Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

[Official] Spring Training Thread

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by Castor27, Feb 19, 2023.

Page 37 of 70

Marshall Bryant Member

Joined:

Feb 4, 2018

Messages:

10,458

Likes Received:

6,196

IdStrosfan said: ↑

There is no reason to think Brantley is washed.

He has never been the type of hitter to need exit velocity to be productive. He has never had average or max exit velocities above the mid 70s percentile and has actually been in the 50s and 60s just as often.

However, last year was actually his best as an Astro for average exit velocity and a career best for barrel percentage.

His value is in consistency, swinging at the right pitches and making contact. None of that should be negatively impacted by the shoulder if he's healthy but simply a year older.

He had a very similar shoulder issue in 2016 and returned just as good as ever.

I expect Brantley to have a perfectly good season with a good AVG and OB%. His SLG may be slightly down due to lost power but his high contact approach along with the shift being gone will help him get to 115-120 OPS+.

He will also probably have a slightly reduced role, maybe sitting 1-2 games per week (ideally vs a tough LH starter and replaced my Chas) which will only help his percentage numbers.
Click to expand...

I'd give him more than a month coming off injury.

#721 Marshall Bryant, Mar 8, 2023

tallanvor Member

Joined:

Oct 9, 2007

Messages:

18,656

Likes Received:

11,687

#722 tallanvor, Mar 8, 2023
Dredd Member

Joined:

Jun 15, 2022

Messages:

1,469

Likes Received:

1,881

Who is this guy?

#723 Dredd, Mar 8, 2023

Nook likes this.
toby Member

Joined:

Jun 13, 2002

Messages:

1,237

Likes Received:

695

tallanvor said: ↑

Click to expand...

i really don't like this. what is wrong with his hands? goodness.

#724 toby, Mar 8, 2023
mkahanek Member

Joined:

May 2, 2001

Messages:

3,301

Likes Received:

1,881

Rock Block said: ↑

Oh come on, don't act like you don't miss a final of 90-87 knock-down drag out game. (yea I don't either)
Click to expand...

loved winning that title. But one team scoring over 100 exactly 1 time was brutal.

#725 mkahanek, Mar 8, 2023

Rock Block likes this.
ktex Member

Joined:

Jul 14, 2012

Messages:

947

Likes Received:

1,247

toby said: ↑

i really don't like this. what is wrong with his hands? goodness.
Click to expand...

Has to be carpal tunnel or just really early arthritis.

#726 ktex, Mar 8, 2023
SuraGotMadHops Member

Joined:

Nov 10, 2009

Messages:

6,598

Likes Received:

8,172

Altuve making Venezuelans bang their heads over his baserunning.

#727 SuraGotMadHops, Mar 8, 2023

PhiSlammaJamma Member

Joined:

Aug 29, 1999

Messages:

29,903

Likes Received:

8,005

Wait until they see Altuve take an outfield throw at second base completely out of position for the tag. Love the guy, but he cannot take a throw. And now, the base is bigger than he is.

#728 PhiSlammaJamma, Mar 8, 2023
donkeypunch Member

Joined:

Dec 8, 2013

Messages:

20,489

Likes Received:

23,341

Anybody got a link for a stream?

#729 donkeypunch, Mar 8, 2023
Nook Member

Joined:

Jun 27, 2008

Messages:

59,749

Likes Received:

132,145

IdStrosfan said: ↑

There is no reason to think Brantley is washed.

He has never been the type of hitter to need exit velocity to be productive. He has never had average or max exit velocities above the mid 70s percentile and has actually been in the 50s and 60s just as often.

However, last year was actually his best as an Astro for average exit velocity and a career best for barrel percentage.

His value is in consistency, swinging at the right pitches and making contact. None of that should be negatively impacted by the shoulder if he's healthy but simply a year older.

He had a very similar shoulder issue in 2016 and returned just as good as ever.

I expect Brantley to have a perfectly good season with a good AVG and OB%. His SLG may be slightly down due to lost power but his high contact approach along with the shift being gone will help him get to 115-120 OPS+.

He will also probably have a slightly reduced role, maybe sitting 1-2 games per week (ideally vs a tough LH starter and replaced my Chas) which will only help his percentage numbers.
Click to expand...

I think the only way Brantley is washed is if he gets hurt.

Even if his power is sapped, he can still be basically Andrew Benintendi.

#730 Nook, Mar 8, 2023

PiPdAdY33, IBTL and CinematicFusion like this.
rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

Joined:

Jul 28, 2000

Messages:

22,697

Likes Received:

12,383

Maybe Dubon should bat 2nd.

#731 rockbox, Mar 8, 2023
CinematicFusion Member

Joined:

Jun 20, 2018

Messages:

2,907

Likes Received:

3,032

ktex said: ↑

Has to be carpal tunnel or just really early arthritis.
Click to expand...

Nerve damage?

#732 CinematicFusion, Mar 8, 2023
CinematicFusion Member

Joined:

Jun 20, 2018

Messages:

2,907

Likes Received:

3,032

#733 CinematicFusion, Mar 8, 2023

PiPdAdY33 likes this.

CinematicFusion Member

Joined:

Jun 20, 2018

Messages:

2,907

Likes Received:

3,032

Bregman looks like he’s gonna have a great season.

#734 CinematicFusion, Mar 8, 2023

rockbox and crose like this.
Marshall Bryant Member

Joined:

Feb 4, 2018

Messages:

10,458

Likes Received:

6,196

mkahanek said: ↑

loved winning that title. But one team scoring over 100 exactly 1 time was brutal.
Click to expand...

Basketball the way it was meant to be played unlike the current monstrosity.

#735 Marshall Bryant, Mar 8, 2023
mkahanek Member

Joined:

May 2, 2001

Messages:

3,301

Likes Received:

1,881

Marshall Bryant said: ↑

We are just stupid for not liking the "modern" sped up game. All other opinions must be ridiculed and persons canceled from existence. ADD or DIE.
Click to expand...

I guess we are all idiots for not having ADHD and the attention span of a gnat.

Next rule change to make it faster is the runners simply go to the dugout when someone jacks one. No need to run the bases. They must sprint to the dugout. Failure to reach the the dugout in under 3.2 seconds will cost you the home run. If the batter takes more than 4.2 seconds then the other team gets the run for your home run.

#736 mkahanek, Mar 8, 2023

Marshall Bryant likes this.
mkahanek Member

Joined:

May 2, 2001

Messages:

3,301

Likes Received:

1,881

Marshall Bryant said: ↑

Basketball the way it was meant to be played unlike the current monstrosity.
Click to expand...

I agree to an extent. But the finals with scores only in the 90’s every game is less entertaining then say 108-102 or 112-110. A little more action scoring wise was preferable. That’s said, todays game with just 3 after 3 is getting old. Sure metrics say that’s better and the Warriors proved that out. But I miss seeing big men dominate like dream did or Tim Duncan. A happy medium between the grind it out of the 93/94 finals and todays crap would be nice.

#737 mkahanek, Mar 8, 2023
raining threes Member

Joined:

Jun 26, 2008

Messages:

18,498

Likes Received:

13,370

RunninRaven said: ↑

If Brantley is washed, it will be apparent within a month or two of the season and he can be moved down and Pena moved up (or even have Tucker moved up). I don't think it is unreasonable to give Brantley that opportunity to prove himself based on his history. Dusty sometimes gives too much credit to guys that have been around in the league longer, but in the case of Brantley we don't have any evidence to indicate he can't return to his pre-injury form from last year.

Some of the people in this thread act like if Pena doesn't start the season hitting in the 2 spot that he will be mentally damaged forever and never recover. That's silly. His production will go down but he won't fall off a cliff, and we know Dusty and his lineup proclivities. He's gonna move people around. I wouldn't be surprised if Pena hits 2nd every game that Brantley rests, which will probably be a good bit to start the season.
Click to expand...

Great post

It's not a big deal.

47-9 speaks for itself though.

#738 raining threes, Mar 8, 2023

jayfree Member

Joined:

Jul 3, 2015

Messages:

7,399

Likes Received:

10,171

mkahanek said: ↑

loved winning that title. But one team scoring over 100 exactly 1 time was brutal.
Click to expand...

What's amazing was Jordan averaging over 30 ppg in that defense era.

#739 jayfree, Mar 8, 2023
tallanvor Member

Joined:

Oct 9, 2007

Messages:

18,656

Likes Received:

11,687

#740 tallanvor, Mar 8, 2023

ryan_98, jjsmooth and BigM like this.

(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Page 37 of 70

Share This Page