Speaking of numbers, countdowns, etc., let's say 85 wins takes this putrid division. Does this team hit the 90-win mark, including playoffs?

I honestly can't decide.

ESPN homepage: "Skubal racks up 6 Ks in Dodgers debut"

"Racks up". LOL.

I think the chances of exceeding 85 W's in the regular season are good considering the weakness of the remaining schedule . The counter argument would be they play better and win more against good teams than bad teams . So …. Maybe? If I had to bet I'd bet on over 89 including post season.

Need to keep winning (of course), but need CWS and CLE to lose some games. Incredibly we can grab the 2 seed.....

As ESPN as it gets. What a bunch of kneelers.

Wabs said:

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Need to keep winning (of course), but need CWS and CLE to lose some games. Incredibly we can grab the 2 seed.....

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We are 1.5 GB of the 2 seed, have the tiebreaker with Cleveland, and can take the tiebreaker with Chicago if we split the four game series still to come.

CharleyKerfeld said:

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As ESPN as it gets. What a bunch of kneelers.

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As always, you don't hate the media enough. They're all scum at that level.

Fangraphs finally figured out we're leading the division.

Playoffs Odds

• July 27 - 33.3%
• Aug 4th - 61.2%

Win Division Offs

• July 27 - 16.3%
• Aug 4th - 45.9%

An L of an Ag said:

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Speaking of numbers, countdowns, etc., let's say 85 wins takes this putrid division. Does this team hit the 90-win mark, including playoffs?

I honestly can't decide.

---

85 probably isn't enough for the bye. That would mean we win the WC and DS to get to 90. I think we have a decent shot at beating the Guards and White Sox. I would say yes, but that's more to do with the weaker opponents than me fully believing in this squad.

Right now we are on track for 83-79

I think we end up about 86-76 which would probably win the division by 2-3 games

Astros Bingo Update: 8-5-26
Spreadsheet Link

Reasons to Smile
Our late-season starting pitching add of Hayden Wesneski looks great!
I'll never complain about an Astro OF throw again this season after seeing Jesus Sanchez miss the plate by 20 feet.
Yanier Diaz is making a late-season big for the .275 Bingo square, which I would have laughed in your face about even 2 weeks ago.

Reasons to Barf
No notes.


GOAT REPORT: With 3 hits yesterday, Jose Altuve vaulted past both David Ortiz and Ted Simmons into sole possession of 105th place in the career hits category at 2,743. It will be a while before he moves up again, there's an odd gap between where he is now and Fred McGriff at #104 with 2,490. One of the more likable guys of the last few decades,
Ortiz played the last 16 of his 20 seasons with the Red Sox, helping them reverse the curse and break through to the 2004 World Series after not winning one since 1918. He is among the rarest of the rare, retiring while still at the top of his game despite being 40. In 2016, he led the league with 48 doubles, 127 RBI, a .620 slugging percentage and a 1.021 OPS and hung it up. In 2006, he led the league with 54 HR and 137 RBI and in 2005 he put up 148 RBI with 47 homers. He had 10 seasons of 100+ RBI and 10 seasons of 30+ HR. He finished with 632 doubles (12th all time) and 541 home runs (17th all-time).
Simmons is one of the most underrated players of the 20th century, most likely because he was in the shadow of Johnny Bench. He only played in 3 playoff series in his 21 year career and made the World Series only once. He played most of his career as a catcher, but also played first and left. He had eight seasons of at least 90 RBI and hit .285 for his career. In 1975 at age 25, he had an 18 HR,100 RBI season with 193 hits, a .332 batting average, and an .887 OPS. His career OPS was .785. He only got 3.7% of the HOF vote in his first year to drop off the ballot, but was inducted by the Veterans Committee in 2020 with 81.3% of the vote.


Astros' Flashback: August 5, 1994 Jeff Bagwell breaks three team records in the same night when he hits his 38th homer, drives in his 111th and 112th runs, and records his 69th extra-base hit in a 12-4 laughter over the Giants. He breaks Jimmy Wynn's record for homers (37) and extra-base hits (68) and Bob Watson's record for RBI (110). Overall, he's 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 5 RBI, and leaves the game hitting .370 with a .451 OBP, and a .755 slugging percentage.. A week later, it's all over. He breaks his hand getting hit by a pitch on August 11, and the player strike begins the next day.


And now, the newest sensation, sweeping the nation.

Better Know a Poster: The Final Entry
Day 73 spotlight: Scrimp



Current Bingo Score: 4
Place: Tied for 2nd with a few folks
Squares Achieved: Rangers suck, 6+ W Streak, Yordan > 25 HR< Judge < 50 HR
Squares Missed: Hunter > 190 K, NL ASG W, Correa > 65 RBI, Hunter ASG

Predicted Astros record: 88-74, just need to finish the season 29-18 (.617)

Squares that look like future wins:
> 700 R
Texas < 80 W

Squares that are technically still humanly possible:
Playoffs

Squares that haven't aged so well:
ERA < 3.86
Trout < 100 G
Seattle > 90 W
Colorado < 52 W

An L of an Ag said:

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Speaking of numbers, countdowns, etc., let's say 85 wins takes this putrid division. Does this team hit the 90-win mark, including playoffs?

I honestly can't decide.

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If they go 31-16 they would hit 90 wins. Not probable but not impossible.

tjack16 said:

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Right now we are on track for 83-79

I think we end up about 86-76 which would probably win the division by 2-3 games

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So you think they go 24-23 to be on track for 83-79?
I would hope they go maybe 27-20 and finish 86-76 also.

Sportscenter was on one of the TVs at the gym this morning (as always). When the Dodgers-Cubs highlights started, I immediately was bummed because it sure looked an LA win. And then I saw the final score and nearly fell off the bike laughing.

So pathetic, ESPN. Yet so predictable.

Better Know a Poster: Tale of the Tape

Day 1: May 11: Team Record - 16-26
Day 73: August 5, Team Record - 59-56

Better Know a Poster prompted a 43-30 run. You're welcome.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Ethan Frey (2025 third round pick) has been really heating up since getting healthy. The kid can hit. There is no doubt about that.

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did you post your trade deadline thoughts and I missed it

BCEDAg said:

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tjack16 said:

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Right now we are on track for 83-79

I think we end up about 86-76 which would probably win the division by 2-3 games

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So you think they go 24-23 to be on track for 83-79?
I would hope they go maybe 27-20 and finish 86-76 also.

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I was just saying at .513 the pace is 83-79, but of course we've been playing better so I think 86-76

May 20th, we were sitting at 20-31, 39.2%
Since then, we've gone 39-25. 60.9%.
With 47 games left, a 60.9% clip would mean 29 more wins or 88 overall wins.

I think predicting 86-89 wins is very realistic.

This seems notable.

Something I’m really happy about is that the Astros pitching staff has dropped their walk percentage from 11.3% to 8.6% since the All-Star Break.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 5, 2026

Josh Hader has only pitched once in the last six games and the Astros are 5-1. A bit of a bonus to a solid stretch of games

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) August 5, 2026

speaking of 2021 Braves

BREAKING: The Pittsburgh Pirates have released DH Marcell Ozuna, per @mikedeportes.

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) August 5, 2026

Since I work from home, it's an afternoon delight of day game HOFA today. Just warning you if you're at work.

This will be ethe last HOFA for the week, I'm taking an actual vacation this weekend.

Maybe pick up Soler or Ozuna and send Descenzo somewhere, anywhere.....

linkdude said:

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speaking of 2021 Braves

BREAKING: The Pittsburgh Pirates have released DH Marcell Ozuna, per @mikedeportes.

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) August 5, 2026

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Ozuna and Soler are available.... hmmm.... do we?

Make it count!!

Farmer1906 said:

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linkdude said:

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speaking of 2021 Braves

BREAKING: The Pittsburgh Pirates have released DH Marcell Ozuna, per @mikedeportes.

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) August 5, 2026

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Ozuna and Soler are available.... hmmm.... do we?

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because of the release, isn't the original team responsible for the remaining salary (and we could just do a minimum or other negotiated deal), its not like a DFA waiver claim right?

Farmer1906 said:

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May 20th, we were sitting at 20-31, 39.2%
Since then, we've gone 39-25. 60.9%.
With 47 games left, a 60.9% clip would mean 29 more wins or 88 overall wins.

I think predicting 86-89 wins is very realistic.

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On May 20th we had a -56 RD. Today it's -24 or +32 since. While I thought +32 was impressive, a few others topped us.

• Tigers +92
• Red Sox +83
• White Sox +55
• Astros+32
• Os +26

On the flip side

• Athletics -150
• Royals -73
• Rangers -52
• Blue Jays -49
• Guards -41

So thankful we aren't facing Soriano from the Jays this series. That dude owns us.

linkdude said:

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This seems notable.

Something I’m really happy about is that the Astros pitching staff has dropped their walk percentage from 11.3% to 8.6% since the All-Star Break.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 5, 2026

Josh Hader has only pitched once in the last six games and the Astros are 5-1. A bit of a bonus to a solid stretch of games

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) August 5, 2026

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And winning without Parades getting a hit in the last few games too.

We also miss Dylan Cease today, very nice of the Jays to push him back a day.

linkdude said:

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We also miss Dylan Cease today, very nice of the Jays to push him back a day.

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Taillon scheduled today it appears...

linkdude said:

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This seems notable.

Something I’m really happy about is that the Astros pitching staff has dropped their walk percentage from 11.3% to 8.6% since the All-Star Break.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 5, 2026

Josh Hader has only pitched once in the last six games and the Astros are 5-1. A bit of a bonus to a solid stretch of games

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) August 5, 2026

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How much of that is simply Burrows and Imai not being in the starting rotation?

txags92 said:

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linkdude said:

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This seems notable.

Something I’m really happy about is that the Astros pitching staff has dropped their walk percentage from 11.3% to 8.6% since the All-Star Break.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 5, 2026

Josh Hader has only pitched once in the last six games and the Astros are 5-1. A bit of a bonus to a solid stretch of games

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) August 5, 2026

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How much of that is simply Burrows and Imai not being in the starting rotation?

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Soooo this!

txags92 said:

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linkdude said:

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This seems notable.

Something I’m really happy about is that the Astros pitching staff has dropped their walk percentage from 11.3% to 8.6% since the All-Star Break.

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 5, 2026

Josh Hader has only pitched once in the last six games and the Astros are 5-1. A bit of a bonus to a solid stretch of games

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) August 5, 2026

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How much of that is simply Burrows and Imai not being in the starting rotation?

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Probably 99% of it

that's a nice solid from the Jays

thanks

Astros are 7-0 in Sousa's 7 appearances (since returning from injury)