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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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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