PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING
Here’s further proof that Houston Astros have beaten their haters into submission
Sep 20, 2022, 1:27 pm
The Astros won the AL West. Again! Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The Houston Astros clinched their fifth American League West Championship in the past six seasons on Monday when they defeated Tampa Bay 4-0.
Houston’s success the past few years include a World Series championship, three AL championships and five straight ALCS appearances. The Astros are almost guaranteed to be the No. 1 seed in the AL again this postseason. However, the Astros’ success has been long overshadowed by the sign stealing scandal in 2017.
Despite the public backlash, loss of key players and change in leadership, there has been one constant — Houston keeps winning. With yet another season in which the Astros dominated the AL West, it looks like the team is beginning to give outsiders no choice but to acknowledge that they are just that good. 2017 was not an aberration. It was the beginning, and national media is catching on.
In an article from Deadspin’s Sam Fels, he brought up what Astros fans know more than anyone else. When the team has success, and posts about it on social media specifically, people are quick to dismiss it due to the five-year-old cheating scandal.
The irony is that Houston was not alone in stealing signs, which Fels mentioned. Both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have been linked to doing similar deeds. Boston even brought back their manager after he was punished for it. The difference, however, is that the Astros have never fallen off the mountain top.
Five straight seasons have seen Houston make it to the ALCS, which might just have to be renamed the Astros invitational at some point. Not even the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the closest team that has mirrored the Astros’ success can boast that in the National League.
Houston’s done it with the core that won the 2017 World Series, and they’ve done it with new players too. Trey Mancini, who only recently joined the Astros at the trade deadline, told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart the team’s culture is just different.
Everyone wants their team to be the Astros, that’s what everyone is really angry about, Fels said in his article. Deadspin is one of the first, and if Houston keeps winning, other national outlets, even those based in Los Angeles and New York, will have no choice but to acknowledge that as well.
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Astros GM Dana Brown joined the Astros flagship on Wednesday and discussed several trending topics impacting the club right now.
Are they open to changing the batting order?
It's no secret Alex Bregman is off to another slow start. But how much longer can you bat a guy at cleanup who has 5 RBIs and no home runs on the season? When asked about it, Brown sounded open to the idea of moving Bregman until he starts heating up.
“Yeah, I think at some point Joe will make an adjustment there,” said Brown. Overall though, he sounds more concerned with the team's inability to hit with runners in scoring position. He's not happy with the quality of their at-bats in critical situations. He also made it clear that Espada is in charge of the lineup, just like Dusty Baker was before him.
That didn't take long!
The Astros lineup has been released for game two against the Cubs. Notice Bregman is hitting second and Yordan Alvarez is batting third.
The Astros against Jameson Taillon: Altuve 4, Bregman 5, Alvarez 7, Tucker 9, Diaz DH, Peña 6, Singleton 3, Caratini 2, Meyers 8
Arrighetti RHP
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 24, 2024
Injury updates
Cristian Javier heading to the IL was a “cautionary” move with the team having so many days off. Brown said Javier missing only two starts felt like the smart move. Pitching him too soon in a cold environment like Chicago felt too risky. And Framber Valdez could return to the rotation after the series in Mexico City.
Jose Abreu can't be the best option at first base
Brown addressed the Abreu situation just like Espada did on Tuesday. They both talked about “mixing and matching” and how they've already done some of that this year. But Abreu was in the lineup again on Tuesday, and once again did not record a hit. You have to wonder if Espada and Brown are being pressured to start Abreu. But then again, Brown made it clear that the guys getting opportunities when Abreu sits, aren't coming through either. He's not wrong. Singleton is getting the start on Wednesday, and Dubon (who has the third-most RBIs on the team) is sitting once again.
Is there any accountability for players that don't perform?
Brown responded by saying, “I do think these guys are taking this seriously.” He also mentioned there are some players in the minors playing well, and at some point they'll have to make a move. “There's some urgency in that respect,” said Brown. This comment applied to both position players and pitchers. Which makes me think JP France better get things going. Dana said in passing several times that you're not giving your team a legit chance to win by allowing five runs in the first inning. Even if you do settle down over the next few innings.
Playing with a sense of urgency
Brown was asked if the team's approach would be the same if they were 5.5 games back with only 30 games left to play. This response was very interesting.
He said, “Dubon would sneak in there a little more” and they would play the guys that are more consistently producing. That statement made me feel much better. Brown and Espada see the same things we see. Dana pointed out that you try to give your best hitters a chance to get going early in the year. If that doesn't work, you look for other options. Clearly, the Astros aren't to the point in the season when winning each game is the top priority. The MLB season is a marathon.
“You can't start sprinting too early,” said Brown. If the Astros were in a better division, you wonder if they would feel differently. They keep saying they're only 5.5 games back in the division, which is true. But he never mentioned that the team is ten games under .500.