The best thing for this franchise long term is to be out of the playoffs by the end of May. That will force the organization to trade their veterans coming up on FA to help rebuild the farm system more than getting a QO draft pick for watching them leave.
As long as you understand that it likely means 2-3 years of mediocrity, at least. You can't get rid of 4-5 all star talents, bring in young pre-prime talent and simply flip a switch. The 1991 Astros had Bagwell, Biggio, Caminiti, Gonzalez, Finley, Schilling, Harnisch, Kile, and DeShaies (along with cameos from Kenny Lofton and Mike Scott) and still finished with the worst record in the NL.
Same sentiment if the Astros were 35-25 by the end of May? Best thing is winning another championship this year. The current team is capable. Abreu is off the books end of next season and a prospect like Loperfido might perform.
Agreed if everyone gets healthy and is also effective once they return. But the above is an almost impossible expectation.
Not sure why everyone needs to be healthy and effective. There's 5 players when we only need 2 or 3. 1) JV and Framber or 2) JV or Framber + 2 others 3+ returning out of the 5, is gravy.
I am taking into account that a couple players that are effective and healthy now wont be by the time those guys get back. Not pessimism, just how things usually go.
The Astros have a loaded roster and can sustain injury or underperformance from several. The issue now is that all the injuries are pitchers. If Chas was hurt instead of Urquidy, or if Altuve was hurt instead of JV this team would be in much better shape. As long as 2 of JV, Framber, or Urquidy return before June and 1 of McCullers or Garcia can join by September the team should be fine even if another random starter or middle reliever gets hurt. Similarly, the team should be able to weather a couple of injuries to key position players simply because of the quality of the current starters even if the replacements have tons of questions. I sure hope they don't test my theory though.
Take into account Bregman, Tucker, and Chas won't be low-700 OPS guys this season too. We just need 2-3 injured starters out of FIVE to return and perform. I expect Blanco to regress, of course, because his current play is unsustainable -- but a 3.75 ERA seems feasible and would be highly acceptable. Javier is fully capable of a mid/high-2.00 ERA if he isn't pushed 90+ pitches like year's past. Hunter Brown can not continue sucking this bad, whether he's an effective starter or an effective multi-inning guy out of the bullpen. But even then, if enough starters return, it still might not matter. With all the potential starters, the key having a couple of them in the bullpen to eat innings. This will help sustain injuries to other pitchers from being overused and overworked. The possibility of starter-level long guys in the pen intrigues me. Astros were in desperate need of it last season. The offense will perform, even with an injury or two as long as other guys are mostly playing to their potential.
The biggest problem....more than the 4-10 start...is that they just flat out suck right now. If the record was an aberration it wouldnt be a problem. They are only 4 back in the loss column. Not a big deal with 148 games to go, but they suck.
Irrelevant. There are more post season spots than ever before. 2 most important things for the 2024 Astros. Today 1) JV has a healthy outing and makes progress, hopefully where he is chosen to rejoin the team next week. 2) Blanco completes at least 5 innings while giving up fewer than 5 runs. ( better is ideal but that would at least indicate he may be effective over an entire season in the rotation.
All I know is... my summer just freed up for more vacations And I picked a good year for my overseas trip in October
So... if fully healthy... the pitching staff would be incredible... Verlander Valdez Javier Blanco Garcia Urquidy Martinez France Montero Dubin Abreu Pressly Hader ...plus someone buried in the H
In a couple of weeks JV, Framber, Urquidy will be back, Put them with Javier, Blanco and the pitching will be fine. Gotta find a way to put J. Abreu on the DL and get Loperfido up. How long until his Super 2 period is up? Until then, they should call up a 3rd catcher and let Caratini play 1st.
