Geoff Blum

But if you look at all of the

the barrel rates, the contact percentages, and bat speed.

He's one of those guys in the top 95 percentile as far as bat speed.

It's just how does that translate when you start to get an approach where you're going to get some pitches to really put that swing on?

And when he does, the ball goes a mile.

You know what?

That's a really good question.

It's kind of a unique time for Astro fans and Astros management because you have to accept reality and you have to start playing those scenarios out on your whiteboard or in your war room, whatever you want to call it, because we're playing some games in division where we haven't really gained ground on maybe the Texas Rangers or the Athletics.

We'll have an opportunity after this road trip to play the Athletics and maybe catch up to them.

But then you look at the American League West and, you know, nobody's over 500 or we're playing right at 500 ball at the top of the division.

And that kind of tells you that you still have a chance to win the division or at least get in competition for it.

So you've got to walk that fine line of when, you know, have a design on what you can do to go out there and maybe get a little bit better.

But if the Astros get healthy, that's another thing.

If you get the Hunter Browns back in your rotation and you get Josh Hader back in your bullpen, then you might be able to sneak back in the division.

But I think to your point, you've got to have some tough conversations and maybe have a couple of those scenarios on your board that say if we don't get in position to where we think we can win the West, we may have to make some really tough decisions.

Yeah, and it's amazing we have to peel that scab off, isn't it?

I mean, you and I, we got a chance to see the Astros at their lowest when things were pretty lean, but they had to strip this thing down to build it back up and become this dynasty during this time.

But it's a harsh reality, and some of the names that may pop up in some of these trade talks, maybe some guys that are, you know, the fan base is going to be hurt a little bit, but

You know how it is.

With some of these organizations, in order to get to where you want to be, you've got to make some tough decisions.