CASE CLOSED!

Here's the definitive case for which player Houston fans should boo the loudest

Here's the definitive case for which player Houston fans should boo the loudest
Who deserves the most heat? Composite image by Brandon Strange.

Which now-former Houston superstar athlete will hear the loudest boos the next time he comes to town with his new team?

Carlos Correa? James Harden? Deshaun Watson?

I’m thinking it will be James Harden. It should be Carlos Correa. Here’s why.

Harden demanded a trade from the Rockets because the team was in rebuild mode and that’s no place for one of the all-time great scorers in the second half of his career. Even though the Rockets made him one of the highest-paid players of all time, granted his every whim and pampered him like a teacher’s pet for eight seasons, Harden had good reason for wanting out. Great players want to play for contenders and the only thing missing from Harden’s resume was an NBA championship – which wasn’t going to happen in a Rockets uniform.

While Harden handled his final days in Houston poorly, pouting and causing a distraction, he forced what needed to be done. Harden is a strange cat and doesn’t possess the warmest personality. He was never embraced by fans like former Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Rudy Tomjanovich were.

Harden will be in the visiting team’s locker room when the 76ers play next season at Toyota Center. I expect a thunderous chorus of jeers when Harden is announced in the starting lineup, whenever he touches the ball and shoots his step-back 3. Rockets fans will scream “traveling!” Yeah, now it’s traveling.

Despite the Texans making Deshaun Watson one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks (at the time), it is understandable why he wanted to leave Houston. It’s important to note that Watson demanded a trade before he was accused of sexual misconduct by 22 masseuses and was put in timeout for the entire 2021 season. He was paid $10 million but had to be humiliated by the Texans’ decision not to play him. Please, somebody humiliate me like that.

Watson believes that the Texans promised to consult him on future front office and coaching hires – and then didn’t. We don’t know if that actually was the case, but Watson thinks the Texans lied to him. Reportedly he didn’t think the Texans did do enough to support cultural causes that Watson promoted. It was a bad employer-employee situation and sometimes it’s best for the employee to seek a new opportunity. Which Watson did. A better roster for more money in Cleveland.

It will be a scene when Watson and the Browns visit NRG Stadium next season. I expect Watson will hear a mix of cheers and boos. Football is different from baseball and basketball because football players don’t get singled out very much by the public address announcer. An All-Pro offensive lineman can play the best game of his career and never get mentioned once to the crowd. Watson won’t be introduced each time he takes the field.

Plus, if the Texans put up another stinker season, there won’t be that many fans in the stadium who care enough to boo Watson.

Now we come to Carlos Correa. I predict that the Astros will play a tribute video for him and the packed stadium will give him a standing ovation.

But why? Of the three departing stars, Correa was the most beloved and treasured. While Harden (wanted to play for a contender) and Watson (felt deceived by the owner) had understandable reasons for wanting to leave Houston, what was Correa’s reason? It would seem only one thing – money.

Correa was playing for a winner, the most dominant team in baseball over the last five years. Fans showered him with affection. His teammates loved him. He seemingly had a good relationship with ownership. He was on the road to being a Houston icon. A legend in the making.

And the moment he had a chance to leave Houston he was a goner.

It wasn’t like ownership told him to take a hike, the Astros offered him $160 million over five years, a respectable (I’d say) and prudent contract. Instead Correa took a 3-year deal with the Minnesota Twins for $105 million with opt-outs after the first and second year. I get it, he’s banking on having a sensational 2022 season, opting out and looking again for a long-term deal for more and more money. Betting on yourself is a wise strategy, especially with Correa’s talent, but please don’t write that open letter to Houston fans saying how much he loves them and the city. It’s coming.

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The injuries keep piling up for Houston.Composite Getty Image.

The Astros didn’t leave Seattle with a series win, but they may have gained something just as important: a reminder that resilience still runs deep in this group.

After a grueling extra-inning loss on Saturday, one that included the loss of Isaac Paredes to a hamstring injury, Houston regrouped on Sunday and hammered the Mariners 11-3. Christian Walker provided the turning point with a much-needed go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, while Taylor Trammell added a two-run double and a solo shot of his own. With Chas McCormick back from the injured list but still finding his footing, Trammell is quickly making his case as the best option in center field moving forward.

Manager Joe Espada continues to juggle a lineup that’s been in constant flux. Rookie Cam Smith, who had a clutch two-run double in Sunday’s win, has struggled as of late, going just 2-for his last 24. While his ability to get hits in clutch situations has been extremely valuable, the lack of a consistent spot in the batting order may be taking its toll. Giving Smith a stable home in the cleanup spot, even temporarily, might be a helpful reset.

Then again, the cleanup role hasn’t been kind to everyone.

 

Walker has been markedly less effective when hitting fourth this season, a trend that continues despite his strong Sunday performance. Sometimes, the data is clear: the four-hole might not be for him. He's literally been the worst cleanup option in baseball this season. Hit him fifth.

Behind the plate, Victor Caratini continues to impress, while Yainer Diaz is back in a cold stretch. Since the break, Diaz is just 1-for-14, raising questions about his timing and confidence as the summer grind deepens.

On the mound, the biggest developments are happening off the field. Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti both completed three-inning rehab outings with Double-A Corpus Christi, while Luis Garcia threw two innings in a rehab start with Low-A Fayetteville. The trio’s return could mark a major turning point for the Astros, especially as Lance McCullers continues to struggle in his own comeback. McCullers lasted just 2 2/3 innings in Saturday’s loss, allowing four runs and showing little of the form that once made him one of the rotation’s anchors.

There’s been hesitancy to replace McCullers with someone like Arrighetti while he’s still building back arm strength, but the argument grows thinner each time McCullers falters. If healthy, even a three- or four-inning version of Javier or Arrighetti could give Houston more consistency at the back of the rotation.

Despite the weekend loss, the Astros still hold one of the best offenses in baseball, second in batting average, 12th in OPS, and 11th in slugging. The pitching staff remains stout, ranking sixth in ERA and second in WHIP. This team is far from unraveling.

With reinforcements on the way and a lineup that’s still capable of putting up crooked numbers, the Astros aren’t panicking. If anything, Sunday’s blowout win showed they’re ready to weather whatever’s next.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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*ChatGPT assisted.

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