THE PALLILOG
Texans path to securing top pick in draft is becoming clear
Dec 17, 2021, 10:15 am
The Texans need to keep losing and get some help from Detroit. Composite image by Jack Brame.
Why drafting outside the Top 5 isn't necessarily a bad thing for Texans
What a classic on tap Sunday in Jacksonville. If the tap is pouring bilge water. It's the 2-11 Texans at the 2-11 Jaguars in a matchup that as a start to finish proposition shouldn't even keep the attention of family and close friends. There is basically nothing interesting about the Texans, though Cameron Johnston continues to be the leading Pro Bowl vote getter among AFC punters! We are approaching the best part of this Texans' season: merciful conclusion. Not exactly a silver lining but at least here almost all of us knew the Texans had no chance to achieve even mediocrity this year. What is the prevailing sentiment in Jacksonville? Only the delusional had visions of Jags' glory in 2021, but at least there was optimism and curiosity around the hire of Head Coach Urban Meyer and the drafting of presumed franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Well, Lawrence is still there...
Jaguars owner Shad Khan firing Meyer in the early hours of Thursday morning and saying he'd have no further comment and face no questions until after the regular season is just one more page in an ownership book full of embarrassment. Meyer was his own undoing through a blend of megalomaniacal, stupid, and mere in over his head behavior. The Jaguars have clinched their 10th double digit defeats season in the last 11, nine of the ten have had at least 11 Ls. In what has to be considered a bizarre anomaly the 2017 Jaguars went 10-6, reached the AFC Championship Game, and led at New England by 10 points in the fourth quarter before the Patriots rallied to win. Thiiiiiis close to a Super Bowl that season, straight garbage for the Jags the six prior and now four since.
Yet, Lawrence's presence (for those who believe in him) makes Jacksonville an attractive job beyond the fact it's one of only 32 head coaching gigs. He has little quality around him but Lawrence's rookie campaign has been lousy. He is 28th in QBR (ESPN's better than the NFL's standard quarterback rating) among this season's 32 primary starting signal callers. The four worse are Jared Goff, Davis Mills, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson. All rookies except for Goff. Growing pains.
While there is no quarterback considered worthy of selection in the top few picks of this coming spring's NFL Draft, the Texans are still better off having as high a pick as possible. If the Texans can lose Sunday and drop the ensuing three games (definitely doable!) all they need is for Goff and the Detroit Lions to stumble into one more victory and the Texans get the first pick. The first pick in every round.
Rockets falling back to Earth
The Rockets' back-to-back not close losses to the Cavaliers and Knicks have their record at 9-20. They missed out on two chances to improve their winning percentage above .333 for the first time since they were 1-1. Saturday night they play at even worse Detroit. The Pistons have lost 13 straight and are 4-23. The Rockets need to be careful to not mix in too many victories. They currently have only the fifth worst record in the NBA. Keep that up and they'll be draft lottery longshots to wind up with a top three pick in a draft which at this point has three players considered the top tier of prospects. They are all freshmen: 6'10" Duke forward Paolo Banchero, Gonzaga seven foot 194 pounder Chet Holmgren, and the rising stock of the bunch 6'10" Auburn forward Jabari Smith.
Good news for the Aggies and Longhorns
If Jimbo Fisher never gets Texas A&M to the College Football Playoff (while it's four teams, the semifinals once the field inevitably expands) he will not have been worth his contract. To be determined how it plays out on the field, but Jimbo is recruiting at the necessary level as the Aggies won the mythical National Signing Day championship this week. Steve Sarkisian's UT class came in number five. Maybe the Longhorns can make a bowl next season!
Buzzer Beaters
1. The bloated college football bowl season is underway Friday with the Bahamas Bowl and the Cure Bowl. Toledo and Middle Tennessee State play on Nassau with Coastal Carolina and Northern Illinois meeting in Orlando. Bet you didn't know the Cure Bowl is in Orlando! Can you name any player to ever play for any of the four schools? It's not a quiz.
2. UH did not get jobbed with the no goaltending at the end of the Alabama game last Saturday. It may have been goaltending (though probably wasn't). It absolutely was not clearly goaltending. Be honest vehemently disagreeing Cougar fan. If the roles were reversed you'd be saying "Inconclusive! No way you can call goaltending!" The nature of fandom. Nonetheless, that was a tremendous college basketball game.
3. Best Will Ferrell movies: Bronze-Old School Silver-Anchorman Gold-Elf
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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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