I didn't really know if this had been touched on that much, but is Guzman someone that we should be taking more seriously? I mean we just signed him to a moderately small contract, but a contract nonetheless. Since he played in the Petco Abyss, we don't have a great grasp on how he may do in a full season at MMP (Carter has killed my ability to trust it will help hitters). But, if you take a look at his splits last year, the guy may have just needed a change of scenery: That's a huge difference. The thing I find most encouraging is the terrible BABIP at home compared to on the road. Considering Singleton may not break with the team out of camp and Wallace gon' Wallace, this guy may be someone that gets some serious reps at first or possibly even left field (if he shows it's worth while). Or... maybe I am just looking for random little things since it's January and I want baseball back. Probably just that.
The significant splits for Guzman are his righty/lefty splits. His 2013 numbers didn't have a significant difference but his 2012 splits were: Righty: .206/.253/.327 Lefty: .303/.401/.541 Put that with someone like a Brett Wallace whose 2013 splits were: Righty: .243/.307/.481 Left: .143/.200/.250 ...and you got yourself a stew. (a crappy stew) I think platooning out 1B is a solid way to get better production. The A's have done wonders with them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros meanwhile lost 1 of their lefty relievers for some valuable ST time. Arthroscopic left knee surgery for Raul Valdes, 4-6 wk recovery</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/429399147360186368">January 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: Astros minor league NRIs IF Cesar Izturis, RHP Peter Moylan and IF Gregorio Petit all have at least 1 opt out date</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/430417668936445952">February 3, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Felt like eons ago, but: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mentioned on Hot Stove teams believed to have bid over $60M on Jose Abreu were winning <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Whitesox&src=hash">#Whitesox</a> plus <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Redsox&src=hash">#Redsox</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Brewers&src=hash">#Brewers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/statuses/431812081432944640">February 7, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Token effort, huh?
Media luncheon: Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"That aggregation of talent has gone from one of the worst in baseball to one of the best," Jeff Luhnow says.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432943528360951809">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"That's going to be our competitive advantage," Luhnow says of the farm system.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432943702084812800">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"We graduated a lot of players and our farm system is still robust," Luhnow said.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432943952086302720">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Luhnow says the strategy this winter was to improve the team significantly.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432944154654412801">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"We have to figure out a way to be more consistently competitive," Luhnow said.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432944330563534848">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"The vast majority of our efforts this offseason has been on the pitching side," Luhnow said. He mentioned Feldman and Williams.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432944713419612161">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>He added that the "bulk" of their effort was on the bullpen.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432944849847734272">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"We have arguably 8 or 9 guys competing for 5 spots," Luhnow said of starting rotation.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432945607322243072">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"We know Fowler is going to be out there," Luhnow said before adding that the other two outfield spots must be earned in camp.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432945990174130176">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I'm excited about the draft again this year," Luhnow said.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432946157606563840">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"There's no question our division got tougher. ... But as Jim says, if we want to be the best we have to beat the best."</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432946658679074816">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Now Bo Porter is up addressing the media.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432946761267965952">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I now realize just how valuable what we went through in 2013 really was," Porter said.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432947332695351296">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Porter reiterates that he thinks the Astros learned how to win through the struggles of 2013.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432947629354278912">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Bo Porter talked about his lineup, which he says will start with Fowler leading off, Altuve hitting second and Castro third.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432947960939180032">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I'm excited to be getting out," Bo Porter said of going to spring training. He's heading to Kissimmee tomorrow.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432949285076738049">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"It's going to be a tough division, as always," Porter says of the AL West.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432949523892019200">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I think we played some of our best baseball against the Angels and some of our worst against the A's," Porter said.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432949738732650496">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"I think he brings a stabilizing force at the top of our lineup," Porter said of Fowler.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432950289780334592">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"This guy aspires to be great," Porter said of Cosart, whom Porter says was at MMP daily at 8 a.m. working out this winter.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/statuses/432950672456044544">February 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ALwest2014&src=hash">#ALwest2014</a> <a href="http://t.co/kmuleFczOb">pic.twitter.com/kmuleFczOb</a></p>— nick pants (@nick_pants) <a href="https://twitter.com/nick_pants/statuses/432297811275567105">February 8, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Confirmed: Brett Wallace gets chance at redemption as Astros NRI after passing through waivers.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/433711770898014208">February 12, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So who will be the strikeout champ for the Astros this year? I will be really disappointed if each of the Astros pitchers have less strikeouts than Carter again.
Its beautiful. Keep it as is... keep the train, keep the hill/flagpole, and more open roof games... also, NO MORE SIGNAGE! I guess they're going to keep the citgo sign there and not move it back to the original place? Also, did they already move some of the pennants? It seems like they did.
