Off-Topic Forum

Still reeling from the Verlander news, but hopefully a World Series win for Houston will help lift all of that region's spirits after Harvey''s devastation. I'll miss JV though and I hope he gets the ring he deserves.

Signed,

A broken hearted Tigers fan

With the Blue Jays out of it (I had predicted a "at best, .500 ball club - they will finish even worse than that), I hope the Astros finally get the championship they deserve.  Verlander should help in that quest.

What?  Northern love for the'Stros? This sort of reminds me of the Big Unit being traded to Houston at the trading deadline in the late'90s. That one didn't get is there (think Kevin Brown), but hopefully this trade will. 

I do feel really bad for Houston, but I wouldn't feel bad if my Diamondbacks took out the Astros in the World Series.  Of course, we need to win the stupid wild card game first.  And Sportzcommish, I for one can certainly appreciate the Big Unit.  

My dad, also a Tigers fan, says the Tigers are headed towards another period of awfulness like the 70's, 90's, and early 2000's. I have to agree because they gave away a lot of their best players for next to nothing.

Prospects for an aging pitcher, albeit a great one with postseason success, is baseball down the stretch. Houston has been doing well building their farm system, but they don't get much press since that's reserved for the East and West Coasts. Give it some time and hopefully you'll see some good from all this.

Personally I feel that Al Avila did the best he could with Verlander. It seemed almost a done deal that he was headed to Houston at some point, whether the trade deadline or later. Avila waited until the Astros came up with an offer that he deemed sufficient enough to deal Verlander for, and probably maximized his return by waiting so long.

I know some Texans and they're tough people. The last thing any of them want is pity, so this is by no means a pity statement. But with my beloved Reds out of contention, I think it would do the city of Houston wonders to see the Astros win the whole thing, or at least make a deep post season run, and I know which corner I'm standing in come playoff time.

Just like we say of people that move to Texas that they got here as quickly as they could, so I'm welcoming you onto the Astros bandwagon Jason. I'll scoot over and make some room for you. 

I've been saying for months that the 2017 World Series will be the Astros vs. the Dodgers! The Astros have really thrived since they got moved from the NL Cental to the AL West by the MLB. Houston will need to take out the Indians and/or Red Sox to make it happen though. I think they can beat either team, but if they don't have to face either one; I guarantee an AL pennant for them. The Dodgers are surprisingly efficient and effective this year though! BUT, you can never count out the Wild-Card teams when the playoffs start. Several have won the World Series in the past 15 years. I still think the Dodgers take it all, but the Astros will be right there with them. I will be shocked if neither team gets to the WS!

I'm still shocked the Astros got Verlander! For years I got picked on because I've loved the Astros since the mid 80's when I was old enough to understand. I remember guys like Bass, Hatcher, Davis, Doran, Smith to name a few.  Then I found out my grandfather loved them for years before me, so I guess it's in my blood lol. I still love them, each year watching for a standout player. The past few years I've watched Altuve, Springer, and Keuchel to name a few. I'm hoping this year will be it, guys coming back from DL and everybody wanting to prove they belong! Good luck Astros!