***** 2024 Houston Astros Season Thread ***** [Staff Warning]
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Buck Compton
9:44a, 5/8/24
In reply to Mathguy64
Mathguy64 said:

n_touch said:

texasaggie2015 said:

So much of baseball is mental and I think a lot of the struggles we're seeing are the results of pressing. That's no excuse obviously- just my two cents.
This to me is Breg's biggest issue. Great eye at the plate but the contact is off. Add in all the other things going on with him this year, he has an uphill battle. His goal was a big contract and every at bat chips away at that yearly amount.
Bregman needs to admit his approach and personal hitting guy are his problem. Find someone else to try something different. Golfers change swing coaches all the time to rework things. Hell Tiger did it three times, once after winning everything and being the best in the world. You also have to be willing to trust the hitting coach and do what they say. He's too invested in his own ideas.
Not just Tiger. Hell, this started in baseball with one of the best to ever do it.

Babe Ruth was swinging the equivalent of a tree trunk at like 56 ounces or something stupid. He hit 11 HRs and led the league. He then proceeded to lighten his bat to something in the 40s and change his swing approach a bit and discovered he could hit far more HRs. He was literally at the top of the game and changed things up to get better. (I still wonder what Ruth could have done with a properly end-weighted and lighter bat similar to those used today)

It should be even easier to admit this and change when you are struggling.
cc10106
9:45a, 5/8/24
"This is a good team." - Dana on 790

tjack16
9:46a, 5/8/24
In reply to cc10106
cc10106 said:

"This is a good team." - Dana on 790




Jimbo said that a lot too
cc10106
9:48a, 5/8/24
In reply to tjack16
At least he called Alex out.
texasaggie2015
9:48a, 5/8/24
In reply to cc10106
cc10106 said:

"This is a good team." - Dana on 790


Again, he's never going to say anything other than that.
texasaggie2015
9:49a, 5/8/24
In reply to Buck Compton
The unfortunate thing is that big adjustments in your swing are almost impossible to make during the season. Example: Jeremy Pena last year.
W
9:50a, 5/8/24
remember that the leadership and complacency issues were already going on last September when the Astros lost 3 series to the Royals and A's during a pennant chase

not to mention the losing record at Minute Maid Park

the Astros did just enough last year to cover up those problems -- but they didn't go away
_veeyah_
9:51a, 5/8/24
In reply to txags92
txags92 said:

Mathguy64 said:

n_touch said:

texasaggie2015 said:

So much of baseball is mental and I think a lot of the struggles we're seeing are the results of pressing. That's no excuse obviously- just my two cents.
This to me is Breg's biggest issue. Great eye at the plate but the contact is off. Add in all the other things going on with him this year, he has an uphill battle. His goal was a big contract and every at bat chips away at that yearly amount.
Bregman needs to admit his approach and personal hitting guy are his problem. Find someone else to try something different. Golfers change swing coaches all the time to rework things. Hell Tiger did it three times, once after winning everything and being the best in the world. You also have to be willing to trust the hitting coach and do what they say. He's too invested in his own ideas.
As a senior leader on the team, I would expect Bregman to recognize how much he is killing our run scoring opportunities hitting behind Yordan, and approach Espada about being moved down in the lineup.
Didn't we all think Maldy would do the same thing last year and approach Dusty and let Diaz play, I think for some of these players its too much pride. This is when the true leaders of the team can and should approach the manager and tell him. Tuve and Yordan should be the ones doing it, it might be uncomfortable for them but hey at this point they should try something different.
Boiling Denim
9:54a, 5/8/24
In reply to Mathguy64
Mathguy64 said:



Fix the back of the pen and you have a chance to correct things. Flip the luck with the bats and you can correct things.


I'm seriously questioning if this organization has the tools to "fix" anything on the fly anymore. Pena, Framber, Javier, Montero, Abreu last season. Half the team this season.

The only fixing that comes is during an offseason or major injury where they get time to reset.

In the past we had strong analytics, strong coaching and strong leadership as support tools. Those have all been gutted or have become complacent.

I don't think the likes of Cintron, Snitker and Miller forgot how to coach but I also don't think we're getting their best work. Are these guys now fighting with a hand tied behind their backs because of decisions made by ownership?

cc10106
9:55a, 5/8/24
In reply to texasaggie2015
texasaggie2015 said:

cc10106 said:

"This is a good team." - Dana on 790


Again, he's never going to say anything other than that.
"This is a good team that needs to play like it" would have been better.

I know Dana's in a tough spot, and I'm glad some callers spoke up about others trying to blame him.
texasaggie2015
9:59a, 5/8/24
One last thing I want to say about Alex Bregman..

I've seen a lot of posts saying things like "if he wasn't so worried about his salsa..."

There's nobody on this team (and maybe even the entire league) who spends more time working on his craft than Alex. I can actually speak to this first hand. The dude has an obsession with baseball.

I think at times it hurts him.

He spends so much time working and tinkering with his swing. And when he struggles he starts tinkering even more. And then he starts thinking.

You can't think and hit a baseball. Hitting is simply reacting. Once you start thinking, you're toast. Golf is a good analogy for this I think. You'll hit the best shot of your life and start thinking about how you can recreate it on your next shot.. and then you shank the hell out of it.

I think a lot of his struggles come from this. Why hasn't he changed his hitting coach or learned to find something that works and stick with it? I can't speak to that unfortunately.

Combine all of this with the extra pressure that comes with a struggling team and a contract year.. and it's not a good recipe to say the least. He is so far in his own head.

I'm not defending his struggles. I'm not saying he should continue to bat cleanup. I'm simply just explaining where I think his struggles come from, so please don't think I'm defending his performance. Nobody is above criticism on this team.
EastCoastAgNc
10:01a, 5/8/24
In reply to texasaggie2015
He was at his best in 2022 after his son was born and he had that distraction outside of baseball. He had less time to obsess over baseball and he hit much better.
Beau Holder
10:03a, 5/8/24
In reply to _veeyah_
_veeyah_ said:

txags92 said:

Mathguy64 said:

n_touch said:

texasaggie2015 said:

So much of baseball is mental and I think a lot of the struggles we're seeing are the results of pressing. That's no excuse obviously- just my two cents.
This to me is Breg's biggest issue. Great eye at the plate but the contact is off. Add in all the other things going on with him this year, he has an uphill battle. His goal was a big contract and every at bat chips away at that yearly amount.
Bregman needs to admit his approach and personal hitting guy are his problem. Find someone else to try something different. Golfers change swing coaches all the time to rework things. Hell Tiger did it three times, once after winning everything and being the best in the world. You also have to be willing to trust the hitting coach and do what they say. He's too invested in his own ideas.
As a senior leader on the team, I would expect Bregman to recognize how much he is killing our run scoring opportunities hitting behind Yordan, and approach Espada about being moved down in the lineup.
Didn't we all think Maldy would do the same thing last year and approach Dusty and let Diaz play, I think for some of these players its too much pride. This is when the true leaders of the team can and should approach the manager and tell him. Tuve and Yordan should be the ones doing it, it might be uncomfortable for them but hey at this point they should try something different.

There are no leaders on this team.

But in light of this it does give you newfound appreciation for Abreu being the only person to have enough care and humility to offer or take needed change.

If Bregman is 4 (or 2) again today, Espada is willingly going down with the ship.
BayAg_14
10:06a, 5/8/24
Nvmd.
CFTXAG10
10:07a, 5/8/24
In reply to BayAg_14
Brother sent me this early this morning. McCullers is spot on.
cc10106
10:09a, 5/8/24
The Alex Verdugo trade is looking like a good one for NY despite it being for only one year. Astros-related because I know we wanted him.
Booma94
10:10a, 5/8/24
In reply to Beau Holder
Beau Holder said:


There are no leaders on this team.

But in light of this it does give you newfound appreciation for Abreu being the only person to have enough care and humility to offer or take needed change.

If Bregman is 4 (or 2) again today, Espada is willingly going down with the ship.
I don't know if it is in his character, but Tucker is the guy who has the potential to step up. There was a series when he spiked a bat and played with a chip on his shoulder and the team had a little spark. I get that forced bravado is faux bravado, but I think if Tucker would become a little more vocal he could fill what appears to be a void.
TRM
10:12a, 5/8/24
jakeaggie84
10:13a, 5/8/24
Confession time. I was in Louisiana for spring break and put my remaining BETMGM balance of $127 on the Astros to win the World Series. My bad. Always happens with my sports betting. Should have put it on the rangers or dodgers.
Wabs
10:13a, 5/8/24
I'd like to see something like this today:

1. Altuve 2B
2. Pena SS
3. Yordan DH
4. Tucker RF
5. Diaz C
6. Singleton 1B
7. Bregman 3B
8. Dubon CF
9. Loperfido LF
texasaggie2015
10:17a, 5/8/24
In reply to TRM
TRM said:


Very highly coveted international signing. He's definitely a work in progress but he has a lot of exciting tools. Esmil Valencia is another name to keep an eye on down there.
Buck Compton
10:19a, 5/8/24
In reply to texasaggie2015
texasaggie2015 said:

The unfortunate thing is that big adjustments in your swing are almost impossible to make during the season. Example: Jeremy Pena last year.
Very true. It's extremely difficult. But even new "swing thoughts" can help a lot. Or maybe it is more about making it a "lack of swing thoughts" for him and just focus more on instincts. And just find small tweaks that can help that extra 2-3%. Difficult to get much worse, honestly. (Because I don't see Bregman suddenly turning into Abreu)

I don't think it's work ethic with him.
Big Bucks
10:21a, 5/8/24
In reply to texasaggie2015
"Don't think, you'll only hurt yourself and the ball club." Crash Davis
_veeyah_
10:26a, 5/8/24
In reply to Booma94
Booma94 said:

Beau Holder said:


There are no leaders on this team.

But in light of this it does give you newfound appreciation for Abreu being the only person to have enough care and humility to offer or take needed change.

If Bregman is 4 (or 2) again today, Espada is willingly going down with the ship.
I don't know if it is in his character, but Tucker is the guy who has the potential to step up. There was a series when he spiked a bat and played with a chip on his shoulder and the team had a little spark. I get that forced bravado is faux bravado, but I think if Tucker would become a little more vocal he could fill what appears to be a void.
I know for some of them is out of character or is not in them to actually speak up but at what point do they realize and be like oh **** I need to say something. Tucker does have the potential and the team will follow, it was against the rangers(I think) when Yordan got beaned and Tucker hit a HR did a crazy batflip and stared the pitcher down. The ream will definitely follow him.
AustinCountyAg
10:43a, 5/8/24
someone needs to send about 25 of the fattest escorts available in NYC to there hotel this morning along with a keg of beer. get drunk and bang some fatties to fix the struggle bus
MaxPower
10:54a, 5/8/24
In reply to EastCoastAgNc
EastCoastAgNc said:

He was at his best in 2022 after his son was born and he had that distraction outside of baseball. He had less time to obsess over baseball and he hit much better.
Ah yes, I too remember when my son turned 2, got a job and moved out of the house so I didn't have the distraction of parenting to deal with anymore.
Marvin
11:02a, 5/8/24
In reply to EastCoastAgNc
EastCoastAgNc said:

He was at his best in 2022 after his son was born and he had that distraction outside of baseball. He had less time to obsess over baseball and he hit much better.

So, he needs to think about salsa even more?
I love Texas Aggie sports, but I love Texas A&M more.
mwm
12:35p, 5/8/24
In reply to texasaggie2015
"You can't think and hit a baseball."

Exactly. Spot on. Truth. 100%.
n_touch
12:46p, 5/8/24
In reply to MaxPower
MaxPower said:

EastCoastAgNc said:

He was at his best in 2022 after his son was born and he had that distraction outside of baseball. He had less time to obsess over baseball and he hit much better.
Ah yes, I too remember when my son turned 2, got a job and moved out of the house so I didn't have the distraction of parenting to deal with anymore.


Either Im reading it wrong or you are
EastCoastAgNc
12:49p, 5/8/24
In reply to n_touch
n_touch said:

MaxPower said:

EastCoastAgNc said:

He was at his best in 2022 after his son was born and he had that distraction outside of baseball. He had less time to obsess over baseball and he hit much better.
Ah yes, I too remember when my son turned 2, got a job and moved out of the house so I didn't have the distraction of parenting to deal with anymore.


Either Im reading it wrong or you are

He's reading it wrong
tjack16
12:49p, 5/8/24
Rally baby was fun while it lasted but the team has now fallen to 5-4

That was our Linsanity run
MaxPower
12:59p, 5/8/24
In reply to EastCoastAgNc
Nope. He still has a 2 year old at home. If you think that isn't a distraction then you've never had kids. Thus your original argument that having a kid was a good distraction is invalid.
Wabs
1:06p, 5/8/24
In reply to tjack16
tjack16 said:

Rally baby was fun while it lasted but the team has now fallen to 5-4

That was our Linsanity run
You shouldn't hold it against your daughter. She had no idea she was going to be asked to be a miracle worker on Day 1.
Mr.Bond
1:07p, 5/8/24
Proof is in the pudding when it comes to kids. Look at Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, etc. It absolutely plays a role in a lot of cases
Im looking for Ray Finkle.... and a clean pair of shorts. Im just a very big Finkle fan. This is my Graceland, sir.




EastCoastAgNc
1:12p, 5/8/24
In reply to MaxPower
MaxPower said:

Nope. He still has a 2 year old at home. If you think that isn't a distraction then you've never had kids. Thus your original argument that having a kid was a good distraction is invalid.
I don't have kids, but I assume the first child being born was something that diverted his attention from obsessing over baseball 24-7 just enough to remove some of the pressure he was experiencing. Maybe some of that slips back in over time and he's back where he started. Who knows.
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