Not sure if first part was serious and this somekinda end jokey thing. This sounds 100% like "Let's get Reddick and Yuli so we are contenders for post season and 1B and outfield ishues resolved."
Walter has been outstanding in 6 of 8 starts Charlie had a pretty good run leading up to the break then got shelled last night. Love what he did for us before but I’ll pass on bringing him back If we trade for a Sp it will likely be one our pitching guys think they can make in to more than what he has been
I just wish we could pick up or draft a (pitcher) guy with [FIRST_NAME]+[MIDDLE(and/or)LAST_NAME] = [Tommy]+[John]
I agree they need to pass on Morton ( and JV who isn't even available) There are very very few SP that actually would make sense. Framber and Brown are 1-2 no matter who you bring in. Walter has shown he can shut down other teams and win games. How many guys available are we confident will be better for the next 3 1/2 months? McCullers WILL stay in the rotation through the end of the season unless he gets hurt. The only chance he has of returning to form is getting lots of innings facing MLB hitters. And they need to know if he is a rotation option for next year. I think he needs to make lots of progress to even be considered for the postseason, though. Arrighetti and Javier should be back before September. It will likely take time and innings, but at least one of them should be good enough to be a #3 or #4 playoff starter by the end of the season. Garcia is further behind and possibly a step down in "ceiling" but it is possible that he gets healthy and becomes a legitimate rotation piece before the end of the season. Gusto and Gordon have shown enough to be legitimate #5 and/or #6 starters for the rest of the season to keep everyone from having to start on short or even regular rest. Alexander and France should be available to make a start or 2 at the end of the year if needed. Honestly, in my opinion, 90% of the potential starting pitchers available are no better than these guys and it would end up being like throwing away prospects/players. The Astros should consider legitimate top 3 type guys who can start a playoff game, and also who have at least one additional year of control so he lessens the impact of losing Framber next year. No rentals. The upgrade for the next 3 1/2 months would not he enough to justify the cost IMO
The updates on the injured pitchers is giving me some comfort about that side of the roster. Javier and Walter behind Brown and Valdez in the playoff rotation with guys like Arrighetti, Gusto, McCullers, and Gordon supplementing the bullpen depth sounds like a position of strength and not something they should be addressing at the deadline. I really wish we had more clarity on Pena and Alvarez. Not knowing when or if those guys will be back makes it hard to know what the need really is on that side and how desperate the Astros should be. The minimum is they need one above average bat that crushes RHP but could possibly need 2 well above average bats. The good news is that it can be filled with a rental if they believe in Melton and Matthews and long term pieces.
I can’t explain it but Walter gives me Backe vibes. The fact that we’ve been able to plug along with this random assortment of SPs is nothing short of incredible.
Walter is giving me more like Keuchel vibes (with more fly balls). Keuchel’s best season was 2015: 23.7% k, 5.6% bb, 28% hard hit, 61.7% GB, 2.75 xFIP Walter this season: 25.3% k, 1.6% bb, 38.3% hard hit, 47.7% GB, 2.86 xfip Walter is going to give up more hard hit fly balls than Keuchel, but he is also going to walk fewer batters. Basically an inordinate % of the runs he allows will be solo HR. Overall he is profiling like a solid #2 SP on a contending team. Walter’s average start has this line: 5.2ip, 4k, 5h, 0bb, 2er
Yeah it’s not an exact cloning, very different mechanics and differing approaches, but basically a low-velo lefty who never walks guys but also effectively prevents hits and runs is enough to compare them.
Very Confident: #1/2 SP: Brown and Valdez #3/4 SP: Walter Closer/setup: Hader, Abreu Bullpen depth: Sousa, King, Okert Viable non-bottom-of-the-order hitters: Smith (RF), Altuve (2B/LF), Paredes (3B) Bench/9-hole: Dubon (2B/CF/SS), Caratini (C/1B/DH) Confident pending updates: Gusto, Arrighetti, and Javier have a place on a playoff pitching staff (what role is questionable but they warrant a spot) Pena is a top-of-the-order SS (it would be pretty shocking if a broken rib kept him out into late Sept) Alvarez is a middle-of-the-order DH (he’s swinging the bat!) Doubtful pending updates: Meyers is a solid-hitting CF (can’t be sure he recovers in time much less comes back hitting like he was) Melton is a viable CF/LF (too hurt and young to count on) Matthews is a viable 2B (has looked overmatched) One of Arrighetti, Javier, or McCullers a solid #3/4 SP Walker (.781 ops in July) and Diaz (.806 ops in July) are middle-of-the-order hitters If I’m Dana Brown, I’m focusing on adding 2 rental LH hitters who can play OF and 2B who can viably hit somewhere between 3rd and 6th in the lineup. I’m praying Pena and Yordan get healthy. Im banking on Diaz and Walker staying/getting right. I’m banking on the rotation finishing Sept with 4 guys ready to win playoff games. I’m banking on the pitching depth (of both starters and RP) serving to go into the playoffs with a 7+ deep bullpen of guys who can pitch leverage. #3/4 hitters who might be available: Marcell Ozuna, Jarren Duran, Josh Naylor, Brandon Lowe, Wilyer Abreu #5/6 hitters who might be available: Pavin Smith, Oneil Cruz, Jesus Sanchez, Jordan Westburg, Willi Castro, Mike Tauchman, Gavin Lux, Bryan Reynolds
I've said all year we were at least one bat short, perhaps two. We're still there. I do think Walter is a viable #3 now. Which means SP is less of a need. So I'm 100% behind us bringing in a couple of LH bats, by any means. The only thing I'd disagree with is banking on Walker getting right. 10 games in July with an unsustainable .387 BABIP doesn't convince me he's back. He's at -1.0 WAR thru 381 PA. He'd have to be at +0.9 WAR in his next ~200 PA just to equal Jose Abreu's first season here. A lineup with him hitting cleanup is not a good one. Let him and Yainer work their way out of the season long slump in the 8 and 9 spots.
So what's your theoretical best lineup (assuming Pena/Yordan/(Chas or Meyers))? There's a surplus of players and limited space when you're talking about hitting guys 7-8-9
My answer as to an ideal playoff lineup: SS Pena 3B Paredes DH Alvarez LF/2B Altuve 2B/LF/CF TBD LH bat RF Smith C Diaz 2B/LF/CF TBD LH bat 1B Walker Bench: Dubon, Caratini, Hummel, Melton/Meyers
I was tying to do the math on Pena, hit on June 27th. To the IL by June 30th. Broken/fractured rib anywhere from 2-6weeks is the average. So we’re in the third week of his stint so far possibly three more weeks at best? I’m just throwing crap against wall. Insert Michael Scott cringe face.
3 more weeks seems worst case scenario best case is next homestand imo. Thai one really is a pain management test.
You saying that is the most predictable thing I have seen on here this week. 2021-23 Chas is > than Dezenzo, Melton SO FAR. 2024 Chas was the worst position player on the roster. 2025 Chas is marginally better but still a significantly below average MLB outfielder. Both Dezenzo and Melton are faster with more power and are better bets to have a 100 OPS+/wRC+ season than Chas is now and moving forward. At what point do we look at 2025 and stop looking at 2023 when deciding how good Chas is? That question is specifically for you: Tom "Cousin of Chas" stro
