What's up with Bryan Abreu? I thought he was going be better than Hader and Pressly. Now I just hope he is better than Monttero.
Blanco’s stuff is probably almost as good as Javier’s. If he stays this locked in he should be a really good BoR SP but I still don’t know why he couldn’t be a lock down RP.
thats CYA mode … better say something to give the optics that this club is gonna be a contender and not look like there’s already been a few womp-wommps. Hope I’m wrong, but this team is operating with a deficit… picking up Hader but losing a good chunk of your bullpen + SP injuries + still unsure if last years “big splash contracts” are going to be winning bets… the only reason the team’s future looks bright right now is you’ve got your minor league ball club playing as good as, if not better than, an ALCS juggernaut.
Good for Ronel Blanco. Breaking Spring Training with the club in the starting rotation (at 30 years old) should make him a fan favorite.
I'm always so nervous coming out of spring training with these Astros. The approach always seems a little different than other teams (turning it on and off). Bregman looks fire, Abreu looks terrible, Montero looks bad, Blanco looks excellent . . . I'm ready for the games to start counting so I can stress out even more!!!
Lighten up, Francis. Best team in the American League. 7 straight ALCS. Yordan, Tucker, Altuve, Bregman, Diaz, McCormick. Framber and JV. Best bullpen in the game. That's not optics, that's a powerhouse.
@Nook whats the reasons for not taking a flier on Mike Clevenger? Is it because of all the crap he talked after the scandal? He's still out there.
Kouba quietly moved at least even with if not ahead of Arrighetti for the starter that is next up. I thought he was well prepared and looked confident this Spring, while Arrighetti seemed hot and cold.
He didn't get suspended or charged but his former partner accused him of abuse and throwing chewing tobacco at their child. Sure maybe his partner was lying but are teams avoiding him? He had a decent season last year but no team traded for him at the deadline and no teams signed him yet when he's OK with just a 1 year deal. Plus he was 1 of the players who broke Covid protocols. Perhaps he's a big headache and no one wants to deal with him.
Wasn't sure whether to put this here or in the offseason thread. Kinda like this pickup, especially if he returns to form. I remember he was pretty effective for the Mariners and they just... cut him loose after he got Tommy John.