TESTING LOYALTY
Paul Muth: Astros decision makes it tough on hardcore fans
Jul 31, 2018, 8:54 pm
The Osuna case is hard on Astros fans. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
Sport is typically utilized by many as an escape from reality. For most, the team logo can do no wrong and it's safe to blindly throw loyalty behind it.
As times change, so to does society's collective morality and code of ethics. We have learned through test cases in recent years, however, that sports franchises aren't as quick to evolve.
It's at this crossroads that the Baltimore Ravens found themselves at in 2014 with running back Ray Rice, who was caught on camera brutally assaulting his then fiancee in an elevator. The NFL levied a whole two-game suspension before the court of public opinion altered the verdict to an indefinite suspension.
The Dallas Cowboys then found themselves under similar scrutiny upon signing defensive end Greg Hardy, who was found guilty of domestic abuse in 2014. “America's team” weathered a firestorm of public ire as a result, and the Cowboys chose not to resign at the season's end.
There have been other instances of accused abusers continuing to remain gainfully employed since then. There’s Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, boxer Floyd Mayweather, and plenty others that may or may not surprise you. The one common theme of them all is that there is a proportional ratio in regards to talent vs acceptable malfeasance threshold. The more talented you are, the more willing a team -- despite its fan base’s majority stance -- is willing to take a chance on you, despite being a despicable human being.
The Houston Astros took one of those very chances on Monday by trading maligned relief pitcher Ken Giles and prospects to the Toronto Blue Jays for Roberto Osuna. Osuna, who looks to compete for the Astros closer role, is currently serving the tail end of a 75-game suspension that was handed down after a domestic violence incident in May. He will be eligible to play Aug. 5. The move has suddenly taken an issue that Houston fans have been able to casually observe and remark upon from a distance and dropped it right in their lap.
Astros-mania, following their 2017 World Series victory, is at an all time high. The stadium is fuller, the lines are longer, and orange shirts and jerseys have become far more prevalent in day-to-day passing. Now new fans and old alike are found in the same predicament: remain loyal to their team logo, or admit that maybe their team shouldn’t hitch their wagon to anything that remotely insinuates a lackadaisical stance regarding premiere athletes physically abusing women.
The issue is no longer one that can be debated from a safe distance. Houston fans were quick to point at the failings of the Cowboys organization for their signing of Hardy. Now that an almost identical situation has been set at the Astros’ doorstep -- on their own volition -- suddenly those same fans have taken a much softer approach.
“Innocent until proven guilty.”
“The front office did their research.”
These are real statements that have been tossed out in order to allow fans to put their ear muffs on and continue blindly watching their team while a massive black eye encircles Minute Maid Park. That type of hypocrisy based on proximity is absolutely unacceptable and should not be tolerated. Winning is important. But winning at the expense of conscience and credibility is worth taking pause over.
You can remain a good, moral human being and still enjoy your Astros. That’s entirely possible and acceptable. In doing so, however, it’s imperative to recognize that no win total or trophy can or should serve as a placeholder for an ethical approach to team-building. Root for your team, but also acknowledge that this move was a mistake, no matter how good Osuna is.
He may turn out great. For all anyone knows, he may be the one piece that moves Houston over the edge this season en route to another World Series victory. If that moment comes to pass, I will certainly be elated. Nothing Osuna accomplishes on a baseball diamond, however, will alter my opinion of him or cause me to defend any of his actions. Develop or maintain a zero tolerance threshold for domestic violence and do not defend a woman beater simply because he joined your favorite team.
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With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.