For the 1,000th time....when you realize Joe only understands the concept of left vs. right, you'll come to expect these decisions. He literally cannot see past it...hence we took every LH bat on our roster and moved them all up in the lineup.
***** Official Houston Astros 2026 Season Thread *****
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Last: 7 min ago by MaxPower
W said:
oh my goodness...
LaMonte in the leadoff spot tonight
Altuve 4th
Varsho 5th
Trammell 6th
Cam 7th
Joe has officially lost his mind
Trammell has officially taken over as our worst contributor (non-pitcher) by bWAR this season at -.4. Of course, it's taken him 69 games and 205 PAs to hit that number, while Varsho has put up -2. bWAR in just 14 games and 54 PAs.
2026 Houston Astros Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
While Trammell's offensive numbers have been nosediving, he still numbers amongst the tallest midgets wielding a stick in our OF (.2 oWAR and 95 OPS+).
Trammell is getting hammered by terrible defensive ratings (which aren't hard to believe).
He has a -.7 dWAR and -4 defensive runs saved (DRS) on baseball reference. His DRS above average over the course of 1200 innings (which BR considers 135 games) is -36.
Taylor Trammell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com
The Fielding Bible has him tied at 305th worst out of 319 OFs in MLB this season in DRS at -6.
Fielding Bible
Fangraphs' arcane defensive stats bleed negative too.
Taylor Trammell - Stats - Batting | FanGraphs Baseball
In the funny category after his recent mishaps Kyle Tucker is alone in 2nd to last in DRS amongst OFs according to the Fielding Bible with -10 (two other keystone cops manning the OF have -11).
Joe Espada said Pena underwent an MRI which showed some inflammation in his knuckle but no structural damage.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 20, 2026
He’s day to day.
Ticket prices for tonight (SeatGeek)
linkdude said:Joe Espada said Pena underwent an MRI which showed some inflammation in his knuckle but no structural damage.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 20, 2026
He’s day to day.
Here we go...
linkdude said:Joe Espada said Pena underwent an MRI which showed some inflammation in his knuckle but no structural damage.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 20, 2026
He’s day to day.
We won't see Peña for the rest of the year…
It's hard to decide who is actually worse at their jobs. Joe or Dana?
If finally decided it's Joe. Dana is handcuffed by an owner who really won't let him do his job. That doesn't excuse the crapfest outfield roster but it does at last provide context for it. Joe doesn't know what to do with the players he has.
If finally decided it's Joe. Dana is handcuffed by an owner who really won't let him do his job. That doesn't excuse the crapfest outfield roster but it does at last provide context for it. Joe doesn't know what to do with the players he has.
Mathguy64 said:
It's hard to decide who is actually worse at their jobs. Joe or Dana?
If finally decided it's Joe. Dana is handcuffed by an owner who really won't let him do his job. That doesn't excuse the crapfest outfield roster but it does at last provide context for it. Joe doesn't know what to do with the players he has.
I think Joe has mailed it in and is just trolling Crane at this point trying to do increasingly ridiculous things to get fired so he can go fishing instead of having to head to the ballpark every night.
Yord needs to get back on a roll, because Witt is hard charging.
Bobby Witt Jr. has homered 3 times in his last 5 games!
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 20, 2026
His 6.1 fWAR trails only Pete Crow-Armstrong this season 👑 pic.twitter.com/LaXY0mQUKc
Delgado recalled nelson v dfa
we'll remember your sac fly in San Fran, Nelson
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
— MLB Hall of Pretty Good (@hallofgoodpod) August 20, 2026
Trey Mancini received 91% of over 52,500 votes and is now officially inducted into the Hall of Pretty Good as an Inner Circle member.
Mancini was born on March 18, 1992, in Florida. As a high school senior, Mancini batted .480 with six home runs, catching the… pic.twitter.com/7DA8XbkXuU
For those upset about the lineup tonight, what lineup would you think is better? Assuming Pena is out tonight, who are you putting in?
-Alvarez, Paredes, and Altuve are easy choices. Allen to take Pena's spot by default.
-CW has been on a consistent 0fer streak after his extra innings bomb, so him getting the night off makes sense, even with his 109 OPS+
-If we are going by OPS+, Wade (99), Trammell (95), and Smith (94) are your next best bats statistically.
-The difference between Yainer (89) and Vazquez (77) probably isn't enough to worry about.
-Then, you need a CF, so Varsho and his 18 OPS+ is in the lineup.
After Yordan and Isaac, the rest of the available roster is looking up at league average.
Compare this to the 2017 team. Carlos Beltran was the only everyday player under 100.
-Alvarez, Paredes, and Altuve are easy choices. Allen to take Pena's spot by default.
-CW has been on a consistent 0fer streak after his extra innings bomb, so him getting the night off makes sense, even with his 109 OPS+
-If we are going by OPS+, Wade (99), Trammell (95), and Smith (94) are your next best bats statistically.
-The difference between Yainer (89) and Vazquez (77) probably isn't enough to worry about.
-Then, you need a CF, so Varsho and his 18 OPS+ is in the lineup.
After Yordan and Isaac, the rest of the available roster is looking up at league average.
Compare this to the 2017 team. Carlos Beltran was the only everyday player under 100.
Ags #1 said:
Delgado recalled nelson v dfa
It's just a rotational circle jerk of bad OFers.
Mariners pull the emergency cord on their top prospect.
The Seattle Mariners are calling up Kade Anderson, per @JeffPassan.
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 20, 2026
Anderson, Just Baseball’s #10 overall prospect, will make his MLB debut on Saturday against the Cubs. pic.twitter.com/npKad9Vs3h
Neyens to centerfield.
Xavier Neyens solo HR for Asheville! His 17th HR of the season! #Astros pic.twitter.com/bBmRxKMDEe
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 20, 2026
txags92 said:Mathguy64 said:
It's hard to decide who is actually worse at their jobs. Joe or Dana?
If finally decided it's Joe. Dana is handcuffed by an owner who really won't let him do his job. That doesn't excuse the crapfest outfield roster but it does at last provide context for it. Joe doesn't know what to do with the players he has.
I think Joe has mailed it in and is just trolling Crane at this point trying to do increasingly ridiculous things to get fired so he can go fishing instead of having to head to the ballpark every night.
scrimp said:
For those upset about the lineup tonight, what lineup would you think is better? Assuming Pena is out tonight, who are you putting in?
-Alvarez, Paredes, and Altuve are easy choices. Allen to take Pena's spot by default.
-CW has been on a consistent 0fer streak after his extra innings bomb, so him getting the night off makes sense, even with his 109 OPS+
-If we are going by OPS+, Wade (99), Trammell (95), and Smith (94) are your next best bats statistically.
-The difference between Yainer (89) and Vazquez (77) probably isn't enough to worry about.
-Then, you need a CF, so Varsho and his 18 OPS+ is in the lineup.
After Yordan and Isaac, the rest of the available roster is looking up at league average.
Compare this to the 2017 team. Carlos Beltran was the only everyday player under 100.
Given Pena being out and wanting to give Walker a night off as preconditions, I would set it up like this:
Altuve (2B)
Paredes (3B)
Alvarez (DH) (can switch he and Paredes, I don't think it matters much)
Wade (1B)
Smith (RF)
Trammell (LF)
Diaz (C)
Varsho (CF)
Allen (SS)
There is no reason to come back with Varsho in the 5 hole and to demote Cam back to 7 based on recent performance. And knowing how Altuve performs leading off, he would be the obvious choice to me to put there instead of Wade.
Given all this, I fully expect them to put up double digits tonight, since that is usually what happens when Joe brings out a complete WTF lineup.
Just throwing this out for anyone finishing work early tomorrow, incredible matchup in Atlanta@Milwaukee, two 75+ win teams with Sale/Misiorowski starting at 3:10 central.
In case anyone wants to watch some high level baseball this week.
In case anyone wants to watch some high level baseball this week.
Here's a job for one of you young guys - we used to have a "Big Brain Dusty". Who can make a "Big Brain Joe"?
dermdoc said:Ambres said:
First thanks to CFTXAG10 for the great tickets. Normally, we sit in the 300-400 level.. nice not having to take a ramp.
Got there early to watch batting practice. Mrs. Ambres was staring at Pena ass a little too much during warmup.
The group around us was fun and really seem to enjoy the game. Sat next to a father and young son that reminded us of bringing our sons. Sadly, no foul ball to give the kid.
No replay so watched the game on my phone to try and understand some horrible calls, still can't understand the umps decisions.
Fan interference was stupid, but I still think those two run score eitherway.. they were running on contact.
Really enjoyed the win. Glad we drove in from San Antonio and thanks again to CFTXAG10 for the tickets. Nice way to start my retirement from the Air Force.
This isn't Chip Ambres is it?
Lol I wish. I was Ambres a few years before Chip. Thanks to all grads, appreciate it. Go stros!
That feels like an odd game to start at 3:10pm on a Friday outside of Wrigley.
mwm said:
Here's a job for one of you young guys - we used to have a "Big Brain Dusty". Who can make a "Big Brain Joe"?
BTW, the long hair behind Joe is actually Bagwell second guessing him on everything.
For your consideration
Hornbeck said:
For your consideration
Are we sure that isn't just Steroidus Garcia after a Michael Jackson makeover?
I'm at the game and never seen it this empty in the last 13 years
Hornbeck said:
For your consideration
He looks like he's about to be an extra in a Star Trek Menagerie episode.
That's what I was going for!
Do you at least have good seats? Opportunity to move closer
I was trying to give away a couple tickets for tonight's game to some different customers and nobody would take em
I was trying to give away a couple tickets for tonight's game to some different customers and nobody would take em
This will be Christian Vázquez's seventh start at catcher in the past 11 games.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 20, 2026
When Vazquez starts: Astros are 41-23 (.641)
When Yainer Diaz: Astros are 21-32 (.396)
The D said:
I'm at the game and never seen it this empty in the last 13 years
Yea, it was pretty empty last night too.. parking by the stadium was only 10.
INF dribbler for a single to open.
txags92 said:
Given Pena being out and wanting to give Walker a night off as preconditions, I would set it up like this:
Altuve (2B)
Paredes (3B)
Alvarez (DH) (can switch he and Paredes, I don't think it matters much)
Wade (1B)
Smith (RF)
Trammell (LF)
Diaz (C)
Varsho (CF)
Allen (SS)
There is no reason to come back with Varsho in the 5 hole and to demote Cam back to 7 based on recent performance. And knowing how Altuve performs leading off, he would be the obvious choice to me to put there instead of Wade.
Given all this, I fully expect them to put up double digits tonight, since that is usually what happens when Joe brings out a complete WTF lineup.
That may be the best order, but the reality is that you have 1 "don't let this guy be the one that beats you" (Alvarez), 1 above average (Paredes), 1 aging star with average numbers (Altuve), 3 close to average-ish guys (Smith, Wade, Trammell) and 3 below average guys (the rest). Any way you order them, it's not a particularly strong lineup.
This isn't me defending Espada by any means. Just not sure what he could do with this roster......
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