SA-AG72 said:

---

JYDog90 said:

---

MLB treats their fans like saps. Why put the HR derby on Netflix? Thats stupid.

---

The whole production is just plain silly.

---

Make the hr derby great again, bring back Chris Berman!

BCEDAg said:

---

Marvin said:

---

Based on the lack of a press release, I assume Jim and Dana are riding this season completely into the ditch with Joe Espada. So disappointing.

---

Yes it's disappointing. I fully expected to hear today that Joe was fired and Omar was being promoted to manager. I'm thinking that maybe they are deciding on Dana's status after the trade deadline.

---

Every time I check Astros news and/or this thread and Espada has NOT been fired...I die a little inside.

Actually I just get pissed off.

07ag said:

---

SA-AG72 said:

---

JYDog90 said:

---

MLB treats their fans like saps. Why put the HR derby on Netflix? Thats stupid.

---

The whole production is just plain silly.

---

Make the hr derby great again, bring back Chris Berman!

---

"Back, back, back, back... Gone!"

SA-AG72 said:

---

JYDog90 said:

---

MLB treats their fans like saps. Why put the HR derby on Netflix? Thats stupid.

---

The whole production is just plain silly.

---

It's the HR Derby...It's all silly. That's the point.

Take the kids off the field for their safety. Give the players aluminum bats. Watch the fireworks.

Bring back the 10 outs homerun derby format but just give them less outs if you're worried about time.

7 outs would be fine

C'mon Pittsburgh, you know Nutting isn't paying this kid in six years, trade him to us (and we also won't pay him in six years)

Through first 28 big league games:#Pirates Esmerlyn Valdéz - 105 PA | .309/.371/.713
1.084 OPS | 21 R | 29 H | 6 2B | 1 3B | 10 HR | 27 RBI
22 years and 166 days old#Astros Yordan Alvarez - 124 PA | .327/.403/.682
1.085 OPS | 18 R | 36 H | 9 2B | 0 3B | 10 HR | 32 RBI
22…

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) July 13, 2026

Bonds and Pujols are doing some commentary, and Ryan Howard just walked out on the field. They are all about half the size they were when they played. Nothing to see here

Said the same thing to ladyfriend

They have bonds giving tips? Should be asking how to juice!

~egon

Hahaha!

Suck it Philly

Ag_07 said:

---

Hahaha!

Suck it Philly

---

Only Philly could boo a home run derby.

That's was ****ing great

I wasn't watching, did Schwarber try to bunt for a home run on his last chance?

EastCoastAgNc said:

---

I wasn't watching, did Schwarber try to bunt for a home run on his last chance?

---

Nope. He lined out to the backup first basemen who was inserted in late

Give it up for agenjake - the only contestant out of 73 Bingo cards to roll with the NL wins the HR Derby, picking up a square tonight.

Was reading through some post-draft stuff (most reviews gave the Astros a below-average draft grade, like a C+ based on what I saw), and I came across a trade rumor from last week. It had the Astros using Walker, Abreu, and Meyers as capital, which is no big surprise, but also Burrows and Matthews. I'd be surprised if Burrows has any substantial trade value, but I could see Matthews as a complementary asset for rebuilding teams. If the Astros are going to trade away young talent, he might fit the bill.

Is there anyway we can donate Burrows to Kars for Kids?

Since it's the break, I'll throw out there that I'm planning to host/run an online all-time Astros' team draft when the season ends (after we we beat the Marlins in the World Series).

A few friends and I had kicked around doing an 80s movie draft after discussing the podcast "The Big Picture's" 1980s comedy movie draft. We finally got it going 2 weeks ago using a website and a giant list of movies I pilfered from Box Office Mojo. 5 of us participated and had a blast, especially when it came to ganking movies ahead of someone else and the resulting profanity-laced text tirades that followed.

I have used a couple of resources to compile a list of every single player who has ever suited up for the Astros minus guys who are new this year - although I don't think any of our 2026 rookies are exactly going to make an all-time team.

I'd like to have between 7 and 11 other people besides me who are down to take part in the extravaganza. You can draft by phone or on a website and there is no time limit between picks, which is why I need people who are down for it and won't take 3 weeks to make a pick. It's a snake draft like fantasy sports, where the person at each end of the turn gets 2 picks in a row.

My thought is to have each person pick: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 3 OF, DH (can be any other hitter), 2-3 SP, and 1-2 RP. Certainly open to adjust those. I would publish the results online and then let the rest of the board vote on who they think has the best team and we'd figure out a prize for the winner.

I don't need volunteers just yet, just putting a bug in your ear that if it's your type of thing, it'll kick off after our season ends.


Here are the results of the 80s movie draft as an example. We did 2 action/adventure/fantasy, 2 comedy/musical, 1 drama/thriller/horror, 1 sports, 1 wild card.

Contestant #1: Die Hard, Aliens, Airplane!, A Fish Called Wanda, Stand by Me, Hoosiers, Planes, Trains, Automobiles
Contestant #2: The Empire Strikes Back, Lethal Weapon, Beverly Hills Cop, Sixteen Candles, The Lost Boys, the Karate Kid, Top Gun
Contestant #3: The Terminator, Big Trouble in Little China, Coming to America, Stripes, The RIght Stuff, Field of Dreams, Return of the Jedi
Contestant #4: Back to the Future, Superman II, Better Off Dead, The Three Amigos, Poltergeist, Rocky IV, The Princess Bride
Contestant #5: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Blade Runner, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Naked Gun, The Shining, Caddyshack, Raising Arizona

linkdude said:

---

C'mon Pittsburgh, you know Nutting isn't paying this kid in six years, trade him to us (and we also won't pay him in six years)

Through first 28 big league games:#Pirates Esmerlyn Valdéz - 105 PA | .309/.371/.713
1.084 OPS | 21 R | 29 H | 6 2B | 1 3B | 10 HR | 27 RBI
22 years and 166 days old#Astros Yordan Alvarez - 124 PA | .327/.403/.682
1.085 OPS | 18 R | 36 H | 9 2B | 0 3B | 10 HR | 32 RBI
22…

— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) July 13, 2026

---

The difference here is that Yordan never whiffed and K's like this, even as a rookie.

Marvin said:

---

Was reading through some post-draft stuff (most reviews gave the Astros a below-average draft grade, like a C+ based on what I saw), and I came across a trade rumor from last week. It had the Astros using Walker, Abreu, and Meyers as capital, which is no big surprise, but also Burrows and Matthews. I'd be surprised if Burrows has any substantial trade value, but I could see Matthews as a complementary asset for rebuilding teams. If the Astros are going to trade away young talent, he might fit the bill.

---

I haven't seen any that rate our draft below average. I've seen several grade it as an A but ultimately it comes down to who we sign. If we sign 3 of the 4 HS guys and the rest of our picks then I'm fired up.

We better sign everyone.

FINAL: #Astros 3, All Star Break 6 pic.twitter.com/jFsuaww74u

— Altuve Better (@AltuveEnjoyer) July 13, 2026

Fought back to tie it in the 8th and Joe let Abreu get the leverage spot

Farmer1906 said:

---

We better sign everyone.

---

Everything I've read is it's unlikely we have the money for all the HS guys and Tronstein was insurance for a deal falling through on the others. If we get all 4 then we had the best draft in the league imo and I'm generally a pessimist.

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

Since it's the break, I'll throw out there that I'm planning to host/run an online all-time Astros' team draft when the season ends (after we we beat the Marlins in the World Series).

A few friends and I had kicked around doing an 80s movie draft after discussing the podcast "The Big Picture's" 1980s comedy movie draft. We finally got it going 2 weeks ago using a website and a giant list of movies I pilfered from Box Office Mojo. 5 of us participated and had a blast, especially when it came to ganking movies ahead of someone else and the resulting profanity-laced text tirades that followed.

....

Here are the results of the 80s movie draft as an example. We did 2 action/adventure/fantasy, 2 comedy/musical, 1 drama/thriller/horror, 1 sports, 1 wild card.

Contestant #1: Die Hard, Aliens, Airplane!, A Fish Called Wanda, Stand by Me, Hoosiers, Planes, Trains, Automobiles
Contestant #2: The Empire Strikes Back, Lethal Weapon, Beverly Hills Cop, Sixteen Candles, The Lost Boys, the Karate Kid, Top Gun
Contestant #3: The Terminator, Big Trouble in Little China, Coming to America, Stripes, The RIght Stuff, Field of Dreams, Return of the Jedi
Contestant #4: Back to the Future, Superman II, Better Off Dead, The Three Amigos, Poltergeist, Rocky IV, The Princess Bride
Contestant #5: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Blade Runner, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Naked Gun, The Shining, Caddyshack, Raising Arizona

---

You can make a good list with movies not picked:

Trading Places (comedy), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (comedy), Predator (action/adventure/fantasy), Big (action/adventure/fantasy), Platoon (drama), Bull Durham (sports), National Lampoon's Vacation (wildcard)

or

Blues Brothers (comedy), A Christmas Story (comedy), First Blood (action/adventure/fantasy), The Road Warrior (action/adventure/fantasy), Raging Bull (drama), The Natural (sports), The Untouchables (wildcard)

and there's still a ton more of great flicks.

I looked at Bleacher Report, a CBS article, and another one or two. (I did add the caveat of just what I saw, lol).

Won't know until years from now, though. I hope we get a couple of good pitchers and position players out of it.

Marvin said:

---

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

Since it's the break, I'll throw out there that I'm planning to host/run an online all-time Astros' team draft when the season ends (after we we beat the Marlins in the World Series).

A few friends and I had kicked around doing an 80s movie draft after discussing the podcast "The Big Picture's" 1980s comedy movie draft. We finally got it going 2 weeks ago using a website and a giant list of movies I pilfered from Box Office Mojo. 5 of us participated and had a blast, especially when it came to ganking movies ahead of someone else and the resulting profanity-laced text tirades that followed.

....

Here are the results of the 80s movie draft as an example. We did 2 action/adventure/fantasy, 2 comedy/musical, 1 drama/thriller/horror, 1 sports, 1 wild card.

Contestant #1: Die Hard, Aliens, Airplane!, A Fish Called Wanda, Stand by Me, Hoosiers, Planes, Trains, Automobiles
Contestant #2: The Empire Strikes Back, Lethal Weapon, Beverly Hills Cop, Sixteen Candles, The Lost Boys, the Karate Kid, Top Gun
Contestant #3: The Terminator, Big Trouble in Little China, Coming to America, Stripes, The RIght Stuff, Field of Dreams, Return of the Jedi
Contestant #4: Back to the Future, Superman II, Better Off Dead, The Three Amigos, Poltergeist, Rocky IV, The Princess Bride
Contestant #5: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Blade Runner, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Naked Gun, The Shining, Caddyshack, Raising Arizona

---

You can make a good list with movies not picked:

Trading Places (comedy), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (comedy), Predator (action/adventure/fantasy), Big (action/adventure/fantasy), Platoon (drama), Bull Durham (sports), National Lampoon's Vacation (wildcard)

or

Blues Brothers (comedy), A Christmas Story (comedy), First Blood (action/adventure/fantasy), The Road Warrior (action/adventure/fantasy), Raging Bull (drama), The Natural (sports), The Untouchables (wildcard)

and there's still a ton more of great flicks.

---

Yeah we didn't know how many rounds to go, but everyone definitely felt like we had left a lot on the table.

I forgot how good we were at this point last year.

Finished 31-35

Wow I didn't realize how much we sucked last year after the All-Star break. had to look it up.

31-35 down the stretch + 47-51 this year = 78-86. A full year of mediocrity.

Last 66 games of last year: -35 run differential
First 98 games of this year: -48 run differential

Someone call Acme to get the TNT ready to blow this thing up.

And you could argue we should have been better in the second half given the acquisitions of Carlos and Sanchez. Plus Pena coming back from injury

tjack16 said:

---

And you could argue we should have been better in the second half given the acquisitions of Carlos and Sanchez. Plus Pena coming back from injury

---

I very sadly took more than 60 seconds to try and remember who "Carlos and Sanchez" were.

Jesus Sanchez: the happiest guy striking out since Pedro Cerrano.

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

Wow I didn't realize how much we sucked last year after the All-Star break. had to look it up.

31-35 down the stretch + 47-51 this year = 78-86. A full year of mediocrity.

Last 66 games of last year: -35 run differential
First 98 games of this year: -48 run differential

Someone call Acme to get the TNT ready to blow this thing up.

---

Ya, and that a 2nd half where we were finally healthy and had our new amazing players we traded away our limited valuable prospects for.

Why Joe wasn't fired last year is beyond me.

Heineken-Ashi said:

---

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

Wow I didn't realize how much we sucked last year after the All-Star break. had to look it up.

31-35 down the stretch + 47-51 this year = 78-86. A full year of mediocrity.

Last 66 games of last year: -35 run differential
First 98 games of this year: -48 run differential

Someone call Acme to get the TNT ready to blow this thing up.

---

Ya, and that a 2nd half where we were finally healthy and had our new amazing players we traded away our limited valuable prospects for.

Why Joe wasn't fired last year is beyond me.

---

To be fair, the prospects weren't valuable…but yes, Joe should have been fired long ago.

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

Wow I didn't realize how much we sucked last year after the All-Star break. had to look it up.

31-35 down the stretch + 47-51 this year = 78-86. A full year of mediocrity.

Last 66 games of last year: -35 run differential
First 98 games of this year: -48 run differential

Someone call Acme to get the TNT ready to blow this thing up.

---

This team not selling will be so frustrating and topped only by wasting prospects to pick up a mediocre outfielder and a pitcher who would be #4 at best on any real contender.

I can't imagine that Jim Crane would keep a VP at Crane Worldwide Logistics that was performing as badly as Dana or Joe.

Just an observation.

Farmer1906 said:

---

We better sign everyone.

---

Just to give you an idea of what we are up against with signing the HS guys

The Braves signed third round RHP Jensen Hirschkorn to a $3,997,500 deal. Slot value for the 84th overall pick is $973,700. A $3,023,800 over slot deal.https://t.co/z72Id3U3ln

— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) July 14, 2026

MaxPower said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

We better sign everyone.

---

Just to give you an idea of what we are up against with signing the HS guys

The Braves signed third round RHP Jensen Hirschkorn to a $3,997,500 deal. Slot value for the 84th overall pick is $973,700. A $3,023,800 over slot deal.https://t.co/z72Id3U3ln

— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) July 14, 2026

---

That is crazy, but I stand by my statement. If we drafted them in the first 10 rounds, we'd better have a plan to sign them all. This is the first season in a long time where we actually had halfway decent picks (quantity and how early they were).