I would also like to ask where the hell did Logan Webb come from? He’s in total control
And now he’s gone.
Sounds like a haiku.
Oh I agree. I’d rank them 19>18>17 strictly on talent. One could argue even last years team could have won the title with a healthy JV. Same with this year, I think they have a shot to win this year but JV on this team would be the difference between being one of the best teams and being THE team to beat.
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'98 Astros vs '19 Astros would be a fun computer exercise
So just for the hell of it I went to what if sports to do a 7 game series, so some reason it wouldn’t actually run a series so I had to do 4 individual games, just changing the SP myself. I assumed 19 would be favored but they won 7 straight games before 98 won a single game. In reality I would take the 19 team in 5 or 6 games
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Hmmm. I’ll allow it, I didn’t actually expect anyone to do it.
Not sure I believe it, but I’ll allow it.
eta. Swap the home stadiums: MMP for the 98 Stros and the Dome for the the '19 crew
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I simmed the first 2 games at minute maid then switched to 98 being home at the dome for the rest of the 9 sims I did. Yes I did 9 games and 19 won 8 of them. I think if it allowed for an actual series it wouldn’t be so lopsided but at least according to this sight, 19 is miles ahead of 98.
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Aside from Johnson, the ‘19 lineup eats the ‘98 rotation alive.
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Mike Hampton in particular did not fair very well at all.
I played one game, and 98 pounded JV.
Chicago has 18 hits in the series.
All singles.
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From the Sun Times article: “How did the Astros win only 95 games and not 162?”
Makes me think of how many more wins we would have had than the 2 darlings of the NL West if our woeful bullpen had not squandered all those late inning leads. There had to be a dozen or more, too many to count.
plus Play 7-8/9th of the optimal lineup every day
plus Don’t be a dumbass with the bullpen
= a few more wins at least
There were also long team-wide slumps.
A young starting rotation with no bonafide ace.
Significant time lost to injury (esp Bregman, but also Brantley, Yuli, and Tucker).
But probably most significantly there seemed to be an organizational commitment to pacing itself thru the regular season.
If all that adds up to them playing their best baseball in the postseason we’ll of course take it.
Of course in baseball Plan A doesn’t always lead to outcome B
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If AJ Hinch was managing this team this year, they would have won 100+ games. I am sure of it.
I am hopeful, to say the least, that Espada is the manager next year.
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It may be that the only way to get rid of Dusty is to get him a WS ring.
Inversely, how do you not renew the contract of a World Series winning manager that says publicly that he wants to return? Which Baker has said.
I think the implication is that Dusty would retire for good if he gets a ring.
You have a private conversation with him and explain that you don’t want to lose Espada, and give him the opportunity to announce that he has changed his mind after accomplishing his goals.