The Astros have brought infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez back to the organization on a minor league contract, per a club announcement. He’ll head to the team’s Spring Training complex to work out for now. The Red Sox released Gonzalez earlier this month, and he hasn’t played in a game since Aug. 12, so he’ll get some work in there and perhaps be assigned to a minor league affiliate before being considered for the MLB roster.
Gonzalez, 32, spent the first seven seasons of his career in Houston, never really settling into one spot on the diamond but bouncing all around the field as a versatile utility option. After struggling at the plate through his first two seasons at the MLB level, Gonzalez settled in as a roughly average hitter from 2014-16 before a massive season at the plate in 2017, when he hit .303/.377/.530 with career-bests in home runs (23), doubles (34) and walk rate (9.6 percent).
In four seasons since that time, however, Gonzalez has turned in a pedestrian .240/.310/.376 output, and his struggles have been particularly evident over the past two seasons. Dating back to 2020 — the second season of a two-year, $21MM contract he signed in Minnesota — Gonzalez has combined for a dismal .206/.284/.300 batting line. This season’s 25.8 percent strikeout rate through 271 plate appearances is the highest of his career by about three percent.
There’s little harm in the Astros taking a look at a player they know well — particularly one who can bounce around the diamond and fill a versatile bench role in September when rosters expand from 26 to 28 players. Gonzalez hasn’t shown much at the plate recently, but if he’s able to return to the even average levels of offense he’s provided outside of that 2017 campaign, he’d be a nice addition both for the month of September and for the playoffs. The mere fact that he’s in the Astros’ organization prior to Sept. 1 makes him eligible for the postseason roster — even if he’s not selected to the Majors until sometime next month.
Oh boy, here come the comments.
Brace yourselves, Astros fans.
Ready for them. Don’t care anymore. Everyone was cheating. We’ve just embraced it. Please boo and yell cheater some more please.
“Everyone was cheating” The absurd rationalization is real with this one.
To think the Astros were the ONLY team doing it is absurd. The MLB’s MO is to scapegoat and run. The Astros continue to be good years later and still have other fans crying. It must be sad to see their success thru the booing.
You have already had numerous players come out and say the Astros were not the only one doing this. But you can keep on with your delusion. Please keep doing on jeering our team because we thrive on it.
It must be sad to have no integrity and support worthless cheaters,
You’d continue to support your team, too. You’ll lie and say you wouldn’t because “integrity” but you would. Move along.
Notice how players piled on the Astros but stayed silent on the allegations against the Red Sox. It’s likely that most teams have/had a system similar to what the Red Sox were accused of doing where signs could only be relayed with a runner on second. Cry all you want about how you think your team was scapegoated, but the 29 other organizations know the Astros crossed an agreed upon line.
How is rooting for a team you’ve rooted for your entire life not the right thing? That’s ridiculous, IMO. There are what 5-6 players from that team still there? Manager and GM gone. Give me a sizable break. You’re lying to yourself if you think you’d stop being a fan of whoever you’re a fan of in the same situation. Smh.
Doing things the right way is obviously preferred but the idea that someone would give up the team they have loved their whole lives, after it’s rectified, is hilarious and just says you don’t really understand what it’s like to be a true fan.
Ban all the players and coaches involved, then it will be rectified.
I’d rather not watch baseball than root for a team that cheats.
I guess I care more about integrity than fandom. Poor me.
Some more interesting facts about the Astros: in 2017:
They went from 23rd in xBA in 2016 to 1st in 2017, with an increase of .027. Only 3 other teams saw an increase of .01 or more, the highest being .015
4th highest strikeout rate in 2016 -> lowest in 2017, a decrease of 6%. The only team to see a year-to-year decrease larger than 3.4% in the statcast era was last year’s Padres at 4.8%, though they had a tiny sample size and an overhauled team
Then you wouldn’t watch MLB, Chad.
The Red Sox cheated too but until another team is PROVEN to have cheated only those two have cheated
The astros were actually much overhauled in 2017. Gone or demoted to reserves were
Carlos Gomez, Colby Rasmus, Evan Gattis (demoted), third base was a disaster of journeymen replaced by Bregman at the very end, first base same thing (AJ Reed who is out of baseball got most playing time, DH very similar. 2017 was a very different lineup.
Bang Bang
oops, I stole someone’s post, sorry
There is an end to this, right?
Yanks were found to have cheated as well, but let’s not let pesky details and letters get in the way of agendas.
Thanks for sharing facts vs. just shouting opinions
Still rooting for the Astros is fine, making excuses for 2017 is not.
Here are some FACTS, Astros had best road record (tied with Indians) in 2017. Home record 48-33, their road record was 53-28 . Their offensive numbers across the board were better on the road versus at home, they beat all the teams they faced in playoffs and World Series on the road. Including Game 7 in LA. There was never any accusation or evidence of sign stealing or electronic ( or otherwise ) communication for their road games, Teams have looked for advantages by any means since baseball has been played. Time to quit whining and accept the fact Houston Astros were, are and always will be 2017 World Champions! Go ‘Stros !!
Fact: They cheated. You can’t rationalize that away. Even a small advantage can make a difference. It can wear out a pitching staff a little more than normal, giving you an advantage in other games. Don’t defend it. It’s indefensible.
MLB’s report on the 2018 Red Sox is quite surprising actually. After many months of investigating the Red Sox, MLB admitted they they “largely do not have direct evidence” of cheating. There was no evidence and MLB relied on “inferences” aka guesses to conclude the Red Sox cheated. The Red Sox admitted to no wrongdoing in court in the Draft Kings case where evidence actually does matter. Why did MLB do this? I don’t know, but maybe they didn’t want to look dumb after opening the investigation.
The commissioner didn’t offer immunity to any of the players so no one talked oh and Mike Fires didn’t play for the Red Sox
@jonny
So, who’s your team?
Red Sox players had immunity. This is from MLB’s report on the Red Sox (written by the commissioner):
“Although the Commissioner’s Office agreed not to discipline players who were truthful in their interviews, based on the findings of the investigation, this is not a case in which I would have otherwise considered imposing discipline on players.”
Do you feel the same about steroid users? Or was that ok with you
I am not ok with someone having an unfair advantage such as by using steroids or stealing signs illegally. I am also not ok with labeling people as cheaters without evidence which is also unfair. Basically, I dislike unfairness.
Dont let trashtros fans sway you. It’s absurd to blame everyone else and not take blame. They all deserved year long suspension. The franchise as a whole are scumbags top to bottom.
FACTS : They cheated and ran from their actions when were caught. They ruined the integrity of baseball.
FACTS: the Astros cheated and baseball’s integrity was ruined long before the Astros. In fact, the color barrier says hello.
The color barrier ended almost 75 years ago.
Doing the right thing? Please. You speed when cops aren’t around, you’ll leave work early if you can, you’ll find every deduction ‘allowed’ on your taxes, you’ll look the other way when a family member does something… please. The right thing my ass. You don’t know any MLB players and they don’t know you. They’re no worse/no better than you. Period.
He ain’t rationalizing it – he’s telling YOU a fact. Seems like if you *hit on them for home games…you should prolly praise them for road games. OORRRRRR if you ‘cheat’ at home then ALL road games are ALSO cheated games even if there was no cheating.
You wanna play letter of the law? Please. Make some sense next time.
The integrity of baseball? What are you 90? How can you watch a sport that juices baseballs AND LOOKED AWAY from McGuire/Sosa/Bonds? How do you watch a sport with Clemens and Palmiero… or the spitballers… or Cole and his grippytak? They cheat everyday. Why the hell you think teams have signs when guys are on 2nd?
…because they’re trying to STEAL SIGNS. smh integrity? Grow up 90.
And baseball lost its integrity a long time ago.
The great one doesn’t seem so great. He seems like a cheater himself. He probably cheats on his taxes. He probably cheated in school. He probably cheats every chance he gets in everything he does.
Bonds,Clements not in hall of fame and never proven to use steroids what is right about that
First I’ve heard that about the Red Sox, thought only Astro players were given immunity.
agree
You just keep telling yourself that, puhl, but it won’t remove any of the tarnish from your WS trophy.
I don’t see any stain on the trophy. It shines real bright when the light hits it
I’ll gladly accept the tarnish that comes with that WS trophy because there only thing I’d trade it for: a trophy in basketball, baseball, or football with no tarnish.
No he’s right. Everyone on the Astros was cheating.
@srechter lmao!
You poor soul, you do realize with the millions (maybe billions) of dollars on the line, that everyone is cheating? Wake up & drink that coffee, don’t have someone shoot it up your end & tell you it’s healthy.
Embrace it, eh? I’m an Astros fan and never have nor will embrace it.
Whether other teams did cheat or still are cheating doesn’t change the fact that the Astros did.
I’m still a fan of the team, but a repeat of such insincerity and inconsiderate actions- specifically towards its own fan base again – is a sign for me to move on.
Then were you really a true fan, Jacob? Because thie scandal was the lowest low in Astros history and you’re thinking of jumping off the wagon because of that scandal and things related to it.
No such thing as a “true” fan, we all have our own reasons for liking or disliking teams. I gave the Astros my loyalty knowing I wouldn’t be promised the same; why should they deserve any more then that?
If being a “true” fan means agreeing with the teams decision to cheat, then no, I’m not a “true” fan.
I’m a fan to be labeled only by myself, regardless of what labels others might apply to me.
That’s all.
Sorry, I disagree for a couple of reasons: 1. you’re acting as if you became a fan back in 2011 and you knew all along they were gonna cheat. 2. By “true” fan, I mean a fan who doesn’t quit on their favorite team just because that team hits a low point. Usually, a low point like that would be losing a bunch of games. However, the Astros lowest point is the scandal. That’s totally different from being ok with cheating. Don’t confuse being ok with it and recognizing it was out of our hands from the word go because those are two totally different things.
That is a fact less statement; MLB didn’t do a investigation into other teams. You don’t think had this been the case with facts on other teams that the Athletic or some other news organization would have investigated and named names. Websites like the athletic make money off providing in sight to baseball think over what they could have sold and made money wise if other teams had evidence of other teams cheating.
Would be a great way to silence the dodger fans had the Dodgers been found cheat
Good baseball move, no risk. Also Astros playing great right now.
But since you brought it up. Nothing against the fans or even the players from the cheating period.
But the OWNER skated like rich people always do. He knew and he should have been suspended and the TEAM should have vacated the championship (no winner for that season)
If that had been the penalty then it would NEVER happen again. As it is why wouldn’t an owner tacitly want his team to cheat. He gets all the benefits and they can just blame the GM or manager.
Do you really think every owner is so involved with day to day operations, they know everything in the club house? Your wrong that would be called micro managing that is why he would have a General Manager and a field manager to run the day to day operations Most Owners sit in the owners box watching the games and running their Billion dollar business out side of baseball
He had to pay a $5 million fine and fire the best coach/GM the team has had. He was punished plenty.
A slap on the wrist.
The magic is back at Rubbermaid Park!
He’ll be back to his former self in no time with the aid of a few trash cans
As long as we win baby!!! Kills y’all don’t it!
Classy fan, just like your beloved cheating team. I wonder what tune you would be singing if the Dodgers were the ones who cheated and you lost to them.
This tune here…. bang, bang, ba-bang, bang bang!! LOL
Don’t you mean bang bang bang bang BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
And for the record Houston won two games in dodger Stadium when the Dodgers got to benefit from their own cheating and we did not get to use our trash cans.Cry me a river! The Dodgers got out pitched and outhit in that series. Nothing was stolen from them. They got beat!!!
@puhl you’re complete trash
Thank you. I’ll go bang my can now.
Every fan will enjoy seeing stros lose to the dodgers this year.
The Dodgers were doing the same thing.
OtHeR tEaMs ChEaT sO iT wAs JuStIfIeD.
Wrong, not every fan.
And that first win in LA was helped by the tying run that, wait for it, Marwin Gonzalez hit in game 2 in Dodger Stadium. Glad he’s coming back home.
Probably go out and hire one of the best pitchers in baseball that beats the crap out of women and doesn’t think he did anything wrong
So you are saying if the Yankees were caught cheating they would be playing in front of a empty stadium?
No. It just demeans baseball. Because the players and manager and GM all took the heat, but the team and owner skated by.
If I were an owner I’d cheat every time. My team gets a trophy so I get more publicity and more team revenue.
And all I have to do is blame my GM and fire him. That’s too good of a deal to pass up.
Please, it’s ‘yous’. Y’all is improper grammar.
Let’s gooooo! Love Marwin!
Dust off those trash cans.
Got them ready to go!!!
If nothing else he’s a really good position player, throws 90 accurately
This is insurance in case Bregman gets hurt again. This is a good, smart move by Click.
Who could’ve seen this coming
“Go bang on a barrel, you bum.”
We will. All they way to the top!! LOL
ITT: Classless trash stros fans. I wonder what tune they would be singing if say, the Dodgers were the ones who cheated and the stros lost to them.
I’d be asking who else was cheating instead of directing all my hate to 1 club. Doesn’t seem rational to expect that only one frat brother was doing something wrong.
Yeah, it does.. Do you see any other team busted by MLB for banging on trash cans? Or players wearing buzzers under their jerseys? What an absurd rationalization. I expect nothing less from a supporter of a cheating club. They’re your team, and they can do no wrong. Loser
Explain to me where the MLB busted the Astros for wearing buzzers. Anyone that believes that ridiculous rumor is a waste of time. It was brought up by Jomboy and Bauer; two gossipers that don’t care whatsoever about retaining credibility if it gets them clicks.
OMG!! The buzzers!!! LOL WFW.
I can’t believe these people. They are so insecure about their own teams they have to invent crap because they can’t admit they got their rear ends kicked. That butt is still sore.
Projecting much? Clearly you’re insecure about it or you wouldn’t be here defending them/him.
Please explain how the buzzers work and what they look like.
@jjd002 they can’t. Because there’s literally zero factual information regarding it. The MLB said it didn’t happen. But these whiner fans that want to just yell and be mad at the Astros will continue to use it as “ammo” against them because they don’t really care about facts. They just want to be angry.
Facts: Astros cheated and got caught.
That is the only fact that matters here.
You hear actual players coming out and saying other teams have done something wrong. IE Joey Votto. The reason why no one else has had the whistle blown on them is because it would prove it really wasn’t just the Astros and it’s been easier for MLB to pretend it was just them. Have you ever swept anything under the rug before? When you sweep something under the rug, you tend to minimize the damage. If more and more players were to pull a Fiers, MLB would no longer be able to sweep it under the rug and it would shatter the perception that it was just the Astros. MLB would look even worse.
We have the trophy. Fact too.
**trophy
Fixed it for you.
And it shines all the same no matter how many asterisks you can type!!
@goastros123 –
I am steering clear of the cheating argument. I’m over it. It’s in the past, one way or another. Just wanted to say; “what’s up & the Yanks are coming.”
See you guys in October. Well…if the Astros can stave off the A’s.
Hey, Ducky. I’d love another Astros-Yankees palyoff series. 2021 Yankees are like the 2004 Astros: Rizzo could be your Beltran.
It shines with every hater fueling it! Keep up the hate everyone, we welcome it.
hope your wife cheats on you. but then again, everyone does it, so wouldn’t have issue with that, it seems.
You’re hoping bad on people now? God doesn’t like ugly.
They didn’t get caught, they told on themselves, when offered immunity. If they didn’t tell on themselves it would’ve have been proven. Give immunity to every team and find out every team has cheated, every team has bad apples, every team has spouse abusers child abusers. Look at many in the hall of fame ( some say shame) steroid users, gamblers, DWIs, look at your team over the years and say how perfect you team was over the years. He who is without guilt throw the first stone
yeah, the Astros fans are the only classless ones in the frequent mudslinging fests that are Astros-related comment sections.
They support that trash cleating club and deserve it.
And you support yours. You just haven’t had a turn coat turn states evidence and testify….yet.
Listen, more players than I can count on one hand have said enough. That Houston wasn’t the only team doing this. I’m not asking you to stop going after my team and players. On the contrary, we love it and play better. Just try to realize that your team very likely cheated too. Grow up.
HAHAHAHA
muted
Where’s the proof? Other than conjecture…
Other players who are in the dugouts who have since said it wasn’t just Houston. They know more than you do.
@puhl Don’t tell other people to grow up. You’ve been acting like a 2-year-old in all of your comments. You really look pretty ridiculous. if your significant other treated on you and she told you everyone else does it would you accept that as an excuse? I mean you really sound pathetic and I’m starting to think you are just a troll.
*cheated
Oh please!! That’s the best you got? Apples and oranges. My point is this, I’m not abandoning my team over what happened because countless players around the league, who know what goes on in dugouts, have now come out and said the cheating was rampant. Your team was doing it too. The difference between you and I is that I’ve accepted it and moved on. All of your other idiots keep bringing it up. That’s fine too. We love it. We thrive on it. We play better. If you want to dish it, you gotta be able to take it. Y’all can’t or the issue would be dead. Sorry we beat your rear end, sorry we continue to do so.
@puhl First of all nobody’s asking you to abandon your team. Second of all it’s just your going around blabbing about your shiny trophy that’s the problem that alot of otherfans have. Root for the Astros all you want but you make it look like there’s nothing wrong with cheating that’s the problem. You make it sound like if you cheat and win the World Series it’s totally fine. Plus you say we thrive as if you are on the Astros. Also don’t forget the Washington Nationals beat your rear end don’t forget about that.
What do you mean classless Astros fans? The sour comments come from many other organizations’ fans. Well documented that many other teams cheat and get caught.
The Astros didn’t cheat in the World Series, but let’s not let facts dictate reality. Go look at the poor hitting of the Dodgers in the World Series and also look at the location of the games the Astros won.
The Astros lost in the World Series to a team who has been accused of cheating too (look it up), but I’ve yet to see any Astros fans complaining.
.530 slugging not .350
Was wondering about that too. With that many homers and doubles, it had to be higher than that…
Agh! Thanks for pointing that out. Updated it.
Cheaters.
Trashtro fans are worse the club/players themselves.
Marwin is looking forward to hearing the soothing sounds of garbage bins being struck again
While not every Astros player participated in the cheating garbage, it’s clearly obvious that Marwin was the single highest beneficiary of it.
Pretty sure it’s been tracked that he had statistically the highest amount of “bangs” that season lol.
Can’t wait for the Yankees to play the stros. and the equivalent of Odor/Bautista 2.0, where Judge knocks pipsqueak Altuve’s block off. Little cheating runt will get DECKED lmao.
Yes, the Yankees are going to be the team that is upset the most with a team that cheated. The yankees lmao
Plus the part I don’t understand is why is Altuve the most hated one lol? He’s one of the few who looks like he didn’t use the system.
Altuve got the MVP partly because the players around him were playing over their heads. He wouldn’t have had nearly as many runs scored or RBI if his teammates weren’t cheaters. Plus, his team won more games than they should have, because of the cheating. He and Judge were close enough in the MVP race that the cheating put Altuve over the top.
Beltran brought it to Houston from New York.
And let’s not forget that the Yankees are suing to keep documents sealed that clearly have strong evidence against them.
It’s time to be realistic, 8man. Think for a second and remember what organization Judge plays for. You really think the classiest organization in baseball would be ok with their superstar punching another player?
WFW!!! All the monuments in Yankee Stadium, all the titles, all the retired numbers, and all Yankee fans can think about is when Houston beat that tail. Forget banging trash cans. Yankees couldn’t score a damn run all series. LOL All that stuff, and all Yankee fans can think about then they go to sleep at night is Houston baby!! We are living rent free!!! LOL
Yes the Yanks never cheat. Gotta love the hypocrites in pin stripes.
Judge is a good player but won’t be in the hall of fame may not even be a Yankee in a couple years. Altuve will be in the hall of fame with close to 3000 hits a few MVP’s many gold gloves and silver slugger awards homers in play offs and World Series Judge won’t even compare with all the injuries may be out of baseball before he’s 35
And Judge might have won MVP in 2017, if not for the cheating by Houston. Altuve had inflated stats, and Houston had inflated wins. Both factored into the voting.
Judge’s second half stats of 2017 were Dunn-like numbers, Dunn as in Adam Dunn. Adam Dunn was not an MVP caliber player.
Judge’s OPS in the second half was .939. Altuve’s was .944.
Judge in the first half: hit .329, obp was .448, 11.4 ops, 66 RBI, 30 HR.
Second half: ba of .228, 48 RBI, 0.39 OBP, 22 HR, and 0.94 ops.
Granted, Judge struck out 109 times in the first half and only 99 times in the second. However, he had 366 PA prior to the all-star break and 312 PA after the all-star break.
Stats for Adam Dunn’s best entire season: ba of .267, 38 HR, 105 RBI, obp .398, .529 slugging, 199 SO, and an OPS of .928.
Altuve 100% benefit from his teammates cheating, but Judge wasn’t consistent for a full season. All hitters got slumps, but Judge had a notable regression after the all-star break. MVPs don’t regress like that. What’s funny about this is I remember people were saying Judge was robbed even before Fiers went to the Athletic. He wasn’t robbed at all because he didn’t deserve it.
I forgot to mention Judge’s hit totals: 99 in the first half and 55 in the second. First half of 2017: MVP caliber. Second half: Dave Kingman.
So the first half doesn’t count when evaluating for the MVP? Good to know.
So the second half doesn’t count when evaluating for the MVP? Good to know.
You’re the one discounting the first half. I’m not discounting his seconfd half, but it was still great. Judge had an OPS almost identical to Altuve in the second half, and had more bWAR than Altuve for the year.
Actually, I’m saying Judge wasn’t consistent for the whole season and therefore, wasn’t MVP worthy. For that, I need to call upon BOTH halfs of the season and I did. Therefore, it would make zero sense to discount the first half when his first half was GREAT. His second half was good, but that’s it. If he had been able to main that consistency, he would’ve been the 2017 MVP. After all, the MVP isn’t for half a season. Judge also had a much worse batting average and less hits in the second half of 2017.
His second half was better than good. His OPS was only .005 below Altuve’s.
“He gets on base a lot. Do I care if it’s a walk or a hit?”
-Billy Beane
“You do not.”
-Peter Brand
Agree to disagree. Find me an MVP that wasn’t consistent through out the season. I’ll wait while you cherry pick one stat.
Also, Altuve had a bunch of hitters around him. Judge stood almost alone while trying to carry the team. He and Sanchez were the only Yankees starters with an OPS over .800. Nearly every Houston starter was well over that. That’s why he was walked 66 times in the second half, and likely contributed to his lowered batting average.
“ Find me an MVP that wasn’t consistent through out the season.”
Cody Bellinger, 2019.
“ Find me an MVP that wasn’t consistent through out the season.”
Christian Yelich, 2018.
“ Find me an MVP that wasn’t consistent through out the season.”
Josh Donaldson, 2015.
“ Find me an MVP that wasn’t consistent through out the season.”
Mike Trout, 2014.
Altuve had three months at or over .900 OPS (two over 1.000) and three months under. Judge had four months over 1.000 OPS and two months under.
The color barrier has been long gone, but the fact that it was even a thing in the first place is a joke. Baseball lost its integrity a long time ago because of that and stuff like that. You’re wrong on Yellich and Donaldson. Neither of them regressed as much as Judge did. I know this because I actually looked up stats and splits for their respective MVP seasons. Bellinger did regress in the second half of 2019 so I’ll give you that, but his second half of 2019 is far and away better than Judge’s in 2017. In fact, the only one you might have a good argument for is Trout in 2014, since I can’t seem to find his season splits online. Saying “Altuve had a bunch of hitters around him” is basically discounting him just because he was on a better team. Well, I’ve seen people claim the Yankees were a better team in 2017 so if they were, guess what: Altuve having hitters around him doesn’t matter. Judge’s second half actually had 5 more walks than his first half, despite him hitting .300 in the first half.
What I mean by “Altuve having hitters doesn’t matter” is this: if the Yankees really were a better team like some claim, then that would include hitting. Also, Sterling Castro hit .300 for the Yankees in 2017 with 63 RBI. That’s actually not that bad. Gregorious hit .287 with 87 RBI. Good season right there. Headley was decent in 2017 as well. Judge didn’t carry them as much as you think he did. Of course Altuve had got more from his supporting cast, but counting that as a strike against him is ridiculous. You made a valid point earlier and that’s he benefit from his teammates cheating, which he did. I can understand thinking Altuve didn’t deserve the 2017 MVP in hindsight, but if you were to say Judge did, I’d say “you lost me”.
The Yankees offense other than Sanchez and Judge was pretty much a mess. What I meant by support is that Altuve would have gotten better pitches to hit because other teams couldn’t pitch around him. The Yankees didn’t have anyone else that pitchers needed to worry about. Judge walked a lot, and may have (I don’t have proof) swung at borderline/bad pitches in an effort to produce.
He had four outstanding (over 1.000 OPS) months, one very good (.847 OPS) month and one bad (.680 OPS) month. Altuve had two outstanding months, one great (.903 OPS) month and three very good months. I agree that Altuve was more consistent, but he was more consistent at a lower level. Other than a bad August by Judge, he was significantly outperformed.
Thank you for the peaceful discussion.
I hope the Stros make the world series and lose, and years later we find out that club that beat them was cheating. No punishment either.
Dodgers versus stros. Dodgers sweep
Imagine the irony of getting Trea Turner and Scherzer, only for the Dodgers to not make it to the world series.
Wow 10 posts in 45 minutes. Could be an record!
I could live with another WS appearance, win or lose.
Already happened, when Astros were cheated out of going to the World Series by the Red Sox 2018, they were using Apple watches to relay signs, Cora was the manager, was ringleader in showing Astros how to cheat then did the same with Red Sox
Haha so true!
muted puhl, had enough of the blind stro supporter
Me too
So basically, y’all can dish it out about trash cans and buzzers but you can’t handle it when it gets thrown back at you. Sounds like your butt hurt from getting beat by Houston and all you can say for yourself is well….trash cans and buzzers. LOL
Hey puhl don’t forget your garbage Trashtros lost to the Nationals in the World Series. Also what would you say if the Trashtros cheating scandal was brought to light in 5 years from now and after they lost to the Nationals it came out a year later that the Nationals cheated and the Trashtros we’re cheated out of a world Series title what would your response be? Remember this is after you would have thought that your Trashtros actually won a World Series legitimately.
You want a cookie? You are the one spamming this comment section.
muted
In other words, 8man and Tatsumaki got mad.
another garbage stro supporter muted. piece of trash
Guys are like the Karen’s that get all worked up on Instagram and then someone calls them on their stupidity – they reply “blocked!” Like it is supposed to be some big, grand thing.
Cheer up Dodger fans. Maybe MLB will declare another 60-game season and you can have a shot at winning another championship. As to a Astros/Dodgers WS in 2021… we are hoping for it. In the words of Roger Staubach… “We’ll see you chokers in the playoffs!”
Marwin hit .303 for the Astros in 2017. He hit .327 on the road without trash cans. His giant HR against the Dodgers in the WS was in LA.
When Dodger fans stop threatening and beating the hell out of opposing teams’ fans at their stadium they can call fans of other teams “classless.” Until then just whine amongst yourselves.
This is kind of a surprising move because he’s not going to displace Aledmys Diaz at the super utility role. Of course Gonzalez is still only 32 so it’s a potentially low risk high reward situation.
Thief. He stole $21,000,000 from the Twins never gets that deal without the bangs. Thief
I do not agree with nor condone cheating.
I feel everyone was doing it to some extent but the Astros were at a higher level.
I can not say Astro bashing over this is not fair or deserved.
However be accurate and be fair..
The Twins knew about all that before they signed him.
He did not steal anything.
Of all the Astros on the 2017 roster he and Gattis appear to have benefited more than any of the other players. The rest of the guys were good hitters before and after the scandal. At the end of the day Gonzalez still made 11 million bucks off that season.
True, he may have benefited from the Beltran system. But as somebody mentioned earlier he actually hit better on the road than he did at Minute Maid Park in ‘17. Either way, he doesn’t seem to be the same guy he was previously. It’s been a gradual slide and his numbers this year have really bottomed out.
I don’t know why some Astros fans feel the need to defend the cheaters. Just say “yeah, they cheated. It was horrible. They shouldn’t have done it. It disappoints me as a fan. They should be ashamed of themselves”.
I hear ya. But it’s unrealistic at the same time to think that athletes don’t cheat. That is no excuse of course. If you win you’re probably gonna get caught. I’m just not under the delusion that cheating is not widespread, because as an adult I think you realize that it is. I would love a clean sport. I wish the steroid era never happened. I also wish people would at least attempt to drive the speed limit. Wishful thinking, right? And I don’t think any of us has ever watched a football game where a yellow flag was not thrown. Players know they’re breaking the rules, they do it anyways.
Accepting cheating and saying “no big deal” is a cop-out. And I don’t believe everyone cheats. That’s just the argument used by cheaters and their fans.
Of course they cheated. However, I remember seeing destroyed furniture upon destroyed furniture on the way to work back in 2017. Most of us are a not ok with the fact that they cheated, but we ignore it for three reasons: 1. they lifted our city’s spirits. Don’t underestimate the impact a sports team can have on it’s city by winning it all. 2. before 2017, our city only had 2 major sports championships, with the two being the 1994 and 1995 NBA championships (some people feel like those should have asterisks by them due to Jordan not playing a full season and them not beating Jordan to get those championships. Perhaps it’s fitting Houston’s only baseball title would have an asterisk by it in the eyes of some fans as well.) and 3. we’re just fans. We don’t control what the Astros do. Honestly, most people outside of Houston don’t understand how we feel and they don’t care to understand nor do I expect them to.
I guess y’all did need it. houston is a crime ridden cesspool dump, so i feel for you there.
It really isn’t – for one of the biggest cities in the US, it’s really not so bad. Maybe 20th in crime for major cities. Has some real nice areas. Does get hot and humid…
I think your review was a bit harsh.
And your from Chicago? Murder capital of the United Sates?
Maybe a return to Houston is what Marwin needs to get going. He looked mostly disinterested near the end of his time in Boston. I don’t know if its because he knew it was the end or he just doesn’t have any competitive fire but he obviously must still want to play
But there’s really nowhere for him to play. I think he adds organizational depth and that’s about it. He basically prevents them from having to turn to Robel Garcia in the event of another injury – which truly is a good thing.
He literally plays almost every position and is a bench player so its not like they would be trying to find an everyday spot in the lineup
They already have Aledmys Diaz for that role and he’s doing a great job. Gonzalez is potential organizational depth at the AAA level for use in case of injury
What I’ve learned over the years is that the fans and the team are most hated. The players are hated as well unless they are good and get signed by your team. If a player stays with the Astros, they are to remain being hated no matter what. The only redeemable act is to leave the Astros. This is just my observations. I’m an Astros fan myself, and I know simply stating it makes people hate me already. It’s heartbreaking and inexcusable that my team cheated in 2017, but I’ll always carry the good with the bad. In 2017, we in Houston faced tragedy due to Harvey. The acquisition of Justin Verlander and subsequent playoff run after that gave us a joyous distraction. It felt unreal. I’ve always been an Astros fan and always will. I’m not gonna say your team was cheating too because of that there is no proof, but I do wish other fans could understand what this group meant to us. It’s understandable and fine to hate our team. I can’t measure to what effect the cheating had on our playoff run. Idk if it really did carry on in the playoffs. I’ll always cherish the memories although stained. Marwin, who clearly was a big beneficiary, should be welcomed back with open arms in Houston.
Trash can roll please
I ❤️ mute button
After thinking about this, I’m not excited at all about it. The fact is I wish they hadn’t brought him back in. As an Astros fan I remember that he left to make more money. There’s nothing wrong with that, but he left us, and now he’s sort of washed up. I think we could’ve taken a pass.
There’s also the fact that Aledmys Diaz has more than adequately filled the “super sub” role. I hope somebody in the organization told Diaz that this is not a threat, no disrespect intended. I think the whole purpose was to decide if he is an upgrade over what we have a AAA in the event of an injury.
I also wish the team had not signed him.
Look to the future, not the past.
I am sick of dealing with the cheating issues, but this is not a perfect world.
My opinion is that everyone was cheating HOWEVER just like most things the Astros pushed the envelope and maybe even crossed lines.
That’s the way Luhnow constructed the team and how they operated.
I wish that wasn’t the case but it is.
The team bucked tradition and made enemies throughout MLB. The commissioner and owners desperately wanted any scandal to go away.
The best way to do that was to Investigate and punish the Astros and then announce its over.
They could not punish players because of the CBA and union but also because it would keep the issue alive while various stories and appeals but also open other players on other teams to possible accusations and punishment.
In my opinion MLB and the owners are the real villains.
I acknowledge that the Astros were probably the worst offender, but not alone.
If MLB was brave enough to rip off the band aid and not make the Astros a pariah then we fans would be united and agree with each other rather than divided.
The Astros front office that implanted the cheating program has been fired and punished and is no longer part of the team.
Less than 25% of the current players were on the team then.
In 10 years, maybe 5 none of them will still be Astros.
I have been a fan of the Astros for over 40 years. I’m a fan of the Astros much more than individual players or eras.