One important piece of the World Champion Houston Astros will not return for 2023
ASTROS NEWS
11 November 2022
Astros GM James Click will not return to the team.Photo by Harry How/Getty Images.
According to multiple reports, Astros GM James Click has turned down a 1-year contract and will no longer be the team's GM.
World Series-winning general manager James Click will not return to the Houston Astros after he rejected the team’s one-year contract offer.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 11, 2022
Jim Crane's 1-year offer to Click has been discussed for several days, and many fans were wondering how this would play out. Apparently, Crane was not willing to negotiate, and his offer was a final one.
Crane's resume as an owner has earned him the ability to make a move like this. He's the person who hired James Click, so hopefully he can find another quality GM to take his place. If the reports are true about his interest in the former Brewers head of baseball operations, the Astros may only be without a permanent GM for one year until David Stearns' contract with Milwaukee runs out.
Either way, I have a lot of respect for James Click declining the offer. No GM with his background should settle for a 1-year contract. Especially after going to back-to-back World Series and hoisting the championship trophy just days ago. Astros fans will just have to have faith in the process and hope things work out in the end.
One thing is clear about Jim Crane, he's not messing around. The offer is the offer. Just ask James Click and Carlos Correa.
The Houston Astros also fired assistant general manager Scott Powers, sources told ESPN. Powers was a former R&D executive with the Dodgers who was brought in as an AGM by James Click in January. Now Click and Powers are gone from the World Series champions on the same day.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 11, 2022
Editor's note: The Astros decided to part ways with assistant GM Scott Powers Friday afternoon.
How Astros surging ace raises key questions about Houston's short, long-term rotation moves
Jul 25, 2024, 5:39 pm
It's no secret to Astros fans that the ascension of Hunter Brown is one of the primary reasons the team was able to rebound from a disastrous start to the season.
Astros manager Joe Espada has seen enough from Brown to start throwing around the word “ace” when talking about him.
Joe Espada on Hunter Brown: "He's having that ace feeling to him. We are expecting him to go out there and deliver what he just did. We knew all along that is in him and now he's starting to turn the corner. He's starting to have that swag where he knows 'my team needs a win.'"
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 24, 2024
And it appears the biggest key to Brown's turnaround was mixing in a two-seam fastball to keep right-handed hitters honest. Brown needed a pitch that could command the inside of the plate, which allows his other pitches to be more effective.
We learned just recently, from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, that Alex Bregman was the one that suggested the addition of the two-seam fastball to Brown's arsenal.
Come to find out, Bregman often shares advice on how to attack hitters. Or he'll ask pitchers why they chose a certain pitch in a specific situation.
This just goes to show that veteran leadership can make a big difference. Especially on a team with so many young pitchers and catchers. Bregman was able to help Brown when no pitching coach could.
For Brown, this small tweak could be the catalyst that changes the course of his career. And the Astros season for that matter.
However, some will say the difference in Brown is more about confidence than anything else. But confidence only builds after repeated success. Nobody knows where Brown would be without the two-seam fastball.
Looking ahead
If the Astros do make the playoffs, where will Espada slot Brown in the playoff rotation? Framber Valdez has the playoff experience, so he'll probably be penciled in as the number one starter.
Justin Verlander (neck) still isn't facing live batters, so it's hard to count on him. Ronel Blanco has been an All-Star level pitcher this season, but he doesn't have any experience pitching playoff games for the Astros.
So it wouldn't be surprising at all if Brown is the team's number two starter. In all likelihood, whoever is pitching the best at the end of the season may get the nod. But it's fun to discuss in the meantime.
Finally, how does Hunter Brown's arrival impact the Astros' plans at the trade deadline? And how could that affect Justin Verlander's future with the club?
Be sure to check out the video above for the full conversation!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
