The Houston Astros are a name synonymous with consecutive American League dominance. But this season? Not quite the same tune. Currently sporting a dismal 7-19 record after five back-to-back losses, the team finds itself firmly entrenched in the cellar of the AL West. So, how is the team handling this historic slump? Well, according to some, with a surprising lack of concern.

Renowned sports radio host Mike Francesa offered his characteristically blunt assessment on yesterday’s episode of the Mike Francesa Podcast: “You know, it’s funny. I was talking about the Astros the other day and how they approach, and I saw their comments about ‘Hey, we aren’t the least bit worried.’ Now, maybe they’re whistling past the graveyard right now, but they are acting like they are not the least bit worried about their abysmal start.” Is this nonchalance a sign of quiet confidence, or are the Astros truly feigning illogical audacity based on past success?

Are 2024 Houston Astros turning out to be a House of Cards built on past success?

One theory gaining traction is that the Astros are banking on their well-established pedigree. After all, they haven’t dipped below 90 wins since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, making the playoffs an almost annual ritual. This sentiment was echoed by Francesa when he reiterated that “all they’ve known for a decade is success.” However, therein might lie the problem. Are the Stars, so accustomed to winning, now overlooking the urgency demanded by their current predicament?

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Looking beyond wins and losses, the Houston Astros’ on-field performance raises serious concerns. Their lineup, once a juggernaut, sputters with inconsistency. Take Alex Bregman, for instance. The once-feared hitter is mired in a slump, prompting Climbing Tals Hill to suggest a drastic move: “Alex Bregman must be moved down in the Astros lineup.” Ouch. But is it just Bregman? What about baserunning?

This fundamental aspect of the game seems to be missing entirely from the Stars’ playbook. As CTH points out, “Houston needs to start running more.” In today’s MLB landscape, where stolen bases are on the rise, this lack of aggressiveness is baffling.

Now, you might be thinking, ‘Isn’t it still early in the season?’ That’s the defense the Houston Astros themselves seem to be adopting. A local news station acknowledges the struggles but assures fans that “it’s still early, and there’s plenty of baseball left.” It’s not like they’re entirely wrong. But here’s the thing: with a record like theirs, sometimes “early” can quickly and irrevocably turn into “too late.” The nagging concern here is that the Stros have seemingly failed to fix most of the holes left in their team before the season even started.

A pitching conundrum and the looming specter of missed playoffs

Let’s not forget the pitching, a cornerstone of the Houston Astros’ past success. Injuries have ravaged their rotation, with key players like Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez just getting their groove back from the IL. CTH acknowledges this, highlighting how “health concerns have killed the start of the Astros’ season.” While their healthy and full-fledged return to old forms is imminent, the question remains: can the team weather this storm and still compete?

The math paints a bleak picture. Considering history, to even qualify as a Wild Card contender in the American League with 89 recorded wins from the last few seasons, the Astros would need to win an astounding 82-54 over the remaining games to reach the playoffs. That translates to a winning percentage of .603 in the remaining 136 games left for the season—a feat they haven’t achieved in the past three seasons. Yikes.

So, what’s the verdict? Are the Stros really “whistling past a graveyard” or harboring a secret formula for a comeback? The truth, as always, likely lies somewhere in between. They certainly possess the talent to make a run, but a course correction is undeniably necessary. Listen to CTH: “Houston fans have been told not to panic, but there has to be some sense of urgency from (Joe) Espada and the Astros players. If some internal changes aren’t made, there’s little hope for things to turn around.”

The Houston Astros need to rediscover their identity. Let’s see if they can shake off their complacency, fix the glaring holes in their lineup and on the basepaths, and get healthy on the mound. Will they defy the odds and make a miraculous playoff push, or will their season truly become a cautionary tale of a team that took its success for granted? Stay tuned, folks, because this drama is far from over.