Fair warning to all of you fans.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Fair warning...
Go off the deep end (already happened)...

[bpj]

Yeah nobody here believes its WS or bust - especially the FO. If they did they would re-sign Polanco, sign Bregman, and trade for Duran. Instead they signed Naylor and trying to see if they can get Polanco for cheap and have basically called it an offseason already. The chatter of we love Canzone and Robles in RF, and Young at 2B and Williamson/Emerson at 3B says its just status quo for them.

Personally, I love Canzone/Robles in RF. I'd bet we have one of the best OF's in MLB next season if they keep it intact.

I'd be happy with them as our everyday guys in LF and RF even. With Raley as a #5? I love it.

They need to upgrade at 2B and 3B, even if just to push the kids to force their way up, but they're in the best position since 2001 imo.

[DavidGee24]

That's what I dread, that this could be the closest we ever get. Just because we have a good team doesn't mean we'll take that "next step". Look at the Detroit Lions, they had the best team in the NFL last year, lost their first playoff game, and this season they're 7-5 and might not even make the playoffs.

And of course our 2001 team which was The Best Team Of All Time. Tomorrow definitely was not promised to that team.

[Michael K.]

Now that it’s all about World Series or bust, here’s the thing.

We all remember the 2001 season, when the 116 win squad struggled to get past the first round.

As for this year, you can thank the idiot manager of the Tigers, who pulled the unhittable Skubal too early, for keeping the Mariners alive.

This against the Tigers, who were putrid toward the end of the season.

We were also a pitch or two from beating the Blue Jays who were a pitch or two from beating the Dodgers. Not sure I see our playoffs as a glass half empty thing. I think Dan messed up game 7 against the Blue Jays, but I also look for him to grow as a manager.

And of course, nothing is static, from year to year.

The Ms could win 90 and miss the playoffs, the chance of the Astros turning into a AAA team for the second half of the season, next year, like this year, hard to imagine.

And if Cal returns to human form and hits “just” 40 home runs, how will that affect the team performance?

This is a great forum, I just don’t want any of you to go off the deep end if your expectations are not realized.

All valid points. I do believe the Astros are on the downhill slide, but we do know they have no fear of spending or trading to add talent. Lets hope that a full year of Naylor, maybe getting to prime Julio earlier than the All Star break, and a healthy full season of Polanco or someone similar might make it less necessary to have 60 HR Cal? I also look forward to the chances of this rotation becoming the best in baseball again.

[D-train]

Yes in the rotation has to be healthier than last season. Maybe not as healthy as 2024 but somewhere in between 2024 and 2025 would go a long ways to winning more than 90 games.

[DavidGee24]

Personally, I love Canzone/Robles in RF. I'd bet we have one of the best OF's in MLB next season if they keep it intact.

I'd be happy with them as our everyday guys in LF and RF even. With Raley as a #5? I love it.

They need to upgrade at 2B and 3B, even if just to push the kids to force their way up, but they're in the best position since 2001 imo.

Interesting situation with those two. Robles had a big second half in 2024, Canzone had a big second half in 2025. Robles had an awful 2025 (to be fair, that injury probably messed up his season). Both of them were black holes in the postseason.

Hopefully they can be at least close to what they've shown us and didn't sell us a big bill of goods. I do think that at least Canzone will have a strong 2026.

[D-train]

Personally, I love Canzone/Robles in RF. I'd bet we have one of the best OF's in MLB next season if they keep it intact.

I'd be happy with them as our everyday guys in LF and RF even. With Raley as a #5? I love it.

They need to upgrade at 2B and 3B, even if just to push the kids to force their way up, but they're in the best position since 2001 imo.

Interesting situation with those two. Robles had a big second half in 2024, Canzone had a big second half in 2025. Robles had an awful 2025 (to be fair, that injury probably messed up his season). Both of them were black holes in the postseason.

Hopefully they can be at least close to what they've shown us and didn't sell us a big bill of goods. I do think that at least Canzone will have a strong 2026.

And Raley repeats his 2023 or 2024.