<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hinch said Bregman has had a unique, weird start to his career at plate. Team fully believes in him. Combo of bad luck, timing, swings.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/760946345179918336" data-datetime="2016-08-03T21:12:01+00:00">August 3, 2016</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While expectations around here were high for White after his start, he wasn't a big time prospect. I don't think most of us had high hopes for Marisnick & Tucker. Worth was a minor league FA. Moran was somewhat disappointing, but barely got a chance. I think most of us did not like Gattis at DH, and felt he was only worthwhile at catcher.
Guys, I know what Bregman's problems are and Luhnow and company just missed it. Has anyone actually seen Bregman's girlfriend... <iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6naO8n6HsqE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Jake, at times, has shown how good of a player he can be - April 2015, July/August 2016 were all stretches where he was batting > .300. His droughts though....yikes. If he could ever get up to a consistent .250 AVG, OBP ~ .300, he'd easily have the starting CF position locked down. In reality, he should have it locked down now with how awful Rasmus & Gomez have been.
Well Bregman has started getting a few hit here and there. He's about to surpass Reeds batting average. Since this is turning into a roll over and die type team, I think that Bregman, Reed, Gurriel, Teo Hernandez, Kemp, should be moved into the regular rotation. Get rid of Gomez, Rasmus, by cutting ties.
Gomez and Rasmus have no value to this team for the rest of the season. And even Valbuena should only be a bench player. They desperately need to get Bregman, Gurriel, Reed, Tucker, Marisnick, White, and Kemp as many ABs as they can so they can get a better idea of what their real needs are heading into the offseason. This would be my lineup for the rest of the season: RF Springer LF Bregman 2B Altuve SS Correa 3B Gurriel 1B Reed DH White/Tucker (platoon) C Gattis/Castro (platoon) CF Marisnick/Kemp (platoon) I'd try like hell to salary dump Gomez, Rasmus, and Valbuena.
He's a pending free agent in a list season; there is no reason to play him when the only goal for the rest of this season is to find out what they have for next year. Playing him only keeps one of the unproven guys they need to find out more about from playing.
Odds are not good. Heck, odds are down right bad at this point. That said, odds are still much greater than zero. Just silly to throw away a season with this much season to go with an above 0.500 record. Astros are just 5 games back in the wild card. Just need another big winning streak and they are right back in this thing.
I think his point is that Valbuena projects as a 2nd division regular. The Astros have been a 2nd division-level team for most of this season, so it makes sense. If there's any shot he could get a QO, he needs to keep playing. Also I don't agree with Snake's opinion that every non-Altuve/Correa/Springer at-bat needs to be given to the young guys. There's value in having professional hitters in the lineup, e.g. protection, for younger guys that are playing. Honestly, I think it'd just send a wrong message to sell-out and play all the youngsters at this point. It says to team, public and any potential FA's that they're not a legitimate contending team whereas I think adding 2 more professional hitters and they're right up there with anyone. If the Astros were the team that got Lucroy and Beltran, the rest of this season would look entirely different.
