They need another bat that can play either outfield, second base (moving Altuve to left field) or third base (moving Paredes to second base and Altuve to left field).
My guess is Altuve would really only play LF when Houston threw ground ball pitchers. In which case running out a poor defensive OF wouldn’t be a big negative. Lineups: With Framber, Brown, or Wesneski on the mound: LF Altuve 3B Paredes DH Alvarez 1B Walker C Diaz RF/CF Gamel/Meyers CF/RF McCormick SS Pena 2B Guillorme/Dubon With Blanco or Arrighetti on the mound: 2B Altuve 3B Paredes DH Alvarez 1B Walker C Diaz LF Gamel/Dubon RF McCormick SS Pena CF Meyers
I really can't believe we are going to be running Myers out there a majority of the time again this year. Yuk!
I think this is a longer look thing. Get him started now. Open up some infield space for some of our younger toolset guys. Matthews. Cam smith. Etc. I’m think more of a 2026 thing but working out there for 2025 so he’s not a dunce out there this season. Building confidence over time.
I don't see Altuve being a bad outfielder. Poor arm yes, but I think he is fast and coordinated enough to field well.
Do y'all think this was his choice to try out left field or they came up to him with this idea? And he's down for basically whatever.
The real problem with the Altuve to LF story is there is no replacement second baseman pushing him off the bag. Sacco (the best current option) is not a Brown guy. Mathews (the best Brown guy) is far from ready to play the position. Ferreras (has a potential future at the position) is too far from the majors to take seriously yet. This is probably a 2026 issue despite the lack of depth in the outfield.
Imagine Altuve in left at the astrodome. The ball would bound over his head and all the way to the wall. Thank goodness we built the Daik.
Dubon is immediately better defensively and up the middle defense is critical. I would much rather Dubon at second and Altuve in right then vice versa. And that's without mentioning the yips that Altuve has been fighting for a couple of years now. I do agree that our logical in-house long-term solutions are set for 2026 and beyond, but if you are of the mind set of seeing how the team plays and adding a critical piece at the deadline, this should factor into the equation. I know Bagwell highly prioritizes the hot corner and thus the infatuation with Arenado. What I don't know is how Paredes glove and feet would play at 2nd. Plus, none of us know how Cam Smith or Brice will play this year. A strong start could play in to a mid-season call up. (Smith to 3rd, Paredes to 2nd; or Matthews to 2nd).
Paredes came up as a shortstop and played by far the most at that position (246 games) in the minor leagues as a Tigers’ prospect. He can play second base. https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...-isaac-paredes-second-base-spring/4261933001/
We didn't. We built Enron Field, then changed it to Astros Field, then Minute Maid Park and now it's Daikin Park. At least until the next name change. And I would have preferred to remain in The Astrodome until Wrigley Field and Fenway Park were HISTORY..
Astros management knew this was coming as soon as they gave him and Alvarez the extension. Alvarez isn't going to play the field often, so DH was out of the question. This was all planned a year ago. The timing was the only thing up in the air.
I'm just an old codger with my crazy talk. I own it. As currently configured and with asbestos remediation completed, we should revisit turning it into parking with elevated walkways to both NRG and possibly a new Stadium on the property dedicated for Football. The parking in the Dome should free up sufficient parking to make a new footprint viable. Incorporate moving sidewalks like at airport which is now old technology or do something like a theme park ride if you want innovation. Multiple points of access in and out of the dome and even utilize available space from the Astroworld property if it lays out better. Perhaps use that for eastbound and southbound access and the Dome for West and northbound access to eliminate traffic bottlenecks.
