Well, that was certainly a gut punch of a loss. The events from the bottom of the tenth inning in this game are going to be stuck in my mind for a while.
I apologize in advance, but I can’t bury the ending deep in this recap. Honestly, I am just ripping the Band-Aid off: bases loaded, no outs, leading to no runs. A prime opportunity to win a game, and even this series against the Orioles, is now out the window. And, in typical Astros fashion, Baltimore scores two runs in the eleventh inning to take a 4-2 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
What a miserable way to lose a game. And I’m already in a foul mood about this team, so please send Zach Dezenzo back to Sugar Land now to get a message across.
This series against the Orioles has proven quite damaging for the Astros. Not only did the loss on Friday prevent them from gaining ground on the Rangers and Mariners, but both of those division rivals also won on Saturday. Texas now leads Houston by four games for the division lead, with Seattle also ahead by 2.5 games. Not to mention that Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker were also both removed from the game due to injuries. Things aren’t looking good at the moment.
Was there anything positive about this game? I guess so.
Spencer Arrighetti looked much more competent Saturday afternoon, possibly due to a step back with his left foot or additional rest. Honestly, it was probably both.
Arrighetti’s velocity was noticeably higher across the board, and it showed in the results, limiting the Orioles to one run in five innings. Struck out six. He also walked four, so Arrighetti isn’t out of the woods yet. But, considering the alternative, it could’ve been worse.
Let’s see, what else?
Yordan Alvarez is a deserving MVP candidate, driving in the tying run in the tenth before his teammates forgot how to hit even a sacrifice fly. AJ Blubaugh struck out three. Bryan Abreu’s fastball velocity was up to nearly 98 mph. Josh Hader also struck out three. Lucas Spence had two hits and scored a run, as did Dezenzo, but I’d still send him back to Sugar Land for not running out of the box. I’m sorry, but that lack of hustle left me legitimately ticked off.
What else can I say other than that this roster, as constructed, isn’t good enough to win? I’d normally say that this front office should entertain the idea of selling by the trade deadline, but Dana Brown’s contract status makes that option a doubtful one. I think this team will largely stand pat, especially if the turnaround doesn’t happen soon. But if these first two games of the second “half” are any indication, I don’t have particularly high hopes for the next two-and-a-half months of the season.
Feature photo from Astros on X
Just by looking at the score boxes in the last two games we can see that the Astros are hitting more hits, taking more BB, making less errors, and scoring less runs. Losing both games. Let’s change the perspective? The Orioles are doing more with less, and winning.
We need to do more with what we have. What do we do at the deadline to accomplish that?
They do more with less, and win. We do less with more, and lose. What we can realistically do at the deadline is not going to change our underachievement. Not even another Kikuchi-esque trade.
I’m ready to cash in the Astros’ expiring and short term contracts. Abreu, Walker, Paredes, and even Peña and Okert should be shopped. This team is 2 good (3 WARish) starters and a very good outfielder (one that can run a wrc+ 130 reliably) and maybe a reliever or two away from being able to make the playoffs and win a series. And if you want a shot at the WS you need to upgrade at least one of those starters to a 5 WAR ace… maybe both because Hunter’s been looking rough.
The past 4 or 5 years of plugging holes in the dam with our fingers is no longer sustainable. We need a real 3-5 year plan. No more patches. No more jumbled ideas like selling Tucker but rolling with Bregman and Valdez and getting nothing. Even if the Prospects don’t workout, at least they MIGHT work out, unlike the current roster.