Yep, the players are out there in trades to be had. Most are on the last year of their deals so the cost shouldn't be sky high. After seeing how Luhnow and Click operated at the trade deadline, Brown has a lot to live up too. On a positive note, Abteu is starting to heat up.
Don't play Montero until you can trust him. Stanek and Martinez aren't playing well but they aren't Montero bad. Montero currently has an ERA almost twice as high as any pitcher we had on our team last season. It's close to 8 right now. Wait until you have a game that you can't win or you have a 4 run lead before you put him in.
I don't accept that Dusty's choices are excusable. No excuse for giving Altuve the day off today. Desperately need a win. He had a day off 2 days ago and will have one tomorrow. Unless he's hurt he must play today. No excuse letting Montero pitch to Smith in the 8th. He had already faced 4 hitters giving up a run and getting the tying run to the plate. If Neris was available he should have started the 8th. But let's just say Dusty needed to give Montero a chance to get some high leverage MOJO back, there's no excuse for giving him that 5th batter and risking the lead. What about the Sunday lineup against Cleveland 2 weeks ago? Altuve had only played 4 games since a day off, Pena had only played 3. Chas had the day before off also. This team is fighting for a playoff spot. If players need days off - fine. But they don't need multiple days off within the same week. At least try to make lineups trying to win. Dusty's decisions are sinking this team as much as the terrible play - and I'm not even mentioning Maldy or Julks.
That was one of the most embarrassing performances I’ve seen from Dusty since he’s been with the team.
Montero has pitched in 33 games. He has pitched 1 inning or less in every one of them. He has had only 5 appearances where he did not allow at least 1 baserunner. He has allowed at least 2 baserunners in 15 of them. He has allowed at least 1 run in 13 of them. He has allowed at least 2 runs in 8 of them. ( he did not allow 2+ runs in any of his first 14, but has in 8 of his last 19 including 3 in a row) I understand that he must be used. Its the nature of a 162 game season and an 8 person bullpen But he should never pitch in a game unless he can give up homeruns to all 3 hitters he's required to face and still not get the tying run to the plate. Or the team is already down 5+ and they are throwing in the towel and saving the leverage arms. And for Heaven's sake- get him out ASAP if he is blowing the game !! Use him when they are up or down by 5 runs in the 6th inning.
As far as I know, the only MLB players traded so far are Escobar and Moustakas, so let's not pretend that the Stros are just sitting around watching the talent go to other teams. I expect **** to start happening in the next couple of weeks, but you can't make someone trade with you.
Montero has pitched in 33 games. He has pitched 1 inning or less in every one of them. He has had only 5 appearances where he did not allow at least 1 baserunner. He has allowed at least 2 baserunners in 15 of them. He has allowed at least 1 run in 13 of them. He has allowed at least 2 runs in 8 of them. ( he did not allow 2+ runs in any of his first 14, but has in 8 of his last 19 including 3 in a row) I understand that he must be used. Its the nature of a 162 game season and an 8 person bullpen But he should never pitch in a game unless he can give up homeruns to all 3 hitters he's required to face and still not get the tying run to the plate. Or the team is already down 5+ and they are throwing in the towel and saving the leverage arms. Use him when they are up or down by 5 runs in the 6th inning. Except he has no options. The Astros can't send him there without his permission unless they DFA him.
Yeah, I know. Put him on the IL for "elbow discomfort" or whatever you'd medically call "general shittery" ("arm fatigue" is a catch-all that can't be disproven, the Dodgers use this all the time) and you can send him wherever you want for a bit.
Agreed, but if you look at his career in totality what he might be trying g to work out is “he’s a shitty pitcher” which is often an impossible fix. I HATED this contract and b****ed incessantly the moment it was handed out, now I’m ready to light someone on fire over it.
That is a concern but 1) I have a very hard time believing it based on recent history. 2) How fragile is Altuve, suddenly, if that is true? What about giving Altuve Sunday the 11th off after playing 4 days in a row. What about Sunday the 18th after playing 5 days in a row? Altuve was activated 38 days ago. He has played 25 games. Altuve is suddenly nicked up every Sunday? He has played 2 Sundays this year and is supposed to be the team leader and EVERY DAY second baseman At some point Dusty needs to put him in the lineup like he does Bregman and Tucker, or failing that, at least start him 90% of the time.
Yeah I was skeptical of that "injury" when it was mentioned. I think it's just to save Dusty some grief from the public. His off day was "pre-determined" just like it was the last couple of times.
