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2021 Spring Training

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by J.R., Feb 22, 2021.

  1. Mr.Pringles

    Mr.Pringles Member

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    If Straw can get on base 150-200 times this season in the nine hole. He may score 100 runs. And lead the league in SB’s
     
  2. Snake Diggit

    Snake Diggit Member

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    Agree. There is no way they should be entertaining batting Straw leadoff early in the season. If he demonstrates over 200 pa that he has made significant improvement and can consistently get on base 37% of the time, then make that move. But he should be 9th until he proves he can perform that well.
     
  3. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    As many have responded to this tweet, Tucker is only one that remotely fills this bill unless Straw gets on base at a high clip. It also creates space between the LHBs.
     
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  4. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    Altuve faints
     
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  5. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    That must be why he gets thrown out so much.

    Edit: I do think Altuve should be the favorite for batting leadoff as a likely person Click and Dusty can agree on.
     
    #25 Joe Joe, Feb 23, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
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  6. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    He fits the description that Baker described. He gets on base and is a threat to steal. He doesn't have to steal.
     
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  7. awc713

    awc713 Member

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    Tucker batting lead off is interesting and I don’t hate it
     
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  8. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    The batters behind him don't get fastballs because he's not seen as a threat to steal. Opposing teams want him to try to steal.
     
  9. Snake Diggit

    Snake Diggit Member

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    Tucker is a very interesting lead off candidate. He stole 30 bases in AAA in 2019 so he’s enough of a baserunning threat to force pitchers into the stretch and get to 3B on a single. But his projected .325 OBP may not be good enough to justify putting him up there.

    RF Tucker
    3B Bregman
    LF Brantley
    2B Altuve
    DH Alvarez
    SS Correa
    1B Gurriel
    C Maldonado/Castro
    CF Straw
     
  10. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    I agree that Tucker would not be ideal unless he gets his OBP up considering others on team. He did improve a little during the year on taking more pitcher's pitches for strikes instead of weakly hitting a pitch on the outside corner early in the count. Here's to hoping that continues as he still swings too much at pitches he can't do much.
     
    #30 Joe Joe, Feb 23, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
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  11. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    #31 J.R., Feb 23, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
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  12. sealclubber1016

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    Straw is gonna have to get on base 38-40% of the time to justify hitting first in the order given his likely lack of power. He would be a perfect 9 hitter if he gets on well, but he should not see the most PA's on the team.

    I see nobody's had a talk with Dusty yet about modern lineup structure, he just inherited Springer hitting leadoff and didn't change it.
     
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  13. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    #33 J.R., Feb 24, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2021
  14. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    #34 J.R., Feb 24, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2021
  15. awc713

    awc713 Member

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    Get your good Stros WS odds while you can...Stros to the moon
     
  16. Nick

    Nick Contributing Member

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    He's only the 51st best player in MLB per the official rankings... while Springer is 20th.... nothing to see here, fake news....
     
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  17. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Contributing Member
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    Why all the emphasis on Jose's throwing arm? Is that really going to come into play all that often this season?
     
  18. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Postseason, he had the yips.
     
  19. snowconeman22

    snowconeman22 Member

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    I talked about having tucker lead off last year.(Maybe 2 after springer lol , I can’t remember)

    now , this year , the roster is a bit different . I think he could still be a good fit at the top of the order

    is straw our starting CF ? Who else is in camp competing for innings there ?

    imo if the rest of our lineup is great and straw
    Is bad and our rotation looks good enough to win , that’s a spot we could upgrade .

    but for now ...

    tucker
    Bergman
    Brantley
    Correa
    Yordan
    Yuli
    Straw
    Maldonado
    Tuve

    if tuve heats up we can switch him with straw or move him above yuli .

    I don’t mind dusty changing the lineup every now and then . He did it a bit last year , I think guys can handle it . It can get in an opponents head more than guys are going to be thrown off not hitting in a certain spot .

    but I like my guess . Tucker showed a good eye . Bregman can be a monster . Brantley is maybe a reach over Correa , but LRLR and is consummate pro . Correa self explanatory. Yordan returns to form if not better . Have to bat Cubans back to back . Straw is better at beating out double plays than tuve (you can argue tuve is just a plain better hitter ) . Maldonado and tuve is toss up for 8/9 . If Maldonado ends and inning you have tuve leading off the next .. unless it was the last out , then oops I guess .
     
  20. snowconeman22

    snowconeman22 Member

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    im not sure I agree with dusty’s analysis on #2 . I understand the reasoning , but am interested if the stats bear it out . I’m sure it’s harder to throw out a runner on a breaking pitch . On first pitch there’s probably no tangible disadvantage to throwing a breaking ball for a strike . In fact , if we are really expecting fastball and expecting to swing then a first pitch off speed could actually harm us .

    make other teams execute and rely on the batters eye . I mean , it’s obviously an advantage to have fast guys on base . If you could magically make every guy a 99 speed , you would .
     

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