Castro is a very good major league catcher. Carter is a solid MLB DH, his OPS has been consistenly coming up for a while now and by years end is probably gonna be close to the mid .800's like it was last year. He's a defensive zero and K's a lot but ultimately is a productive bat, if unspectacular. Maxwell has unfortunately had an injury plagued year, but he's a big league player. Probably not a starter on a good team, but an MLB player. But in principle you're certainly right, the rest of the position players are fringey at best right now, 3 MLB players on an MLB team is sad indeed.
Which is why I am flustered. Why does Springer staying in OKC for another month make for a good move? The dude is killing it, and it just seems like we are wasting what could be a learning experience for him. Sorry to beat a dead horse... but it makes less and less sense to me. Give us something to watch. Please. Also, can we please let freaking Stoffel and his just over 2.00 ERA into the majors?? Or just straight cut some people? Or forfeit when the game is turned over to the 'pen? I mean come on! We have some decent arms in AAA. Even Chapman and Zeid with their walk stuggles make me less sick to my stomach than Wright and Blackley. And Ambriz... It may not be his fault last night, but he is guilty by association, and he generally seems to be getting himself in trouble. He sucked and we sent him down. He continued to suck and we called him up. Now, he is sucking... and still here. Suck in some other city. Please. Until then, I will take the plunge with the 'stros, but it's getting tough with these games.
After the trade deadline, we need to start making those moves. Right now, we don't know who will need to be on our 40 man roster. After then we'll know if we've opened roster spots, have less room. I view Ambriz, Gonzalez, & Crowe as gone.
Agree with you on the first... but the other two are questionable. Carter's numbers would put him as the worst everyday DH in the AL. Maxwell is about to be a 30 year old corner OF with a career .729 OPS. Those last two guys are approaching "journeyman" status... and yes, they can catch on to an MLB team as a reserve here and there, but by definition most AAAA guys can do exactly the same.
This team is built and desinged to be ultra inexpensive and finish in last place. I agree with getting young guys up here now to create more excitement, and likely accelerate their development.... but that could interfere with the finishing in last place goal. If I was running CSN, I'd actually invest in getting some of the minor league games on tv... doesn't have to be live, but I guarantee you that most Astros fans would be more interested in watching Correa play everyday or watching Appel/Mccullers/Folty starts. That being said, Cosart taking the mound tonight against a vulnerable lineup... perfect time to get the first win against the A's all season.
Solid point, and a point that I always forget to include. Room on the 40 needs to be made, and I agree on Crowe and Ambriz. Marwin is worth giving some thought to cut just because we have so much depth at SS and middle infield it seems (of AAAA talent). Rudy Owens is another guy that should figure out what we want to do with him. I'll buy on Carter. His numbers are just bad right now, but that power in the right lineup could be lethal. His OBP continues to climb, and if he can be a little more consistent, he is a decent option at DH. As for Maxwell... I mean he has never had good or great numbers and I never knew why he was tapped to be the "face of the franchise" from the every day player perspective. Maybe I am naive, but shouldn't the long term goals take some precedence over the short term? Would giving Springer a couple hundred at bats change us to a decent team? I think not, but it would get him a cup of coffee that helps out next year I would imagine. Anything that ensures him to be better sooner seems like it would be ideal to me. And if CSN could do that (I have no idea if they can buy rights to games), I would be more interested in switching to Comcast from UVerse sooner rather than later. We were waiting to see what happens by next Rockets season, but minor league baseball would actually be something I wouldn't mind watching from time to time... gives you a better feel of the organization. All things considered, I do wonder how the front office looks at this team after the trade deadline.
As much as I dislike Carter, he wouldn't have the worst numbers for a full-time DH. BA is the only place Carter comes at the bottom. Only David Ortiz is putting up big numbers as a DH. Maxwell is very capable of playing all 3 OF positions, not just a corner spot.
Carter is far from the worst DH in the league, if he was a full time DH. He is on pace for 30 HR, and as mentioned his OB% is getting better and better. For June he had a .357 on base and a .875 OPS, July a .375 on base which is very solid and a .888 OPS. Of the guys who are full time DH's only Ortiz is clearly better. Also, I know the board, for the most part, is pretty anti-Altuve. I think a lot of that is they have tried (maybe had?) to make him the "face of the franchise" and he is far from a star level player . . BUT . . .among all everyday MLB 2b's, he is 6th in hits, 17 in doubles, 13th in RBI, 15th in Runs, 1st in SB's . . .again, not a star level player at all, but to say he doesn't belong on a major league roster . . . . . . .
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...am=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=18,d So far this year their have been 12 DHs that have played enough at DH to qualify for the batting title. The link above shows the list that ranges from Mauer and Ortiz to Carlos Pena and Ryan Doumit. Carter doesn't qualify for the list, but, if he did, he'd rank 6 out of 13 in OPS, RC+, and wOBP right after Kendra morales and right in front of Billy Butler and Albert Pujols. He's a flawed player that, nevertheless, has value as an above average hitter.
Agreed... I looked at that. His WAR puts him close to last (0.2 this year). I guess I should have said "one of the" worst. He isn't completely useless, however (can play serviceable 1B, LF), and on this team he is the big run producer. Just saying that most other players who would take his place could probably do fairly similiar. Nice hit for Villar... I also liked how he tried to pump up Cosart while the A's were getting some bleeders off of him in the top of the 1st.
A lot of Altuve's production is because of the # of AB's he's gotten. Willy Taveras syndrome. He has not had a good season, but on this team... he's one of the better players. On other teams, he'd likely still be at AAA. That being said, I'm all for young guys coming up to the majors to learn if the opportunity is there (young team not winning).
Ok, I just think he is an average major league player at this point. I know very few agree. Glad Luhnow seems to though. Pretty good crowd here tonight for a Tuesday!
Dumb play by Altuve there... should have just flipped it to Villar for the double play, but decided to try to tag the runner... ended up giving up a run that shouldn't have happened (and possibly could have allowed 2 runs).
