***Official Houston Astros 2023-24 Offseason Thread*** [Staff Warning - OP]

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Marvin
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In reply to Farmer1906 • 10:48a, 11/1/23
AG
Farmer1906 said:
Lonestar_Ag09 said:
Farmer1906 said:
KCup17 said:
So this begs the question… What 2 cities would be next for an expansion franchise?


2 of….

Nashville, Salt Lake City, & Charlotte.

I'd say personally Salt Lake and Nashville. I don't believe putting both new teams that far East makes sense but I think Nashville is a better option than Charlotte.

I do like the Montreal option though so that would be third for me.
You know the Braves would fight adding 2 teams in their territory.

The Cardinals probably wouldn't be happy about Nashville either.

Is Utah Dodgers or Rockies country? Neither seems right, they might need a team.


I'm for whatever locations result in fewer west coast games for the Astros.
I love Texas Aggie sports, but I love Texas A&M more.
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The Porkchop Express
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10:50a, 11/1/23
AG
Looking forward to that Colorado-Salt Lake City NLCS when Game 1 is snowed out for 3 weeks
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Beau Holder
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In reply to Farmer1906 • 10:51a, 11/1/23
AG
Jacksonville is the worst large city in America.
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KCup17
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In reply to Beau Holder • 10:51a, 11/1/23
AG
You think they would ever consider NOLA?
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Farmer1906
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In reply to Beau Holder • 10:52a, 11/1/23
AG
Beau Holder said:
Jacksonville is the worst large city in America.
Florida is out. They can't support TB & Miami.
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Beau Holder
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In reply to KCup17 • 10:56a, 11/1/23
AG
Doubt it for a number of reasons, not least how many more years above sea level does it have?
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fc2112
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10:57a, 11/1/23
As a Rangers fan, I think [You should have thought about staying off of this thread. -Staff]
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AustinCountyAg
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In reply to KCup17 • 10:59a, 11/1/23
KCup17 said:
You think they would ever consider NOLA?
no
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Farmer1906
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In reply to fc2112 • 11:00a, 11/1/23
AG
[DON'T QUOTE TROLLING POSTS OR WE WILL LEAVE it UP AND THE ENTIRE DERAIL THAT IT CAUSED. We will also ban the posters that keep a derail going. -Staff]
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Ag_07
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11:08a, 11/1/23
AG
For me Counsell is the perfect mix between using analytics and gut feel.

He always does more with less and comes off as very calm and collected. He played for a long time so he can relate to players in that sense. He has a solid playoff experience as a player and manager.

In a lot of ways he's very similar to Hinch.
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JDUB08AG
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In reply to Marvin • 11:13a, 11/1/23
AG
Marvin said:
So if Montreal gets another team, would they have rights to the Expos or would that stay with the Nationals franchise?

This is important for Immaculate Grid purposes- it might mean the difference between me getting 4/9 versus 5/9, haha.
Apparently only the oilers get boned on franchises moving to another city and retaining the naming rights
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agproducer
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In reply to Wabs • 11:36a, 11/1/23
AG
Wabs said:
The Porkchop Express said:
I'm thinking up an elaborate cheating scandal to accuse them of, and I'm going to post about it for the next 3-5 years repeatedly if they end up winning the WS.
Well they've already been aided by cheater Scherzer. Remember all the careers he ruined by using spider tack his whole career? Surely he didn't just magically stop.
This brings up an interesting conversation. There are a lot of "ifs" -- but:

1. What if it comes out later that Garcia is suspended after testing positive for PEDs or steroids?
2. What if Scherzer was found to be using spider tack in the postseason?

If the Rangers win the WS, would it taint their championship? Would they deserve an asterisk like Rangers fans claim the Astros deserve for 2017?

Would fans across the league be just as mad at the Rangers, calling it a terrible cheating scandal and calling the aforementioned players "cheaters" in every stadium they go to?

I'm not saying either is true. I just think it would be interesting to see the reaction of fans if this happens.

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The Porkchop Express
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11:47a, 11/1/23
AG
No fan of any team in any sport would disclaim a championship won after the fact.

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Wabs
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In reply to agproducer • 11:48a, 11/1/23
AG
agproducer said:
Wabs said:
The Porkchop Express said:
I'm thinking up an elaborate cheating scandal to accuse them of, and I'm going to post about it for the next 3-5 years repeatedly if they end up winning the WS.
Well they've already been aided by cheater Scherzer. Remember all the careers he ruined by using spider tack his whole career? Surely he didn't just magically stop.
This brings up an interesting conversation. There are a lot of "ifs" -- but:

1. What if it comes out later that Garcia is suspended after testing positive for PEDs or steroids?
2. What if Scherzer was found to be using spider tack in the postseason?

If the Rangers win the WS, would it taint their championship? Would they deserve an asterisk like Rangers fans claim the Astros deserve for 2017?

Would fans across the league be just as mad at the Rangers, calling it a terrible cheating scandal and calling the aforementioned players "cheaters" in every stadium they go to?

I'm not saying either is true. I just think it would be interesting to see the reaction of fans if this happens.

Don't you understand the Astros are the only team to ever have cheated and ever will cheat in the future?
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n_touch
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In reply to agproducer • 11:49a, 11/1/23
Not saying that he is juicing or not. MLB could walk in on him getting an injection and they would not suspend him. They are not going to get egg on their face over another Championship and have the public and other teams doing what they are doing to the Astros. Ain't gonna happen.
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AgLA06
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In reply to Farmer1906 • 11:50a, 11/1/23
AG
Farmer1906 said:
KCup17 said:
So this begs the question… What 2 cities would be next for an expansion franchise?


2 of….

Nashville, Salt Lake City, & Charlotte.
Seems crazy that 2 cities with a population of 200k people can support a franchise.

Milwaukee is the smallest metro with a team currently at 1.5M so even Nashville might be a stretch.


https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/03/major-league-baseball-is-back.html#:~:text=The%202021%20Population%20Estimates%20of,smallest%20is%20Milwaukee%20with%201%2C566%2C487.
"The 2021 Population Estimates of the 25 metro areas with MLB teams found the largest is New York with 19,768,458 and the smallest is Milwaukee with 1,566,487."
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iBrad
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In reply to agproducer • 11:51a, 11/1/23
AG
No one would care because they didn't beat any media darlings along the way and MLB isn't going to use them to set an example. No one really cares about Scherzer getting caught the first time.
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AgLA06
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In reply to The Porkchop Express • 11:54a, 11/1/23
AG
The Porkchop Express said:
Looking forward to that Colorado-Salt Lake City NLCS when Game 1 is snowed out for 3 weeks
That happens so much now with all those teams much further north.
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Farmer1906
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In reply to AgLA06 • 12:03p, 11/1/23
AG
AgLA06 said:
Farmer1906 said:
KCup17 said:
So this begs the question… What 2 cities would be next for an expansion franchise?


2 of….

Nashville, Salt Lake City, & Charlotte.
Seems crazy that 2 cities with a population of 200k people can support a franchise.

Milwaukee is the smallest metro with a team currently at 1.5M so even Nashville might be a stretch.


https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/03/major-league-baseball-is-back.html#:~:text=The%202021%20Population%20Estimates%20of,smallest%20is%20Milwaukee%20with%201%2C566%2C487.
"The 2021 Population Estimates of the 25 metro areas with MLB teams found the largest is New York with 19,768,458 and the smallest is Milwaukee with 1,566,487."
They don't seem to be out of line to me.

Metro Population (growth rate last 3 years)
Charlotte - 2.267 (3.80%, 3.38%, 2.86%)
Cincinnati - 1.775 (0.46%, 0.57%, 0.62%)
Cleveland - 1.764 (-0.17%, 0.06%, 0.17%)
Kansas City - 1.725 (0.71%, 0.77%, 0.71%)
Pittsburgh - 1.702 (-0.23%, -0.06%, 0.18%)
Milwaukee - 1.455 (0.28%, 0.35%, 0.48%)
Nashville - 1.315 (1.84%, 1.73%, 1.62%)
Salt Lake City - 1.203 (0.92%, 1.02%, 0.94%)


https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/largest-cities-by-population



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AgLA06
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In reply to Farmer1906 • 12:06p, 11/1/23
AG
That's because those numbers are very different from the census bureau which is where I posted the current MLB metro populations.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/saltlakecitycityutah/PST045222

Shrug
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Farmer1906
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In reply to AgLA06 • 12:11p, 11/1/23
AG
AgLA06 said:
That's because those numbers are very different from the census bureau which is where I posted the current MLB metro populations.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/saltlakecitycityutah/PST045222

Shrug
That ignores the metropolitan area.

Arlington only has 300-400K. But clearly, they're sup[ported by Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding area.

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Big Al 1992
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12:18p, 11/1/23
AG
If you're Counsell and are deciding between Mets and Astros, Astros every time even if Mets are money whipping him. NY media, dumpster fire last year Vs championship caliber team right off the bat and winning culture.
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Red Five
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12:20p, 11/1/23
AG
I hope the Astros hire Counsell for no other reason than the fact that he had the stupidest batting stance in the history of Major League Baseball.
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Beat40
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In reply to Big Al 1992 • 12:36p, 11/1/23
Big Al 1992 said:
If you're Counsell and are deciding between Mets and Astros, Astros every time even if Mets are money whipping him. NY media, dumpster fire last year Vs championship caliber team right off the bat and winning culture.
Except for the fact they just hired Stearns, who was with the Astros from 2013 thru 2015, is very analytical in his own right and is highly regarded. He will most likely implement some things very, very similar to the Astros, which was JVs main complaint. Combine that with almost unlimited money, and the Mets become extremely attractive.

I don't think in the next 2 years the Mets will be anything like the Mets this past year.
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cc10106
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12:44p, 11/1/23
Which hire would piss off MLB the most? I'm all for that one.

(I'm still pulling for Espada as long as it's not Ausmus.)
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Farmer1906
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In reply to cc10106 • 12:49p, 11/1/23
AG
cc10106 said:
Which hire would piss off MLB the most? I'm all for that one.

(I'm still pulling for Espada as long as it's not Ausmus.)
Manager & President of Baseball Ops
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Hub `93
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In reply to Red Five • 12:53p, 11/1/23
AG
Red Five said:
I hope the Astros hire Counsell for no other reason than the fact that he had the stupidest batting stance in the history of Major League Baseball.
Put Kimbrel down as pitching coach material.
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AgLA06
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In reply to Big Al 1992 • 12:55p, 11/1/23
AG
Big Al 1992 said:
If you're Counsell and are deciding between Mets and Astros, Astros every time even if Mets are money whipping him. NY media, dumpster fire last year Vs championship caliber team right off the bat and winning culture.
As big money as it is, fit and relationships still matter. Especially in MLB.

Not everyone is going to be enthusiastic about jumping into our organization considering its widely speculated at issues between the front office and Dusty as well as who may or may not be in Cranes ear.
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Beau Holder
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In reply to Farmer1906 • 1:20p, 11/1/23
AG
Charlotte is a very underrated city, too.
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agproducer
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In reply to iBrad • 1:33p, 11/1/23
AG
iBrad said:
No one would care because they didn't beat any media darlings along the way and MLB isn't going to use them to set an example. No one really cares about Scherzer getting caught the first time.
And that's the point -- isn't it?

The Astros were forced to wear it for everyone.

Cheating has been rampant in baseball in one form or another for years. IT's just a matter of when the league or fans choose to care.
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iBrad
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1:43p, 11/1/23
AG
A lot of it depends on when a whistleblower decides to call out a particular team and how the league responds. It was a similar situation in the NFL with the Patriots and their sign stealing.

But as the Patriots and Astros both proved over time, their "cheating" was not the reason for their success, as the playing field was a lot more even than either league wants to admit. Each league did its best to keep it isolated to one team, rather than uncover the true extent to what was going on.

And despite the punishment and rule changes, both teams kept on winning.
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tjack16
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In reply to agproducer • 2:38p, 11/1/23
AG
agproducer said:
iBrad said:
No one would care because they didn't beat any media darlings along the way and MLB isn't going to use them to set an example. No one really cares about Scherzer getting caught the first time.
And that's the point -- isn't it?

The Astros were forced to wear it for everyone.

Cheating has been rampant in baseball in one form or another for years. IT's just a matter of when the league or fans choose to care.


That can't be true. I was told by many that the Astros are the only team in sports to have ever cheated.
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Wabs
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In reply to tjack16 • 2:43p, 11/1/23
AG
tjack16 said:
agproducer said:
iBrad said:
No one would care because they didn't beat any media darlings along the way and MLB isn't going to use them to set an example. No one really cares about Scherzer getting caught the first time.
And that's the point -- isn't it?

The Astros were forced to wear it for everyone.

Cheating has been rampant in baseball in one form or another for years. IT's just a matter of when the league or fans choose to care.


That can't be true. I was told by many that the Astros are the only team in sports to have ever cheated.
That's what all non-Astros fan say and the way they act, but they for damn sure know that it's a bunch of BS. I think the Astros' continued success just fuels it more. It helps soothe their butthurt and provides a convenient (yet weak) excuse for their team losing to the Astros.
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Marvin
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In reply to fc2112 • 2:48p, 11/1/23
AG
fc2112 said:
As a Rangers fan, I think [You should have thought about staying off of this thread. -Staff]


This was the betaboy that claimed ALL season long that he never looked at the Astros thread or cared about what was said here. And here he is getting rung up on the night his team might win a title. How sad... and absolutely hilarious.

I love Texas Aggie sports, but I love Texas A&M more.
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Ag_07
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2:49p, 11/1/23
AG
Again...I think deep down no one really cares all that much about the actual act of sign stealing.

It's just an excuse to hate us and not come off as jealous.
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