I don't think there is any doubt that Keuchel would take the ball. Lance would be the only one in the conversation. This team really needs to land a starter. Counting on Fister to keep up his production in the face of advanced stats is not something we want to do. We could win a WS with our roster, but I wouldn't be optimistic without another guy.
I absolutely hate Bregman being so far down in the lineup. Not giving him the best chance to be successful, at all. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's how the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> will line up for the series finale against the Yankees. <a href="https://t.co/HtBbm2BGLh">pic.twitter.com/HtBbm2BGLh</a></p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/758399203299262465">July 27, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Pitching to contact to a lineup full of contact hitters is exactly what I'd describe as hittable. Yes, doesn't mean he's going to give up a ton of hits... but over any one game, BABIP happens... and it happened last night.
An OF with no Springer or Marisnick... easily their worst defensive grouping of the season. Not sure what the infatuation with playing Tucker in the field is... or is Springer that banged up that he needs 2 games a week at DH?
What about McHugh? Keuchel, McHugh, and McCullers would be the starters. If a 4th starter is needed, Astros likely give him a short leash or do a bullpen game.
Hopefully Rasmus can pick it up after getting some rest and getting his head on straight. We absolutely need him to at least be average. I have been hoping for Gomez to show consistent improvement but he has really struggled all season except for a few decent stretch of games. Rasmus at least started hot and was the only reason we won a few games to start the season. If they can both just creep towards their career averages I will be happy but it seems far fetched at this point. I have high hopes that Tucker and Bregman will start producing consistently once they get settled in. We need Valbuena back pretty quickly though.
McHugh far from a sure thing from game-to-game (or inning-to-inning)... he had a very McHugh like run in last-year's playoffs. Lots of variables out there when he pitches... his mental state that has led to control lapses, his trust in the curve (which he admits is a touch/go proposition), his ability to work in the cutter which sometimes doesn't cut. Ideally, he'd be the 4th starter if needed. Can never have too much elite playoff-type pitching.
Eh, Marwin hitting 2 HR's in the 2 spot just yesterday is not something to scoff at. Bregman should be able to hit anywhere in this lineup. I sorta like the idea of him setting the table for the top of the lineup by batting 9th (and he's guaranteed to get pitches to hit there... just won't come to the plate as often).
Yeah....starting Correa off hitting 6th when he first came up last year killed his confidence. EDIT - also, I have no idea what you mean with 'putting him into a position to succeed'.
Don't surround him with below replacement level hitters. It is pretty simple, if he is up right in front of Altuve he is going to get better pitches to hit.
Replace him with someone better if you can, but there is a very small number of pitchers likely significantly better than him not on a playoff contender. For the same cost as what people are saying for the starters better than McHugh, what else could you get. I'm hearing 5 or 6 prospects for Sale. For that, you might be able to get Lucroy, Freeman, and Inciarte. I could live with McHugh pitching with those guys added to the lineup. More importantly, Castro and Gomez wouldn't bat as much.
Penmanship is truly a lost art, and Hinch is the modern master. We could all learn a thing or two from him in that area.
If/when McCullers ever finds his fastball command, he is going to be dirty. That curve is unhittable.
