<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros improved by 19 games in 2014 despite losing 8 games they led in the 9th inning and 9 in which they were tied in the 9th.</p>— Richard Justice (@richardjustice) <a href="https://twitter.com/richardjustice/status/542728946500911104">December 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
is his arm strong enough to consistently play third? I know his bat is too light. I don't like the idea even as a temporary signing honestly, but surely wouldn't go over 2 years for him.
Lowrie would be a great stop gap at 3B and SS until Astros Jesus arrives. That said, I wouldn't be disappointed going into the season with Villar and Marwin sharing SS duties. Villar has tools and is still 23. But have we totally given up on Matt D? Was last year the player his is? or can regain his 2013 form and improve upon that? I don't see it. He is nasty with the leather, but just unreliable with the wood. If we sign Lowrie, we should trade Matt. Lowries' main problem before we got him from BOS was injuries, but he has mostly put that behind him. If Lowrie does get hurt, we can call up Moran, put Marwin at 3B, or do something with Petit (solid 2014 season). I wonder if the Chron will do an article revisiting that squabble we had with Lowrie and the A's this season if he signs with us.
Advanced stats actually say that Matty D is not THAT nasty with the leather... he's certainly not bad, but he would have to be other-worldly in order to justify continuing to put his bat in the lineup. Also, the problem is not Matty D, per se, its having paltry production at other traditionally productive spots... namely 1B and one corner OF.... thus they were having to bat Dominguez 4th and 5th in several games last season and he's just not that good.
Dominguez is totally overrated. He is at best a defensive replacement on a good team. He is holding the spot down until Moran and Ruiz is ready to be called up. Moran should be up around July next year.
I don't see it guys. It's looks like a talentless team to me. But Hoping for the best. No big bat. And no Ace. And it seems we are anti-moneyball. So where are all these wins going to come from?
Who's here saying "contender"... all they did was improve the bullpen. Still a lot of work to be done to get more runs which = more wins. They need another OF, a 3B and will need Singleton to improve to warrant his continued everyday status at 1B. Right now, as is, they're at best a .500 team (and that's presuming they get repeat great years out of McHugh, Kuechel... and have Fowler/Springer stay healthy).
Depends on how you define Big Bat and Ace. They 2 of the top 10 AL starting pitchers by ERA last year. No other team had that. They had the batting average leader. They had the #2 HR hitter. And they had a potential budding superstar in George Springer.
I think you are putting too much emphasis on his down season last year. Over his previous 4 seasons (1587 PA) he had a .777 OPS, which is a rock solid OPS for 3rd, spectacular for SS. He's only 30, and there were no real statistical red flags last year. All of his peripherals were intact, sometimes players just have down years.
Happy to see these signings - was hoping we'd nab Neshek at the very least. Sorry if I missed somewhere, but where is everyone getting 8-10 mill remaining?
The Astros said they would like to add 20 million or so in salary. It's not a hard number by any means.
Not sure about that either... but I'm guessing its some quote from Luhnow/Crane that says they expect to add ~$20 million in payroll for this year.
Crane said the team would add $20 million in salary this offseason. Neshek and Gregorson both signed for about $6 million per. That leaves $8 million. I do not know if the arbitration salary increases will count toward the $8 million remaining.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Pat Neshek contract w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/astros?src=hash">#astros</a>: $5.5M in 2015, $6.5M in 2015. $500K buyout. There's a 3rd yr. club option for $6.5M to $9M.</p>— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/542741791078748160">December 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The value of Neshek's club option year can increase depending on the number of games he finishes in first 2 years. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/astros?src=hash">#astros</a></p>— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/542742031336878080">December 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
They have THE POTENTIAL to get some wins, around the 70-80 mark. Shoot I'm shooting for 90!!!! Like I said potential, still many voids obviously, but with the A's and Rangers likely in decline we just have to challenge Anaheim for the division yes the division. Gotta think big.
