Yes but 2022 he hit .292 with a .814 OPS. It worked out for us because we won the WS but let's not pretend that Marte wouldn't have given us a better chance last season over Dubon and a back from injury Meyers. That is what Crane was pissed about. Nothing makes an executive more pissed than not spending the money you are given to do everything you can to improve the business.
Was Chaz McCormick not on the 2022 and 23 Astros? Why are we comparing him to Dubon and Meyers. He did improve the business in the long term and won a title, unfortunately he had a boss who never really liked him and a manager who actively worked against him quite frequently. It's funny on year later, all of things Brown has gotten in his first offseason Click never even came close to.
Because Dubon and Meyers' playing time is what would be replaced by Marte in this scenario. Chas still would have had his too small seat at the table that Dusty allowed him.
47 starts from 2 guys coming off major injuries, a rookie who our organization likes but isn’t really a top mlb prospect, and then a collection of we will figure it out Sure doesn’t seem like a championship senario Even if those guys did get us through the regular season and into the playoffs, the lack of innings from those starts would have our pen running on less than fumes
Chas was also an unproven player with gaps in his swing in 2022. in hindsight it worked out because we won the world series, but at the beginning of 2022, Chas was unproven, Meyers was injured, and we had money to get Marte. Just because you win with 5-7 offsuit sometimes, doesn't mean you don't try to get pocket queens. Meyers also didn't get much done at the deadline and was going to give up Urquidy for a catcher rental that Dusty wasn't going to play. At the end of it all, Click's downfall was that he didn't communicate with Crane enough to convince him that what he was doing was the right decision regardless of the result.
Chas had a great 2021, and Marte was old. I would have expected Marte to be the better player in 2022, but Marte signed a 4-year deal. It was very likely that between Chas, Meyers, and Siri, the Astros were going to get decent production from CF such that spending the money elsewhere was a better call. On the poker analogy. Marte was like calling with QQ against an all in and Chas, Siri, and Meyers was like 76 suited in the big blind with a bunch of limpers. While QQ is a perceived better hand, calling all in against an AA is a much worse move than checking with 76 suited in the big blind.
Results are the only thing that matter to an owner, and rightly so. Trying to justify failure is a fast way to get fired.
I do think that the Astros have been relying on unfamiliarity with their young pitchers. I could be completely making it up . . . but young guys with decent stuff usually have a good shot at making a few appearances mid season against MLB hitters (with a catcher that can call a good game). Totally anecdotal, but feels like the second year of fresh, young pitchers is always a little disappointing. I like having what appears to be flexibility with such a young staff and would seriously question a trade of any inning eater. I'm expecting a drop off from France, the same from Brown, and hopes that Arrighetti can find some lightening that young guys seem to find. Take Framber or Urquidi out of the lineup and . . . well . . . i don't really want to think about it. If you trade any of our starters, I'd really want to sign a starter - which makes trading seem a little pointless. Find me a haul for Framber, maybe, but I haven't seen anything yet that is better than putting his shrink on staff full time.
I agree with you premise about young pitchers. There are pitchers like France who have success over an initial period of time but don't have the "stuff" to improve or even remain at the same level of effectiveness. For these pitchers the best way a team can keep them effective is limit their innings and the video teams can get on them. Then there are pitchers like Brown who have the "stuff" to improve and get MLB hitters out despite their preparations and adjustments. For these pitchers the best way to keep them effective is to improve command and pitch selection. That takes experience and more innings. It feels like in 2023 this team had too many of the former. There is hope that the guys like Arrighetti, Gordon, and the 2022 and 2023 draftees may improve the stable of the latter.
I guess I just don’t understand why so many would take a huge risk to our staff in 2024 in order to make sure we improve what is already a top offense and I certainly don’t understand how we would take a risk to our staff in 2024 to make sure we have more guys we hope are good in 2027 As much as Crane wants to avoid paying the tax like it’s herpes, I can’t see him allowing a salary dump of Framber
I am not certain what you are disagreeing w/ since you didn't reply to specific post or reference a trade suggestion but I think it's trading Framber for a bat so that's what I will respond to. While the Astros may have as you say, "a top offense", in 2023 it was very top heavy with several weak hitters and was much weaker vs right handed pitching, which is about 70% of all PA. 4 of the 9 hitters and 6 of 12 w/ the most PA last year were below average overall. Vs RHP 3 of the top 5 and 4 of top 8 were below average. And all but 1 of those players are still on this team. This team absolutely has improvements in hitting and run production that can he made. That said, it makes no sense to trade Framber to do it because too many of the other SP simply aren't playoff caliber. Now if some combination of Bregman, Altuve, Verlander and/or Pressly leave in FA after this year, it may be worth sacrificing 2025 for 2026 by trading Framber and Tucker if there is no way to extend them.
On the hitting, a lot of the “several weak hitters” stuff was self inflicted, we could have put out a better lineup a majority of our games but chose not to. I’m pretty confident that won’t be the case this year. A lot of it also was due to injuries, which could rear their head again, but it’s likely both Altuve and Yordan play more games this year than last. I agree fully with the last part. We have no idea what everything will look like next offseason, way too many variables, but if we are losing more than just Bregman (who I think is 99% gone) then anything should be on the table at that point. Hopefully we win it all again this year, although that would make it even sadder if we do tear it down next offseason Im just WAY more worried about 2024 than any year beyond that, with the current state of the organization I can’t see how anyone wouldn’t want to do everything possible to win another title right now. Just my opinion
If Altuve (unlikely) and Bregman (highly likely) both move on in FA, then other than McCullers who is off the team for months at a time, Pressly is the senior player on the team. If he does not vest his option and move on, it's Framber The "golden era" might as well be over. At that point I say do whatever is best to make a new Long term era of championships.
When we get to that point if that happens then fine, now how would prefer to proceed, but I would understand Trading Framber NOW just makes zero sense to me. None
Whether the Astros wrangle up a reliever like Moore or Neris could have a big impact on where Hunter Brown ends up in 2024.
I have wavered back and forth but am now certain that Framber needs to stay here. The quality of arms behind him simply isn't there to justify letting him go, regardless of what return is in the deal. The only way that changes if the Astros bring in someone else who can start games 1 or 2 in the playoffs.
New episode up. Free agents remaining deep dive. We look at the past 10 years, when guys signed, how much they signed for, and then compared it to this years market and gave some predictions for about 50 of the unsigned FA’s. Check it out- rate- review. Episode 44 of breathing orange fire. Where Andrew proves he’s actually a cyborg.
What do you guys think Stroman would net? I do not understand why the Astros are not at least kicking the tires on him. Maybe I am undervaluing him, but I do not see him as a Superstar level contract. Plus that name as an Astro would be awesome.
