That 2001 Astros lineup had some serious pop.
pic.twitter.com/yQDcqztCkt

— ASTROSTCS💫🚀 (@ASTROSTCS) April 17, 2025

The Original Houston 1836 said:

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Framber has become the guy that from the inside view of a fan, you focus on his faults. From the outside view of other fan bases, the guy is 55-30 over the past 4 years (.647) with ERAs of 3.14, 2.82, 3.45, and 2.91. Most teams pay through the nose for that level of pitching consistency.

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I'm hoping that is exactly what happens.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Are the kids still saying “swag”? Because if so, this current Astros team has zero.#BuiltForThis

— Brian LaLima (@BLima790) April 16, 2025

He's right

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It has now been replaced with "Rizz"

Rizz - Adj. - Short for Charisma, "He has top tier rizz, I mean look at his girlfriend"

in the 2001 playoff series vs. the Braves...

Bagwell was 3 for 7 with 5 walks -- can't blame him for this one

Berkman -- as the only left-handed stick -- needed to do better than 2 for 12

and that was another playoff where Wagner stunk -- gave up a killer 3-run homer to Chipper in the 8th inning of game 1

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Are the kids still saying “swag”? Because if so, this current Astros team has zero.#BuiltForThis

— Brian LaLima (@BLima790) April 16, 2025

He's right

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That 2017-2019 team seemed to have so much fun in the dugout. It felt like a we've got nothing to lose so just go ball out mentality.

But I guess it was also a much younger roster then

I'm not sure they have had much to be "fun" about. Other than one blowout everything had been a low scoring game that they either win or lose.

iBrad said:

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To be fair, the Braves pitchers got calls four inches outside the zone.

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No kidding!!!! That was criminal!!!!

Yainer is a JAG now?

Ag_07 said:

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I'm in the boat that our expectations as fans are way off. This roster as built is just not a good one.

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I disagree. It's not like putting these guys on the same roster has led to their struggles. But I do think their struggles are contagious because everyone is pressing to climb out of it, much like last season. We'll see if it happens.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Yainer is a JAG now?

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That's what his performance thus far implies. He's regressed defensively and offensively.

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3 weeks erases 2 seasons showing it and one in the minors as a top 100 prospect?

I'm more worried about the defense. His bat has been too good for me to believe he is this guy but defense isn't the sort of thing that typically "slumps".

Farmer1906 said:

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Yainer is a JAG now?

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Right now? Yes.

Overall, of course not... but you probably knew that when you posted your obvious question.

Marvin said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Yainer is a JAG now?

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Right now? Yes.

Overall, of course not... but you probably knew that when you posted your obvious question.

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Someone already said he is so it doesn't seem that obvious.

What about Walker? He's been terrible too. Is he a JAG now?

Farmer1906 said:

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Marvin said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Yainer is a JAG now?

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Right now? Yes.

Overall, of course not... but you probably knew that when you posted your obvious question.

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Someone already said he is so it doesn't seem that obvious.

What about Walker? He's been terrible too. Is he a JAG now?

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The results have not been there, but he was also unlucky. I'd have to look to see how the two compare to expected numbers. I'd be surprised if Yainer was as unlucky.

ETA- and I'm not calling Yainer a jag overall.

so the Astros are 8-10 currently and only 3 games back from having the top seed in the AL. Can we please calm the F down before we start the "completely rebuild and tear down the team and trade everyone" discussions?

I think this season will be dictated by the pitching. If we are a top 5-8 team in most pitching categories we will be fine. Hoping Lance will help that a lot

AustinCountyAg said:

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MaxPower said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Walker track record started at age 28. He was pretty average (Chas like) for 3 seasons. Then from 31-33 he semi broke out (120+ type). His track record of being good is about one season longer than Yainer. The difference is the Yainer is in his prime and Walker is moving out of his.

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We seem to be learning the hard way that shopping in free agency isn't always fun. The guys who are "affordable" are typically affordable for a reason. If you aren't willing to extend your own players and you aren't willing to shop for top tier free agents in their prime then you are going to get your fair share of middle aged eggs. I'm not giving up on Walker yet but we do need to rethink our strategy a bit.

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We are just feeling the impact of the loss of draft picks, loss of homegrown elite talent, and the going all in from the past 8 years or so (trading prospects). This was inevitable to happen.

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Dodgers have had the same issue (minus loss of draft picks) and I'd argue they are much stronger now than they were in 2017-2018. There isn't a single core piece from that 2017 team we beat that is making an impact on their roster now besides Hernandez. And he wasn't that good in 2017

htxag09 said:

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tjack16 said:

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AustinCountyAg said:

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MaxPower said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Walker track record started at age 28. He was pretty average (Chas like) for 3 seasons. Then from 31-33 he semi broke out (120+ type). His track record of being good is about one season longer than Yainer. The difference is the Yainer is in his prime and Walker is moving out of his.

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We seem to be learning the hard way that shopping in free agency isn't always fun. The guys who are "affordable" are typically affordable for a reason. If you aren't willing to extend your own players and you aren't willing to shop for top tier free agents in their prime then you are going to get your fair share of middle aged eggs. I'm not giving up on Walker yet but we do need to rethink our strategy a bit.

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We are just feeling the impact of the loss of draft picks, loss of homegrown elite talent, and the going all in from the past 8 years or so (trading prospects). This was inevitable to happen.

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Dodgers have had the same issue (minus loss of draft picks) and I'd argue they are much stronger now than they were in 2017-2018. There isn't a single core piece from that 2017 team we beat that is making an impact on their roster now besides Hernandez. And he wasn't that good in 2017

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Ummmm….payroll budgets are a little different when talking about the dodgers….

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Seriously. When superstars become available, they trade for them, extend them, or sign them outright.

LAD's top 11 contracts (current)
10-700
12-365
12-325
5-182
6-162
10-140
5-136
5-74
4-72
3-66
4-60

HOU's total contracts (8)
5-125
6-115
5-95
5-85
5-64
3-60
2-12
1-2

tjack16 said:

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I think this season will be dictated by the pitching. If we are a top 5-8 team in most pitching categories we will be fine. Hoping Lance will help that a lot

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I disagree. I think our pitching will be good enough on most nights to give us a chance to win the game. Where we will live and die will be determined by which group of hitters shows up. If the guys who swing at the first pitch, can't drive middle-middle pitches, and who swing at pitches 6 inches outside the zone show up, we will have a long miserable season. If the guys who are patient and work the count, drive the ball when the pitcher makes a mistake, and take walks when the pitcher is not in the zone show up, we will have a good chance to win.

It's kind of funny that we are going to pay $118M over 6 years for the Jose Abreu / Christian Walker combo and the Dodgers are paying $162M for 6 years of Freeman. We also lost 2 draft picks for signing two guys with QO's vs the Dodgers only losing one. Which was the better deal? Was that because we couldn't afford the extra $40M?

It's easy to say that now. Freeman has aged perfectly. We were rolling with Yuli still when he was a FA. Around that time we extended Yordan & Pressly then signed Verlander & Neris.