Back in 2016 Erik Kratz Face-Planted During Astros Opening Day Introductions - Turns Out He Did It As A Dare For $2,000

So this happened a few years ago, back when the Astros were coming off their third consecutive 100-loss season. It’s kind of crazy to think the team they’ve become used to be the laughing stock of the league (hey maybe they’re going back to that after looking like dogs in the ALCS). Erik Kratz, the team’s journeyman backup catcher, heard a dare from a teammate that anyone who took a dive during intros would get $2,000. Kratz took him up on it in a second. In fact, he said he would have done it for $250. That’s taking a page out of Creed Bratton’s book when he gave Andy a throat slash for $3.

Kratz made just $90,000 the year prior with Philadelphia, so $2,000 was actually a decent chunk of cash for the guy at the time. I respect the hell out of this. If you can’t make fun of yourself in this day and age then what’s the point? (ala my dunce cap sagas). Now Kratz has a big role on the Brew Crew as they try to get to the World Series. In the NLDS Kratz went 5 for 8 against Colorado. He’s struggled in this series, but who knows maybe he comes up with the big knock tonight or tomorrow? From all accounts he’s a great dude in the clubhouse and one of the more liked players in all of baseball.

Also, take a look at Carrabis’ quote from the original blog in 2016. Does this guy have 20 favorite teams? I mean it’s honestly crazy at this point. He’s like a Jets-Giants or Mets-Yankees fan. Let me tell you this much, I fucking hate those people. Hate them. Pick one team and ride with them til the end. I could not possibly root for a second team in any sport and be serious about it.

As a closet Astros fan, we’ve suffered enough. We’ve endured our 100-loss seasons. Three of them in a row, actually. But we racked up those No. 1 draft picks, we selected a player who is now one of the biggest studs in the game, we groomed a Cy Young award winner, and we got into the postseason for the first time since the Killer B’s Era. But we didn’t endure those 100-loss seasons for this. Not now. Not after everything we’ve proven since we’ve become a contender again. As the organization who has the privilege of being able to say that they have Carlos Correa and Dallas Keuchel on their team, we can’t have things like this happening. We’re re-establishing the Astros #brand in the eyes of the baseball world, and it’s one step forward, two steps back because of things like this. I say no more.