Negative notoriety tarnishes image
Five issues facing the Astros:
Sign-stealing scandal:
It will create the greatest distraction they’ve ever endured. Everywhere they go on the road, the Astros will hear taunts and boos and feel the hatred. Rival players are seething, vowing revenge, and fan bases are fired up. Every hitting slump will be exaggerated. It’s up to new manager Dusty Baker to ensure it doesn’t splinter his clubhouse.
“You got to stay together, and love each other,” Baker said. “The easiest way to shut people up is by winning.”
Cole:
The Astros must find a way to replace the 20 victories by co-ace Gerrit Cole. He also pitched 2121⁄3 innings with 326 strikeouts. They’ll have Lance McCullers back from Tommy John surgery, but he has never pitched more than 1281⁄3 innings in a season. They need rookie Jose Urquidy to prove he belongs as a full-time starter and starter Brad Peacock showing he can start and relieve.
The new GM:
James Click inherited the most tumultuous job in baseball as a first-time general manager hired a week before spring training. He inherits a manager he didn’t hire in Baker, and a front office staff that was loyal to former GM Jeff Luhnow, who was fired in the cheating scandal.
Click must prove to the front office staff, the coaching staff, the players and the fan base that he is the right man for the job. He must navigate through AllStar center fielder George Springer’s contract extension before he hits free agency in a year and decide how to replace aging co-aces Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke (both 36), who are free agents in 2022. Every personnel decision will be dissected and debated.
Most of all, Click will be responsible for repairing the cultural toxicity that existed in the front office that was cited by commissioner Rob Manfred in his nine-page investigative report into Houston’s sign-stealing scheme.