Not sure if Wandy's chances are high, but last season the Astros featured 13 different starters...so there is a very good chance that the 'chosen' front 6 won't be the only starters all season (barring injury, trade, demotion, etc.) and there could be as many as 7 different additional guys (+/-) taking the mound than start the season. So if Wandy does well in the minors, I'd say he has a good shot of making a start.
Yea I want someone that can get lefties out Could care less what hand he throws with I know fully that a majority of the baseball world just wants a lefty available
If Wandy accepts the assignment, the Astros will certainly make a spot for him. As is, it looks like Woj, Devenski, Feliz, Peacock, Rodgers, Hauschild. Jake Buchanan and Tommy Shirley are also starters. Straily probably won't make the opening day roster, and will have to be put on waivers.
Agreed, the Astros are not going to spend the money or assets needed to add one unless it becomes an issue and the internal options fail.
jays signed donaldson for 2 years 29mil. wow what a deal. Imagine if the astros had a legit 3rd baseman. That left side of the infield would be sick
That's just for his first two years of arbitration; that's not free market. The Jays gave up a lot of prospects to the A's for the privilege of having Donaldson cheap for 4 years. So far it's totally been justified. The left side of the Astros infield would be sick even if a ham sandwich was manning the hot corner.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dallas Keuchel had a league leading 503 called strikes vs RHB last year... Almost all of them in the same location <a href="https://t.co/KXPfaKbW4q">pic.twitter.com/KXPfaKbW4q</a></p>— Daren Willman (@darenw) <a href="https://twitter.com/darenw/status/696859911464980480">February 9, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carlos Correa had the highest batting avg vs pitches with a spin rate of 2500 RPM+. 15 for 38 (.395). Chris Owings lowest, 4 for 58.</p>— Daren Willman (@darenw) <a href="https://twitter.com/darenw/status/693447896411168769">January 30, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lance McCullers in 2015: 125⅔ IP, 9.24 K/9, 1.186 WHIP<br><br>Pitchers his age/younger with 125+ IP & better K/9 & WHIP<br>Fernandez 2013<br>Gooden 1984</p>— Ace of MLB Stats (@theaceofspaeder) <a href="https://twitter.com/theaceofspaeder/status/695087891106652160">February 4, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That's an interesting heat map for Keuchel. From the stretch run and post-season I remember him pounding the outside corner to righties more than the inside corner.
It seems that the catcher's viewpoint has become the standard for a lot of heat maps (it use to flip flop depending on hitter or pitcher) on the internet which is counter to how people see the zone on TV.
While agreed, this is also why the team shouldn't hesitate to make deals if a player that checks their boxes come available. Trading prospects for Randy Johnson and Carlos Beltran, etc., isn't what derailed the Bagwell/Biggio era; it was short-changing and undervaluing the draft (in a variety of ways) that ultimately killed that team. Luhnow has given every indication that he values the draft above all else - and, so far, at least, has proven to be a terrific talent evaluator. That combination, along with the team's commitment to develop greater international scouting, makes trading prospects in the short-term much less damaging in the long-term.
Yep... the Cardinals have traded a helluva lot of prospects over the years for big-name players, without ever bottoming out. They also never had really high draft picks during that time, and still developed viable home-grown talent. That is the model (presuming the payroll will get to the necessary median level when needed... the Cardinals maintain that level in a smaller, albeit rabid, market).
Pitching seems simple at it's heart. Pitch low and outside to everyone. And if you can do that u can win 20. It just seems like simple physics. How many batter have that corner as their own hot map square? I gotta believe very few.
