Heard a story about the Astros interviewing the Blue Jays announcer about this four-game series that spanned Canada Day to the 4th of July. Paraphrasing what he supposedly said, “You know what we call the 4th of July here in Toronto? Thursday.”
Well, I am a fortunate one as, unlike the Astros, I did not have to work on the 4th of July, and as an added bonus, I work a 9/80 schedule (all 80 of my hours in a two-week period are in nine work days) and this was my Friday off. So, this is a long weekend for me, and it allows me to work on this post during the day.
Here are some random thoughts:
- A friend of the blog, daveb, was pondering how Hunter Brown lost out to Garrett Crochet of the lowly Chicago White Sox. Let’s look at some of their stats for the month.
- Crochet – 6 starts / 1-1 WL / 1.91 ERA / 37.1 IP/ 0.929 WHIP/ 56 Ks/ .171 BA/ .202 OBP/ .475 OPS
- Brown – 5 starts / 4-0 WL / 1.16 ERA / 31 IP / 0.936 WHIP / 36 Ks / .189 BA/ .250 OBP / .529 OPS
- Brown’s results were better – especially the 3 extra wins (which is partially due to pitching for a better team) and the 0.75 gap in ERA. Crochet pitched in one more game had more innings and a lot more K’s and slightly better WHIP and slash against numbers.
- If June had been a 31-day month, Brown’s July 1 game against Toronto (a win with 6 more innings of shutout ball) would have counted. His ERA would have been an even more impressive 0.97, and he would have been better in all other categories.
- Ironically, Crochet had one loss on July 19th against the …..Astros. He gave up three runs in six innings, and his opposing pitcher, Hunter Brown, gave up 1 run in 6 innings.
- The Blue Jays on Thursday did what many teams may do to Yordan Alvarez, who was white hot in the first three games of the series. They hit him with a pitch twice. They “walked” him one time when he walked up to the plate and another time by giving him nothing to hit. And the other at bat they tried their best to walk him by throwing 5 straight pitches outside the zone. Unfortunately, home plate umpire Ben “Stevie Wonder” May, called two of those pitches strikes (and they were both way above the zone), which forced Alvarez to swing at the sixth pitch of the at bat for an out. Yainer Diaz is a solid bat behind Yordan, but not Kyle Tucker. The Astros need Tuck back badly.
- In the Blue Jays series, Yordan had the two HBPs; Jake Meyers was hit, and Jeremy Pena was hit twice. First, something should have been done when Meyers and Pena were hit consecutively in the Astros’ 9-2 win Wednesday. Second, something should have been done after Yordan was hit twice on Thursday. If MLB does not want teams retaliating, they need to have the umps step in and mete out punishment during the games. I don’t think they want to think about what happens when the usually very stoic Alvarez loses it and goes Robin Ventura on a pitcher. There is no Nolan Ryan on the mound these days.
- On June 18, the Astros were having us search the archives for newspaper tombstones as they lost to the last place White Sox and fell 10 games behind the Mariners in the AL West at 33-40. After a 12-2 Astros run paired with a 4-10 Mariners plummet, the margin is down to 2 games and 1 in the loss column. The Astros’ fans have come off the ledge and I am sure the long-suffering Mariners’ fans are awfully nervous.
- As far as that 12-2 run goes if you told me that at this point in the season that:
- Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier would be out for the season
- Lance McCullers and Luis Garcia would not have pitched yet
- Justin Verlander and Kyle Tucker would have been out for about a month each
- That the rotation was Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, Spencer Arrighetti, Shawn Dubin (and a cast of thousands)
I would have said that you were smoking dope or worse with that other Hunter over by the White House.
- The question of the day/week/month is this. Can the Astros maneuver these starting pitching shortages without making a trade of some significance? Can they fill in with Dubin and friends or even another start or two from Jake Bloss before the cavalry (Verlander and Garcia) supposedly return after the All-Star break? They then would also have (fingers crossed) McCullers in their back pocket for the last month or so of the season. Another injury could torpedo them if they make no moves. But what will they do?
So, what’s on your mind this “holiday” weekend?
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
67 responses to “Astros ’24: Thoughts on a “holiday” weekend”
Beat writers and broadcasters determine who gets monthly awards. Do they really care? I doubt that many of them actually take a look at the stats for the month before clicking on their preferred option.
I’ve always been on the fence as it applies to retaliation. Why risk a game when the guy you put on base might lead to a rally that scores important runs? But Joe Espada has to get himself tossed in defense of his guys. He’s got to get out there and put up a big ugly stink. If he does not, Alvarez will be pockmarked with bruises from all the shots he’ll be taking. He’s getting drilled on pitches a foot or more inside. These are not accidents.
Do we really have a cavalry coming to help? We just don’t know. I mentioned Aaron Civale yesterday as an example. He’s had a bad year, but not as bad as Arrighetti, and went for an A+ league prospect, a pretty good ballplayer but not the type of guy that we couldn’t have provided. I am concerned that one of our four starters will go down and I am concerned that the next bullpen game might not provide the result we got last time and instead decimate the entire pen. Guys like Seth Martinez and Tayler Scott are in uncharted territory. And I just don’t see any sense of urgency on the part of Dana Brown or whomever it might be that is making personal decisions. I don’t get the impression that the health of these guys is the biggest consideration. That kind of pisses me off. And I don’t know what they will do. But one guy, even a pretty good arm, might not be enough.
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So should we go for a guy like Cal Quantrill or Austin Gomber? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/rockies-trade-rumors-cal-quantrill-austin-gomber-ryan-feltner.html
Something tells me we will wait and see how Dubin does today and Bloss does on a rehab start on Saturday.
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AsttoNut – Reading that article I would be much more interested in Quantrill than Gomber.
Daveb – Maybe I am crazy but I am hoping for help from Verlander and Garcia – if we don’t I think it will be a tough run down the stretch
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Dan, but don’t forget, we’ve got several guys that have not thrown a whole bunch of high leverage ML innings. I’m already a bit concerned about Blanco. And really, Arrighetti never had a full minor league preparation for an ideal ML debut.
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This Lopez guy was lights out when I saw him pitch about a week ago. I hope he has a bad night.
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If my BIL was still with us, I’d be busting his balls so hard right now.
With those unis, the hometown boys are really owning the name Twinkies. They look like they were designed by a colorblind unicorn jockey who just escaped from the dental floss plantation.
My God, they’re ugly!
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I read an article on Goggle about the Astro BP usage, citing the same things you guys (Dan/Dave) discussed. Overuse of the BP, especially by guys not use to the grind of an MLB season. Same with some of our starters like Blanco, Arrighetti, Bloss. GM Brown cited a starter and BP arms by the deadline. Even when JP/Garcia return I expect to see a shutdown by seasons end for some of the young guys. Don’t ruin them.
I’m still hoping they deal at the deadline. It would be a mistake not to.
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Mini Me finally makes his move. I hope Seth has something in his tank.
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Yep. Dubin had no idea where his pitches were going…
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I am not very optimistic when Bregman comes to bat with RISP. With the exception of a few HRs, many of his hits were scant on RBI’s. In Bregman’s defense that has been a tm problem throughout the season. Somehow, Dave, they are winning games leaving so many ducks in the pond. I’m scratching my head too, but it’s working thus far.
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Oh crap, Dan! Another Stevie behind the plate tonight
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Now it’s time to put one in Buxton’s ear. This has gotten out of hand. Tuve is hurt. 😦
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Really! What happened?
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https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/jose-altuve-exits-astros-win-after-hit-by-pitch
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Good morning! Anytime you use your last resort, which is a bullpen game, and you get a win, it’s quite a win, even if it takes seven arms to get the job done. Losing a 13-12 contest would have been a real waste of those seven arms. And I’m glad I went to sleep up 10-5. These guys keep finding new ways to get things done. We got a bunch of big hits. If Loperfido figures out how to hit ML pitching, he’s going to be fun to watch everyday for years to come. But first we need to concern ourselves with finding some pitching. We keep winning baseball games, but our situation is critical. It really is.
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Dave, thanks for your comment. Now, I just have to type a “Ditto”.
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That was one helluva catch! No doubt about it, the kid has some serious talent. Gotta learn to lay off the garbage out of the strike zone, though. Keep him away from Tuve on the bench. We want him to learn the RIGHT way to hit and run the bases!
Contreras almost gace that lead away. Wish I had slept through that part, too.
Fully convinced that Joe Espada is just plain pendejo…..
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What are some ideal trade scenarios the Astros could pursue for P, quality P, without giving up the farm? And for whom? I have no idea. How much would the idea of shutting down young P by seasons end affect the trade avenue?
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Today, the Twinkies need to be spending a lot of time dodging fastballs. This throwing at Altuve and Alvarez has gone far enough. Time to let them know we’re not f___ing around!
I want em scared when they step up today. Especially Correa after that homer last night. He needs to spend time diving in the dirt today! It would be a damn shame if it aggravated his massage injury……
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And as usual, the Space City Home Network stream SUCKS greasy, grimy gopher guts. So I’ll be stuck listening to the one ballplayer I hate more than any other in the entore history of baseball – Bert f___ing Blyleven.
Been hating that son of a bitch since before I was in senior high school and will continue to cultivate a hatred for him that will last beyond the grave! I hope a foul ball comes back and hits him right square in the teeth……
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Hunter doesn’t have it today. And here we sit with a worn out bullpen. Great job, Mini Me. Why dontcha call Dusty and ask him what he would do? Oh, he’s drunk again?
YOYO Joe. Good luck, idiot…..
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This is a great example of how Dana Brown is not a good GM. Instead of bringing up another starter from the minors, he chose to let Espada conduct a bullpen game yesterday. Now today, it is catching up to Dana by seeing Hunter giving up five runs in two innings. This is where a somewhat rested bullpen would come in handy.
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Yeah, Hunter. Keep hanging that curve middle middle and they’re gonna keep taking you downtown. And downtown Minneapolis has never been a very good place for a white boy like you to be.
At least the sun is shining. You’ll probably get out alive.
The Astros brain trust really should be horsewhipped for putting the kid in this situation, TBH…..
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Exactly as scripted. Nice going, Carmen Miranda. Now sit down and shut up. Better yet – go find a decent looking uniform! Might wanna try one with big boy pants instead of those pussified shorts…..
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This HPU is the byproduct of a rectal birthing. But McCormick still looks like hell at bat recently. Are there any batting coaches in the house? Doesn’t look like it….
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If there’s no retribution now, there is not one hairy testicle in the entire Astros management structure! Not one!
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Trey Cabbage looks so much better striking out than Chas McCormick, wouldn’t you say? If this doesn’t reflect on the coaching staff, I guess I don’t know what would.
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Retribution? We would be lucky if Monterrible COULD hit a batter with that rag arm of his! Good Lord, this game is ugly.
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An ata-boy for Hunter saving the BP but I agree with TOF. Montero should’ve drilled a Mini-poo-poo batter. Instead he gets drilled by the batters And puts the game out of reach. I don’t know all feel about Jake and Chaz but in my book they just ain’t MLB candidates. If we can get a decent pitcher for them time to do the deal.
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Good morning from Houston, Texas. Hurricane Beryl has chased me all the way from the Southern Caribbean to the Gulf Coast. Devious.
Hunter had a day we pretty much had to expect at some point. Blanco will prove to be human too. Arrighetti is already pitching like he got rushed up too soon. Jake Bloss will be rushed back up a second time. We’ve recognized that we don’t have enough pitching for a month now, or at least since Verlander went on the shelf. Dana has not found any rotation help. I don’t think he can coax these guys through the All start break and then assume Verlander and Garcia will save the day. We need help now.
Manager Joe has got to get far more vocal about his guys getting plunked again and again. Alvarez is likely day to day right now, but any shot to the knee can end a season. That can’t be allowed to continue.
Even an ugly win would be a lot of fun today. Let’s score 15.
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Bloss pitched 4 very nice innings in AAA rehab start last night. He gave up 1 hit and no runs and the rest of the night Sugarland pitchers got blasted. It was Bloss’s AAA debut.
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An Astros win today means a series win and last night’s performance becomes a distant memory.
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Thoughts
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And in the first, Arrighetti throws one up and in and tags Correa on the hand. Looks like he is coming out of the game.
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Good! Payback is a bitch. Even in Minnesnowta!
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“….we don’t want teams to think they can plunk us and always get away with it.”
You mean even though they can? Mini Me doesn’t have any bigger stones than the toothpicker chewer had. The players are gonna have to take it in their own hands. Espada will never give the order.
He’s a b____ azz punk!
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Darn shame our catcher can’t.
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Got home and tuned in just in time to see McCormick strike out (again!) with the go ahead run on 2b in the t9. Then our rich loser Hader gives up the gopher ball (how appropriate) in the b9.
God, what a bunch of underacheiving losers. And Correa isn’t even hurt. Araghetti can’t even get that done. How embarrassing……
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Hader now has 5 losses and a whopping 15 saves. Meaning that 25% of the time, he’s gonna blow the game for you instead of doing his job.
Not exactly the kind of numbers I (or any reasonable person) would expect from an ostensibly top-of-the-line MLB closer. Meanwhile, Stanek is mowing them down in Seattle. We won’t even mention Monterrible when discussing MLB pitchers. He doesn’t fit in that discussion.
And Pressly darn near blew the game in the 8th inning. Only the nifty DP from Pena saved his butt.
Another brilliant move, Dana. I think you’re right, Sarge. This clown is in WAY over his head. But boy oh boy, he sure is diverse as a m___________, ain’t he?
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Forgot to mention that Hector Neris is also doing pretty well for the Cubs now. And if you put his losses together with Stanek’s, there STILL aren’t as many as Hader has blown for us!
So two (2!) pretty darn good relief pitchers walked away from the Astros. Brown spent the money on Hader and Monterrible instead.
That should in itself be grounds for banishing Brown to the nether regions in the hottest part of Arizona, IMO.
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What does a “Major League Game Planning Coach” actually do? Isn’t that usually a manager’s job? I mean, other than choosing a starting pitcher and making out a lineup card, what other “game planning” decisions are there really? Choosing which ugly uniform to wear on any given day?
But the Astros hired this guy Tommy Kawamura to do this job in DFBs last year. Now he has carried over and is doing Mini Me’s job for him. Not very well, either!
I know Snitker and Cintron are doing a lousy job as well as Miller and Murphy on the pitching side. Fire every one of them and let Mini Me carry their bags on the way to the bus station.
Losers with a capital “L”!
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Astros finished the road trip at 6-4. Another win would have been nice, but a .600 winning % on the road is certainly acceptable.
A shame though, Arrighetti gave them 5 innings of essentially one run ball. Altuve screwed up a ground ball (which was changed from an error to a cheap base hit) that was Pena’s play and then short hopped a throw to the plate that had the second run dead to rights. The team looked tired today. And not having Alvarez did not help. Is Hader too predictable? He’s giving up homers at a prodigious pace. Yeah, he’s converted most save opportunities, but at 95 million, we’ll be fed up with the guy well before 2028 if this keeps up.
Hope these guys all get home before the weather craps out tonight.
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“Yeah, he’s converted most save opportunities, but at 95 million, we’ll be fed up with the guy well before 2028 if this keeps up.”
Rather than looking at save opportunities, I’m much more concerned about win opportunities. Opportunities for the team to win. From this standpoint, Hader has been and continues to be a disappointment.
$95 million seems to be the only number Hader really cares about.
I’m already pretty fed up with his work. Let’s put it that way. I’m dismayed to learn that we’re stuck with him so long.
“Hope these guys all get home before the weather craps out tonight.”
Amen to that. I hope everybody in the Houston area is OK tonight. My pal in Sugarland just got his new genny hooked up in the nick of time, apparently!
Doesn’t look like it’ll get here before morning. We’re all praying Beryl takes a sharp right turn when he gets ashore. The roof over my bedroom still has a temporary patch on it. The roofers haven’t shown up yet.
If it does hit us, the wind should be coming from the other direction, though. Hopefully, it’ll miss us to the east…..
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The Astros are 25-13 in games Hader has pitched in.
When Helsley pitches the Cards are 36-4. Clase, the Guardians are 40-3. The Nats are 28-10 when their closer pitches, but he has been used in a few close games they were trailing in – probably a managerial style. Even as bad as Kimbrel was at the beginning of the year – the Orioles are 32-6 in games he has appeared in. The Padres are 35-1 when Suarez pitches.
You are supposed to win games in which you are using your closer. Kinda the point. I don’t know that I use Hader in the bottom of the 9th in a tied game, I might have went with Scott right there.
The Astros not seeing the same thing from their closer that we see other teams getting is probably due in some part to those 7 HR he has surrendered and in some part to how he is being used, neither of which are good parts.
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Thanks for holding down the fort while I was away on vacation. If the team starts to struggle again I’ll have to schedule another one. Regarding the comments above, Alvarez has been plunked 8 times this season. He should be getting hit as the only place to safely pitch him is up and in. When a team is obviously not trying to make a competitive pitch and going after him there need to be repercussions in the way of suspensions. Minn is in the chase for the WC and only 6 games behind Cleveland. Losing pitchers would hurt them. Regarding HBP, though, the Twins have been hit the most times (64) and the Astros are actually tied for 14th (37).
Regarding closers, Hader has lost 4 games where he entered at tied game in the 9th. He has lost 1 game where he had the lead in the ninth. I don’t see the benefit to pitching Hader in the 9th on the road unless you have a lead. Someone would still be needed in extra frames if he can hold it. He’s lost two such games so far this year.
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Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Dusty used Pressley in the 9th when the score was tied. Maybe this is where Espada got the idea. Regardless of where it came from it makes no sense to use your closer in a tie game. He’s supposed to be the guy you bring in to “save” the win. I’m beginning to think this team has a problem from the top all the way down. We might get to the playoffs despite this but something needs to be done for next year.
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Z, you have been reading my notes! I always complain when the closer is brought in for the ninth when the Astros are tied or behind. I whole-heartedly agree that the closer is just that… the CLOSER! Baker did the very same thing.
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Ever so often we must check in with the Jon Singleton watch.
He is up to .243, and he is at 19 points above league average. If his numbers were stretched to 150 games he would be on pace for 17 HR.
He also has 38 singles versus only 11 extra base hits. He has these tremendous bouts of nothingness where he might go 1 for 3 with a single and a walk and just be inconsequential. 38 singles and 30 walks in 66 games tells me he gets on base more than once a game on average, but unfortunately its a lot of first base. That is a big contributor to the fact that he has been on base 83 times and only scored 23 of them, because he sees a lot of first base, cant really do 1st the 3rd on a single, won’t score from 2nd on as many singles, so the guys behind him really need 2-3 hits after to get him across while some other guys might do it in 1-2 hits.
As a stopgap, I guess he is doing OK. You had to eat 20M for the position, so if you can get the occasional big fly and a guy that can use a walk or a single to continue pressure, fine. But big innings are usually caused by extra base hits and athletic baserunning.
Loperfido is not the guy I would want them to use. First, he needs to either be at AAA learning to not strike out nearly 40% of the time, or he needs to be used like he is, in matchups that work for him and not as an everyday option. His skillset is undeniable, he may be the 2nd or 3rd best defensive outfielder the team has, he should be out there. Offensively, he has already hit a wall, which happens when you strike out at break neck paces.
.340 is an OPB that is usually a benchmark for me, if you can do that, as a manager, I could probably live with your warts. But ideally, we can find a more impactful player at 1B, one that can come close or even match that OBP, provide a little more extra base pop, or do something else so much better that we can also live with his warts. I just wonder why they have never called Brandon Belt. Maybe they did and he said no thanks.
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Just as I was about to comment on how pleased I am that Jon seems to be growing into the job at 1b. He did quite well on this latest road trip.
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I’m curious where y’all come down on this question. Do you think Tucker should play in the ASG?
Personally, I think he deserved being named to the team. But I don’t think he should play. If he can’t play for the team that’s paying him, he shouldn’t be risking further injury playing in exhibition games, either.
We need all his talents devoted to winning a playoff spot.
Any thoughts on the subject on an off day?
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He’s jogging and taking BP. I would expect he would take a rehab assignment before rejoining the big league club, but if he’s ready to start the rehab right after the break I wouldn’t have a problem with him playing in the game. Teams request the manager limit certain players all the time – no reason Tucker couldn’t be a PH/emergency outfielder who is only going to run 75% or such. If he’s not ready to play in rehab games I would say he needs to enjoy the festivities but not participate…but that’s just my opinion.
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I would doubt Tucker is going to play in the game. Probably be in town, make some appearances, dress and sit in the dugout. He might not even do that, they just might announce he is skipping, after getting named to it any contract clauses would kick in so the game itself is irrelevant.
I do agree with you that Jon is settling in, and he has been passable. I’m just saying, not impactful. The job is not his long term. Not unless he gets a little more aggressive and squares up more solid contact at a higher rate. It’s a few bombs, a number of drives, but not much in the gap. But he also is a less dreaded at bat than some other guys when the inning is going good. It’s not that we need more SLG% from 1B, but we can probably find it.
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Tucker should take the day off.
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Hi y’all – we’ve been without power since 4:30 this morning and it just came back on about an hour ago – woohoo.
No damage luckily to us – lot of trees down with all the rain softening the soil we’ve been having and the big winds. We slept terribly last night with the hurricane coming in and all that. Huge winds and rain as the eye came over us. Luckily unlike Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricane Harvey it kept rolling on through. Everyone I know lost power and a lot of them still don’t have it back. Pray for those who lost their lives
Looks like the Astros are doing the right thing and not playing tonight.
I’ll work on something tomorrow for y’all to read.
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Glad y’all are OK. All my friends down there are as well. Haven’t heard that the power is back in Sugarland yet. Though those friends were hanging at Houston Methodist pretty much full time before the storm due to illness in the family.
Thank God that place wasn’t as busy as it could have been.
Missed me almost completely. Just a light rain for a couple hours this morning. No evidence of any further wind damage when I was out and about earlier. More rain east of here I understand.
I thought the Astros scheduled Beryl to arrive on an off day. Another delusion shattered…….
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Thank God Alvarez is in as DH tonight. Big weak spot in the batting order as well as in RF with McCormick.
It’s past time to give Joey his chance with that catch the other day. Mini Me is being stupid blind again. But….
I want my Tucker back. Tucker back. Tucker back. I want my Tucker back. Tucker back. Tucker back.
Think barbecue ribs commercial…. 🙂
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Another gotaway for Mr. Brown. 😦
https://www.mlb.com/news/phil-maton-mets-rays-trade
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The telecast is stuck in a loop right now (7:56pm).
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Streaming better than usual here tonight. Hope I didn’t just jinx myself….
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Maybe try refreshing your connection? I don’t know what technology you’re using. I’m on my laptop plugged into a smart TV as always. Been doing IPTV for years and don’t miss the cable at all!
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It is on Xfinity cable.
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You didn’t miss anything good, Sarge. That changeup from Blanco was so center cut it should’ve been seasoned, stuffed with sage dressing, and baked at 375 for about an hour……
Hope Mini Me has enough sense not to send him out there again tonight. But I’m not betting any money on that!
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Sweet play by Big Jon!
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That was a well played game and the good guys come out on top. All is as it should be and everything is right with the world. At least today!
I still want my Tucker back. Tucker back. Tucker back…….
🙂
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Meanwhile, back at the ranch, via MLB…
“RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: August
The Astros made the decision to “pull back” on McCullers because he was not feeling well after recent throwing sessions. He will not throw for the next few days.
“He’s going to be no-throw for a few days until we sit back down and reevaluate,” manager Joe Espada said on July 9.
McCullers threw a 25-pitch bullpen session June 22, followed by a one-inning simulated game in the bullpen of 10-15 pitches. He’s in line to return to competitive baseball somewhere in the 13-15-month window from the surgery he had last June to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur. (Last updated: July 9)“
This fella has been one HUGE disappointment for the team.
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Yeah, the distinction for me is that I’m hugely disappointed he has been unable to play for the team. It’s unfortunate because he’s had moments where he was a great pitcher for them over his career as well as because the salary commitment sure could have gone to fixing some other holes. I thought it would be a bad extension because there was too much risk, but the money would have been a good value if he was playing and my outlook is that it wouldn’t be as painful without some other failures like picking up the tab on Greinke or that Montero contracts.
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Enjoyed a cool night and a cold beer at the ballpark last night. Hader got lustfully booed when he walked a guy in the 9th. Can’t remember when I’ve heard a guy wearing an Astro uniform get it so good. And darn, when the guy comes in from the pen, the lights go out (I thought it was another CenterPoint Energy fail) and all kinds of fake pyrotechnics blast off all over the stadium. I’m glad we won.
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