07ag said:

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FrioAg 00 said:

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Feels like an awkward time to ask, but anyone want to go the game tomorrow?

PM me with the email address if so

---

No stars but email me at 7002ga@gmail.com

---

Hey Frio, just checking in on these,, didn't know if someone sent a pm before my post

mwm said:

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I'm afraid that we've only seen the tip of "bad". There have been opportunities to turn this ship around but those opportunities have come & gone. Ignored.

The front office is in a state of denial.

---

I respect Crane for the front office and staff he brought in to bring us 2 WS championships and multiple other playoff teams that had legit chances to win it all. But every decision he's made since 2022 WS has been 100% bad. Ever since letting Click go we have been teetering between barely staying afloat and free falling. He's either in denial and clueless or just doesn't care and just happy making money.

Say what you will about Preller, at least he knows what hand he has and is taking action accordingly. You can't have lame duck GMs every couple of years, that's ripe for a complete lack of long term vision.

Rival executives are “convinced” the Padres will deal Mason Miller at the trade deadline, via @BNightengale.

“Rival executives are convinced the Padres will be motivated to sell and buy at the same time, and will move All-Star closer Mason Miller.” pic.twitter.com/pQS56PBNVH

— Baseball Is Dead (@baseballisdead_) July 19, 2026

07ag said:

---

07ag said:

---

FrioAg 00 said:

---

Feels like an awkward time to ask, but anyone want to go the game tomorrow?

PM me with the email address if so

---

No stars but email me at 7002ga@gmail.com

---

Hey Frio, just checking in on these,, didn't know if someone sent a pm before my post

---

Apologies - I saw the PM earlier than the post. I'll email you separately and try to find one in a couple weeks I'm not going to

Quote:

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So, what are the Houston Astros looking for at the trade deadline?

In the words of one high-ranking Astros' executive: "Pitching, pitching and more pitching.''

The Astros are about $12.5 million under the luxury tax threshold after saving $2.5 million in the Lance McCullers trade with the Brewers, which would certainly cover the salary of acquiring someone like Tarik Skubal or Robbie Ray.

Their rotation posted the third-highest ERA and averaged the eighth-fewest innings per start before the All-Star break.

---

Do not buy, sell it all.

Quote:

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Justin Verlander says he's undecided what cap he would wear on his eventual Hall of Fame plaque between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, where he won two World Series titles.

Prediction: He'll either wear a Tigers cap or no logo.

---

FrioAg 00 said:

---

07ag said:

---

07ag said:

---

FrioAg 00 said:

---

Feels like an awkward time to ask, but anyone want to go the game tomorrow?

PM me with the email address if so

---

No stars but email me at 7002ga@gmail.com

---

Hey Frio, just checking in on these,, didn't know if someone sent a pm before my post

---

Apologies - I saw the PM earlier than the post. I'll email you separately and try to find one in a couple weeks I'm not going to

---

Understood, no worries, sorry to have been a bit pushy, live out in the suburbs and trying to plan out our day

MaxPower said:

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tjack16 said:

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Biggio is up to an .885 OPS for the Spacers this season. If Walker lands on the IL, why not? https://t.co/HUjO9e5C9x

— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) July 19, 2026

Make room for him on the 40 man and call him up

---

He's 31. You could find 50 AAA guys under 30 with better stats that teams would basically give you for a 12 pack of lone star. He's purely break in case of emergence. And by emergency I don't mean your team is scuffling to get to .500, I mean your entire infield was in a plane crash. If his last name wasn't Biggio no one would even consider this guy as an option.

---

His name could be smith and if he's got over an .880 OPS with big league experience, then he is better for this current team than guys like Dezenzo, and whitcomb

Dezenzo is younger and basically had that OPS last year in the minors. Whitcomb is also a break in case of emergency guy but can at least play more positions. Biggio is a nothing burger

If Crane was serious..

Espada gone asap. Sure, let Omar take over. But the entire rest of the staff along with Dana would be gone on the last day of the season 30 seconds after the final game is over. Need a full reset of organizational vision, structure, and strategy.

We would trade Pena (1 year left), Paredes (1 year left), Walker (1 year left) at the deadline. I would also be open to listening on Imai and Yainer if someone could return something valuable. All players on the big league roster other than Altuve, Yordan, Brown, Correa, Smith are on the table to be added to any package.

The goal would be to get the best possible return that could set you up for a run in 2028, the last year before we lose Brown, Yordan, and Hader.

It's extremely unlikely, but considering we do have those controllable high level assets through two more seasons, and that Crane isn't going to admit we need a complete blow up, this is the only way.

1B: Open - Need to adress this in free agency the Billy Beane way. Get someone who can play good defense and get on base. Anything extra is gravy. Maximize the production at minimal cost. No chasing power hitters or home runs here. We didn't win world series with a 1990's 1B. We won it with a high OBP, low strike out, contact hitter.

2B: Altuve is a fan favorite and deserves to retire here. He's the lone exception to the smart analytics style. He's clearly declined and will continue to. But a front office and competent coaching staff that can get him swing to all fields for contact again and forgetting about power is his best chance for any sort of resurgence. He can be wildly productive hitting .275 with an above average OBP at the top of the order.

SS: Correa, when healthy, can still play here. And if he starts to slip, he can play 3B. He's not going to deliver huge offensive results. But if you are going to make another run, you need the leadership. If Correa is better at 3B, then you are going to need something decently valuable here. We don't have it in the system ready before 2028 at the earliest. Defense is critical. If you can get speed and OBP with it, that would be ideal. Don't need power here.

3B: If this is Correa, then see the second part of SS. If not, then you need someone for 2-3 years max. Spend some money and get the best production you can.

OF: Smith - A competent coaching staff can continue building here. The tools are there. The issue is plate discipline. Probably not an all star. But you're not going to do better without spending a boat load.

OF: I think Wade Jr could continue to be decently valuable. He's not going to be a difference maker, but get him focusing on contact over power and continuing to get on base via walks. Can be late career Brantley-like. If not, he's cheap.

OF: Have to attack FA hard here. You can overspend for 1-2 years for production. Need power and not at the expense of SO's. We have too many guys who fail in critical situations. So get the best player possible who can make contact when it matters most, but can drive in runs in the aggregate. You also have Yordan who can spend some time here to open up the DH position to Altuve or whoever else.

C: Yainer is not the future. But you might not be able to do better. New staff has to absolutely preach plate discipline. Just having a coaching staff that can tell him to take 2 pitches before swinging when an 8 ERA reliever is on the mound is enough. If you can get something for him, then you can attack this in FA without breaking the bank. We won our first WS with an aging mildly productive vet and Evan freaking Gattis as backup. This isn't rocket science.

DH: Yordan mostly.

SP: Brown
SP: Imai - Unless you can get good value. His production is replaceable.
SP: Res-sign Lambert on a 2-year deal.
SP: Arrighetti - I still think he can be a quality 4/5. He has suffered this year from bad approach, as have most of our pitchers. A competent staff can make him respectable. The stuff is there.
SP: Blanco / Wesneski - Both could come back and be good. Both could come back and be awful. But both are absolutely in the running. You also have Teng who can be a long relief option and fill in here should he need to because of injuries.

All in all, you have an all star caliber ace for two more years. You have a high level #2 in Blanco should he be able to get back to form. And 2027 doesn't need to be great. Just needs to be a prep year for 2028. Imai is a wild card, but can be a solid #3 with competent coaching. You have enough pieces for the rest that I don't think you have to hit FA too hard. Maybe grab a 4/5 caliber inning eater not known for giving away HR's.

RP: Hader. Between Okert, De Los Santos, King, Sousa, Blubaugh you have a decent staff with a lockdown closer. There's probably some stuff in the system that could surprise as it always seems to do every year. Maybe you can find some quality in FA or get something as a piece in a trade.

Long story short, you don't have a WS team, but you have enough pieces with the right leadership, an Ace starter, an MVP hitter, that you can try. This all hinges on what we would get back from trading Pena, Paredes, Walker, and whoever else. There's a chance you could get 1-2 pieces that could make the above all of the sudden look really good.

What you can't do is buy at the deadline and let any of the tradeable assets walk. That would be the guaranteed end of the franchise and would lead to a 2027/2028 fire sale.

MaxPower said:

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There is nothing worse than an old, crappy team. They are already crap and there's no reason to think it actually won't get even worse.

---

Some of us have been screaming this for the past two seasons. It is the worst, and I hope Jim Crane accepts reality and reverses course on the window never closing.

Heineken-Ashi said:

---

If Crane was serious..

Espada gone asap. Sure, let Omar take over. But the entire rest of the staff along with Dana would be gone on the last day of the season 30 seconds after the final game is over. Need a full reset of organizational vision, structure, and strategy.

We would trade Pena (1 year left), Paredes (1 year left), Walker (1 year left) at the deadline. I would also be open to listening on Imai and Yainer if someone could return something valuable. All players on the big league roster other than Altuve, Yordan, Brown, Correa, Smith are on the table to be added to any package.

The goal would be to get the best possible return that could set you up for a run in 2028, the last year before we lose Brown, Yordan, and Hader.

It's extremely unlikely, but considering we do have those controllable high level assets through two more seasons, and that Crane isn't going to admit we need a complete blow up, this is the only way.

1B: Open - Need to adress this in free agency the Billy Beane way. Get someone who can play good defense and get on base. Anything extra is gravy. Maximize the production at minimal cost. No chasing power hitters or home runs here. We didn't win world series with a 1990's 1B. We won it with a high OBP, low strike out, contact hitter.

2B: Altuve is a fan favorite and deserves to retire here. He's the lone exception to the smart analytics style. He's clearly declined and will continue to. But a front office and competent coaching staff that can get him swing to all fields for contact again and forgetting about power is his best chance for any sort of resurgence. He can be wildly productive hitting .275 with an above average OBP at the top of the order.

SS: Correa, when healthy, can still play here. And if he starts to slip, he can play 3B. He's not going to deliver huge offensive results. But if you are going to make another run, you need the leadership. If Correa is better at 3B, then you are going to need something decently valuable here. We don't have it in the system ready before 2028 at the earliest. Defense is critical. If you can get speed and OBP with it, that would be ideal. Don't need power here.

3B: If this is Correa, then see the second part of SS. If not, then you need someone for 2-3 years max. Spend some money and get the best production you can.

OF: Smith - A competent coaching staff can continue building here. The tools are there. The issue is plate discipline. Probably not an all star. But you're not going to do better without spending a boat load.

OF: I think Wade Jr could continue to be decently valuable. He's not going to be a difference maker, but get him focusing on contact over power and continuing to get on base via walks. Can be late career Brantley-like. If not, he's cheap.

OF: Have to attack FA hard here. You can overspend for 1-2 years for production. Need power and not at the expense of SO's. We have too many guys who fail in critical situations. So get the best player possible who can make contact when it matters most, but can drive in runs in the aggregate. You also have Yordan who can spend some time here to open up the DH position to Altuve or whoever else.

C: Yainer is not the future. But you might not be able to do better. New staff has to absolutely preach plate discipline. Just having a coaching staff that can tell him to take 2 pitches before swinging when an 8 ERA reliever is on the mound is enough. If you can get something for him, then you can attack this in FA without breaking the bank. We won our first WS with an aging mildly productive vet and Evan freaking Gattis as backup. This isn't rocket science.

DH: Yordan mostly.

SP: Brown
SP: Imai - Unless you can get good value. His production is replaceable.
SP: Res-sign Lambert on a 2-year deal.
SP: Arrighetti - I still think he can be a quality 4/5. He has suffered this year from bad approach, as have most of our pitchers. A competent staff can make him respectable. The stuff is there.
SP: Blanco / Wesneski - Both could come back and be good. Both could come back and be awful. But both are absolutely in the running. You also have Teng who can be a long relief option and fill in here should he need to because of injuries.

All in all, you have an all star caliber ace for two more years. You have a high level #2 in Blanco should he be able to get back to form. And 2027 doesn't need to be great. Just needs to be a prep year for 2028. Imai is a wild card, but can be a solid #3 with competent coaching. You have enough pieces for the rest that I don't think you have to hit FA too hard. Maybe grab a 4/5 caliber inning eater not known for giving away HR's.

RP: Hader. Between Okert, De Los Santos, King, Sousa, Blubaugh you have a decent staff with a lockdown closer. There's probably some stuff in the system that could surprise as it always seems to do every year. Maybe you can find some quality in FA or get something as a piece in a trade.

Long story short, you don't have a WS team, but you have enough pieces with the right leadership, an Ace starter, an MVP hitter, that you can try. This all hinges on what we would get back from trading Pena, Paredes, Walker, and whoever else. There's a chance you could get 1-2 pieces that could make the above all of the sudden look really good.

What you can't do is buy at the deadline and let any of the tradeable assets walk. That would be the guaranteed end of the franchise and would lead to a 2027/2028 fire sale.

---

Good commentary, and I agree that a run in 2028 could be Crane's thinking... although it would be the biggest disaster EVER to not win a title and let Yordan and Brown walk as free agents.

Ray Delgado is here.

Nate Pearson is telling people goodbye.

Roster moves coming.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 19, 2026

Yup. But the great thing is, you should know halfway through 2027 if it's possible. Brown and Yordan could both be on the table next year to kickstart a rebuild.

But go ahead and prepare yourself to watch both walk away for nothing in return. The most likely outcome is continued, frustrating mediocrity until the inevitable blowup. And by the time all hope is gone for Crane, there won't be much of value left.

Like I've been saying, we're on a path to where we won't be competing again until the early to mid 2030's at the earliest. Unless we either blow it up now or somehow pull off the 2028 miracle.

Which washed up back end starter or .750 OPS Rockies OF riding that mile high air will Dana trade this guy for?

Bryce Mayer struck out 8 batters over 5 scoreless innings for the Hooks. He has a 3.16 ERA with 82 K over 57 innings this season. #Astros pic.twitter.com/OQRuCwmEfm

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 19, 2026

tjack16 said:

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Ray Delgado is here.

Nate Pearson is telling people goodbye.

Roster moves coming.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 19, 2026

---

Pearson was a cheap gamble, so not surprised at this outcome.

For a wider perspective, though, I think we can bury the whole "Astros pitching lab" myth.

Pena and Walker still on the roster, Delgado replaces Pearson. Basically going two men down in offense and one man down in the bullpen. Big brain Dana strikes again. I have never understood the obsession with playing with known dead spots on the roster

Spence already promoted to the 6-hole

LaMonte to cleanup -- probably not bunting today

the Orioles have a grand total of 10 hits in the series...

and 2 wins

If we don't win this game today with Hunter on the mound, then it needs to be an immediate fire sale.

tjack16 said:

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If we don't win this game today with Hunter on the mound, then it needs to be an immediate fire sale.

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It's not gonna get any better after today in terms of the schedule. Marlins followed by the White Sox

With the "Dana problem", if we do go into sell mode I was looking at potential recently retired GMs that could make sense to run the club. Unfortunately the Angels picked up what would probably be the best option. Could Mike Rizzo make sense? He was behind their Soto trade so has some experience rebuilding. I definitely wouldn't want him long-term but might be able to serve as the adult in the room if we can't trust Dana to do what needs doing.

As for temporary manager (or even next manager), I've always liked Bob Melvin but not sure he wants to take over a rebuilding club at his age.

If the Orioles don't walk Yordan every AB the manager should be fired

The Astros against Brandon Young: Altuve DH, Alvarez 7, Paredes 5, Wade 3, Diaz 2, Spence 8, Smith 9, Delgado 4, Allen 6

Brown RHP

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 19, 2026

07ag said:

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FrioAg 00 said:

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07ag said:

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07ag said:

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FrioAg 00 said:

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Feels like an awkward time to ask, but anyone want to go the game tomorrow?

PM me with the email address if so

---

No stars but email me at 7002ga@gmail.com

---

Hey Frio, just checking in on these,, didn't know if someone sent a pm before my post

---

Apologies - I saw the PM earlier than the post. I'll email you separately and try to find one in a couple weeks I'm not going to

---

Understood, no worries, sorry to have been a bit pushy, live out in the suburbs and trying to plan out our day

---

Astros Bingo Update 7-19-2026
Spreadsheet link


Reasons to Smile
You can watch a sporting event that matters today instead of the Astros

Reasons to Barf
The Red Sox fired their manager and 5 coaches on April 25 when they were 10-17. They've got 39-31 since.
The Phillies fired their manager on April 28 when they were 9-19. They've gone 46-25 since.


Astros Flashback: July 19, 1986: New York Mets Rick Aguilera, Ron Darling, Tim Teufel, and Bob Ojea are arrested after an early-morning scuffle at Cooter's with four off-duty Houston police officers.. In what I can only imagine was like having a thousand Christmases at the same time, the local media eats it up. Darling and Teufel were charged with aggravated assault on a policeman and Ojeda and Aguilera with hindering an arrest. Keith Hernandez was not there because he was still in the clubhouse doing lines of cocaine 4 hours after the game ended . In an act of clear self-defense, one of the cops threw Aguilera through a plate-glass door. Teufel and Darling were found guilty of misdemeanors in the end, thanks to Dick DeGuerin.
The arrests lead to the greatest sports T-shirt in Houston baseball history.

[url=https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/21/71/47/21469669/8/960x0.webp][/url]
The next day, the Astros will get their signature win of 1986, defeating New York 9-8 in 15 innings to win the series 3-1. In the last of the 15th, speedy Billy Doran beats a force play at the plate on a bases-loaded grounder by Kevin Bass. Mets' catcher Gary Carter, perennially on his period, has a fantastic hissy fit.




And now, the newest sensation, sweeping the nation.


Better Know a Poster
Day 58: spotlight: HTownAg98



Current Bingo Score: 5
Place: Tied for FIRST with 2 other people.
Squares Achieved: Rangers suck, 6+ losing streak, last place at the end of a month, Verlander < 8 wins, Framber suspended
Squares Missed: NONE
Predicted Astros record: 73-89, just need to finish the season 27-36 (.429) to get there

Squares that look like future wins:
75-79 W
Cole < 10 HR
Dodgers > 102 W

Squares that are technically still humanly possible:
Walker < 25 HR
Pena > .290
Cam > 15 HR
Diaz BB > HR

Squares that haven't aged so well:
Springer > 24 HR
Imai < 3.50
Pena leads team in RBI going to be one heck of a finish if true!

CharleyKerfeld said:

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07ag said:

---

FrioAg 00 said:

---

07ag said:

---

07ag said:

---

FrioAg 00 said:

---

Feels like an awkward time to ask, but anyone want to go the game tomorrow?

PM me with the email address if so

---

No stars but email me at 7002ga@gmail.com

---

Hey Frio, just checking in on these,, didn't know if someone sent a pm before my post

---

Apologies - I saw the PM earlier than the post. I'll email you separately and try to find one in a couple weeks I'm not going to

---

Understood, no worries, sorry to have been a bit pushy, live out in the suburbs and trying to plan out our day

---

---

Lol! We did spend like 2 hours at Lowe's yesterday looking at paint swatches, laminate vs hardwood vs tile floors, shopping appliance options.

But we're in the process of selling/buying a house right now. And while the future house is otherwise awesome and a great deal,, we're ditching the carpet, and intending on selling old appliances with our old house. And the dining room is, like, mustard yellow for some reason

Hey does anyone want a 3/2 in Missouri City with awesome lake view?



https://www.har.com/homedetail/3947-catania-bay-ct-missouri-city-tx-77459/12356949

Quote:

---

Chandler Rome

@chandlerrome.bsky.social
13m
Nate Pearson is the third of Astros GM Dana Brown's six offseason, major-league pitching acquisitions to be designated for assignment this season. The three that remain on the 40-man roster have combined for a 5.51 ERA across 210 innings.

---

Dana sucks at his job.

Ron White returns from tommy john tomorrow. Wesnescki is probably up after 1 more rehab start.

Going to be some interesting decisions coming in the next few days...

Pearson out for Teng today.

Blanco into rotation (who goes away?
Wesneski?
Sousa?
Trade time?

As always…huge thanks to frio ag

If that's what it's going to be like today, it will be a long afternoon.

07ag said:

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CharleyKerfeld said:

---

07ag said:

---

FrioAg 00 said:

---

07ag said:

---

07ag said:

---

FrioAg 00 said:

---

Feels like an awkward time to ask, but anyone want to go the game tomorrow?

PM me with the email address if so

---

No stars but email me at 7002ga@gmail.com

---

Hey Frio, just checking in on these,, didn't know if someone sent a pm before my post

---

Apologies - I saw the PM earlier than the post. I'll email you separately and try to find one in a couple weeks I'm not going to

---

Understood, no worries, sorry to have been a bit pushy, live out in the suburbs and trying to plan out our day

---

---

Lol! We did spend like 2 hours at Lowe's yesterday looking at paint swatches, laminate vs hardwood vs tile floors, shopping appliance options.

But we're in the process of selling/buying a house right now. And while the future house is otherwise awesome and a great deal,, we're ditching the carpet, and intending on selling old appliances with our old house. And the dining room is, like, mustard yellow for some reason

Hey does anyone want a 3/2 in Missouri City with awesome lake view?



https://www.har.com/homedetail/3947-catania-bay-ct-missouri-city-tx-77459/12356949

---

When we get to 10 games under I'll tell the tragic tale of the girl I loved in 8th grade who lived in Missouri City.

Think happier thoughts

Xavier Neyens RBI double for Asheville! #Astros pic.twitter.com/9uQWDiSwJG

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 19, 2026

linkdude said:

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Think happier thoughts

Xavier Neyens RBI double for Asheville! #Astros pic.twitter.com/9uQWDiSwJG

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 19, 2026

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He will look great in a Giants uniform after we trade him for Robby Ray

the irony of Robbie Ray being on the same team as Yordan would be pretty sweet, but not worth a Neyens

MaxPower said:

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linkdude said:

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Think happier thoughts

Xavier Neyens RBI double for Asheville! #Astros pic.twitter.com/9uQWDiSwJG

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 19, 2026

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He will look great in a Giants uniform after we trade him for Robby Ray

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Nah we'll trade him for 2 months of Skubal who will then never get to pitch for us in the postseason