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The Expensive Bullpen Era is Dead. Long Live the Expensive Bullpen Era.
The Astros sunk a ton of resources in veteran contracts and trade costs since 2016. The need to spend bigger on regulars in the near future means that…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
Ryan Pressly’s Gonna Cut You Down
Thanks to adjustments made by the Astros player development program, Astros managers came to rely on Ryan Pressly to get them out of the biggest jams…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
1
Should Altuve Move Off Of Second Base?
Jose Altuve's defensive abilities declined gradually for several years and then rapidly in 2024 primarily due to aging. He is likely to move to the…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
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Why is Jose Abreu Returning to the Active Roster? Two Words: Jim Crane
 • Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
How Much Luxury Tax Will Jim Crane Pay? A Small Shopping List; My Offseason Preview
 • Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
2
Yuli Gurriel Has Declined And Should Be Moved to the Bench
 • Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
Why the Impending Free Agency of Alex Bregman Feels More Ominous Than Those of Previous Golden Era Astros
 • Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
6
Ryan Pressly’s Gonna Cut You Down
 • Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
1
The Year of the Turnaround
 • Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
2
Will Paredes and Walker Help the Astros Get Back Their Lost "Offensive Identity?"
The new additions to the lineup make better than average swing decisions. The problem is that they are replacing two hitters who make even better swing…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
A Well Executed Offseason Plan. But It's Not a Good Plan.
Christian Walker addresses a big hole with an good player on a good contract. But this win now move does not fit well with the win in the future trade…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
Dana Brown at the Helm
The Kyle Tucker trade indicates that Dana Brown is the primary baseball decision maker for the Astros. I'm skeptical that he made the right decision…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
Stuck in the Middle?
The Astros faced a choice between going for it in 2025 or resetting to improve in the future. In dealing Kyle Tucker for major league talent, they chose…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
1
The Astros Direction This Offseason is Unclear.
There is a case for the Astros to go for it in 2025 and spend money to do so. There is also a case to trade an impending free agent for future value…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
What Is the Astros "Offensive Identity" That They "Got Away From" in 2024?
The Astros have been a high-contact, low walk rate team in recent years. But they took that to new levels in 2024, and need to get back to better strike…
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
2
Will Billy Wagner Get a Final Year Bump in Hall of Fame Voting?
Wagner only needs a small bump in his vote share to win induction to Cooperstown. Fortunately for him, most final year candidates get such a bump.
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Orange Fire (Brian Arbour IRL)
Orange Fire
Orange Fire
Analysis and opinion on the Houston Astros.
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