I like the idea of a hybrid 6-man rotation. The problem with a regular 6-man rotation is that the improved performance doesn't usually make up for the best pitchers pitching less. Regarding rest for JV and Framber, it seems like it would be easier to do if there was already a 6-man rotation even if usually those two were pitching on 4 days rest or 5 days with an off day. On Pedro Leon, I don’t know what is going on at Constellation Field, but his stats over the past two years suggest he's Martin Maldonado there and Alex Bregman everywhere else. Extreme splits even for a Space Cowboy.
It's a good thing the Astros don't play at Constellation Field. Secret weapon. For those of you who don't know: 2022 home .653 OPS 2022 away .921 OPS 2023 home .657 OPS 2023 away: .908 OPS
I think to start the year you have to go with a six man rotation. With both JV and France behind I think it only helps them. Also, as much as I would like Blanco as a starter, I just don't see it. I saw him late in the year at SL and he was gassed in the 4th/5th. I think he is a multi inning pitcher but not a starter. Feel the same about Dubin. Bielak is the only one I think could be stretched out to be a starter. I personally like the idea of 6 (Framber, JV, Javier, Brown, Urguidy, and France) with Bielak, Dubin, and Blanco available as piggy backs for 2-3 innings, twice per week. If France isn't stretched out in the beginning then Bielak/Blanco could start and France could relieve. Then flip it when he is ready (France seems to do better starting than coming out of the pen anyway). Outside of Framber the other 5 should all benefit from a 6 man rotation. Javier and Urquidy struggle to get past 5. Brown and France still need inning management, and JV needs to be post season healthy. Get to the All-Star break and re-evaluate. See what the staff looks like health wise, see where JM and Garcia are in their recoveries. At that point I would consider going to the hybrid 6 man to see if JV, CJ, and anyone else was ready to be stretched out more. I am also not against getting one more pitcher. I think we have the 6 from above but question if anyone beside Bielak and Arrighetti are capable starters, and they are both big questions right now. Probably could survive one major injury and possibly and second minor injury but and 2nd minor injury might be difficult and two major injuries would be very hard. However, the pickings at this point are quite thin.
At some point, they will figure out a way to use VR goggles to help batters recognize pitches from particular pitchers. I think the hardest part is to get video of pitchers from the plate perspective to create the VR.
McTaggart's regular "roster projection" article surprised me. I know it's just his opinion and it's very early, but he does see and hear much more than us so his opinion is based on much more than meets the eye. There are 3 bench spots and he predicts them to go to: Dubon, Kessinger, and Julks. Dubon is locked in and is a non-story. The interesting thing to me is that this bench has no left handed bat (outside of Caratini) and if they follow through on giving Abreu regular rest like they stated, then Kessinger will get plenty of starts at 1B. Also, the most surprising spot is Julks. I realize he has the most experience of all the candidates and a very high floor, but he is limited defensively and has an extremely low ceiling. There simply is no upside. I think Singleton or Cabbage are a lock to make the team unless they both completely stink in the Spring. The lefty bat is needed and they project to be better suited than Kessinger to start at 1B 3 times every 2 weeks. I think Kessinger or Leon make the final spot, with Kessinger having the leg up if it's Cabbage and Leon if it's Singleton. Spring performance not withstanding of course. I am just getting a stronger and stronger feeling that Leon makes this team the more Spring goes by.
The last thing Framber needs IMO is to have more thinking to do on the mound. He already gets inside his own head over the smallest s**t. I understand that he was deathly attached to his security blanky behind the plate, but at least TRY to throw to other catchers calling the game.
I'm surprised they started him vs the lefty, but it is spring training and he will need to show some competence if he wants to make the team.
