wait. They are on the brink of signing a washed-out 37 year old probably at best 5th starter in Vogelsong and a CF in Colby Rasmus?? Didn't we just clear the 'clutter' from the outfield to make room for Gattis-Marisnick-Springer? with Grossman/Presley as the backups? Obviously something else must be stewing and brewing...hmmm...not understanding these moves as of yet, but in Luhnow we trust? Or do you guys see it in a different light? The only thing I'm wondering is if they think Singleton needs more seasoning in AAA and they'll want to start Gattis/Carter at first--thereby opening up an Outfield spot or maybe Marisnick needs more time? Interesting...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If HOU signs Rasmus, possible lineup:2B Altuve, 3B Valbuena, SS Lowrie, DH Carter, RF Springer, CF Rasmus, LF Gattis, 1B Singleton, C Castro</p>— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/557615810613886977">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros could approach their 2013 K record of 1,535. Carter, Springer, Singleton all easily 150+. Rasmus, Gattis, Castro 125+. Valbuena 100+.</p>— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/557617336220258304">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros have a full 40 man, so Rasmus or Vogelsong or anyone to be preceded by another move. Dealing a catcher maybe.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/557617033790377984">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Both Rasmus and Vogelsong are taking physicals today.</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/557623045456936960">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the end, former drafted Cardinals trump all... "Luhnow's Law." (I also don't think they're ready to hand over the job to Marisnick without a backup plan in case he can't hack it at the plate).
It's pretty exciting to see Luhnow make so many moves to improve our club. Albeit, they aren't major major moves but he's doing the best he can with the current resources.
would LOVE to get rasmus and let marisnick be the 4th OF...can put him in late in games for defensive purposes...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Both Rasmus and Vogelsong are taking physicals today.</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/557623045456936960">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
wow...didn't see this flurry of activity coming. So know we once again have a glut of outfielders...Gattis, Springer, Rasmus, Marisnick, Grossman, Pressley... one of these guys is on the out? Would they platoon Rasmus/Marisnick? (I hate platoons...never seem to really work). Also lots of "Meh" but "not bad" pitchers... Keuchel Feldman McHugh Obie Vogelsong? with lots of guys competing for the 4/5th spot? And then there is the glut of catchers...hang on to your seat, something more is going down. Maybe a package for Hammels with the extra catches + OFers + prospect combo?
This says one of two things. Either they are workign on something else that gets rid of some of the Catching/OF glut or they are looking at quantity over quality and trying to play the numbers. Bring in enough people and take the best ones. Then if they fail we have guys to fall back on. The former seems more plausible but I can't count out the latter.
true except they would have to free up 2 roster spots ( I believe) to make room for Rasmus & Vogelsong. A catcher has to be on the way out, so there is one spot.
Definitely going to have a lot of K's if things hold up with no other moves...but lets wait to see what the ultimate product is for OD. Lots of things are in movement; its hard to get a conclusory look right now at what we're planning. We clearly have excesses at certain positions...lets see how it plays out. Our offense is definitely getting more interesting though!
Didn't STL part with Rasmus because he was a bit of a head case? He was a phenom prospect IIRC, and they traded him for spare parts like bullpen help...which lead to their WS run but that trade was still surprising at the time.
I think it is a combination of things. I think depth is one. I don't want to say quantity over quality as the money they are spending isn't close to good enough for quality. The Astros could also be looking to buy prospects. Teams will have injuries. Astros are basically picking up guys that could be traded later for low level prospects as other teams have needs. Astros also have a lot of wheels moving and having depth at all positions helps in that regard.
I absolutely love what Luhnow and Company is doing! You guys need to look at these moves by the numbers and not by the names. The Astros have quietly put together a top 5 line-up in baseball. Now that we have a manager that shares Luhnows vision, see below for the new line-ups and then how we rank vs 2014 team stats. VS RIGHT SP AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B - R - Altuve .287 .324 .372 .697 3B - L - Valbuena .237 .339 .423 .750 RF - R - Springer .242 .317 .493 .811 DH - R - Carter .220 .399 .464 .762 SS - S - Lowrie .250 .323 .401 .724 LF - R - Gattis .241 .297 .469 .766 C - L - Castro .256 .334 .428 .762 CF - L - Rasmus .257 .327 .465 .788 1B - L - Singleton .142 .267 .292 .559 VS Left SP AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B - R - Altuve .347 .385 .482 .866 SS - S - Lowrie .283 .345 .431 .776 RF - R - Springer .194 .385 .389 .774 LF - R - Gattis .295 .328 .548 .876 DH - R - Carter .227 .343 .450 .793 1B - L - Singleton .247 .337 .468 .805 3B - R - Dominguez .247 .284 .384 .667 C - S - Conger .250 .344 .286 .629 CF - R - Marisnick .272 .310 .309 .619 Last year we played 115 games vs RHP and 47 vs LHP. Assuming the same in 2015 this would average out to: AVG .244 (ranked 21 in MLB and 11 in AL) OBP .322 (ranked 7 in MLB and 4 in AL) SLG .421 (ranked 4 in MLB and 3 in AL) OPS .741 (ranked 3 in MLB and 2 in AL) HR 201 (ranked 2 in MLB and 2 in AL) Also remember, that these number do not take into account any improvement from Singleton and Springer. It's time to start getting excited Astros fans!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>hear theres agreement with astros and rasmus. expected to be for 1 year once finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26">@MarkBermanFox26</a> reported physical.</p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/557635758836953088">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I’ll admit some surprise Astros went after another outfielder. Rasmus appealing though because LH bat… gives em options.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/557633418495025152">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Have to wonder now how often Astros think Gattis could play left field, or how much they’d want him to</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/557633585457664002">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>And if true that the Astros don’t want Gattis in the outfield, goes back to point I made other day. Carter, Gattis, Singleton have 2 spots</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/557633968615739394">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Enthusiastically optimistic about the season. But to play devil's advocate, if Altuve reverts back to 2013, and McHugh and Keuchel do as well, then we're in for a long, long year, unless several other guys have breakout years. No matter what, as a DirecTV subscriber, at least I'll be able to watch it all, good or bad.
too many hacks results in a lack of baseball fundamentals (moving runners over, etc..) boom or bust baseball is not fun to watch.
