He and arozarena were both on my list. I don’t think we are doing anything about LF which is a mistake.
I used this example earlier but Kwan has a 40-point advatange in BA over Yordan - but their OB% is roughly the same (394/384). Kwan is having a very good year. No team would value Kwan above Yordan. Hits are good. But a formula that doesn’t differentiate between hits - that prescribes a single the same value as a HR - isn’t a terribly useful statistic.
According to the stats, first base is by far the biggest area for improvement with left field being the second biggest area for improvement for the Astros. We could definitely use some improvement in left field. I would go so far as to say one of first base or left field is a higher need than starting pitching, but we need both.
At the same time, I think hits are worth more than walks since a hit can drive a runner from 2nd base or drive a run home when a walk can't. I also think it's useful to know how many pitches a batter sees on average. Be able to make pitchers work for it like Brerman or even Singleton is a useful trait.
I don’t believe anyone is arguing walks are better than hits? Hits are good. Batting average is not so good.
But batting average is one of the few that actually gets worse the more statistics you include. I’ll admittedly always have a soft spot for .300 as a benchmark and, yeah - it’d be fun if someone challenged .400. But arguing batting average is a useful stat in 2024 just doesn’t make sense.
LF isn’t fine. Thats a bat first position we are trotting out to below average player to platoon. We should absolutely look to upgrade there, along with pitching depth and first base
Given the high competition for playoff spots, the Astros being over the salary cap, and their weaker farm system, what are the realistic chances and potential strategies for the Astros to make impactful trades before the deadline?
Are farm system isn't as weak was the publications say we are considering the space cowboys are on track to win 100 games and we've been able to make signifii trades almost every season
Stats at first base look far worse than they actually are. If you are looking at 1st base overall Abreu is included making 1st base look awful. Even if you are looking at Singleton only hee is better now than his stats show as he has shown gradual but steeady improvement as his time has increeased. He will never be what hee once could havee been but he is passable for now.
I'm fine with this, how many years does Diz have left on his contract? I would overpay for Paredes though.
Starting pitching and a bat, I would look for an OF like Hays who got traded to the Phillies.. It looks like they will add a1B. Hopefully some combination of Loperfido and Chas can work out as a platoon in LF.
