For one game? Sure. I am not saying to put him in moth balls - I am just curious to see what the line up I laid out would do. Pena obviously offers more power - but Dubon puts the ball in play. Pena could stick at SS and Dubon could play LF or Bellinger could push Abreu to the bench and play first. I like the idea of an outfield of Bellinger/Tucker/McCormick - thats a pretty good defensive outfield. We both know Maldonado is going to start a lot, so most likely Alvarez would be in left and Diaz at DH - but that isn't as deep a line up.
Seems like he's having at least a half-decent year. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/graveke01.shtml
We will have to see if the White Sox were telling the truth on only being willing to trade rentals. Graveman is signed through next year.
Wanting to make trades and being able to pull them off are two different things. I like Brown, thought it was a great hire, but the jury is out on his ability to improve a team through trades. His Forte thus far has been identifying talent in the draft and making a strong case to the GM to pull the trigger to actually select the players he identified. Anthopoulos was pulling the trigger on the trades (I'm sure Brown had input on player(s) they were after but Anthopoulos from my understanding put the specifics of the deals together). Again not saying Brown can't improve the team through trades but I'm going to sit back and see how things play out. Plus with three WC in each league more teams will be in contention (more buyers then sellers) which is going to drive up the cost of the available players.
If the Astros can just tread water for the next month, they should be in decent shape for the second half. Altuve, Yordan, Tucker, Diaz, Brantley, and Bregman in the lineup every day should put up some runs and getting Urquidy back should take some pressure off of the rotation.
2 tickets to tomorrows game in my season ticket deal to anyone who regularly listens to my podcast (or at least the last one) as a way of saying thank you for consuming that content. Hit me up via PM tonight. Gabe
IF everyone is healthy and back and I needed to win a game? Under those circumstances? Give me: Altuve- 2b Alvarez-DH Bregman- 3b Tucker- RF Bellinger-1b Diaz- C Brantley- LF Chas- CF Pena- SS That lineup is pretty much up there with the best lineup I've ever seen the Astros field I would think. And it's actually probably optimized by all the best hitters hitting in the most important spots 1-5 and then 6-9 by quality of hitter.
Yet - this line up is very possible. There are no guarantees or health or that the Astros pull off a trade for Bellinger - but it is very possible. Obviously the starting pitching will not be the best the Astros have had, but it still had a chance to be very solid. I also expect the bullpen to be pretty good down the stretch once they make a move or two. Anything can happen - but there is still reason for some optimism.
The biggest reason for optimism to me is, if they make the playoffs with the rotation shortened and the talent and experience you have all throughout the team they are a coin flip with anyone they play. If I knew Brantley and Alvarez and Urquidy were all coming back and healthy then sure- go ahead and trade away some future for a legit shot this time around. If I knew they weren't going to be back and healthy headed into the playoffs I would pivot to a soft re-set. It's not easy decision.
I think we will see them either be conservative on rentals - in other words not give up a top 3-4 prospect for one..... or we will see them go to the well and give up prospects for players that have multiple years of control. Bellinger could possibly get a little expensive for a rental - but that isn't going to cost the Astros a top 3 prospect.
There is a huge difference between winning the division and winning the wild card. Especially since it should come with a bye. Have to win 13 instead of 11 Less rest before the playoffs series starts Fewer home games.
I'm still not interested in Bellinger. He had a hot start but has regressed to his sh*t self recently. I'd rather trade for some we know will be decent and not another Abreu in the lineup. Also he's a conspiracy theorist that thinks altuve stole an MVP from judge.
He was decent in Sugar Land before his non setback... if he's truly okay... may have to limit him to first.
I live too far west to use your tickets but this is not the first time I have seen you do this. It is a damn nice gesture to the people on this site and I would like to thank you for it.
We only have 4 players on the roater that have an OPS+ above 100 and one of them only gets to play half the time because he's been in Dusty's doghouse since last year.
It seems pretty clear to me by now that McCormick and Diaz should be in the lineup every single game, and that Dubon should be the primary backup at every position except catcher. I’m not ready to give up on Meyers but McCormick, Diaz, and Dubon have played well enough that they should be playing almost every game.
