Coming around on this, although I think a bullpen arm would help greatly. Agree it’s not like 2017 where I felt like the Astros needed a clear #1. No way they win it without the JV deal.
I just don't want the bullpen worn out come playoffs. Also, it's more than just needing a good back end of the pen come playoff time, CFM and Lance both contributed greatly to the pen in the past. I'm down with Miley as our #3, but can we count on Peacock to be healthy, or Urquidy to pitch solidly out of the pen in the playoffs? Prefer Thor, but at least want a solid guy who could translate to the pen in the playoffs For some reason I think we are gonna end up with a Pomeranz type of pitcher
Nobody said anything about desperate. They have a significant problem with pitching depth (mainly because the deep stable of pitching prospects they had as insurance for Peacock/McHugh has failed), and it would be foolish for them not to address on some level.
If you intend to make an honest attempt at retaining Cole after this season than you probably have to get his opinion on Bauer before attempting to trade for him. I don’t know how bad their relationship was but I’d assume Cole puts winning above all else.
I think the CFM, Lance contributions are a huge factor. I brought this up with @Hey Now! on Twitter. The thing I loved about those two is they were nails mentally. Not sure if the staff has that at the moment beyond JV and Cole. Who will be the guys to step up like that? Top to bottom this staff is better, but not as proven imo. Too many questions at the moment. James has great stuff, but is hit or miss and injured. Peacock is injured. Which McHugh are we getting? Backend of the bully is showing signs of fatigue. Yes the Astros are on pace for 103, but that doesn’t mean there are not concerns and needs.
I think we all know Houston would be fine going into a playoff series with the current lineup, plus Verlander-Cole-Miley in the rotation, with Osuna-Pressly-Harris-McHugh-Peacock-Smith in the bullpen. But there’s 2 months to go. Tomorrow is the last chance to add pitching depth to bolster both the rotation and the pen, not just to improve the existing outlook but to safeguard against injuries and meltdowns.
They obviously will try to address the pitching. I do not think standing pat precludes them from winning a championship and that’s the position they have the advantage of working from. We have a great team. I expect that we will make a move but if they don’t I wouldn’t automatically see it as a failure.
Less risk of bullpen wearing out with all the off days in the playoffs. Pressly likely will be counted on to go more than one inning, if he’s presumed healthy. Harris hopefully won’t wear himself out either prior to the playoffs. Otherwise, lets just win every game 11-5 and call it a day.
One thing that gets overlooked is the morale boost it will give the team if they bring in somebody good. I know it would boost my morale!
I just do not trust Will Harris at all. Would love more available options whether that is upgrading the SP role or RP in case we have a bullpen implosion like we did in 2017.
The HUGE difference between us putting out thoughts on this board and Luhnow actually making moves, is we put a lot more emotion and fandom into our thoughts Luhnow has a short term and long term value on every player in our organization, and has the same for everyone we are involved in discussions about acquiring. While i'm sure he would give a little more than what the valuation says someone is worth in a deal if he thought it was worth it, he isn't just going to randomly make a move just to get a guy and worry about the long term ramifications later. He simply doesn't work that way. Also, 99% of the board values prospects according to what mlb pipeline or BA or whatever publication has them graded at. That's also not how Luhnow (or other organizations for that matter) work. If we had access to the Astros evaluations of all of our prospects it would vary greatly from what we read from people on the internet. Look at the Stroman deal, everyone reacting the way they did. For all we know the Blue Jays have Kay rated higher than anyone in our organization other than Tucker and Whitley...we just don't know Now, come on Jeff, let's trade Bukauskas, Abreu, Valdez, Reddick and Kemp to Elias for Bundy, Mancini and Givens. See if our guys can get Bundy to reach his potential, add Givens to the pen, upgrade Reddick to Mancini while saving money, and give Kemp a chance to play everyday Get er done Jeff
Harris has been very good this year But yea, if we are facing the Yanks or Sox in October and Harris comes strolling in, i'm gonna need another beer (not Seth)
Speaking of emotion, all you people talking about trading Reddick realize that it would KILL the clubhouse if we dealt him mid-season, right?? He's one of the most beloved guys in that locker room.
This is like the year the Astros added Verlander. The Astros are in a legitimate position to win a World Series and need to maximize that opportunity. The organization owes it to their fans and this group of players. Sometimes an organization cannot make a huge move. However there is no reason that they cannot address catcher and a reliever if they cannot add a starter. So if they do nothing, fans would be justified in being disappointed.
Their pitching depth is not a "significant" problem; again, they're on pace to win 103 games and they have enough arms to throw at the problem for the next two months - if that's where they end up. I'm not suggesting they should stand pat - I'm always for them making the team better. I'm merely countering any idea they have "significant" needs. They do not.
