Astros use to be front and center as the innovative team...now it doesn't have the same feel and you can see it with the manager. It's been disappointing.
Alvarez only hitting one homerun since the beginning of ST is concerning. He's also striking out a lot which isn't normal for him.
There's this false idea that if teams can't compete with the Dodgers' spending, they're wholly justified not spending at all. These teams *can* spend money - they can invest in scouting and player development in foreign territories; they can spend money on free agents; they can pay their best players rather than trade them... Literally *nothing* is stopping them from doing that: there are no poor MLB owners. They are *choosing* not to and then casting the teams that do as the enemy/problem. And too many fans buy it.
The good thing is, one or two good games will turn those number around quickly. It’s still very early.
Are you suggesting MLB teams are not profitable? There is nothing preventing rich owners from spending money; they are *choosing* not to and then playing victims because how can they compete with the Dodgers & Mets? Teams spending is *not* the problem; it's teams *not* spending that's the problem...
It's silly to be worried about the offense right now. We KNOW without a doubt that we have some very good hitters. Like- without a shadow of a doubt Yordan is a stud and it would be shocking beyond all belief if Yainer, Walker and Paredes weren't all above average hitters. Those guys are all basically making Martin Maldonado in his worst year look like a stud. That won't last. It's good to see that Altuve doesn't appear cooked yet and I have really liked what I've seen from Cam Smith in his approach to the plate so far. This is all fine news. Chas looks like maybe you can see a little bit of overcoming being horrific last year. Pitching has been what you'd hoped for 1 turn through the rotation. If that keeps up this team is winning the division. LMJ looks like he's about 3 weeks again from pitching in the major leagues. Celebrate that. If there is anything you want to really stress about it should be Hader apparently isn't missing bats anymore.
One of the things we talked about on the Pod the other day is how I get excited to see a new guy's stuff and whether or not he misses bats. Wesneski missed a ton of bats yesterday from what I saw. Guys swinging under fastballs. Missing breaking stuff. He threw his first curve ball as a major league pitcher yesterday. He got a K on a swinging strike on a changeup- he did that 1 time all of last year. I think the Astros have found another guy to mad scientist on with his sequencing and offerings. I had hopes for him coming in being a really quality BOR option that pitched like a MOR option and 1 start in that isn't disappointing.
damn , so sad about garcia I love that dude, so it sucks to hear he's had a setback and that his conditioning is letting him down.
We are number 1 right now in hits allowed. Our pitching is stellar. Too bad our bats look more like the Seattle Mariners than our typical production.
Word on The Street is that the Astros pitching has been very, very encouraging ... but in a very, very disappointing way.
We have only one team that the information is readily available: Atlanta Braves. They really aren't profitable. Some owners can afford to lose money, others can't. I get not feeling sorry for billionaires, but if you assume teams just make money, that wouldn't be accurate.
