Coming into the season, one of the areas of the club the Astros were hoping would improve was the play at first base. Jose Abreu finished the 2023 regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball among qualified players.

However, he did play well in the postseason. So fans were holding out hope we would see that version of Abreu in 2024.

Unfortunately, Abreu has done little to make people believe he'll be any better this season.

And the Astros appear to be in denial about the reality of the situation with this continued nonsense about the back of his baseball card. Manager Joe Espada brought this up once again after the Astros were swept by the Braves.

If we're going to keep talking about baseball cards, then we have to accept this. The back of his card also shows how bad he was in 2023, and his age.

To be clear, we don't have any issue with the Astros having their player's backs. But this baseball card stuff has to stop. It's insulting to the fans. There are other ways to discuss a slumping player.

Be sure to watch the video above as ESPN Houston's John Granato and Lance Zierlein react to the Abreu situation.