Appropos of nothing, I started DeLillo's Underworld recently and the prologue of that book retelling of the "shot heard round the world" is some of the best writing i've ever come across of a historical game. Makes you feel like you were there to see it.
With Whitcomb getting the call I took a peak at Chaz's numbers. It was reasonable to think he wouldn't be able to replicate last season, even the biggest pessimist couldn't have forseen him being unplayable bad. He had a 2 HR game June 22nd, almost 2 months ago....he has 1 XBH since then.
Theres zero concern at this point about them being able to work something out if there's mutual interest. As I pointed out earlier, he's been here for almost the better part of 7-8 years now (injured or not injured). He's reached Altuve-level of seniority and longevity with this team and Crane.
Its been worse than anybody could have imagined... and giving him even more playing time/AB's seems to be digging the hole deeper. I wish they had the luxury of having him get right only against lefties. Or having him get right in AAA. But we're passed the point of the season where those are realistic endeavors that allow him to possibly come back with a vengeance for quality post-season AB's. I would presume he'd still be on the playoff roster vs. any callup/rookie... but even that seems to be a slight question mark now.
He seemed to be putting it together leading up to the 2 HR game, all his advanced number looked good again. Then almost immediately after that game the bottom fell out. Now at this point it does feel mental because he looks worse than ever, he's been a complete zero in August. At this point some kind of mental reset seems to be the best they can hope for.
Sign JV (if he finishes the year healthy) and kimchi (if he finishes the year still pitching well) to matching 3/45 deals. trade Framber for a stud young bat prospect in the offseason Rotation: Brown/JV/kichuchi/blanco/ arrighetti - healthy and pitching well. Should be healthy and ready to go:’ Garcia, LMJ, France, Blubaugh (a couple other guys) Maybe ready mid season- Javier Should be DFA’d- urquidy Framber freeze back fills the Bregman hole. Tucker is back. Need bats at 1B, LF, CF- Candidates- Jake, chas, Dezenzo, whitcomb, singleton, Peña, Matthews etc. probably sign at least one solid FA LHH bat that can play Lf I wouldn’t expect them to do any of that, but I’d like to see it. Matching 3/39’s would be better.
Hader being on here is kind of surprising. He’s going to be a weapon for us in the playoffs if he’s willing to go 2 innings like the other day.
Not a bad plan. Framber haul ideally would include 1 MLB-ready elite prospect to play 1B/LF/3B (preferably LHH) and 1-2 lower level top 100 types. Roster: 2B Altuve RF Tucker DH Alvarez C Diaz LF TBD prospect from Framber 3B Dezenzo SS Pena 1B Whitcomb CF Meyers Bench: Dubon, Caratini, Singleton, McCormick Rotation: JV, Kikuchi, Brown, Blanco, Arrighetti, Garcia Bullpen: Hader, Pressly, Abreu, McCullers, Scott, Whitley, Ort Optioned: France, Blubaugh, Gusto, Gordon, Ullola, Murfee, Ortega, King, Contreras, Salazar, Leon, Kessinger, Corona IL: Javier DFA: Urquidy, Hummel, Sousa, Mushinski, Junk, Hernandez, Martinez Top prospects: TBD from Framber, Janek, Melton, Matthews, Baez, Blubaugh, Ullola, Brito, Forcucci, Tredwell That’s a stacked roster if 1-2 of the young bats pan out, with good insurance on the bench in Dubon, Singleton, Caratini, and McCormick.
Astros have 39 games the next 41 days. 6 man rotation w/ 1 skipped or piggy backed when an off day comes.
I’m not sure that’s known, but it’s not that consequential, McCullers’ spot in the pen could be taken by one of the DFA guys (Martinez, Hernandez, Sousa, Mushinski, Junk) and France’s spot could be taken by a AAAA Eric Lauer type.
Yeah, both Kimuchi and JV laugh at that. Kimuchi is very unlikely to get less than $50M guaranteed and I expect it to be closer to 4/$72 JV probably signs for 2 or less. But no way its under $20M per. I'm thinking 1/$22 or 2/$40M
