It’s make or break for McCormick. I defended him because his playing time was sporadic, but this year is different. He better hit in April. He didn’t last year and then he got hurt and then he was a yo-yo the rest of the season. At some point, regardless of the situation, he needed to start hitting and he never did. He looked awful in a ton of at bats and just never got it going. I am with everyone else now in that he just has to hit from start to finish this year while staying healthy. He has a great opportunity to help a team that really needs his help. To hell with him if he flounders again. It’s put up or shut up. No excuses left for Chas. He has to have a really good year to keep him
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/projecting-2025s-biggest-bounce-back-candidates/ Article about bounceback candidates that illustrates just how disappointing McCormick was last season. He had the 5th largest negative gap between projected OPS+ and actual in the entire league.
McCormick was projected for a 114 OPS+, posted a 66. Meyers was not mentioned in the article so I don’t know, but he didn’t miss by nearly as much; he wasn’t expected to be as good as McCormick and he didn’t suck as bad.
He is projected to raise his ops+ 69% over last season (from 66 to 100). Although I suspect that if all he does is hit for exactly league average he won’t be playing much (or even on the team) by midseason.
He needs to go back to Good Chas, or like you said he's basically mediocre/worthless. I'd give him 2+ months unless he's a total disaster.
The season Chas had last year was so strange. Almost 1200 PA spread out over 3 seasons with a .786 OPS, that's not a small sample. There were no red flags in his profile suggesting he was grossly overachieving either. One could have reasonably thought he wouldn't repeat his 2023 numbers, but the complete train wreck came out of nowhere. Meyers is what he is at this point. He's a very valuable player if you can give him 60-70 well placed starts, and some late game sub opportunities. If we have to give him 500 PA again this season that would be...not great.
Stros have legitimate chsnce to roll to 162 wins..then beat LA! Our pitchers won't give up a run. Maybe no hits as well. Stoked for 2025! Beat LA!
It is weird. He was extremely homer prone so maybe the data shows that’s going to continue. Because his velo and k/bb rates make him look like a solid arm.
In that case, I guess they could also do a lot worse with a legit, lights out, shut down closer who doesn't cave, crack, or create more problems / PAs (for what should/nt be the last 3 batters of our offense in the bottom of the 9th, at home...) Oh, wait.
