I mentioned him as a "once through the lineup" opener piggybacked with Spencer/France/whoever... Not sure that's the worst idea the Stros could try, desperate time/desperate measures and all
I’m with you on everything about LMJ but if he had impeccable control he would be an effective starter even with his current fastball. If he was consistently able to throw his curve/slider where he wanted and then dot up the fastball on the corners, he would be good. He will never have that ability though so it doesn’t really matter.
Last 6 weeks I’d do this: Starters (4-7 innings): Brown, Framber, Javier, Arrighetti, Alexander long men (pitch every 4th day no matter what 2-4 innings): Blubaugh, Ullola, LMJ, Garcia closer: Abreu firemen (mid inning relief) Kimbrell/okert also in bullpen (no options) King IL-Dubin fired out of a cannon: everyone else moo up/lost cause- Chas. This basically would be awesome. The bullpen has been ridden too hard- they should do this.
I agree with your rotation although I’d have Alexander on a short leash, with Blubaugh stretched out to take over his spot in the rotation. Bullpen usage should be: Closer: Abreu High Leverage 7th/8th based on matchups and availability: King, Kimbrel, Okert Multi-inning RP as needed: Garcia, Blubaugh Low leverage single inning: Ort, Dubin 2 innings every 4 days: McCullers DFA: De Los Santos Next men up in the minors: Ullola, Pecko, Gordon, France, Hernandez, Fleury, Knorr, Santa, VanWey, Rooney Keep an eye on Ethan Pecko. I also would not be opposed to making McCullers an 2-inning opener for Alexander.
That’s more traditional. I’d just go pure formula to take it out of slow joes hands. Also if you had blubaugh, Ullola, Garcia and LmJ pitching 2-4 every 4th day come hell or high water they’d all be relatively stretched out while nobody would be fatigued.
The only other guy, off the top of my head, might be Luis Tiant. It’s not a category I really think about lol
He needs to be able to throw strikes coming out of the pen. Can’t be walking people like he has been. I’m with you, he could be very near the end of the road.
Around a week before expanded rosters (28 total, max 14 pitchers)... who do we got on the roster once September 1 rolls around? My guess: C Diaz 1B Walker 2B Urias 3B Correa SS Pena LF Altuve CF Sanchez RF Smith DH Alvarez 2nd C Caratini Bench Dubon Bench Melton Bench McCormick Bench Matthews SP1 Brown SP2 Valdez SP3 Javier SP4 Alexander SP5 Garcia Long France Left King Mid Arrighetti Mid Ort Mid De Los Santos Mid Blubaugh Mid Okert Set Kimbrel CL Abreu Still on IL but on roster if healthy Paredes Meyers Hader Sousa Trammell Dezenzo Walter DFA Rodgers McCullers
