This team is hanging in the playoff race with smoke and mirrors. The pitching is suddenly looking very good, especially the rotation. The run production is terrible. July was their worst month of the year in BA, OB%, SLG, R/G, and K%. And they are starting August off worse - 4 runs in 3 games. Dana missed a chance to add a bat or 2 at the deadline and it's standing out like a turd in the punch bowl now. I guess the latest report is Tucker probably won't be back until September. The playoff chances could be done by then. This team needs a RH hitter to platoon w/ Singleton at 1b ( or even better an actual starting 1b) and better production in the OF. Dana actually acknowledged the possibility of bringing Whitcomb and/or Dezenzo up. Whitcomb played 1b for the first time in his pro career Saturday. Whitcomb has over 800 AAA PAs and needs to be added to the 40 this winter anyway, so he is the obvious choice to be brought up as long as he can handle 1b. DFA Aledmys Diaz and bring up Whitcomb. Traditional L/R platoon at 1b + let Whitcomb start in LF once per week in LF vs a RHSP. Chas starts all but 2 games per week in LF. Take the 2 toughest RH matchups and give 1 each to Whitcomb and Cabbage. Chas starts 1 game per week in CF, Meyers starts the rest. Leon starts every game in RF. September 1st, bring Dezenzo up. When Tucker returns, the hot players start most games. 1b: Dezenzo, or Whitcomb. If neither has hit RHP then Singleton when one starts. CF: Meyers or Chas whoever has played better. LF: Leon, Chas (if not CF) or Whitcomb (if not 1b) whoever has played best. Dezenzo can start 3b once per week if Bregman continues to struggle, but I can't see any scenario where a healthy Alex sits more than that regardless of production. August: Altuve 2b Bregman 3b Alvarez dh Diaz c Whitcomb 1b Leon rf McCormick lf Meyers cf Pena ss September Altuve 2b Bregman 3b Alvarez dh Tucker rf Diaz c Dezenzo/Whitcomb 1b Leon/Whitcomb/McCormick lf McCormick/Meyers cf Pena ss
The bottom line is that if Aledmys Diaz can't start vs LHSP he is no use on this roster. This team can not continue to let Jon Singleton start vs LHP.
