Despite finishing under .500 during the regular season, the Astros made their fourth straight trip to the American League Championship Series in 2020. The Rays denied them a World Series berth, though, and the Astros have since lost one of their longtime stars to free agency.
Major League Signings
- Michael Brantley, OF: Two years, $32MM
- Jake Odorizzi, RHP: Three years, $23.5MM (third year is a player option)
- Pedro Baez, RHP: Two years, $12.5MM
- Jason Castro, C: Two years, $7MM
- Ryne Stanek, RHP: One year, $1.1MM
- Total spend: $76.1MM
Trades And Claims
- Acquired C Luke Berryhill from the Reds for LHP Cionel Perez
- Acquired cash from the Reds for RHP Brandon Bailey
- Claimed INF Robel Garcia from the Angels
Notable Minor League Signings
Extensions
- None
Notable Losses
- George Springer, Josh Reddick, Roberto Osuna, Chris Devenski, Dustin Garneau, Chase De Jong, Jack Mayfield, Humberto Castellanos, Cy Sneed, Rogelio Armenteros, Carlos Sanabria
The biggest question the Astros faced entering the offseason was whether they would be able to re-sign outfielder George Springer, a three-time All-Star who was hugely instrumental in the team’s recent success. The Astros made Springer an $18.9MM qualifying offer, which he summarily rejected, and it doesn’t seem they put forth much of an effort to retain him after that. In the end, Springer exited Houston for another AL team – Toronto – for a six-year, $150MM payday.
Springer wasn’t the only noteworthy Astros outfielder who hit the market, as Michael Brantley and Josh Reddick joined him in seeking new contracts. Reddick remains a free agent, but the Astros did keep Brantley on a two-year, $32MM pact after deciding against issuing him a qualifying offer. It’s a reasonable deal when considering what Brantley brings to the table at the plate, though it’s not unwarranted to be concerned about his age (34 in May) and ability to play left field on an everyday basis. Brantley spent a large portion of last season as the Astros’ designated hitter as Yordan Alvarez battled knee problems, but that role won’t be available much this year if Alvarez’s health holds up. Assuming Alvarez is the regular DH, that would leave Brantley and Kyle Tucker as Houston’s corner outfielders.
With Springer out the door, the Astros did show offseason interest in other outfielders – Andrew Benintendi via trade, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Yasiel Puig in free agency – but didn’t come away with any outside additions on guaranteed contracts. As a result, they’re primed to start the season with the mostly unproven duo of Myles Straw and Chas McCormick as their top two center fielders. Straw’s a speedster and an adept defender, though he has almost no power and is coming off a brutal 2020 as a hitter. McCormick, meanwhile, has never played in the majors, but he does rank as Baseball America’s No. 12 Astros prospect.
One of the reasons the Astros are in position to gamble on untested center fielders is the overall strength of their offense. Brantley, Alvarez and Tucker can flat-out hit. The same has typically been true of second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Carlos Correa, even though both players endured down years in 2020. Third baseman Alex Bregman also wasn’t quite himself last season, but he remains one of the premier players in the game at his position.
That group should lead an above-average attack this year, but the rest of Houston’s offense isn’t quite as imposing. The team brought back a former longtime Astro in Jason Castro to team with Martin Maldonado at catcher. While those two probably aren’t going to combine for great offensive production, they’re well-regarded defenders who should make life easier on the Astros’ pitching staff.
First baseman Yuli Gurriel had a career year in 2019 before his output plummeted a season ago, yet the Astros still gave him a new one-year, $7MM contract in September. Such contract extensions so close to a player’s free agency are surprising, and from Houston’s perspective, the Gurriel deal continues to look like somewhat of a curious move. However, in fairness to the Astros, this past winter’s crop of free-agent first basemen was rather weak, leading them to keep around a familiar face on an affordable contract.
On the pitching front, the Astros will have to go a second consecutive season without ace Justin Verlander, who underwent Tommy John surgery in the fall. But even without Verlander last year, the Astros’ rotation – which consisted primarily of Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers Jr., Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy – still held up well. Most of that group is back this year, but unfortunately, Houston may have to go without Valdez for most or all of the season. Valdez enjoyed a breakout 2020, though he’s now dealing with a broken ring finger that will shelve him for the foreseeable future.
The Astros’ starting depth took yet another hit with the loss of high-end prospect Forrest Whitley, who will undergo TJ surgery and won’t pitch this year. The club did, however, help cover its bases earlier this month when it signed accomplished right-hander Jake Odorizzi, who will slot in along with Greinke, McCullers, Javier and Urquidy to open the season. Odorizzi’s two-year, $23MM pact includes a $6.5MM player option for 2023, which the Astros included in an effort to lower their luxury-tax commitment this season.
In light of the Odorizzi acquisition, there’s little wiggle room under the $210MM threshold for the Astros, who Jason Martinez of Roster Resource projects are between $208MM and $209MM right now. Because of that, veteran minor league pickups Steve Cishek and Steven Souza Jr. – whose contracts include $2.25MM and $1.15MM MLB salaries, respectively – are less likely to earn roster spots with the club.
Cishek was one of a few relievers the Astros brought in after their bullpen notched mediocre numbers last season. They showed interest in some big fish in free agency (e.g., Liam Hendriks, Brad Hand, Alex Colome and Joakim Soria), ultimately coming away with former Dodger Pedro Baez and ex-Ray Ryne Stanek. Baez has always prevented runs at a good clip, though he was more expensive than expected (two years, $12.5MM) after an injury-shortened year in which his average fastball velocity and strikeouts dropped to career-low levels. The 33-year-old is currently on the COVID-19 list, so it’s unclear whether he will be ready for the start of the season.
General manager James Click took a low-risk chance on Stanek, whom he’s familiar with from their time with the Rays. Click was part of the front office that used a first-round pick on Stanek in 2013, and the flamethrowing righty had a solid two-year stretch with the Rays from 2018-19 before Tampa traded him to the Marlins in the latter of those years. Unfortunately for Stanek, the 2020 season couldn’t have gone much worse, as he yielded eight runs and walked eight batters in just 10 innings.
Stanek is one of several Astros who could reach free agency next offseason, but he’s at the lower end of the totem pole in comparison to Correa, Verlander, Greinke and McCullers. Verlander is hardly in prime position for an extension, and there hasn’t been much buzz about Greinke, but Correa and McCullers have made it known they’d prefer to stay in Houston. Click has interest in keeping the pair, but if no extensions are in place by Opening Day, negotiations (if any are taking place) could cease until the end of the season. Correa’s on track to be part of the elite class of free agents who could approach a $300MM-plus guarantee, so the Astros will have their hands full in trying to keep him from hitting the market. McCullers won’t be nearly that expensive, but he’s just 27 years old at the moment and could command a lucrative multiyear payday.
Regardless of whether the Astros reach extensions with any in-house talent before the season, and even in spite of Springer’s exit, their roster once again looks strong enough to contend in the AL West this year. The Athletics won the division last year, but their roster doesn’t appear to be as strong as it was then. The Angels have made some improvements, but their offseason didn’t feature any enormous splashes, and it’s easy to be skeptical of a franchise mired in a six-year playoff drought. The other teams in the West – the Mariners and Rangers – will have difficulty getting to the .500 mark.
How would you grade the Astros’ offseason? (Poll link for app users)
I don’t want to work
I want to bang on the can all day
I don’t want to play
I just want to bang on the can all day
Ever since I was a tiny boy
I don’t want no candy
I don’t need no toy
I took a stick and an old trash can
I bang on that thing ’til I got blisters on my hand because…
Put ze bong down my boy….
I don’t want to work I want to bang on the can All day… (Everybody).
Anyone find it funny that yankee fans automatically assume they would have won the WS in 2017. As if the Astros and Dodgers didn’t have better rosters. Regardless of the Astros cheating.
Water under the bridge. I’m a Dodger fan and was over the WS loss by noon the next day. Living in the past serves no good purpose. Alas, I know Dodger fans who still whine about 2017.
The Yankees had a far better lineup, bullpen, and manager than the Dodgers in 2017. The Yankees would have also matched up well against the Dodgers lefty heavy rotation. There’s no guarantee they would have won but they definitely would have a good shot. Also ask yourself this, if the Astros had a better roster why did they need 7 games and the trash cans to win that ALCS?
There has never been anything wrong with Dave Roberts as a manager. The Dodgers have never had a better one in my 54 years following the team.
David Roberts is better than Tommy Lasorda?
Don Zimmer was better than Tommy Lasorda
Why were the Yankees unable to score at Minute Maid?
Yur on crack. Old Todd father, Chase Headly, Bird. Huh? you on smoke
Can’t hear trash cans in loud settings..especially playoff atmosphere..astros cheated a few teams but the Can’t win since Jeter left Yankees weren’t one of them… no Champs on that team…
Yankees weren’t in the class as the Dodgers and they were gassed after that ALCS. I looked at that year as the Dodgers from start to finish. They were unstoppable. Only way you could beat that team that year was if you were cheati…..oh wait.
The Dodgers’ big four of Seager, Turner, Bellinger, and Puig were a combined 18-104 (.172) in that World Series. While we can say the poundings absorbed by Kershaw and Darvish looked suspicious, their best hitters simply didn’t hit enough. It was a disappointing result but didn’t detract from a fun season. The only blemish in the regular season was that weird 1-16 stretch in September while Seager was ailing.
Do you think Seager’s injury affected his swing in 2017?
goastros123, In the World Series, for sure. In the weeks heading into the post-season, there were whispers that a future surgery was likely imminent. I was surprised when nothing happened that winter. In early 2018, the Dodgers lost Seager for the year and Turner for a month and had four-fifths of the rotation out, all at the same time, The only SP not on the IL was Alex Wood who probably should have been. This was when Ross Stripling emerged to be a temporary all-star. They were 16-26. Getting back to the World Series was quite an accomplishment considering where they stood.
I’m just glad we were able to make this about the Yankees.
@metsfan22- No, no they don’t.
I find it funny that people automatically assume the cheating scheme was the reason they actually won, ignoring the fact that Houston dominated the Yankees’ lineup in the games Houston won, and that the net gain from the system seems to have been negligible overall.
What’s really – not – funny, is that people will bend truth to fit their wishful thinking; I have NO idea why a BASEBALL TEAM, full of BASEBALL PLAYERS, trying to employ any possible edge in order to WIN, should freak these school marms out so much, AS THOUGH THAT IS NOT THE NORM IN BASEBALL
since forever
Yankees could field a beer league softball team and their fans would assume that every team that was better than them was cheating.
I have no dog in the Astros vs Yankees fight, but its worth noting the Yankees mashed at home in their 3 2017 ALCS wins, but only accumulated 3 runs and 19 hits in their 4 losses at Minute Maid.
I don’t assume it, @metsfan22. That Astros* team was very good & full of good players. Let’s not forget though, the home team won every game that series. Fangraphs determined that it led to 4-5 regular season wins (or HFA).
Tough way to lose. If you can’t see that, you are being disingenious.
I think it must kind of suck to be an Astros* fan & have won that way, too. Ya know? All those 100 loss seasons & the title you win gets questioned/discounted by 29 other fan bases.
I’m really done with it.
But the Yankees were impacted by this crap more than any other team in MLB. Of course it rankles. Just imagine if it were your stupid lolMets. Bet you would be unbearable just looking at how you post.
But – hey – go ahead & get your little shot in against the Yankees, little brother. Hope it brings some meaning to your life, serious.
Regardless of how I feel about Yankees fans in general, I gotta give their team props because they have a likable player in Aaron Judge.
Astros fans think that if they deny and deflect it’ll erase the facts. Much like pigs taking flight, tis but a figment of your imagination
Pigs on the wing.
We would zig zag our way, through the boredom and pain…
Actually, if us Astros fans had our way, they would’ve won without cheating. The reality is they cheated and we know they did but there’s also nothing we can do about that. We’re grateful they brought a sense of normalcy back to our city after hurricane Harvey by giving us a championship of our own. Sure people scoff it and say it doesn’t count (it does in the record books with no * and that’s more important than how any of us fans feels), and that’s understandable but as tainted as it is, that championship means something to us. Prior to 2017, I had never seen a team I like win it all. I missed out on Clutch City because I was born in 1992. Because of that, the 2017 championship definitely means something to me. Some Asros fana have been waiting much longer than me to see the Astros win it all.. Granted, most of the Yankees success occured years ago but Yankees fans can still take pride in those 27 championships. I even remember Yankees fans saying things like “Astros win one title and they think they can hang with the big boys” on MLB’s facebook page after the 2017 World Series. I’m not saying people should feel sorry for us nor do I exepct sympathy from some one like LouMickeyJeter, but what I am saying is I don’t expect a Yankees fan like him/her to understand how we feel.
all the aSTrOS cHEAtEd posters (1) don’t know their baseball history, (2) are cringe af, and (3) are utterly full of crap and might even have sufficient self-awareness to realize they are full of crap.
Plus, they are REALLY pathetic, but that goes under “cringe”, I guess.
Astros were the BEST team in the league for 3 years, and almost attained Big Red Machine or Weaver Orioles levels of historic greatness.
They were just like the Big Red Machine, but for a fraction of the time, with fewer titles and more cheating. Other than that, basically the same.
being not imprecise, I shoved in the “almost” before the “attained” but my impression is that nuance doesn’t really fly around here.
Cole Sheperd is right: the Astros weren’t the first team ever to illegally steal signs and relay them to hitters. After all, Hank Greenberg and the Tigers did it (Hank admits it in his autobiography), and so did Willie Mays’s Giants (members of that team admitted it back in 2001). I will admit there is one pretty big difference between them and the Astros: Houston had more sophisticated technology at their disposal.
Well they didn’t “almost” attain a decade of dominance, so…no dice.
they attained 3 years PLUS of being the best team in baseball – W/L smoked everybody else, with only the Dodgers coming close. That’s pretty BRM and Orioles – you could look it up.
But that might involve dealing with facts, irrespective of your preferences; and I doubt you are capable of that.
That Astros crew was one of the top 20 teams of ever. Connie Mack’s A’s 3 times, Yankees a bunch, 50s Dodgers, BRM, Weaver, a few others.
I’ve never seen a better team than the 76 Reds and the Astros weren’t in that class. The Astros played a great series. Bregman’s defense, Morton and Mac’s pitching had nothing to do with the garbage cans.
Whitley was not counted on.
GarryHarris, how do the Yankee teams of the late 90’s stack up against the 1976 Reds in your opinion?
Sure, man. A three-year dynasty. Whatever you say.
sub·tle·ty
/ˈsədltē/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the quality or state of being subtle.
“the textural subtlety of Degas”
Similar:
delicacy
delicateness
subtleness
elusiveness
faintness
understatedness
understatement
mutedness
softness
astuteness
keenness
acuteness
fineness
sharpness
razor-sharpness
sharp-wittedness
canniness
shrewdness
perceptiveness
perception
discernment
sensitivity
discrimination
penetration
percipience
perspicacity
perspicuity
acuity
sagacity
wisdom
cleverness
intelligence
skillfulness
skill
artfulness
dexterity
brightness
finesse
savvy
sapience
ingenuity
expertise
adroitness
complexity
intricacy
cunning
guile
craftiness
wiliness
deviousness
Opposite:
slow-wittedness
dullness
crudeness
a subtle distinction, feature, or argument.
plural noun: subtleties
“the subtleties of English grammar”
Similar:
fineness
subtleness
precision
preciseness
niceness
nicety
try it.
not being a homer here; but I’m not certain that the 2017 Astros were qualitatively worse than the 76 Reds, on paper at least.
It seems really important to you that non-Astros fans buy into this idea that the 2017-19 Astros are among the greatest teams in MLB history, irrespective of their cheating and, I’m really, truly sorry to break it to you, but it’s not going to happen. Particularly since (a) they won a single title and (b) it came in the middle of a run the Dodgers are putting together that will likely be seen as more impressive and certainly has lasted/will last longer.
Dodgers are TREMENDOUS.
See, I can do that, because I’m interested in facts.
Yankees 2017-2019 were the team I was most afraid of facing in the post-season. SCARY SCARY offense.
I don’t live and die because people “buy in”. If you don’t see it, it’s your loss,not mine.
Yeah my life feels really empty because of my lack of appreciation for the late 2010s Houston Astros. Big loss. HUGE loss.
lacking appreciation for greatness is a REAL problem, and a REAL loss; but carry on, by all means, my dear little friend.
I do appreciate true greatness – the Dodgers.
@coleshepard- Wow, I’m not sure when you got out, but you certainly are a conceited, pompous clown. I’m looking forward to hearing more of your clueless & asinine ramblings before they realize you’re overdue back at the enchanted kingdom.
Cole: “Nuance” doesn’t mean “ridiculous stretch of a comparison.”
Astros match up with Bash Bros Oakland, maybe. Big Red Machine? Ha ha ha ha ha!
Hello I’m a DBAG. I wear people out by RANDOMLY injecting points of emphasis and assorted non-SEQuitors.
Love it. So since you guys usually travel in threes, who’s next? Mr. Freeze? Catwoman?
only team you can compare the Asstros to are the 1919 White Sox.
It’s ancient history now just like those Yankees titles. Put it to bed and focus on 2021.
Nice post. OWN that asterisk
Sorry. My cat pressed send like 11 times
Nice post goastros. OWN that asterisk
Nice post goastros. OWN that asterisk
Nice post goastros. OWN that asterisk
Sorry about the gratuitous posts. Sorta like beating a dead horse. Or repeatedly striking a metallic cylindrical device. Ill stop.
Nah, Astros fans are not deflecting the cheating. It’s the other mlb fanbases showing their hypocrisy as if their teams didn’t cheat or bend the rules. Stay on the facts bro.
It’s fairly common knowledge that it was more of a league wide issue. Any Yankee fan who berates the Astros do it is throwing a massive stone from a glass house. They’re just outing themselves as either too ignorant or too biased to have an actual discussion and have to resort to that.
Yankees fans in denial that Beltran was doing the same thing in pin stripes a few years earlier. Quit crying Judas.
With all the injuries that rotation is TRASH and I don’t think they CAN hit their way into the playoffs. Sure, that lineup will BANG out some hits and they might STEAL a few wins in some slugfests, but at the end of the day you need pitching, especially if you can’t SYSTEMATICALLY CHEAT YOUR WAY TO A WORLD SERIES.
@bbpun- Nice job pal!
Nice compliment of BBpun. Say hi to poison Ivy
Nicely dun Pun.
This.
Honest question….did their video department add anyone?
Not only did the cheaters cost the Yankees a trip to the WS but don’t forget the manager was fired also.
In 2017, all the Yankees had to do was score in games 1 and 2. In 2019, Chapman cost the Yankees. Yes, the Astros cheated but let’s not ignore that 1. the Yankees offense was mostly non-existant at MMP in 2017 and 2. Chapman threw a hanging slider.
non-existent*
These ‘fans’ forget that the Yankees got shutout in Game 7. Yeah they cheated to get hits and runs but what was the Yankees excuse for not scoring? AND if you bring up illegal substances then ask Bauer how he gets more spin.
@astericks2333- “Yeah they cheated to get hits and runs but…”. these f****** guys!
Have you no shame sir?
Why would him/her or me feel shame over something that is out of control? Do you actually believe think we like the fact that the Astros cheated cheated? We actually don’t.
@goasterics123- I guess along with being morally & ethically deficient the trash can boys reading & comprehension skills need some work too. Just incredible!
@WorstPartOfArkhamKnight- I guess we can control the actions of others by dominating their minds and we’re responsible for them cheating. I guess you got no shred of loyalty to anything in life, friends included. Just incredible! If you excuse me, I’m gonna go use my power of mind control to make Cal McNair fire Jack Easterby and sell the Texans, and make Deshaun Watson stay.
Just and observation: the “scandal” was lead by Carlos Beltran and Alex Cora. Beltran was reported to have said that the Stros were “behind the times” as far as their video feeds when he got there. Who’s clubhouse were he and Brian McCann in 2 years earlier?
@mlbnyyfan have you no shame on the countless Yankee cheating methods over the years including the Mitchelle Report, Joe G stating their sign stealing methodology on MLB Network and the judge unsealing the letter or are you just an oblivious homer
@coup- You don’t even know who you’re posting to, do you? I said, “Have you no shame sir” not mlbnyyfan. What a maroon. Ahahahaha!
The Astros cheated with their CF camera. It was admitted and reported. Can you tell me why the Yankees are in court trying to prevent a letter from being unsealed that can do ‘Reputational Damage’ to their organization? Cheating in MLB did not start in 2017.
@gothamfanboi – I wasn’t directing my message you brother. But I do see that I triggered you tho lolol
There doesn’t seem to be a lot of depth on their roster. The season doesn’t start for another three weeks and they already can’t afford any more rotation injuries. Offensively, a lot depends on Alvarez’s health. They also have nothing close to an adequate replacement for Springer. If you think about it, his signing with Toronto might hurt the Astros more than it helps the Blue Jays.
I actually like what Oakland did in the off-season, signing Rosenthal to replace Hendricks and acquiring Andrus to replace Semien. Adding Kolarek, Irvin, and Romo and retaining Petit were good value moves that could make the bullpen a major strength. Compared to the hole created by Springer’s departure in Houston, they seemingly did a better job controlling the damage.
Astros prediction: Second to Oakland due to the loss of Springer and question marks surrounding Alvarez. The unknown this year will be how 20209’s short season will affect the durability of pitchers.
Btw, the Astros will play the A’s seven times in their first nine games. The other two are against the Angels while the A’s have three with the Dodgers.
The A’s changed but they did not improve at any position.
No, but they haven’t suffered any losses as big as Houston has with Springer. That should be a factor over 162 games.
I could argue that the bullpen is overall better than last year, therefore the lower bullpen positions are better than last year’s. However, I think we are definitely going to miss Marcus, and unless Jed can play at full health, we will also miss LaStella.
Billy Hamilton? Or is Chas out of options?
Stanek won’t be a FA after this season. He is eligible for arbitration, according to Cots.
The Astros being one win away from going to the world series while their pitching was in the state is impressive. It’s possible they make the playoffs again this year, but I doubt they’ll go far and if they do make the playoffs, them going far is improbable.
Seems like there are a bunch of people that will be big mad when the Astros make it 3 WS appearance in 5 years. Also, the A’s did not upgrade. Not even close. Semien was top 5 in MVP votes in 2019 and Hendricks is considered the best closer in baseball atm. The Astro’s lost Springer, but have one of the best offenses in baseball and anything Straw does is a bonus. He’s either lead off or 9hole with elite speed. Valdez went down, Verlander is out, Whitley is done. The Astros will be at the very least in the playoff hunt come September and by then Valdez very well could be back and Verlander will be getting ramped up for the last week of the Reg season if needed, for sure the playoffs. Those guys back for the playoffs make an already strong team down right formidable.
Also, the GM and Owner have said they have plans to make a splash at the trade deadline if needed. Y’all very well could be in for another very frustrating year of Astros playoff baseball.
And then, you fall off your bed and realized everything was a dream….good luck with that offense with current Altuve and Bregman’s hitting averages
@asterick18- keep running that mouth, we can all use a good laugh -at your expense of course. I swear every asterisks fan I speak with is stupider than the last.. & that’s saying something. Ahahahaha!
Astros fans clearly live rent free inside your head. Enjoy.
there’s really nothing you can do with people like that. Except ignore them.
I would, but they’re amusing at times.
kinda fun to watch ’em jerk on the chain, I guess 🙂
@gothamfanboi prob works at the 99 cent store trying to pay off his liberal arts degree. Trolling is his escape from life LMFAOOOO
coup: This is one of the saddest, most self-owning “disses” I’ve ever seen. You: “You’re educated – loser!” *facepalm*
Keep laughing. All I care about are the facts. You think a fan base is stupid which is a pretty stupid thing to think. I’m glad you don’t agree, because then I’d be wrong and pretty angry all while pretending to find it humorous.
@trashcanboys- I figured you’re mommies sent you to bed already, but boy I’m glad I didn’t miss your deep & thought provoking remarks. (Yawn)
Just know, when you do decide to apologize for your team being lying, cheating scum we’ll all be here.
It makes perfect sense to expect Astros fans in general to apologize, as if we control the actions of other people. That’s definitely not illogical (He said sarcastically).
You keep running in circles….it is not a matter of controlling their actions, it is the fact of enjoying their cheating and hence, not feeling ashamed
I keep running in circles because that’s the only reason why Astros fans should ever apologize as it relates to this and it’s a silly reason because it’s not true. What is there for us to be ashamed of? Still supporting the Astros? Again: what they did is/was out of our hands. The team should give an actual apologize, and not us fans. Us fans got nothing to apologize for.
Again the difference between the astros players that were caught in cheating in 2017 DID NOT serve any PUNISHMENT. A gm and a manager lost their job. And get hit with a slap on the wrist fine and lose two draft picks. Yet when I hear Yankees had Giambi and arod with their ped tales but they served their SUSPENSION for what they did like everyone else who gets caught cheating or domestic violence. That’s why theirs sour in the taste of that situation not just the title but the players who were involved in a “player driven” schemed didn’t served any punishment for they did and can say we have immunity from doing anything we did was wrong but still called champions. And Mlb telling other players not to thrown at them they came out with no punishment. I can’t wait for fans in the stands wherever they go in visitor ballparks the boos they get. It’s not right to your fellow peers. It just tells other players they can walk away with that too.
Cheating is cheating. You want the Astros players to do what? I don’t think you can answer that, because you’ll find a way to deem it not good enough. What can’t be denied is that the Astros were the scapegoat. The RedSox and Yankees were both caught cheating. Players around the league have said the Astros are far from being alone in what they took part in during the ‘17 and ‘18 seasons. Yet, here we are. The players owned up to what happened. It’s over. What they accomplished in ‘19 and ‘20 shows they are just as good as they’ve always been (last 7 years). Btw, the Astros had better road numbers in ‘17 and that is ignored because it goes against the narrative of “they only won while cheating”.
Anyone know why Yankees personnel and fans alike, get so upset about unopened mail?
@astertics18- Oh I can answer that smart boy, you begin by kneeling. The players NEVER owned up & probably never will. They are gutless just like the owner & most of the fans. As much as you try to rationalize & minimize it, it will always be your badge of shame & guilt & until real contrition is shown by your entire organization & it always will be.
Do you enjoy being wrong?
Also, it’s hard to see you misspell the same word in so many different ways. Especially one you probably use often. They literally give you time to fix mistakes. It’s Asterisk, the symbol looks something like this *
You’re welcome
Ahahahaha! That’s all you got?! It’s is NOT uppercase in regard to your shameful team & never will be. You & your trash can boys are a disgrace. Period.
More power to you. Just know, when you accept the fact that how you feel about the Astros is irrelevant in the end, you’ll feel a lot better. Nothing is gonna change now matter how mad you are.
The Astros made mistakes, but they relied on Beltran. Clemens and Pettite also Yankees cheaters that brought that mentality to Houston. Alex Rodriguez was a repeat steroid abuser. To the Yankee trolls, just stop.
With that logic you’d have to go back to the late 90’s and Caminiti and probably a Killer B. The league had players looking for an edge, right or wrong.
Caminiti started juicing while on the Padres. He admitted that the proximity to Tijuana made it easy. He went from an average hitter for the Astros to 40+ bombs after leaving the Astros. He was at least open about his abuse of PEDs, but look at his career stats as an Astro vs. what he did for the Friars.
The Astros made mistakes, but they relied on Beltran. Clemens and Pettite also Yankees cheaters that brought that mentality to Houston. Alex Rodriguez was a repeat steroid abuser. To the Yankee trolls, just stop.
Springer? Meh, the Astros will be fine without him. They have bigger things to worry about than losing him. That pitching staff/depth for one, and the other? They better play better than last year, or bye bye playoffs. They were under .500 and made it, Not this year.
Houston is a desert built in a swamp and they stole MY MONEY.