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2023 Houston Astros Thread

Planet Houston

By Planet Houston
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henrygandorf
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FartingDreamer
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Am I the only one that can't stand the sight of Altuve, Bregman or Tucker?  Something about each one of them just pisses me off.  

The Dog
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Wulaw Horn

Wulaw Horn 19599

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ad to do a super positive, happy and celebratory recap of the most amazing regular season series I can ever remember in such a situation. 

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4kI7sG1tcapSwq8tCArlSc?si=I4jWmUejTpOuoHCfC7-kQw

Amazon:
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8...arlington?ref=dm_sh_q0HjFwj0Seizm9m1jpYyimhNu

apple- will be up later if that’s your thing.

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The starting pitching for the Astros doesn't matter against the Padres, beyond reason.  It's all about the bats.

The Rangers scored 10 runs in this series and got blown out, even in a game in which they scored 6.

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runthebone

runthebone 8380

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Don't let the Mets get Stearns, Crane.  Bring him back.

Quote

The path for the New York Mets hiring David Stearns as president of baseball operations is now clear.

Stearns’ contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, which runs through the 2023 season, enabled him to start talking to other clubs about a front-office position after the Aug. 1 trade deadline, according to multiple industry sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to address Stearns’ situation.

Multiple major-league sources believe Stearns is “down the road” in his discussions with the Mets, whose owner, Steve Cohen, reiterated in June his desire to hire a president of baseball operations. But Stearns, one source said, also has spoken with other teams, notably the Houston Astros, who employed him as assistant GM from Nov. 2012 to Sept. 2015.

https://theathletic.com/4836144/2023/09/05/mets-david-stearns-president-baseball-operations-brewers/

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Macklemore

Macklemore 2945

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18 minutes ago, Chuckie Finster said:

 

 

From the article, quoting Dusty:

“He ain’t a big boy yet,” Baker said before Wednesday’s 12-3 bludgeoning of the Rangers. “It’s hard to be a big boy right out the gate. What is this, Chas’ third or fourth year? The big boys are Altuve, Bregman, Tucker, those are the big boys. The other boys are approaching big boys.”

WTF kind of reasoning and logic is this? Thanks Chandler, I have another log in my “hate Dusty” pyre.

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Chuckie Finster

Chuckie Finster 23099

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3 minutes ago, Macklemore said:

From the article, quoting Dusty:

“He ain’t a big boy yet,” Baker said before Wednesday’s 12-3 bludgeoning of the Rangers. “It’s hard to be a big boy right out the gate. What is this, Chas’ third or fourth year? The big boys are Altuve, Bregman, Tucker, those are the big boys. The other boys are approaching big boys.”

WTF kind of reasoning and logic is this? Thanks Chandler, I have another log in my “hate Dusty” pyre.

“It’s easy if you got a Julio Rodríguez, you just put him out in center field,” Baker told reporters.

----

“It’s hard to be a big boy right out the gate. What is this, Chas’ third or fourth year? The big boys are Altuve, Bregman, Tucker, those are the big boys. The other boys are approaching big boys.”

These two quotes in the same article are going to make my brain explode.

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Js1

Js1 87288

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7 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:


wrong time to be stirring up shit for clicks 

No it’s not. This is such whining bullshit. We are in September with a minuscule 1 game lead for the division and consistently are sitting 2 of our best offensive players for seemingly stupid reasons. Dusty and the org deserves to be called out. Because we should have a 5+ game lead except we don’t play our Death Star lineup every day and they should be called to task for that. 

“ooh swept the rangers, can’t criticize Dusty now!” Yes we can. And yes they should. 

Edited by Js1
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Hank Chinaski

Hank Chinaski 6363

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28 minutes ago, Chuckie Finster said:

“It’s easy if you got a Julio Rodríguez, you just put him out in center field,” Baker told reporters.

Chas: .289/.371/.527; 147 wRC+

Julio: .282/.340/.490; 130 wRC+

Both grade as plus defenders.

Dusty, it’s easy if you got a Chas McCormick, you just put him out in center field.

Edited by Hank Chinaski
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Js1

Js1 87288

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1 minute ago, tx 3 putt said:

After Tucker, chas is #2 in outfield at bats. Don’t forget he missed about a month, that’s a pretty good pace. 

chnadler needs clicks and subscriptions to justify his job 

Attacking Chandler is bush league. He’s doing his job - he’s not supposed to carry Dusty’s water 

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tx 3 putt

tx 3 putt 78759

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7 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Attacking Chandler is bush league. He’s doing his job - he’s not supposed to carry Dusty’s water 


Im not attacking him, it’s weird timing for this article after we set mlb records for offense 

maybe after getting swept by the Yankees, that’s when you drop this and get much more clicks 

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Gut Wagon

Gut Wagon 8219

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54 minutes ago, Macklemore said:

From the article, quoting Dusty:

“He ain’t a big boy yet,” Baker said before Wednesday’s 12-3 bludgeoning of the Rangers. “It’s hard to be a big boy right out the gate. What is this, Chas’ third or fourth year? The big boys are Altuve, Bregman, Tucker, those are the big boys. The other boys are approaching big boys.”

WTF kind of reasoning and logic is this? Thanks Chandler, I have another log in my “hate Dusty” pyre.

Don't know if we're now the defending WS champs without McCormick. He's certainly a big enough boy today. Regardless, Baker is senile and showing it more by the hour. 

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Macklemore

Macklemore 2945

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18 minutes ago, elguapo said:

Can someone paste the article?

ARLINGTON, Texas — On Sunday afternoon, before his team struck seven singles, scored one run and suffered a sweep-clinching loss against the New York Yankees, Dusty Baker detailed the “tough situation” he encounters every day. His team is whole again, but center field is still unsettled, forcing him to choose from among three players for what sparse playing time remains.

“It’s easy if you got a Julio Rodríguez, you just put him out in center field,” Baker told reporters.

Baker does not boast anyone with Rodríguez’s generational talent, but does have someone authoring a similar offensive season. Chas McCormick entered Wednesday with an OPS 50 points higher than Seattle’s superstar center fielder, though in 38 fewer games. McCormick has a higher batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, and defensive metrics even put the two in the same general range.

Yet nothing about McCormick’s playing time this season suggests any of that. Six Astroshave taken more plate appearances than him. Seven have appeared in more games. His sporadic playing time is a constant source of frustration for some within the organization, who spoke on background because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Curiosity remains as to why McCormick doesn’t play more, with few answers to be found and the issue seemingly one that goes beyond just matchups and defensive alignments. This week, four people with knowledge of the team’s inner workings said that McCormick’s weight has become a talking point for Baker.

On Wednesday, before starting another game on the bench, McCormick said he has not spoken to Baker about his playing time this season. Asked to characterize his relationship with Baker, McCormick replied, “Right now, we’re OK. It’s really all about winning each game here on out (with) no distractions. We’re good.”

Asked on Wednesday whether McCormick’s weight is a concern for him, Baker replied, “No, why (would) you even ask that?”

“That’s something that you’re always aware of, you know what I mean,” Baker continued. “As long as it doesn’t affect your performance, then it’s not really that much of a concern.”

Baseball-Reference lists McCormick at 6-foot, 208 lbs. He acknowledged on Wednesday he is playing heavier this season, but by design. McCormick said Baker has not confronted him directly about his playing weight, nor has any member of the team’s staff.

“I feel stronger. I like being this heavy,” McCormick said. “I guess if I was a little lighter it’d be easier, but easier to move a little better. I feel stronger. I feel healthier. I feel I can do more being at 220 (lbs). Usually I’m at 216. When I’m 210, I’m too light. I was 214 last year, I think, and I felt too light again. I kind of like being where I’m at right now, at 220.”

McCormick said most of his weight gain arrived after his stint on the injured list. He is slashing .292/.372/.526 in 331 plate appearances since being activated on May 8. McCormick is covering 28.1 feet per second when he sprints, down slightly from the 28.6 clip he boasted last season.

“Usually, I vary. I’ve been 218. I’m at 220 right now,” McCormick said. “Usually I’ll lose a lot of weight in the season, but I’m kind of happy I haven’t lost a lot of weight … This year I’m pretty happier about being heavier at the end of the year. I just feel healthier. I feel I can do more. I feel like I won’t get hurt as easy.”

Only two Astros hitters awoke on Wednesday with a higher OPS than McCormick: Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. According to Baseball-Reference, only three were worth more wins above replacement: Alvarez, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. McCormick is not a superstar, but is authoring a breakout season and has morphed into something more than a complementary piece of Houston’s superteam.

Yet Baker clearly sees him as a cut below those other contributors. Wednesday, McCormick began on the bench before entering in the seventh inning and delivering a ninth-inning home run.

“He ain’t a big boy yet,” Baker said before Wednesday’s 12-3 bludgeoning of the Rangers. “It’s hard to be a big boy right out the gate. What is this, Chas’ third or fourth year? The big boys are Altuve, Bregman, Tucker, those are the big boys. The other boys are approaching big boys.”

To suggest McCormick doesn’t play at all would be disingenuous — he’s started 42 of Houston’s 50 games since the All-Star break, taken 186 plate appearances and boasts a .970 OPS — but the questions persist about why he isn’t playing more from those inside and outside of the team, and the recent lag in time does invite questions about where he fits now that this team is at full strength, even for McCormick.

“I’ve been with (Baker) for a couple years now so I know his agenda. I know that he likes to play everyone. Obviously I want to be out there every night. But he does a good job — obviously you want Yainer Diaz to play all the time, he hits the crap out of the ball — but I think he does a good job of sporadically putting in the best matchups,” McCormick said.

“I think that’s what he goes off, the best matchups and how he sets things up. I haven’t really spoken to him. He’s the manager. He does what he wants. I don’t think I have any right to ask what his deal is. He’s been in the league for a while and has a good plan,” he continued.

Championship teams have depth. For so much of this season, Houston did not. Baker routinely referred to his bench as the least experienced he’d ever managed. Starting lineups without Diaz or McCormick always draw outside ire, but having both of them available off the bench does afford the team an advantage it has not had for most of the season. If Houston’s lineup hits the way it did this week against the Rangers, most of Baker’s lineup decisions won’t draw near the current intrigue.

“It’s not all about OPS. It’s not all about hitting,” Baker said. “And I’m a hitter, but this is a total game if you’re going to win, you know what I mean? You want to give yourself as many options and categories to win the game. Now, hitting wins the game, usually. But other areas of the games is what loses you one-run games or don’t-do-this or don’t-do-that. I know everybody wants Chas to play.”

Diaz has already hit 21 home runs in his rookie season, but can’t find consistent time because of the team’s commitment to veteran catcher Martín Maldonado and struggling first baseman José Abreu. McCormick is limited to three positions: left field, center field and designated hitter. Michael Brantley’s recent return from a 14-month absence makes him a factor in both left field and at designated hitter, alongside Alvarez.

Throughout his Astros tenure, Baker has demonstrated loyalty to veteran players. That he would prefer the lefty-hitting Brantley to McCormick is not surprising, especially for a lineup that can tend to get too right-handed. Baker values Mauricio Dubón’s throwing arm and overall defense in center field, too. That Dubón entered Wednesday’s game with a .929 OPS in his past 86 plate appearances only furthered Baker’s desire to slot him in center field.

“Michael Brantley coming back has something to do with it,” Baker said, again denying McCormick’s weight is making an impact. “Dubón’s play in center field has something to do with it. We’re trying to win ballgames. This ain’t about any particular guy except the big boys on this team.”

It’s never been more apparent who those are.

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IDIOTsavant

IDIOTsavant 8690

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For the record, I can simultaneously believe that Dusty is fucking up, and the article timing is bullshit. Those aren’t exactly mutually exclusive. If Chandler Rome weren’t a known cunt, I’d probably have a bit more doubt about the unfortunate timing, but as always, fuck that guy.

Edited by IDIOTsavant
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Hank Chinaski

Hank Chinaski 6363

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22 minutes ago, IDIOTsavant said:

For the record, I can simultaneously believe that Dusty is fucking up, and the article timing is bullshit. Those aren’t exactly mutually exclusive. If Chandler Rome weren’t a known cunt, I’d probably have a bit more doubt about the unfortunate timing, but as always, fuck that guy.

That’s fine, but I’m of the opinion that there’s never a bad time to shine a light on this insanity. Hell, @Wulaw Horn and his podcast co-host have been banging this drum since April.

As an aside, that’s a great podcast and that “Andrew” guy seems smart as hell. 

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Gourmand

Gourmand 7778

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46 minutes ago, IDIOTsavant said:

For the record, I can simultaneously believe that Dusty is fucking up, and the article timing is bullshit. Those aren’t exactly mutually exclusive. If Chandler Rome weren’t a known cunt, I’d probably have a bit more doubt about the unfortunate timing, but as always, fuck that guy.

this is where i'm at as well.

I'm on record as a "Dusty defender" insofar as I believe baseball outcomes are always determined by players and not managers and the latter get too much credit/blame relative to wins and losses, but the play of Yainer Diaz and Chas McCormick this year and their usage by the manager is challenging my belief system. It really is indefensible to not have those two guys in the lineup every day right now with the division title on the line. 

But yeah, the timing of this is very suspect by Chandler Rome and it often feels as if he has a personal agenda. 

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tx 3 putt

tx 3 putt 78759

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3 hours ago, Hank Chinaski said:

Bullshit. This message needs to be relentlessly shouted. The asinine allocation of playing time is the reason the Astros are up by a game instead of five.


per the article, Rome attempted to create the false narrative that chas is too big. Both dusty and Chas didn’t fall for the bait, but that was the writers angle for creating a false narrative and making up shit to get clicks 

Chas is #2 in at bats among outfielders, despite missing a month or so. He has the same amount of at bats as Yordan, on two fewer games. He’ll likely finish the season with the second most at bats for outfielders. 

you run this story after the Yankees, and he get more clicks. Running it after the weekend we set new mlb offensive records, dumb 

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henrygandorf

henrygandorf 29229

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a few days ago during the back and forth with va longhorn, the orioles fan, he said something to the tune of, "your manager is benching your 2nd or 3rd best hitter and you're pissed, i would be too."  we were referring to yainer, but that just shows how deep we are. 

yordan, tucker, and altuve are the unquestioned 3 best bats.  but bregman has been a monster for 2 months now and now has the stats to match.  chas has been covered.  abreu has been a mess but is turning things around the past month.  yainer is a 24 year old rookie catcher with 20+ bombs and a .530 slg but is our 5th best hitter at best.  that's how deep we are right now.  only the braves are better offensively, imo, and even they have hit a bit of a patch lately.

the rookie (disney version) is pretty much schlock and i can appreciate that because it's disney and baseball, and i still like to watch it when it's on.  one of my favorite exchanges is after the scout watches him pitch.  he tells quaid he's gonna give the team the report and he might get a phone call.  to defend this decision, he says something like, "if i call the office and say i got a guy here twice these kids age, i'm gonna get laughed at.  but if i don't call in a 98 mph fastball, i'm gonna get fired."

that's how i feel about dusty and accountability.  you got a cf outproducing the biggest names in the sport and a catcher who's a superstar in the making.  somebody needs to hold him accountable.  it's very clear that they're aware of social media, and the results are on the field.  the media is gonna media.  let's just hope october goes how we need it to go.

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formermav43

formermav43 4631

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1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

Chas is #2 in at bats among outfielders, despite missing a month or so. He has the same amount of at bats as Yordan, on two fewer games. He’ll likely finish the season with the second most at bats for outfielders. 

This is not the great argument you think it is-it actually just demonstrates how he’s been misused. He was on the IL for 3 weeks compared to 7 weeks for Alvarez. Even with the all-star break and a day off thrown in here and there, he should have about 100 more plate appearances than him, not 20+ fewer like he does now.

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