Crush City Territory: A Houston Astros Podcast

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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