Some seem to think the Astros are concerned about McCullers getting injured…. I highly doubt it, if he is injured it puts off some very uncomfortable discussions.
I think he can still be effective, but it will be in relief and he will always be at risk for injury, because the only way he can be effective is by throwing the **** out of his curve.
well, his rehab starts might be illuminating if all of a sudden he picks up a couple ticks on his velo and we see him mashing the curveball button like it’s 2017. Honestly, I hope we see him go two innings, dominant balls out. That would tell me he understands that the pen is his only path to a meaningful role. frankly, with hader’s injury, LMJ turning back the clock would be a huge development. He could recapture some of his past postseason glory.
100%. His most likely redemption path goes thru the 2025 postseason bullpen. Hader gets hurt and McCullers rides in and sacrifices the last remaining shreds of tendon he has in his elbow to bring another ring to the H.
McCullers is sitting 90-92 with his fastball tonight. It looks like he threw a few curves in the 1st inning but hasn’t thrown many since. I’m not taking any of that as a very good sign.
He should save every last hard throw for MLB this rehab assignment is for knocking the rust off that blister ... hopefully
Agreed. LMJ is not coming back to be better than what he's shown for any extended amount of time and he's under contract for 1 more year (in which he will most likely have to retire). Let him play out the rest of his career in the bullpen and throw that curve for an inning at a time. I bet he'll be pretty effective late in games not having to worry about going 5 innings each time.
Dude is done, and for whatever reason both Garcia and Javier have come back throwing harder, I am wondering if it is Lance holding back. If that is who he is...drop him. DD
Garcia’s velo on his off speed stuff is down. His fb velo is ok but only at or 1 tick below where he was pre injury. Javier appears to be pretty much back to where he was; he’s the main one I have hope for to help Houston this season and beyond. McCullers and Garcia should be classified as interesting bullpen arms in the way Montero was after he fell apart.
When HEB cut Lance from the commercials the Astros should've known his comeback wouldn't be successful. HEB has some of the best advanced scouting in the industry.
While Javier and Garcia both had serious injuries Neither were anywhere close to the extent of what Lance has had Would like to see him in short outings to see what he can do. It's not like we are throwing out a bunch of great successful arms in the pen right now anyway
What all the recovered injured arms need, and especially LMJ is a non-injured offseason and Spring Training. Rehab is so different than a normal offseason of rest and rebuild for the next season. Not saying LMJ will be back next year but he will at least get ST next year to see if he is back or capable of pitching semi-decently next year (and I would certainly plan around him).
