No, its about getting better. And in this case, I'm not so sure Stassi can't match (if not exceed) what Castro is doing out there... and if you can re-appropriate his salary to fill other needs, or if you get a big-time return from another team, why wouldn't you make that move? I don't think Castro will be getting back to where he was last year...ever.
Agreed... but he has been pretty meh over his last 6 starts (hasn't gotten past the 6th in any of them).
He doesn't need to go back to that level to be good, if he can get his OPS up in the .740 range he would still be a very valuable player. As for the salary Castro will not be getting paid like an .830 OPS guy. If Crane can't afford 5-6 million dollars, the Crane haters were right all along, we're in trouble. This team is still on track to be at the very bottom payroll wise.
He can afford it... the question is could the Astros get similar production for far less, and then could use that salary to go towards other players. As far as Castro's salary, he'll get somewhere in-between your mythical .740 OPS and his posted .830 OPS production-based income. I dunno about where Castro actually ends up... and you also have to consider age/wear/injury concerns (Castro has been relatively "healthy" this year, as opposed to other years, and that has me concerned that more lingering injuries are on the horizon). There will still always be a budget... and as you said, this team has more pressing needs to address. They aren't going to sell him for 10 cents on the dollar... but they will move him if the right deal comes along.
Jesus Ashby is terrible. A full inning of him and how WAR is a subjective and unreliable number that he doesn't believe in. Considering our franchise model Ashby isn't exactly preaching the gospel.
Petit Rescued this inning after the called 3rd strike down the middle on Guzman and the run down out on Marisnick.
Part of the perfect game is officials making the right calls. Just ask Phil Humber. Edit: I'll be pissed, if Keuchel does throw a perfecto otherwise, but can't be too mad right now.
Hard to imagine them pulling him until there is a hit. He went 128 against the Angels in the Altuve lazy defense game.
