Friday night, the Astros lost another fairly lethargic effort. Yes, they gave up six runs, but they might have used different pitchers (or not used Enyel De Los Santos) if the offense had more life in it. Peter Lambert had his zillionth solid start in a row that did not end up in a win – no wins since July 11!!
The Astros-Braves series feels a lot like the Astros-Rays series. One team is mediocre and the other is very good and the hill is too steep to climb.
The Rangers won again last night and are back in a tie with the Astros, which tilts the tiebreaker in the Astros’ favor.
But does it matter?
Is there any one of us that thinks if this team slinks in the backdoor of the playoffs with likely the worst record of any playoff team, ever, that it will do anything significant in those playoffs?
Chip sent me this link.
Astros GM opening comes with uncomfortable Bagwell question
It is beyond belief, really, that a team that, in a recent stretch, went to the ALCS seven straight times, went to four World Series, and held two championship parades has an undesirable general manager.
If this is true and certainly it seems to be, this is all on Owner Jim Crane. He has allowed a shadow group led by Jeff Bagwell (or maybe numbering only Jeff Bagwell) to look over the shoulders of the front office, likely over-ride decisions and definitely have the inside track to the owner’s ear.
At this point, the only reasonable thing to happen is to put Bagwell in the GM job and allow him to fail to show the owner this is not the way to run a ballclub.
The Astros are likely to fall short of the 2026 playoffs or if they do make it in, likely to be back at home very quickly. But the long-term running of the team seems to have hit a Jerry Jones-sized boulder at this point and may make the fans long for the days of Jeff Luhnow and the great Astros Renaissance.
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
3 responses to “Astros’ 2026: Where are they going? And does it matter?”
Since Crane is obviously not going to pay for a new Pena contract, I feel that he should be traded this off season. Do I feel that Crane and “Look at the back of his baseball card Bagwell”, are qualified to process a good trade? No! I would like a trade for players with analytics that predict a productive future.
LikeLike
We’ve had this discussion on a smaller scale. The best candidates for a GM job will politely take a pass on the Astro opportunity and wait on a job that does not include a version of Bagwell hanging around.
And I’m guessing Bagwell is smart enough to know that he’s got a good thing going as it is. GM? He’ll get himself fired, but Dan, I’m getting old. We’d have to wait three of four more years.
LikeLike
I’ve been longing for the days of “days of Jeff Luhnow and the great Astros Renaissance” for over three years already. I was never in on the Dana Brown thing.
LikeLike