If we keep 12 pitchers he probably will however if we keep holt then its likely he will start the year in AAA. You have to wonder if he is smashing the ball at the end of spring still at this rate that you have to get him on the team. I wonder if Guriel can play real innings in LF.
If Reed makes the team then the loser is Gattis. I would think Beltran stays in LF most games and Gurriel/Reed split 1B/DH. Sick lineup when you think about it. Springer CF Bregman 3B Altuve 2B Correa SS Beltran LF Reed 1B Gurriel DH Reddick RF McCann C
I assume he meant playing time, not roster spot. I would think Aoki could be at the most risk on roster spot if Reed does make the team. You don't need him, Marisnik and Gurriel as light-hitting (or low upside, at least) platooners. Or they just start with 12 pitchers. Reed in minors doesn't add any value - we know he can hit there. We have to answer whether he has a chance to be a real contributor in the majors.
I gotcha and I agree. I've been hoping Reed would get his **** together all winter/spring, I have high hopes for him.
If Reed makes the roster I think it shifts Gurriel into a utility role that would result in less ABs for Marisnick, Marwin, and Gattis. As the starters in RF, LF, and 1B are all lefties, Gurriel would make good sense as platoon partners for all 3, and he'd also likely get some time at DH as well as backing up 3B. He could also effectively work as the backup 2B/SS since they can just put him at 3B and shift Bregman to 2B/SS when Altuve/Correa needs a day off. Marwin and Marisnick would be relegated to defensive replacement and pinch runner roles, and Gattis would be strictly a platoon catcher. The other (simpler) outcome would be that Gurriel becomes the everyday LF, making Aoki an odd man out. Either way, having Reed reach his ceiling would make this by far the best, deepest lineup in baseball.
I agree Aoki is not a given to make team, and is the most likely to get traded if Astros need a roster spot. That said, I wonder if Marwin is also on the trade block. Seems like Bregman is a better SS backup. Gurriel can play 2B/3B. I think Reed and Moran are realistic options as the backup IF if Bregman backs up SS. P.S. I doubt Gurriel is a light hitting or a low-upside platoon player. Edit: I do think it is a bit crazy to consider Marwin on trade block. Just seems like Astros need him less.
So far this Spring Redick McCann and Gurriel have done nothing to show us that they can do anything but cash checks. And honestly after our experience with vets the past few years (Rasmus, Gomez) what reason do we have to be dissuaded from this skepticism? I'll believe it when I see it.
Unless you think Moran is going to be the MVP with his 1.300 something OPS, I think worrying about spring stats (outside of extremely bad K%) is not needed for hitters.
Yes. To clarify, I didn't mean that Reed would take Gattis's roster spot, but rather his DH ABs, either directly or indirectly. Who plays 1B would obviously be whoever is the batter fielder with the lesser moving into the DH role. Gattis over into a straight platoon with McCann. Heck, would they look to trade Gattis if Reed makes the roster?
Definitely true that Reed's doing well in ST. The shocking thing to me is that in a similar number of bats Colin Moran actually has a slightly higher OPS than Reed (1.253 vs 1.234). If he has a career season in the minors and turns his prospect value around, that could prove huge at the trade deadline.
This Reed is exactly what the team is missing and would push them over the edge. We need a bomber that can slug too. It's almost worth giving him another look if he's earned it, which he has. And yep, It would be bold to sit Gurriel, but sometimes u have to do what u have to do just to know if he reached his potential against big league pitching. Gurriel deserves an equal shot too, as he's only in year 2, and should make a jump, but he's much older, so I'd let Reed play his way out of the position at this point. Likely won't happen that way. But Reed gains nothing being in AAA as he's beyond what he can do there. He needs to see more major league pitching. Stealing Gattis AB's would be an option as I think we know what Gattis is and it's not that special, nor a difference maker.
That's just incredibly silly. Borderline stupid. Altuve is hitting under .100, should we be worried about him (or Correa/Springer/Gattis/etc)? Mike Trout's first year in the majors (granted, he was only 19 years old): .220 .281 .390 .672
I mostly agree. But if cold hitting lingers into the late pre-season, then it could be indicative of a guy who may start the season slowly. If Altuve is still hitting .100 two weeks from now, then a certain degree of concern may have merit. He would catch fire at some point I have no doubt, even if the former came to be. So I am not worried at this point, no. Stats/performance begin to tell a meaningful story towards the end of pre-season though.
