I am probably splitting hairs and should stop, but my whole point was about the long-term competitive balance implications — not the in-season scramble for playoff berths.
Would the 2027 Astros benefit from not making moves right now, possibly. But you do not sit on your hands if you have a chance to win the World Series. Not saying give up whatever it takes but you gotta put yourself in a better position to win this year. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
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Yes, the league wants more competitive balance and fewer late-season, short-term rentals. This is by design. I’m not sure it can be put much clearer.
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The Giolito move is pretty meh to me.
The Astros have shelled him to a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings so far this year, and his numbers outside of the AL Central (which is fucking dreadful) are also terrible. I can’t find the tweet I saw the breakdown in, but his ERA against everyone not in the AL Central is well over 4.
Also, he’s been positively awful in his last two starts, going a total of 8.2 innings over 2 starts with an 8.31 ERA.
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The Angels are screwed by their own making.
You can’t trade a player like Ohtani. Especially when you have a player like Trout simultaneously. Trying to add a faction of a chance to win at this point is the only thing you can realistically do, because winning is your only prayer of keeping him. Whether you trade him or lose him as a FA, your fanbase understands that this is a loser franchise.
The failure was over the last decade in totally screwing up any semblance of a team around them.
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It really is impressive how badly they have managed to fuck things up for the last decade
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It’s pretty simple when you look at Arte Moreno’s history. He believes sluggers sell seats, so you have outrageous deals for Pujols, Hamilton, Rendon, et al. He doesn’t believe pitchers sell seats.
I totally agree. Just pointing out that with the new playoff format driving more buyers, the price will be higher and therefore more likely to impact future years than it was under the old format. Same trade-off, but the swings are potentially greater.
Yep, and I think this is where not having a GM for most of the offseason hurt us. There were both starting and relief pitchers to be had in FA and we passed on all but Montero even though we had the money to bring one or both in. I could be wrong but thinking the Crane/Bags combo didn’t foresee this type of trade market where maybe Dana might have if he was in place earlier. Just guessing on that but thinking that may be the case.
Maybe what they did not foresee was the rash of decimating injuries.
The continuing harsh criticism of “Crane/Bags” has gone way past tiresome for me.
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You were 100% right about Eovaldi.
Not sure what the offseason bullpen market looked like, don’t really care now.
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There wasn’t a single move they made (including Abreu and Montero deals) that I didn’t like at the time. Not to mention I continue to think both players are going to work out. Both have played much better of late. Is it harsh to question whether or not a GM (i.e. Dana) would have tried to add more depth to the roster than they did? I don’t think so but you gotta call it how you see it.
How are we doing in the International markets - signing players from our academies? Surely a few these kids will be coming through in the next two or three years - aside from the recent draft?
Maybe Eovaldi’s alleged hatred of the Astros would have been insurmountable, but I wish we had made a run at him.
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I am actually more impressed with the international players than I have been in several years.
Especially the position players.
Unfortunately many of them fizzle when they get to A ball, but there are a few who have a chance to be top 100 type impact talents in 2-3 years.
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Maybe I was not only talking about you. Just maybe. Nah, probably.
I thought, at the time, that he just didn’t see a path to 25 starts with the Astros depth.
What is your “friend” saying these days?
He has posted a bit this morning.
I will read them and post a synopsis
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I look forward to them.
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