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The Rockets are an organization in a bit of turmoil right now. They've tried and failed the last few years to defeat the Warriors. The trade for Chris Paul and experiment of pairing him with James Harden appears to have fallen apart given the rumors of tension between the two. General manager Daryl Morey has been dangling every player that doesn't wear a number 13 jersey in the trade market. He also did a press tour to downplay the CP3/Harden alleged beef. Couple that with the fact that the Rockets are known for sending reports to the league on their losses and complaining when things don't go their way
They lived up to said reputation after Harden came in second to Giannis Antetokounmpo for league MVP this year.The team's verified Twitter account sent a tweet expressing their disappointment with Harden not winning. It amounted to reasons why Harden should've won instead of The Greek Freak. This was yet another chapter in why people think the Rockets are the annoying little brother of the NBA. It got me to thinking: what if the Rockets were a person and handled real life situations the way they handle rejection? Here's what I came up with:
A cheating partner/spouse
Look, I'm not even that mad. Over the year we've been together, you've gained too much weight, your cooking is terrible now, and you're about as clean as pig sty. Besides, I've been in talks with several other suitors to trade you in for the 2020 version and a future first rounder.
Getting exposed after sliding into Tim Donaghy's DMs
I never slid into Donaghy's DMs! This is ridiculous! I was clearly hacked. I would never DM someone like this! (sees screenshots of the DMs) This is Adam Silver's fault. Had he simply reversed the decision of the game after we submitted evidence of impropriety, we wouldn't have been this desperate to allegedly DM Donaghy. I only did so as a fact-finding mission to get his thoughts on officiating after our unfortunate game 7 loos to the Warriors in the 2018 Western Conference Finals because there's clearly an agenda in favor of the Warriors.
Getting a disconnect notice for the electric bill
Guys, can you work with me here? I'm trying to deal with the mortgage, home insurance, several car payments, and all the other bills. I tell you what, I'll give you half of the bill now and 10% of the remaining balance every other month over the course of ten months along with the bill due each month.
Car shopping
I see the sticker price and I know the deal you said you can give me as far as a discount is concerned. What I want to know is are you willing to take this 1978 Datsun pickup, the 1966 Mustang, $300 dollars, and a monthly payment of $124.62 for 120 months for this 2019 sports car? With some work on the rust spots, a new interior, new seats, and a new engine, the pickup and Mustang will be worth more because they're classics! I'm giving you a steal of a deal here!
As you can see, I think the way this organization handles things is a complete joke. From the way they make excuses for screwups, to the way they coddle players, even the way they go about making trades. The Rockets are like the entitled kid who grew up privileged and believes they should always get their way no matter what. They feel as though they're the smartest person in every room (Morey) and can out-think any and everyone. That is until they've backed themselves into a corner (Chris Paul and Clint Capela contracts) and can't find a way out. The constant excuse making, placing blame, and crying over spilled milk has gotten really old. It's time for them to put on their big boy underwear and get to work. Accept your successes and failures with the same energy. Some things you won't be able to change, and the things you can, do so positively. Here's to hoping the Rockets will grow up and finally act their age instead of pissing the bed and blaming their parents.
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The Astros are making noise again — not by bludgeoning teams with a powerhouse offense, but by grinding through games and getting elite production from a patched-together pitching staff. It’s a testament to their depth and resilience that they went 4-2 on a tough road trip while averaging just 3.6 runs per game. Even more impressive? The staff allowed just 2.3 runs per game during that stretch.
It’s fair to be impressed. This is a team still missing key pieces and leaning heavily on unproven arms, yet they’ve built a 2.5-game lead over Seattle in the AL West. If the rotation keeps performing like this, that cushion might not just hold through the All-Star break — it could grow.
Houston's pitching has been the great stabilizer. The Astros rank 1st in strikeouts, 9th in ERA, 4th in WHIP, and 2nd in batting average against. The numbers aren’t carried solely by the stars either. Youngsters like Brandon Walter and Colton Gordon have stepped in admirably. Walter has allowed just two runs combined across his first two starts (6 IP and 5 IP), while Gordon has quietly gone five innings in three straight outings, giving up 1, 4, and 3 runs. Ryan Gusto has been inconsistent — failing to get through five innings in his last three starts — but has kept the damage manageable (3, 2, and 2 runs in those outings).
Meanwhile, the top of the rotation has been lights out. Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown have become one of the most dominant 1-2 punches in baseball, and Lance McCullers Jr. is starting to look like a real contributor again. It’s a staff carrying the team while the bats slowly try to catch up.
That offense, while mediocre overall — 15th in OPS, 20th in runs, 19th in homers, and 18th in slugging — has shown signs of life in recent days. Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers have provided much-needed sparks. Peña is hitting .370 over the past week with an .851 OPS, while Meyers has been even hotter, posting a .381 average and .934 OPS.
The biggest news off the field this week was the potential end of the Forrest Whitley era. The former first-round pick was designated for assignment, a move that answers an early-season question: Who’s more likely to contribute this year — Whitley or McCullers? The answer is now clear.
Whitley’s DFA also serves as a reminder that not even elite GMs like Jeff Luhnow are immune to draft misses.
The Astros' last four first-round picks of the Jeff Luhnow era show how much of a crapshoot drafting can be.
2016: Forrest Whitley
2017: J.B. Bukauskus
2018: Seth Beer
2019: Korey Lee
Bukauskus and Beer did help land Zack Greinke, which certainly can be justified.
— Greg Rajan (@GregRajan) June 8, 2025
As the Houston Chronicle's Greg Rajan points out, Luhnow’s final four first-round picks with Houston all fell short: Whitley (2016), J.B. Bukauskas (2017), Seth Beer (2018), and Korey Lee (2019) have yet to become meaningful pieces for any club. The draft remains a gamble — even for the best.
Still, the Astros are finding answers. Despite an offense that’s still searching for consistency, their pitching — both from the top and the bottom of the depth chart — has been dominant. If that continues, this club won't just hold the lead. They’ll have momentum heading into July.
There's so much more to cover! 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!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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