I get your point that we are inexperienced in cf, but it is also likely that one of McCormick, Myers, or Leon will be an above average hitter for the 8th spot and all are pretty good defensive players. It would be foolish in my opinion to break the bank for a cf when we have 4 cfs in our pipeline with such potential.
Catcher is a black hole on this roster. I’m surprised they haven’t acquired a veteran catcher yet but maybe they have in mind an even cheaper option in mind. I’m also not that keen on the idea of splitting LF between Alvarez and Brantley.
Leon would get smoked by MLB pitching. He’s not ready and may never be ready. I agree though that McCormick/Meyers are fine.
Which ones are we needing to produce? From the WS team, what true production are we looking to replace? Verlander is all. Abreu replacing Gurriel. Aledmys, Mancini and Vasquez didn't do anything. Brsntley is back. Hunter Brown is really the only unknown.
I agree. I don’t think signing a replacement CF would have been wise. But addressing our C and maybe adding a P would have been.
I’m hoping that Brantley plays Lf very little and mostly dh. McCormick and Myers can also play both cf and lf. In the playoffs Yordan would play lf every game and Brantley would dh every game against righties
They played him 119 games last season with a WRC+ of 114. Doesn't matter about the confidence, they will be forced to play him or someone better if someone proves that they are. Chas is the baseline.
I wonder if Bauer’s career is over or if a team will bite. I suspect the latter will be true. Note that this is aside from the question *should* he play again. I think he’s good enough that a team will warrant the PR nightmare and risk to add him. He is or was elite at arguably the most highly sought after position. I think and hope HOU passes on him…but a lot of teams look a lot better with him on their roster. I wouldn’t be surprised if TEX added on him, or maybe even LAA.
I'm also thinking Texas and LAA... but perhaps more concerned if it's the Padres, Braves, or Phillies. He's a difference maker.
Doesn't matter as long as Dubon doesn't play there in the playoffs. Regular season roster and lineups don't matter much when we know we are a playoff team unless something really catastrophic happens. We are the 2000's spurs right now.
According to baseball reference Chas in 2022: LF: 44g/142PA = .730 OPS/ 103 OPS+ CF: 57g/207PA= .640 OPS/ 86 OPS+ RF: 15g/52PA = 1.173 OOS/ 225 OPS+ just for accuracy.
To me I would love Leon to become the starting CF and a star because he has potential to be really fun to watch. I dont think this happens and not in 2023 if it does. Best I can see for him is a Jake Meyers scenario where he tears up AAA until the deadline then either McCormick or Meyers are traded and he is brought up. So. . .
The luhnow era astros were among the most cut throat organization in sports. The commissioner said as much. I mean they bought a wife beater into the team.
McCormick struggles against righties and that's most starters. He's ideal as a platoon. He hit righties virtually the same as Yuli overall last season and we replaced Yuli. Chas is ideal platoon with Brantley in left and would prioritize a centerfielder with range given the shift is going away. Chas is an adequate fielder, but I prefer elite fielding in center. I would take a below average bat but not Maldonado level... Give me slightly better Marisnick or Straw...
If you tell me Leon is gold glove level centerfielder who hits .220 with 20 homeruns and strikes out a ton, I would sign up for that and hope he improves over time. I know he has an arm, just not sure about his range and instincts...
Taylor Rogers to SF for 3/33. I woulda done that but he gets to play w his brother there, so we probably would have had to beat it by a few million. Would anyone go 3/39 on Rogers, if that even gets it done. I’d think about it. It is a luxury buy that we can afford, and could give us flexibility to deal from strength in bullpen.
