He needs to prove he can do it in the pros before you think of trading Altuve. Bring him up as a utility 2b/OF/DH guy and see how he does. This team needs more OBP guys to do well in the playoffs and less Chris Carter's.
i meant if altuve hits a single, onto first base, then gets to second by stealing, which he has led the team and AL prior to the injury, he is already in scoring position. seal clubber, you've just never liked altuve. I still think he will get more disciplined at the plate.
So ignoring the fact that he only tries to steal a base 25% of the time and that he gets caught about 25% of the time he does try to steal, getting to 2nd base is as valuable as hitting a solo home run?
yes, when you also add he can drive in runs with his 'singles'. everyone seems to be judging him during his month of slumping. if altuve ends hitting .000 like some believe he will, then yes there is no use. But he has earned the benefit of the doubt that he can improve and consistently hit for average. So how about Allan ashby?
Why? Altuve is in his 5th season now, he's not fresh out of the minors. His walk rate hasn't improved, nor is he seeing more pitches. That's kind of my problem with Altuve, I haven't seen him evolve in any way as a hitter and I see no reason to think he's gonna start. I don't dislike Altuve, I just have different expectations of him. I see him as being a very similar player to Jason Castro, in the respect that he had one spectacular season, that wasn't really supported by the metrics. The only significant difference in 2014 for Altuve was a higher BABIP. All of his other numbers were largely in line with the guy that has been a .286 hitter. I don't think he should be gone this year. After his spectacular season last year, he deserves at least a full season to see how he follows it up. I expect Altuve will be closer to his earlier numbers, and that player is replaceable. I could be wrong, I hope I'm wrong.
The HR hitter would drive people in more people too, if there were people on bases to be driven in. It's not like people magically appear on base for Altuve but not Chris Carter. I'm not debating whether Altuve is a good or bad player. I'm debating how a that guy hits a single and maybe steals a base has the same value as a guy who hits a HR.
I think we've sufficiently answered the question posed in this thread -- no, we can not talk about Tony Kemp. We can only talk about Altuve. Even when Kemp makes two highlight reel plays in center.
Agreed. Every single manager of every single team that has ever played baseball would choose a solo home run over a single and a stolen base every single time in an equivalent situation that mattered.
And every single manager would take 2 singles with runners on 2nd and 3rd, 2 outs each time than 1 3-run HR and 1 strikeout in similar situations.
Really? You think they would give up three definite runs for 2 definite runs and maybe more? There are obvious situations they would do that. For example down 4-0 in the 9th, but early in the game, give me the sure three runs every time. Considering that teams that hit .300 with runners in scoring position are doing well, they would only be getting that 3rd run across 30 % of the time over the course of a season.
All this Kemp vs. Altuve talk... Maybe we're missing the target. Maybe we should be talking about Kemp vs. our most unnecessary/replaceable piece: Evan Gattis? There's no rule in place that says the DH has to have HR power, and there's plenty of that up and down the lineup anyway. Gattis doesn't get on base, and doesn't play a position. And we have Singleton in the minors who probably isn't much worse, if at all, with the same offensive skill set. It's unlikely that they'd jettison Gattis after acquiring him so recently, but, under the premise that Kemp is the surefire OBP machine in the majors that lots of you are positive that he will be, I'd rather see a lineup with Altuve and Kemp than Kemp and Gattis.
The debate should be between Marwin and Kemp, especially once Lowrie is healthy. A lineup with Kemp, Altuve, and Gattis is best. If we trade Gattis, I could see a Gattis for a middle of the rotation pitcher straight up. Otherwise, the Astros just need to get Lowrie back so only catcher is a truly bad spot in the lineup.
I don't think one person in this thread said Kemp was a surefire anything. I personally do think theres a good chance he will be a much better OBP guy than Altuve, but Altuve is a proven capable 2B who is coming off a spectacular year, and is the teams most popular player. Moving him now would be a bad idea off the field, and a big risk on the field. Gattis hasn't been good for most of this season, but it's a long season and he is a streaky player. l expect he will get his numbers eventually, but he may not. I imagine they will be extremely patient with him. Dumping Gattis now would be the ultimate sell low move on a guy who had an OPS over .800 last year. If they do decide to move him or Carter, Singleton is definitely the next man up. Barring a significant injury to Altuve or multiple OF's, I just can't see Kemp up this season, particularly once Lowrie is back. If he can effectively cover CF, it certainly does add to his utility value. As is I think he is effectively in purgatory for us right now or a trade chip.
Not really...his value was only a couple decent prospects directly after said season. His value is unlikely to get back to that level, so there isn't a whole lot of room to gain, trade-value-wise.
Theyre doing just fine without him 'catching fire'. How did the Astros do last year when he was 'on fire'. Exactly. It's a team game, every has to contribute to make the playoffs and we will be just fine rather Altuve rediscovers his form or not.
you guys don't understand the Astros' tradition. Altuve is going to be an Astro for life, similar to Biggio. If anyone has the potential to get 3,000 hits within the next 15-20 years, it's Jose. No one is going to replace him.
4 definite runs. Single with runners at 2nd and 3rd is two runs. It happening twice is 4 runs with each time having a guy at first.
So..... We can't talk about Kemp We can talk about Altuve and his "issues" over and over Two guys on pace for 30 HR and 90 RBI don't have a lot of trade value anymore and should be replaced by Singleton, or Kemp himself who we really can't seem to talk about much in the "Kemp" thread Think I got it
He didn't have a ton of trade value last year, when the Braves traded him. It stands to reason that he has even less trade value right now, does it not? Enlighten us. Luis Valbuena is on pace for almost 40 HR's. Surely he could fetch a king's ransom, right?? Your stories...let's tell them in full.
