That's the thing about part-time players playing well and people clamoring for them to start...they may be playing well *because* they're part-time players
It’s called the Mark Carreon rule (Diaz played very well as a full timer last year, so he doesn’t apply)
James Mouton was a AAA Pacific Coast League MVP. The Stros have had 4. For a half-crushed bag of chips and whatever change I have in the cupholder: Can you name any of the other 3?
I would have guessed Jason Lane, but no, we're all wrong Dave Roberts (not that one) 1965 James Mouton 1993 Donne Wall 1995 Matt Duffy 2015
Why do I remember Donnie Wall? I haven’t thought of that name in many years. Edit: because I was destroying Austin, Tx y’all every night back then. I now remember having high-ish hopes for him.
I would’ve also guessed Brian Hunter (and been wrong) if I gave myself more time because I remember he hit like .376 his last year in the minors.
Good call. Baseball America's #5 overall MLB prospect coming into 1995, year before in AAA slashed .372 .432 .520 .953 with 47 XBH and 49 SB, 52 K and 52 BB I had high hopes. Ooops. The guy did have a 10-year MLB career, so respect.
Just looked up the Texas League (AA) and the list looks a whole lot better: Joe Morgan 1964 Leo Posada (who?) 1965 Nate Colbert 1967 Roberto Petagine 1993 (never understood why he didn't ever stick in MLB, all the dude did was hit and get on base, so he went to Japan and destroyed the NPL for a few years, ala Tuffy Rhodes) Keith Ginter 2000 Jason Lane 2001 George Springer 2013
Blue Jays also had only 1 home run against Yankees. Their lineup is not better than ours. Their bullpen is horrendous. Difference is they have every night 9 guys taking the field trying to help team win. Even lazy stupid c**ts like Guerrero & Bichette(contract year). Getting that Yankees fireballer Shi*ter (or with lisp Schlittler) out of the game early and also with runs allowed was fking work of art. Dude threw almost 70 pitches in under 2 innings, only walked 2 and did't give up homerun. Blue Jays looked like they had been preparing for a week for this pitcher.
This team aside from a couple of players doesn’t change their approach at the plate no matter the situation. Altuve will swing away trying to pull a homer when all that needs to happpen is move the runner over etc. the lack of situational hitting kills this team every time
I think with only 6 or so viable major league hitters (because of injuries) the star players are pressing more. It’s a big if, but if Paredes and Myers come back and lengthen the line-up maybe the big boys can relax a bit. Walker got really hot for a while and has always been streaky (Altuve as well). Maybe they get streaky good at the right time. Getting hot at the right time has always played a big part in playoff baseball.
And the day off right before an off day...and the starters can be squeezed for one more out... and veterans need to be given just one more chance...
