait with the olds who are either hurt or underperforming:
Brantley
McCullers
Abreu
Get what pitching you can.
Start Jouks to LF. Yordan to 1st. Rotate Dubon to rest starters and get regular at bats.
Lineup:
Dubon (DH)
Altuve
Bregman
Alverez
Tucker
Peña
Jouks
Meyers
Maldy
Bench:
McCormick
Salazar
Diaz
Username DOES NOT check out
That is a scorching hot take.
I think many of us here realize the Rangers have finally put together a competitive team.
But -- they've also had a relatively easy schedule.
There is a lot of ball left, and with how hot they've started, it's going to be a battle until the end. We've had one series against them, and the Astros were nowhere near full strength. We started Julks and Hensley in some of those games.
If we are trailing at the ASB, then we need to be concerned. At this point, we need to just get healthy. Altuve is back, so that's a start. Uncle Mike hopefully will be here at some point this season. Imagine getting MB back at the ASB, it's like trading for an extra bat without giving up anything.
I'm not counting on LMJ. Urquidy will be back. France is getting valuable innings and Bielak will hopefully go back to his home in AAA.
But -- they've also had a relatively easy schedule.
There is a lot of ball left, and with how hot they've started, it's going to be a battle until the end. We've had one series against them, and the Astros were nowhere near full strength. We started Julks and Hensley in some of those games.
If we are trailing at the ASB, then we need to be concerned. At this point, we need to just get healthy. Altuve is back, so that's a start. Uncle Mike hopefully will be here at some point this season. Imagine getting MB back at the ASB, it's like trading for an extra bat without giving up anything.
I'm not counting on LMJ. Urquidy will be back. France is getting valuable innings and Bielak will hopefully go back to his home in AAA.
Arlington is what Oakland was in 2020 and 2021. I welcome the tougher competition in the division, and they've had more than enough time to finally get their sh*t together. I wouldn't sleep on Seattle either.
I'm not sweating winning the West this year. If it happens, great. We all know by this point that this team knows how to play when it matters the most and has already shown the ability to flip the switch when really needed this season. They know how to win a marathon and most importantly get themselves in position later in the season.
I'm not sweating winning the West this year. If it happens, great. We all know by this point that this team knows how to play when it matters the most and has already shown the ability to flip the switch when really needed this season. They know how to win a marathon and most importantly get themselves in position later in the season.
I think they fall off from their current pace but are still around and competitive by the end. They won't fall off and disappear
I think when it's all said and done we win the West by 5 games and the Rangers take a WC spot.
I think when it's all said and done we win the West by 5 games and the Rangers take a WC spot.
Strategy said:
Hot take: I'm personally ready to cut bait with the olds who are either hurt or underperforming:
Brantley
McCullers
Abreu
Get what pitching you can.
Start Jouks to LF. Yordan to 1st. Rotate Dubon to rest starters and get regular at bats.
Lineup:
Dubon (DH)
Altuve
Bregman
Alverez
Tucker
Peña
Jouks
Meyers
Maldy
Bench:
McCormick
Salazar
Diaz
The contracts are guaranteed. Cutting bait costs literally the same as continuing to let them rehab and hope to get something from them.
Speaking of Uncle Mike, is he just completely shut down right now?
Not completely.
Dana mentioned on his 790 spot this weekend that he's working out and traveling with the team but not swinging.
Inflammation is going down but needs to decrease a bit more for him to take live BP.
Also mentioned Mike's value as a coach. Says he watches BP from behind the cage and provides input when asked.
Dana mentioned on his 790 spot this weekend that he's working out and traveling with the team but not swinging.
Inflammation is going down but needs to decrease a bit more for him to take live BP.
Also mentioned Mike's value as a coach. Says he watches BP from behind the cage and provides input when asked.
He was instrumental last post-season after we got rocked by the Phillies in game 3 and made a speech to the team that many credited as turning them around (and never losing another game that WS).Ag_07 said:
Not completely.
Dana mentioned on his 790 spot this weekend that he's working out and traveling with the team but not swinging.
Inflammation is going down but needs to decrease a bit more for him to take live BP.
Also mentioned Mike's value as a coach. Says he watches BP from behind the cage and provides input when asked.
I love the fact he's traveling with the team and can provide benefits besides his bat...although I'd REALLY like his bat back in the lineup as would we all.
Yainer Diaz is now 6th in all baseball (min 50 BIP) in the difference between wOBA & xwOBA. 4th for SLG difference & 27th for BA difference. Not only is he getting screwed by Dusty, but he's one of the unluckiest players around. On the flip side, Corey Julks is 16th in overperformance with a wOBA 0.047 points higher than expected. Not only is he getting tons of opportunities over potentially better players, but he's also one of the luckier players.
Now for pitchers, Rafael Montero is 2nd in wOBA vs xwOBA & 5th in ERA & xERA. His xERA is still 3.99 (not great) but it is worlds better than the actual (6.97). The luckiest SOB on the staff = Brandon Bielak & Phil Maton. Bielak is 6th in xERA vs ERA while Brother Phil is 7th in xwOBA vs wOBA. But don't get it twisted, Maton is still elite this year. His overall xwOBA is ranked 10th in baseball and second on the team behind Neris.
Still waiting for the Framingham score or WASRFAAP
Hope everyone is doing well. I haven't posted in a while but glad to see this thread is mostly condensed back down to the regulars.
All things considered sitting here at Memorial Day, the W-L is about where I thought it would be. Not surprised we're still a few games back but I am surprised it's the Rangers and not the Mariners. I don't find myself too concerned about our AL West competition though. If we take care of our business, we'll be fine.
Honestly, I've enjoyed watching us play over the first few months. I'm glad we've had a chance to play some young guys. In a weird way, it's nice to see us face a little adversity after how seemingly easy everything was from June forward last year.
Not worried about the bullpen at all. Not even Montero. They'll find their rhythm when the time is right.
I suspect our offense will be hit or miss at times again this year. Whatever. Right now I just wanna see Bregman and Abreu get going. If they're still sputtering in late July, I'll up my concern level a little.
Of all the adversity we've faced so far this year though, I think the LuAce injury was the biggest kick in the nuts. By far. Still pisses me off because I think he was on the verge of a breakout season. In a way, it was season-altering in terms of how we manage innings, rest guys, and the depth advantage we enjoy over our AL competition. The further our LMJ's timeline gets pushed, the more the LuAce injury stings.
With that in mind, I think June will be a critical month. Perhaps more so than years' past. Typically June is when I'm ready to start kicking ass. This year we really need the bottom half of the rotation to hold up and bridge us to July when we (cross fingers) get LMJ and Urquidy back. France/Bielak have been solid. We really need that to continue.
Love the top of our rotation though. I'll go to battle in a playoff series with Framber, Javier and Hunter against anyone. All three are top 15 pitchers in AL per Fangraphs WAR.
All things considered sitting here at Memorial Day, the W-L is about where I thought it would be. Not surprised we're still a few games back but I am surprised it's the Rangers and not the Mariners. I don't find myself too concerned about our AL West competition though. If we take care of our business, we'll be fine.
Honestly, I've enjoyed watching us play over the first few months. I'm glad we've had a chance to play some young guys. In a weird way, it's nice to see us face a little adversity after how seemingly easy everything was from June forward last year.
Not worried about the bullpen at all. Not even Montero. They'll find their rhythm when the time is right.
I suspect our offense will be hit or miss at times again this year. Whatever. Right now I just wanna see Bregman and Abreu get going. If they're still sputtering in late July, I'll up my concern level a little.
Of all the adversity we've faced so far this year though, I think the LuAce injury was the biggest kick in the nuts. By far. Still pisses me off because I think he was on the verge of a breakout season. In a way, it was season-altering in terms of how we manage innings, rest guys, and the depth advantage we enjoy over our AL competition. The further our LMJ's timeline gets pushed, the more the LuAce injury stings.
With that in mind, I think June will be a critical month. Perhaps more so than years' past. Typically June is when I'm ready to start kicking ass. This year we really need the bottom half of the rotation to hold up and bridge us to July when we (cross fingers) get LMJ and Urquidy back. France/Bielak have been solid. We really need that to continue.
Love the top of our rotation though. I'll go to battle in a playoff series with Framber, Javier and Hunter against anyone. All three are top 15 pitchers in AL per Fangraphs WAR.
Last year I took a pre-Memorial Day hiatus from posting and we won the World Series. So if we don't win it this year, it's not my fault.
Glad you're back
Glad you are back and posting, Deluxe!
Completely agree with you on LuAce. Felt he was going to really have a good year. Just have to wait till next year!
Completely agree with you on LuAce. Felt he was going to really have a good year. Just have to wait till next year!
This is not all-inclusive. These are just a few that caught my eye and happen to fit into the current window of games played. My point is that <1/3 into the season doesn't tell the full story. Potentially large swings are coming for several teams.
~53 games into 2022
Yankees - on pace for 116, won 99 (-17)
Brewers - on pace for 97, won 86 (-11)
Padres - on pace for 98, won 89 (-7)
~53 games in 2021
Mets - on pace for 92, won 77 (-15)
And it goes the other way too
Tigers - on pace for 67, won 77 (+10)
~53 games in 2019
Padres - on pace for 87, won 70 (-17)
Phillies - on pace for 97, won 81 (-16)
Cubs - on pace for 97, won 84 (-13)
Indians - on pace for 83, won 93 (+10)
~53 games into 2022
Yankees - on pace for 116, won 99 (-17)
Brewers - on pace for 97, won 86 (-11)
Padres - on pace for 98, won 89 (-7)
~53 games in 2021
Mets - on pace for 92, won 77 (-15)
And it goes the other way too
Tigers - on pace for 67, won 77 (+10)
~53 games in 2019
Padres - on pace for 87, won 70 (-17)
Phillies - on pace for 97, won 81 (-16)
Cubs - on pace for 97, won 84 (-13)
Indians - on pace for 83, won 93 (+10)
It really was, wasn't it?Deluxe said:
Honestly, I've enjoyed watching us play over the first few months. I'm glad we've had a chance to play some young guys. In a weird way, it's nice to see us face a little adversity after how seemingly easy everything was from June forward last year.
After the 11-10 start we pretty much did whatever the hell we wanted to.
May 21-8
June 16-9
July 19-9
August 17-11
September 18-8
Oct 4-1
Postseason 11-2
106-48 (.688 or 112 wins if played over 162 games)
Salazar getting the start at C tonight. Ugh.
Good to see you, Deluxe.
Now, where is Porkchop??
Now, where is Porkchop??
Guess Julks is an everyday player now while Chas/Meyers platoon, Dubon gets spot starts, and Diaz is limited to 1 start a week.
Astros lineup with Brandon Bielak on the mound. pic.twitter.com/JjNJrQrLbd
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) May 30, 2023
Salazar Slytherin sighting
I'll take the positive view and say at least the top six is set about the right way now.
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