tjack16 said:

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So to all the "it's too early" people… when is it okay to worry?

This team just doesn't look good and lacks fire.

I wasn't worried after the first 3 series … but this series and the royals series were seriously concerning because now the losing is a pattern

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Losing is a disease…

tjack16 said:

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Booma94 said:

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BayAg_14 said:

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I agree with you, but 10-4 is a stretch.

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Supposedly getting 2 starters back within the week. I don't think 10-4 or 9-5 is that much of a longshot.

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Yeah but given our starting pitching was great this week and we still got swept, it might not make a difference who we get back. This team finds ways to lose and it will continue until the back end of the pen and offense wake up

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True, but being able to move some of the guys who are starting out of necessity to the bullpen gives the team a chance to move some of the other guys around in the pen and finding a way to replace Maton and Neris.

Of course, having your high leverage guys melting down is another issue entirely, but knowing there's help on the way might at least provide a little bit of spark.

JABQ04 said:

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I'd rather try the double steal.
1) best case both RISP with no outs
2) sac fly tied it up
3) eliminates GIDP
4) they nail one, still have a RISP

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that's why Larry Dierker always liked the double steal

From the Astros: Following today’s game, the Astros optioned RHP Forrest Whitley to Triple A Sugar Land.

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) April 17, 2024

Mathguy64 said:

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The argument "they are incapable of bunting because they never do it" seems strained at best.

The team just spent a month in spring training. I find it hard to believe they never once did a live pitching bunt drill.

The rules have changed with Manfredball, pitch clicks emphasizing speed, etc. Not being capable of laying down a sac bunt when one run wins it or ties it in this new age is admitting you are willing to concede a strategic advantage.

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This x1000.

ALL professional players (especially MLB level) should be able to lay down a ****ing bunt. ALL of them. Are some going to be better than others? Of course. Are you going to be successful 100% bunting? Certainly not. But over the past 2 seasons we are something like 1-9 in extra-inning games trying to mash them in or win with a long ball. IT HASN'T WORKED. DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. JUST TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Didn't Espada strut around all spring saying we were going to be aggressive? Not sending Tucker and keeping the GIDP intact IS NOT AGGRESSIVE. Not bunting Pena and squeezing Meyers home IS NOT AGGRESSIVE.

This team has massive problems, and the more time goes on, I'm laying more and more blame at Espada/Brown. There is NO REASON for Abreu to be in the lineup right now. His bat blows and now his fielding ****ing cost us a game. How much longer, Joe? How much longer?

I'm getting absolutely sick and tired of this bring them up/send them down game Dana is playing. Absolutely no forethought and no development going on to help them gain experience.

n_touch said:

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6-7 in games where they led on the 8th inning this year

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They have been outscored 30-4 from the 8th inning-on this season…that's atrocious.

I think the frustrating part with this team is that almost every team in every major sport that has ever won a championship or made a deep run into the playoffs the following year they always try to get better by adding some key pieces to their team. The Astros did absolutely nothing, didn't make any moves in places they needed. Feels like they also never put pressure on the other team, make the pitcher think a little bit about the guy on 1st, make the catcher have a good throw to 2nd to get Tucker out. Make things happen instead of just waiting, something has to change, whatever they've been doing towards the end of last season and the beginning of this one it's not working. Feels like they're just complacent, they could've easily swept the Braves with the way Astros starters pitched but nope, the offense was dead. Everybody keeps talking about pitching staff and pitching staff, I'm more worried about the offense and their approach at the plate. Espada said they'll be more aggressive on the bases and I have yet to see that. Even though I kept telling my friends not to be worried it's still early in the season, this series has me a little worried and mainly cus of the offense.

They stink. Gut it. Start over.

Because Espada seems to think success is going to just fall in his lap with the talent on this roster. No, it's not Joe. You are going to have to be creative. You are going to have to take risks. You are going to have to grow some balls. That's what successful managers (and people in general) do.

Ray McKigney said:

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They stink. Gut it. Start over.

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I look forward to not seeing you again on this thread

I wasn't upset about not bunting Diaz. I was screaming at the live feed for Espada not sending Tucker to stay out of the double play.

CFTXAG10 said:

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4/6 series we have played so far are against teams currently leading their division with a winning record. KC is a half game back of Cleveland at 12-6. All 6 opponents have a winning record. The sweeps came against teams off to a hot start with records of 13-6, 12-6, and 12-5.

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The flip side of that is those teams have good records because they swept a bad team.

and of course Espada is a first year manager

and there are hazards associated with hiring a rookie manager

All I know is at this point I don't expect us to bring home the manfred runner. This team is streaky as hell. When they're on its lights out. But when they aren't on they can't manufacture a run to save their life…or season.

82-60 gets us to 88-74... this is probably what it would take to be in range of the division/WC.

Let's hope for good JV to start on Friday...

Ranked #3 in Batting Average
Ranked #29 in ERA

Pitching…Pitching…Pitching…some things never change when analyzing problems.

The Tom Cruise quote from Cocktail always applies: “Everything ends badly, otherwise it wouldn’t end.” https://t.co/Bann3P1Ph9

— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) April 17, 2024

early, but this is a good quote to summarize the mood

High dollar contracts to aging stars. It'll get you every time.

We gotta get rid of Jose Abreu. And Jim Crane needs to quit letting Jeff Easterbags make personnel decisions. Smh. This team sucks ass.

— Archbishop Deshaies (@HouCounterplot) April 17, 2024

He shall henceforth be known as Jeff Easterbaggs