Houston Astros: AstroGate does not change anything for 2020

The Houston Astros may well pay a price for AstroGate. It just will not happen this season.

At this point, the vast majority of baseball fans, and, most likely, a majority of the players, want to see the Houston Astros get their comeuppance. While the organization itself was punished with the loss of draft picks and a $5 million fine, the players were able to escape punishment.

Baseball has a way of policing itself. We have seen opposing players not only verbalize their frustrations as the players were not held accountable but also take action. The Astros have been hit by a pitch seven times thus far in spring training, with seven different players taking a turn. Chances are, that retribution will continue into the first weeks of the regular season.

But what then? Once the opposition vents their frustrations with a fastball in the backside, the games still need to be played. In a perfect universe, this would result in the Astros falling flat upon their faces, winning 50 games and stumbling through a decade of mediocrity.

However, this is the real world. In reality, talent wins. After all, the phrase “Nice guys finish last” got its start in the baseball universe, as it came from a paraphrased Leo Durocher quote about the New York Giants and Mel Ott.

Yes, the Astros have taken their hits this offseason. Gerrit Cole is now a member of the Yankees. Will Harris and Hector Rondon, two key pieces to the bullpen, both left in free agency. But the core is still there with Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, George Springer, and Carlos Correa. Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke still remain in the rotation.

In the end, nothing is going to change for the Astros in 2020. They are still the prohibitive favorites to win the AL East, despite the moves made by the Angels and the Rangers. The rotation has plenty of potential, with the promising Jose Urquidy likely to have a full time role as a starter. Roberto Osuna, despite all the personal red flags, is one of the best closers in the game. And the lineup has plenty of thunder, even without the aid of a garbage can.

The Houston Astros are not going anywhere in 2020. They remain the team to beat in the American League West.