Yordan and Tucker are both having very good years. But Tucker is a bit steadier at hitting the ball hard and he's 'hot' when the balls aren't being hit right at defenders. Yordan has become a more well rounded player so even when his contact isn't quite square, he helps move the line. But when he's squaring up on the ball, which is streaky, his power is just jaw dropping. Speaking of Yordan, he's having an GREAT Division series after two games which seems to totally be lost on the announcers. 3 for 5 with a double and a Homerun and three walks. Those walks are as good as a single when they don't give you something to hit. 2150 OPS is legendary stuff or at least it should be.
Watching Yordan is a treat. You see a number of players who've made a career out of one exceptional skill, be it speed, hand-eye coordination, but sheer strength has to be the most entertaining of them all. His power is so effortless that I think he'd be better getting his launch angle up and trying for more bombs. 33 Home Runs is almost underachieving for him, speaking of which, this is likely to be a DOWN YEAR for Yordan, I'd be interested if Yuli's taught him anything about playing first base, that's probably his future position and he has the length to be dominant. Get him out of the DH spot and he'll start leading the AL in WAR. Unless Tucker does it
Is Ohtani going back to Japan? That's about the only way (aside from injury) he won't be leading in WAR every year.
His only challenge is staying healthy. Even THE BABE was primarily either a pitcher or a hitter each year. O is doing both at the same time THIS YEAR because he is healthy. This is his 4th year and the first time he's been healthy for the entire year. So is this the new normal or the aberration? It's actually the same question we had for Carlos entering the season. I'm not totally convinced the question has been answered because of this healthy season, but the risk analysis has certainly shifted in his favor. I wish him well against anybody but the Astros.
Stay humble, stay focused and finish this team. One game at a time. PS- I lost my longtime Astros hat right before the playoffs started. Dying to replace it but no way I can do that now. Like Buck mentioned, gotta stay with what works.
I've thought work at 1B next pre-season would be good for Yordan in the event we try to replace CC with WAR at another position. One idea is someone like Bryant who could play 3B or LF. But a way to get him into the lineup is to move Yordan to 1B and let YG PH. But the problem is having a line-up so deep, there's a;most no place to put him. You really want Meyers and McCormick to have a shot and you want Maldonado for his arm and intangibles. Moving Bregman to SS seems less likely with his hamstring issues so a move to 1B for Yordan is really more for 2023 than next year. Who knows, Gurriel might be one of those rare players you want to keep at age 39 like Verlander.
Hopefully we will have a universal dh by 2023. That would solve the Alvarez dilemma although I still think we should try to make a 1b out of him since he seems to bat better when he is also in the field. It would also give us more flexibility when guys like Brantley or Gurriel need rest or are nursing various minor injuries.
Why keep it close, you can lose doing that, just blow them out instead. I think I know what Dusty was trying to say about why you don't bunt, but this is a lot funnier.
