We should consider calling up a bullpen arm or two to see if we can find a spark. At least to push the veterans. I am concerned about late season fatigue kicking in for some of our arms who have been reliable up until recently.
You really can't because MLB limited the number of pitchers to 13 on the 26 man roster. In September you can only add one more pitcher when the rosters expand to 28. It's why I don't like the 6 man rotation.
No, you could. But it would require making a bold move like dumping some existing arms... which there are some candidates
Why does it feel like the Astros have way too many games in a row without rests? Maybe I'm just biased.
Maton has 1 option left so you don't have to cut him plus he is controlled next season. However, they aren't likely to burn the option this late in the season since the option would give them roster flexibility next season. Will Smith is really the only other guy and I think they will give him a long leash to turn it around since the only other lefty on the 40 man is Mushinski after Taylor was just shutdown from his rehab assignment. Plus, if you cut Smith after Sept. 1st he can't be on another team's playoff roster... Most likely they just wait until Sept 1st to bring up another arm.
Same way it feels like we get hosed the most by HPUs and the Yankees get the most favorable calls because it’s ****ing true. We seem to get the shaft around MLB the most when it comes to schedules and calls since you know what came out. Like that stupid 5pm game in OAK on a get away day when we had to turn around and play at home the next day. WTF?
They just finished a 32 games in 32 days stretch coming out of the ASG, which is brutal (double header offset the one off day). The plus side is they have as many or more off days than anyone else over the final month, which will add a bit of rest for the playoffs.
The games with the White Sox and the Braves are worrisome. The biggest concern is the bullpen collapses and they were major four alarm collapses, game losing collapses. The other concern is that both opponents seemed to have an abundant supply of high average hitters. Are these two teams better than the Astros? Well, maybe. We wouldn't face Atlanta until the WS, but we could face the White Sox early on.
Well, they did split with the Sox and dramatically outscored them. And they could have easily taken two of three from Atlanta. But the concern is fair to a point. That said: 1) 32 games in 32 days will wear out any bullpen, and rest will be much more plentiful in the playoffs 2) the bullpen mix will also be very different in the playoffs with only the best pitching in close games - and Pressley was rock solid, and the starters who will be in the pen have all proved they can relieve successfully in the playoffs My larger worry is the new preponderance of K-heavy hitters (Peña, Yuli, Meyers, Maldonado). McCormick staying on this better trajectory and Mancini playing would help, but this lineup has more holes and is shorter than that of prior years. All of that said, the Astros are still clearly the class of the AL, but will likely be major underdogs to the NL winner as the Dodgers at least and maybe the Mets and Braves are better.
I hate how September call ups are now limited to 28 (this was part of the deal to expand the regular season roster from 25 to 26). Most of the time teams never used all 40, but 32 is a good number for September.
That's not fatigue. Maton NOT a 3.00 era guy, back to high 3/low 4 norm Montero NOT a 1.60 era guy, near 4.50 career era Stanek NOT a 1.00 era guy, more like a 3.75 era guy
The Braves have a .252 team average, .316 OBP. We have a .246 avg, .319 OBP. The White Sox do hit for a high average, .259, but they don't walk or hit for much power so they have very pedestrian offensive numbers overall. Atlanta may be as good as us, they are an elite team. The White Sox are most certainly not as good.
Too many games in the last month and too many injuries, It's the dog days of summer. Thankfully we have a huge lead over the M's. At least we got 1 game in ATL.
The Braves don't really have anyone as good as Yordan or maybe Tucker in their lineup with Acuna taking a step back this season offensively. However, their lineup is clearly deeper than ours especially with Brantley gone. Reminds me of the 2017 Astros in that way.
I would really like to see Hunter Brown be that one arm that gets called up. He could be a serious weapon in the playoffs in relief, give him one time through the order. Give him some major league reps in Sept. and let's see if he can contribute in the playoffs. But I also wouldn't be surprised if it's just Seth Martinez or Mushinski.
