I completely disagree. There is no scenario in which a team is better off *not* making the postseason (assuming the postseason is viable). We've seen it every year, in every sport: the playoffs are a crapshoot. Get in and take your chances. If the Astros make it, and they're healthy (JV, Garcia, Tucker), I think they're better than the team that was a game away from the WS last year. They undoubtedly have issues - but so does every other AL team. To me, I think it's fair to conclude that the Astros didn't view Bloss, Loperfido or Wagner as key components of their next phase. So, no - I don't think retaining those 3 would be better than a possible early exit from the playoffs.
Ok. Thank you for being kind and not blasting me further while I vented my frustration with extreme and unhelpful comments. FTR I still think that not following up with a trade for a hitter was a level 10 mistake but not to the extent missing the playoffs would be better. So now the deadline is passed and this is the team they have and need to go to work with.
I wouldn't characterize that as a mistake. The Astros were very clearly *trying* to get a bat - but there's another team involved and agreeing to a deal is not easy. Per @Nook, the Rays were making, frankly, ridiculous demands for Diaz, a 33-year old who's slugging > .400 this season. I admire the Astros for not being so bat-**** desperate that they sold the farm that. Not remotely worth it. In hindsight, I wish they had gone harder after Arozarena. That was the miss this deadline, compounded by him going to Seattle. But for all we know, they were *in* and Tampa took a different deal?
I agree with everything else you’re saying here about the Astros situation but this part is only really accurate for the MLB. I don’t follow NHL that closely so maybe it does there too but it damn sure doesn’t apply to the NBA or NFL.
Best they can hope for is Chas turns things around, Leon plays well, Dezenzo comes up and tears it up. They need to have Salazar as a 3rd catcher so Caratini can play everyday.
But why were they fixated on TB? w/RC+ Since Abreu was released: Chas 99 (hope?) Singleton 96 Meyers 87 Cabbage 69 Dubon 48 Justin Turner, Jesse Winker, Lane Thomas are just a few who actually were traded who would have been a big upgrade. There are literally 91 hitters w/ 100+ PAs and 120 or better w/RC+ in that timeframe. Arozerana, Paredes, and Diaz were the only options? Rooker? India? Burleson? Schanuel? Happ? N.Lowe? Kerry Carpenter is not a good defender and therefore maybe not in Detroits plans. He's about to return from injury. A risk but better than nothing. Even Rowdy Tellez has been 144 in that time. A smart and motivated group should have been able to come up with something after they realized what TB was requiring.
With Leon on the roster, I would no longer play Dubon in the OF. Until Tucker gets back, play Leon and Chas everyday at the corners. Cabbage starts if one needs a day off. Hopefully Chas is returning to form. When Tucker returns, whichever has played best takes over in LF and the other forms L/R power/speed/defense options on the bench w/ Cabbage. Singleton and Dubon form a traditional L/R platoon at 1b.
If my house is gonna burn down while I am gone, maybe not. I mean, leaving Sgt Schulze in charge of Stalag 13 is a bit risky.
The biggest problem was not signing some additional starting pitching depth. We know how Injuries go. We saw the benefits of a consistent 6 man rotation a few years back. We could have all of these prospects back had we just signed someone like Michael Wacha cheap on a multi year deal before last year. Seth Lugo was there. Chris Sale could have been had. Vaughn Grissom was all that took? Could have signed Imanaga. You can't keep being cheap in the off-season necessitating throwing away prospects at the deadline.
Caratini needs to be playing everyday and Leon, Dezenzo need to get their chances. Only chance at a ring will happen if one of the young bats lights it up. This is possible but not likely.
