Houston Astros - The Covid-19 Years (2020-2029)

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2020

Decade

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106

Titles:

Top Astros Players of the Twenty Twenties

2020 - WC def Twins, ALDS def A's, ALCS lost to Tampa

2021 - Won Division; ALDS def Chicago; ALCS def Boston; WS Lost to Atlanta

Pitchers:

2022 - Won Division; ALDS def Seattle; ALCS def Yankees; WS def Phillies

Framber Valdez (18.66) - 54

2023 -Won Division; ALDS def Twins; ALCS lost to Texas

Ryan Pressly (3.07) - 27

2024 - Won Division, Lost WC to Tigers

Hunter Brown (6.1) - 25

Justin Verlander (7.17) - 19

Ballpark:

Josh Hader (2.3) - 17

Minute Maid Park

Cristian Javier (7.78) - 17

Luis Garcia (4.28) - 15

Team Name:

Lance McCullers (5.2) - 13

Astros

Zack Greinke (2.32) - 10

Jose Urquidy (4.01) - 10

Owner:

Ronel Blanco (4.54) - 9

Jim Crane

Bryan Abreu (4.57) - 8

JP France (1.5) - 6

General Managers:

James Click (2020-2022)

Catchers:

Dana Brown (2023-25)

Yainer Diaz (9.03) - 24

Martin Maldonado (1.09) - 11

Managers:

Dusty Baker (2020-2023)

First Basemen:

Joe Espada (2024-2025)

Yulieski Gurriel (3.37) - 13

Christian Walker (0.2) - 4

Hall of Famers:

None

Second Basemen:

Jose Altuve (16.08) - 45

Rookie of the Year:

None

ShortStop:

Jeremy Pena (18.4) - 39

MVP

Carlos Correa (10.2) - 19

None

Third Base:

No Hitters:

Alex Bregman (16.74) - 32

2022 - (Javier, Neris, Pressly) Mets

Isaac Paredes (2.3) - 7

2022 - (Javier, Abreu, Montero, Pressly) Phillies

2023 - Framber Valdez

Outfield:

2024 - Ronel Blanco

Kyle Tucker (22.98) - 47

Yordan Alvarez (19.77) - 36

Cy Young:

Chas McCormick (7.22) - 22

2022 - Justin Verlander

Jake Meyers (7.53) - 19

Michael Brantley (5.41) - 12

Notable Events:

Mauricio Dubon (5.4) - 8

George Springer (1.91) - 7

2020 - After three consecutive 100 win seasons and five over .500, the Astros

crash to a 29-31 mark. Their runs scored and conceded totals are almost

Notable Events:

identical reflecting their mediocrity in the regular season. Houston did make it

to the post season for the fifth time in six years, however, and they made a nice

2024 - The Astros have a fairly inert off season. They take a pretty big hit in

post season run winning two series and taking Tampa to the seventh game of

their relief depth losing Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Ryan Stanek to free

the ALCS. On the heels of their sign stealing scandal, the post season run was

agency. However, they more than make up for the losses with the signing of

something of a vindication for Houston's hitters. It's hard to say what was more

lights out closer Josh Hader from the Padres. There is a sense of finality

of an indication of who the Astros reallywere at this point, their mediocre regular

in '24, however, as Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander are

season or their run to within one game of the World Series in the post season.

all in their FA walk years. The dynasty looks like it may be coming to an end.

It could be that the scorn and derision due to the sign stealing scandal affected

There are no star power youngsters in the minors like there have been in the

them negatively early on and then later turned around and spurred them on in

recent past that are going to step in and keep the line moving.

the post season in defiance. Or maybe not.

A major loss and another signal of the end is the retirement of manager

The regular season issues on offense could conceivably been caused by a

Dusty Baker, one of those managers that make a difference.

lack of sign stealing. Almost everyone's performance nosedived significantly.

He is replaced by Joe Espada.

However, they all hit really well in the post season. Who knows?

Meanwhile, on the mound, all the Astros lost for the '20 season were

Offense:

Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Wade Miley who went a combined 55-17

The 'Stros offense was clicking in '23 scoring 79 runs above the league

in '19. How do you survive that? It's a credit to Houston's organizational

average. Houston brings back everybody for one last rodeo.

depth of talent that they were able to cobble together a decent rotation

□ C Yainer Diaz, 25, '21 Trade from Cleveland , 23 60 .282

by expanding the role of some of their youngsters in '20.

□ 1B Jose Abreu, 37, '23 FA from White Sox, 18 90 .237

That being said, the pitching was nowhere near what it was in '19.

□ 2B Jose Altuve, 34, '07 IFA, 17 51 .311

RHP Verlander, 36, hurt his arm. RHP Cole, 28, signed with the Yankees as a

□ SS Jeremy Pena, 26, '18 3rd round pick, 10 52 .263

free agent. LHP Miley, 32, signed with the Reds as a free agent.

□ 3B Alex Bregman, 30, '15 2nd overall pick, 25 98 .262

Moving into their spots in the rotation were LHP Framber Valdez, 26;

□ OF Chas McCormick, 27, '17 21st round pick, 22 70 .273

RHP Cristian Javier, 25; RHP Jose Urquidy, 23; and RHP Lance McCullers, 26.

□ OF Kyle Tucker, 27, '15 draft 5th overall pick, 29 112 .284

Veteran RHP Zach Grienke was still around, altho' he aslo had some arm issues.

□ OF Mauricio Dubon, 29, '22 Trade from Giants, 10 46 .278

□ DH Yordan Alvarez, 27, '16 trade with Dodgers, 31 97 .293

□ Houston fans love owner Jim Crane. And with good reason.

□ OF Jake Meyers, 28, '17 draft 13th round pick, 10 33 .227

Under his stewardship since '12, the Astros have become a true powerhouse.

Crane's an athlete and a competitor. In college, he was a Division II All American

Pitching:

pitcher. His competitiveness went a little overboard with the sign stealiing

Houston's staff was shaky in '23 until Verlander was acquired and steadied

scandal. Altho' Crane never got officially charged with anything in the

the ship. Verlander, however, is forty one and at an age where he is now injury

scandal (in today's America, the big boys always go scot free), it's

prone. Pressly also lost his mojo last year as closer, but Houston picked up

impossible to believe that his fingerprints weren't all over it. That being

the best in the business with Josh Hader in free agency. The pitching should do

said, I don't take nearly as dim a view of what was done as most.

for the regular season but it is light on aces and relief depth for the post season.

The 'stros crossed the line, for sure, but non electronic sign stealing

□ LHP Framber Valdez, 30, '15 IFA, 12-11 3.45

is considered an art form and tech stuff like analytics is worshipped in

□ RHP Cristian Javier, 276, '15 IFA, 10-5 4.56

this day and age. The sign stealing scandal was just a matter of

□ RHP JP France, 29, '18 14th round pick, 11-6 3.83

going a little overboard on both fronts.

□ RHP Hunter Brown, 25, '19 5th round pick, 11-13 5.09

□ RHP Justin Verlander, 41, '23 Trade from Mets, 7-3 3.31

□ GM Jeff Luhnow was the architect of the great Astros teams of the late

□ Closer Josh Hader, 30, '24 FA from Padres, 2-3 1.28 33 saves

teens. Luhnow was suspended for the '20 season for his part in the sign

□ Closer Ryan Pressly, 354, '18 trade from Twins, 4-5 3.58 31 saves

stealing scandal, but that doesn't take away from his truly masterful

□ Righty Reliever Bryan Abreu, 27, '13 IFA, 3-2 1.75 5 saves

accomplishments. Luhnow is currently suing saying that he had no

□ RHP Ronel Blanco, 30, '16 IFA, 2-1 4.50

knowledge of what was going on and was a scapegoat.

James Click is the new GM. He's got a tough act to follow.

2025 - Houston won the Division for the seventh time in eight years and

made the playoffs for the ninth time in ten years. After battling back from

□ AJ Hinch had guided Houston through their bludgeoning of the opposition

a horrific 12-24 start and clawing their way into the playoffs, Houston

from '15 thru '19. He obviously did a good job, but was banned from baseball

got dumped in the wild card round by the Tigers. A spate of injuries

in '20 for his part in the scandal. As soon as his suspension was over, the

contributed to the bad start.

Detroit Tigers signed him to a three year contract. Houston didn't do so bad

A very bad sign for the Astros moving forward, however, is that they traded

either, signing Dusty Baker as his replacement. Dusty is top of the line.

away superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker prior to his walk year because

they weren't planning to pay him. Frugality and winning are, by and large,

2021 - Seven year starting CF George Springer, 30, signs with Toronto as FA

not mentioned in the same sentence. They also did not re-sign star 3B

Ace Justin Verlander, 37, is out for the season with injuries

Alex Bregman and lost him to the Red Sox in free agency. No bueno.

Houston wasn't completely dormant as they signed 1B Christian Walker, 33,

2021 - Order is restored and the Astros win the Division. Houston also has a

from the Diamondbacks.

deep run in the playoffs culminating in a loss in the WS to Atlanta.

Houston is still the favorite to win the Division in 2025.

The hitters, who slumped in '20, regain their form and the young pitchers

up their games with a year of experience under their belt. Valdez, Urquidy,

2025 Pitching:

Javier and McCullers combine for a 36-15 mark and newcomer Luis Garcia, 24,

Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and Cristian Javier (injured

adds an 11-8 to the mix.

last year) is a quality rotation. The bullpen is solid with Josh Hader,

Bryan Abreu, Tayler Scott, and Seth Martinez.

2022 - Seven year starting SS Carlos Correa, 27, signs with the Twins as FA

Ace Zach Greinke, 37, leaves for KC as a FA. He was 11-6 in '21 but isn't missed.

2025 Hitting:

Losing Tucker and Bregman hurts. Hurts to the point where Houston will now

2022 - Fifth straight Division title (omitting partial covid seaon) and sixth straight

have to rely on the pitching to carry them into the post season because the

appearance in ALCS. The 'Stros put the icing on the cake beating the Phillies in

lineup is no longer anything special. DH Yordan Alvarez, 28, is one of the

the World Series. They also top the 100 win mark for the fourth time in the streak.

best hitters in the game, has been for several years. Thirty five year old

Houston batters slug 214 home runs while the pitching dominates.

2B Jose Altuve is on the decline and the only other special player in the

Verlander comes back after missing two seasons and, at age 38, goes 18-4.

lineup is twenty six year old catcher Yainer Diaz, special as a hitter compared

The youngsters (Vadez, Javier, Urquidy and Garcia) combine for a 56-31 mark.

to other catchers. There are some promising youngsters but it's unfair

to them to compare them to what the Astros used to trot out on the field.

2023 - Ace RPH Justin Verlander, 39, signs with the Mets as a free agent.

Cam Smith, the first rounder picked up from the Cubs for Tucker, figures

to be a mainstay in the lineup in the future as the Astros prepare to re-tool.

2023 - Houston is a true dynasty. Five straight division titles (if you forget about

the partial covid season) and six straight appearances in the ALCS with a

couple of World Series titles coming into the '23 season.

Houston slides sixteen games in the standings from 106-56 to 90-72,

but still win the division and make it to the ALCS to continue their streaks

before losing to WS champs Texas. The sixteen game slide is a bit concerning

moving forward, however.

2023 - Justin Verlander is acquired from the Mets at the trade deadline.

Verlander solidifies the Astro rotation and enables them to catch up to and pass

the Rangers and win the Division race. Only it all goes for naught as Houston

drops a tight seven game ALCS series with the Rangers. Houston ends up 90-72.

Their run totals indicated a 93-69 mark, but Closer Ryan Pressly had slipped

in '23 and the 'Stros were losing a bit more than their share of close ones.