I think they might be exploring trade options - not necessarily Bergman, but I bet the front office is active.
We should have swept Oakland. At the very least won the series. While the pitching didn't do its part, the second half of the lineup certainly didn't help. I figured that series would have inspired them to promote Bregman. If Tucker disappoints again this weekend and Rasmus/Gomez/Gattis/Worth continue their current ways this forum is going to implode.
You want to give Luhnow an F for development because a Top 50 prospect's bat developed so well in less than four months above A+ that they are having to teach him other positions?
They don't need to teach much at all, takes couple games to figure out LF approach. There are other reasons for stalling besides teaching him Left Field.
I guarantee that Bregman could not see a baseball field for a year and play a better left field than Preston Tucker who we had no problem trotting out there in the past. If the idea is that he needs more reps in left field before coming up, than the idea is completely stupid. Trade him or bring him up, stop ****ing around.
I think the holdup is an imminent trade of someone in the 40 roster. Probably someone who'd need to be DFA, if not traded. Roster spots are had to come by, can't just create spots out of nowhere. Tucker was already on the 40 roster. Maybe it's Tucker being showcased for trade? Marisnick, Gomez, Valbuena, Marwin are all possible trade candidates. I think Luhnow wants to maximize his roster value, and giving talent away for nothing isn't smart; he's probably doing his due dillgence.
Astros think confidence is important. They don't want him worrying about defense when he comes up. Up until recently, I suspect they thought they could just slide him to 3B. Granted, I'd call him up, but the outcry for the Astros being slow with a guy drafted last year and has less than 400 ABs above A+ seems excessive.
Astros are 3.5 games back of Rangers. They are 2.5 back of the wild card. They don't have to trip over their feet to make any moves, they just need to be smart. Maybe Bregman could be called up now, but that would mean dropping someone else from the 40 roster. Let's see how trade deadline plays out, I think Luhnow is well aware of the team standing. He said it one time before and I'm paraphrasing, " it's about keeping the present and future of the club in good standings to succeed. "
I see all the reasoning to bring him up, and I'm on board as well. What I'm trying to figure out is what the org's motivation is to keep him in the minors. a) If they're trying to delay his arb block any further, they'll have to wait until next June for his first taste. Fans would revolt way sooner. b) If they're trying to showcase P Tucker, Valbuena, and Marwin leading up to the deadline...I think the latter 2 have already shown their worth. And a RH bat doesn't really hinder it. c) If they actually want him to get more reps in LF and meanwhile are ok with Tucker playing out there, it seems silly...and will be fixed in the next week or so--so I'm not worried. d) If they're working on a trade to free up a 40 man slot so they don't have to DFA Worth, that also seems like a silly reason--but one that will be solved within a week or so either way. Typically, we understand the org's view and disagree, and then it's a fight. In this case, I don't think we get what they're thinking. But we do know they are trying to both win and make money. Right now, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt precisely because I can't figure out the reason, and I assume they have to have one. And if it's one of the latter 2, it's just a week out.
I'll agree. And the dillemma is, do you just DFA Gomez? Two roster spot need to be created for Bregman and Yuriel. Who do you drop to make room?
I hate making comparisons to other organizations And I really hate the Cubs But dam Contreras, a catcher his whole life, comes up and hits and they put him in LF without issues
When you have Correa at SS already, yes this should have been done a long time ago. Especially since they seem set that he should get a certain number of reps at other positions before he comes up I like Luhnow and have praised him many times on here But he isn't God like and perfect and beyond criticizing If they insist Bregman gets enough reps at other positions NOW, he certainly gets an F on this
A) isn't an issue. B) isn't an issue C) getting reps in AAA facing AAA pitching is much easier than learning LF and learning to hit MLB pitching. D) that would be a silly reason. I think Astros feel they have a future star player and are being overly cautious with him. I also think Luhnow is one cocky SOB that doesn't think the Astros need Bregman to make the playoffs.
Luhnows value as a GM is his ability to infuse value into the minor leagues. Let's face it, he didn't fare very well in the trade of Gomez/Fiers for Philips/Hader/Santana. At this point both Fiers and Gomez are weak links on the club. He may be scratching for crumbs in a trade for value. I agree I am super stoked waiting for Bregman to be called up, and I think the trade deadline will be the determining factor. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
Gomez, even with reduced value last season, was a big upgrade over Marisnick. Fiers was great last year. Astros likely don't make playoffs without those two. Santana has done nothing. Hader has an ERA above 7 in AAA. Phillips is making Fisher look like a contact hitter in AA. Granted, there is a lot left to see if trade pays off or not, but early returns are that Luhnow took advantage of his former minion's team.
