One idea i really like is having Whitley come up and be closer if Giles doesn’t fix his location issues, similar too the 2006 use of Adam Wainwright in his rookie year. He could slot into the back of the Astros rotation and the Astros can save the prospects now for a closer and non-tender McHugh next season and save 5 mil of payroll with a better, much cheaper upgrade. Also probably allows Musgrove, Feliz/Martes, Hoyt, Paulino, etc to be shopped for a deadline deal or something next winter.
I rather have Whitley come up and be the AL Cy Young winner. Maybe bat him cleanup to see if he has got a little Babe Ruth in him.
If memory serves, Wainwright was effectively just the closer in the postseason after Isringhausen got injured just before playoffs. While Whitley the setup man similar to Wainwright the setup isn't going to happen, Whitley the postseason closer similar to Wainwright the closer may happen if Whitley is as effective as Wainwright in the postseason. Considering the Cards won the Series that year, World Series Champ may be a nice consolation prize to the Cy Young and having him bat cleanup.
The Astros will have a windfall available for next season only - the $50m MBAM sale money and the $60-$90m from winning the WS. The Astros probably have a lot of that ear-marked for one-time expenditures like purchasing a share of the Round Rock Express, fixing the multitude of construction issues relating from the Spring Training facility in West Palm, farm system improvements, expanding scouting into the Asia-Pacific, purchasing a team in Mexico & a golf-course resort. But they also have enough money for a year of a big time free agent, like Yu Darvish. I say one-year because the Astros can't count on winning the WS next year. I suspect that extension negotiation is ongoing for Dallas Keuchel. And if those negotiations fail, the windfall means that the Astros can afford a year of a big ticket pitcher like Darvish. And they can use the money earmarked for paying Keuchel in 2019 & beyond for Darvish. So if Keuchel signs an extension, don't expect Darvish in an Astros' uniform in 2018. But if Keuchel doesn't sign an extension he may be in one.
He’s too stubborn and obsessed with his curve. It is nasty, though. Hopefully, he expands for when he hits endurance walls.
Don't understand this. He can't throw his change up consistently and his fastball sucks when guys can sit on it. His curve is so nasty, batters still sit fastball. Unless he improves his change up, he may need to throw more curves to get batters off his fastball.
I said that more for his arm endurance. He seemed to have done extremely well starting the game, then after a certain inning or pitch count, it was a complete 180. This pattern started after his injury, so maybe that’s the reason.There were a couple of times he shook off other pitches despite being hit. His curve is nasty. I’m just saying he might need to expand more to be considered for the cy. Maybe all he needs is that change up.
Cubs, Indians and Dodgers have spread themselves so thin in the effort to shed payroll and get under the luxury tax. Cubs rushed and spent a ton on Chatwood before the market really set itself and could have retained Wade Davis for the same money if they remained patient. Now they seem to be letting Arrieta walk. Load up the Rockies, Giants, Pads and Dbags.
A FB with a wrinkle, a cutter or sinker or somesuch, would do him wonders. Something he can use to mix it up when one of the others isn't working.
Cutter would be great. Just as he is today, he is a great pitcher throwing his curve a lot. I don't think he will improve his endurance unless his pitches become so effective that he can tone down the effort. Improving the pen seems the easiest way to keep him healthiest. If he can improve his pitches (not just toying with mix), that would be tbe best option. Some pitchers can do that. Some can't.
13 members of the current projected 2018 opening day 25 man roster will reach free agency by 2019: 2018: Keuchel, Morton, McCann, Marwin, Gattis, Sipp 2019: Altuve, Verlander, McHugh, Peacock, Harris, Rondon, Smith My 2 takeaways from that are: If Houston doesn’t do something significant and/or get some really good luck with their prospects, the championship window probably starts to close after next season. It’s not surprising at all that Luhnow is looking to find long term solutions at C and SP. A couple of moves like signing Darvish for 5 years and trading for Realmuto would be huge for extending the window.
Meh... out of all of those guys, really only Altuve is expected to have true prime/high WAR years beyond 2019 at this point. Verlander may be an ageless wonder, like Clemens... without the PED's. I have my doubts about how effective or healthy Keuchel is going to be each and every year from now on. I do agree, however, that they're trying to add as much as they can now... to supplement Altuve/Correa/Springer/Bregman while they're all cheap. It would be a foolish decision not to.
