Friday lineup: Springer RF Gonzalez 1B Altuve 2B Correa SS Valbuena DH Bregman 3B Gattis C Rasmus LF Gomez CF
Marwin is already primarily playing first. He and Valbuena would likely platoon there with Reed and Gattis splitting DH duties until Gurriel is ready. Then, I'd expect that Reed will be demoted and Bregman to LF...with Gattis and Rasmus splitting DH.
Bregman played third yesterday for Fresno, I believe. Don't believe he ever played left field before - and Luhnow has been vocal about not making a guy learn a new position when he first comes up to the big leagues. I see him as a DH or 3rd baseman, but probably only after he plays the next few weeks at third for Fresno. Luhnow is looking ahead to next year as well, and we'll need a third baseman then, as odds are low that Valbuena will be back.
not really sure what the front office is waiting for. i would think it would be to get him more time at 3B, but last night (or night before) was his first AAA game at 3B...
He played 3B at AA as well. Hell, he played 3B in the futures game. I don't think that's the reason... More likely them trying to figure out what the 40 man moves will be, and whether or not anybody can be packaged in one of their possible deals.
Sure... then again, they played Marwin at 1B for the first time in his career during the regular season. They also put him in the OF, where he's had limited experience. The front office has a laundry list of "reasons" when they're waiting on a promotion... Bregman has been playing this game his whole life, and there won't be much of a transition to learn the same OF spot that Carlos Lee once picked up.
I agree with this. If a player can play short, he should be able to play anywhere except pitching and catching. You can find spots in the lineup for your best hitters - outfield outside of Springer is due for an upgrade.
Bregman? He hinted he'll be in Houston soon. Hinch: He's a good player. He'll help us fairly soon. We haven't picked a date yet. ... We have a pretty good thing going here. He can help us. As soon as we feel he's the right fit for us and have playing time for him and can introduce him to the big leagues, he'll be up here but he's doing remarkable things in the minor leagues. Just a matter of when, not if.
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It's intriguing but I doubt that'll happen. He was a catcher in HS before he went to LSU. The ball jumps off his bat, very selective, doesn't overswing, just textbook nice and compact and quick. The kid is a stud. His instincts and everything just scream "baseball player". It's not fair to him at all, but he reminded me of Bagwell, the way he moved in the field and on the bases. He scored from 2nd on a single to LF and the jump he got and the turn he made at 3rd were eerily similar. He moves really well at 3B, he made a lightning quick move to his right on a ripped grounder that was just foul down the line. He was playing a couple of feet deeper than the bag another time, Deshields showed bunt and Bregman was even with the pitcher by the time the catcher caught the ball.
Luhnow said on PGS that he expects Bregman and others to "play positions they have never played before".
Friday would seem to make sense. I'm not sure what they're waiting on. Also wondering if Teoscar will see any action this year. He's making a strong case to get a look if Rasmus, Gomez, and Marisnick are going to stay slumping. I would personally like to see (if we retain Valbuena through the end of the season): Springer (RF) Bregman (LF) Altuve (2B) Correa (SS) Valbuena (DH/1B) Gurriel (3B) Teoscar/Gomez (CF) Castro/Gattis (C) Gonzalez (DH/1B)
Luhnow also said that Marwin's best role on this team as a super utility man and not an everyday player. Makes me think that he will be the one getting the boot from the daily lineup (vs. RHPs) when both Bregman and Gurriel are up. vs. RHPs Springer Valbuena Altuve Correa Rasmus Bregman [LF] Reed [DH] Gurriel Castro vs. LHPs Springer Gonzalez Altuve Correa Valbuena [DH] Bregman [LF] Gurriel Gattis Gomez
Ok, this has got to be it. One more start for him tomorrow in AAA at 3B or LF and he is getting the call Thursday night or Friday morning just like most of us have speculated since Hinch said "Not Yet" with Dikembe Mutombo finger wag to the fans. I truly will be shocked if he doesn't get promoted by this Friday. I will join the chorus of the many Astros fans screaming for his arrival. He may struggle or he may not as simple as that. The time is now though.
I would feel more comfortable with Bregman in the infield. As much as I would love to upgrade the hitting from the outfield, their I would hate to lose their fielding if Bregman isn't much of an outfielder.
