Here comes the internet fun of replying to myself: Arrighetti, Javier and Garcia are all due back late July. So, is it reasonable to expect that they will be as effective as this current trio? Is it reasonable to expect immediate effectiveness or would it be better to have the incoming guys work out their kinks in AAA vs. rushing them back? Is it reasonable to expect the rookie trio to perform at the same level as the league figures them out? Lots of interesting things to look at as the summer progresses.
4 Likes
In my brilliant baseball brain…I wouldn’t mind one or more of Javier/Spencer/LMJ to be a late season RHP in the bullpen, since we’re short on RHP there
1 Like
I’d classify this as a good problem to have? I mean, if professional baseball minds/coaches can turn some of the current folks, and some of the returning folks, in to relievers. This could be an embarrassment of riches.
Also, there’s the scenario where nobody comes back because of “discomfort” and the league catches up to those three all at the same time. Isn’t baseball fun?
5 Likes
Aw hell, I’d forgotten all about that motorscooter.
2 Likes
Said no Astros fan ever in the last 20 years. Until today.
2 Likes
I think it’s reasonable to expect that we get one effective pitcher back out of McCullers and Arrighetti. I think it’s unreasonable to expect we get one effective pitcher back out of Javier, Garcia and France in '25. My hope is that at least 2 out of those three are healthy and effective heading into the '26 season.
5 Likes
I hope the team gets enough starting pitching back that they can trade Valdez if they can get a Tucker like return.
If this team continues to play anything close to the way it is playing now and can enter the playoffs as a 1 or 2 seed I don’t know how you can give any thought to trading Framber. Framber + Hunter Brown is enough, along with good defense and timely hitting to take you to the WS and win it.
4 Likes
As pleasantly surprised as I am by the team’s success, this is the sober-minded approach I would endorse.
1 Like
Got any images of torches and pitchforks? Because that’s what will show up at the Astros’ front office if Framber gets traded while they’re in this position.
6 Likes
It’s one thing to make a trade for the future in the offseason, it’s quite another to do so in-season. To me, once the season starts, everything needs to be about that season until it’s not. Meaning, if you are contending, any trade needs to be about making that years team better. I would have been on board with trading Framber in January but not July. It would also not go over well at all in the clubhouse and that has to be considered.
17 Likes
All of this.
3 Likes
I know it’s very unlikely and I’ll happily root for Framber as long as he’s here.
3 Likes
Massive understatement. It would go over worse than filling the clubhouse with a lifetime’s worth of Dante Bichette’s wet farts.
4 Likes
Unless the wheels completely fall off over the next four weeks, and maybe even if they do, the Astros will and should be buying at the deadline. In case I’m not online when they make their trade(s), let me speedrun my reactions here:
-initial reports that Astros are getting player: fuck yesss!!!
-prospect cost is reported: oh my god this is the worst trade ever
-deal is announced: fuck it, only one thing left to do, win the whole damn thing
-player excels for the next two months: I have never doubted Dana Brown in my life
11 Likes
There is zero chance the Astros at 48-33 are trading an ace-caliber starting pitcher in Framber Valdez at the trade deadline.
They are going to be buyers, not sellers.
9 Likes
From Will Kunkel:
Astros injury updates: Yordan Alvarez and Chas McCormick are heading to West Palm tomorrow to get some live at-bats, per source.
Afterwards, they MAY head to Sugar land for some rehab starts.
2 Likes
Or they MAY be sent to a nice farm upstate
3 Likes
Who?
1 Like
LMJ activated for today’s start, Nick Martinez to AAA
1 Like