If the Houston Astros do lose in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers, there will be plenty of blame to go around. It will also force Jim Crane and the Houston front office to look inward, perhaps making some changes that they otherwise would prefer not to execute.
The MLB postseason can be a brutal place for players who, had their season ended differently, would've been praised as heroes. Instead, Houston faces an 0-2 deficit heading on the road. Winning the series is not out of the realm of possibility, but it would be a first. No team has won a championship series after losing the first two games at home for a reason. Now, Texas has three games to finish the job, or at least maintain a series edge headed back to Houston.
I will never count out the Houston Astros until they are officially dead. You would be wise to do the same. But if they do go down, expect the front office to reflect with some vengeance.
An ALCS loss could be the end for Astros manager Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker has done a tremendous job managing the Astros. After the sign-stealing scandal was revealed to the public, Baker saw the optimistic approach to taking this job. Rather than allow rival fans to write their story for them, Baker and his Astros have won a World Series, and could potentially make a similar run in this postseason if they can overcome an 0-2 deficit.
Baker is reliable baseball mind. He's also smart enough to know when he should head elsewhere. Baker has been on a series of one-year contract with the Astros since he agreed to become the manager in the first place. As the oldest manager in baseball, it works well for both sides.
Recent rumblings have connected Baker to the San Francisco Giants. Baker used to manage there, and they have an opening. Prior to managing Houston, Baker even made his bay area return to the Giants front office. They'd take him back in a heartbeat.
Jose Abreu has been up and down, but the Astros could employ plan B
Jose Abreu had a brutal start to the season in Houston. Even at the trade deadline, the Astros were reportedly looking for better options at first base. Abreu hasn't been great this postseason, and a loss to the Rangers would all but confirm they need someone to fill in at that corner infield spot. He's not the same play he once was on the south side of Chicago.
Houston has options in free agency, if they do want to pursue an upgrade. Cody Bellinger would be an ideal one. While Bellinger has experience in the outfield and played well there for the Chicago Cubs this year, he can also slot in at first base if Houston prefers.
The Astros were linked to Bellinger at the deadline back when shopping him was still a possibility for the Cubs. Now that he's set to test the market, they can pay Bellinger his worth, rather than forfeiting prospects to Chicago. It's something worth thinking about for Houston's front office.
Martin Maldonado is running out of time for the Astros
Martin Maldonado is the leader of the Astros pitching staff. Dusty Baker has defended him on multiple occasions, including this season.
"He's my field general," Baker told Yahoo Sports. "Yainer right now is at West Point learning war strategy, whereas Maldy's already been at war."
Houston pitching coach Josh Miller had similar comments, suggesting that Maldonado more than makes up for his inept nature at the plate with his handling of the pitching staff.
"I think there are a lot of intangibles that go into the catching position — and every position on a baseball roster — but in the catching discipline in particular that don't get measured," Miller said. "It's not easy to put a metric on: How does he instill confidence? How does he let a pitcher relax so they can focus on executing a pitch, rather than thinking about what pitch they should be throwing? You know, those things don't get measured."
Yainer Diaz has proven to be better with the bat in his hands, and the Astros have high expectations for him behind the plate as well. In the years to come, Diaz will take over for Maldonado. The question is when, not if.