If you wanted to bring Singleton up, what do you do? Can't have 4 1B/LF/DH types on the roster. Carter has the ability to actually play 1B, Gattis is strictly DH with a touch of LF thrown in in emergency situations. Carter has the OBP edge. Gattis has the "learning curve" in his favor. Both have stupid power. Gattis seems to have better ABs in situations where he just needs to drive in a run (that has no statistical backing, just my observation). Who would you keep if you had the choice?
Long term, couldn't they carry: 1B/DH: 3 man rotation of Singleton, Gattis, Carter OF: 4 man rotation of Springer, Rasmus, Tucker, Marisnick 2B/3B/SS: 4 man rotation of Altuve, Valbuena, Correa, Lowrie C: 2 man rotation of Castro/Conger That gives you a 13 man offense and 12 man pitching staff, and a good mix of legit bats every day off the bench.
I would keep both and involve Big Jon in a trade Gattis has a terrible Avg, but he has been very productive Carter has proven he will be very streaky, and there will be a good one coming
I think that will change. Unless there are injuries, we'll see Singleton and Carlos up at the expense of one pitcher and one infielder.
I think the Astros are eventually gonna be forced to carry Singleton and Carter for a time. If Singleton is able to prove he can hit they will move Carter, maybe at the deadline. If we were to simply trade carter, there is a very real chance Carter goes off and Singleton is terrible. I think we may give up the long man out of the pen.
He's the 3rd or 4th emergency catcher (and 3B and LF) behind Villar. He is awful at all of those positions.
No one wants Gattis behind the plate, even Gattis I'm guessing. I still think waiting around for Carter to have his 2 months with an OPS over .800 is stupid. Sure it's a risk to replace him with Singleton but Singleton just has more upside and does anyone really have a lower floor.
Carter will hit under .220, Gattis will hit .245 About the same power. So, i prefer Singleton at 1b and Gattis as our DH.
Would not surprise me to see this active roster in a little over a month. I do think Astros try to make some trades though. Maybe don't get the white whale, but think Astros will at least shake things up on AAA and try to get a better OF/IF backup.
Marwin is a very good utility, and is a swith hitter. Also, in the OF, we have 4 quality players with Preston. What we need is a top starter, a guy like Kazmir, and play Correa. Also, i would like to see Singleton up.
From what I've seen this season, I would lean towards Gattis. My eyes agree with yours in that he seems to be more "clutch" than Carter. My biggest concern with that decision is that I think most of us feel that, eventually, Carter is going to break out insanely like he did last year and hit 15 homers in a span of 40 games or something. It's hard to not want to wait for that surge.
It isn't that hard because there are 162 games in the season not 40 why do you all want a guy who is only good for a third of the season.
This may sound dumb, but Carter seems to lack that "next man up" attitude that drives this team. Gattis has it. It may mean little, but I like it.
This is exactly what our line-up will be soon after the all-star break. The only reason they are carrying 13 pitchers is because our 4 and 5 SP stink. Once Luhnow trades for a SP they will be able to call Singleton up.
I just want to throw this out there as a baseline: Preston Tucker is not a good outfielder. He's tolerable in LF, and a damn fine DH. I really like this kid and I want him in the lineup as often as possible, but I don't know where you play him regularly. LF, talk Rasmus into being the 4th OF and spell Marisnick and Tucker and Springer? I guess that's the way to go.