Division Finish: WINNER
How Does it End: Champ? WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
Team MVP: Yordan Alvarez
Team Cy Young: Bill Hader. I know his name's not really Bill Hader, but I'm calling him that, and I've got 300 Bill Hader gifs to post when he is destroying people so let me live my life.
Biggest Suprise(s): Yordan stays healthy ,plays 154 games, wins MVP, and makes a push for the triple crown.
Biggest Disappointment(s): The guy who has Jake Meyers in the defend game doesn't post enough Zach Morris gifs for my taste
A Random Hot Take(s): Clock strikes midnight and Team Home Depot misses the playoffs entirely.
My D.C./Stros plan for next month fell through so I'm hoping to catch them elsewhere. Going to Cincy later in September the weekend of Bourbon & Beyond, but I will be a neutral observer. It's the Pirates so maybe they'll brawl again like they used to. I try to visit 2 stadiums ever year for the first time.Thinice said:
Anyone catching the boys on the road this year?
I'm planning to knock out 3 of my remaining 6 stadiums to complete my ballpark quest:
@ Detroit 5/11-5/12
@ Minnesota 7/5-7/7
@ Cincinnati 9/4-9/5
BREAKING: Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2024
They're buying out 2 year of arbitration and paying Smith until he's 38. Its more like a tack-on of 8/120 M for ages 31 thru 38. He's been ~4 WAR player over the last 3 seasons. I think this is pretty fair for both sides.
This is something we should think about with Yainer in a year or two.
Not going to happen, but I'm not opposed to cutting 2-3 weeks off the beginning of the season and starting baseball in mid-late April.Farmer1906 said:
Get a roof.#OpeningDay Update: pic.twitter.com/KSeY6hVtVj
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 27, 2024
Division Finish: 1st place
How Does it End: WS Champion
Team MVP: Yordan Alvarez
Team Cy Young: Justin Verlander
General takes:
I'm incredibly bullish on the Astros this year. At the most basic level, we're a much different team when Altuve and Yordan are in the lineup. Our struggles last year can largely be attributed to the time one or both of them missed.
Excited to see us optimize our offensive personnel via playing matchups and hitting guys in their appropriate spots in the order. Let's see how the engine performs when it's fully revved up. Ridding the Dusty lineup card stank will go along way, as will having guys like Pena, Meyers and Dubon relegated to the 8-9 spots in the order. IMO those guys are all strong as 8-9 hitters and wouldn't be surprised if one of them performs his way to a higher slot.
Overall, I have very little concern about the offense. Same with the back-end of the bullpen (duh).
My one concern is how our starting pitching performs the first few weeks of the season. I made two predictions above (94 wins and 103 wins). The difference between the two will be visible in mid/late April:
- 94 wins - Our starters struggle to get deep into games and guys like Bielak, Martinez and Mushinski are forced to bridge too many innings early in the year. We end up having to call up a AAA reinforcement or two because those three are taxed. JV gets back and we're 9-13 and sliding. We end up grinding for much of the year.
- 103 wins - Framber sets the tone early and appears to have his ace stuff back. The rest of the staff consistently gets us into the sixth. JV gets back and we're 15-7. If the early returns on our starting pitching are good, I think we cruise.
The good news is that I think our offense will be ready to help win us a few games early in the year (unlike early 2023). France, Blanco and Brown will benefit from entering their second full seasons. And a full offseason of rest should also help, as will the chip on shoulder from how last year ended.
A few other random takes
- I think our two headline 2022-23 offseason signings (Montero and Abreu) will have bounce back years
- I think Dubon will be an everyday part of our playoff lineup
- BLANK-ZERO. That is all.
I guess that's my hot take.
Division Finish: 1st place
Playoffs: WS appearance
Team MVP: Kyle Tucker
Team Cy Young: Framber Valdez... duh
Biggest Surprise(s):
- Meyers posts a higher OPS+ than McCormick
- Pena hits 15 HR
Biggest Disappointment(s):
- LMJ does not pitch
- Espada proves that Dusty cost us a WS last year (good for '24, sucks for '23).
A Random Hot Take(s):
- Tucker joins the 30/30 list.
- Montero will be cut or traded.
I don't care if he doesn't hit a single home run as long as he has an above average on base percentage and batting average.Marvin said:
Biggest Surprise(s):Pena hits 15 HR
Final Record: 100-62
Division Finish: Winner
How Does it End: Third WS Ring
Team MVP: Air Yordan
Team Cy Young: Framber
Biggest Suprise(s): Abreu returns to his old White Sox glory days self after getting an offseason to cure his lingering injuries. Hits 25+ homers.
Biggest Disappointment(s): Im going JV. I think Father Time finally catches up to him.
A Random Hot Take(s): Jeremy Pena rebounds from his sophomore slump in BIG way!
Max Scherzer progressing well. Chris Young says he’s guessing Scherzer won’t be placed on the 60-day IL. Which suggests a possible return in May.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 27, 2024
Farmer1906 said:Max Scherzer progressing well. Chris Young says he’s guessing Scherzer won’t be placed on the 60-day IL. Which suggests a possible return in May.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 27, 2024
If he starts earlier, that just means he'll be more run down by the time playoffs come around.
Not sure it's a hot take when he's gone 30/25 and 29/30 the last two years.Marvin said:
A Random Hot Take(s):
- Tucker joins the 30/30 list.
Division Finish: Winner
How Does it End: WS loss to Dodgers (gross)
Team MVP: Yordan
Team Cy Young: Javier
Biggest Suprise(s): Jake Meyers takes the next step and contributes in a big way. Dylan Coleman figures out the control issues and turns into a reliable bullpen arm.
Biggest Disappointment(s): Jeremy Pena never really takes the next step at the plate. JV is fine, but no longer the dominant JV he once was.
A Random Hot Take(s): Jake Meyers has a better year at the plate than Chas McCormick.
Farmer1906 said:
Dodgers with another big extensionBREAKING: Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2024
They're buying out 2 year of arbitration and paying Smith until he's 38. Its more like a tack-on of 8/120 M for ages 31 thru 38. He's been ~4 WAR player over the last 3 seasons. I think this is pretty fair for both sides.
This is something we should think about with Yainer in a year or two.
He won't be a catcher until he's 38. How much of that WAR is his defense?
Farmer1906 said:Max Scherzer progressing well. Chris Young says he’s guessing Scherzer won’t be placed on the 60-day IL. Which suggests a possible return in May.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 27, 2024
Then he will be broken again in August.
Mathguy64 said:Farmer1906 said:
Dodgers with another big extensionBREAKING: Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 27, 2024
They're buying out 2 year of arbitration and paying Smith until he's 38. Its more like a tack-on of 8/120 M for ages 31 thru 38. He's been ~4 WAR player over the last 3 seasons. I think this is pretty fair for both sides.
This is something we should think about with Yainer in a year or two.
He won't be a catcher until he's 38. How much of that WAR is his defense?
A good chunk but that's why it's very reasonable 14 M and not 32 M like 4 WAR would suggest.
Josh Hader's agent who negotiated his five-year, $95 million deal with the Astros this winter — the largest free-agent deal of Jim Crane's ownership tenure. https://t.co/HUdG83pvjj
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 27, 2024
Division Finish: 1st
How Does it End: Altuve raising the trophy again
Team MVP: Altuve
Team Cy Young: Javier
Biggest Suprise(s): Hunter Brown and JP France both become reliable starters by May and Espada plays even more small ball than we expect!
Biggest Disappointment(s): Framber
A Random Hot Take(s): Is it a hot take to think we win the division by over 10 games?
Penn Murfee had Tommy John surgery last June, so he won't be a factor until the second half of the season.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 27, 2024
Isn't this the dude that pena hit the game 3 homer off of?
EastCoastAgNc said:Josh Hader's agent who negotiated his five-year, $95 million deal with the Astros this winter — the largest free-agent deal of Jim Crane's ownership tenure. https://t.co/HUdG83pvjj
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 27, 2024
Chandler can't even write a complete sentence anymore.
Dude has a ridiculously effective sweeper. Why not.EastCoastAgNc said:Penn Murfee had Tommy John surgery last June, so he won't be a factor until the second half of the season.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 27, 2024
Isn't this the dude that pena hit the game 3 homer off of?
Edit: basically a righty specialist.
You ready H-Town? pic.twitter.com/bQ3jwLOsrK
— Houston Astros (@astros) March 27, 2024
Which teams have the best building blocks for the present and imminent future?
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 27, 2024
FOX Sports' @DeeshaThosar and @RowanKavner ranked their top 10 according to their top eight players under 28. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FKhMrJdk33
Quote:
4. Houston Astros
Yordan lvarez, DH/OF, 27
Kyle Tucker, OF, 27
Cristian Javier, RHP, 27
Bryan Abreu, RHP, 27
Jeremy Peña, SS, 26
Yainer Diaz, C, 25
Hunter Brown, RHP, 25
Jacob Melton, OF, 23
Here's where the above ages come into play. Look at the stars on this top eight, and the Astros have a strong argument for the top spot. Both lvarez and Tucker are coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons. lvarez is arguably the most feared hitter in the sport when healthy. Tucker posted an OPS over .800 each of the past five years and has been worth more than 5 bWAR in the past three. This year will also be a great chance for Daz to solidify his place as one of the top-hitting catchers in the sport after a breakout rookie campaign (.282/.308/.538) in a more limited role.
With all that said, half of the players listed here are 27 years old, and with a farm system that leaves a lot to be desired, the drop-off is steep once those players graduate from this list next season. While Houston has managed to mine some gems from the minors in recent years Chas McCormick, a 21st-round pick in 2017, has an argument to be a top-20 outfielder this year there doesn't appear to be much franchise-altering talent on the way at the upper levels. Keep an eye on Melton, the Astros' top prospect who mashed 22 home runs and stole 46 bases between high-A and Double-A last season.
From the Astros about opening day: The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by five-time All-Star, 2022 World Series Champion and recently retired Astros great Michael Brantley. The Play Ball call will be made by multi-platinum rapper 50 Cent.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) March 27, 2024
Way market collapsed on FAs, now is the time to approach guys regarding early extensions. Boras overplayed his hand this offseason. Thought he was being methodical slotting his less desirable guys on certain Clubs. Did well on guys like Maeda. Disaster for Monty & Chapman.
— MLBExecutiveBurner (@HotStoveintel) March 27, 2024
I agree with this. Go talk to Bregman & Tucker. See if some magic can happen before the first weekend of the season ends.
I think I would offer Breggy the same deal Altuve got.
I know texasaggie2015 mentioned being interested in them so he has first dibs.
Section 128 down first baseline, row 30 and both have a $15 loaded value on them for concessions
Josh Reddick will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Friday before the second game of the season.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 27, 2024