I wouldn't mind a defensive upgrade from McCann as the everyday catcher. It's not like he was Babe Ruth at the plate or anything this year. I also wouldn't mind a centerfielder or corner outfielder. I love the idea of Yellich or Ozuna. My dream player would be Votto and (even if they won't) they really should shop him. I hate that contract and it would be ugly at the end, but he's become one of my favorite players and his team needs to rebuild. The package would have to be insane, right? We shouldn't even touch that contract, either... right? RIGHT?
How pitchers handle base runners and their quickness to the plate are arguably about their nature as well. Agreed. I at least partially agree with the nature argument, but its the playoffs. Different season. I wont say because of this that its likely a team begins doing something they dont usually do. But they likely will do more of what they are already doing. Teams that shift, may do so more radically in certain situations. Hitters will try to hit more home runs. And yea, guys who steal will try to steal more.
Dallas Keuchel is good at controlling the running game. LMJ has been good as well, but of course may not be in the rotation. Verlander doesn't do so great. Fiers is terrible, but won't be on the team. Brad Peacock struggles as well.
Ok... but that's a far cry from every single being an automatic double. Your concern implies that guys who don't steal, or haven't been... are going to all-of-a-sudden try and steal simply because its the playoffs. The best option is to get a big enough lead to where teams won't be too aggressive on the basepaths. The concern over every run works both ways... yes, in the playoffs you may try and manufacture runs more because every run matters. You may also not want to give up any extra outs on the basepath because every run matters.
Not just cause its the playoffs, but because their playing against the worst team in baseball in CS. At an 88% success rate, its almost a free pass for the prolific base stealers in the league. And a few may try that dont much given the stakes and situation. No, every single wont be a double. That was unconvincing sarcasm.
But that's exactly what i said above... if its not in a team or player's nature to steal bases, but they look at the Astros CS% and try to do so simply because of that... its not a guarantee that they're going to be all that more successful. And given the stakes/situation... should teams be routinely risking giving up outs on the basepaths? Would you advocate the Astros... a team that rarely implemented the sacrifice bunt during the season.... to start sacrificing more simply because its the playoffs? I can't say I would agree with changing strategy all that much.
Certainly true - but your odds increase dramatically. Wasn't there some catcher that had a 0% caught-stealing percentage earlier this year or last year, and a team stole like 7 or 8 bases on them? It wasn't in their nature to steal that much, but they had little to lose. Everything is about increasing your odds. I wouldn't steal if I were David Ortiz in the playoffs (in the regular season, I'd try sending him against us). But anyone who has moderate speed and has some experience stealing bases should go for it if every time they can. For example, Mookie Betts should steal every single time he has an opportunity, I would think.
I might if it worked 88% of the time against them. Part of me agrees with you, to a point. But I also agree with Major that teams will look for areas to take advantage of and in this area, we are vulnerable. How successful it will turn out? We will have to see (if it comes).
But those statistics are based on players who may steal quite successfully... No doubt, they're vulnerable to base-stealers... they have been all season. Are they vulnerable also to non base-stealers? They just finished off a series vs. the Angels, who steal (and attempt steals) more than any other team in baseball this year... a team that was literally playing those games as elimination games... I believe they were 2-for-2 over the 3 game set.
Even Albert Pujols can steal on the Astros catchers.... 88% failure rate! Everybody gets a steal! Oprah style!
Quick question for the Astro diehards in here. Miami has been taking calls prior to the trade deadline. Would you entertain a Bregman/Tucker trade for Giancarlo Stanton? He's reportedly on the block and I think that would be a fair trade for both teams. Stros have viable 3rd base options in Colin Moran, Marwin, Yuli.
I would rather Astros keep Tucker, Bregman, and then sign whoever Astros want with the 295 million dollars allotted to Stanton.
He's batting 280 with 59HR 129RBI's in a lineup he's not protected in. He would turn your lineup in to murderers row.
295 million can get that as well and you still have Bregman and Tucker. With 295 million, Astros could trade for Votto without using Tucker and Bregman and still have something like 120 million to spend elsewhere. Granted, I don't think the Astros have the 295 million to pay Stanton or anyone else.
If Verlander leads us to a Championship, best believe I am going to dig through this thread and call all you haters out.
This year's line-up is '27 Yankees-like; it's one of the greatest offensive seasons of the modern era. Why, when you have to potentially pay Springer, Keuchel, Altuve, Correa..... would you dump a $300MM albatross into the middle of it? To answer your question: no.
Stanton is a very nice player. The beauty of the Astros line up is the depth of it. I would rather not dump that much money and assets in a single player that isn't Mike Trout. I would rather let Luhnow look for a first baseman and keep his own guys.
