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

1,021,983 Views | 11245 Replies | Last: 10 mo ago by Lonestar_Ag09
W
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:24p, 11/9/23
AG
Mount Rushmore for Houston

1. Altuve
2. Watt
3. Biggio
4. Hakeem or Earl

I think Biggio is more beloved and much more visible in Houston (after his playing days) than Hakeem (despite the titles) and Earl

if Watt can be on the list without a championship...so can Bidge

Nolan Ryan would be a strong candidate for the "state of Texas" Mount Rushmore as opposed to the City of Houston
Reply Quote
1
JDUB08AG
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:27p, 11/9/23
AG
I love Biggio and baseball way more than NBA, but Hakeem had the greatest sports impact on this city ever. Altuve is the only one that comes close.
Reply Quote
9
Farmer1906
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to W • 9:30p, 11/9/23
AG
Hakeem the Dream Olajuwon is a lock. He brought us not one but two titles. Not only that it was the first title for Houston. And it's basketball. A sport where 1 player makes more impact than anyone. Dream is that guy.
Reply Quote
10
tjack16
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:47p, 11/9/23
AG
Altuve
Hakeem
Biggio
Earl

That's my Mount Rushmore.

My 5th is Nolan Ryan
Reply Quote
Lonestar_Ag09
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to W • 10:02p, 11/9/23
AG
W said:
Mount Rushmore for Houston

1. Altuve
2. Watt
3. Biggio
4. Hakeem or Earl

I think Biggio is more beloved and much more visible in Houston (after his playing days) than Hakeem (despite the titles) and Earl

if Watt can be on the list without a championship...so can Bidge

Nolan Ryan would be a strong candidate for the "state of Texas" Mount Rushmore as opposed to the City of Houston

This is the correct answer. You'll never convince me that anyone actually cares about basketball in this town. My only change would be to list #4 as Earl/Hakeem

But I absolutely think there top three are Altuve, Watt and Biggio

Edit to say, not saying people don't care about the Rockets. But those who do care more about Astros or Texans.
Reply Quote
1 edit
TarponChaser
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Lonestar_Ag09 • 10:18p, 11/9/23
Lonestar_Ag09 said:
W said:
Mount Rushmore for Houston

1. Altuve
2. Watt
3. Biggio
4. Hakeem or Earl

I think Biggio is more beloved and much more visible in Houston (after his playing days) than Hakeem (despite the titles) and Earl

if Watt can be on the list without a championship...so can Bidge

Nolan Ryan would be a strong candidate for the "state of Texas" Mount Rushmore as opposed to the City of Houston

This is the correct answer. You'll never convince me that anyone actually cares about basketball in this town. My only change would be to list #4 as Earl/Hakeem

But I absolutely think there top three are Altuve, Watt and Biggio

Edit to say, not saying people don't care about the Rockets. But those who do care more about Astros or Texans.


Just because you weren't born yet when the Rockets won. This town was insane over those championships. The Richmond Strip was a scene.
Reply Quote
22
Mathguy64
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:20p, 11/9/23
AG
I saw (then) Akeem and the Coogs at G Rollie. Back then he would swat anything and everything close to the rim. Balls were sent flying into the stands like crazy. It was either swat balls or dunk. Those were his two skills.

He's not only on the Mt Rushmore in Houston he is on the big man Mt Rushmore for all pro basketball. Dream, Wilt, Kareem and Bill Russell. I still get the giggles watching him make Robinson his personal ***** in the playoffs that year.

Altuve
Dream
JJ
Earl
Bidge
Reply Quote
4
SpaceCityAg05
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Lonestar_Ag09 • 10:21p, 11/9/23
AG
I just cannot agree with this take. I am a baseball lifer, with football in second and basketball a distant third.

You will not find a bigger Biggio fan than I am. He was my idol growing up and my literal shadow model on the diamond.

Nonetheless:
A) Altuve has jumped Biggio and Bagwell on the Houston Rushmore.
B) Even if basketball is not at the top of your list (it is not for me either), Hakeem is on Rushmore.

Houston has 4 all-time championships that anyone cares about. Altuve and Hakeem are at the top with those 2 each. Those 2 spots on Rushmore are non-negotiable. Past those two, you can argue remaining spots with Biggio, Bagwell, Ryan, Watt, Campbell, etc.

I think Houston as a city is:
1) Football
2) Baseball
3) Basketball

But Houston football has an empty trophy case and Altuve and Hakeem have brought the hardware home.
Reply Quote
7
1 edit
texasaggie2015
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Lonestar_Ag09 • 10:31p, 11/9/23
AG
Hakeem is way ahead of Biggio. Way ahead.
Reply Quote
27
cc10106
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:40p, 11/9/23
While I'm glad the Texans seemingly have put all the BS behind them and have a bright future, sometimes I wish the fans would tap the brakes and wait to win ANYTHING meaningful before yapping about how much this is a football city. Dunno how many times I've had to had to hear how much bigger the parade will be if they ever won a Super Bowl. No ****, Sherlock.

Sorry to rant, but it blows my mind how much some folks here take for granted what the Astros have accomplished and will moving forward. Sad, really.
Reply Quote
Sex Panther
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:42p, 11/9/23
AG
The Clutch City era was MASSIVE. and the Rockets (and Olajuwon) were wildly popular everywhere during that run... not just in Houston. Hakeem is just a quiet guy and doesn't seek the spotlight... and I love JJ of course, but like someone else said, he's a pretty big attention seeker. Don't get me wrong - he's done so much for the city and is a genuinely great dude, but it definitely all seems a little calculated... which is ok.

Also, remember Dream played at UH and they were a huge, huge deal when he was in college along with Drexler and Phi Slamma Jamma and the back-to-back championship game appearances. And he's won just about every award there is.

Take the recency bias of Altuve out and the fact the Astros have been the darlings of the city for a long time, and truthfully Olajuwon might be #1
Reply Quote
13
SpaceCityAg05
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Sex Panther • 10:55p, 11/9/23
AG
That is my point: Altuve and Hakeem are now 1 and 2 in whatever order you choose with a lot of great players to fight over for 3 and 4.
Reply Quote
8
Ag_07
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:03p, 11/9/23
AG
Damn...Jim needs to hire a manager.
Reply Quote
12
The Porkchop Express
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
11:11p, 11/9/23
AG
If you weren't around for those days, the Rockets' impact can't be understated. The Astros hadn't been to the playoffs in almost a decade and we were still in the Oiler Buffalo choke era.

Hakeem was unstoppable, pure and simple, and long before Astros-Yankees, he showed that the difference between him and Patrick Ewing was the size of the Grand Canyon and we beat those New York *******s and won a ring for it.

First doesn't mean best, but first means a lot. First title for a city that suffered like ours never loses its power.
Reply Quote
19
Big Bucks
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Porkchop Express • 6:24a, 11/10/23
AG
The Porkchop Express said:
If you weren't around for those days, the Rockets' impact can't be understated. The Astros hadn't been to the playoffs in almost a decade and we were still in the Oiler Buffalo choke era.

Hakeem was unstoppable, pure and simple, and long before Astros-Yankees, he showed that the difference between him and Patrick Ewing was the size of the Grand Canyon and we beat those New York *******s and won a ring for it.

First doesn't mean best, but first means a lot. First title for a city that suffered like ours never loses its power.


Well said.
Reply Quote
1
tjack16
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:37a, 11/10/23
AG
Question for yall: if all 3 major sports teams in Houston were all at the level the Astros are at now (so basically always in title contention, winning a couple). What would the order of interest be for the city of Houston?

For me it'll always be Astros first. But for the "city of Houston fans" would it go

1. Texans
2. Astros
3. Rockets

Or flip Astros and rockets?
Reply Quote
1 edit
JYDog90
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:57a, 11/10/23
AG
I think the Astros have permanently flipped the dynamic and we are primarily an Astros town now.
Formerly Willy Wonka
Reply Quote
5
Eso si, Que es
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to JYDog90 • 7:00a, 11/10/23
Willy Wonka said:
I think the Astros have permanently flipped the dynamic and we are primarily an Astros town now.


I agree. I know a lot of people who are football fans that just aren't big Texans fans. With the Oilers leaving town and the Texans never being much above average, older Houstonians just don't have a strong connection to them.
Reply Quote
6
Farmer1906
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:03a, 11/10/23
AG
Quote:
After a dismal season, the White Sox enter the winter with weaknesses throughout the roster. First-year general manager Chris Getz is tasked with turning things around. He may have to do so with a tighter budget than was afforded to the front office last offseason.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, the ChiSox opened 2023 with roughly $181MM on the books. That's around $12MM shy of their '22 figure, the highest in franchise history. Dan Hayes of the Athletic reports that the Sox are unlikely to match the franchise-record mark and suggests they could scale back relative to their '23 spending level as well.
White Sox Luxury Tax Payroll
2019 - 119.2
2020 - 195.9
2021 - 174.6
2022 - 214.5
2023 - 195.7
2024 - 110.1

Highest Paid Players
Benintendi - 17.1 M (66.4 M remaining)
Moncada - 24.8 M (24.8 M plus Club Options)
Robert Jr - 12.5 M (27.5 M plus Club Options)
Jimenez - 13.8 M (13.8 M plus Club Options)
Cease - 8.8 M (Arb estimate)

I wonder if we were willing to eat someone like Benitendi's terrible contract we could get LuBob more reasonably? Or maybe even Moncada? He's just a big 1-year sum.
Reply Quote
WES2006AG
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to JYDog90 • 7:05a, 11/10/23
AG
Willy Wonka said:
I think the Astros have permanently flipped the dynamic and we are primarily an Astros town now.
You only feel like this because the Texans usually suck. If they were even consistently decent Houston would go back to being a football town first.
Reply Quote
8
07ag
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:45a, 11/10/23
AG
Reply Quote
7
Mr.Bond
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to 07ag • 7:51a, 11/10/23
AG
07ag said:



Breggy a switch hitter now
Im looking for Ray Finkle.... and a clean pair of shorts. Im just a very big Finkle fan. This is my Graceland, sir.


MAGA

Reply Quote
AustinCountyAg
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:07a, 11/10/23
Hypothetically if Sly Turner or SheJack actually created a mount rushmore sports for Houston somewhere it would be

Altuve
Hakeem
JJ
Cynthia Cooper


She doesn't deserve it, but you could bet your sweet ass she'd be on it.
Reply Quote
5
1 edit
PrestigeWorldwideAg12
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to WES2006AG • 8:23a, 11/10/23
WES2006AG said:
Willy Wonka said:
I think the Astros have permanently flipped the dynamic and we are primarily an Astros town now.
You only feel like this because the Texans usually suck. If they were even consistently decent Houston would go back to being a football town first.
If the Texans were undefeated right now, sure they would have a huge following. BUT, the Astros have brought out something larger in the city and state as a whole. It's different and IMHO cannot be compared.
Reply Quote
4
gambochaman
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Ag_07 • 8:36a, 11/10/23
AG
Ag_07 said:
Damn...Jim needs to hire a manager.
So much this

tf is he waiting for?
Reply Quote
agproducer
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
8:40a, 11/10/23
AG
I'll never feel about the Texans the way I felt about the Oilers.

I'd still rather watch Red Zone over Texans, and it's been that way for more than 10 years.

Astros have always been my been my number one with the Oilers close behind. Rockets were a distant number 3.

That being said, for me it's:
Astros



Texans
Rockets

Reply Quote
5
Lonestar_Ag09
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to TarponChaser • 9:45a, 11/10/23
AG
TarponChaser said:
Lonestar_Ag09 said:
W said:
Mount Rushmore for Houston

1. Altuve
2. Watt
3. Biggio
4. Hakeem or Earl

I think Biggio is more beloved and much more visible in Houston (after his playing days) than Hakeem (despite the titles) and Earl

if Watt can be on the list without a championship...so can Bidge

Nolan Ryan would be a strong candidate for the "state of Texas" Mount Rushmore as opposed to the City of Houston

This is the correct answer. You'll never convince me that anyone actually cares about basketball in this town. My only change would be to list #4 as Earl/Hakeem

But I absolutely think there top three are Altuve, Watt and Biggio

Edit to say, not saying people don't care about the Rockets. But those who do care more about Astros or Texans.


Just because you weren't born yet when the Rockets won. This town was insane over those championships. The Richmond Strip was a scene.
Thanks but wrong. I was 8-9 and remember sitting on the floor watching the games. It's actually one of the few things I do remember from childhood. My point is basketball is a third tier sport in most of this entire country and especially in Houston Texas. Football reigns supreme even compared to our two time world champion Astros.

And how dumb of a comment when I included Earl Campbell who was BEFORE Hakeem
Reply Quote
agproducer
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:51a, 11/10/23
AG
OK -- enough of this football and basketball talk -- where is our new manager Dana and Jim??
Reply Quote
9
Lonestar_Ag09
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to AustinCountyAg • 9:54a, 11/10/23
AG
AustinCountyAg said:
Hypothetically if Sly Turner or SheJack actually created a mount rushmore sports for Houston somewhere it would be

Altuve
Hakeem
JJ
Cynthia Cooper


She doesn't deserve it, but you could bet your sweet ass she'd be on it.
How sad at how true this is. However a new mayor was just elected wasn't he. And I think her reign might be ending soon, there's a reason she tried running for mayor
Reply Quote
texasaggie2015
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to agproducer • 10:14a, 11/10/23
AG
agproducer said:
OK -- enough of this football and basketball talk -- where is our new manager Dana and Jim??
The more this drags out the more I think Crane doesn't trust Dana as much as he should.

If it was up to Dana, Espada would have been made manager about a week ago.

My concern is Crane is going rogue. And now, instead of focusing on free agency, Dana is having to worry about who the manager is going to be on top of that.
Reply Quote
10
agproducer
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to texasaggie2015 • 10:16a, 11/10/23
AG
texasaggie2015 said:
agproducer said:
OK -- enough of this football and basketball talk -- where is our new manager Dana and Jim??
The more this drags out the more I think Crane doesn't trust Dana as much as he should.

If it was up to Dana, Espada would have been made manager about a week ago.

My concern is Crane is going rogue. And now, instead of focusing on free agency, Dana is having to worry about who the manager is going to be on top of that.
That concerns me too -- or maybe Dana is one of the GMs that got the stomach bug at the meetings
Reply Quote
EastCoastAgNc
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:20a, 11/10/23
AG
Reply Quote
1
Mathguy64
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Lonestar_Ag09 • 10:20a, 11/10/23
AG
Lonestar_Ag09 said:
AustinCountyAg said:
Hypothetically if Sly Turner or SheJack actually created a mount rushmore sports for Houston somewhere it would be

Altuve
Hakeem
JJ
Cynthia Cooper


She doesn't deserve it, but you could bet your sweet ass she'd be on it.
How sad at how true this is. However a new mayor was just elected wasn't he. And I think her reign might be ending soon, there's a reason she tried running for mayor


Whitmire and SheJack are in a run off. And she is still in Congress and didn't have to give up her seat to run for Mayor.
Reply Quote
Wabs
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:21a, 11/10/23
AG
What are the chances that Crane has been working to see if AJ is willing to come back? Maybe that's the holdup?
Reply Quote
WES2006AG
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Wabs • 10:23a, 11/10/23
AG
Wabs said:
What are the chances that Crane has been working to see if AJ is willing to come back? Maybe that's the holdup?
0.0%
Reply Quote
5
First Page Last Page
Page 88 of 322 ▼
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.