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This answer to Astros recent struggles could be crazy enough to work

Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa celebrating in game one of the ALDS
If you've seen the movie Major League, you know where this is going. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images.
For all of the Astros uncertainties, you are their biggest of all

The Astros are doing Astro things as of late. If you're a true fan of the team, you know exactly what I mean. For the uninformed, they've been beating the good teams and losing to the bad teams. Over their last 10 games, they're 4-6 with two of those four wins coming against the Mariners who are 10 games above .500 on the season. Five of those six losses came against teams that are a combined 14 games under .500 on the season! This is the source of so much frustration for Astros fans. For a team that has the potential to win a World Series, they sure don't play like one when facing subpar competition. It's time we find a solution, and I think I got one!

If any of you remember the movie Major League, you have to remember the character Pedro Cerrano. He was the Cuban slugger that had trouble hitting the curveball. When in trouble, Cerrano would turn to Jobu, his voodoo doll that helped him out of any jam. Cerrano would drink Jobu's rum in an attempt to recover from whatever type of slump he was in. I think it's high time the Astros find their version of Jobu's rum, so they can break out of the doldrums of losing to teams they should beat up on.

The only question is: who's going to be the Astro to bring forth Jobu's rum and break them out of this vicious cycle? Alex Bregman may be one of the answers. He's been on the injured list and popping up here and there on social media, as well as in varying reports speaking on his potential return to the Astros' lineup. And now we know his first game back is against the Royals on Wednesday afternoon.

Perhaps Justin Verlander is feeling good enough to start to travel with the team and that gives them enough motivation to snap out of it. Verlander is recovering from offseason Tommy John surgery and has been out since last season. What if the future Hall Of Famer decided to be there for his teammates in person? I can't imagine the effect it would have on his teammates and coaching staff! While it would be a shot in the arm, it isn't as realistic as we'd all hope.

One other guy who's been seen as the face of the team has been Carlos Correa. He's been the defiant face of the franchise following the cheating scandal. He also took a leadership role during their improbable run in the 2020 playoffs. His contract demands may price him out of Houston this coming offseason, but he still wears orange and blue until this season is over and done with!

The most likely source of Jobu's rum for this Astros team is from within. Each player, coach, exec, field worker, front office staff, server, etc. will all have to step their game up a notch or ten. There is no more waiver wire trade deadline. There are no guys in the minors who have superstar potential to call up. There aren't any future Hall of Fame free agents sitting on their sofas awaiting a call. Getting fully healthy and developing consistency is this team's hope moving forward. Each man will have to look in the mirror and pull something from deep inside, as well as aiding others with doing the same. The sip of Jobu's rum will have to come from within those four walls in downtown at Minute Maid Park. Who's going to step up and provide that spark?

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Jake Meyers is the latest Astro to be rushed back from injury too soon. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

Houston center fielder Jake Meyers was removed from Wednesday night’s game against Cleveland during pregame warmups because of right calf tightness.

Meyers, who had missed the last two games with a right calf injury, jogged onto the field before the game but soon summoned the training staff, who joined him on the field to tend to him. He remained on the field on one knee as manager Joe Espada joined the group. After a couple minutes, Meyers got up and was helped off the field and to the tunnel in right field by a trainer.

Mauricio Dubón moved from shortstop to center field and Zack Short entered the game to replace Dubón at shortstop.

Meyers is batting .308 with three homers and 21 RBIs this season.

After the game, Meyers met with the media and spoke about the injury. Meyers declined to answer when asked if the latest injury feels worse than the one he sustained Sunday. Wow, that is not a good sign.

 

Lack of imaging strikes again!

The Athletic's Chandler Rome reported on Thursday that the Astros didn't do any imaging on Meyers after the initial injury. You can't make this stuff up. This is exactly the kind of thing that has the Astros return-to-play policy under constant scrutiny.

The All-Star break is right around the corner, why take the risk in playing Meyers after missing just two games with calf discomfort? The guy literally fell to the ground running out to his position before the game started. The people that make these risk vs. reward assessments clearly are making some serious mistakes.

The question remains: will the Astros finally do something about it?


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