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Astros’ Allegory

Your loyal scribe has been struggling with comparing the Astros’ slog to or out of the playoffs to other experiences in life.

Right now, I have identified the following two sports-related comparisons….

Marathon Madness – From my youth I seem to remember a marathon, perhaps in the Olympics, where one of the runners returns to the stadium in very bad shape. He is weaving back and forth, running with his body unbalanced leaning to one side, barely gimping along. Other runners are passing him, but no one dares to touch him or to help him as he slowly circles the track. He finally collapses a few feet past the finish line. The folks like me watched in fascination and horror what was happening.

Apollo Arrogance – The focus of the original, classic Rocky movie is of course Rocky Balboa himself. But as far as an allegory goes, the Astros are much more like Apollo Creed. They are the defending world champions. They perhaps think that the Rangers and the M’s are like Rocky, tomato cans that they have defeated often in the recent past.  There are two key moments for Apollo Creed in my mind in the film. One is when his trainer is watching Rocky beat the crap out of the hanging meat in the cooler on TV, and the elegantly suited Creed is too busy talking business to pay attention to what his future foe is doing. The second point is during the fight when Creed comes back to his stool after Rocky is mounting his comeback and treats Creed like hanging meat. His trainer gets in Creed’s face and yells,  “He doesn’t know it’s a damn show, he thinks it’s a damn fight.”

Reading through these the Apollo Creed analogy strikes me as the best parallel to the Astros 2023 universe. They are the defending champions who cruised easily through the playoffs last year (well, about as easily as playoffs ever go). They have had a shorter off-season than any team not named the Phillies. They have had the distractions of the WBC, the injury to Jose Altuve in the WBC, the “corporate” distractions of all the commercials and appearances they made in and out of the off-season. They have the internal psychological barrier of knowing they “always” win their division and that their main opponents in the division are small speed bumps like Rocky. Like the hare in the fable, they feel like they can put the pedal to the metal and beat their inferior foe any time they desire.

About two weeks from now – the fans’ angst will be moot. Their team will have either fallen by the wayside or will have pulled the rabbit out of the hat once again. The Astros will be cleaning out their lockers or will be gearing up for another playoff run as they have the last six seasons in a row. Only then will we know the true results of a rather infuriating season, where the team has not played (perhaps due to health), and the manager has not managed with the kind of urgency normally needed to win.

Do you have your own allegory for the Astros’ slow slog to the finish line?

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50 responses to “Astros’ Allegory”

    • I think the following:
      1) Most readers here think a WS championship is not that great a chance this season
      2) Most readers hope that falling short of the WS championship allows the team to move on from Dusty Baker
      3) I think there are a lot of people on the blog, who believe the way the team has been run this season has cost them 4 or 5 games in the standings
      4) I myself very much remember the dark days of 100 and I don’t have to have a WS title to be happy, but I am easily irritated when the manager does not use the most basic of stats to build a lineup

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      • And I’m bummed that we might well have compromised the future by bringing back Verlander. With his deal, I think my expectation became that we at least end up playing in the ALCS. But I’m dubious that he’s anywhere close to what he was during the regular season in 2022. And I don’t think we’ll see value from him in 2024.

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      • You obviously know waaay more than I do about this team, Dan, but from an outsiders perspective I think most people see this team as really dangerous. Now I’m not sure if this is based on reality or pedigree but either way the AL playoffs are gonna be interesting. Also, it’s sad to hear about Dusty Baker’s baseball brain seemingly going into hibernation because he’s a Sacramento guy as am I.

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      • Gary – I really don’t think the Dusty situation is a matter of brains or fading with age. I think it is an inherent stubbornness and ego – he believes the old school ways are the best ways whereas, and that his take on the old school ways are the best ways. Most of the folks here believe it should be some combination of the best of both worlds, old school values tempered with stats.
        Two things really have killed him in the fans eyes this year and both have been preventable. One, he has way too often ignored what Chas can bring to the team offensively vs. the other CF options. Two, he still thinks Maldonado should be out there more than Diaz and there isn’t one stat that supports that.

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    • I don’t think it is ‘WS or bust’. Gary. I think what fans are feeling is ‘this team has under-performed, and what is worse they have done it lackadaisically – as if sleepwalking on valium. They also have made it unpleasant to go to MMP – because the boys have a really bad habit of embarrassing themselves, and humiliating their fans, in our home park. Indeed, very little about their play [with two exceptions: 1. Chaz McCormick’s constant willingness to put his body on the line to make a play, and 2. Yordan’s Alvarez’ raw power stroke] – are actually interesting or endearing. This boredom/home-humiliation/frustration factor has a lot of fans are asking “Why is this group of super talented guys so uninspiring?”, and remembering that, as Julius Campbell once said to Gerry Bertier “Attitude reflect leadership, Captain!’”.

      So, I for one do not think think in terms of ‘WS or bust’ at all. I think in terms of ‘Come on guys! You are too good – and get paid way too much money – to play like you have been playing! Either get yourself together, and get some motivation to excel as we know you can, or as DK once told Delino DeShields, ‘Go sit down!”. I would love to see them finish the season with momentum and fire, and then go see what the playoffs hold. But if they continue to play like this, and Dusty keeps smiling like hte Cheshire Cat, I think they, less one Dusty Baker, need to go to the house and see if maybe they can come back next year with a different attitude.”

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  2. Sorry, no time for an allegory [“I’m late! I’m late – for a very important date!” said the White Rabbit], but here are some pertinent quotes from our organization’s own version of the Cheshire Cat [also known as Dusty Baker].

    “I am not crazy; my reality is just different from yours.”

    ““We’re all mad here.”

    “It doesn’t matter which way you go.”

    “The proper order of things is often a mystery to me.”

    “If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.”

    “It’s always toothpick time.”

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  3. Last season we got to play that Mariners because they beat the one AL team I was scared of, Toronto, in the WC matchup. Of the others – Cleveland, Tampa, and the Yankees my only concern was whether Manfred would interfere in some manner. In the NL, the Padres beat the Mets and then somehow beat the Dodgers 3 games to 1. On the other side, the Phillies shutout the Cardinals and then beat the Braves with the same 3 to 1 margin before easily dispatching the Padres in 5 games. A lot of those results were surprising to me. I hate to adopt that WS or bust mindset because all it takes is one matchup where the other team is rolling to send you home. I’m not interested in playing the games on paper, though. Being on the edge of your seat for the Yordan HR is worth all the anxiety.

    My concern is not whether we would lose in the postseason but more that we may lose the offseason due to budgetary constraints and an awful farm system.

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  4. On a more jolly note, will be at MMP on Sunday 24th to see the KC game if anyone wants to say hello. Am in the cheap seats. Level 5 probably ….. (that’s a jest, it’s somewhere on L3 I think)

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  5. As far as allegories go, Dusty reminds me of Rip Van Winkle; the guy who fell asleep and woke up 20 years later to find everyone else and technology changed around him.

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    • When Alex Cintron got tossed the other day for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout the camera switched to see Dusty’s reaction. He was looking as if he couldn’t care less. Just another day at the office. With all of the other issues that have occurred this year I think that he has developed the “Ho-Hum” attitude. I don’t recall him ever arguing for his team and I don’t think he’s been ejected even once this year. The manager is supposed to be the leader and set the example for his players. The only example he sets is twofold, “Who cares?” and as Alfred E. Neuman said, “What, me worry?”
      I think he knows he won’t be back next year (I hope) and that he can now ride off into the sunset to Sacramento (I lived there too back in ’87) and spend his days at his winery.

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  6. Baseball America has named Joey Loperfido Astros prospect of the year. Check out Climbing Tals Hill for the brief story that also quotes Dana Brown. CTH still calls Loperfido a versatile utility man, but if he continues to hit early next year in ST and AAA, he’s a real solution at first base or the outfield. He’d be our best arm out there. I’d love to see Chas in left and him in center at some point next year. 25 homers and 25 stolen bases with an .892 OPS over three levels in 121 games is pretty good stuff. And of course, he’s a lefty bat.

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  7. Astros Top Prospects Update – September 2023

    Ben Zeidman is the best Astros prospect source evaluator today. He has some deeper dives into #6 Joey’s production. I was hearing last season from Dickie Thon’s son, Coach Joe, how special was Loperfido. Interesting we retained him and Melton, traded Clifford and Gilbert. Had the nice walk-off HR last night in SL.

    As for big picture, we’re going to see what we’re made of. One thing I’ve noticed vs year’s past, even the bad teams are trying to win down the stretch since there’s now a lottery for the 1st pick perhaps? Less Sept callups. Not the obvious tanking we’d seen in the past.

    KC is the Business-at-hand!
    No look aheads, or behind.

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  8. “He doesn’t know it’s a damn show, he thinks it’s a damn fight.”- Duke.

    Rocky is one of my top 5 all time favorites. Tony Burton, former professional boxer, turned prison inmate in Chino, where he became one heckuva chess player, to actor that was perfect for the role of Duke. All the way through 5 he was a critical part of that story. Credit to Sly – a lot of people don’t even realize he wrote that movie, and that line.

    Sometimes I think our angst about the season is caused by the players and their energy. I think most of the time we are hyperbolic. This is a team that isn’t panicking – and I see all kinds of hyperbole about lack of effort or lack or energy or lack of care – well two nights ago could be a momentum shift. We’ll see.

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  9. Great writing Dan. I’m all about the ALCS. If they get there, I think it’s a successful season.
    I hate to be a Dusty apologist, but a lot (not all) of what he’s done has to do with resting players. Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint, and each year these guys have had to run another 2 miles after the 26. We won the WS last year because our team was healthy at the end.
    Allegory: The Astros have always been Steve McQueen in the Great Escape to me. Always fighting, regardless of the odds. Altuve is their spirit.

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    • Thanks Mark for the kind words and thanks for stopping by. I do believe in the Astros, but I struggle with trusting the manager resting players when the race has been so tight.

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  11. A pitcher with a 6.11 ERA mows down the middle of our lineup in the 9th like he’s Cy Young. Our supposed “Ace” blows up. We can’t get the top of their order out to begin the game (again). All this coming after a win that should have been a springboard for playing the final stretch like it matters.

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  13. Good morning. The Astros got beaten once again. Ironic the floodgates opened on a strike out negated by a passed ball from the catcher of our past. The catcher of the past once more called upon by his battery mate and ordained by our leader. Those four runs were not enough though.

    But then phase two of the ace pitcher losing his composure gifted the match to that 102 loss team playing for fun and pride.

    Fun and pride. Simple concept. Our team misplaced both along the way.

    As I noted last night, it was a sad performance. But sadder still is how this team has been allowed to be misguided by that leader. We forgot to be a team. Instead we’re more like a private club. And we don’t want to disrespect our senior members.

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    • In my eyes, Framber has lost himself a lot of money this second half of the season. He’s had some great ones, but most of the time I’m dreading him taking the mound. I don’t think I can handle him and LMJ in the rotation together next year.

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  14. Driving home yesterday, Chandler Rome, the ex-Chronicle (spit!!) and now Athletic writer was on 790 AM. He was being pretty snarky towards us fans who think that Yainer should be playing more at first base or behind the plate. Scouts from other teams and other folks he knows say, that Yainer should never be playing 1st and that Maldy does a lot more behind the plate than just pop up slower and throw worse than Diaz.
    Then last night Maldy has his world leading 12th passed ball of the season, that leads to another Framber meltdown, that leads to another Astros loss.

    The one thing Rome said I agreed with was that the Astros are going nowhere unless their starting pitching improves. Dat true….

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  15. That passed ball was a momentum creator. What a completely unnecessary thing to happen from a player who should not even have a major league job even as a backup.

    What I would say to Chandler Rome is the same question I ask every person that says they trust Baker. If Maldy gives them a better chance to win than Diaz, why don’t they win more with Maldy? The winning percentages between the two and which one is catching is ASTROnomical. And Maldy catches the so called “aces.” You would think he has the advantage built in.

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  16. Chip Bailey sent me an article that unfortunately requires a subscription to read. But it is super well written and it basically talked to people like Mike Stanton who played thru a string of successful seasons and point out that the Astros like the last team to have a run like this – the Yankees have the psyche to make a big run in the postseason, but…. May be struggling to keep their focus through another long regular season.

    https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/38446675/mlb-2023-houston-astros-playoffs-world-series-dynasty-yankees?platform=amp

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  17. Man! I’m having a very hard time digesting the #%&* Rome is trying to sell with his assessment. Maldy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a C, but exactly how much those intangibles we can’t measure in #’s provides to this tm does not reflect in the W/L column, not that I can discern.
    What happens if Diaz C last night? No passed ball momentum shift! Improved base defense perhaps? Was Framber going to give up more than the 7 runs he allowed if Diaz caught? Diaz can’t hit L. Maldy doesn’t either (or anybody hardly). By virtue of his AB’s, Maldy runs into hits. Diaz just hits. Would the bullpen suddenly meltdown & fume after Framber leaves & Maldy (Ofer w/2 K’s) is pulled to get Diaz’s bat in the lineup? I don’t think so.
    Hell! Your tm is losing coach. What have you got to lose by shaking things up?

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    • The thing about writers and sportscasters is that because they get access to what the organizations, coaches, and players tell them they think they know more about baseball than the average fan. In most cases they’re wrong. There’s a reason so many broadcast teams have ex-MLBers on their crews. There’s a reason Cris Collinsworth (who I find annoying) has been so successful on the SNF broadcasts. If there are scouts/coaches from other teams who legitimately believe that Maldonado is the better option than Diaz defensively, they are accepting the argument that his preparation is so superior that he calls games in a manner that saves more runs than his offense fails to drive in or allows pitchers to go longer in games with less stress. Even if we accept this is true, it’s an indictment on the Astros advanced scouting and pitching coaches if they cannot prepare their players for an upcoming season in a better or equal manner than Maldonado. You could also have Maldonado signal in pitches from the bench. The physical mistakes do not lie.

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  20. They got lucky again. If Seattle had won tonight, they’d be out of the playoff picture right now. Well, tomorrow is another day. As is Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday. Then they get to play a Diamondbacks team that has some incentive to play good baseball.

    It was a nice run while it lasted. But like the song says; “……but it’s all over now!”

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  22. Carly Simon came by :

    We … all said don’t fret ’bout the early games …
    What … they counted as ‘L’s’ anyway? (so they say!);
    Have to wonder … if Yordan’s really healthy now …
    or if Framber’s finally lost it and gone Cray-Cray..

    Elimination
    E-lim-i-nai-ai-tion … is coming our way … you know we’re just wai-ai-ai-ai-ting.

    In just hours … it might all be decided …
    If the Royals … whup us once more, matinee’;
    Should we show up? The handwriting’s on the wall even now!
    Let’s just order a round … and toast to the good old days.
    These aren’t … the good old days.
    These aren’t … the good old days.
    Time to go the house … cause these aren’t the good old days.

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      • The Astros are going to regret not playing Yainer Diaz at catcher this year. He is rated #12 at that position by Fangraphs, despite playing way less than half the time.
        His stats indicate he could have easily been in the running for ROY, which would have given the Astros another late 1st round pick in the draft.
        If the Astros miss the playoffs, everyone will look at the #99(out of 100) rated catcher playing the majority of the time vs the #12 rated catcher, who caught less than the majority of the time and spent the entire year on the roster and got a full year’s service time while playing less than half.
        If the Astros miss the playoffs by a game or two, whoever made this decision is to blame.
        Now, who is responsible for playing Chas McCormick for only 109 games if the Astros don’t make the playoffs? Look at his numbers when he did play, and then try to understand why he was wasted so much of the time on the bench.

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      • Real Houston Astros already regret it. Only the temporary (fake) Astro is the one who feels good about that. FDB

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  23. A fine song parody in Anticipation of the Astros failure to make the playoffs or make any noise in the playoffs, Mr. Bill!

    I’m in a weird mood as I think this could turn out ten different ways to Sunday, anywhere from winning the division to winning a Wild Card to heading home and any where from a wild card exit to a championship run if they make the playoffs.
    I’ll write more later on today.

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  24. 1oldpro, it’s really as simple as that. We’d have entered September with a significant lead in the standings, likely enough to cover up our pitching woes and taking off some pressure from the guys that are not handling it well. In the meantime, Little Boys Chas and Yainer keep hitting the baseball.

    I still think the Astros will fall into the post season somehow. But would the organization be better off long term if we don’t? I think so.

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  26. That Sweeper pitch, as Blum calls it, has been lights out (a foot or more off the plate down and away) chewing our hitters up from top to bottom. The pen has been light out these past two gms but the lineup goes MIA.

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    • I can’t think of any player that has decent plate discipline. Even Bregman’s swinging at the ball that’s a foot off the plate or in the dirt. I don’t know if you can teach it but either the batters aren’t paying attention or the hitting coach ain’t cuttin the mustard. At this point it looks like Texas will win the West and two of the WC teams will be Toronto and TB. That leaves us and the M’s. If I were a betting man my $ would be on Seattle because the Astros have shown us nothing as of lately.

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      • I can only speak for myself. I, for one, am getting pretty sick of watching Bregman go ohfer 5 and then get quoted by McTaggert as saying “WE need to play better.” Which I’m sure we’ll get to see more of tomorrow.

        Bregman has never known adversity in his big league career and it shows. All he knows how to do is make up silly home runs dances in the dugout during good times. He is no leader.

        No more than DF Baker.

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  27. “A competent leader can get efficient service from poor troops, while on the contrary an incapable leader can demoralize the best soldiers”
    John J. Pershing

    Apropos of the 2023 Astros, methinks.

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  28. Absolute train wreck of a team right now. How disheartening. Listening to the “Tenth Inning Show” on 790, it is amazing how many come to Baker’s defense now. Someone mentioned how Espada is always at the opposite end of the dugout from Baker. Baker was quoted, earlier in the season, regarding lack of playing time for Diaz by stating, “He will thank me later for not playing him so much.” Baker was alluding to his belief that Diaz still needed to learn how to be a baseball player. The only thing Diaz will thank Baker for is destroying his chance for being the rookie of the year and costing the club an extra draft choice for the award!

    About the players swinging at the first pitch and swinging at balls off the plate, Baker could have called a team meeting and rolled out the “Dutch Uncle” bit about the lack of plate discipline and to listen to the coaches. Obviously, he has not.

    I feel the entire coaching staff will be replaced at the end of the season.

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