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4 specific ways the Astros are proving the haters wrong in 2021
Sep 15, 2021, 10:26 am
The Astros have a surplus of young talent. Composite image by Jack Brame.
The 2021 Astros season has been a bit of a ride so far. The start of the season saw this team being seen as a possible threat to make the ALCS, but were they seriously considered a World Series contender? There were holes on this roster that many thought would prevent them from reaching such lofty heights. To be more specific, it was the outfield depth, bullpen, and starting rotation. Those positions were the ones in which most people looked at with some trepidation going into this season. Fast-forward to 19 games left before the regular season ends, and the Astros are running away with the AL West, and are about four to five games behind the Rays for the overall lead in the AL. This turnaround can be attributed to those three key positions that were called into question when the season started, and what was believed to be a shaky minor league system.
Starting rotation
When you lose a guy like Justin Verlander for the season before it starts, it's a major blow to your starting staff. Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr were expected to be the leaders of the starting rotation. They have been pretty consistent and held things down, but there are other guys who've made positive impacts as well. Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, and Cristian Javier have all contributed to the success of this staff. Javier has been more of an arm out of the pen lately, but that doesn't diminish what he means to this staff. Valdez, Garcia, and Urquidy have all proven themselves worthy of holding down starting positions in this rotation.
Bullpen
One other area that was a red flag when the season stated was the bullpen. Javier has bounced between the bullpen and rotation, but settled as a long relief guy lately. When they added Phil Maton and Kendall Graveman to the bullpen through trades, it changed the way we see the bullpen altogether. No longer do fans fear a small lead. Instead, they patiently wait for what's to come. Usually, it's another Astros win. Occasionally, there have been some letdowns, but not nearly as often as it was earlier in the season.
Outfield
Once upon a time, Myles Straw was a thing in the outfield. Since then, Jose Siri and Jake Meyers have made names for themselves. Straw was seen as a sacrificial lamb of sorts in the Maton trade. Since Meyers has lived up to the hype, and Siri has played well in limited action, Straw has been a forgotten man. While Michael Brantley, Kyle Tucker, and Chas McCormick have held it down, the new guys are giving the outfield an infusion of youth.
Farm system
Another thing that has stuck out to me is how some of these guys have been promoted from what was once considered a dwindling cesspool of a minor league system. Hailed as one of MLB's most promising a short time ago, the Astros' minor leagues have been raided to keep their run as a dynasty alive. With a ring in hand and another World Series appearance to show, I consider it worth it. With this team on the verge of prolonging said dynasty, I'm also for whatever keeps it going. Whether it's trading the future for a chance to win now, or getting young guys playing time now who'll be a part of something long term, I'm here for that as well. The minors weren't as devoid of talent as once was thought. General manager James Click isn't a hapless bum scrambling to fill Jeff Luhnow's shoes. This team has what it takes to win it all and still compete for years to come!
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After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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