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Astros 2024: This ain’t easy

A couple days ago, we linked to this article by Brian McTaggart, who is, frankly, about the only writer giving any in-depth views of the Astros these days.

Predicting Astros 2024 Opening Day roster (mlb.com)

If you want the Cliff’s Notes version of this article – here is a summary of his predictions for the Astros breaking camp in less than 2 weeks.

Catchers – Yainer Diaz, Victor Caratini

Infielders – Jose Abreu, Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, Alex Bregman

Outfielders and DH – Kyle Tucker, Jake Meyers, Chas McCormick, Yordan Alvarez

Bench – Mauricio Dubon, Jon Singleton, Grae Kessinger

Starting Pitchers – Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, Jose Urquidy, J.P. France

Bullpen – Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly, Rafael Montero, Dylan Coleman, Brandon Bielak, Ronel Blanco, Seth Martinez, Bennett Sousa

McT pointed out rightly that the Astros would be breaking camp with Justin Verlander on the IL hopefully for a minimal stay and with a 2-game suspension for Bryan Abreu for either having a pitch get away from him in the ALCS or for throwing it exactly where he intended to throw it, depending on whom you believe.

Now this is one of those tough articles to write because immediately everyone jumps on the choices and questions Singleton over Joey Loperfido or half the bullpen over a bunch of other guys who probably don’t deserve the spots.

And then there was the writer’s nightmare. Before the ink was dry on McT’s computer screen (OK bad descriptor) for this post, Dylan Coleman, who was a questionable one to make the big team, gets assigned to the minor league camp.

The plus side to these types of situations is that in most cases the article is gone with the wind so quickly and very few of the readers even notice when some predictions go wrong. But of course, you know.

Dan P will never forgive himself for his post-2013 article that speculated about the Astros moving on from Jose Altuve, who had slumped a bit from his solid 2012 breakout season.

But that is the way with this business. You complain about a player not running out a grounder, and before you know it, he is put on the IL with a hammy. You gripe about how a pitcher is over the hill, and they turn around and toss a 2-hit shutout – well, at least for six or seven innings these days.

In the end, it is always tough to make accurate predictions with baseball blogging. But it is fun, nonetheless.

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18 responses to “Astros 2024: This ain’t easy”

  1. And suddenly we’re hearing that Urquidy might be injured again, reported by Rome. Something about being pulled from a minor league game after 43 pitches today.

    Meanwhile, Steven talked about Snell rumors. 

    I really do not understand the need, but if Urquidy is down and out, I’d probably think differently.

    Snell might be wanting to work now. And maybe a two year deal with an opt out after 2024 would suit both parties needs, with or without a healthy Urquidy. 

    There is still much to transpire between now and March 28!

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  2. Per the Athletic, the Astros are seriously considering Snell, terms from Boras camp are three years, 90 to 96 range, with a player opt out both after year one and two. So if he blows out the elbow in 2024, we’re on the hook for the full 90 plus. 

    I don’t think I could do that deal. But if our owner makes it happen, I’ll again be impressed and appreciative of his commitment to this club.

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  4. Things:

    Having a current NL Cy Young winner on the Astros doesn’t bother me at all. Would like to see him pitching for us in the WS.

    Can the Cougars overcome their injuries and finish with the Big 12 Tournament title?

    Can an American golfer win The Players Championship?

    Do the Texans think they can draft and sign the players they need to make a run without the #23 pick, but getting 2 #2s in return, one this year and one next?

    Can any minor leaguer in the Astros system successfully make the jump this year?

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    • Yes sir. Joey Loperfido. He’s going to have to wait on an opening though, unless a way can be figured out to keep him off the bench more than on the bench.

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    • I tried to answer you before OP with my phone, but NOOOOOO NOOOOO.

      • Signing Snell at this point is a matter of somebody else’s money (Crane’s). The only concern is what it does to retaining / extending Bregman, Tucker and Valdez (which is also a matter of somebody else’s money).
      • The Coogs have been an amazing defensive team hustling their butts off on every possession of the game. They may be the best defensive college basketball team of the last 20-30 year. Iowa St. will be a tough match-up – they beat the Coogs for their first loss and were one of the few teams not blown out by the Coogs when they played the rematch at home. They do miss the couple bigs that went down for the season, but are giving it their best shot any ways. If the Coogs win they will be the first team ever to win the regular season and conference tournament the first season after joining a major conference.
      • A good chance of an American winning the Players this year, OP. Wyndham Clark (who sounds like either an accounting firm or a high end hotel) is winning right now. You have to pass by three other Americans and drop 6 strokes back to find the first foreigner, Ludvig Aberg, who sounds like a mad professor in a Looney Tunes cartoon.
      • I was reading an article that said the Texans think the players available for their positions of need (I’m guessing WR or DT) this year in the 2nd round are very similar to what they could get at the 23rd pick. Not sure if that is true, but if it is, then a good move to get an extra 2nd round pick and to flip your 7th for a 6th. This may well come down to how they rate players and how many are bunched together at a particular position. Also, who they think the other teams are chasing.
      • Well, if the Astros don’t sign a Snell or a Montgomery for their starting rotation, Arrighetti may make the jump up to the big team this season. He may anyways.
      • You didn’t mention them, but the Rockets have been playing better lately even with their best player Alperen Sengun going down. Jalen Green, who has been a disappointment overall, seems to have found another gear here lately. They may not make the play-in round but they have a shot that looked impossible a couple weeks ago.

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      • Well, OP, my Coogs laid a big egg today. Hope it does not really affect them having a #1 seed and playing in Dallas to start off.

        Iowa St played great ball and they fed off the crowd as they were almost a home team in KC compared to the Coogs playing a long way from home.

        The thing I feared internally was that with the Coogs having a couple big guys out for the season, and with the high energy games they play, that they would run out of gas playing 3 games in 3 days. I hope that is all it was. If they play well in the NCAA’s they would always have at least one day between games or more week to week.

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  6. Watched yesterday and today, the TPC and today which was super to watch. Scheffler wins but there were about 6 players who had a real shot at it. One thing I can say for golf fans is that they pretty much cheer when anybody makes a good or great shot. And they give the old “Awwww” when ever a missed putt or calamity befalls a golfer. Wish life could be more like that. Sheffler is just amazing right now.

    As for the Astros, I’m so PO’d at MLB.com right now it’s ridiculous. First they said the CC I was using was no good. I said BS since it works everywhere else so I gave them another card. They charged me but I do not have access. I spent and hour on the phone with someone who’s command of the English language is about as good as my Spanish. Nothing was resolved and I have yet to see a game since the CC fiasco. I’ll try again tomorrow. I hate to have to resort to the use of “Colorful Metaphors” but I’m reaching my limit.

    I’ve tried to follow the blog and game recaps and there appears to be a few areas of concern which have been mentioned. Hopefully they’ll get resolved but I am concerned about our pitching. Valdez doesn’t look all that good right now and I saw where Abreu got clobbered the other day. With opening day only 11 days away I hope we get our stuff together by then. We need to get off to a good start.

    On another note I got called in to help a former employer with accounting work. Was supposed to be PT but I haven’t worked a week where I didn’t work at least 35 hours. What in the world is a septuagenarian doing working at this point in my life. Oh well, nobody to blame except me.

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  9. When guys like Cabbage and Hensley both go down looking in the 9th inning of a tied game with runners on first and second, I have to wonder what they are thinking. Do they really want a job bad?

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    • Hensley actually cost Hunter Brown a shutout, opting for an ‘easy’ out at 1st instead of throwing to 2nd to start what should have been an easy, inning-ending double play. Instead, the next Marlin hitter smacked a two-run single. Add that to the fact that Hensley has now struck out 17 times this spring in 34 at bats [a 50%] whiff rate, and I’d say he is playing himself right out of a chance to start the year with the big league team – even with Kessinger’s hamstring injury. Time to start looking at infield utility guys on the waiver wire.

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