How about 323 major league plate appearances? Which is what Meyers has, and has done oogatz with it. Maybe give another youngster a shot.
Dirden’s AAA slash line last year? .240/.300/.400, in an offense friendly league. A 73 wRC+. He’s far from a sure bet to succeed in the majors right now. Meyers has produced 1.5 fwar (somewhere between $10M and $15M in value) in those 323 pa (100 games), which is only about 2/3 of a season’s worth. That’s a pace to end up somewhere between 2.0-2.5 over a full season. Let’s also not forget that for a significant portion of that time he was either injured or facing big league pitching for the 1st time. If he’s a 2.5 win CF, that would likely place him among the 10-15 best CF in the league. But even ignoring all that, Meyers projects for a 95 wRC+, Dirden a 99 wRC+. So while Dirden does project to be ever so slightly better with the bat, when you factor in defense, baserunning, and the fact that Meyers is already on the 40 man roster and Dirden is not, it’s a pretty easy choice for Houston to choose Meyers over Dirden for the opening day roster.
Not loving what I am seeing between Framber and Korey Lee. Just doesn't look like they are on the same page.
I show 5 2/3 IP for Framber but Buttrey had a hard time getting that last out in the 6th. I do expect Tucker to start opening day.
I think Hensley's spot is relatively secure as the guy who will fill in for Altuve, Dubon and Dirden have a lot more to prove so they are getting the extra at bats.
I fully expect Dubon to be the starting 2B on opening day. 1. He is the "vet" and Dusty will say he is more comfortable with him. 2. Valdez is pitching and Dusty will say he is the better groundball player (much like he was the better defensive cf last year when JV pitched). 3. This will get Dubon on the All-Star ballot. 4. Dusty plays favorites (especially with "vets vs. rookies). 5. Dubon is a personal friend. See 4 above.
With no Altuve, I bat Bregman leadoff. But that's just me. 3-5 are completely meaningless. 2 and 1 are the ones that matter.
Having never managed a World Series champion changed. You're already hating him for something that hasn't happened yet.
Absolutely. Meyers had POSITIVE 0.5 bWAR in less than 1/3 of a season, while not recovered from a shoulder injury and looking TERRIBLE. Justin Dirden could be an Eric Anthony clone. Anthony had NEGATIVE bWAR his first 2 partial seasons as an Astro and negative for his entire career. This is after him being just as highly regarded as Dirden is now. Meyers has proven even at his worst he has the floor of a productive MLB centerfielder. Dirden may end up being better, and I hope he is ( both are actually) a very productive player for the Astros. But he has done nothing yet. He has earned nothing yet. Meyers is under the spotlight and that is perfectly fair. He needs to produce, and nothing should be handed to him, but he does not deserve to be "passed up" on the depth chart by a guy who does not have a single MLB plate appearance.
But we are talking about Dusty. You've been paying attention? Dubon will get the majority of ABs at second in Altuve's absence.
