PRICE OF SUCCESS
Astros final embarrassment to Yankees hits New York right in the bottom line
Sep 15, 2023, 11:29 am
PRICE OF SUCCESS
There’s a sign outside Goode Company Bar-B-Q on Kirby that says, “You might give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars you’re in Texas.”
Especially if you’re a baseball fan. Because in Houston, and begrudgingly in Arlington, baseball is still a thing in September. It's not like that in other, less fortunate places.
I’m heading to New York City next weekend for the Feast of San Gennaro celebration. That’s when they block off streets in Little Italy for one of the world’s great food events. Italian restaurants line the sidewalks with carts selling pizza, sausage and pepper sandwiches, calzones, gelato, cannolis, and zeppoles, those deep-fried Italian donut balls that make you stagger back to your hotel for a nap.
While I’m up there, I figured I’d go to a Yankees game. The Bombers are home that weekend against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since the Yankees are averaging 41,054 fans this year, I figured my best chance of getting a good ticket was on StubHub or another secondary market site.
I’ll say.
I checked availability on StubHub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek. There were thousands, no exaggeration, thousands of previously purchased tickets for re-sale, as cheap as $4. Yeah, Yankees fans have given up on their team. They’re unloading their bought tickets for peanuts - pennies on the dollars. You can attend a Bronx Bombers game in once-imposing Yankee Stadium for cheaper than a medium Fluffernutter Blizzard at Dairy Queen.
Photo by Ken Hoffman.
Most of the $4, $5 and $6 Yankees tickets are in the upper deck and bleachers. But at those prices, I can get closer to the action. I wound up buying a front row ticket in the mezzanine for $24. The original price of that ticket was $138.50. Plus the fan giveaway for my game is a Yankees fleece vest. I’d be losing money if I didn’t go to the Yankees game.
I paid extra for my ticket because, it doesn’t matter what level I’m on, I love the front row. You get an unobstructed view of the field. More important, nobody can stand up in front of you. I'd rather be in the front row of the bleachers or sitting in front of my TV than somewhere in the middle of field level.
Example: a couple of years ago, I was invited to an Astros game - second row field level behind first base. Fantastic seat, I thought. I'm in. Then the guy in the front row directly in front of me decided he would stand practically the whole game. When I asked why he needed to stand despite no one in front of him, he went all David Puddy ("gotta support the team") on me and said a real fan stands and lame people sit. Thanks, Puddy buddy.
The Houston Astros happen to be at home in Minute Maid Park the same night I’ll be at Yankee Stadium. Cheapest ticket on the secondary market at Minute Maid Park - $37, nearly 10 times more expensive than the Yankees game.
My ticket at Yankee Stadium - $24. An equivalent ticket on the secondary market at Minute Maid Park - $179. Bottom line: in September secondary market Yankees tickets sell for less than face value. Secondary market Astros tickets sell for more than face value.
Of course the Yankees are yesteryear’s news playing out the schedule, while the Astros are a modern-day dynasty playing meaningful games. You get what you pay for.
The Astros closed out their latest road trip with a winning record, a feat made more impressive considering the turbulence at the back of the rotation. Brandon Walter and Ryan Gusto both endured rough outings, with Walter in particular getting tagged hard. Still, Houston salvaged the finale, thanks largely to Mauricio Dubón’s breakout performance. The utilityman launched two home runs to power an offense that’s quietly been heating up for weeks.
But even with a solid finish, not everything is trending upward.
Josh Hader, who’s been one of the game’s most reliable closers this season, has begun to show signs of vulnerability. He’s allowed a home run in three of his last six outings. While his overall numbers remain strong, the long ball—a problem that plagued him last year—is starting to creep back into the picture.
As the Astros return home, the schedule offers no breather. They’ll face the Phillies and Cubs before a brief trip to Colorado to take on the struggling Rockies. After that comes a marquee series against the defending champion Dodgers in Los Angeles. With three of their next four opponents being legitimate World Series threats, the coming stretch looms large.
Can the bats keep pace?
If the last month is any indication, the Astros have reason to feel optimistic. Christian Walker has started to show signs of life after a quiet start to the season, hitting .260 with a .762 OPS and five home runs over the past 30 days. José Altuve has been scorching with a .302 average and .901 OPS in that span, while Jeremy Peña has taken things to another level, batting .384 with a 1.009 OPS.
As a team, the Astros rank 7th in OPS, 5th in runs, 3rd in batting average, and 7th in home runs over the last 30 days. It’s a surge that’s come at the right time—and one they’ll need to sustain.
The injury picture is also starting to shift in Houston’s favor.
Cristian Javier threw a 20-pitch live BP today in West Palm Beach. According to Joe Espada, he was up to 95 mph.
Luis Garcia should throw a live BP next week.
Spencer Arrighetti is still not throwing off a mound yet.
Yordan Alvarez has not resumed hitting.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 20, 2025
Joe Espada told The Athletic's Chandler Rome that Christian Javier recently threw a live batting practice session, touching 95 mph as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. JP France has thrown multiple live BPs and could be ready to help if things continue to progress with his shoulder. Luis Garcia, however, remains further away despite undergoing surgery more than two years ago. He's expected to throw a live BP this week.
Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) should be able to return in August, and Lance McCullers has resumed throwing and is currently on the 15-day IL with a foot sprain.
The Astros are winning. The offense is rolling. The reinforcements are on the way. But with a brutal stretch looming, the team’s margin for error is about to be put to the test.
There's so much more to cover! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
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