I greatly appreciate the insider updates. Given how much Crane is involved in the day to day business, I would be surprised if Crane wanted more spent on scouting and development that Click would not instantly comply. Given how well the Astros have done lately (4 100 win seasons since 2017), the Astros are an exceptional organization that are doing many things well. In the big picture, getting better results from scouting and development falls into the "trimming the sails" category. I am curious if Crane is trying to catch up with another organization ... and which one. Maybe the Dodgers?
Yeah I think you hit the nail on the head with this. I think as far as rotation you go like you said: Verlander Framber McCullers Javier Looking back on the season and the numbers it really is incredible to see how good Javier truly was. He pitched the least amount of innings amongst the starters (148) and recorded the most strikeouts tied with Framer (194). His whip was also 2nd best among the starters behind Verlander. If he keeps the same pattern in the postseason, we're in for a fun ride. The weakest link of our postseason pitching will be Smith. I just have a bad feeling about him. Maybe he ramps it up in the postseason, idk.
I think you play McCullers at home in the 2nd slot, given his proclivity for pitching well at home -- if he is expected to be one of the first three in the rotation. So: JV McCullers Valdez -- he is solid on the road. If they are all designated to pitch a game no matter what, why not give us the best chance to succeed? I'd rather McCullers at home and Framber on the road -- which is more of a credit to Framber. If it's all about team, that is the order the Astros should go with (assuming the front office sees McCullers in the top 3 -- there is an argument to replace him with Javier, in which case you go JV Framber CJ)
I don't know if Crane is trying to catch up to the Dodgers or Braves. Click wanted and got an expanded scouting staff and budget. However, Crane likes to do everything "big", and Click seems to be a far more understated person and that is likely the disconnect. I can see it from both sides....... Click has a boss that is heavily involved (which he publicly denies) and actively speaks to others in the organization and in baseball. It has to feel to Click like he has his boss over his shoulder. Also, Click has a manager that doesn't share the save vision as he does. That has to be hard, and on top of that guys like Baker and the players go over Click's head straight to the owner. I am sure that makes Click feel undermined. Then there has been no real efforts at an extension by the Astros with Click. Crane I am sure is not happy that his GM doesn't utilize all of the financial resources afforded to him. He is upset that Click failed at the deadline to get the big offensive bat that Crane wanted and that Click said he would get. Crane also is likely frustrated that Click isn't more aggressive and doesn't think out the box as much. Crane knows how special this run is and wants it maximized.
Click has been disappointing overall to me. A lukewarm trade deadline set of deals at best. Mancini and Smith? Are you kidding? Vazquez, ok fine. Good pickup. He had to get lucky with one of them I guess.
Does Smith make the playoff roster? I guess they probably want a lefty. I'm guessing they only go with 12 pitchers: Justin Verlander Framber Valdez Cristian Javier Lance McCullers Jr. Luis Garcia (long man) Will Smith Hector Neris Hunter Brown Bryan Abreu Ryne Stanek Rafael Montero Ryan Pressly I suspect Urquidy and Maton are off the playoff roster.
I think Click has done perfectly fine. A solid "B" He suffers from following Luhnow and the team not winning a World Series YET since he took over. But the vast majority of this Astros team is James Click's Astros There are 30 players who are active, or would be active if healthy. Bregman, Tucker, A. Diaz, Framber, Javier, L Garcia, Urquidy, and Abreu were brought in by Luhnow and Click has had a very minimal if any effect on their situation here. We can add Altuve who pre-dated Luhnow but has not had any status change since Click took over. 9 of 30 = 30% C.Vazquez, Mancini, Dubon, Castro, Neris, Stanek, Montero, Maton, and Smith have all been brought in since Click was hired. 9 of 30 = 30% Maldy, Gurriel, JV, McCullers, Pressly, and Brantley all played under Luhnow but Click resigned them when they could have left or were already gone. 6 of 30 = 20% Brown, Pena, McCormick, Meyers, and Hensley were all drafted by Luhnow but developed into MLB calibur players in Click's Organization. In some cases they improved significantly and none were top prospects until after Luhnow was fired. 5 of 30 = 16.7% That only leaves Yordan who was acquired in a trade by Luhnow and became a superstar before Click arrived. But Click signed him to the extension that will keep him in an Astros uniform through 2028. Also: 18 of the MLB Pipeline top 30 prospects were brought in by Click. 2 more were signed by Click, but only after they had agreed to a contract with Luhnow before he was fired. The other 10 were drafted or signed by Luhnow. Many of them were not considered prospects, though, until after Click began running the organization.
With Brown proving to be an effective long reliever, there is no excuse to not start Javier. They don't need 2 long relievers in the pen. Garcia and Urquidy may be the odd men out, at least in the ALDS.
One of the best things about the late '10's Astros that allowed them to run like a well-oiled-machine was that Hinch and Luhnow (and thus Crane) were all of one mindset. Crane getting rid of Click (this does depend on who the replacement would be) just seems crazy to me. Funny that the guy the Stros wanted, Josh Bell, has been every bit as terrible as the guy we "settled" for, Mancini.
After the WC round when we can see the Team and pitchers we're likely to see. No reason to decide before that. Even if we already "know" it basically. With all the permutations, I wonder if they will even announce anything other than the Series Roster until the night before any game.
LOL! I think of it as more of a designated English Teacher from Jr. High. You might not like it at the time, but they grow on you.
There is a very good chance we will face the Opponents Ace in the second game. (Castilla for SEA?/Manoah for TOR). McCullers at home for Game 2 sounds like an option. With McCullers not being particularly efficient, I could see a Brown or Garcia in a relief role.
