Yulieski Gurriel agrees to 5/$47M deal with the Astros

With this roster, yes he has earned it. Is he ideal? Of course not, but who has proven to be better? Neither Gurriel or Bregman has so much as a single hit in the majors yet. I'd much rather play Marwin everyday until one or both of them have established that they will be better.

 

Billy was a fan favorite and played a role in the lone win '98 playoffs.

 

He has been below average offensively, I expect Bregman and Gurriel to both be better than that.

 

Except that he hasn't been. As of right now, his batting average for the season is slightly above the major league average of the last six seasons. You might expect that the others will do better, and maybe they will, but they haven't yet and it's a pennant race. Marwin is a safe bet, not spectacular, but on a roster full of highly volatile and unpredictably streaky hitters he's been pretty solid overall.

 

Considering he's been mostly playing 1B... you should look at more applicable metrics (other than the very pedestrian batting average), and apply a comparison amongst other 1B in the league.

Marwin being a safe bet isn't being argued... its exactly why he has a pivotal role on this team as the first guy off the bench (who over 162 games, ends up playing almost everyday... as usually you're always filling in for somebody or you play based on the matchups).

But, like the previous poster said... if the others are playing up to potential, including Valbuena, Marwin will be on the bench.

 

True, not an ideal first baseman, but again, who has proven to be better? Valbuena maybe. I'd rather keep him at third until someone proves they can do it better, and so far nobody has. We'll see I guess. Hopefully someone will, but I wouldn't just give it to them until they do.

 

So how do you propose Bregman/Gurriel to prove themselves if you won't let them play until they prove themselves?

 

Really hoping this guy can bring something to the major league table, and soon.

Stros need every help they can get with tough remaining schedule, shaky rotation, and divisional deficit.

 

Spot starts, DH, anything you would have done with Marwin basically. Just doesn't make sense to take a consistent quantity out of the lineup for an unknown. Not at this point in the season anyway. If one of the two starts crushing it, then make a move, but I wouldn't make a change just for the sake of making a change.

 

They're not doing that, they're making a changes (when Val/Yuli are here) because Yuli/Bregman are more talented, and Marwin is best suited for a super-utility role starting every 3 of 5 or so games.

 

Neither have proven that. Neither one of them has ever even gotten a hit in the major leagues before. Are they more talented? Probably, but I'd rather see at least some results before making a change. I just think it's too late in the year to risk chemistry for a complete unknown. Let them earn it first, and if they show something, then make the move.

 

We might be lucky to see Gurriel before September

Still no work Visa, initial reports were that it would be easy to obtain. If it has taken this long already, I would guess there is something there that is holding it up and this isn't going down as the normal procedure would

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Astros expect Yulieski Gurriel to get visa this weekend, get him to AA this week</p>&mdash; Peter Gammons (@pgammo) <a href="https://twitter.com/pgammo/status/759089269600288768">July 29, 2016</a></blockquote>
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edit: he's DH-ing in a GCL game right now.

 

@brianmctaggartYulieski Gurriel in lineup today for GCL Astros at DH after getting visa approved

 

Awesome!!!

Hope the transition goes smoothly

 

Absolutely! Exciting times! The Astros really need YG to produce. Can't wait to see him play.

 

Cohiba's for everyone!

 

0 for 2.

Hitting lead off as the DH by the sound off it.

Mat Latos is the pitcher.