The Astros have lots on their plate after a difficult couple of weeks in the public eye, but they have on-field issues at hand as well. Now that the manager and GM are in place, the focus can soon return to the field. Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke make for an enviable top of the rotation, but there’s uncertainty beyond their veteran aces, writes MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart.
Lance McCullers Jr. will return from elbow surgery to man the third spot in the rotation, and after his strong performance in the postseason, Jose Urquidy has a good chance of claiming one of the two remaining slots. But with a new GM and manager stepping in, there’s a potential clean slate working against the otherwise favored.
A host of candidates are on hand to push Urquidy and contend for the final rotation role. Brad Peacock and Austin Pruitt are the veterans with rotation experience on hand, with either one capable of taking turns in the rotation.
Beyond the vets, there are a host of young arms capable of proving their readiness and stepping into the rotation. Josh James, Bryan Abreu, Framber Valdez, Forrest Whitley, Austin Pruitt, Cy Sneed and Francis Martes. There’s more at stake in this arms race, as there are three to four bullpen spots available for those left out of the dugout.
Crash and burn, Houston Cheaters.
Houston Cheatstros
Love it because it sounds like Cheetos
It’s the Houston Asterisks everyone knows this.
Bahahaha!!! Love it
Please do not pretend this was limited to the Astros.
It makes you Astros fans feel better to say stuff like that, but the truth is it aided in the winning of a World Series. It padded stats and pockets of players, coaches, staff, executives. Money was taken away from good people and good players because of the extent of the cheating. This cheating by the Astros organization and players is definitely not isolated to 2017 alone. It’s naive to think so. If you don’t get caught you keep doing it right?
The Astros were caught. The organization got a slap on the wrist and the players, the architects of this whole thing got nothing. Great message to send.
Maybe stop trying to deflect and accept that your team and favorite players cheated and it’s bullsh*t.
As a looooooong time loyal Astros fan, I’m appalled. I was already offended by various decisions by Hinch in season and then the upset in the World Series. The cheating scandal is an embarrassment. You knew something was amiss by watching players’ reactions throughout the playoffs.
I hope the culture changes and MLB will pressure other teams to prevent this from happening any further.
the deflection is getting reeeeally old
proof?
Most teams steal signs but how many develop software to do it the entire organization is infested
Every team is doing it bud, yours didn’t
Get caught yet.
What a poor attempt at a deflection. No, not every other team was doing this. Stop with the excuses and admit your teams only “title” is forever tainted.
Astros are officially the worst cheaters of all time.
That WS is turning into 6, bruh.
Don’t be mad because no one wants to talk about your team.
The 2017 WS Championship is probably the biggest and most important of all time
Do you really think the Yankees and Red Sox would have stopped the Apple Watch cheating if they didn’t get caught? There is truly no REAL outrage by players because they know that they have skeletons in their closet.
Go ahead and hit them all year long you’re just going to end up giving up runs and possibly get suspended.
**I don’t like that they cheated but what can a fan do? Us fans didn’t do it and most don’t condone it but its out of our hands.**
@Astros2333 Just to clear up the record, the Yankees were never caught cheating using technology. The Red Sox were fined by the commissioner for stealing signs using Apple watches. At that point the commissioner issued a memo to all teams clarifying the rule about using technology to steal signs. He made himself perfectly clear. So far it seems like the only teams that continued to cheat using technology were the Astros and the Red Sox.
The Yankees were fined for an unauthorized dugout phone. Hardly an accusation of cheating but certainly a rules violation.
I have answered the question about what a fan can do elsewhere on this thread and you can go ahead and look that up. But to tailor my response to your post a good start would be for fans of the Astros to stop deflecting and minimizing the gravity of this scandal, which is probably the worst one in baseball history if we’re being honest.
2015 the Yankees were caught using their video room in away the Red Sox did, look it up they cheated, but it was before everyone started complaining about cheating so their was not much news about And all the articles I have read about the Yankees video room cheating, all of them use the word CHEATED.
@LouisianaAstros
Maybe the biggest in the state of Texas since the state as a whole, between the Rangers and Astros, haven’t had much to celebrate and the one reason TO celebrate has been tainted by charges of cheating. Either the Astros are in a league of their own or are reallllllllly bad at doing thus every other team is getting away with it without a sniff of guilt aside from the Red Sox and to a much, much, much less extent, my Yankees.
Who is even talking about the Washington Nats..
No one
They are all talking about the Astros.
Have to own it
Like the Saints the Astros are turning 1 championship into a big deal.
Going to wear it no matter what. You can say whatever you want about the Astros, Houston or the fanbase…
It doesn’t really matter.
Yep, 2017 is the biggest since the 1919 World Series
@ironman_4life Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
— ABRAHAM LINCOLN
@ironman_4life Not a very bright or insightful perspective
Astros Rotation update:
1. Chet Cheater
2. Chuck McCheat
3. Charles Cheaterton III
4. Chaz Cheatsly
5. Chavo Cheatalina
if every team is doing it then some of the teams must be doing it wrong cuz its not helping
After this season, this team is screwed anyway. Every major player outside of Altuve and Bregman will be free agents.
Still better than Cleveland
Evidently some of you need to google “Yankees Apple Watch”.
@Manfredsajoke
Red Sox were accused and found guilty of using the apple watches. The Yanks were fined for misuse of the bullpen phone. What’s your point?
blogs.fangraphs.com/the-most-important-bangs-of-th…
Read this article when you have time to go through it thoroughly and watch the videos very carefully during a time when you have complete silence to watch them. Then look at the statistics at the end showing how much the trash can banging scheme benefited Bregman, Correa, Springer, and to a lesser extent Altuve. Freaking amazing how much these guys benefited from cheating
How do I copy it?
You should just be able to click it, no? It’s the front page headline article on fangraphs right now. “The Most Important Bangs of the Astros’ Scheme”
Just make sure you come back here afterwards to discuss it so the traffic fairly comes back to this site.
not on the app
Just make it up. Like Adams did.
I’ve seen you and a lot others show your extreme hate for the Astros lately. Many have thrown their hate straight towards the fans themselves, although they aren’t the ones that cheated. I understand some fans blindly support their team and defend their actions without question, but not all Astros fans are like that.
I am 34 and have been an Astros fan as long as I can remember. I hate what my team did and especially hate that they tainted at least 1 World Series. As an Astros fan, what should I do? Genuinely asking as a distraught, torn fan.
Advocate to hold the people responsible accountable, realize that these staff members and players made you as much of a victim as anyone else, and either find a new team to root for or else wait for the team you love to turn over a bit and not be completely loaded with cheaters. What else can you do? I’d feel the same way as you if it was my team (and it may very well be someday)
Also don’t mistake anything I’ve said for hate. In my opinion there has been a gigantic miscarriage of justice here and I’m trying to rally public opinion so the commissioner feels compelled to right this unbelievable wrong. No serious person can believe justice has been done here.
What are you trying to rally the Commissioner to do? He already gave the players immunity before the gave testimony in the investigation, so unfortunately it’s too late. Nor does he appear to have any interest in suspending players.
I’m sure he didn’t give them universal blanket immunity covering any imaginable offense. There was a scope to the immunity that he granted. With more information about offenses coming out there is a legitimate question as to whether this new stuff is covered by the grant of immunity that the commissioner gave.
Additionally the penalties to the team were not nearly severe enough. The team and the players still have all of the spoils of their war, and are almost completely unencumbered moving forward. This is absolutely unacceptable.
That is Merica..
Capitalize on your success
Houston is just doing it better than pretty much everyone.
nicely put…well sadly!
I totally agree.
Sad view.
What you can do is help other Astros fans see the light like you do. There is so much deflection and explaining away of the ’17 team and all it does is piss everyone else off even more. The fans should do what the players didn’t and just own it. Instead they are doubling down and taking the “us against the world” approach. Not gaining the city or the team any fans. It’s such a shame especially after seeing how that season and playoff run galvanized a city off a terrible tragedy.
I feel your pain. It’s going to take awhile for this blow over. I know I’d be really pissed if it was my team the Angels that did this. But I believe players like Trout and Pujols and the Angels former manager Mike Scioscia would not allow it to happen. It might help if players like Altuve would apologize. I have no respect for any of the Astro players. They bought into the idea and ran with it. It’s going to get Ugly.
Altuve is the last guy on earth who’ll apologize
Don’t let these bums get to you. The Astros cheated its not cool, these trolls have nothing better to do with their time then say the same thing in every post. They’re mad because the Astros have a better team than the team they follow. “Hate us cause you ain’t us” 2017 champs nothing can change that
@StrosWoes2017 Your post basically says “the Astros cheated and it’s not cool…. It’s awesome!” It is sad that you would endorse this disgusting conduct and that says a lot more about your character than it does about anyone else’s.
@StrosWoes2017 LOL 2017 World Series champs will forever be the Houston Trashtros
If the Trashstros have such a good team why did they need to cheat?
That is how we are down here.
We bout that life. Taking what we want
Sounds about right. No way you’ll have enough talent, class, or dedication to actually put WORK into actually earn anything. Just take it.
You’re pathetic.
But not THE DODGERS OR THE YANKEES.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
So you’re STILL a loser Dom.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA What is that Dom? Same post like 8 times? Do you think if you repeat it often enough someone will think you’re not an idiot? Not likely
Burn down the mission V!
Louisiana is so wack they have to like Texas sports teams because their backwoods swamp can’t support a major league team
Some people make the mistake seeing some Astro fans defending what the team did and broad brush assuming you are all like that. That’s never right. The team deserves the hate not the whole fan base who had no part in it.
My sympathy is with you man. I don’t know what to say. I know if my team cheated to win I’d be sick. It would definitely affect my desire to watch the team and support/go to games. My prayers are with you.
I have real respect for you Astromariner. You didn’t cheat so you do not deserve this. I know that the only thing that bothers me personally is Astro fans either denying that it happened or saying they don’t care because they still have the title. An admission and a statement of regret is all I needed to hear from you and puts me fully in your corner.
I just wish the players would have the honor to make an admission of their guilt. I know it will never happen. Their own lawyers and agents will never let them do it. It is just impossible for me to respect or believe any player that has been caught lying and yet still lies.
Anyway, I am sure you will always be an Astros fan. No true fan will just switch allegiance. Just move forward from here on. You still have a great team.
@Javia I was right there with you until the very last two sentences. I don’t think anyone in good conscience could go on supporting this team as it is currently composed.
I felt that way about all the players using steroids in the 80’s, 90’s, and 00’s. It frustrated me watching MLB look the other way for years and fans not caring if their team did it. I almost walked away because it felt like titles were won by cheating. And now this…
Not sure if I’ll be following baseball anymore. Too much money in the game only drives competition to cheat. Astros made a bad decision and got caught. There is no doubt plenty of other teams are also cheating but either haven’t been caught or MLB slaps their wrists because the team is primetime money.
Then there are the jerk fans that attack other fans even though it wasn’t the fans that cheated. Who needs that in their life? This is just a game.
Astromariner I understand your plight, enjoy your team but don’t make silly comments like some….”Why do people hate my Astros” really??
Astromariner: You don’t need to do anything, it was your team not you that cheated. What you said was cool and enough said. This whole situation sucks for baseball and it’s fans but will probably blow over once the season gets going. It will never go away like deflate gate for example but nobody rational is blaming or hating on the Astros fans.
Astromariner – My 1st advice is to be an Astros fan and enjoy baseball. My 2nd advice is to ignore beisbolista. He is way too emotional about this for some reason.
@prov356 Amazing how you can classify disgust with the worst scandal in baseball history as “too emotional” particularly when I have consistently backed up my statements with linked research and logical fact. I would speculate about your motivations but I think your post speaks for itself.
As a fan the only thing you can do is enjoy your championship.
It’s ok to feel like they did something wrong but continue to support the team. After all, that’s your team. I’ve already accepted the fact that they did what they did and there’s nothing I can do to change that. All I can do is just move on and continue to be an Astros fan. That’s all you can do,
Astromariner, look at StrosWoes’ post to see why so many hate Astros fans right now. You’re doing the right thing, whereas that POS is making people hate Astros fans and the entire organization even more.
I am 50 and have been an Astros fan since long before any of the people in the organization ( owner, front office, players) were there. And I will be a fan of the team after all of the current people are gone.
The people cheated and it reflects terribly on the team.
I no longer wear my world series champion shirt or hat. I no longer have fond memories of that season.
Those cheaters have robbed me of that.
I have very mixed feelings about it- sign stealing has been part of the fabric of baseball forever. Using video as a tool to improve has been a part of baseball for decades. It feels like just a natural evolution.
That said, 1) all teams need to be on a level playing field. Either all teams have the opportunity to do it or none do. 2) MLB stepped in and warned all teams to stop in September 2017.
In my mind, as of that date it was no longer right to do it and the Astros continued.
There is conflicting evidence about whether Luhnow forwarded the directive. Also, the coaching staff (and now we know at least part of the front office) continued to support it and provide the data.
Also front office believes at least “8 other teams” were doing it too.
If this was told to the players, then they simply may have felt that they were just keeping themselves on equal footing. Especially since their rivals and playoff matchups were among the “other 8 teams”
So my point is that this IMHO this whole thing is not something COMPLETELY unacceptable. It’s like a kid going too far out in the ocean. They were allowed to go in the ocean to begin with. But where is the line where it becomes too deep and how clearly was he/she told about the line?
I am glad that Luhnow, Cora, and even Beltran are no longer on my favorite team because I feel comfortable rooting for them again. I deserve that. I am a victim.
But I will not enjoy the memories of the 2017 Wirld Series again.
Here’s hoping the 2020 Astros win it so I can enjoy it again.
I am 50 and have been an Astros fan since long before any of the people in the organization ( owner, front office, players) were there. And I will be a fan of the team after all of the current people are gone.
The people cheated and it reflects terribly on the team.
I no longer wear my world series champion shirt or hat. I no longer have fond memories of that season.
Those cheaters have robbed me of that.
I have very mixed feelings about it- sign stealing has been part of the fabric of baseball forever. Using video as a tool to improve has been a part of baseball for decades. It feels like just a natural evolution.
That said, 1) all teams need to be on a level playing field. Either all teams have the opportunity to do it or none do. 2) MLB stepped in and warned all teams to stop in September 2017.
In my mind, as of that date it was no longer right to do it and the Astros continued.
There is conflicting evidence about whether Luhnow forwarded the directive. Also, the coaching staff (and now we know at least part of the front office) continued to support it and provide the data.
Also front office believes at least “8 other teams” were doing it too.
If this was told to the players, then they simply may have felt that they were just keeping themselves on equal footing. Especially since their rivals and playoff matchups were among the “other 8 teams”
So my point is that this IMHO this whole thing is not something COMPLETELY unacceptable. It’s like a kid going too far out in the ocean. They were allowed to go in the ocean to begin with. But where is the line where it becomes too deep and how clearly was he/she told about the line?
I am glad that Luhnow, Cora, and even Beltran are no longer on my favorite team because I feel comfortable rooting for them again. I deserve that. I am a victim.
But I will not enjoy the memories of the 2017 Wirld Series again.
Here’s hoping the 2020 Astros win it so I can enjoy it again.
Sorry. My phone posted this 3 times and it only let me delete one of them.
I hope all of you, fans of all teams have something genuinely happy and great to experience this year.
May the most deserving team win.
No it is completely unacceptable. It was a natural evolution until the commissioner issued a memo to all teams explicitly banning this specific conduct in 2016. This is not a matter of how deep into an ocean. This is definitely a matter of being allowed on the beach but not being allowed in the ocean. There is actually a very clear line and that line is the use of technology.
Other than that strong disagreement, I accept and sympathize with your other points.
I know
We cheat. Deal with it.
It was all worth it.
Can you imagine if Americans were this concerned over real issues?
They are not concerned over real issues to this degree but very much expect rewards for every move they make. Like participation trophies. Becoming softer than Charmain.
Cheating isn’t a real issue? Talk about disconnected lol
It ain’t easy being cheesy.
The Yankees statistics are even more alarming.
Rename the Astros the Trashstros! Lol
Asterisks
A-holes
or A-holes
You STILL lost no matter what you call them
you still cheated lol
Posted the same lame joke twice. Hilarious.
Cuban sandwiches are the bomb
Yes they are!
More like add another s after the A.
but, that’s been done since they first named it asstros
Best pitching coach in the MLB. The rotation will be fine.
I don’t know enough about the Astro’s pitching coach to have an opinion on how good he is. I always thought that it was their analytics system and general guidelines for their pitchers to throw more breaking balls that made them so successful. Either way, losing Cole is a huge loss. They should be fine during the season. In the playoffs this rotation doesn’t scare everyone anymore. They have 1 great ace, but in games 2 and 3 of a playoff series I can see Grienke and McCullers being consistently outpitched by guys like Strasburg and Corbin.
Their analytics dept. is strong but their pitching coach also delivers the info in a way that it easy to implement. He also knows his stuff too. I agree with your assessment though.
Getting outpitched by Corbin and Strasburg means they made the world series in 2020. I’m ok with that I guess.
The Trashstros should have their mascot dressed up as a trash can lol
Jomboy has a hoodie out with a Houston logo imposed over a trashcan.
Hilarious.
If their mascot wore a trashcan, it would look eerily similar to Oscar the Grouch.
They should and give the person inside the big trash can an ear piece so the front office can give the signs so he can bang his can to give away the pitch, Brilliant idea.
Astros can open the season with Urquidy and Peacock as the back end of the rotation with Whitley likely joining the team in may. See how things go at the deadline and try to make a trade and add another starter. Cheating or no cheating they still have a solid roster and are still the team to beat in the AL West.
i am all for beating them up. preferably, into a trashcan!
The Trashstros batters are going to have pretty good on base percentages due to being plunked all year long
Bad thing is the Houston cheating idiot batters will be higher.
*Cheating Houston idiot hitters obp will be higher
Hopefully Whitley’s troubles are behind him.
We need his attitude and arm this year
Anyway we can get Kopech as well.
Need to hit some people in the ribs at 100+ mph
Wow, an actual comment, and an intelligent one at that, about the actual article. I get that people are angry about what happened, but it is beginning to drown out any coherent discussion on actual baseball.
As a Reds fan I couldn’t agree more.The Astros cheated got busted and are paying a severe penalty move on
I gotta believe most of the posters here are stupid kids on the parents phone
the A’s are laughing at Houston in 2020. it won’t even be close.
This sets up as a rehab year for Whitley. Among his 2019 troubles was that he lost the ride & whatever cut/run he had on his fastball, perhaps even as an offshoot of doing unsmart things in the offseason like trying to throw a baseball on the run 110 mph into a net. He has also overused his changeup, & needs to work 1 of his breaking balls heavier into the pitch mix. I would assign him back to AA & force him to earn his way up to AAA. I doubt he is more than a late season strikeout RP for sake of 2020 MLB, as he’ll require 40-manning in the offseason & thus is in play. Perhaps by mid 2021 he & his repertoire could be made over enough for a MLB rotation trial.
What about Whitley makes you think its likely he joins the team in May lol?
He looked good in the Arizona Fall League .
We will see next month
Jake Marisnick is scratching his head saying, “so that’s why I kept hearing all that banging.”
Poor guy was never told.
Typo fix, Trashtros Rotation Status
“Verteran aces?” More like living-on-borrowed-time aces. If one or both of those old guys starts showing his age, the time line for the Astros impending implosion gets moved up a bit.
Keep holding your breath. When you pass out, there’ll be one more hater silenced.
It’s much easier when big league hitters know what pitch is coming. We’ll never know exactly how much it helped, but we can judge them more after this season.
I feel like this is stealing some of the thunder away from the Rocket City Trash Pandas, somehow. Nevertheless, F the Astros. Many capital F’s
How about, as a punishment, the catcher has to announce to the hitter every pitch an Astros pitcher throws this year? Sounds fair to me.
man it’s so easy to pile on to the Astros right now but honestly right or wrong what’s done is done. let’s just move on. not a stros fan but I think they are gonna show they are still a stacked club without all that other stuff.
“It’s ok to cheat if you were already stacked before you cheated”
Just own it
We turned 1 World Series into 6
Everyone going to hate us cause we bout that dirty down South life.
Trashtros
That’s right.
Going to make us famous with all your trolling
The Trashtros are already famous, after all they fair and square went from 100 loss poo team to high integrity World Series Champs.
Louisiana is so wack they have to like Texas sports teams because their backwoods swamp state can’t even support a major league team
lots of Braves fans, I’d say about 50 30 20 astros rangers braves
Dusty’s mouth is watering at the thought of ruining some arms.
U sound like a bunch of kids on the sand lot get over it and grow up
you think this is hard on you fans? wait til the astros play away games.
You really think you’re going to have that much of an influence scooter? Don’t flatter yourself. Professional ballplayers have put up with and ignored loud mouth brats like you their entire careers. You ain’t scary.
True, but this will be a difficult season for the Astros. This scandal will follow them wherever they go. They will be motivated to “prove” they can win without the cheating but that can lead to extra pressure. I can easily see them collapsing down the stretch if a couple of breaks go against them. And if they do win, there will be a loud chorus of people who will just assume they found a different way to cheat this time.
cheat-ken!
As a Nationals fan, the cheating didn’t prevent us from taking four games in Houston last season. I doubt we have the bats to get back to the post season this year, however I’ll take my 2019 WS knowing I can die in peace. At least I can say I was at the first WS game in Nationals history throwing back some beers with my best friend from DC – two rows behind their dugout as Mad Max faced Gerrit Cole.
Wow! If I remember correctly, you must’ve seen Gerrit Cole lose! What a strange and natural phenomenon that would have been at that time!
That’s because the Nats knew what Cole was throwing by the 5th inning. It should have been obvious they were tipped off for those who pay attention.
True, but why would he be tipping in that Game if he hadn’t been tipping prior to that game? He was pitching well. He didn’t need to change a thing.
maybe because he’s a human being and not a robot. every day is a new day.
It would be awesome to see Yu Darvish get some payback and bean a couple Astro hitters in the 1st inning. Lemme check the schedule…
I have been an Astros fan since 1973. I’m not sure, but I;m guessing I’m probably older than most of you on this comment thread, but that doesn’t matter.. I hate what the Astros did, and I always will. The Houston Astros are my favorite team, and they always will be.
I am not about to excuse what they did and neither should you. Cheating is cheating and it’s never a good thing. I’m not going to apologize either, because, as one of their fans, I had no part in what they did, but there’s an acidic taste in my mouth because of it.
Actions have consequences, and their escapades cost Hinch and Luhnow their jobs. I would like for the players to apologize, but I don’t think they will, and I don’t expect it, and you shouldn’t either.
I’ve heard lots of people say that this goes on throughout baseball at every level by a lot of teams, but I’m not about to say that because I don’t know, and frankly, that would be, at some level, an excuse, and there is none for cheating.
If the Astros get an asterisk next to their WS title for stealing signs, shouldn’t the Yankees have one next to the ones they won because Roger Clemens pitched while he was using steroids? Of course not.
It’s going to be a rough season in Houston for us fans and for Dusty Baker, James Click, et. al.
Everyone speculates that road games will be hell for the Astros. Maybe they will, we’ll wait and see.
Good luck to all of your teams. Go Astros!!
Respectfully,
SL
.
I sympathize with the position you are in but don’t mistake the cheating of a couple players here and a couple players there with what the Astros did. The entire team including the staff and much of the roster conspired to implement a systematic cheating scheme that successfully resulted in stealing a World Series title. There is really no comp for this at all.
For every Astros fan like you, there are 200 who jumped on the bandwagon in recent years….and most of them have been insufferably arrogant about their “smart” and “well run” team.
Completely tired of hearing about the Astros.
This is how it’s going to be for a long time. The Garbage Pail Kids are now legendary.
That’s my new favorite nickname. Love it. I hope teams have “Garbage Pail Kids” promo’s when the Assterisks visit.
Houston Astros…. the embarrassment of MLB.
actually now the embarrassment is becoming toxic fans
A lot of these comments, especially the ones where people try to be edgy and joke, are pretty cringey. It’s ok to talk about the article, people. Maybe the ability for users to comment should be turned off for Astros-related articles.
The jokes about the Astros are edgy? Your not going to garner much sympathy from many people. Few people care less and quite frankly I cannot blame them. Sorry but that’s just being honest.
the worlds smallest violin concerto being played by Astros fans everywhere
So everyone should be censored because you are cringing or because your feelings are hurt? No this is something that definitely needs to be talked about. You don’t get to sweep this under the carpet because you don’t like the reality of the situation
@beisbolista Well said!
Just as long as you stop making stuff up. Then you’re crossing a line.
I just saw new GM Click over at Lowe’s. He was purchasing some new trash can lids. When I asked him what he was doing, he said something about improving the Astros’ starting rotation.
I don’t understand why Bregman and his smug face didn’t do well all post season. Was his buzzer broken? Chirinos abd Altuve did well. But Bregman was not. Alvarez didn’t use a buzzer either. The Bregman thing puzzles me.
Sorry. Stupid phone. Site would not let me delete the extras.
For everyone constantly saying the Astros hitters are going to be getting constantly hit by pitches all season MLB is not going to allow full scale retaliation on the Astros. Pitchers are not going to get a free pass for hitting Astros batters intentionally, they will still get ejected, fined, and suspended based on the situation.
This is MLB, not monday night Raw.
i think any pitcher making more than league minimum would gladly accept a find for putting one in Bregman or Altuve’s ear hole. they’re lucky that JV is on their team, or else he’d be the first to throw at them.
I think the fans will be way worse than the pitchers
You don’t joke about endangering a player’s life by throwing at their head. Its a universal fear and risk held by every single player, and shame on you for not having the common decency to respect that.
Maybe….but, then again, they won’t know when the fastball is coming this season…..
Oh Really?. Vince McMahon wants to buy The Astros and rename them Triple A’s
outsoon hustros.
Watching some of the 2017 WS today and I was surprised at how much I was disappointed that such a great game like that couldn’t erase what happened earlier in the season. I was surprised by my disdain for it.
Signed,
Atlanta Braves fan.
McCullers probably on an innings limit of 100 or so.
jeez I hope not, but odds are you’re right. I’d guess 150 including postseason. Hopefully it’ll be by an extra day of rest through the season, rather than being shut down in August.
I think Whitley will be up to take some of those innings sooner than later, if he does better in AAA early on.
Also Urquidy was on an innings limit last year, not sure if he will be this year too.
Bulsinger is suing Astros! $31MM+ all to charity!