The D said:

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I was there tonight

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I was also. What an absolutely putrid effort.
However, I was with a buddy who's family has Diamond Club seats. Three rows behind our on-deck circle. I luckily had free food and dessert to drown my sorrows in. /humblebrag

BCEDAg said:

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Watching how opponents are pitching to our batters weaknesses makes me wonder what does our advance scouting department actually do in preparing game plans on how our pitchers attack opponents? The Mariners and Angels were basically teeing off like they knew what was coming.
Or maybe our pitchers just suck.

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Our pitchers mostly have the same problems, they are unable to consistently throw breaking pitches for strikes. So the opposing batter can just ignore the breaking stuff and look for fastballs in the zone once we get behind in the count. The number of walks we give up shows how patient they are willing to be at waiting for us to actually put one in the strike zone. With most of our guys throwing fastballs <96, we are not blowing anything by anybody if we can't make them respect our breaking pitches.

Tl;dr - our pitchers mostly suck

xERA by Month
March/April - 21st 4.74
May - 25th 4.55
June - 9th 3.88
July - 21st 4.25
Aug - 12th 3.77

We've been bad to slightly above avg for the entire season. Its wild that we did nothing to try to address this at the deadline.

Dana failed this offseason. Imai sucks. Burrows is worse. Weiss and Pearson are already gone. Petey has been the bright light of the offseason.

Dana failed the trade deadline.

I'm not so sure that Dana failed so much as he was not allowed to succeed.

There were 3 choices. Hard sell, hard buy, do nothing.

The 11-1 run to put us in 1st took hard sell off the table. That is what should have happened but no 1P team can do that. Crane refused to allow the hard buy choice. Once he nixed Abreu for Larnach that effectively ended any ability Dana had to make decisions. That left do nothing.

Owners that play GM never work. They can't be dispassionate about players or money like an independent GM can.

All of the above is true, but a big part of the pitching fault also has to fall on Hunter Brown. He's a guy most of us pencilled in for 30-35 starts, lots of quality starts, and 13-16 wins. Obviously he can't control his injury, but his July ERA was 4.94 in 5 starts and in August it's 4.50 in 3 starts.

He also seems to be walking way more batters than usual. July WHIP 1.390, August WHIP 1.313. Last year his WHIP was 1.025.

Example 1A:
Jerry Jones

Example 1B:
Al Davis

Example 1C:
Jimmy Crane

Alex Santos is a kid (2020 second rd draft pick) who's had injury issues in '24/25 finally is having a healthy season. We would need to protect him on our 40-man this offseason ahead of a guy like Mayer.

Seems like he's finally hitting a roll, his last two months have been more than solid. Could be a bullpen piece, but he's got peripherals to look at moving forward.

Last night he tossed 2 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts... he generated a ridiculous 14 swings in misses in just 2 innings! https://t.co/4cshADcU7M

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 21, 2026

Put it on Dana or Crane, whoever. The leadership failed. They failed in the offseason by making poor moves, but at least there was a plan, and it didn't work out. They failed at the deadline by sitting on their hands. Now we're stuck at .500 in a year when we could have slepwalked to the division title and potentially earned a bye.

What I wouldn't give to get the type of leaders who wanted to win again.

Let's hop in a time machine.

The year is 2018. The Astros are 67-37 with a 5 game lead over the Mariners. We have the 2nd best offense in baseball by wRC+ (112 to the Yankees 114). We lead the league in run differential and 2nd to only Boston in overall record. And you know, leadership decided. F it. We're going to add Bryce Harper. Now, at the last second, Washington leadership veto'd it. But a deal was in place.

Then, just 1 year later in 2019. The Astros are 69-39, 7.5 up on Oakland and 2nd to only LAD overall. Our pitching is excellent. 3rd overall in ERA, #1 in K-bb%, and 2 top starters are fighting for who gets 1st and who gets 2nd in the Cy Young. What do we do? Add future HOFer Zack Greinke to bolster an already very good rotation.

CharleyKerfeld said:

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All of the above is true, but a big part of the pitching fault also has to fall on Hunter Brown. He's a guy most of us pencilled in for 30-35 starts, lots of quality starts, and 13-16 wins. Obviously he can't control his injury, but his July ERA was 4.94 in 5 starts and in August it's 4.50 in 3 starts.

He also seems to be walking way more batters than usual. July WHIP 1.390, August WHIP 1.313. Last year his WHIP was 1.025.

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Hunter couldn't even reliably put his fastball in the zone in his last start. I don't know how the entire staff suddenly lost the ability to find the strike zone in the same 4 month period, but they did.

Farmer1906 said:

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What I wouldn't give to get the type of leaders who wanted to win again.

Let's hop in a time machine.

The year is 2018. The Astros are 67-37 with a 5 game lead over the Mariners. We have the 2nd best offense in baseball by wRC+ (112 to the Yankees 114). We lead the league in run differential and 2nd to only Boston in overall record. And you know, leadership decided. F it. We're going to add Bryce Harper. Now, at the last second, Washington leadership veto'd it. But a deal was in place.

Then, just 1 year later in 2019. The Astros are 69-39, 7.5 up on Oakland and 2nd to only LAD overall. Our pitching is excellent. 3rd overall in ERA, #1 in K-bb%, and 2 top starters are fighting for who gets 1st and who gets 2nd in the Cy Young. What do we do? Add future HOFer Zack Greinke to bolster an already very good rotation.

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Those days are gone. It would either taking Crane deciding to get out of the GM business and finding someone he trusts to do the job with full authority to do the job OR Crane selling the franchise and the new owner doing the same thing.

I don't see either happening.

Outside of Yordan, this franchise is garbage. Time to rebuild.

Me watching the Dodgers receive all the hate the Astros have gotten the last 7 years. https://t.co/YYnO8dIptz pic.twitter.com/XxLSZmHDvx

— TravisT (@LeftyTravis) August 21, 2026

this Dodgers situation falls under the old adage:

if something seems too good to be true...it probably is

huge payroll...so many mega-contracts...and so forth

Half the league used technology to steal signs and the Astros got punished while everyone else sat back and got away with it.

The Dodgers used what appear to be an illegal monetary shell game to artificially inflate their wealth to win and the rest of the league will pay the price in the CBA negotiations. All the whilethe Dodgers and Manfred (I will bet Shohei's deferred contract he knew about it) sit there reaping the rewards.

Somehow none of that is sitting well with me.

Mathguy64 said:

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Half the league used technology to steal signs and the Astros got punished while everyone else sat back and got away with it.

The Dodgers used what appear to be an illegal monetary shell game to artificially inflate their wealth to win and the rest of the league will pay the price in the CBA negotiations. All the whilethe Dodgers and Manfred (I will bet Shohei's deferred contract he knew about it) sit there reaping the rewards.

Somehow none of that is sitting well with me.

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The Dodgers BS already guaranteed a lockout for next year but now with the financial fraud scheme released it not only will be owners vs players but now owners vs owners so enjoy this season (hard to say after last night) because we won't have baseball for quite a while.

The D said:

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I was there tonight

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This is becoming a scene right out of Gandalf and Elrond talking in Fellowship of the Ring

Interior scene: Elrond and Gandalf sitting at a sports bar late Friday night

Elrond: "This peril belongs to all Houston. They must decide now how to end it."

Elrond: "The time of the Dynasty is over - our best players are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone? Pena? He can't stay healthy for 20 minutes. Walker? He struck out twice while we were ordering our drinks."

Gandalf: "It is in Jim Crane we must place our hope."

Elrond: "Crane? Crane is weak."

Elrond: "The House of Crane is failing. The blood of Altuve is all but spent, its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Crane that Espada and Brown have jobs. I was there, Gandalf. I was there Thursday night when the Angles beat us 18-3. When Lambert took the mound. I was there when the Astros fell to 64-64 but were somehow still in first place."

Elrond: "I led Crane to the trade deadline in the heart of a pennant race, the one place the franchise could be rebuilt."

(Cut to Crane in Mount Doom, refusing to trade Abreu / Pena / Brown / anyone)

Elrond: "Approve the Abreu deal, you idiot!"

(Crane looking at the World Series trophies).

Crane: "No."

Crane trades for Daulton Varsho instead.

Elrond: "CRANNEEEEE!"

Elrond (voiceover): "It should have ended that day, but Crane's ego was allowed to endure."

Prosperdick said:

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Mathguy64 said:

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Half the league used technology to steal signs and the Astros got punished while everyone else sat back and got away with it.

The Dodgers used what appear to be an illegal monetary shell game to artificially inflate their wealth to win and the rest of the league will pay the price in the CBA negotiations. All the whilethe Dodgers and Manfred (I will bet Shohei's deferred contract he knew about it) sit there reaping the rewards.

Somehow none of that is sitting well with me.

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The Dodgers BS already guaranteed a lockout for next year but now with the financial fraud scheme released it not only will be owners vs players but now owners vs owners so enjoy this season (hard to say after last night) because we won't have baseball for quite a while.

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Isn't part of the Dodgers/bankruptcy issue, the judge picked the new owner instead of the owners approving it?

Giant stories the last 2 days from the NY Times, LA Times, WSJ, and Reuters on the Dodgers.

No stories whatsoever on ESPN's website.

Astros need a slumpbuster and a friend mentioned Lina Hidalgo- I'd posit that she's a textbook example of Mark Grace's definition of a slumpbuster.

Teng got the call probably because we are in desperate need of innings coverage.

Astros move:

RHP Kai-Wei Teng recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land and LHP Bryan King optioned.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 21, 2026

linkdude said:

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Teng got the call probably because we are in desperate need of innings coverage.

Astros move:

RHP Kai-Wei Teng recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land and LHP Bryan King optioned.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 21, 2026

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King's career with the Astros has to be over by this point, right? He's got to be out of chances by now.

Not Astros related but Misiorowski versus Sale is starting now.

superaggie73 said:

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linkdude said:

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Teng got the call probably because we are in desperate need of innings coverage.

Astros move:

RHP Kai-Wei Teng recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land and LHP Bryan King optioned.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 21, 2026

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King's career with the Astros has to be over by this point, right? He's got to be out of chances by now.

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He's a genetic reliever and there is a 50/50 chance he will be untouchable next season. Or worse that this next season. It's why you should never spend any $$ on relievers other than someone with years of track record as a closer. And it's also why you should be willing to trade one having a good season as their next can suck.

Leadoff walk Acuna, two Ks versus Baldwin and Olsen and a caught stealing by Contreras (leading the league in CS).

The A's are 11-41 since June 20.

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 21, 2026

They better stay at 11 wins after this weekend. This series is as close to a must sweep as you could possibly get

I fully expect 1-2 weekend. This team is objectively shot right now.

When a 12.8% walk rate is only 54th percentile lolol

Logan Hughes sliders look really good so far! He’s been crushing since being assigned to Fayetteville! #Astroshttps://t.co/eQYpgph7C8 pic.twitter.com/fTnPhr3RGw

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 21, 2026

Dubie gets a hit the other way off Miz.

Hope you guys enjoy the game tonight. I'll be binging Season 5 of Outer Banks with my daughter. Not exactly HOFA, but 10 hours of Madelyn Cline isn't too shabby.

linkdude said:

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When a 12.8% walk rate is only 54th percentile lolol

Logan Hughes sliders look really good so far! He’s been crushing since being assigned to Fayetteville! #Astroshttps://t.co/eQYpgph7C8 pic.twitter.com/fTnPhr3RGw

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 21, 2026

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Durnin has been balling out too, which is good since we may need him to be our SS in 2027

I know Dubon was going into his last arbitration year, did the Braves get him to sign an extension or will he be on the market again this/next offseason? Not an offensive building block, but at least someone we have familiarity with *shrug*

Professional Hitter Jack Moss mentioned

Be sure to check out this week’s pipeline report with news and notes on Luciano, Fraide, Moss and more! #Astros https://t.co/nnj8LNvtfQ

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 21, 2026

No Pena, Varsho batting fourth

Astros-A’s tonight: pic.twitter.com/fX44HxBlqW

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 21, 2026

Spencer back up for the Jays, glad his injury didn't sideline him for long. Not sure if he's starting or in the pen.

#BlueJays roster moves:

• Davis Schneider is up
• Spencer Arrighetti is activated

• Josh Smith to the IL (left hamstring inflammation)
• Brendan Cellucci optioned to Triple-A

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) August 21, 2026