So... the Astros are starting out with 59 players in major league camp and they have until April 3 to trim that number to 25. This post is going to be a tracker throughout the spring to see who's been cut until that we reach that magic number. I wasn't sure whether to post this in the 25-man roster prediction thread. Italics - non-roster invitee Current status as of February 25: 59 players Pitchers Kevin Chapman Chris Devenski Dayan Diaz Michael Feliz Mike Fiers Edison Frias Ken Giles Luke Gregerson Reymin Guduan Jandel Gustave Will Harris Brian Holmes James Hoyt Jordan Jankowski Dallas Keuchel Francis Martes Lance McCullers Collin McHugh Charlie Morton Joe Musgrove David Paulino Brad Peacock Tyson Perez C.J. Riefenhauser Brady Rodgers Tony Sipp Cy Sneed Ashur Tolliver Aaron West Catchers Juan Centeno Evan Gattis Tyler Heineman Brian McCann Max Stassi Garrett Stubbs Infielders Jose Altuve Alex Bregman Reid Brignac Carlos Correa J.D. Davis Marwin Gonzalez Yulieski Gurriel Colin Moran A.J. Reed Jon Singleton Tyler White Outfielders Nori Aoki Andrew Aplin Carlos Beltran D.J. Fisher Alejandro Garcia Teoscar Hernandez Jon Kemmer Tony Kemp Ramon Laureano Jake Marisnick Josh Reddick George Springer Preston Tucker
The 40 man is perpetual, while the 25 man roster really only exists in season. I don't think there is any requirement to trim a spring training roster.
Random question. What's the deal with Brad Peacock? He's getting a fair amount of mentions in ST. I know he's out of options but are there really so few other ST questions that it's really a big deal if Peacock gets waived? He wouldn't be some coup for another organization by any means.
Peacock did pitch well for the Astros at end of last season. SSS and all. The Astros want to see if he has turned a corner in his MLB career, by giving him an extended ST look. If he shows well, he might become the favorite for the last spot in the bullpen. Or the Astros could send Peacock to the Brewers and watch he pitch like Cy Young.
Not every team has 5 starters much less the 7-10 needed during the season. I doubt he makes Astros, but they are likely trying to show he's worth a lottery ticket. I expect Astros end up trading him for cash to a team in the NL.
I'm surprised that they think he wouldn't just make it through waivers if outrighted at the end of ST.
Rangers for one are looking to start season with AJ Griffin and his 5.74 FIP in 100+ innings last season until (if) Ross is ready.
I consider it incredibly unlikely that he makes it through waivers. He was a pretty highly touted prospect at one point and his MLB track record while not great hasn't been a disaster by any stretch; he's a live arm and quite a few teams need back end starters or long relievers. The only question is if he makes the Astros bullpen, is traded for a fringe prospect or ptbnl, or traded for cash.
At the end of last ST, Dan Strailly got traded for by one team and then claimed off waivers by another 4 days later. Pretty much no chance Peacock makes it through.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/stats/HOU/houston-astros/preseason/PIT-BASIC/yearly?&_1:col_1=6 Yea, I know. Your going to say ST stats this early are meaningless. Team ERA: 7.42 Team whip: 1.72 But ST is the time to find diamonds in the rough. See who can rise to the challenge. Given pitching is our greatest area of need (IMO), its disappointing so many guys are starting out terrible. Granted, this could look completely different in a week or two.
Not meaningess, but it's hard to read much of anything into them at this point. Only 3 guys who look to have value to the Astros this year - Devenski, Peacock/Chapman (trade value) - have pitched markedly poorly.
I almost never put any credence into pitching stats in spring training. All those guys are working on a pitch or two, trying to locate it and bring it out on demand. Unless they're fighting for a job, few of them have any concern about trying to disrupt the batters' rhythm or expectation as to what pitch will come next. They're not pitching to get outs, so to speak. Batting stats have a bit more reliability in my experience. You're out there seeing pitches and trying to put wood on it. Just like the regular season luck may play a big role, but still...you have ONE JOB. A hot guy in spring training often carries it over into the season.
Odd. I have the opposite view. Batters are going up there to hit and face a wide range of pitching quality. Hard to judge their stats as it could be padded against non-mlb pitchers, pitchers working on stuff, or pitchers still working on endurance. Pitchers that strike out a ton of hitters usually carry that to regular season ( not always, e.g. Woj). MLB Pitchers that pitch poorly in spring usually means little.
Astros projected rotation...ERA 1.28. Devenski is only likely opening day player to give up more than 1 run. Devenski and Paulino are only two pitchers expected to provide value this year in majors to give up more than 1 run.
Here is the thing. One would think that the teams with the better farms would fair better in early ST given thats when they (farm hands) get the most opportunity. As far as all the other excuses I am hearing for our poor play, they all apply to the opposing teams as well. The above said, we are dead last in team ERA and 23rd in team OPS. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/stats/...-season-preseason-category-pitching-type-team For those about to say it, sure, these numbers have little to no bearing on the team that will start the regular season. Agreed. But it says something about something It either says the extra guys invited to ST were the wrong ones, were not ready, or were not as good as we thought.
