Breg, Abreu slow starters. They are coming around. Tucker broke out of his under performance and you still have Altuve/Yordan walking through the door. Offense can go supernova in second half if Pena has a small improvement and Chaz stays a plus hitter. They need pitching and they can win another WS.
We need to make some moves -- this team doesn't have enough. And why do we keep calling up our low-end talent from the minors, like Julks, Madris, Kessinger... I'd much rather see us bring up some higher-end talent, such as Dirden, Leon, Loperfido, Colin Barber... We need to find a spark and we're not going to find it with the low ceiling guys that we've brought up. Also, playing Maldy daily is very stupid. Yainer should be playing almost every day. With Korey Lee relieving him. We moved on from Yuli Gurriel, so WTF is keeping us from moving on from Maldy? Nostalgia? It surely isn't his performance.
I can't argue with your passion. This team has a huge lack of quality depth across the board. Dirden and Leon have big strikeout problems which would likely be exposed if brought up. Loperfido and Barber don't have the AAA experience to be sure MLB pitchers won't carve them up. There is no time for adjustment or growth to get that experience at the MLB level. Furthermore those are the future of this team and it is prudent to not risk negativity by using them then sending them back down when a trade brings in a replacement or they don't hit. Or start their clocks early. Julks, Madris, Kessinger, etc may not be as talented or end up with the long careers the others you mentioned (or maybe they will) will, but they are more experienced so more likely to not suck and expendable when Brown brings in guys at the deadline. Besides, Julks and Kessinger have played as well as you could expect in their situations.
Julks and Pena have big strikeout problems which have been exposed regularly this year. AAA experience is not a pre-requisite for MLB success. There are plenty of examples of players around the league skipping the level. And the needs of the Astros right now have to be considered. There is an urgent need to supplement the MLB roster with talent. We are within our championship window and at risk of missing the playoffs if we don't turn it up an notch. Waiting on young players would be the move during normal circumstances, but this is not normal and we need to take a calculated chance.
Julks and Pena have struck out in 22-23% of their pa this season in the majors. Dirden and Leon have struck out in 28% of their pa IN AAA. Don’t be silly.
No, there is no requirement but there is much to be said about experience as a teacher. Besides, this Astros team has 8 players who deserve to be primary starters and 1 who will be regardless. And 2 more who start 33-50% of the time now. Who would Dirden, Leon, Loperfido, or Barber replace on the roster and how many splinters will they get in their Butts while Dusty has them collecting dust on the bench?
Grae Kessinger sure has shown well in his limited opportunities. He only has 28 pa but he’s walked as much as he’s struck out and has a wRC+ of 137. He’s actually been a little unlucky as his wOBA of .367 is against a xwOBA of .469. I am increasingly comfortable with the idea of Houston trading Pena for either an ace SP or LHH star OF and rolling with Dubon/Kessinger as the SS.
Lame post is lame. Off the top of my head (pun totally intended), notable Astros who have dyed their hair: Clemens, Bregman, Maldy, Yuli, Correa
Offense can go supernova with current production as long Baker gets out of the way. Pena literally should be the 9th and worst hitter in the lineup if Baker played our best players Altuve Chas Alvarez Abreu Tucker Bregman Diaz Julks/Meyers/Brantley Pena
You need to look at what Leon has done this season. He is finally becoming what we all hoped he would be. It is time to put him to the test. I believe he is a better addition than most of the players we could trade for. and he costs nothing. As for your concern about players with no AAA experience, there are plenty of examples of success going straight from AA to MLB, and it does no harm to try them rather than crowding our roster with the dregs of our farm.
I know that but I think he should get a shot before the deadline to make a career either here or elsewhere. that would be a win or a win for us.
Leon should be part of a trade to help bring back reinforcements. What they really need and I know you cant depend on him, but Brantley coming back and being the Brantley of old is exactly what this team needs. IMHO
Calling up a guy who has been well below average in AAA all season and terrible the last 3 weeks so he can “get a shot” is an….interesting idea.
