Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Crush City Territory: A Houston Astros Podcast

The Astros are interviewing longtime nemesis Albert Pujols for their managerial vacancy. Pujols has long stated his desire to manage — but has never done it as any level. Is he the right choice for Houston? Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the Astros' ongoing managerial search which includes Pujols, Morgan Ensberg, Luis Urueta and Brad Ausmus.

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New Astros general manager Randy Flores introduced himself to the city during a press conference on Monday morning alongside owner Jim Crane. Flores flashed charisma, charm and showed he was in full control of the room and his message. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Flores' first impression, the questions Crane answered and muse where the Astros go from here in the Flores era.

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The Astros surprised some in their organization and most of their fanbase by hiring Randy Flores as their new general manager. Flores is a longtime Cardinals executive who has a lot of work to do in little time. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Flores' hire and what happened with Brewers executive Matt Kleine, who had been the Astros' leading candidate.

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The World Series is over, the offseason has begun and the Astros still do not have a general manager. Might that soon change? Milwaukee Brewers executive Matt Kleine has emerged as a serious front runner for the job. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss where things stand with Kleine and the rest of Houston's search for a general manager before analyzing the news that Tatsuya Imai has opted in to his $18 million contract for the 2027 season.

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The Astros still need both a general manager and manager, but also must grapple with the impending loss of their setup man, reliable southpaw reliever and only trade deadline acquisition. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the five players who won't return to the 2027 Astros, including longtime setup man Bryan Abreu, left-hander Steven Okert, backup catcher Christian Vázquez and center fielder Daulton Varsho. Will shortstop Jeremy Peña or Isaac Paredes join that list?

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There are at least seven known candidates for the Astros' vacant GM job — and a resolution could be coming soon. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the candidates who've interviewed with Jim Crane, a possible timeline for Crane's decision, Matt Kleine's well-chronicled walk on a red carpet and the commonalities shared by all of the people vying for this fascinating job.

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Dan Hennigan left his role as the Astros' offensive coordinator in early August for a spot on Wake Forest's coaching staff. Hennigan joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss his decision to leave and his time spent with the 2026 Astros, including insight on Yordan Alvarez, Cam Smith, Jose Altuve and the strides the Astros can make heading into a fascinating 2027 season. 

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The Astros made the inevitable official on Wednesday, parting ways with manager Joe Espada after three seasons as Houston's skipper and nine in the organization. The decision leaves Houston without a manager or general manager, but the search for a GM is picking up steam. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome react to Espada's dismissal, remember his tenure and discuss what's next for a franchise that remains in flux. 

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The Astros finished 2026 with the second-most walks in baseball, the sixth-highest ERA in the sport and a pitching staff shrouded with uncertainty. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome break down what went right for the pitching staff, what went wrong and what the new baseball operations department must ponder when piecing together the 2027 roster. Among the questions: should the team shop Josh Hader? Are both Peter Lambert and Hayden Wesneski reliable? Will Tatsuya Imai opt into his contract?

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Eight days after their season ended, the Houston Astros are still shrouded in silence. The future of manager Joe Espada remains in flux, as does the team's search for a new general manager. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the state of the organization, the difficult decisions ahead for both Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve as well as the future of shortstop Jeremy Peña.

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After the Houston Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series, attention turns to the future of both the organization and manager Joe Espada. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Espada's uncertain status and when a decision may be rendered before beginning to analyze some of the team's most pressing questions prior to 2027.

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The Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox in an embarrassing showing during the Wild Card Series, complete with booing from the Daikin Park crowd and a few players barking back at it. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the end of the 2026 season, the booing and atmosphere at Daikin Park and the fascinating offseason that lies ahead for a franchise at a competitive crossroads. 

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Despite an 81-81 season that featured every form of adversity, the Houston Astros are American League West champions for the eighth time in 10 seasons. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' division title, what it took to get there and Yordan Alvarez's incredible season before beginning a preview of their Wild Card opponent the Chicago White Sox.

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Tyler Stafford is joined by comedian, author, and long-suffering Seattle Mariners fan Dustin Nickerson to discuss the agony of a disappointing baseball season as a fan. They (attempt to) settle the trash can debate, Jose Altuve’s legacy, and many other topics in a wide-ranging and fun conversation.

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Playing in his 16th major-league game, Astros rookie outfielder Lucas Spence may have saved the team's season. He became the third player in MLB history to hit the first three home runs of his career in one game — an incredible performance that propelled the Astros to a win they desperately needed. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss Spence's stunning performance, the state of the team with three games remaining, Josh Hader's heavy workload and Daulton Varsho's season-ending injury.

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To open a season-defining road trip, the Astros played their most complete game of September with a 7-0 win against the Seattle Mariners. Concern is still mounting, though, after Cristian Javier, Daulton Varsho, Brice Matthews and Jeremy Peña all had injury scares. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss how the team can overcome the injuries and what it may do next to bolster its roster before giving some love to Isaac Paredes, who is on pace for a career year.

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After being swept by the Braves, the Astros no longer control their playoff destiny. The sobering three games forced the often-reserved Yordan Alvarez to call a team meeting and speak up. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Alvarez's frustration and the state of a teetering Astros team that must save its season during a six-game road trip through Seattle and Sacramento. 

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Yordan Alvarez hit his 40th home run of the season on Thursday, becoming the fifth player in Astros history with a 40-homer season while reigniting the debate about his AL MVP candidacy. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Alvarez's status in the MVP race and where his 40 home runs rank in Astros history before reacting to the news that Carlos Correa will not return to the club this season.

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Carlos Correa's potential return as a second baseman illustrates the complications presented by  Houston's roster construction. Those problems aren't going away, either, and it will be up to Houston's new general manager to solve them. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the biggest priority for whoever the Astros hire to be their GM — whether it is the aforementioned roster construction, thin farm system or simply knowing whether or not they have autonomy to make decisions.

Read Chandler's story about Carlos Correa and the Astros roster crunch here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7595192/2026/09/15/carlos-correa-return-astros-gm-challenge/?unlocked_article_code=1.BVE.zuLK.j1OLLrIzStJM&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta 

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The Tampa Bay Rays, armed with the best record in the American League, outclassed the Astros in a series sweep at Tropicana Field that pared Houston's AL West lead to one game. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the three-game series, Yordan Alvarez's ankle-related absence, Jeremy Peña's continued struggles and manager Joe Espada's decision to not intentionally walk Junior Caminero in the series opener. The two then discuss the revelation that Carlos Correa could play second base upon his return to the team.

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Cam Smith homered in all three games of the Astros' series win in Philadelphia, including a go-ahead, solo shot in the ninth inning on Thursday against Phillies closer Jhoan Duran. Is the aircraft carrier finally breaking out? Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss that, Yordan Alvarez's continued power outage, Hunter Brown's late-season switch to becoming a sinkerballer and Carlos Correa's continued progress as he attempts to make a late-season return.

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The Astros started their six-game gauntlet with a gutty win against the Phillies on Tuesday night. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic’s Chandler Rome go live before Game 2 on Wednesday, discussing Hayden Wesneski’s continued excellence, Yordan Alvarez's prolonged homer-less drought, the bullpen showing some cracks in the foundation and how the lineup must function for the last 17 games.

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The Astros dropped two of three against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a series that saw Houston's bullpen take a substantial hit while Yordan Alvarez broke out of his home run drought. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Steven Okert's injury and how the Astros' bullpen may respond, Alvarez's career-high 38 home runs and how the team's top-heavy lineup can create any length.

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The Astros took three out of four from the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox and crept closer to a first-round bye in the AL playoff picture. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the series win, Hayden Wesneski's impressive return from Tommy John surgery, Jose Altuve's ability to hit high balls for home runs and how the Astros' offense can improve across the season's final month.

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Former Astros general manager Dana Brown joined Foul Territory on Tuesday and made his first extensive comments since being dismissed. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome analyzed some of Brown's most revealing comments before discussing the latest in Carlos Correa's recovery from ankle surgery, Tatsuya Imai's continued absence in the bullpen and Mike Burrows' shoulder injury.

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At the behest of Jeff Bagwell, the Astros brought back venerated pitching coach Brent Strom as a pitching consultant in hopes of catalyzing a late-season turnaround. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss how Strom got back to the ballclub, the areas he can improve and what his presence means for the future of the organization. The duo then breaks down Hunter Brown's dominant start against the New York Mets and the Astros' continued search for outfield continuity. 

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Astros owner Jim Crane spoke for the first time on Tuesday since parting ways with general manager Dana Brown. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Crane's comments, the future of manager Joe Espada, what doomed Brown and where Crane may look next for his new head of baseball operations.

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The Astros and Dana Brown parted ways on Monday, ending a three-and-a-half year tenure for Houston's general manager. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss why Brown was dismissed now, what led to his downfall, what this means for manager Joe Espada and where the Astros go from here.

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The Astros ended an embarrassing homestand with their worst loss of the season — blowing a six-run lead against the lowly A's, who entered play with the worst record in baseball. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Houston's horrific 3-6 homestand, the ramifications on its playoff pursuit, what can be fixed to get things on the right track and how Joe Espada's absence accentuated that this isn't a managerial issue.

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After a humiliating 18-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday — and a series loss against the second-worst team in the American League — is the Houston Astros place atop the AL West in peril? Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the Astros' dispiriting series loss to the Angels, the unbalanced nature of their top-heavy roster, the rotation's continued struggles and what they made of rookie Ethan Pecko's major-league debut. 

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After a thrilling comeback on Friday night, the Astros squandered a chance to bury the Seattle Marines in the AL West race, dropping the final two games of their series. A better opportunity lies ahead, though, against two of the worst teams in the American League. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the series loss, Hunter Brown's continued struggles, the state of Houston's starting rotation and how to approach playing two terrible teams during a must-win stretch. 

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Ethan Pecko did not make his scheduled start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday — perhaps in preparation to make his major-league debut next week against the Angels. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic’s Chandler Rome discuss Pecko’s potential call-up before previewing the finale of an already wild Astros-Mariners series.

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The Astros are in playoff position despite uncertainty in both their front office and pitching staff. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome field listener questions about both problems and address the status of general manager Dana Brown, Tatsuya Imai's viability as a playoff pitcher, where AJ Blubaugh fits best and some prospects that could help bolster this staff. 

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Despite deep funks from Jeremy Peña, Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes, the Astros managed a 3-3 West Coast road trip buoyed by their bullpen. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Houston's six-game swing, how superb the bullpen has been, how top-heavy the Astros' offense has become and what lies ahead during a pivotal, nine-game AL West homestand.

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After an underwhelming trade deadline netted them only Daulton Varsho, the Astros are still searching for upgrades to their roster — specifically a right-handed hitting bench bat to give manager Joe Espada more flexibility late in games. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss some potential candidates and why the Astros need them in the first place before analyzing the first two games of Houston's series against the San Diego Padres and the viability of Peter Lambert's success in the rotation

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In the aftermath of an underwhelming trade deadline, the Astros dropped two of three against the Toronto Blue Jays while questions about the sustainability of their starting rotation lingered. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the deadline fallout, the state of Houston's starting rotation, Cristian Javier's importance to the rest of the season, Carlos Correa's possible return and whether Josh Hader will throw multiple innings again this season.

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At Monday's trade deadline, the Astros improved their outfield by acquiring center fielder Daulton Varsho, but failed to fortify a struggling starting rotation. The Athletic's Chandler Rome discusses Varsho's addition, why the Astros couldn't add to their starting rotation, Dana Brown's awkward balance between the present and future and why Houston parted with Spencer Arrighetti to get Varsho to Houston.

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The Astros never trailed in a statement sweep of the Texas Rangers, which vaulted Houston into first place in the American League West while intensifying attention around their actions at Monday's trade deadline. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the sweep, Yordan Alvarez's continued absurdity and the anemic state of the American League West before analyzing the Astros' position at the trade deadline and the possibility of Carlos Correa returning at some point this season.

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The trade deadline is four days away and the Astros remain in search of outfield upgrades and, perhaps, right-handed pitching. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome spend this episode answering listener questions about the deadline, Jeremy Peña's future in Houston, the potential of a reunion with George Springer and what other targets may present themselves across the next four days. 

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The Astros have won seven of their past eight games and remain in ideal position for an American League playoff spot as the trade deadline approaches. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the team's series win in Anaheim, the continued struggles of embattled starter Tatsuya Imai, the resurgence of Peter Lambert and why it's endearing to be called a cockroach.

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Hunter Brown reprised his role as the Astros' ace and pitched Houston to a series win it desperately needed. Because of it, general manager Dana Brown reaffirmed the Astros' status as trade deadline buyers. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Brown's dominance, Houston's biggest trade deadline needs, Spencer Arrighetti's foot injury and what comes next for the Astros' rotation in his absence.

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As Yordan Alvarez continues his MVP season, it's worth noting the production of the two men who sandwich him in Houston's batting order: shortstop Jeremy Peña and third baseman Isaac Paredes. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss that big three, Cam Smith's inactive weekend and whether Bryan Abreu is entering the team's circle of bullpen trust.

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Yordan Alvarez has a comfortable lead atop all three American League Triple Crown leaderboards and is cruising toward an AL MVP. Shouldn't that almost mandate the Astros to add talent around him at the Aug. 3 trade deadline? Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss Alvarez's season and how influential his dominance may be as the deadline approaches before analyzing Ronel Blanco's return to the starting rotation and another potential corner turned from Tatsuya Imai.

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The Astros came back from the All Star break with a whimper, scoring six runs in 29 innings during a three-game sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles. How much, if at all, does this change Houston's trade deadline calculus? Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss whether the Astros would ever engaged in a full-scale selloff, the most realistic scenario for the deadline and what players could move. 

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After they tried to trade him for months, the Houston Astros finally found a taker for Lance McCullers Jr. on Wednesday, trading him to the Milwaukee Brewers alongside pitcher Colton Gordon in exchange for Jadyn Fielder — the son of six-time All-Star Prince Fielder. The Athletic's Chandler Rome discusses why the Astros traded McCullers and what they'll do in his absence before analyzing McCullers' legacy to Houston's golden era.

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The Astros finished an underwhelming first-half 47-51, but still with a real chance to make the postseason within a weak American League. Former Astros outfielder Josh Reddick joins The Athletic's Chandler Rome to grade the team's offense, pitching staff and management on their first-half performance. Reddick then remembers his many battles with retiring Astros legend Justin Verlander before calling into question one of MLB's decisions during the Home Run Derby. 

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The Astros finished an underwhelming first half with an underwhelming 2-4 road trip through Washington and Arlington, leaving the club four games under .500, but somehow still within legitimate striking distance of a playoff spot. The Crawfish Boxes' Adam Spolane joins The Athletic's Chandler Rome to discuss the first half as a whole, best and worst moments and the difficult decisions forthcoming for general manager Dana Brown. 

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The Astros have the American League's worst rotation — and now must confront some difficult questions at the All-Star break. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome discuss the continued struggles of Spencer Arrighetti and Tatsuya Imai and what the team could do to reinvigorate its rotation before analyzing the end of Justin Verlander's Hall of Fame career and Yordan Alvarez's desire to never play for another team. 

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Mike Burrows had his worst start of a brutal first half, prompting serious questions about where the Astros go from here in their rotation. Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome try to answer some of them, including whether Burrows would be better served in the minor leagues, how Cristian Javier fits in all of this and the dilemma Joe Espada faces each night. Stafford and Rome also discuss Yordan Alvarez's continued pursuit of the Triple Crown and the decision to option Jake Meyers.

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The Astros have one of baseball's least-productive outfields and a pitching staff without much stability behind reigning Cy Young finalist Hunter Brown. Which area deserves the most attention at the trade deadline? Tyler Stafford and The Athletic's Chandler Rome debate that topic, the true value of popular trade target AJ Blubaugh, the role that returning pitchers will play and how much Dana Brown's job status factors into all of this. 

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