Jul 24 2016

Will July 25, 2016 be THE Day in Astros history?

Astros’ fans have waited a long time for THE season to occur. In 1980, their team blew late leads to the Phillies in two straight extra inning losses to miss their first shot at the World Series. In 1986, they blew a 3 run ninth inning lead and lost a classic 16 inning heart breaker with Mike Scott waiting in the wings and again fell short of the WS. Between 1997 and 2001 they lost 4 first round series, including the 1998 (102 wins) and 1999 (97 wins) teams – two of their strongest teams ever. In 2004, they won the first playoff series in their 44 year history, but lost 2 games in a row to the Cardinals to miss the World Series again. They finally made the World Series in 2005 and then lost 4 excruciating games in a row.

The 2016 team has overcome an insanely bad start (but not quite as bad as the 2005 tombstone edition of the team) to climb quickly back in contention. They have some tremendous talent and a few holes. One of their most consistent problems has been a lineup that is great on top and crummy at the bottom. They have tried a number of players to help turn that lineup over, Preston Tucker, Tyler White and A.J. Reed.

Now on July 25, 2016 they will be bringing up the most anticipated prospect in the major leagues, Alex Bregman. Will he be the answer? Will he bring the offense that wunderkind Carlos Correa brought in 2015? Or that George Springer contributed, after a slow start to his freshman season?

Will this be the move that finally brings the team and its starving fans to the promised land?

 

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215 comments on “Will July 25, 2016 be THE Day in Astros history?”

  2. ‘Surprised all that Colby Jack y’all are putting on Twitter hasn’t gone bad after y’all had to save it for so long.’

    ^ That is an actual tweet by an actual Chronicle writer.

    Can someone please translate?

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      • Rasmus snaps 0-26.

        Oh, and a “sub” doesnt have 500 PA’s a year. Need help with the reference, gentlemen? Give ya a hint. He had two HR’s last night but he didnt have (Bregman) articles written about him all day.

        ad hominem is ugly, but neither of you are from the South – are you? dave Dan? Just sayin’

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    • Back in the early days of Japanese imports one of my friends had a Toyota. The car manual in describing the act of changing a tire started by saying, “Holding the tire as backwards as possible….” That is kind of how I feel about that tweet….

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  3. If a real effort was being made to move Gomez, that injury tonight just screwed up any hope. However, if he needs to go on the DL, someone will get a chance to keep him off the field.

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    • It’s so few PA’s that taking the bunt single out drops it 25 points.

      Jake can get hot. He showed that last April. He can never sustain anything. He is a .220 hitter. It’s a shame, I would love for him to hit .270 with a passable OBP because he brings so many other things. It could happen as he gets a little older, but he will probably played himself out of Houston. I’m fine with that because his ceiling still isn’t what I would be looking for.

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    • Sandy,

      My boys and I along with 2 other dads and the son for each of those dads is making the trip from Round Rock to the Rangers game on August 6th. I have already met the lovely Becky so it’s only fitting I meet another one of our lovely Chipalatta ladies. Let me know if you will be at that game and I will be happy to stop by and say hello. We are sitting in the upper section this time, section 416. That darn dynamic pricing put us in the cheap seats this time.

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  11. Looking at mlbtraderumors and the first few articles include mention of Eric Kratz, Steve Pearce and Lucas Harrell.
    It feels like flash back Astros day.
    They do mention the Astros as one of the team’s chasing Lucroy. Oh good, the Brewers can use inside info to fleece even more prospects from us. Now maybe lefty Joe Smith they might go after…

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  12. And has our conditioning coach forgotten to stretch the team out? Valbuena – a hammy. Gomez – a hammy. And they were looking at some leg thing with Altuve after he beat out the infield hit last night. (Hold my breath).

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    • Yea I think its lost a little zing, but you have no where else to go except down when you hand us Altuve, Keuchel, McCullers, Correa, and Springer in just the last few years, with Reed and Bregman waiting in the wings.

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  14. Barring a trade, iIf we bring up a position player to cover us during the current outbreak of hamstring-itis, it should probably be either Kemp [.302/.393/.770 ] or White [.288/.352/.935]. Either one of them can do more things – and appear to be more MLB ready – than either A.J. Reed or Colin Moran. The only other option would be Hernandez [.310/.372/.884], and he isn’t on the 40-man.

    By the way, has anybody heard anything about Gurriel’s status re: visa?

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    • Tyler White please!! Gurren is sitting in Florida waiting to get started…..or waiting for some guy with homeland security to actually do something besides watch T.V.

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    • I think it’s going to be White. Fister is probably going to be going on paternity leave this weekend so they can call up someone for the next 3 days or so. They need another 1B as MarGo is the only viable 1B right now and it limits his positional flexibility if we don’t have another.

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  16. With the improvements we have seen lately from Keuchel, McHugh, and McCullers, the biggest question marks in our rotation now are Fiers and Fister. Either is capable of a good outing; unfortunately, both are equally as likely to have a stinker.

    If we do not upgrade the rotation via trade, we need Mr. Hinch to forget the ‘let him work his way through it’ philosophy on Fiers and Fister the rest of the way. We have Feldman, Devenski, and Feliz ready to take on a long-relief role. If in the first two innings Fiers or Fister is obviously off his game, we need to bite the bullet and put one of the long-relief guys in. What we have learned, if we have been watching, is that Fiers and Fister are not like Keuchel or even McHugh – they don’t get better under pressure; they wilt.

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  17. Well, three days out, we can probably all agree that July 25, 2016, will probably not be THE DAY in Astro’s history. Nevertheless, Alex Bregman is a good ballplayer and should eventually contribute meaningfully to the team. I just hope the contribution – especially offensively – starts against the Tigers, Blue Jays and Rangers, as we need to win at least 6 of the next 9 games, including at least 2 against Texas.

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    • I never felt it was THE day. Altuve and Correa are both better players, now and in the future. He should be a positive contributor, and that would be more impactful if we didn’t already have one of the 2-3 best shortstops in baseball. If his future is as this teams third sacker I don’t expect him to have the same impact as a Kris Bryant.

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  19. Recently released lefty farmhand Tommy Shirley [5.38 ERA, 1.70 WHIP at Fresno over 18 starts] has been picked up by the Tigers’ organization. Good luck, Tommy!

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      • Read the article, and it really does come down to a depleted rotation, and the absence of prince. I watched their game last night, and the feeling I got, was when yu left with the lead…..the rest of the team looks scared, when the bullpen comes in to relieve. I personally hope we pass them, and never look back because of the mouthy players on that team. I don’t feel like they are in any way our rival…..I have N E V E R liked that organization, and that’s not about to change.

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  21. I’m back. The doctor described my wife’s back as “a mess”. Surgery took longer than expected but he was happy with the results. Mrs. 1OP is kinda miserable tonight, but I am so happy she is going to be OK that I don’t care. I am spending the night at home preparing for the next few months, while the nurses look after her tonight. I am spent!
    I did not even know Tommy Shirley had been released. Never heard a word about it. I looked on WTHB and didn’t see anything either. Too much going on to worry about it.
    Thank you for all your prayers. My wife is a very prayerful person and I know she felt lifted up today.

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  23. Luhnow said that Gomez has indeed got a grade 2 hamstrain, will be evaluated over the weekend, if he will go on DL. Said Gomez anD Rasmus will get every opportunity to play, and he did not hesitate to say, if you’re not producing you play will be in jeopardy. Luhnow says the new guy Gurriel, is still sitting in Florida waiting for his papers. There will be another position player called up this weekend because Mr. Fister and Mrs. Fister are having a baby, and Mr. Fister will be out on paternity leave!
    AND…..there WILL be a move before Monday. That makes me nervous!

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  25. All this discussion (especially on other sites) about a top of the rotation starter. I think we have enough help I that regard. Fister has an excellent post season resume. I’d be delighted to see Feliz getting stretched out and taking over a rotation slot if Fiers continues his erratic work. Feliz in the rotation might open up the place that Hoyt seems ready for. I just feel queasy about giving up four guys for a Chris Archer.

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    • That’s why I said Luhnow and his record on last year’s trades…..makes me VERY nervous. We have 3-4 great starters in Fresno…..and Hoyt! Archer would be nice to have, but not for the amount of guys they want back.

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  26. As long as a trade doesn’t include anyone on the current 25-man roster (Correa, LMJ, Bregman, Altuve, Springer) then I’m open to acquiring Chris Archer. He has a very team-friendly contract that gives the Astros control over him through the 2021 season. A rotation with Archer, LMJ, Keuchel and McHugh looks very formidable if they make the playoffs. Even if they don’t they would still have Archer for several more seasons. I would hate to lose Reed, but if a package of Reed, Musgrove, Paulino and Fisher, for example, was to get Archer I could live with this. I know I’m in the minority here and I know Archer is having a down year for him, but he still has TOR stuff and would make this team very scary going forward. With this being said I doubt TB trades Archer for a package like this. I am certain they will want Bregman and, for me, I would have to pass.

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      • No surprise to anyone, but I like what we have – and have coming – in the way of starting pitching. The only exceptions would be if we could get Sale or Kershaw, and they don’t appear in the mix for anything short of Altuve, Correa, Reed, Harris, and Bregman.

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    • A sidebar to making a trade similar to the one I posted above is that it might make the Rangers panic and give up Profar and Gallo in a package for Chris Sale. I’ve seen enough of Profar to know I’d like to see him off the Rangers.

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    • And I will probably be in the minority to say that I believe Reed will be more impactful to the team 3 years from now than Bregman. The guy is out of position and it doesn’t seem likely to me that he will hit like the best third basemen in the game, and I think Reed could be a perennial all star. I could be wrong so I am glad I don’t have to make decisions like that, I would go crazy. I’ll just sit back as a fan and hope that a trade isn’t getting us the next Conger or Carter.

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  27. After seeing what the Padres got for Cashner and Rea it is highly unlikely we could get Archer unless both Bregman and Reed are included. I say just go get a LOOGY and call it a day.

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  28. This is just silly. The amount of players getting thrown around, just to land ANY available pitcher, is just silly. Luhnow doesn’t *need* another starter…..he *wants* another starter. Our rotation is healthy, and doing quite well, thank you very much!
    Would I love to have Chris Archer in our rotation?? HECK YES!! Do I want to trade Musgrove, Rogers, Marte, Paulino to get him? HE!! NO!! Someone needs to superglue Luhnow’s phone to his foot, so he can’t go crazy with the trade deadline bug!
    Jeff……we’re ok, you don’t” NEED” to make a trade, ok!!!?

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    • In my business we often will do work for a client and the client will bring in a 3rd party consultant to review our work.
      Now Thomas Jefferson could turn in his final draft to the Declaration of Independence or Neil Simon could turn in one of his great plays and these consultants would still make comments and suggestions on them. They are getting paid and have to show they are “earning” that money.
      Luhnow is like that at the trade deadline. He has to show he is earning his money whether action is required or not.

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  30. Cosart must be a real head case. I watched him throw five shutout innings the other night, in his first ML work since April. He showed a 95 fastball a couple of times, with movement. He buckled more than one guy with a 75 breaking ball that really broke. Not many guys have that combination of gifts, even big leaguers. He’s either going to self destruct, or one of these days he’ll get it and become a really good pitcher.

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  32. I read that the Nats were willing to trade Giolito straight up for Andrew Miller, but the Yankees want more. Heck, Luhnow should offer Giles and Neshek for Giolito and then he can package some of our top pitching prospects in a package for Archer. Call up Hoyt and we’re no worse for the wear.

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    • If Luhnow gets ANYONE it will probably be another lefty out of the bullpen, and even THAT is questionable.
      White DH tonight.

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  33. Looking at what Miami paid, I think they stole Cashner and Rhea. Preller sucks!
    All I see is talk and posturing. I don’t see any trades. Everybody’s talking big and trading small. I hope we stay away from anything big and just try to find a decent trade on a decent lefty reliever.

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  34. The trade market this year is thin and way too expensive. Demand exceeds supply. As they say on Shark Tank, “And for that reason, I am Out”.

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  35. Bottom of the 2nd 9-2 still only 2 outs. We’re done for the evening. Might as well go back to the hotel, and come back tomorrow…..
    McHugh had nothing and Devinski gave up a 3 run homerun.
    (((( sigh )))) 😢😢

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  39. Since “they” won last night, and “?they “are ahead right now 3-0, we lose tonight does that put us 31/2 or 4/12 behind “them”?

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  41. Marwin left the game with right hand soreness, thank goodness White is here.
    If the north texas team gets VV, then I will say good luck kiddo. He lost his game tonight, but he’s been pretty successful this year. I have to think the Phillies want to hold on to him, since he was the crown jewel in the Giles trade, but who knows. Won’t bother me one bit. I had to feel for Devenski tonight, giving up that 3 run homerun put the game completely out of reach ,but thank goodles he was able to go 4 innings! . Sipp is not an asset to this team anymore, and I have no idea what they are gonna do with the guy. It doesn’t get any easier tomorrow with Verlander, I just hope Fires doesn’t do a McHugh on us tomorrow. Good night everyone.

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    • I have a bad feeling we’re getting swept in Detroit. At this point I’ll be happy winning 1 of the next 2 and making some headway when we play Toronto and Texas starting on Monday at home.

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  44. Virginia Rogers husband won his *10* game last night, giving up 1 run in 7 innings.
    We have 4 starter right now in Fresno who could come up and be inserted in our rotation . Don’t forget about them. I said yesterday it would be nice to have Chris Archer…..how do we know one or more of these four guys wouldn’t be as good…or even better? We have options.

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    • You don’t, but there is better than 50% chance Archer will be better than all of them. I’m not picking on you, but just saying that, despite his average year this year, Archer’s peripherals suggest he is going to pitch better going forward and he is under a very team-friendly contract with control through 2021. Archer is more of a sure thing than any of our pitchers in the minor leagues, at this time.

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      • Tim, we have more needs than one starting pitcher can solve.
        If the FO is determined to continue to play Gomez, Sipp, Rasmus, and whatever revolving door at first / third, and with the unproven Gurriel. Maybe the smartest thing to do is nothing and hope for the best.
        Personally I’d rather forget about this year, bring up minor league pitching and see what we need for next year.
        Does anybody really believe we can advance even if we do get into the post season?

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      • Sandy,

        I understand what you’re saying, but getting Archer would not be just about 2016. Even if we trade for him and don’t make the playoffs this year we still have control of him for 5 more years. There’s more to it than just 2016, but I understand the concern with how the prospects may develop over those next 5 years. It’s a crapshoot, but depending on the cost it’s a crapshoot I’m willing to take. His team-friendly contract, and it might be the 2nd most team-friendly contract behind Altuve’s, gives the Astros some serious payroll flexibility going forward.

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  46. Well Tim, we’ve been down that trading road before. Trade and Luhnow in the same sentence scares th heck outta me.

    It’s not crazy Billy. It’s like an addiction that we all have.

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    • Me too Sandy…..
      Where are:
      Conger
      Kazmir
      And don’t get me stated on GOMEZ.

      Rj…..I’m not giving up on this team, quite the opposite. Losing a game like last night doesn’t p!ss me off HALF as much as losing by one run. My hope springs eternal, but what Jacks my jaws is….WHEN was the last time we brought up a starter from AAA to see what we have? Devinski….has been great, but he’s now relegated to the bullpen. I don’t trust Luhnow to make a GOOD trade as far as I can spit….see above.
      Let’s hope and pray Fires is on his game tonight…..’cause this Tigers team hit everything!

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  47. “i’d rather forget about this year”?? do we have to hear that crap again? we are in the thick of the wildcard and our division race. you want to give up on july 30th??? please sandy, i understand frustration at times, but i have (as those who are regulars here know) a low tolerance of quitting on the team. and yes i fully expect we can advance if we make the playoffs. lots can and will happen in the next two months. hand in there and root for your team. all the defeatists can go root for the rangers.

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  49. Let me add that I don’t want to make a trade for the sake of making a trade. I’m also fine just standing pat or simply getting a LOOGY at a reasonable cost. With that being said if they can get a team-controlled player at a fair cost that upgrades the roster this year then I’m all for it. Sale and Archer, while probably unlikely or too expensive, fit this mold. I don’t want to give up really good prospects for a rental. Now, if the A’s would take, let’s say Fisher and Ferrell for Rich Hill, despite his injuries, I could live with it. For the most part I want players that upgrade the roster and are team-controlled, but it has to be at a fair price, which is not likely in this seller’s market, but you never know if a team decides it’s the best they can do at the 11th hour.

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  50. Jim Bowden says the Astros are in the mix for one of two Rays starters, just have to decide on what bat they want back….my money is on that they want Teoscar Hernandez, who happens to be one of Luhnow’s teachers pets.

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