But this leaves open the question of why isn't the rest of the league affected by this? Are the Astros pitchers the ONLY people who use the top of the zone? And a bunch of these guys are new to the team anyway and didn't grow up in this system. Imai, for example, should be throwing whatever he threw in Japan.
Could it have to do with spin? The ABS is a 2 dimensional plane through the middle of the plate. Pitches that get 1-8 inches of the plate but only at the front, due to the break ARE strikes but ABS recognizes them as balls. Umpires may have adjusted to this to avoid challenges by simply calling them balls when they would have been strikes last year. They need a system that can measure 3 dimensions of the entire plate. Or change the rules.
They just need to settle on what a strike is or is not ... and stick with it. Maybe the Astros were exploiting catcher framing (or some such) and now need to change their pitching "system" to take advantage of the new ABS strike zone. Given the zone is now middle of the plate (instead of front of plate) high curve balls at the top of the new zone might be the new exploitable advantage, since hitter are used to thos curves being called a ball?
Throwing 4SFB up in the zone has been a pillar of Houston's pitching approach for a decade and one of the main reasons for their success. If ABS punishes that pitch type/shape, it would make sense that the Astros would suffer more than other teams.
He didn't say anything about other teams, and I agree, not knowing if it is affecting other teams his crucial. I got the impression that he wasn't just talking about the Astros though.
My fix: Trade low level prospect for Jose Urquidy (easier transition due to familiarity, low salary, pitching in bullpen in Pit) Rotation for now: Mike Burrows Lance McCullers Spencer Arrighetti Jason Alexander Miguel Ullola Jose Urquidy (will need to stretch out) Then as guys come back you send Urquidy to long relief or Ullola to SL. I would also like to try Jayden Murray in a closer situation for a little bit and see what he can do. I saw enough from Abreu last year to know he can't close. If they just get some innings from the starters and cut out the walks the offense can carry them for a bit.
There’s a silver lining to this that it allows them to go back to a 5 man rotation and carry an extra bullpen arm. But yeah if Imai is seriously injured that’s a brutal blow. My opinion is that if Hunter Brown will be out past May then the season was over regardless of who else is hurt.
This franchise is a joke. Blame Jim & Dana (& those below in the pecking order of the org). Roster is a slap in the face to fans… cant even put out a quality product on the field. I wont come close to respecting them nor this team until we can sweep at absolute minimum 2 consecutive series (to make up for the horrible last 3) — AND when the clubhouse mgr makes competent decisions with assertion/aggression & not just pacifying the players. Fvck the incompetence & ignorance, top-down.
Pirates are leading their division and Jose is a key part of their pen. I don't think they are gonna trade him for a low level prospect
IF Brown is out past May, the Astros are toast... and Brown needs to have a conversation about trading some guys in season, and sending out other guys to scout the minor league systems around the league. The Astros have some very valuable pieces that they can move, and they also want to optimize their draft position.
This season is reminding me of 2007, when we just fell off a cliff after six winning seasons. Solid all-star position player veterans that were producing (Berkman/Yordan) An aging second baseman (Biggio/Altuve) A young upstart outfielder (Pence/Smith) Guys that were previously productive but fell off (Ensberg, Jason Lane/Yainer) Signings that were decent but not worth the cost (Lee/Walker) A once dominant reliever no longer playable (Lidge/Abreu) Not enough pitching (Oswalt and nobody else - in 2007 the issue was the signing of Woody Williams and Jason Jennings turned out to be dog crap, now it's injuries knocking out rotation thin) Talent, but too many deficiencies to overcome.
Very good insight. And at the 2007 deadline, Houston should have: Traded Ensberg, Lee, Loretta, Scott, Lamb, Oswalt, Lidge, Williams, Jennings, and Wheeler for prospects Extended Pence, Berkman, and Wandy Tanked to raise their 2008 draft position Then in the 2007-2008 offseason, Houston should have signed short term free agents to fill in their holes to build around Berkman and Pence and their prospects. They could have run out virtually the same roster as they really did in 2008 minus Lee, Tejada, and Oswalt, except they would have had one of the best farm systems in the league. That would have made 2008-2014 WAY less painful.
Where the hell is Spencer Arrighetti? As of April 2026, Spencer Arrighetti is dominating for Triple-A Sugar Land with a 1.26 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. Despite opening the season in the minors, he is considered a top rotation replacement for the Houston Astros following injuries to starters. He is a highly recommended fantasy baseball waiver wire addition due to his high strikeout potential DD
He will be on 5 days rest Wednesday and that's when he will make his first start of the year. Gordon starts tomorrow.
