Dusty wasn't playing him before that so I don't think it a coincidence. I don't think Dana had to pull rank or anything, but I doubt it would have happened if Dana didn't say something.
Then why'd it take a week? That's part of the GM's job, he is fully allowed to, and should sometimes, tell the manager what to do, I'm just slightly dubious that it happened here.
Everybody but Dusty knows that Chas should be starting 8/10 games in the OF (gotta fit Julks and Meyers in a bit, Tucker may need some more days off sometime), and Diaz the same at C/1B. Dubon has Altuve's spot (and SS) held down until he's back (I'd love to see Altuve DH more with Dubon at 2B, the defensive difference is pretty stark). Kessinger can spell Bregman (who has been dogshit for about 2 weeks) and the rest of the IF.... Will Dusty do these things? Magic 8 Ball says "No", but we'll see how it goes I suppose.
It’s so incredibly easy and obvious which is the part that’s so infuriating. Yes. Do all of that and call it a day and this team probably still has time to get to 95 or 98 wins.
Eh- if we get completely healthy and play the right guys as you said in the lineup I think we can get to 95. If some teams cash in their chips and try to lose going down the stretch we might pick up some cheapies and get closer to 100. It’s really about Javier and Brown getting right to me. on our last podcast I said I didn’t believe the Astros would play 90 win pace from July 4th on, I predicted we would either play at a 100 win pace or an 80 win pace. If we play at 100 win pace that’s 95 total wins by the end of the game. It could also fall apart if that **** luck all continues and Javier and Brown are not really good.
You absolutely need more pitching for the rest of the season and into the postseason. You cannot expect all of the rookies to keep doing what they are doing. I have more faith in the young hitters. A bat wouldn't hurt, and I'm all for that as well.
Agreed on ending more pitching to feel good about the playoffs. We have Brown who hasn’t been great for 6 weeks and as a rookie should be throwing less innings as opposed to more down the stretch, and Javier who has been awful for 3 weeks and before that as much lucky as good earlier in the season. If Urquidy comes back healthy you need the aforementioned Brown and Javier to get right plus somoeen better than Urquidy to feel comfortable as the 4th starter in the playoffs. I sort of trust France as the 5th guy in the regular season. Ideally you get a decent #3 type, Urquidy healthy, and go to a 6 man rotation in August and September or just skip Brown and Javier 4 or 5 times in the second half. I think you have enough leverage guys in the bullpen with Presley, Abreu, Maton and Neris, but I wouldn’t turn down another reliever if it isn’t super costly.
That might hold weight, except that Diaz isn't catching our top 3 pitchers, in fact one of them was taken away despite good results. He wasn't playing much at all the first quarter of the season. Once he starts catching Brown,Javier,Framber then I might believe the excuse that Dusty is "easing" him in. All evidence to me points to Dusty just not thinking he's very good until he was forced to let him DH.
Ideally you get a healthy Scherzer, Cease or Gilbert. I would feel much better if they would shutdown Javier for a couple of weeks before and after the all star break. Looks like he's got a dead arm IMHO.
