THE PALLILOG
Texans' latest move shows us exactly what they have planned for this season
Sep 10, 2021, 9:54 am
The Texans traded their best corner to the Saints this week. Composite image by Jack Brame.
2021 Houston Texans Football: Here Goes Nothing! Not their chosen marketing slogan as the Texans enter their 20th season, but it could have been. Nothing in terms of expectations. Nothing in terms of anything to be excited about. Unless maybe their new animatronic bull head gets your juices flowing? It's no fun as a fan grinding through a season where losing benefits future seasons than winning week to week does good in the current season, but that's the Texans' reality. Being a spunky squad that overachieves to finish 7-10 or something would only damage their draft slotting next spring when the Texans finally again have their full complement of top picks. Bumbling to 3-14 and having the first pick or darn close to it is best.
Trading off the best of their underwhelming cornerbacks is further proof that the Texans want to lose quite regularly this season. They should be up (down?) to the challenge! In agreeing to pay the bulk of his salary in dealing Bradley Roby to the Saints, the Texans essentially bought a third round draft pick for seven million dollars.
As the Texans open their season Sunday at NRG Stadium vs. the Jaguars, healthy, under contract, obvious best player on the team Deshaun Watson begins collecting approximately 600 thousand dollars per week to not play. Theatre of the absurd.
As sign of the times, the Jaguars are three point road favorites Sunday coming off a 2020 season in which they won opening day then lost their remaining 15 games.
Astros' magic number
For the eleventh time this season, the Astros start a series having just missed an opportunity to sweep a three or four game series by losing the finale. That's an oddly high number, but means the Astros won those eleven series in addition to the ones they have swept this season. At 81-58 they're on pace to win 94 games and closing in on their fourth American League West title in five years. Their magic number to clinch over both Seattle and Oakland is 18. So barring a major collapse, the Astros' real race now is holding off the White Sox for home field advantage in their highly likely best of five AL Division Series matchup. The Astros enter the weekend a game and a half up on the ChiSox and hold the tiebreaker. Of course the Astros can win without home field (see 2017 World Series), just as they can lose with home field (see 2019 World Series). You definitely want home field if you can get it. The White Sox are 46-24 in their ballpark this year, 34-36 everywhere else. At minimum, last licks is an advantage always preferable.
Astros and Angels this weekend at Minute Maid Park. While the Astros pursue another World Series run, the Angels as usual are playing out the string. Friday night it's Shohei Ohtani pitching (and hitting) for the Angels as he continues an unprecedented season. As Babe Ruth transitioned from a great pitcher to the most awesome offensive force in Major League history, he never spent a full season as both an everyday player and pitcher in the starting rotation. Ohtani is doing it and at exceptional levels on both fronts. His bat has faded since the All Star game, though he still leads the big leagues with 43 home runs, but his pitching has improved. Since the break in seven starts Ohtani is 5-0 with a 2.20 earned run average. The Angels are mediocre, but Ohtani is the best player in baseball this year and deserves the AL Most Valuable Player award.
NCAA
For most of the 20th century they were Southwest Conference rivals. In the not too distant future they will become Southeastern Conference rivals. Saturday, Texas and Arkansas play a mere non-conference game in Fayetteville. The Longhorns enter off of new Head Coach Steve Sarkisian's solid winning debut over Louisiana, the Razorbacks off of being tied starting the fourth quarter with Rice before scoring three touchdowns and winning 38-17. Almost seems too obvious that the Horns should hook the Hogs.
After the Houston Cougars' second half collapse against Texas Tech, Dana Holgorsen's record at UH sits at seven wins 14 losses. The Coogs make the shorter than five mile trip to Rice Stadium Saturday. The Owls might be frisky this season but a UH loss would be a state of the program embarrassment.
Buzzer Beaters
1. More fun: Having the Yankees continue falling apart and they miss the playoffs completely, or have them advance to the ALCS and lose again (whether to the Astros or White Sox)?
2. Tennis is a niche sport, but the U.S. Open has been sensational this year. If Novak Djokovic wins two more matches to take the men's title and win the Grand Slam it's the individual sporting achievement of the year. On the women's side, British 18-year-old Emma Raducanu had to win three qualifying matches to even make the main draw. She's ranked 150th in the world with career earnings of about $300,000. Saturday she plays for the title against 73rd ranked Canadian Leylah Fernandez who turned 19 Tuesday with career earnings of about 800K. The loser Saturday cashes a check for 1.25 million. The winner, 2.5 mil.
3. Texans' final record prediction if these are the only options: Bronze 0-17 Silver 6-11 Gold 3-14
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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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