Astros likely feel Pena and Heineman are further along, but AG has higher potential...making ABs/innings (I should have said innings instead of ABs in my last post as defense seems to be the big difference) more important. 2-3 weeks of backup catching duty has little value in normal circumstances, but especially from the context that it looks like AG is being developed at the minimum to be the backup starting in 2017.
Peña is good defensively and calls a very nice game. He was the catcher for the champions in Winter League, the team did not bat much, but the pitching staff was very good, and part of it was the catching.
I'd say relax on Giles, dominant stuff he will be just fine Worrying about spring stats is worthless. Even early regular season stats can tell many "lies". Main thing is get out of spring healthy and ready to go Two more weeks, two more weeks
He overreacts to everything He loves the Astros which is awesome But if Keuchel gives up two homers in the opener this year he will be ready to move on from him
If you can't handle 2-3 weeks as a backup, a team wasn't going to keep him on their active roster for a full season. That is what makes it strange to me. I'm still guessing the acquire another catcher before the season starts.
nahhhhh, that he can call a good game and will be good behind the plate. Now, he does not hit much but defensively, he is good.
So not being ready now means he can't be on active roster in a year? I think Astros get another catcher...but that would be a huge vote in lack of confidence in guys still in camp.
No, I'm saying in regards to protecting him the Rule 5 draft. If the team says he can't handle a couple of weeks in the bigs, then how could they have expected another team to carry him for a full season.
This is true. Pena & Gonzalez are the same age. Gonzalez has been with the organization (all originally signed/drafted by Astros) longer than Pena or Heineman, so I'd expect him to be as ready as those 2. I have to think the team was disappointed in Gonzalez this spring for whatever reason (I'm assuming they aren't comfortable with his receiving skills right now). All 3 have generally gotten good reviews defensively, with Pena being called Major League ready defensively dating back to the end of the 2014 season. I'd assume he'll be the guy if we don't acquire someone. Humberto Quintero 2.0.
This was known before spring. The Astros see catcher presenting as a teachable skill even at MLB level. Not so sure how teachable blocking is once a player gets to AA as it seems to involve more natural talent/reflexes.
Actually, I think the players on the field are. But the owners and top brass of some organizations are constructed in such a manner as to make their odds very low, purposely (Astros 2-4 years ago).
On Giles, it sounds to me like he uses the Spring to get his "feeling" back for his pitches. I've watched most of his pitches and his fastball has little to no movement and he keeps leaving them up in the zone which is why he is getting knocked around. Also, his slider has been inconsistent. I think he is one of those guys that needs time to get back into his pitching groove which is why his ST numbers are bad in his career. I fully expect him to be fine come April. Hopefully. I will only be worried about him if he continues to struggle during the regular season.
As far whats counts and what does not in spring training, that's debatable. Certainly we will all agree wins and losses do not. But individual player performance certainly counts in some areas, especially when two or more players are vying for a vacant starting position. Now, take a guy like Giles who is going to be on the team no matter what. Say what you will about his bad outings not amounting to anything, but is there anyone here, including the Astros organization, who wouldn't be happier if he wasn't struggling? Wouldn't anybody on the organization say the same things (that they are not worried) whether they really were or not? I dont pretend to know what Giles is going to do for us during the upcoming regular season. But I think its equally true that what he did last spring or last regular season is also mostly irrelevant. He is too young, and his track record as a reliever too short to make too many assumptions.
ST is just such a different dynamic for relief pitchers, compared to any other position or even starting pitchers. They're getting scheduled appearances, as opposed to the standard unscheduled bullpen warmup. There's literally no way to simulate a high pressure save situation in ST. They're obviously not going 100%... which is either by design (building up arm strength) or a natural tendency (no built-in adrenaline from real-game bullpen/save situations). And as many have mentioned, this is the time where most of them tinker with arm slots, mechanics, pitches. If Giles (or any bullpen guy) wanted to treat ST as full regular season games, had a roster spot on the line, and was compelled to put forth the max effort needed for those situations, I'm sure they could put up as much gaudy stats as wanted.... they just don't. Even lights-out performances in ST should be taken with a grain of salt. They just need to start playing real games...unless Giles is injured, there should be no extra concern. He's not succumbing to "pressure" of having been traded for prospects... especially not pitching in front of 4,000 random people in florida.
I agree the players on the field are trying to win. The guys who are in charge of picking backup catchers are not necessarily trying to win in a given season.
While the point of view you present definitely has merit, and I dont completely dismiss it, if it were the entire answer, then you would see all the relievers struggling. I also think a good deal of all this idle speculation is just frustration in wanting the regular season to start already. If ST could be cut down by a week or 10 days, MLB would be better for it IMO.
meanwhile Danny Worth is having a nice spring training. There's no roster spot for him, but he would certainly be useful on a MLB roster somewhere. Would be nice if the Astros could trade him and get something of value.
