No GM consistency, owner micro-managing + Jeff Bagwell explains everything –

Quick timeline –

January 13, 2020 – Jeff Luhnow was fired as a result of the player cheating scandal even though he didn’t work in the dugout and had no direct connection to what was happening on the field. What seemed obvious was that he was the fall guy to avoid punishing the players who ultimately were responsible.

October 2020 – Jeff Luhnow, “insisted in his first interview since he was fired he’s only the fall guy because Major League Baseball and Commissioner Rob Manfred wanted a high-profile head to roll.”

November 2020 – Jeff Luhnow sues the Astros for breach of contract, making sure to note that those really responsible were still employed by the Astros.

January 2020 – James Click hired from Rays

2020 – American League west 2nd place 2021 – American League champions 2022- World Series champs

November 11, 2022 James Click leaves and the assistant GM fired after getting an ‘insulting offer from Crane of only one year extension’

From sporting news, “USA Today's Bob Nightingale reported that Click did not leave via mutual consent. Rather, he was "fired." … their pre-existing issues with worries over whether Click was getting through to Crane — the 68-year old is said to keep a regular audience with Jeff Bagwell, Reggie Jackson and Enos Cabell — and it's clear that Click was hanging onto his gig by a thread”

Then Jeff Bagwell becomes temporary GM through the offseason until Dana Brown was hired and Bagwell remains “special advisor to GM and owner”

2024 – Astros in last place and 4-11, no starting pitchers, bullpen issues, José Abreu has been terrible, Pena isn’t working out as much as Correa, etc.

The cause of the issues are obvious – Jeff Bagwell is a terrible “GM” and advisor, Dana Brown appears to only be there as a yes man to Crane, and the firing of Luhnow and especially Click has led the team to have inexperienced individuals in charge that have taken the team to last place. The issue is upper management and the GM’s office, the managers hands are tied