Sousa is good

So, who's next? Surely they don't trot Sousa back out there again.

That was an ode to Bryan Abreu by Sousa. Walk the bases loaded then decide to lock in

Hit it to Pearls. He's a hot mess at 1B

Espada: "Hey Lamonte, nice game tonight, but I'm lifting you for an automatic out."

Are they ever going to bring Loperfido back up?

CharleyKerfeld said:

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Espada: "Hey Lamonte, nice game tonight, but I'm lifting you for an automatic out."

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I have to say that Joe has improved some of his decision making lately, but his PH decisions still leave a lot to be desired. Then again, the state of our bench means that most of the guys he has available to PH are in a pitched battle with the Mendoza line.

Quote:

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Chandler Rome
Staff Writer, Houston Astros


Astros focused on adding
Without a well-regarded farm system and with only about $12 million under the luxury tax threshold logic suggested the Houston Astros would have to move pieces from their major-league roster during the trade deadline.

That is not the team's intention, according to multiple sources granted anonymity for their candor about ongoing negotiations. The Astros have told at least two teams that they have no interest in trading off their active roster and are focused only on adding.

On the surface, this is no surprise. Houston overtook the Texas Rangers for first place in the American League West last night and, according to FanGraphs, has 45.7 percent odds to reach the postseason. Trading any of shortstop Jeremy Peña, ace Hunter Brown, closer Josh Hader or third baseman Isaac Paredes would crater those chances.

Scenarios existed, though, where the Astros could move other pieces either for more payroll flexibility or to protect the few premier prospects they have. First baseman Christian Walker, who is making $20 million this season, and pitcher Cristian Javier are two examples. Javier is in the fourth season of a five-year, $64 million contract extension he signed prior to the 2023 season.

Moving Walker, Javier or even rental reliever Bryan Abreu would come with an expectation of backfilling their production with either internal options or whoever the team acquires at the deadline.

Instead, it appears the Astros will navigate the next two days by making prospect-heavy deals from a farm system that The Athletic's Keith Law ranked 28th of 30 teams in the preseason.

Doing so would be somewhat of a departure for general manager Dana Brown, who traded two players off the team's major-league roster in 2024 to acquire Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bear in mind, though, that both of those players Jake Bloss and Joey Loperfido were rookies with five more years of team control remaining. There are a few players on Houston's current major-league roster in a similar situation. One of them is right-hander AJ Blubaugh, who has drawn considerable interest from other teams across the past month.

Might that be the type of player Brown would be willing to move off of his major-league roster?

---

They're gonna give up the only good prospects we have

Yep, stupid. So I fully expect it.

The Wave. Right before that pitch.

We have the dumbest fan base

Why spend money when you can just keep forfeiting your future? Enjoy this while it lasts, I guess.

The rangers continually taking out their probably best hitter against us because a lefty pitcher is up makes Joe look like a Mensa

SIAP

https://instagr.am/p/DbhKbpgJf0p

"I wouldn't be doing all this work if I didn't have a chance" to return this season.

Man that'd be huge.

Juuust missed a Yordong

So George Springer is coming to Houston for the series anyway on Monday, I mean, the opportunity is right there.

Bats have gone to sleep. Need the bullpen to step it up.

Harry Dunne said:

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SIAP

https://instagr.am/p/DbhKbpgJf0p

"I wouldn't be doing all this work if I didn't have a chance" to return this season.

Man that'd be huge.

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Just help me think through this. How would it help us? We gonna sit Altuve? I mean we could trade Walker or Paredes but I don't see how this really helps with the current roster.

I haven't even thought that far yet, but when you get back a guy who is your 3rd or 4th best hitter and a Platinum Glove winner, you find a ufcking spot for him. OFC it doesn't help as much as if he were a LHB corner outfielder, but if I have to explain to you why we're better with Carlos Correa healthy, then we're probably not going to agree on much. You don't tell him to slow roll his rehab because you're worried about how to fill out the lineup card. That's the easiest problem in baseball to solve.

Plus, if we get there, postseason Correa is best season Correa.

Diaz decided to text his side piece before throwing to second. Such a bad jump still almost had the out.

Why Diaz stutter-step on that throw? Cost us second base.

htxag09 said:

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Diaz decided to text his side piece before throwing to second. Such a bad jump still almost had the out.

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The guys he actually throws out must feel like the biggest losers.

Big 4 outs by Okert.

Walker doubles

Walker with a leadoff dub.

Walker breaks the HOFA slump!

Gotta find a way to get him in.

Carlos and Isaac split between 3b and DH and Yordan splits time between LF and DH.

Automatically improves the OF exponentially. Which if you've been paying attention we need.

Quote:

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Stephen J. Nesbitt
Senior Writer, MLB


Thomas on the move?
Royals outfielder Lane Thomas was pulled prior to the bottom of the fourth inning tonight at Coors Field. Hugs were handed out up and down the visiting dugout. There is no clearer indication of a trade brewing than "hug watch."

Thomas, 30, is an attractive target at this deadline given the dearth of right-handed hitters available. He has an .800 OPS this season against left-handed pitchers. Thomas is a rental making $5.25 million in 2026.

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Opening double wasted. Hope that doesn't bite.

Mathguy64 said:

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Opening double wasted. Hope that doesn't bite.

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Any wagers on whether Abreu walks the leadoff hitter?

htxag09 said:

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Diaz decided to text his side piece before throwing to second. Such a bad jump still almost had the out.

---

Success rate for base-stealers vs. Yanier
2026: 38 of 49 (77.6%)
2025: 95 of 118 (80.5%)
2024: 81 of 105 (77.1%)
2023: 35 of 50 (70%)

Career total: 248 of 321 (77.3%)

Joe rolling the dice.

CharleyKerfeld said:

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htxag09 said:

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Diaz decided to text his side piece before throwing to second. Such a bad jump still almost had the out.

---

Success rate for base-stealers vs. Yanier
2026: 38 of 49 (77.6%)
2025: 95 of 118 (80.5%)
2024: 81 of 105 (77.1%)
2023: 35 of 50 (70%)

Career total: 248 of 321 (77.3%)

---

Jesus. That's um...wow.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Quote:

---

Chandler Rome
Staff Writer, Houston Astros


Astros focused on adding
Without a well-regarded farm system and with only about $12 million under the luxury tax threshold logic suggested the Houston Astros would have to move pieces from their major-league roster during the trade deadline.

That is not the team's intention, according to multiple sources granted anonymity for their candor about ongoing negotiations. The Astros have told at least two teams that they have no interest in trading off their active roster and are focused only on adding.

On the surface, this is no surprise. Houston overtook the Texas Rangers for first place in the American League West last night and, according to FanGraphs, has 45.7 percent odds to reach the postseason. Trading any of shortstop Jeremy Peña, ace Hunter Brown, closer Josh Hader or third baseman Isaac Paredes would crater those chances.

Scenarios existed, though, where the Astros could move other pieces either for more payroll flexibility or to protect the few premier prospects they have. First baseman Christian Walker, who is making $20 million this season, and pitcher Cristian Javier are two examples. Javier is in the fourth season of a five-year, $64 million contract extension he signed prior to the 2023 season.

Moving Walker, Javier or even rental reliever Bryan Abreu would come with an expectation of backfilling their production with either internal options or whoever the team acquires at the deadline.

Instead, it appears the Astros will navigate the next two days by making prospect-heavy deals from a farm system that The Athletic's Keith Law ranked 28th of 30 teams in the preseason.

Doing so would be somewhat of a departure for general manager Dana Brown, who traded two players off the team's major-league roster in 2024 to acquire Yusei Kikuchi from the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bear in mind, though, that both of those players Jake Bloss and Joey Loperfido were rookies with five more years of team control remaining. There are a few players on Houston's current major-league roster in a similar situation. One of them is right-hander AJ Blubaugh, who has drawn considerable interest from other teams across the past month.

Might that be the type of player Brown would be willing to move off of his major-league roster?

---

They're gonna give up the only good prospects we have

---

My guess is we acquire very cheap rentals for prospects we don't care about. Guys who arguably aren't even upgrades. It's all kind of silly because, in spite of this recent hot streak, this team does not appear to be a legit contender as is. There won't be a big cost in terms of harming the farm but there will be an opportunity cost in terms of what you could have gotten for someone like Pena.

You can hope we do like the 2021 Braves and every leftover piece of scrap we pick up goes ballistic but those are very long odds. In fact, Dana being a part of that run may have given him a false sense of how realistic that is. All that said, we are hopefully at least able to win a division which is not nothing.