Not exactly the same thing. They are there in case a starter has to be pulled early and bridge gap between starter and high leverage relievers. Yep, if Sanchez and Biagini weren't here, Astros would still have people pitch between starters and high leverage guys.
This thread reminded me why I actually don't usually follow the game thread during playoff games... like I do during regular season ones. Can't fault the passion... but certainly can ignore the idiocy.
It's only been a few appearances, but I rally haven't seen anything remotely impressive about Biagini, and that's not just because of his dud last night. Frankly I'm not even sure he's better than Sneed. Sanchez is still a project. Not sure if he will be ready to contribute in a significant way this postseason, but I wouldn't rule it out either. S**t has gone sideways if Biagini is in anything other than a mop up role.
Biagini's cutter has sucked since he's been an Astro. His 4S fastball has stopped spinning and Biagini is getting too much of the plate with it. If Biagini's cutter starts getting whiffs back to 40% of the time instead of 5%, and his 4S fastball starts to move again, he could see more than mop up work.
The reporter that JV wanted nothing to do with is the same guy who floated the story that we were trying to trade Bregman for Fulmer in July 2017, a story corroborated by exactly nobody.
