That seems like a very small sample size for each of those guys (3 or 4 starts to end the season). Unless you think each of them made significant strides between August and September of this year, it's better to look to season long numbers than just the final month of the season. When major league rosters have expanded and many noncompetitive minor league teams are just waiting to finish their seasons in the final few weeks, numbers may skew.
I would be fine with either or both of Meyers and Chas being gone, but they must be replaced by someone better. One of the problems with being good, not very good is there are more players out there that are worse, than are better. Chas had a rough year but has still averaged 2.9 fWAR per 500 ABs in his career. Meyers may win a gold glove, was great vs left handed pitching, and had a 2.0 fWAR season (2.2 if 500 ABs) Both of those guys are just good enough to be hard to improve upon. As for the guys they developed, they had their moments and it was a small sample size of inconsistent opportunities. They are the future and should be given a chance before being written off. They just can't be among the top 6-7 hitters on the team.
I agree that the Astros lacked balance in their line up. Brown went after BOTH pitching and hitting and intended to add hitting. The problem is that there wasn't much there - he spent the day of the deadline trying to add a bat or two. Perhaps he should have gotten Arozerena - but he was trying to get Paredes and then the Rays 1st baseman... it just did not happen. If there is any criticism of Brown - it is the same I have with the Dodgers, Yankees and Orioles - Brown didn't get the bat in the Winter because he believed there would be enough bats for him to get one at the deadline and there really wasn't.
I disagree with this post. Brown needs to keep the starting pitching as is, minus JV and add a couple of hitters through fa and another through trade. If Dana can't add 2 bats in fa then he needs to add 2 bats through trade. Even f that means trading Framber. If Dana trades Framber then bringing back Kikuchi is a must. IMHO There can be no sacred cows this off-season.
You just proved that Dana has enough SP to trade for a couple of bats and still have good depth. Trading for a couple of bats doesn't mean you have to gut the pitching in the minors. Especially since they have Brito, Pecko, Fleury etc... down in AA
I hope the Astros aren’t going into next years post season with France as one of their top 4 starters. France did an admirable job when injuries hit in 2023, but he tailed off significantly in the second half. His FIP is nearly a run higher than his ERA and he had a WHIP over 1.35. He was likely over-performing in the first half. He also went the wrong way in 2024, but I recognize he was probably pitching through injury.
For everybody but Kouba it’s a full month sample. It’s not definitive but it’s a meaningful sample, as pitcher stats go. Reality is that pitchers in the minors are so frequently tinkering with their usage and working on weaknesses and dealing with injuries that it’s hard to draw much more from a full season than it is a handful of consecutive starts.
I can tell you this, if they don't upgrade from Chas, Meyers they won't win another WS. You need solid bats throughout the lineup. If Dana was able to trade for Lowe and Robert, then maybe you could live with a platoon of Chas and Gamel in LF. I wont be happy with this, but I would understand the thought process. To me Chas arb money saved is worth more than Chas the player.
If I were to bet, my money would be on Houston signing one free agent bat and trading for another using upper level pitching prospects. Also, I would actually place the odds higher on Arrighetti getting traded this offseason than I would Melton or Matthews.
For the record, I agree with you about need deeper lineup. During the Golden era 2017-2024: Every time they have had 5+ of their top 10 (by PAs) get 125 or better OPS+ they made it to the W.S. 2017: 6 2018: 2 2019: 7 2020: 2 2021: 5 2022: 5 2023: 3 2024: 3 Since we don't know what OPS will translate to OPS+ in 2025, let's use 2024 levels. 700=100, 734=110, 785=125 2025 Fangraphs projections: Diaz= .757 (117) Singleton = .705 (102) Altuve = .786 (125) Pena= .684 (95) Dubon= .681 (94) McCormick= .760 (118) Meyers= .708 (102) Tucker= .842 (142) Alvarez= .968 (179) Caratini= .642 (83) Dezenzo= .657 (87) Whitcomb= .668 (91) Cabbage= .724 (107) I'm pretty sure these are a bit outdated and there will be some adjustment once 2024 results are factored in. For example, I expect Tucker will be higher and McCormick and Cabbage lower. But it does really show that this team needs better hitters from the #4/5-7 spots.
Pitching was not a strength before the Kikuchi trade... we essentially had 2 solid arms (Hunter and Framber), one erratic arm (Arrighetti), one hitting a wall (Blanco), and The 2004 (hitting heavy) and 2005 (pitching heavy) teams say hello.
I’m shocked we didn’t pick Yuli up off waivers simply for his presence. I think it would have given a spark to guys like Altuve and Yordan and think Yuli would have provided clutch ABs when we needed it
Yuli has contributed in every post-season game for the Royals so far. He always shows up in the post-season, even when he struggles during the regular season. No different from 2022.
I always had confidence in him in the playoffs. You just knew he was gonna put up good ABs. Great glove at 1B as well
