I'm no scientist but that sounds like a lot.

I'm also confident enough to throw Randy Arozorena and Bo Bichette out there as other names we've asked about. I can't speak to how in-depth these discussions have been, but we've had conversations with Tampa and Toronto about those guys.

We've also asked about a ton of pitchers across the league. If you think of a name that makes sense, we've very likely asked about them.

Results from the TexAgs Astros Mount Rushmore Vote



Mount Rushmore
Jose Altuve - 28/28
Craig Biggio - 28/28
Jeff Bagwell - 26/28
Nolan Ryan - 15/28

Mount Rushmore - B Team
Justin Verlander - 13/28
Jose Cruz - 12/28
Lance Berkman - 11/28
Billy Wagner - 8/28

Other Votes
Roy Oswalt - 5/28
JR Richard - 5/28
Yordan Alvarez - 4/28
Csar Cedeño - 4/28
Mike Scott - 2/28
Alex Bregman - 2/28
Jimmy Wynn - 2/28
Carlos Correa - 1/28
Larry Dieker - 1/28
George Springer - 1/28

The Yankees did not issue a number 18 jersey last year so that it would remain available for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, per @martinonyc pic.twitter.com/ckDT7n1ccQ

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) November 28, 2023

If they don't get him, they're going to hate that this leaked.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwQ5G1RADig/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
There's crap jobs, and then there's this

Random and not Astros related, but wow........

Camera focused on the wrong person in that photo

Since HOF votes coming out, here is the statical case for Wagner.

Relief Pitchers - Min 900 innings

54 ERA- 2nd to Riviera
63 FIP- 2nd to Riviera
64 xFIP- 1st (keep in mind this stat doesn't go back that far, but he's ahead of Riviera)
71 AVG+ 1st
69 WHIP+ 2nd to Riviera
190 K%+ 1st (2nd place is KRod at 159)
95 BB% 22nd
24.0 fWAR 6th
2.27 SIERA 1st (same of xFIP, newer stat but still ahead of Riviera)

Counting #s aren't bad either.
422 Saves 6th
1196 Strike Outs 6th

He's not the best reliever of all time, but he's in the conversation with Hoffman, Gossage, Fingers, Eckersley, K Rod, & Smith.

Farmer1906 said:

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Results from the TexAgs Astros Mount Rushmore Vote



Mount Rushmore
Jose Altuve - 28/28
Craig Biggio - 28/28
Jeff Bagwell - 26/28
Nolan Ryan - 15/28

Mount Rushmore - B Team
Justin Verlander - 13/28
Jose Cruz - 12/28
Lance Berkman - 11/28
Billy Wagner - 8/28

Other Votes
Roy Oswalt - 5/28
JR Richard - 5/28
Yordan Alvarez - 4/28
Csar Cedeño - 4/28
Mike Scott - 2/28
Alex Bregman - 2/28
Jimmy Wynn - 2/28
Carlos Correa - 1/28
Larry Dieker - 1/28
George Springer - 1/28

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To me this says the Astros Mount Rushmore Team A is just 3 - Tuve, Bidge, and Bags.

Team B is Ryan, JV, Cruuuuuuuz, Puma and Billy.

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"My recovery's going well," McCullers said Tuesday at a media event for the Houston Sports Awards, which he will host Jan. 30. "I'm looking to play catch here in the coming weeks, days, whatever. There's a couple things in the rehab left that I'll do this week and probably next week to clear me for throwing. And then hopefully we pick up and work on getting back out there on the field."

"When they went in for the actual surgery, the flexor tendon was off the bone instead of partially, and it was a little more intense surgery," McCullers said Tuesday. "Same rehab, per se, just can't do everything as fast as we wanted to. So, I was dealing with that for quite some time. And looking back on it, maybe I wish I would have gotten surgery sooner. But surgery's always the last option. You never want to rush to surgery.

"But rehab's gone really well. … I can't really put a date on (a possible return), because I don't want to say something where I would be wrong. But when I came out of surgery, they definitely were saying closer to the 12-to-13-month range. So that's our internal goal and we'll just kind of play off that."

"I'm very confident about pitching in 2024 for the Astros and hoping to be a big part of the second-half push, I don't have a problem saying that," McCullers said. "That's my goal and that's what we're pushing for."

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It sounds like what Dana said (early July) is reasonable.

I honestly don't want any Lance updates or prognosis.

Just tell when he's making his first appearance because whatever the timeline is it'll probably change.

Real news

The Astros are hiring former Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals scouting director Deric Ladnier as their new senior director of amateur scouting, source tells @TheAthletic. Ladnier oversaw drafts that produced Corbin Carroll, Brandon Pfaadt, Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 29, 2023

We have some really fragile fans when it comes to McCullers.

You mean McCullers is really fragile and we have fans.


Seriously tho I don't think anyone here was LMC to come back and dominate more than me. I love his attitude and his love for the city of Houston.

Ag_07 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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We have some really fragile fans when it comes to McCullers.

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Whatever...I know he's your dude but the guy hasn't pitched meaningful innings since I can't remember so I don't think the skepticism is unwarranted.

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You can't remember the 22 postseason?

Hope LMJ pitches at least half the season in 2024.

Pretty crazy to have an injury that's non TJ or knee related that sidelines you for a year and a half

This is spot on. We're either trying to win in 2024 or we're not. I am not saying mortgage the future to add someone. I am saying not to tear down the already great team that has been built. We would have missed the postseason without Bregman in '23. On paper, things should be easier to win the division in 2024 with as much as the Rangers lost and the Mariners look to be stuck in neutral with their weird trades. But what if Arlington decides to buy back Monty and add Hader? They can go into 00s Yankees mode and try to buy a second title. Does anything on think the Astros minus Bregman and Rangers plus 2 more stars = a likely division title for Houston?

Quote:

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Why They are Wrong

This assumes winning is easy. It is NOT. The 2024 Astros are projected to have the second or third highest WAR this year. They have been to SEVEN ALCS in a row. You don't CHOOSE to tear down a champion while they are near the peak. Yes, it sucks to only get draft pick compensation when our players leave for free agency

...

Alex Bregman projects to be the fourth highest WAR third baseman in the MLB per fangraphs.com. Again, he is ranked as the FOURTH BEST third baseman. You are NOT going to replace that 4.5 WAR in 2024.

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