***Official Houston Astros 2023-24 Offseason Thread*** [Staff Warning - OP]
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Last: 5 mo ago by Lonestar_Ag09
Astros hitting coach Jason Kanzler is leaving the organization to become the Chicago Cubs director of player development, source tells @TheAthletic. Joe Espada has vacancy on his coaching staff.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) January 1, 2024
The Astros hired Chuck Caufield from the Brewers to be a special adviser and roving hitting coordinator. He’ll basically assume all hitting coordinator duties after Rafael Peña’s departure. Cool story: longtime Astros scout Jim Stevenson signed Caufield out of college at Oklahoma
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) January 1, 2024
The talk about Bauer reminded me of this picture.
mwm said:
The talk about Bauer reminded me of this picture.
I like this video
I’m crying lmfaooo Aubrey Huff got absolutely buried finally pic.twitter.com/CtCggZhy2L
— Raysin (@TheRaysin) January 1, 2024
Be careful sliding into DM's, it can backfire on you
mAgnoliAg said:Lonestar_Ag09 said:
You might be the only post ever on here with a U…
We don't really "do that" around here lol
Yeah this thread all has Ag tags, but you give them 20 championships for their sports teams and instead of even 19 for the Astros and 1 for Aggie football they pick 20 for the Astros. It's wild in here.
5 each for Aggie football, Aggie baseball, Astros, Texans
https://ts.la/eric59704
07ag said:mAgnoliAg said:Lonestar_Ag09 said:
You might be the only post ever on here with a U…
We don't really "do that" around here lol
Yeah this thread all has Ag tags, but you give them 20 championships for their sports teams and instead of even 19 for the Astros and 1 for Aggie football they pick 20 for the Astros. It's wild in here.
5 each for Aggie football, Aggie baseball, Astros, Texans
I'll take 20 for the Astros. One thing I've learned in 20+ years of following A&M football is that they will always manage to screw it up one way or another.
I have endured Fran, Sherman, Sumlin, and Jimbo. That would lead anyone to the point of apathy when compared to the Astros.
One of my first big freelancing jobs last decade was ghostwriting a book for a guy who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent 25 years in San Quentin.mwm said:
The talk about Bauer reminded me of this picture.
He was there the night they brought Scott Peterson in and the guards "accidentally" trotted him through the general population cell block instead of directly to Death Row to give everyone the opportunity to "say hi".
From MLBTR Chat
The hall for Framber would be ridiculous. However, it wouldn't be a top of the line starter.
The hall for Framber would be ridiculous. However, it wouldn't be a top of the line starter.
I'm sorry if this has been covered here, I haven't kept up with the off- season thread much. But I have a question for you guys concerning the Michigan football team.
They were caught stealing signs this season. Harbaugh was suspended for 3 games and all was forgiven. No NCAA sanctions, no loss of scholarships or bowl games, and no lingering bad press. I don't even see mention of it on social media from other players or fans. It's been forgotten. The national media is going through a full blown love fest with them and Harbaugh might be about to get the biggest contract ever in college football.
You know where this is headed. What was so different about the Astros of 2017? All I can figure is that the Astros beat the 3 most sacred cows in mlb to win the series that year while Michigan is one of the most sacred cows in the NCAA. Besides that, what's the difference in what they did and the Astros?
They were caught stealing signs this season. Harbaugh was suspended for 3 games and all was forgiven. No NCAA sanctions, no loss of scholarships or bowl games, and no lingering bad press. I don't even see mention of it on social media from other players or fans. It's been forgotten. The national media is going through a full blown love fest with them and Harbaugh might be about to get the biggest contract ever in college football.
You know where this is headed. What was so different about the Astros of 2017? All I can figure is that the Astros beat the 3 most sacred cows in mlb to win the series that year while Michigan is one of the most sacred cows in the NCAA. Besides that, what's the difference in what they did and the Astros?
Baseball writers are dorks with self inflated egos. They gaslight everyone.
Football is fine with cheating. Deflate gate, spate, paying amateur athletes, recruiting players on the roster, pulling scholarships, etc.
Football is fine with cheating. Deflate gate, spate, paying amateur athletes, recruiting players on the roster, pulling scholarships, etc.
With about 27% of the HOF ballots known, Billy Wagner is at 79.4%.
Back in the office this morning running on caffeine and a dream, flipping the calendar to 2024 has me ready for baseball
I started 2024 by angrily wondering why we weren't co-favorites with the Dodgers to win the NL and then remembered later that we're about to start our second decade in the AL.CFTXAG10 said:
Back in the office this morning running on caffeine and a dream, flipping the calendar to 2024 has me ready for baseball
McInnis said:
I'm sorry if this has been covered here, I haven't kept up with the off- season thread much. But I have a question for you guys concerning the Michigan football team.
They were caught stealing signs this season. Harbaugh was suspended for 3 games and all was forgiven. No NCAA sanctions, no loss of scholarships or bowl games, and no lingering bad press. I don't even see mention of it on social media from other players or fans. It's been forgotten. The national media is going through a full blown love fest with them and Harbaugh might be about to get the biggest contract ever in college football.
You know where this is headed. What was so different about the Astros of 2017? All I can figure is that the Astros beat the 3 most sacred cows in mlb to win the series that year while Michigan is one of the most sacred cows in the NCAA. Besides that, what's the difference in what they did and the Astros?
It's exactly because of who we beat. Consider that in 2017, we beat the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers. Then consider that in 2017 the Yankees and Red Sox were both caught stealing signs (and the Red Sox again in 2018), and that the Dodgers were known to use their replay room to steal signs (there is an SI article from 2017 praising their ingenuity). No one ever mentions those things. Anyone who really cares about the integrity of the game would also demand that they be punished. No one ever does.
Anyways, as an Astros fan I've learned to just embrace the hate. It's why I'm rooting for Michigan.
86 days until Opening Day. I won't wax nostalgic on my '86 Astros for the 5 millionth time on this thread. I'll just roll the tape.
Just think if you're a Mets fan who saw Nolan pitch for your '69 title team, and here he is SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER destroying you.
This is a game that took 2 days at Wrigley to finish, Astros won 8-7 in 18 innings on a Billy Hatcher HR off Greg Maddux making his MLB debut and rocking an amazing stache. He actually came into the game in the previous inning as a pinch runner!
Doing it up right promo
Just think if you're a Mets fan who saw Nolan pitch for your '69 title team, and here he is SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER destroying you.
This is a game that took 2 days at Wrigley to finish, Astros won 8-7 in 18 innings on a Billy Hatcher HR off Greg Maddux making his MLB debut and rocking an amazing stache. He actually came into the game in the previous inning as a pinch runner!
Doing it up right promo
I disagree. I don't think what Michigan did was that big of a deal. My dad coached high school football, and we would always go scout future opponents. I would pick up on hand signals usually by halftime. If you don't think other school were doing the same thing with staffers, you are fooling yourselves.AustinAg2K said:McInnis said:
I'm sorry if this has been covered here, I haven't kept up with the off- season thread much. But I have a question for you guys concerning the Michigan football team.
They were caught stealing signs this season. Harbaugh was suspended for 3 games and all was forgiven. No NCAA sanctions, no loss of scholarships or bowl games, and no lingering bad press. I don't even see mention of it on social media from other players or fans. It's been forgotten. The national media is going through a full blown love fest with them and Harbaugh might be about to get the biggest contract ever in college football.
You know where this is headed. What was so different about the Astros of 2017? All I can figure is that the Astros beat the 3 most sacred cows in mlb to win the series that year while Michigan is one of the most sacred cows in the NCAA. Besides that, what's the difference in what they did and the Astros?
It's exactly because of who we beat. Consider that in 2017, we beat the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers. Then consider that in 2017 the Yankees and Red Sox were both caught stealing signs (and the Red Sox again in 2018), and that the Dodgers were known to use their replay room to steal signs (there is an SI article from 2017 praising their ingenuity). No one ever mentions those things. Anyone who really cares about the integrity of the game would also demand that they be punished. No one ever does.
Anyways, as an Astros fan I've learned to just embrace the hate. It's why I'm rooting for Michigan.
The difference is the Astros did it live in game not before the game.
How does any of this make it better?BCSGrubber said:I disagree. I don't think what Michigan did was that big of a deal. My dad coached high school football, and we would always go scout future opponents. I would pick up on hand signals usually by halftime. If you don't think other school were doing the same thing with staffers, you are fooling yourselves.AustinAg2K said:McInnis said:
I'm sorry if this has been covered here, I haven't kept up with the off- season thread much. But I have a question for you guys concerning the Michigan football team.
They were caught stealing signs this season. Harbaugh was suspended for 3 games and all was forgiven. No NCAA sanctions, no loss of scholarships or bowl games, and no lingering bad press. I don't even see mention of it on social media from other players or fans. It's been forgotten. The national media is going through a full blown love fest with them and Harbaugh might be about to get the biggest contract ever in college football.
You know where this is headed. What was so different about the Astros of 2017? All I can figure is that the Astros beat the 3 most sacred cows in mlb to win the series that year while Michigan is one of the most sacred cows in the NCAA. Besides that, what's the difference in what they did and the Astros?
It's exactly because of who we beat. Consider that in 2017, we beat the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers. Then consider that in 2017 the Yankees and Red Sox were both caught stealing signs (and the Red Sox again in 2018), and that the Dodgers were known to use their replay room to steal signs (there is an SI article from 2017 praising their ingenuity). No one ever mentions those things. Anyone who really cares about the integrity of the game would also demand that they be punished. No one ever does.
Anyways, as an Astros fan I've learned to just embrace the hate. It's why I'm rooting for Michigan.
The difference is the Astros did it live in game not before the game.
I don't think either of them are a big deal. But College football doesn't have Yankee lovers on twitter making up stories.
It's because it happened to the Yankees (or that class) of college football......BCSGrubber said:
I don't think either of them are a big deal. But College football doesn't have Yankee lovers on twitter making up stories.
You think it'd just be brushed away if it were A&M, Miss State, Auburn, etc.? Heck, just look at when A&M had the number 1 recruiting class. Every reporter was talking about how we bought players, facts be damned.
BCSGrubber said:
I don't think either of them are a big deal. But College football doesn't have Yankee lovers on twitter making up stories.
Well OK, but college football does have its version of the Yankees, without near the historical success. And we all know who that is.
BCSGrubber said:I disagree. I don't think what Michigan did was that big of a deal. My dad coached high school football, and we would always go scout future opponents. I would pick up on hand signals usually by halftime. If you don't think other school were doing the same thing with staffers, you are fooling yourselves.AustinAg2K said:McInnis said:
I'm sorry if this has been covered here, I haven't kept up with the off- season thread much. But I have a question for you guys concerning the Michigan football team.
They were caught stealing signs this season. Harbaugh was suspended for 3 games and all was forgiven. No NCAA sanctions, no loss of scholarships or bowl games, and no lingering bad press. I don't even see mention of it on social media from other players or fans. It's been forgotten. The national media is going through a full blown love fest with them and Harbaugh might be about to get the biggest contract ever in college football.
You know where this is headed. What was so different about the Astros of 2017? All I can figure is that the Astros beat the 3 most sacred cows in mlb to win the series that year while Michigan is one of the most sacred cows in the NCAA. Besides that, what's the difference in what they did and the Astros?
It's exactly because of who we beat. Consider that in 2017, we beat the Red Sox, Yankees, and Dodgers. Then consider that in 2017 the Yankees and Red Sox were both caught stealing signs (and the Red Sox again in 2018), and that the Dodgers were known to use their replay room to steal signs (there is an SI article from 2017 praising their ingenuity). No one ever mentions those things. Anyone who really cares about the integrity of the game would also demand that they be punished. No one ever does.
Anyways, as an Astros fan I've learned to just embrace the hate. It's why I'm rooting for Michigan.
The difference is the Astros did it live in game not before the game.
I would think it's quite a bit different to have a Michigan coach dressed up like a member of the Central Michigan support staff on CMU's sideline doing recon work.
Formerly Willy Wonka
That Maddux video -- HA!
Was his first career strikeout really Danny Darwin?
Was his first career strikeout really Danny Darwin?
I guess so, but Danny Darwin was a decent hitter, so not bad. Maddux rocking that mustache is the best part.agproducer said:
That Maddux video -- HA!
Was his first career strikeout really Danny Darwin?
That inning was interesting. Maddux threw mainly fastballs -- which puzzled me. Harry Caray and Steve Stone commented how he had a "live arm." His sinkers had a ton of movement and that curveball/slider he threw to Darwin was really good. I would have liked to see more.
2024 Records / Milestones to look out for.
Jose Altuve
Alex Bregman
Yordan Alvarez
Jose Abreu
Kyle Tucker
Ryan Pressly
Justin Verlander
Jose Altuve
- 300 Stolen Bases (Currently 293)
- All-Time Postseason HRs - 29 Manny Ramirez (Currently 27)
- All-Time Postseason Double - 22 David Ortiz (4th), 23 Jorge Posada (3rd) (Currently 21)
- All-Time Postseason RBI - 61 Derek Jeter & David Ortiz (tied for 5th) (Currently 55)
- HOF Second Baseman WAR - 53.0 Bobby Doerr (15th), 55.1 Billy Herman (14th) (Currently 52.6) - it won't be in 2024 but next up is 59.9 Jackie Robinson, 60.4 Joe Gordon, & 60.9 Ryne Sandberg. Passing that group would be amazing.
Alex Bregman
- 200 Home Runs (Currently 165) - probably not but he's hit 35+ before.
- All-Time Astros WAR - 38.7 Jimmy Wynn (7th) (Currently 35.2)
- All-Time Postseason HRs - 19 Corey Seager, George Springer, & Albert Pujols (tied in 6th), 20 Kyle Schwarber & Derek Jeter (tied in 4th), 22 Bernie Williams (3rd) (Currently 19)
- All-Time Postseason Runs - 65 Kenny Loftin (5th), 67 Mannie Ramirez (4th) (Currently 63)
- All-Time Postseason RBI - 54 Albert Pujols (8th), 55 Jose Altuve (7th), 61 Derek Jeter & David Ortiz (tied for 5th) (Currently 54)
- HOF Third Baseman WAR - 37.9 Pie Traynor (17th), 38.2 George Kell (16th), 41.1 Deacon White (15th) (Currently 35.2) - its nice to say you passed up HOFers at your position but these are all old timers. Breggy needs to stack up another 6 years of 4-5 WAR seasons to get a shot at the HOF.
Yordan Alvarez
- 500 RBI (Currently 380) - would need a monster year, but he just needs to stay healthy. He averages 128 RBI per 162 for his career.
- All-Time Astros WAR - 19.2 Ken Caminiti (17th), 20.3 Doug Radar (16th), 20.6 Richard Hildalgo (15th) (Currently 18.6) - technically Watson, Springer, Puhl, & Correa are in range if he has an MVP season, but those are more likely for 2025.
- All-Time Postseason HRs - too many to list. (Currently 12) - 1 moves him to 21st, 2 to 20th, 3 to 18th, 4 to 16th, etc.
- All-Time Postseason RBI - too many to list. (Currently 41) - 1 to 13th, 6 to 12th, 7 to 10th
Jose Abreu
- 1000 RBI (Currently 953)
Kyle Tucker
- 100 SB (Currently 83)
Ryan Pressly
- 600 IP (Currently 593.1) - why is 600 IP important...its not, but only 262 pitchers have 600 inning in relief. Pretty impressive.
- 700 SO (Currently 635) - 700 would put him 81st all time in RP SO.
- All-Time RP WAR - 10.8 Stu Miller (75th), 10.8 Ugueth Urbina (74th), 10.9 Todd Jones (73rd), 11.0 BJ Ryan (72nd), 11.0 Matt Thorton (71st), 11.2 John Hiller (70th), 11.2 Dellin Betances (69th), 11.3 Josh Hader (68th)... 11.5 Brad Lidge (61st) (Currently 10.7) - Should crack the top 60 in 2025.
Justin Verlander
- 3500 Strike Outs (Currently 3342) - Could pass Sherzer (3367), Maddux (3371), & maybe even Walter Johnson (3509)
- 3500 Innings Pitches (Currently 3325.1)
- All-Time WAR - 82.3 Bob Gibson (16th), 84.4 Pedro Martinez (15th), 85.5 Don Sutton (14th) (Currently 81.3)
- All-Time Wins - 260 Ted Lyons (41st), 264 Gus Weyhing (40th), 265 Jim McCormick (39th)... 273 Red Ruffing (32nd) (Currently 257) - I don't think JV sniffs 300, but 25-30th all time is special still.
- All-Time Postseason Wins - 19 Andy Pettitte (1st) (Currently 17)
As I was a little too young in 1979 and 1980 during the Oiler losses and Phillies loss to be too upset, the 1986 Astros were the first time sports broke my heart. You never get over the first one. Still love that team.
No matter what any of the Twitter and Reddit fans say, they hate us far more for dominating the American League for nearly a decade and having two World Series trophies than the trash cans. Its far easier to point at us and say "cheaters" than to accept that they got their ass beat consistently for a long period of time.
This is my opinion as well. Baseball writers made it a much bigger deal than it was. Deflate gate has done absolutely nothing to Brady, Belichick, or the Patriot's dynasty legacies.Farmer1906 said:
Baseball writers are dorks with self inflated egos. They gaslight everyone.
Football is fine with cheating. Deflate gate, spate, paying amateur athletes, recruiting players on the roster, pulling scholarships, etc.
You guys can say it's because the Astros have been beating that Yankee, Dodger, and Red Sox ass, but I believe it's mainly because the old baseball writer guard who feel they have to protect the sanctity of the game. Ken Griffey Jr didn't even get elected into the HOF unanimously his first time on the ballot for goodness sake.
That and Lunhow leaving Fiers off the post season roster. Amazing if Fiers is on the postseason roster probably none of that comes out.
if you take this back to 2017, there's only one team remaining...who could it be...won a playoff series (or game for the nfl) in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 https://t.co/AH5RXu9VVS pic.twitter.com/nZ0AxDVHUa
— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) January 2, 2024
Congratulations to Yainer Diaz (@yainer_diaz21) who has been voted the Catcher on the 2023 @BaseballDigest / @eBay MLB Rookie All-Star Team! pic.twitter.com/k0ro7zizbK
— Houston Astros (@astros) January 2, 2024
Wild for a backup
Am I supposed to thank Dusty now?
I'm legitimately thinking dusty might be autistic & not understand the sarcasm of "Gee, thanks Dusty."