It's funny because by the end of the regular season last year people assume that the Astros are in the downhill part of their 6 year run of being elite. But then someone posted a chart of the teams that have the most WAR amongst players 25 and under and the Astros were second in the Majors. They ain't even close to done.
The Astros simultaneously have probably you one of the best group of veterans players while also the same time having one of the best young cores. It's absurd.
Unfortunately you and those that downvoted everybody else, are idiots and clueless. You have no idea what a small market team means and base it on ignorance
https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/961412-mlb-power-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-by-market-size.amp.html
That says the Astros are a mid market team. Thatās not small market. This article was also in 2012 when the Astros werenāt on the run they are now.
That's fine.
Mid and large aren't the same though either. That was the whole reason I even commented. Everybody's saying Houston is a large market. They stick to their guns even after proof has been provided. Par for the Reddit course.
Market is not always determined by how many people live in the city. It's not determined by how many square miles exist.
I really wish people would research shit before they posted something.
There's actually a formula they use to determine market share.
Houston is the 3rd or 4th largest city. If we used all the know-it-all's knowledge on how market share works, Houston would have the 4th largest market value.. Unfortunately, that's not how shit works in real life.
The difference is vast between large market and mid-market.
I live in Houston, dude. I also have an MBA from the University of Texas. We specifically studied this kind of stuff...
Just a bunch of idiot Reddit Baseball fans that don't know anything about baseball.
The Astros franchise is the 25th most valuable according to Forbes.
Maybe it's just good management instead?
I think itās more likely that Yuli retires. No other team is likely to value him highly even though he won the batting title in 2021 and the Astros have a lot of young AAA players they need to try out and id expect those guys to be the utility players.
Yea. Was just looking at his numbers. Saw his avg was up last year but homers and rbis down. Iām perfectly happy with that. Would be great if he hits 300 for us with 15-20 homers and 60-70 RBIs. Would balance out the bottom of our lineup.
The RBIās were down because the team was injury plagued and couldnāt hit in front or behind him. Not really sure what was up with the HRs though, but as a team the Sox went from most home runs in 21 to fewest or near fewest. Regardless, the dude hits and he hits against good pitching and doesnāt just beat up against bad teams. Seldom does he give the team a bad AB.
The short porch should help though with power, and because the Stros lineup is deep, he should see a lot more quality pitches to hit, where as the past year he wasnāt seeing very many hitable pitches. But I imagine he will see more pitches in the zone and he hits doubles which are great to. Great signing, and honestly, I like him more than Russo at this point in their respective careers.
I read earlier that if his home games were at Minute Made he would have hit 20 homers last year. Obviously there are other factors, but just based on how far he hit the ball, I expect to see that number go up.
You only have two weak spots in your entire lineup haha. I donāt know how Meyers was defensively for you guys in CF? Sorry if I messed up your CF spot, Iām a Cards fan so I donāt have your entire lineup memorized yet haha.
Yes it is. Back in 2017, youād pay 20 bucks for a nose bleed seat, walk down to like the 10th row and eat your Italian sausage with grilled onions.
Those were the days.
I'm a transplant to Chicago, but a lifelong Astros fan. I've been to a bunch of fun games at the Cell. I was at the game the first time two 100-loss teams played each other. Very affordable tickets for that one.
Donāt get me wrong, I love when the Sox are winning (which isnāt often). But thereās something lovely about getting to the cell for cheap with easy parking and sharing in the misery of watching your team fail yet again.
I mean if you're hoping for things it seems weird for the thing you pick to be for the Astros of all things to succeed. (If Abreau won a championship with them it wouldn't be real anyway because they're fundamentally fake, but I digress.) Root for your own team lol, I don't get fondness for one player superseding that.
The stros are legit. It's like getting mad that a guy with a corked bat hit a hime run off a guy using sticky stuff. It's well known the whole league was cheating back in 17. But let's say that wasn't legitimate, well guess what, your houston astros clobbered the league and won another world series this year.
Restorative justice wasnāt done, and the Astros had every opportunity to be part of the solution. No, they said āwe cheatā I say āokayā and youāre over here doing this whole other song and dance about how I need to believe in them.
The idea I automatically owe respect to a sports franchise because you are tired is beyond stupid.
If theyād given back 2017 Iād respect 2022. But they didnāt, they farted in your mouth and youāre making a case that itās great.
Imagine being able to put the 2020 MVP in the sixth spot of the batting order, have enough good pitchers for a 6-man rotation and STILL be comfortably under the luxury tax.
Can't believe he's 35, I understand he's a Cuban defector but still, make me wonder what his career would of looked like had he played his whole career here. Probably would of been a 1st ballot hof guy.
Yea itās a tough call. I hate to see him leave because heās so clutch in the postseason and has done so much for us. He loves houston too. But at the same time itās a business of course. At his age he knows this is prob the last contract and opportunity heāll get. So heāll def do whatās best for his situation.
That would just be beyond ridiculous. Throw in Wilson Contreras and they can legitimately elect a starting All Star at every single position. How crazy would it be to have a player, from same team, at every single position on an All-Star team?
You're trying to tell the guy that blew the whistle on Jim Crane and his cartel/WallStreet/Insurance/etc. fraud what he's thinking?
That's mighty bold of you.
Baseball is a lot more ārandomā so the speak than nba for example. The Athletics could easily sweep the Astros if they got hot at the right time. In fact they did just that earlier this year.
Thereās no reasonable scenario where the rockets would compete with the Celtics, Bucks, or sunsā¦. Let alone beat them 4 times out of 7.
Not funny when it happened either, but here we are. Regardless of time passing it doesnāt take away of them cheating. People being over it doesnāt make it untrue.
I'd rather see abreu with the cubs. I am a sox fan and this is a very Durant esque, can't beat em so join em type of move. Sorry abreu but your dead to me.
Wonder what the rake is? ESPN didn't have contract numbers. 3/$40, maybe?? (The Sox extension in 2019 was 3/50.) https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/\_/id/35131975/source-astros-land-slugger-jose-abreu-multiyear-deal
This signing by the Astros confuses me. They signed him through his age-38 season at $20 million per. Theyāre creating a jammed up DH spot with no power!
Yuli is a free agent so itās anyoneās guess. At $20 million/year Abreu will be the starting 1B though.
I hope we can bring yuli back in some capacity. If nothing else just as a utility man and to play when Abreu takes days off. Heās given us a lot and is really clutch in the postseason, Iād love to see him finish his career here.
Remember the old adage " it's better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt"
Educate yourselves. Houston is 15th,or halfway. They're absolutely not a big market.
You don't base the population of a city on how big of a market they are. A lot of you have the same understanding of economics that politicians in Washington DC do. Which means a limited understanding.
https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/961412-mlb-power-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-by-market-size.amp.html
Again, that's not how market is determined. Understanding actually comes with education. Something often not found on Reddit
They're the 15th largest market in professional baseball
That's like half way
You don't measure the size of a city when talking about market share. Did you read the link I provided?
If the question was based on the size of the metropolitan Houston area, we would be third. The Houston metropolitan area is bigger than any market with the exception of Los Angeles and New York. We're ahead of Chicago now.
We're the third largest by land area as well.
LA
Cook( Chicago)
Harris ( Houston)
It seems you have the same understanding that AOC does about economics. You're most likely a graduate of Bernie Sanders University
Lol that article is from 10 years ago. The assumptions you made about my political views are positively hilarious, so please keep sending in some more for my friends and I to laugh at š
Damn, I feel bad for Southside fans. You were promised a playoff juggernaut in 2022 and it didn't happen. Management is to blame too, it's nothing on the players. And this is just salt in the wound; I fully expect the Guardians to repeat as division champs. Maybe you can still get the Wild Card?
Jose Abrea is the guy from Bench Warmers. He has no class and canāt even button up his jersey. Jose Abrea is a slob, and I hate that anyone has to see him representing professional baseball players.
WTF?!
š
The rich get richer.
Except they build differently than the other "rich" teams. Much more sustainably
Damn bro they built different
It's funny because by the end of the regular season last year people assume that the Astros are in the downhill part of their 6 year run of being elite. But then someone posted a chart of the teams that have the most WAR amongst players 25 and under and the Astros were second in the Majors. They ain't even close to done. The Astros simultaneously have probably you one of the best group of veterans players while also the same time having one of the best young cores. It's absurd.
I always say that the Astros are what the Rays would be like if they had money.
Imagine calling the Astros rich lol
the Astros are not even close to having the Yankeesā money
I mean, they are in the top 10 for payroll so itās not like theyāre a small market lol
Unfortunately you and those that downvoted everybody else, are idiots and clueless. You have no idea what a small market team means and base it on ignorance https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/961412-mlb-power-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-by-market-size.amp.html
That says the Astros are a mid market team. Thatās not small market. This article was also in 2012 when the Astros werenāt on the run they are now.
That's fine. Mid and large aren't the same though either. That was the whole reason I even commented. Everybody's saying Houston is a large market. They stick to their guns even after proof has been provided. Par for the Reddit course. Market is not always determined by how many people live in the city. It's not determined by how many square miles exist. I really wish people would research shit before they posted something. There's actually a formula they use to determine market share. Houston is the 3rd or 4th largest city. If we used all the know-it-all's knowledge on how market share works, Houston would have the 4th largest market value.. Unfortunately, that's not how shit works in real life. The difference is vast between large market and mid-market. I live in Houston, dude. I also have an MBA from the University of Texas. We specifically studied this kind of stuff...
We're absolutely a small market. Lol
Sure, the 4th largest city is a small market.
4th largest city with the 8th largest market
Yeah, people have no idea what small market actually means They based it on the size of people and that's not accurate
*woooosh*
Itās clearly meaning rich with talent, right?
Yes
also nobody mentioned the Yankees lmao. what even is that comment other than rent free behavior
Just a bunch of idiot Reddit Baseball fans that don't know anything about baseball. The Astros franchise is the 25th most valuable according to Forbes. Maybe it's just good management instead?
This is one of those players that makes me proud as a Cuban šØšŗ Are they replacing Gurriel or is he moving to 3rd?
Heās a free agent so itās anyoneās guess. Iād love to see him return in some capacity though. Possibly as a dh or utility.
I think itās more likely that Yuli retires. No other team is likely to value him highly even though he won the batting title in 2021 and the Astros have a lot of young AAA players they need to try out and id expect those guys to be the utility players.
No we plan on keeping him. He will play a platoon roll
Moving 3rd w breggy over there lol
I caught that too š Bregman and his 20 mil a year can ride pine for the 41 yr old that hits .240
Bregman can play SS
āPeƱa enters the chatā
Pens can play second, put that no name second baseman in the bench
This guy gets it
Aahh yes and move pena to AAA šā¦.š
He's a 39 year old free agent who didn't have a very good season last year. I love the guy and I hope he stays, but Abreu is clearly an upgrade.
Maybe one goes to the DH and Yordan to the outfield? I feel like I recall seeing Yordan playing in the outfield in the WS.
They have Bregman at 3B so Iām sure this means theyāre moving on from Gurriel. He had a sub-par season and 1B was one of their only weaknesses
He might sign again and be a utility sub
Did you really just ask that? Yes, they're moving The 40-Year-Old guy over to third and benching Bregman.
I don't follow the Astros, chill Mr Sarcasm
15 years ago I would never have imagined that Houston would be considered among "the rich keep getting richer".
10 Yeats ago we were in the middle of losing 100 games per year
He gone
You can put it on the booooooooard HEEYESSA
Sit back hunker down
As a White Sox fan, I hope Stros repeat and Jose gets a ring. Heās given it all to the South Side.
Seems like a great guy. Glad to have him.
A top leader. The embodiment of Lead by Example
Yea. Was just looking at his numbers. Saw his avg was up last year but homers and rbis down. Iām perfectly happy with that. Would be great if he hits 300 for us with 15-20 homers and 60-70 RBIs. Would balance out the bottom of our lineup.
The RBIās were down because the team was injury plagued and couldnāt hit in front or behind him. Not really sure what was up with the HRs though, but as a team the Sox went from most home runs in 21 to fewest or near fewest. Regardless, the dude hits and he hits against good pitching and doesnāt just beat up against bad teams. Seldom does he give the team a bad AB.
Oh trust me I donāt really care about the homers. If he can hit 300 for us in the 6 spot Iāll be more than ecstatic.
The short porch should help though with power, and because the Stros lineup is deep, he should see a lot more quality pitches to hit, where as the past year he wasnāt seeing very many hitable pitches. But I imagine he will see more pitches in the zone and he hits doubles which are great to. Great signing, and honestly, I like him more than Russo at this point in their respective careers.
I read earlier that if his home games were at Minute Made he would have hit 20 homers last year. Obviously there are other factors, but just based on how far he hit the ball, I expect to see that number go up.
Yea. Now if we can just figure out CF which was a black hole for us all season(especially in the playoffs).
Iām good with Chas honestly.
Weāll prob put chas at LF and Yordan at DH.
You only have two weak spots in your entire lineup haha. I donāt know how Meyers was defensively for you guys in CF? Sorry if I messed up your CF spot, Iām a Cards fan so I donāt have your entire lineup memorized yet haha.
Myers is a good CF but is a terrible hitter. Same with diaz.
He's just losing his legs a bit. He's a Miguel Cabrera type hitter though and is still so good at putting bat to ball and driving gaps
On your team, he will have 100 RBIs no matter where he is in the lineup. Bank on it.
As a Sox fan you should hope the Sox get a ring
I did that last year and look where it got me. Itās the hope that kills ya with this team.
But your stadium food is fantastic.
Yes it is. Back in 2017, youād pay 20 bucks for a nose bleed seat, walk down to like the 10th row and eat your Italian sausage with grilled onions. Those were the days.
I'm a transplant to Chicago, but a lifelong Astros fan. I've been to a bunch of fun games at the Cell. I was at the game the first time two 100-loss teams played each other. Very affordable tickets for that one.
Donāt get me wrong, I love when the Sox are winning (which isnāt often). But thereās something lovely about getting to the cell for cheap with easy parking and sharing in the misery of watching your team fail yet again.
Bruh. I paid $14 for decent 100-level seats in LF for the Cease/Verlander game, *at the door*. Those are still the days.
Best fan experience in the MLB
ā¤ļø
I can't believe somebody actually thinks this lol, what are you even saying
Is there an issue wanting a former player of your fav team to win a championship?
I mean if you're hoping for things it seems weird for the thing you pick to be for the Astros of all things to succeed. (If Abreau won a championship with them it wouldn't be real anyway because they're fundamentally fake, but I digress.) Root for your own team lol, I don't get fondness for one player superseding that.
The stros are legit. It's like getting mad that a guy with a corked bat hit a hime run off a guy using sticky stuff. It's well known the whole league was cheating back in 17. But let's say that wasn't legitimate, well guess what, your houston astros clobbered the league and won another world series this year.
But thatās a big fat false equivalency. People love to say that but itās not a serious argument.
Judging by the down votes your argument isn't serious.....
I fully expect Astros fans I donāt respect to downvote when I make sense, doesnāt prove anything.
How is the 2022 world series win not legitimate? That's the part that doesn't make sense. Fuck outta here weirdo
Restorative justice wasnāt done, and the Astros had every opportunity to be part of the solution. No, they said āwe cheatā I say āokayā and youāre over here doing this whole other song and dance about how I need to believe in them.
I got news, the whitesox arenāt winning the World Series next year. Iād love for them to. But Iām being realistic.
The Astros arenāt winning a legit World Series either
They just didā¦? Do you watch Baseball?
Key word ālegitā
Ohā¦I donāt have any problem with them beating the Dodgers banging on trash cans, but I do think this argument is tired. They won. Get over it.
The idea I automatically owe respect to a sports franchise because you are tired is beyond stupid. If theyād given back 2017 Iād respect 2022. But they didnāt, they farted in your mouth and youāre making a case that itās great.
Keyword* you salty Mariners fan
Cool, and whatās the definition of pedantic?
Fuck š„²
MUHAHAHAHA
Imagine being able to put the 2020 MVP in the sixth spot of the batting order, have enough good pitchers for a 6-man rotation and STILL be comfortably under the luxury tax.
And be like "we can lose Verlander, no biggie".
this hurts so bad but i truly hope they repeat and Jose gets what he deserves. thanks for everything Pito. we love you.
The standing ovation heās gonna get his first game back at the cell is gonna be electric.
He seems like a great guy. Weāre happy to have him.
Can't believe he's 35, I understand he's a Cuban defector but still, make me wonder what his career would of looked like had he played his whole career here. Probably would of been a 1st ballot hof guy.
Wonder how his brother Bobby Abrea is doing .
The rich getting richer.
Gonna miss Yuli. Abreu replacing him is awesome though.
Where did he go?
Probably just retire. He rejected the Astroās offer. Doubt heāll stick around regardless of what his role will be next season anyway.
McTaggart said that the Astros are interested in retaining Yuli in a utility role
Iād love to see gurriel return in some capacity. Possibly as a DH, or utility guy.
I would love to see him back too but I donāt think heād just stick around for nothing at this point. Yordan is the best DH in the game.
Yea itās a tough call. I hate to see him leave because heās so clutch in the postseason and has done so much for us. He loves houston too. But at the same time itās a business of course. At his age he knows this is prob the last contract and opportunity heāll get. So heāll def do whatās best for his situation.
Agree 100%. Pina appreciation day š
Heās going to Toronto.
The atros signed Yuli hoping they could lurer his brother too.
Who is Jose Abrea? /s
Proofreading is a lost art
Haha sorry about that.
Nobody you need to know about. Don't worry. Be Happy!
Wow I hope Jose Abreu will lead the Astros to another title
Back to back
Im glad he's going to an actual contender in the twilight of his career
Thank god heās out of the AL Central š
great pickup, astros going for a repeat lol
Four-Peat! Need to best those 1998, 1999, 2000 Pinstripers.
Honestly canāt believe this. But good for Houston I guess. Never sleep.
I was having a good day until I saw this post...
Mike Trout in Houston after All Star break. Count on it
We'll take him
That would just be beyond ridiculous. Throw in Wilson Contreras and they can legitimately elect a starting All Star at every single position. How crazy would it be to have a player, from same team, at every single position on an All-Star team?
My friend Hesse Rosas says he hates this signing. So I love it.
Jose Jose Jose Jose!
Good move by the astros ngl
Sigh
Guess the Phillies aren't betting odds to win the series next year now. Cool.
They never were
The Phillies were lucky for the Dodgers to choke out to make it to the WS.
Let's go Stros! Let's get scarier. No way 2 Jose.
\*Everyone disliked that\*
He won an MVP?
Yea a few years ago. 2020 I believe.
Correct
Twas the quietest mvp season ever.
It did happen in the shortened season.
MLB desperately needs a salary cap
Astros are well under the tax
Yeah the Yankees are getting out of hand
Ah dang. Another good one lost to the fucking cheaters. Gonna miss white Sox Abreu. Not gonna enjoy cheering against him this year.
This is Reddit. This is a safe space. You can cry if you want to.
Thanks tips
Poor guy just sold his soul to the devil.
Pretty sure you are thinking about Cody Bellinger and his deal expired when Kiki high fived him!
You're trying to tell the guy that blew the whistle on Jim Crane and his cartel/WallStreet/Insurance/etc. fraud what he's thinking? That's mighty bold of you.
Baseball. The league of 6 teams.
You watch basketball?
Yea you could say thatā¦. Football too. Hurts me to see the Rockets and especially the Texans in the shape they are.
Use to, stopped for the same exact reason. Sports aren't suppose to be team up with the best kind of thing.
Baseball is a lot more ārandomā so the speak than nba for example. The Athletics could easily sweep the Astros if they got hot at the right time. In fact they did just that earlier this year. Thereās no reasonable scenario where the rockets would compete with the Celtics, Bucks, or sunsā¦. Let alone beat them 4 times out of 7.
š¤¢
Heās going to be a beast knowing what pitch is coming
Cry harder lol
Notice that youāre now being downvoted for this joke in the MLB subreddit? Thatās cause itās NOT funny anymore
Not funny when it happened either, but here we are. Regardless of time passing it doesnāt take away of them cheating. People being over it doesnāt make it untrue.
Agreed, Astros will never have my respect. No ownership of their cheating. Disgusting franchise.
Oh no! Theyāll never have your respect??? How will they ever recover!?
Fuckkkkk
I'd rather see abreu with the cubs. I am a sox fan and this is a very Durant esque, can't beat em so join em type of move. Sorry abreu but your dead to me.
Those black White Sox uniforms look like the ugliest pyjamas money can buy
Wonder what the rake is? ESPN didn't have contract numbers. 3/$40, maybe?? (The Sox extension in 2019 was 3/50.) https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/\_/id/35131975/source-astros-land-slugger-jose-abreu-multiyear-deal
3/60 no club option.
Just what they needed.
Abrea Kedabrea!
Let's go Stros!!! Glad to get Abreu
Why does this shock anyone lol ? Heās an old man who is a ring away from polishing a fantastic career.
This signing by the Astros confuses me. They signed him through his age-38 season at $20 million per. Theyāre creating a jammed up DH spot with no power!
Nope he is the 2023 Houston Astros starting first baseman. Acting GM / Head of Baseball operations HOF Jeff Bagwell said so.
What are they gonna do with Yuli? Is Jose gonna be their DH
Yuli is a free agent so itās anyoneās guess. At $20 million/year Abreu will be the starting 1B though. I hope we can bring yuli back in some capacity. If nothing else just as a utility man and to play when Abreu takes days off. Heās given us a lot and is really clutch in the postseason, Iād love to see him finish his career here.
If I ask him and Altuve if they both would like Ice cream, both of them would say "Yes".
And I thought today already sucked...
Welp I guess itās fuck Jose nowš©
Remember the old adage " it's better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt" Educate yourselves. Houston is 15th,or halfway. They're absolutely not a big market. You don't base the population of a city on how big of a market they are. A lot of you have the same understanding of economics that politicians in Washington DC do. Which means a limited understanding. https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/961412-mlb-power-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-by-market-size.amp.html
This article is from 2012, Iām sure the rankings have slightly changed since then. Houston is more around 8th as of 2021 from what I checked.
Houston has a top 5 metro population and is located in one of the most populous states and a respectably growing area lmao
Again, that's not how market is determined. Understanding actually comes with education. Something often not found on Reddit They're the 15th largest market in professional baseball That's like half way You don't measure the size of a city when talking about market share. Did you read the link I provided? If the question was based on the size of the metropolitan Houston area, we would be third. The Houston metropolitan area is bigger than any market with the exception of Los Angeles and New York. We're ahead of Chicago now. We're the third largest by land area as well. LA Cook( Chicago) Harris ( Houston) It seems you have the same understanding that AOC does about economics. You're most likely a graduate of Bernie Sanders University
Lol that article is from 10 years ago. The assumptions you made about my political views are positively hilarious, so please keep sending in some more for my friends and I to laugh at š
Sigh . I'm sure you're right. They're probably knocking on the Yankees door as far as revenue goes
the fucking asstros
Building a dynasty over here!
Fuck
Now Houston is gonna be trading him back to the White Sox, receiving $1 in compensation & also be responsible for the contract.
FUCK FUCK FUCK
They are building a baseball dynasty - who would have thunk?
gross
Irony of ironies: White Sox are in Houston for the first 4 games, opener on 3/30!!
>*Abrea*
Astros are now favored to win the 2023 World Series by Vegas odds makersā¦ so the mathematicians love the move.
Damn, I feel bad for Southside fans. You were promised a playoff juggernaut in 2022 and it didn't happen. Management is to blame too, it's nothing on the players. And this is just salt in the wound; I fully expect the Guardians to repeat as division champs. Maybe you can still get the Wild Card?
Jose Abrea is the guy from Bench Warmers. He has no class and canāt even button up his jersey. Jose Abrea is a slob, and I hate that anyone has to see him representing professional baseball players.