Astros 2015 – Kudos to the Grateful Dead

It is time to tip a cap to the seminal jam band, the Grateful Dead, and sing a chorus of “what a long strange trip it’s been”.  The Houston Astros 2015 season has been unexpected, exhilarating, maddening, inspired, expired, crazy, and one more time, unexpected.

The Astros were not supposed to be here. They were not supposed to be in a pennant race beyond April or May. They were not supposed to hang with the big boys, and hold onto first place for 3/4 of the season.

They were not supposed to go on a 10 game winning streak in the early season including 6 straight on the road. They were not supposed to be neck and neck or ahead of the Texas Rangers and the LAAAAAA Angels, teams with payrolls of $152 Million (Angels) and $140 Million (Rangers) respectively that are more than twice their own payroll.

They were not supposed to be contending with a team that was 14th out of 15 in the AL in BA and first (worst) in strikeouts. They were not supposed to be contending with George Springer missing 60 games, Jed Lowrie missing 90 games and Scott Feldman only making 18 starts.

They were not supposed to be led by wunderkind Carlos Correa, who has been doing his best “Derek Jeter with more power” impression. They were not supposed to have a reject manager named A.J. Hinch who is demonstrating that managing can be lovelier the second time around. They were not supposed to have an 18 game winner (Dallas Keuchel) and a 17 game winner (Collin McHugh) with 11 games to go, especially with McHugh’s up and down ERA clicking in at 3.93.

A 21-year-old named Lance McCullers Jr. was not supposed to leap from AA ball to the majors and produce 107+ quality innings with basically a K/IP and an ERA of 3.18. Will Harris was not supposed to be picked off the trash heap and produce a 1.65 ERA in 61 appearances.

30-year-old Mike Fiers, who had never pitched a complete game in his career was not supposed to make his first one a no-hitter in the middle of a pennant race. Luke Gregerson, who had never been the closer for a season, was not supposed to put up 7 wins and 28 saves and counting.

This team was not supposed to overcome the poor strategic and statistical hitting of Luis Valbuena, Chris Carter, Evan Gattis and Jason Castro. They were not supposed to survive the defensive butchery of Hank Conger.

But they have done all of this and are one game out of the division lead with the finish line just up around he next turn. What a long strange trip indeed.

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140 responses to “Astros 2015 – Kudos to the Grateful Dead”

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  1. They went supposed to be here….but they are,and now it’s time to start playing like it, and WIN these one run games! If we’re looking for our replacements, look no further than the GREAT talent in AA. If these guys don’t advance this year…..they certainly will next year. BUT in the mean time we need to win THIS crazy game!!

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  7. I swear…..I wore my Springer shirt for 4 games when they lost to the Rangers. I put it back on tonight thinking it would bring the guys better luck, but I think I won’t wear it anymoe. It’s not been a good luck shirt for them, or ME.😟😟😟

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  10. The Grizzlies get a nice ring for their winning year. Preston Tucker, Max Stasi, Matt Duffy will all get a ring…will Correa get one too?
    I would assume he would, since he was with them until the end of June. If not…we should lobby for him, since he helped them win that trophy and ring!!

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  11. I’ll tell ya what unfortunatly Angels want the wild card more than the Astros do, or this game would have been in their back pocket.
    The same old leaving double digit men on base, and letting a guy who had no control over his pitches beat you is pathetic. I don’t know if these guys think they are just gonna waltz in to the division on top or give a rats
    a$$ whether they get to the post season or not. They had better start taking this next 10 games serious, or they will be sitting at home playing video games on their parents couch.
    Am I disgusted? YEP…I am, because the Rangers picked themselves up off the mat tonight and did what they needed to do. And those same Rangers are coming to town this week….smelling blood.

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  12. Lance MuCullers is a keeper. He’s making rookie mistakes, but is also not imume to breatking bats. This guy is so good I might think abont making him a closer, but heck, I’d rather see him go nine.

    He is as advertised.

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  14. Okay Dan, you had to throw the Dead in there. I spent much of my semi adult life at Liberty Hall. on the south east of downtown, Leave your car, it was probably getting 50% coming back. That was the room that kept the Texas Triangle intact. And what stunning bands in that tattered, intimate old room with watered down Lumbrusco, in pre opened bottles passed though town. Springsteen, Stevie Ray, BW Stevenson, I can’t start, so much talent.

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  15. Last night was exhibit A on why the Rangers are going to win the division and the Astros will probably miss the playoffs. The Astros have no one who can step up and get a big hit with runners on base. The Rangers have several players who can do it. Even if the Astros win today I see them doing no better than 3-6 in their final 9 games. Seattle and Arizona are playing great baseball and there is nothing the Astros have shown me that indicates they can win either of those series. I want to eat crow so bad on this prediction, but I don’t see it happening. 84 wins is the max for this team. Lose today and you can start digging that grave.

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    • Ya know Tim, I’m not one to defend these guys, but I’m seeing everyone try too hard when they come to bat with guys on base. If they could just relax a bit the results might be better.
      I guess it’s the youth factor, and yeas, I predict the same results as you.

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      • I agree with you. It’s not for a lack of trying as it is for a lack of experience. This will be valuable experience for next season and beyond. I will be disappointed if they miss the playoffs, but I still see the big picture and realize this team is heading in the right direction. I know some on here and many on the Chron want Luhnow gone, but trust me, that would be a colossal mistake. A new G.M. will want to implement his own system and his own players and this will just set us back. The Astros are on the right track and just need to continue moving forward as they have. It’s not a coincidence other teams are pursuing our front office staff like David Stearns and Quinton McCracken. The Astros are viewed as a very intelligent organization by most in the industry. When you find gems like Tyler White in the 33rd round and Jon Kemmer in the 21st round you are doing something right. Yes, some mistakes have been made and, as of now, it looks like taking Appel over Kris Bryant was a mistake, but it’s still too early and more often than not you want to take pitching ahead of hitting when selecting players. In my evaluation, at this time, the two mistakes Luhnow has made were letting J.D. Martinez go and trading for Hank Conger. The other decisions/trades are still too early, including not protecting Deshields from the Rule 5 draft.

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  16. I am not a Dead fan, but I understand they have a strong following. My friend told me a Dead joke several years ago so I will share it with you today.

    What do Dead fans say when they run out of Mary Jane? Man, this music sucks.

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    • That is sad news. Him and Johnny Bench are probably the 2 best catchers in MLB history. Yogi was a legend and will always be known for his memorable quotes. RIP, Yogi, there will never be another like you.

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  19. Yogi Berra. Ten World Series as a player. Fifteen All-Stars. No other player with his championship numbers. Caught the only perfect game in World Series history and lept into Don Larsen’s arms at the end. Graced the Astros as a coach. And yes, participated in the D-Day invasion. John 7:46: “No man ever spoke like this man.”

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  21. Perhaps noone looked more like a catcher than Yogi Berra – short, squat, surprisingly powerful backstop. When I think about Yogi, I always think about Joe Garagiola (89 years young now) who was a boyhood friend of Yogi’s and of course another major league catcher if not of quite the same caliber.
    The only catchers who hit more dingers than Yogi’s 358, were Mike Piazza, who was a so-so defensive catcher and did play some first base and DH, Carlton Fisk, who hit less as a Catcher than Yogi and Johnny Bench who was probably the greatest of all time.
    Three MVPs – all those World Series as a player, coach and manager. Coming so close to another WS with the Astros in 1986. Part of so many success stories.
    That iconic picture of Yogi jumping into Don Larsen’s arms – what a moment of pure joy to behold.
    They always made fun of the Yogi-isms, but people like Dierker and Biggio would point to him as one of the smartest baseball men they ever knew.
    Then there is the picture in my mind of 19 year old Yogi Berra at the D-day invasion,
    He served his country, served baseball and will be severely missed. The baseball world is less because of this loss.

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  22. “You know something?” Berra said several years ago, when I bumped into him during spring training, “I never knew why I could hit. I never paid no attention to the width of home plate and I never had no personal strike zone. It didn’t make no difference to me if the ball was in the dirt or up around my ears someplace. If I saw it good, I swung at it.”

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  23. Yogi played in 75 World Series games and had a base hit in 71 of them.
    Astounding. And yet he was a catcher, with all the qualities of a catcher, which for me are foremost hard work (every play) and humility (behind the mask and in a crouch). Forgive me if I over-post, but this is one time “legend” cannot be misused.

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    • Please continue posting. Your Yogi material is good stuff and more voices involved here results in better opinions.

      I knew of Yogi the Astros coach long before I knew he ever played … and for the Yankees no less! Poor guy. In his defense, Houston didn’t have a franchise back then.

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      • When I was a youngster Mantle and Berra were the best duo around. Nobody could figure out where in the world Maris came from, but Mantle and Maris ended up replacing Mantle and Berra.
        After that it was Mays/McCovey and when Cepeda showed up, it was WOW!
        The closest thing we have today is probably Trout/Pujols, but, to be fair, it would have had to be the Pujols of 10 years ago to be a good comparison.
        There is no telling what Mantle would have done in his career with today’s doctors and today’s DH. He was amazing.
        I think Bench was one of the best catchers ever, but Berra was the best.

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      • Devin, Yogi came to the Astros as a favor to his personal friend, Dr. John McMullen, who owned the Astros at that time. Otherwise, Yogi would not have ever became involved with our club. No attack here, just stating fact.

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  26. Getting back to baseball, I will say that Carlos Correa came so close to tying the game in the 9th last night. He smoked a ball to center field that would have been a home run in 90% of the stadiums (including this one next year) and hit the bottom of the CF fence on the fly 430′ away. Slightly to the left and that would have been gone gone gone. He is an amazing talent.

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  28. Last night and today the holes in the line up and youth just really showing up. They are melting under the pressure of getting the big hits. And a little bit if Buzzards luck hitting it hard and its getting it caught.

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  36. Sorry if duplicate comment…having issues posting for some reason….

    Castro behind the plate. Guess they don’t trust Yokozuna, er, Conger to finish out the game 🙂

    Man, I hope we hold on to this one…would be nice!

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  38. Man I’m not sure if there is anything worse than climbing the hill from a 3-0 deficit, taking the lead and then handing it right back. Ouch!!

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  42. The biggest issue I have with Luhnow is he is more concerned with protecting the 40-man roster than he is making the playoffs. That’s disgraceful. Why wasn’t 1B addressed earlier? Why isn’t Hoyt getting called up with our bullpen imploding this month? If they lose this game it is such a kick in the gut, especially after Springer gets a huge hit in the 7th to give them the lead.

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      • I agree Tim,
        Is this what we have to look forward to? Money before success?
        Don’t know who’s to blame but it won’t matter how good the talent is if it’s misused to control the payroll.

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  43. You can dip into that well so often, and there ain’t no water left. Either Tropeano was lights out today, or these guys just didn’t want it as bad as the Angels did. I’m thinking the latter.
    Keep putting yourself behind the 8 ball boys if you sit home after this month is u 7 over, you have no one to blame but yourself. And don’t keep up with “this team is young, and they really went supposed to be here anyway” crap.
    Because money talks but bull sh*t walks, and this Cinderella team is turning into a big fat PUMPKIN. The do or die was a month ago.

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  46. This was tough to watch today. Not looking good. But I try to remain optimistic.

    Back to Yogi. As a Yankee fan while growing up he was the one I wanted up in a clutch situation. Not Mantle, but Yogi. In the latter part of his career he played LF and you can see him look up watching Mazeroski’s game winning HR in the 1960 World Series. Ted Williams said it was Yogi he always feared the most. Good guy, unassuming, not filled with himself.

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  48. On a different subject, Monday Night we drove from NE Texas to see family in Houston. Around Livingston I was able to listen to the game to about Cleveland. But it was a station in Lake Charles (I think). Not a Houston area station. Drove home today from Houston and thought I can listen to the game. Heard the pre-game but when the game started, I was about Willis going North. I can not believe the Astros can not be heard 50 miles outside of town. In the past we talk about listening to the Cards or Gene Elston & Lowell Passe. I know the world is changing but to have a blackout on TV and radio is just mind boggling to me. If you want to attract the casual fan, you have to have some interest. I was shocked. I see this is terrible marketing.

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    • I have relatives in E Texas who can get the Rangers on radio and TV, but not the Astros. Been that way for them since Crane took over.
      With two TX teams, seem like they would be in competition for the fans.
      And then they wonder why attendance is down.

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    • The team used to be on a “blowtorch” station KTRH but changed to their sister station KBME which has a much weaker signal. Funny, earlier in the season, when the Rockets were still playing and the schedules were in conflict, KTRH would carry the Astros.

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  49. I’m listening to Luhnow on 790a.m. and Matt Thomas is asking some soft ball questions. People calling in, haven’t even ADDRESSED the hole at first base.
    Oh wait….some guy just did, and Luhnow said “well Chris Carter hit a homerun this week”……and now he’s dogging Luhnow about Duffy. In other words…Duffy sits.
    Luhnow thinks this team can win all three games this weekend…..boy, I some of that wacky weed HE’S smoking. There has GOT to be a coming to Jesus meeting today, and if not shame on them. Would I make these guys go play in the golf tournament tomorrow…… HELL YES!!! I hope the Rangers lose tonight.

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      • Very few if any of the guys will be playing golf tomorrow. I hope they just rest and reflect on this series with the Angels.
        Dan….Luhnow had better get another hitting coach next year, because the one they have now, ain’t cutting it.

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    • A few days back, I posted that I hoped the Astros made the playoffs but my biggest fear was Carter would hit a couple home runs and we had to suffer all of 2016 waiting for him to get hot again. As good as Duffy may be, he can’t hit from the dugout and call me when Duffy has 142 Ks in 365 ABs (38.9%)

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    • Becky, I get the impression Luhnow thinks he is so much smarter than the Astros fans. He expects us to believe all his hogwash.
      Hope the Rangers lose too. In fact, if the Astros can’t cut it I hope LAA overcomes Texas. In case y’all didn’t already know, I HATE THE RANGERS!

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      • Sandy, the Rangers are a old team. They have a 40yr. Old 3rd baseman, a 30 something over weight smart ass 1st. Basemam…..an outfield of a rule 5 guy and two other older guys. I only hate their attitude towards every single team in the AL leauge. We don’t have a rivalry, but unfortunately everyone wants that to happen. Prince Fielder has ALWAYS been a dirty player who talks trash everyday. Odor is getting the same attitude. Someone is gonna take him one day, and I’m gonna laugh my butt off.

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    • Duffy batted once in Tuesday night’s game and got on base. All he does is get on base! All the management does is sit him to only allow him in the game occasionally.

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  50. Looking to next year, yes, I am already going there, they just need to make some reasonable changes to be a much more competitive team. Obviously, 1B has to be upgraded. Next, Gattis can’t be our full-time DH. At his price he could still be a serviceable bench piece with an occasional start at DH. They also need a better backup catcher and find a legitimate closer to move everyone back a spot. Go with an OF of Springer, Gomez and Tucker/Marisnick. Lowrie can play 3B, but Duffy should be the backup instead of Valbuena. I am fine with Castro at catcher, but only if DH and 1B are upgraded with better contact hitters. They do this and they should have a team that can compete for the playoffs. Despite his struggles since being acquired I would still like to re-sign Kazmir, but I want to stay around 2/$28M area. If. Someone over pays then swallow the bullet and move on to someone else.

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    • Slot Tyler White in at 1st and he and Duffy can split time there. Getting a REAL closer is gonna be tough, only because the two who we were bidding on at the break are staying with the Reds, and Padres. Besides the players the Reds wanted back for Chapman would have cost us….. Correa, McCullers, Appel, Maverick, and Hader. NO THANK YOU. But I can see this team competing next year, with a couple of tweaks.

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