What do you think we should do about the rotation? I know that Odorizzi is piggy backing McCullers this week but I hope the rotation aligns like this: Greinke / Bullpen McCullers / Javier Valdez / Bullpen Odorizzi / Garcia Urquidy / Bullpen
They said they’re moving to a 6 man rotation for the next 20 days. After that if everyone is still healthy my guess is Garcia becomes the piggyback/long man.
After this stretch of games, I'm down with that. Johnny Bullpen still worries me though, he hasn't been good so far.
August staff: Rotation: Greinke, McCullers, Valdez, Odorizzi, Urquidy Spot starters/piggyback guys/long men: Garcia, Javier Middle relief: Raley, Stanek, TBD (James, Smith, etc) Setup/closer: Baez, TBD trade, Pressly Sept-Nov staff: Starters: Greinke, Valdez, McCullers, Urquidy Long relief: Odorizzi, Garcia, Javier Middle relief: Stanek, Raley, TBD (Smith, James, etc.) Late inning: Baez, TBD trade, Verlander, Pressly
Astros now up to the 2nd toughest schedule in baseball so far. Only Toronto’s has been harder. Oakland with the 17th toughest, but 4th easiest in the AL (only Boston, Minnesota, and Chicago have been easier. http://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/rpi/_/sort/sos According to Tankathon, A’s have the 12th toughest schedule remaining, Astros have the 24th…which is the easiest in the AL. http://www.tankathon.com/mlb/remaining_schedule_strength
Don't see how you can go into the trade deadline counting on Baez or Verlander or James or Smith for anything this year.
I don’t mind removing Smith/James/Verlander and having Paredes or Taylor or “enter upside AAA arm name here” as the 13th and 14th arm. But if they don’t think Baez will be back then they probably should add 2 arms capable of throwing the 8th inning in a playoff game.
Framber was an after thought in 2019 and nobody thought he was much more than an emergency starter and nobody thought Urquirdy would be a key part of the rotation in 20/20. What I don't like is you injecting your Click hate into every thread, what is your end game here, we all know you don't like Click. You are giving your opinion on Click when nobody is asking about it.
If Verlander does come back I'd rather use him as an opener. That way he can do his same routine he is used to doing for nearly 2 decades. If he can go 2-3 innings great. In the playoffs: Game 1 Greinke 7 IP trade acquistion 1IP Pressly 9th inning if lead is less than 5 runs Game 2 Verlander 2-3 innings Framber finishes game off day Game 3 McCullers 5-6 innings Javier finishes game Game 4 Garcia 5 innings Urquidy/Odorizzi 2 innings deadline acquisition 1 IP Pressly 1 IP Something like that....
With the 7 SP they have, getting thru 7 quality innings in the playoffs with just those guys should be more than reasonable. So they just need 3-4 high quality arms that can go in high leverage in the 8th or 9th. Pressly is the only guy that fits that bill for now, although I’m sure Click would consider a healthy Baez a fit as well. If Verlander is able to pitch, he counts as one even if he is used as an opener since that would stretch the starter/long guys into the 8th. There’s a chance Raley or Stanek could be pitching well enough to be counted on, but for me I think one really high quality arm should do it, unless they don’t think Baez will be effective, then they should get 2.
I'm just pointing out the differences between the two GM's and for you to make this post kinda proves my point There is no end game. I'm just pointing out what a GM that has won a QS did vs what Clicks been doing. Feel free to disagree. On the bringing this up in every thread, that's bs and a failed attempt at distraction. Nice try though.
No you are not just pointing out the differences, this is what got everything started. "Anytime you give Click a passing grade, you should have to suffer through watching the Stros bullpen or Maldy/Castro hit, when Castro isn't injured." What do you think having nobody giving Click a passing grade accomplishes? That's not a debate its you not wanting anybody to say anything positive about Click, why does that bother you so?
Given that his routine was normally only suited to when he was planning on pitching at least 6-9 innings, I would think he'd be capable of making the proper adjustments so that the 1-3 innings he can pitch may be in a leverage situation (where they'd be more valuable than the 1st or 2nd inning). I do think there's a valid enough concern that if he starts games, and is very effective, Dusty (and likely himself) would let the ol competitive juices flow and see how long he can be out there. At least as a late inning reliever, there's an automatic end point.
