The Astros off-season has been pretty much what was expected, except for one little signing. OK, the Justin Verlander signing was big, but it will be called little until it becomes official.
JV returns: The ultimate double down
Of course, the focus today is on Justin Verlander and his decision to forego the rest of the baseball world and return to the Houston Astros for the 2022 and possibly the 2023 seasons. But the person who draws this writer’s interest is the Astros’ owner, Jim Crane.
What We Need Now Is A Big Helping Of Moneyball
This whole Carlos Correa situation makes me fall back on one of my favorite baseball philosophy movies “Moneyball”. Here’s a short scene with Brad Pitt playing the Oakland A’s GM, Billy Beane and Jonah Hill playing the super nerd, Peter Brand, he brings in to help him work through the loss of Johnny Damon, Jason Isringhausen and Jason Giambi.
What will (And what should) the Astros do about Carlos Correa?
Maybe all that needs to be said about Carlos Correa was said here.
Astros: Seven Free Agents, Plus One
As I wrote in the comments the other day (which seems like a week ago at this point), the plan was to write a World Series wrap-up and then move on to discuss the Astros’ free agents with the deadline for making a qualifying offer only a few days away.
World Series 2021: Surviving Atlanta
The Astros were shut out in Game 3 of the World Series by the Atlanta Braves and wanted to win the next two games to grab the advantage back in the series, but needed at least one win to make the Braves fly to Houston.
World Series 2021: The Astros strike back
The goal of teams hosting the first couple of games of the World Series is pretty simple. Win those two games and hold serve on home-field advantage. But when the home team fumbles the first game as the Astros did in the opener on Tuesday night, the goal morphs into an almost must win in the second game.
And the 2021 World Series winner will be….
The Astros have quite a history with their 2021 World Series opponents, the Atlanta Braves, and so does this writer.
CHIPALATTA 