isn’t it fixable ?? I mean all pitchers learn and practice how to hold base runners , it’s part of the game. Why would the Astros be bad at it? Guessing they don’t emphasize it enough in practice or during the game ?? I don’t really get it
There’s also 3 or 4 guys I love in the minors, at least one of whom is ready to pitch well at the big league level and the rest should be ready in 2026. If I were in control of things: First preference- Framber- top 50, top 100, something interesting. LMJ- top 100 prospect (if healthy at deadline). No money out. Javier- top 100 prospect Brown- utterly untouchable Arrighetti- major league all star (caliber) 2B or CF with 2.5 years of service time left. Or, top 10 minor league prospect at position of need. Like/ can’t miss and big league ready. I don’t particularly value any of the other guys too highly. I would move them to move them/ maybe a 125 ops+ type at 2B or CF in their walk year. Probably would need a decent prospect coming back for Wesneski or Gusto. Like-org top 25 type.
Some pitchers are much better than others at this. I’m sure they work on it but it’s not an easy fix. You are tinkering with their delivery and there is just a dangerous, fine line to negotiate.
Speaking of extra bases...I can't remember where I found it before, but I'd be really curious on the successful/attempt/% of guys taking xtra bases on our OF (1st to 3rd, 2nd to home on single; 1st to home on 2B, etc...)
I find your levels to be mostly high and optimistic. Framber - TOR Brown - TOR only below Framber due to tenure. McCullers - Solid #2 or a cheerleader Arrighetti - #3 w/ #2 upside, needs consistency. Wesneski- #4. K stuff and low innings on arm. Blanco - #4 durable, dependable and lacks K stuff. Garcia #4 true bullpen risk w/ #3 potential. Javier #4 can be a legitimate #2 but huge risk. Gusto #5 young and still rising. Blubaugh unproven but high ceiling Ullola unproven but high ceiling Gordon likely Astros system success BOR guy. Dubin emergency starter and long man. France #6 innings eater if healthy and needed. Edit - had to add Blanco in - I forgot him.
The Astros pitching staff is the best at not letting there be baserunners. The base runners that do get on, the Astros are 7th best at not letting them get home. In all, the Astros are 3rd best at preventing runs from scoring. Whatever the pitching staff is doing, I want them to continue doing as I'm much more in favor in not allowing runs and annoying fans that care too much about stolen bases than preventing stolen bases and giving up more runs. Granted, 28 stolen bases is a lot for how few base runners there have been.
Yet the Stros, for all of their not allowing baserunners prowess, are top-10 in SB attempts against. It would be a shame if they improved at this. Sorry if that thought annoys you, as a non-annoying fan.
I know. It was a joke bc he used to say basically he didn’t care about runners stealing his goal was to not have runners in the first place.
It depends on how I'm feeling on any given day. I lived in Houston long enough to have heard both and lived just off the San Felipe exit. But please tell me how you pronounce Sjolander. In all my years, Ive never heard a consensus pronunciation.
I'm not saying this to dog Dana, who I do generally like as our GM But At what point do we need the "leagues best scout" to produce some succesful everyday players, at least at the minor league level Hopefully Brice improves his contact and makes it, and while his upside is legitimate his downside still looks like a guy that never has big league success. His next #1, Janek, also isn't off to a very good career start Seems like we should at least have some guys at the A and A+ level that look like they are on the path to a successful offensive career?
