In the bullpen, it looks like it’s Hader, Abreu, King, Okert, Scott, and 4 guys for 3 spots: Contreras, VanWey, Montero, and Weiman.
Happy birthday. I pictured you as much older than me. It’s funny you never really see yourself as an old codger. I always see myself as a 30 year old Man until I hit a golf ball.
Tucker had a nearly 5 WAR in half a season. That's astronomical in and of itself. Bregman's down season WAR was still over 4. I would say there is a zero chance Walker Paredes come close to a full season comparison of 14 WAR and a 10% chance they come close to the injury compensated comparison of 9 WAR. And that's assuming they're healthy over the course of the season. The difference will have to be made up with consistent pitching over the course of the entire season. Last year's Astros were an unremarkable team that squeaked into the playoffs due to a pitching resurgence (led by Blanco and former Astro Kikuchi) and the division stinking. We have to be honest about losing 2 big offensive producers to that.
Guillorme is on a minor league contract. The release said he isn't making the ML roster. He is basically being reassigned to the minors, just not until after the exhibition games. I think I heard he doesn't have an opt out if not on the ML roster.
Anybody can have a poor season esoecially if playing hurt- look at Altuve's 2020. The problem w/ Chas is that he is a classic over achiever. None of his scouting reports or projections ever gave him even a chance to be an above average regular. The natural tools simply aren't there - which makes his 2021-2023 quite impressive actually. But it also makes returning to where he was that much harder. Those guys tend to have very short careers and ever shorter windows of good seasons. I hope he repeats 2023. That woukd make this team extremely good. I am just not grry hopeful. I do expect him to be considerably better than last year though. As for the Maldy thing - I absolutely think Diaz was the better hitter and defender. I absolutely would have gone with him as the starter. But I believe it when guys like Baker, JV, Pressly, etc say there are reasons that can't be seen statistically or on the field, that one player is better than another. But saying Dusty sat him because of the Straw trade is ridiculous. That is hugely disrespectful to a great man who, I would assume has a few decades more of MLB experience than you do. I don't understand how anyone can listen/read information from players and coaches and say "no, that's fake. I know better."
Who’s saying anything is fake? Dusty was a total ass about Diaz and Chas. JV never publicly said he preferred Maldy. In fact, he said he never once called for his own catcher except for in the playoffs with Chirinos. Dusty was hot about the Straw trade. That decision did not involve him. Straw was his center fielder. The GM told him to bench Straw and Dusty did not. So the GM traded him. Great man? What kind of point are you making? Are you friends with the guy? He may be a great guy but he was definitely very petty about some things too. If Chas is an overachiever with the bat, what does that make Meyers? He out hit meyers every season until last years partial season. How do you figure Meyers is a more natural talent at the plate?
We also need to be We also need to be honest about Tuckers' lack of ability to do *anything* in the playoffs. Kyle Tucker is an unremarkable playoff performer, and the Astros did the logical thing in extracting multiple years of control for players at multiple positions, while not falling into the trap of paying for past performance. Kyle can be as bitter as he wants about Preston, but he is not...not will ever be...clutch. Mr "5 WAR in half a season" is currently 0 for the dodgers series. Oh but he has a bases loaded walk. Best case scenario for him is to be a complementary piece to a Cubs 85 win Season to lose to the dodgers or Mets in the playoffs...only to then sign with the dodgers or Mets. Oh and we have 3 years of paredes? How many years of control of Cam Smith? Werenski on top of that? Oh but woe is us to give up a "half season 5 WAR" to a player who has never done anything in a pivotal moment to even suggest he is cluth or worth a 200mm contract, much less a 400mm contract. I would say that there is a zero chance that Kyle lives up to a 400mm+ contract, and as much as anyone hates the move, it is the most rational thing to do to move from a perspective of maintaining the Astros' window of contention. Kyle Tucker is a great player who has career playoff ops of .685 who wants 400mm plus over the course of his next contract. For the life of me, I can't see why the Astros would give up on him for: * 3 years control of Paredes * Likely double that control of Cam Smith * Multiple years of control of Werenski * Payroll flexibility But let's wax poetic that we lost hermit Tucker (*they messed with Preston*). Lol
I think Meyers is a bit faster/quicker Chas. They are extremely similar in my opinion. Chas is an overachiever and Meyers is a guy who hasn't overachieved and likely won't. But he damn sure can run down a ball in center field and that's extremely important to this particular Astros team. Now that Gamel is out, it's very likely that Dezenzo or Smith get most starts in RF. That means that Meyers is needed even more. But, Guillorme not making the team means Dubon is more infielder than outfielder, so Chas has a spot as the 4th OF and Meyers' primary backup. It's a shame neither of them can hit right handed pitching.
Again, I watch nearly every game. Don’t recall many balls sailing over chas’ head where it was agreed that meyers would’ve caught it. It’s just not the difference defensively that you describe between the two players. Until last year, there was a big difference in their offense. Chas was hurt last year and only got a third of a seasons PA’s.
I think we are more in agreement than disagreement. I think there's about a 75% chance Chas hits better than Meyers this year. But I think there is a 0% chance Chas fields better than Meyers this year. The numbers say the difference between Meyers and Chas defensively, is significant. Baseball Savant's "fielding run value" had Chas in 65th percentile in 2024. Both perfectly good results. Meyers was 95th percentile. Meyers is also a much better baserunner according to metrics.
I hate to keep talking. About dusty but wanted to add he sent someone up for their first major league at bat against the other teams closer. maybe it was Meyers
The thing working against Montero is that once he is added back to the 26/40 man roster he cannot be sent down to the minors, and if he’s DFA again he can reject the assignment without forfeiting his contract, so Houston could wind up on the hook for his contract with him pitching on another team. So they won’t add him back unless they think he’ll stick (or are otherwise ready to cut bait).
Give me an above avg defensive CF that can hit over a better defensive CF that cant hit, partiularly if both CF'ers have weak arms. BTW, sad part is neither CF appears to be able to hit.
