Props to Walter

Good start for naught though

Beau Holder said:

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BadAggie said:

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So we use HB tomorrow instead of in the Seattle series

Then v Seattle it's

McCullers
Blanco
Framber
Corpus' 3rd starter

?

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Seems appropriately braindead for this hollowed out, mediocre, 0 IQ version of the Astros. Toss an extremely winnable game while the Mariners are playing the White Sox and then don't treat beating them like it's all that important, put yourself 6 GB just because.

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Something something something playing down to our opponents…again.

W said:

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Chas couldn't throw him out?

was already playing shallow

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Well it took him 20 minutes to get rid of the ball after catching it because every single fundamental was ignored on that catch and throw.

Astro lack of fundamentals hits them again like



Effectively conceding scoring position whenever an opponent gets a runner on is just insane, no other way to think about it

If this offense was producing consistently I could maybe buy some nerd bullshtt about how focusing on getting batters out with defensive indifference to runners actually has a lower expected runs allowed or whatever

But this is just bad

Chas looks like he's having to relearn the game of baseball

6th best in runs allowed

20th in runs scored and OPS

Not hard to put a finger on the problem

Marvin said:

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29th is steals allowed. I don't get it.

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I wouldn't have thought there'd be a team worse than us either.

Astros have a pitching staff for the playoffs and an offense for Cancun.

Maybe Southside will do the Astros a solid

Seamen 0
Southside 1

Top of 7
2 outs

Good bull from Dusty

Dusty Baker only managed my husband for a few weeks of an MLB season, yet he & his wife continue to check on our family. This is why he is one of the greats. Never underestimate the humanity in sports.

— Linzy Singleton (@linzysing14) May 20, 2025

Joe starting to drop Altuve in order.

Walker needs to move down

Clear confirmation something is really wrong with Yordan will be if he doesn't return for the Seattle series

Walker's OPS is full 200 points lower than where he was 2022-2024. I know we've thought maybe injury, could very well be Justgotpaiditis.

Walker hasn't produced but it doesn't seem like it's for lack of care or effort. He smokes balls right at people and clearly gets omega frustrated when he doesn't deliver.

The far bigger problem is the staggering lack of brainpower from the coaching staff on down to the lineup that shows itself on the bases, at the plate, in the field, and in decisions like not walking a guy with one out to set up a force at every base.

BadAggie said:

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Astros have a pitching staff for the playoffs and an offense for Cancun.

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There is a lot of baseball left to play.

Hey I'm optimistic

Offense too much talent to be producing like this

Pitching is at good level though starters outside of HB and Framber somewhat iffy and bullpen has overachieved

It's a long season maybe some of the sleeping bats will wake up

Does Joe make it to next year if we don't make the playoffs? I say no.

Seamen lose

Is he the new Cecil Cooper? Give him a decreasingly talented team and expect him to keep winning?

M's lose

Rags lose

Astros … do nothing with it

MaxPower said:

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Is he the new Cecil Cooper? Give him a decreasingly talented team and expect him to keep winning?

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He is making plenty of obvious mistakes to justify not bringing him back. Not prioritizing holding runners on, while being super passive on the bases ourselves is pretty inexplicable.

BCEDAg said:

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Does Joe make it to next year if we don't make the playoffs? I say pray no.

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FIFY

My guess is offense gradually wakes up over the summer, pitching stays top 5-ish, and Astros make the postseason again, either through winning a winnable division or WC

Don't think they make it past the DS, just don't have that sharpness or edge, too many fundamental weaknesses that get exposed come playoff time, like the inability to hold runners/throw them out

Pitching wise we have the returns of Spaghetti and Javier to look forward to.

Offensively gotta bank on positive reversion for Yordan, Walker, Diaz, and Altuve.

I mean a 'down year' that means making the playoffs for the ninth straight year isn't the end of the world

Astros still in position where they can get a boost from signing some vet retreads like Gamel or Heyward who are capable of having professional at bats.

Chas is looking like DFA material, just bad

I thought the Montero trade created room under the luxury tax threshold maybe Dana can land a lefty bat using that?

Stros need to commit to just giving Cam Smith everyday starts.

Still unclear as to why our HOF 2nd baseman is playing games in LF though if Chas is the alternative maybe I understand

Could you imagine if Dusty had Cam Smith on his team?

We thought his love for Corey Julks was bad…



Dezenzo maybe had some promise, he's another mid 20 something who is what he is.

If Stros want to try cheap lefty bat solution Singelton is available for a 3rd stint. Too bad Walker isn't one of those 1B/LF types

If you drop Altuve and Walker then you are moving up Jake Meyers and Caratini I guess

F Bregman that effing Piker

txags92 said:

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MaxPower said:

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Is he the new Cecil Cooper? Give him a decreasingly talented team and expect him to keep winning?

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He is making plenty of obvious mistakes to justify not bringing him back. Not prioritizing holding runners on, while being super passive on the bases ourselves is pretty inexplicable.

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Joe is just passive

Way too corporate, won't push boundaries, gives players leeway in hopes they will figure it out.

Roster is too young and new for that approach imo.

I think the stolen base issue is driven by lack of desire to address/discipline. If we monkeys typing on a message board know something is fundamentally off it can't be lost on the front office

Beau Holder said:

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Walker hasn't produced but it doesn't seem like it's for lack of care or effort. He smokes balls right at people and clearly gets omega frustrated when he doesn't deliver.

The far bigger problem is the staggering lack of brainpower from the coaching staff on down to the lineup that shows itself on the bases, at the plate, in the field, and in decisions like not walking a guy with one out to set up a force at every base.

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I don't doubt effort but he's making as much this season as his cumulative earnings through 2024.

He finally caught the golden ring. People sometimes change after that.

For a very good to elite player that can have an impact

Roast me for this but MLB isn't even a legitimate sport. The ghost runner thing in extras completely invalidates it as a real sport.

jja79 said:

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Roast me for this but MLB isn't even a legitimate sport. The ghost runner thing in extras completely invalidates it as a real sport.

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Not even worth roasting

I know Hader and Abreu were "tired" from recent use, but I think letting this game slip away was a crime. Could have gone up 4 games over .500, which sets you up nicely to slowly build to a playoff worthy record. Now we're back to 2 over, continually struggling to keep our heads above water. I don't think this was just another of 162 games - it could've been a really nice boost for us. Bad managing by Espada.

Astros Bingo Update 5-21-25

missed the whole game last night, but seems like didn't miss much.

84-win pace

dominant 2-game win streak ends

Paredes heating up big time, up to 27 HR pace

Pena hitting well, but forgetting about steals. Stuck on 6, down to a pace of 20.

Walker drops below the Mendoza Line, on pace for a dazzling 17 HR, 64 RBI, .198 campaign. Jon Singleton does that for $1 million.

Paredes up to 824 OPS.

Jake up to .307, where he was after the 4-for-4 game, a season high.

Altuve hits the ball! Twice! Goes from .236 to .242.

Altuve up to 2,276 career hits, 39 behind Bagwell for #2 on the all-time Astro list. Tied with Tony Fernandez at #163 all-time.

Tucker hits #11, on pace for 36.

Mike Trout says he's almost ready to return. He's missed 18 of 47 games in his quest to play 100

The A's attendance has gone up by 16 people per game this week, and they are rewarding those fans with a 7-game losing streak that has them down to a 73-game win streak and the cellar of the AL West.

Aaron Judge hits #16.
It's May 21st and he's on pace for 155 runs, 252 hits, 55 HR, 148 RBI, 107 extra base-hits, a .403 average, a .762 slugging average, a .491 OBP and a 1.253 OPS.

How do those numbers rank since 1945? A breakdown

Runs: 1st
Hits: 2nd
RBI: T-12th
EXB: T-1st
Average: 1st
SLG: T-4th - only 3 season of Bonds are higher than where he is right now.
OBP:5th - the only guys to get above .500 OBP since 1945 are Bonds (several times) and Mickey Mantle (1)
OPS: 5th - only 4 seasons of Bonds are higher.

Guys I'm losing patience with Walker.

I know with Yordan out there aren't many other options but he can't continue to hit .198 in the top half of the lineup.

He's hitting something like .150 with RISP. He's approaching Abreu levels of production and they sent him to pasture.

At some point soon I think we need to see Yanier or Caritni get some reps at 1B. I've tried to be patient and let him work it out but it's time.

Ag_07 said:

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Guys I'm losing patience with Walker.

I know with Yordan out there aren't many other options but he can't continue to hit .198 in the top half of the lineup.

He's hitting something like .150 with RISP. He's approaching Abreu levels of production and they sent him to pasture.

At some point soon I think we need to see Yanier or Caritni get some reps at 1B. I've tried to be patient and let him work it out but it's time.

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Eventually maybe the answer won't be signing a mid 30s guy to a big money deal. Instead the solution could be working a guy like Dezenzo/Yainer over an entire offseason over there or drafting a first basemen out of college with your first pick.

A guy like Ethan Petry from South Carolina, Fischer from Tennessee or even Ike Irish from Auburn. Draft one of them with your first pick and work them out at first all season in the minors and offseason

I don't think it's an age thing with Walker.

Pretty sure all the Statcast metrics are on par with his the rest of career. It's the uptick in K% and decrease in BB% that's alarming.

I think it's an approach issue.

Either way that ship has sailed and I'm trying to rack my brain about what they're do with him. He is valuable at 1B defensively but man the cleanup hitter can't keep not producing like this.

For quick comparison...

2024/2025
AvgExVelo - 91.2/91.0
Barrel% - 13.3/12.9
Hard-Hit% - 48/48.4
Bat Speed - 75/74
Chase% - 24.3/27.5
Whiff% - 25.6/27
K% - 24.1/27.6
BB% - 10/7

By the looks of it he needs to stop chasing and walk more. The batted ball metrics are there.

I'd try

1 Pena
2 Altuve
3 Paredes
4 Caratini DH
5 Diaz
6 Walker
7 Meyers
8 Cam/Dezenzo
9 Whatever

Caratini sort of feels like the smartest guy out there when he's in the lineup. He works counts and gets hits.
Put Walker 6th and tell to work the count, and be OK taking a walk with Meyers behind you.

I want you to know that I greatly enjoy your bingo updates. It's a lot to keep up with and I appreciate your commitment!

a couple of things on Walker...

- he's up to 196 plate appearances for the season and should reach 200 PA's in today's game, so we're beyond the 'small sample size' phase

- last year he posted .822 OPS vs. right-handed pitching; and .756 vs. left-handers -- cannot blame lack of production due to rarely facing LHP this year