I only calculated the pitchers that had accumulated enough ML innings to yield meaningful results. I think they bring 12 pitchers and 14 position players. The 11 I listed are the best choices based on a statistic but does not take any other factors into account. It is unrealistic to ignore those other factors, and some of them are unknowable to people outside the organization. Smith will certainly be argued for based on handedness. Brown is a serious candidate but I think in order to add him you have to eliminate Garcia or Urquidy, so it would be a surprise to see him in more than one series.
It will be hard to make several cuts. Just 6 road games left. It's as good a time as any to get Yordan more rest with the big OF.
When the dust settles, I think it will be Jays/Mariners and Guardians/Rays. Mariners have the easiest remaining schedule of the 3. O’s would have to sweep us to have a legitimate shot.
When thinking about the postseason lineup: Bregman Tucker Altuve Alvarez Diaz Mancini McCormick Pena Madonado Obviously it won't happen, as Altuve is going to leadoff, but I like Bregman's plate discipline leading off. Maybe swap Alvarez & Tucker too just to give Alvarez a possible extra PA. When/if Vazguez starts, I'd probably move him ahead of Pena.
Dodgers Astros Mets Braves Yankees That is 5 teams... Even if we included the Cardinals being eliminated from 100 wins yesterday, that would be 6 teams. 5 would be a record. Dodgers are already there. Astros need 1 win. Mets/Braves need to play .500 ball. Yankees need to go 10-4.
Absolutely no way I'm leaving Yordan unprotected by one of the other 3 top hitters. I like Bregs protecting and still getting on base for Tucker(and seperating lefties), and Altuve seems comfortable with where he is so no need to screw with it. Tuve,Yordan,Bregs,Tucker would be my personal top 4. I think it's a coincidence of timing, but Pena has certainly looked better in the 2 hole, so I'm OK overall with the top 5 as is, even if I don't agree with a non top hitter hitting 2nd. You really need a large sample to for numbers to play out in this sport. While I agree Diaz is the better option at 1B, I don't think he's so much better that if Dusty goes with Yuli (which we know he will) it will make much of a difference, could even be better if Yuli has one of his little random hot spells. Mancini has had some rough BABIP luck so his numbers look meh, but any game he doesn't start I'm not OK with.
Playoff lineup prediction: 1. Altuve - 2B 2. Pena - SS 3. Alvarez - DH 4. Bregman - 3B 5. Tucker - RF 6. Diaz - LF 7. Yuli - 1B 8. McCormick - CF 9. Maldonado - C Replace McCormick with Dubon when Verlander pitching (still have no idea why, Dubon isn't that good at CF). If Mancini plays and Diaz sits, then Yuli moves to 6th spot.
I was a proponent for this until Bregman got his stroke back. I like where he is now protecting Alvarez and getting on base for Tucker. But I'd love Altuve hitting behind Tucker. But he'll lead off until Yellowstone explodes.
Playoff roster- position players. Locks: Maldy, Vazquez, Yuli, Altuve, Alex, Pena, A.Diaz, Yordan, Chas, Tucker, Mancini. I still think 14 players in ALDS and 13 in ALCS ( if they make it) 3 spots left in ALDS: needs: backup CF/RF and bench depth. Options: ( on 40 man) Dubon Hensley Y.Diaz K Lee Matijevic J. Perez Meyers Perez is not really an option. My guess is that if Korey Lee and J J. Matijevic were seriously considered they would be on the active roster instead of Y Diaz and possibly Hensley. The same for Meyers, but I separate him because he is the only CF candidate besides Dubon to back up McCormick. Dubon has been very disappointing ( especially in CF). Jake also is the fastest base runner among the bench candidates which could give him a chance. Regardless of how bad he has been, I just don't see the team leaving Dubon off of the playoff roster. Much like Yuli they have continued to play and play him. Hensley has put himself in a great position to be selected and I think he makes it. So that leaves 1 spot and Y Diaz and Meyers as the candidates. Since Dubon ( b/u CF) and Hensley (baserunning/5 positions) are on the team then Diaz gets the nod over Jake. Then he is left off the ALCS roster in favor of a pitcher if they advance.
Astros pitching staff’s healthy, successful season makes for complicated playoff decisions The Astros’ decision comes down to this: Is the marginal benefit of a 14th position player greater than that of a 13th pitcher? Experimentation with different lineups and pitching alignments is likely for the remainder of the regular season as the club searches for an answer. Compared to some other playoff-bound teams, the Astros don’t have as many platoon players, so they require fewer specific pinch-hitting options against lefty or righty pitchers. Also, the MLB rule that puts an automatic runner on second base to start extra innings will not be in effect for the playoffs — increasing the possibility for longer games. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/te...g-staff-decisions-playoff-roster-17458033.php
What exactly does Dubon provide for the Astros that Meyers doesn't as backup? Dubon is not good with the bat or centerfield...we have Diaz and Hensley as infield utility, so what does Dubon provide?
This is the way. I’d be happy to give you control over the lineup card if Click continues to ignore my texts and phone calls telling him what we need to have Dusty do.
I swear to god if Dubon is out there starting in CF in game 1 I’m charging the field like the idiot in The Fan.
Lance breaking stuff has looked as nasty as ever since his return, but I’m a little bit worried about his sinker in the playoffs. The data shows it’s been down a tick and has been getting crushed.
I don’t believe this. This is a Dusty thing. The FO cannot be ok with that in the playoffs. If I was Click and I heard that would happen Dubon wouldn’t be rostered. He shouldn’t be anyway probably.
