The Astros didn't score a run, so even if Brown threw a perfect game, we probably would have lost in the 10th.
We would have been the thick of it if Hunter and Hader were healthy. I would probably say a 5-7 game swing which would mean we would be leading the division.
Weiss and Burrows have a 3-11 record. A lot of the Astros woes could be traced to them picking the wrong guys for the opening day rotation. If they’d had Lambert and Teng in the mix from opening day (with Burrows and Weiss in the minors), they might be in first place even despite all the injury luck.
They picked the wrong guys from their roster to start. We also have to remember that Spencer was sent to the minors to start the season. Who makes those decisions. I imagine Miller and Espada and had a lot of input. That being said, Brown definitely brought in enough cards to have a good hand. The team just misplayed them at the beginning of the season. Hunter and Imai were supposed to be our 1 and 2 and they both went down. Hader was still injured and for whatever reason Abreu is allergic to being a closer.
This pretty much sums things up perfectly. I will add that Espada's use of Hunter/Hader are why the Stros are where they're at today.
I was actually fine with Arrighetti being sent down because it most likely secured another year of control over him which could end up being worth $30M if he stays as good as he’s been this season. But yes, we very well could look back on this season and see that the Astros had a really really good roster, it just took them 6 weeks to find it and by that time they were in a hole they couldn’t dig out of. It won’t shock me if Wade ends up putting up a nice offensive season. He could’ve been the missing piece to balance the offense and lengthen the lineup. Lambert, Arrighetti, and Teng are 3/5 of a quality rotation, and Imai very well might just be a guy that had to go through a nasty transition before settling down and being effective. De Los Santos, Okert, and King have been solid enough. Santa looks like he’ll stick. Abreu might figure it out. Like you said the pieces are there. And I think this team will win some games over the next 7 weeks. Just have to wait and see if it’s enough to dig out of the hole.
Abreu kind did figure it out. Out of 24 appearances, he has had 4 appearances with more than one run and he had string recently of 9 straight games without a run before coughing up 3 runs. Abreu just doesn't have the mental makeup to be a closer and I think he need Vasquez to settle him down.
Spencer was sent down because he missed part of spring training. If he'd been up and gotten injured, people would have been complaining about the Astros' malpractice. I can't imagine Espada has much, if any, input on what SPs are on the roster.
It gets better. Spencer Arrighetti and his wife had twins during ST. Spenser missed time due to paternity leave. Likely not Dana Brown or Joe Espada.
Agreed, and since the farm is so thin trading for a difference making player would mean trading Alvarez/Neyens/Pecko etc.. and I would pass on that, so they really need Wade to come through for them. Guys I would look to trade are Janek/Hicks/Frey etc... for an above avg MLB OF bat.
Abreu has always had spotty control but could get away with it when his FB sat at 97-100 with a wipeout slider. Sitting at 93-94 mph FB he's a below avg pitcher.
He was his old self against Adell. 2 97mph fb and a 87mph slider. So the stuff is still there. Just needs to find consistency. With King pitching well in the setup role they can give Abreu lower leverage situations, last night was a special case since it went into extras and Hader isn’t quite ready to give them 2 innings.
Oh you know Espada considered it. And the day is coming when he is gonna try to squeeze 2 out of him.
