RIPPLE EFFECT
How Astros pitching infusion has sparked fascinating chain reaction
Aug 3, 2023, 4:25 pm
A lot can happen in a matter of days. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images.
From the moment the Astros announced that Justin Verlander was returning to the scene of his greatest glory …
Framber Valdez pitched a near-perfect no-hitter, the Astros completed a sweep of the pesky Guardians, and the Astros now are betting favorites to plunder the American League and everything else that stands in their way.
I’m not saying the Verlander trade is partly responsible for the Astros resurgent rise to dominance … I’m saying it’s 100 percent responsible.
In a matter of 48 hours, the Astros jumped to 11-2 odds to win the World Series, passing the temporarily first-place Rangers who are now 17-2 to win the title.
B.V.T. (before Verlander trade) Astros fans wondered if the team had enough pitching to go deep in the playoffs. Well, if memory serves, Valdez won two games and Verlander one in last year’s World Series. Yeah, the Astros have enough pitching.
These are the dog days of summer baseball, when players typically drag their butts through July and August of an interminable season. Not in Houston.
You think the Astros aren’t sky high heading into New York for a four-game series against the Yankees? Did you catch Alex Bregman’s interview after hearing that Verlander was coming back? I’ve seen less excited Mega Millions winners.
While Mets and Yankees fans are wringing their hands and signing up for grief counseling, Astros fans are putting in for vacation time in October.
Think how fans in New York feel (not that we care). After winning 101 games last year, the Mets signed Verlander and welcomed the 2023 season with high hopes and the highest payroll in baseball history. Mets fans were stoked. The team sold out their allotment of season tickets, and charged record prices for individual game tickets. World Series or bust!
Bust! The Mets are now the GOAT of disappointing teams. They just unloaded most of the high-priced talent that spurred ticket sales. A departing pitcher squealed he was told the team is officially in rebuild mode and doesn’t expect to win until 2026. Fans are disgusted with the team and once-precious tickets are going for peanuts.
You want to go to Citi Field for the Pirates-Mets game on Aug. 16? The giveaway that night is Max Scherzer Sunglasses. You can get reserved seat tickets for $4 and there’s plenty available on the secondary market. Oh, the irony.
Because it’s the fans’ job to complain about something no matter how good times are, some Astros fans’ panties are in a bunch because the manager continues to play a puny-hitting catcher over a promising rookie. Why is he still playing a left fielder who seemingly hasn’t had a hit since Verlander’s first time around in Houston. And did we make a mistake trading two prospects for a 40-year-old pitcher?
Answer: the Astros absolutely did the right thing sending two coveted minor leaguers to the Mets for Verlander. Ever hear the expression, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? In baseball, prospects are two in the bush.
Verlander, after a slow start, is one of the hottest pitchers in the league. Plus his presence in the clubhouse is immeasurable. He’s here to win games and drive the Astros to another World Series, like he’s done twice before. He’s here to mentor rookie Hunter Brown. He’s here to fill the remaining empty seats at Minute Maid Park. He’s here to light up Houston.
On top of all that, the Met’s are paying a big chunk of Verlander’s salary. The 2022 Cy Young winner is a bargain.
Most important, the Astros clubhouse is a happy place. Unlike some other cities, Astros players and fans don’t wonder if the owner really truly, deep down, wants to win. Owner Jim Crane craves winning, and he’s putting the Mets’ money where his mouth is.
As for the prospects headed to New York, what’s that mean for the Astros’ future? We’ll worry about tomorrow … tomorrow. Right now the Astros are focused on winning the 2023 World Series and cementing their legacy as a modern baseball dynasty.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.
It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?
Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.
After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.
The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.
X-factors
The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.
If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!