From the perspective of having something to cheer about I don't really care. But he's 24 and done everything he needs to do in the minors. From a developmental perspective it just seems like it'd be really stupid to put him back there again. I thought this was a no brainer coming into spring training.
If they didn't promote him all of last year, including September when he was sitting around for half the month doing nothing, there is absolutely zero reason for them to promote him to start the season...when if you wait a month, you have him on the hook for another year till he becomes a free agent. And, if you wait another 3 months... you have another year till you have to pay him more money via the arbitration process. I actually think he's most likely to be promoted after July to avoid super-2 status... and be prepared for the company line to be that he needs time to adjust to playing other OF positions, or that they need to give other players a chance on the 40 man roster, or that they need to ensure the grass is nice and thick for his footing (hell, at this point I'd rather they just come out and admit he's being stashed for $$$ reasons). Yes, it sucks for the fans, it sucks for the player (who on any other organization that sucked would probably be fast-tracked), and it may end up sucking for the team if he's the type of player who's "best" years are between 21 and 29... they've already missed out on half of them. What's more important is that they get the TV deal worked out ASAP... so that there's at least a chance in the future that they'd actually keep their own free agents, and not stifle/stall careers due to $$$ reasons.
Sucks for the casual, ill-informed fan, definitely sucks for the player, definitely does NOT suck for the team. What would he have done for the team, even if he put up Bonds-ian numbers? Win us 15 more games and cost us Rodon and maybe Appel too, if you want to go further back?? Nobody's going to care or talk about this (much) ever again come July. Tough break for Springer that he inherited a front office that has a specific and clear plan and time-frame for their rebuild, but, that's how the cookie crumbles.
I'm fine with the sucking strategy that the Astros have used to restock the farm system but with that has been significant payroll savings already. There's no good reason that money should mess in any way with the career of someone like George Springer. Seems counterintuitive to this whole rebuilding/youth movement doesn't it? Laying it out the way you did, it looks like back to the minors he goes. That is really disappointing. I know Charlie Palillo has always harped on the Astros holding back prospects too long. Any truth to that?
I know I won't care if Springer leaves the Astros as a free agent at age 30 vs. age 32. I also don't care about him potentially costing us players that may or may not make it in the big leagues. If Springer hits the ground running as an MVP-like candidate, he should have been promoted sooner. If he takes 3-6 months to adjust to MLB pitching, he should have been promoted sooner. If he doesn't cut it, the team could have promoted him sooner to figure this out (rather than him being one of the "key" components to this masterminded rebuild). Likewise, if this team is in contending mode when Springer is ready to be a free agent, and he's a big contributor, time for the owner to step up and pay him. Or if we're still penny pinching then, masquerading as a small market team in a top 10 media market, it will be time for our smart GM to trade him for guys who can keep this team in contending mode. If the Astros are NOT contenders then, none of this stashing matters. There are far more unknowns in this rebuild than knowns. Time to start figuring out if 24-25 year old players dominating the minors can hack it in the majors. Also, sucking every year to get the #1 pick, and re-stock the minors, doesn't take much "smarts". This GM/ownership regime's plan entirely rests on these player's ability to succeed in the big leagues.
Every year for the last 3, when polling pre-season win totals for the upcoming season, it seems we are 5-10 games worse than the consensus. So 62-67 REAL wins this year then?
pretty disappointing offseason from an offensive point of view. We added a CF in Fowler who was lousy away from Coors field last year. I can't see us doing too much better than last season, although there's potential if Springer ever comes up and if Carter can come in below 200 Ks Pitching wise I think we did what we should have: gotten one vet starter and added bullpen arms. That's about what I had hoped for.
Why havent the Astros reached out to Texas for Mitch Moreland? I think they would bite on a decent offer and could be a gamble that pays big dividends.
Maybe, i guess i should have said why havent the astros signed Moreland yet? The guy is an excellent defender and awesome powerbat who just needs a little tweaking. Would love to see him in Houston.
Everybody's sleeping on Japhet. A good spring, and he's our opening day 1B, in my estimation. They signed him to play in the bigs ASAP, if possible.
