Moran leading the team in batting avg now... This dude is raking it. Look out Valbuena you might be next on the chopping block/trade deadline material !
He just needs to stick until Stassi is ready to return, which was initially projected as 4-6 weeks from the middle of March (End of April, maybe early May). At that point, Kratz is expendable. I do not know what the status is of Pena and Heineman is as far as "starting the clock" on these guys, but this trade allows the Astros to refrain from doing that. Anyone want to speculate on the odds of Kratz still being on this team on the Fourth of July? I suspect he will not be. Or even probably by Memorial day for that matter.
'14 Fister was really good!! Both he and Giles are currently worrisome Not too worried though, it's early, and the Stros' offense should improve from last year and the pitching staff shouldn't be worse. We threw 4.20+ ERA Hernandez, Valasquez, Kazmir, Olberholtzen, Staily, etc all last season.
He's a lock until Lance is ready. Then it'll be a question between the F's to see who's pitching the best. If he hasn't found himself by then and the others are going fine, he'll move to the pen. Nothing to worry about right now really
Long term, no. But I am slightly concerned that it will affect our W/L record in the early going. If the Rangers step up and make it a race, then a couple extra losses in April/May could come back to haunt us come September.
Giles was awful last ST and ended up having a great season. Fister has no control right now, and he is going to get lit up if he doesn't correct it. I am excited to see if Feldman can get back to how he was before he got hurt last year. He started to really come on. I am curious to see how Lance McCullers has improved this year.
I just think Fister is a vet who isn't worried about spring results As long as his velocity is fine, and I haven't heard otherwise, I'm confident he will be fine. Can't wait till Monday!
Velocity is fine. Movement on pitches is fine. Control has been awful, but he has a career of good control to say he'll find his groove.
Hinch says Fiers, Feldman and Fister will throw in that order following Keuchel and McHugh. Hinch says Michael Feliz back in running for bullpen spot, along with Wandy and Hoyt. If Astros carry 12 pitchers, Duffy makes team. If they carry 13 pitchers, Duffy is out and two of these guys make it: Wandy, Hoyt, Feliz. Astros are going to watch outside options in pitching market too.
Interesting. And then 1 of those 4 will head down when Gattis comes off the DL...and the other when Lance? If so, it's important, but not so huge if the 2 that make it are out within a month.
When Gattis gets back, it will be Duffy, Tucker, or 13th pitcher. When Lance comes back it will probably be Wandy, assuming he makes the team. I think Duffy is an easy call as the 25th man.
Altuve with the cold dig on Marisnick: <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="6" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BDgyNNTAl5d/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">When @jsmarisnick finally gets a hit ... Cuando jake por fin mete un hit</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A video posted by Jose Altuve (@josealtuve27) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-03-28T21:44:50+00:00">Mar 28, 2016 at 2:44pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>