Lance McCullers

Lorenzen was just an example, there were other guys out there.

 

Fun Fact: Lorenzen's teams are 6-14 in his starts. The Astros are 7-13 in Arrighetti's.

 

It's not about the example.

It's about the situation.

There are several pitchers looking for work. Eric Lauer just went to Korea after the Astros left in AAA for half a season.

The issue is that it takes 2 to tango.

The Astros rotation was expected to be set + extras waiting in Sugar Land for an opportunity.

Any FA pitcher would consider that when deciding which team to sign with.

Eventually as you go down the list you will get to a guy with fewer options and who will choose the Astros, but would he he worth the money? Would he he better than the Astros 6th or 7th options?

If the Astros went after a FA pitcher this offseason, they were stuck with either:

Expensive guys who were hands down better Urquidy. Those guys break the bank and cause budget issues
or
Guys who didn't have offers where they were likely to win a rotation spot. Those guys aren't any better than France or Artighetti.

 

Kyle Tucker - Fractured Leg or Broken Leg, probably needs Surgery.

Justin Verlander - Neck, making rehab, won't be the same High 97 power pitcher.

Cristian Javier - TJ - Out for Season and Next Season
Lance McCullers Jr. - TJ - Out for Season
Luis Garcia - TJ - Setback maybe Out for Season
JP France - Shoulder - Out for Season
Jose Urquidy - Shoulder- TJ - Out for Season

Astros need to trade or Promote Pitchers to the Astros. This group I think are close to finished.

Tommy John and 2nd Injuries to Forearm.

Justin Verlander, Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia maybe comeback into Form.

McCullers, Urquidy, France I don't think can be Starters.

 

There were other options out there and you cant convince me that Brown couldn't have added a guy, but he chose to sign Caratini who may play 50 games this year.

 

Wait, what? What other backup C would you have preferred?

 

I would have spent the money on a SP and used Salazar as the backup.

 

Nobody thought Salazar was a viable backup in the offseason.

He he had a .634 OPS in the PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE !! That's a 72 wRC+

He also had -0.2 bWAR in his 19 PAs on the Astros. That's -2.6 bWAR over 250 PAs as a backup catcher.

And Diaz never being the #1 before?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

I called for Dana to sign a cheap Sandy Leon type catcher at the time since the backup catcher only plays 50-60 games a year. Although Caratini should be playing more.

 

Tell me time and place place homie

 

I had crabs for dinner yesterday.

 

Yes, yes, I remember. I had the lasagna.

 

Myth.

 

He's not going to be ready...for the season.

 

Mccullers or Tupac comes back first?

 

How is somebody throwing from the mound in January not going to be ready for opening day?

 

They already know

 

Even the front office knows what's up. They probably told Lance to focus on his coffee shop and get a real job.