Pretty sure you can only have 13 pitchers on the staff until Sept 1. (Looked it up on MLB's site just in case if I missed something, and it says 13 pitchers max). Not that it changes much, as I feel this is pretty close to the OD roster myself.
I did not know that rule. In that case then one of Matijevic, Madris, or Bannon will make the roster in place of Martinez or Blanco.
Don't ignore Blanco when you discuss pitching depth. He is probably just as likely to be the first up as any of the others.
Bench: Dubon, Stubbs, Hensley Rotation: Valdez, Javier, Garcia, Urquidy, Brown Bullpen: Blanco, Martinez, Maton, Stanek, Neris, Montero, Abreu, Pressly
Stubbs hasn't even played in AAA. Only way he makes MLB opening day roster is if both Lee and Diaz are hot garbage in spring training. They have not been. Even then I would give it 10% chance at best.
I only listed a predicted 40 man roster. Dirden isn’t on the 40 man, which also imho reduces his chances of making the opening day roster.
The way he throws it, which is very traditional, he really needs to be touch 98-99 to be effective. There is almost no funk to it at all. If he can't get develop any funk to it, I think he needs a split finger to throw batters off. Right now, it's batting practice when he throws 50 percent of the time.
I agree, but if he can stay healthy and he isn't stubborn I do see a way our for him. First, hitters are saying that he throws a heavy ball - and that is reflected in the number of ground balls that he is getting. Second, he still has a strike out rate that is positive, so that will limit the number of hard hit balls. Third, the Astros pitching coaches have alluded to him not having the usual rotations on his fastball, so it is possible that the fastball we are seeing won't be the one he has in 4 months. However, with the grounders and strikeouts; as long as he can keep his walks down, he will be a big leaguer with good health. If he can fine tune things, he can be even better. I know that they were working on him throwing basically a Daryl Kile laredo pitch some as well. He is a little thin too, and with more strength his fastball velocity should go up. He was hitting 99 mph a few years ago.
Anything is possible, but Volpe is about to turn 22 years old and hit 249 in the minors last year. At the end of the day, if the Yankees close the gap it will be because of their rotation being healthy and the Astros having some bad luck health wise. Also, I am sure the Yankees will be able to make deals at the deadline, but the Astros have plenty of money and I think underrated assets to make a deal for a War Horse starter or a bat. The Yankees need to worry about the Blue Jays anyway, they arguably have a better team.
I think with health being the obvious monkey wrench, the Yankees, Astros, and Blue Jays are the top 3 teams in the AL. Rays and Mariners are solidly into tier 2. Central will be a dogfight between Cleveland and Minnesota with the loser out of the playoffs. With better than usual health and luck the Angels and /or Rangers can overtake Mariners or Rays and always a chance the #2 team in central gets a WC. Those 9 teams look like the only playoff contenders in the AL for 6 spots. Terrible that 40% of the teams are eliminated before the season starts. Red Sox have resources but too many holes. Orioles are too young and in a gauntlet of a division. I predict AL East beat each other up giving #1 seed to Houston.
Hey @Nook or others that may have inside resources. What are you hearing about young players who have impressed or not impressed? Has Yainer Diaz and/or Korey Lee changed any minds behind the scenes? Any bottom of the 40 man players looking like DFA candidates and replaced by NRIs who have made splashes?
Yankees, Astros and Blue Jays are solid choices. I think that Seattle has a lot of upside because of George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Paul Sewald on the pitching end and on the hitting end, they added Teoscar, and Julio has a chance to be a top 10 player in baseball this year.
