The Houston Astros Are In For a Long 2020 Season
The Houston Astros might be in for a long 2020 season. The Spring Training season is underway and in five games so far the Astros have been heckled by fans, booed at stadiums they play at and seven betters have been hit by a pitch. The latest Astro to get drilled was Jose Altuve. He got nicked by a pitch in a game against the tigers.
George Springer got booed in a game against the Mets. The heckling by fans has gotten so bad the fans have been banging on trash cans. And on the first day of spring training there were some fans that had signs taken away it was so bad.
George Springer tried to dismiss the heckling by fans by saying it's " just a expression and we will have a great season"
New Astros manager Dusty Baker has said that Springer will be his leadoff hitter this season. Can the Astros recover form the sign-stealing scandal that cost former Astros Manager A.J. Hinch his job.
I have some concerns about the pitching staff. The Astros lost Gerrit Cole to the Yankees during the offseason. Justin Verlander and ZackGrenkie are getting into their mid to late 30's so keep that in mind. Verlander had an ERA under 3.00 for most of the season. But his postseason numbers are not that much to brag about.
Zack Grenkie, led the team in ERA after he came over form the Arizona Diamondbacks during the trade deadline form last year. So yes I have concerns in the pitching department.
The hitting is still the same as usual, Jose Altuve is still hitting long balls and George Springer is leading off this season.
According to 538.com the Houston Astros are projected to win 97-98 games in 2020, last year the Astros won 107 games during the season.
Despite all of that the sign-stealing scandal will haunt them in my opinion. Derek Jeter called the scandal " a black eye for baseball.
David Ross has called for the 2017 Astros be stripped of their World Series Crown. And he called it a " Horrible moment for Baseball."
Here's my take..
Major League Baseball may have just done something that has gone beyond the game. They let the Astros keep their 2017 World Series Crown. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred defended his decision to let the Astros keep their title. I think Rob Manfred needs his head examined and he needs to take his name off of the Commissioner's trophy that is handed to the winner of the fall classic every year. Manfred messed up big time by letting the Astros keep their title. They should have to vacate their 2017 World Series title and they should give back those World Series rings.
The Astros are the favorites in the eyes of many to win it all again, however this scandal will haunt them for the rest of their lives. Yes they are projected to win 97-98 games. But if spring training is any indication, the Astros are in for a very long 2020 season.
Bottom Line..
