THE PALLILOG
Pallilo's View: Is there any reason left to watch the Texans?
Dec 15, 2017, 8:26 am
DeAndre Hopkins is on pace for a career year. Tim Warner/Getty Images
So what it would take for you to sit through three hours of watching the Texans at Jacksonville Sunday? For me a thousand dollars would definitely do it. OK, $250 would definitely do it for me. Since such an offer seems unlikely, skimming through the game in an hour or so via DVR will be punishment enough. The awful drudgery that the 2017 Texans devolved into is a reminder that while they were a mediocre squad the last three seasons, at least their games mattered in December. Part of the sadness with this team is that the Texans have hardly any young players developing in a way that makes you think “hey that guy might become really good!”
Over the last six seasons the Jaguars BEST record was 5-11. Combined record over the six: 22-74. Last season they were 3-13. The Jaguars clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Texans Sunday. Seems likely. The Texans offensive line is no better now than it was opening day when Calais Campbell played as if in his prime Deacon Jones and the Jags slapped the Texans silly. With a win Sunday, and if the Steelers beat the Patriots in Pittsburgh Sunday, the Jaguars take the inside track over New England for the number two seed in the AFC and the bye that comes with it. If that happens the Jacksonville Freaking Jaguars stand a good shot of beating the Pats.
If searching for a watchable angle over these last three Texans games, DeAndre Hopkins needs 24 receptions and 289 receiving yards to establish new career highs in each category. Hopkins already has 11 touchdown catches this season, his second 11 TD catch season. Andre Johnson never caught 10 in a season.
Black out?
If you are reading this before the Rockets-Spurs game Friday night, take a gold star out of petty cash. If reading at some point after, you are still very much appreciated. An odd Rockets’ choice to declare this their first Black Out Night. I presume they know that black is one of the Spurs’ team colors. The color the Spurs wore here last May in administering the most embarrassing loss in Rockets’ history, the 114-75 game six humiliation to end their Western Conference Semifinal series.
Arms race
The Astros’ signing of reliever Joe Smith this week wasn’t a headline grabber but was an excellent addition. Major League Baseball is flush with cash so two years $15 million dollars for a set up reliever is not an overpay. Smith turns 34 before Opening Day but has been solid for years. He has two calling cards: 1. His sidearm delivery is extremely tough on righthanded hitters, and 2. He is married to SEC on CBS sideline reporter Allie LaForce. Over his career Smith has yielded a puny .586 OPS to righthanded hitters. The Yankees now may have the most powerful righthanded trio ever assembled in Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez. The Astros adding Smith isn’t a direct response to that, but they certainly are aware. In 2017 Smith pitched 54 innings, walking only 10 while striking out 71. It appears Ken Giles will get the opportunity to bounce back from his worse than brutal postseason. Smith joins Chris Devenski, Will Harris, and Joe Musgrove as certain pieces of the Astros’ pen. Francis Martes, a lefty to be determined, and the sixth starting pitcher (meaning the one who doesn’t make the rotation if all are healthy to start the season) should round it out.
Sign of the times
Ominous sign against Dallas Keuchel being an Astro for life with his change of representation to Scott Boras. Keuchel turns 30 New Year’s Day. If the Astros can’t work out an extension with him this winter, Keuchel hits the open market after the coming season. With a healthy and solid 2018 campaign Keuchel could be looking at five years $125 million. Would the Astros go there? Marwin Gonzalez also switched to Boras. Marwin is highly likely entering his last season as an Astro. Also in the Boras/Astros portfolio are Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers.
The race is on...sort of?
The Angels, Mariners, and Rangers have all made multiple moves. None is anywhere close to having the look of a legit challenger to Astros AL West supremacy. Now, if one of them trades for Manny Machado…
Bowled over
With the college football bowl season kicking off Saturday, which of the six games excites you most? The correct answer is none of them. If forced to choose, I’m going with the Las Vegas Bowl. Not that Oregon vs. Boise State does the slightest for me, but at least the game is in Las Vegas.
Buzzer Beaters
1. Still waiting on the Texans owning up to wasting 50 million dollars for their retractable roof. 2. Waiting for Godot was more fruitful. 3. Best Star Wars movies: Bronze- The Empire Strikes Back Silver- Return of the Jedi Gold-Star Wars. I haven’t seen the other 37.
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How Houston Rockets hold the cards for a franchise-changing summer
May 8, 2025, 5:45 pm
In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
We have 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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