An unexpected shakeup to get the Houston Astros off the mat
STONE COLD 'STROS
17 October 2023
The Houston Astros quickly find themselves down 2-0 to the Rangers in the American League Championship Series, so there's no more margin for error.
Manager Dusty Baker needs offense in the worst way heading to Arlington, and so far Yordan Alvarez has been mostly the sole source of runs for the club. Over two games, the Astros have only scored 4 runs, so that has to change and change fast, unless we expect Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy to dominate in Games 3 and 4.
So how do they get the bats going?
First, playing Michael Brantley in every game going forward feels like a must (health permitting). He's one of the four players on the team with a batting average over .300 in this postseason.
Another possibility is using Mauricio Dubon over Chas McCormick. McCormick has struggled in some big at-bats this series, but he's also one of the four players hitting over .300 this postseason, along with Dubon, Yordan, and Uncle Mike who we mentioned above.
And of course, the debate we've had all season. Down 2-0 and needing offense, should the Astros go to Yainer Diaz over Martin Maldonado? While Yainer is no doubt the better hitter than Maldy, he is 0-10 with 5Ks this postseason.
Framber Valdez is another situation to monitor. If the Astros reach a Game 6, should the club at least consider starting JP France over Framber based on his struggles?
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down!
And for all your Astros coverage, watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) on SportsMap Houston's YouTube channel.
Examining all the reasons to believe the Rockets aced the offseason
Jul 2, 2025, 4:31 pm
The Houston Rockets are reshaping their roster in real time — and we’re breaking it all down. In just 24 hours, the team has added Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, moves that mark a clear shift in direction under Ime Udoka. With Finney-Smith in, Dillon Brooks is out — but is this a swap that actually makes Houston better?
In this episode, we dive deep into what these signings mean for the Rockets’ identity and future. Is Finney-Smith a cleaner fit in Udoka’s system than Brooks ever was? Are these aggressive contracts smart bets or future burdens? And what does all this say about the organization’s faith in its young core — from Amen Thompson to Alperen Sengun?
We also look ahead. Is this offseason already a win, or are more moves — like a Kevin Durant extension or Cam Whitmore trade — still on the table? Let’s talk about where the Rockets stand now, and where they could be headed next.
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