That was my kind of game - pitching and defense. To me there's nothing more exciting than a 1-0 game. Glad we got some insurance in the 9th though, even though Hader didn't need it. Great to see Walker showing some signs of life lately. And so happy for LMJ. Pirates or no Pirates, that was a great outing.
This team really feels like it has something that has been missing the last 2 years. Can't put my finger on it, and maybe its not something that can get touched or defined. But I am truly excited and hopeful. Now Dana needs to ditch Rodgers and get a LH middle infield bat for the bench, and a MOR-BOR SP who can eat innings and take some pressure off of these kids. I'm good with Dubon playing 2b 50% and Altuve and this new LH bat sharing the other 50%. Let Melton play LF when Altuve or Yordan aren't, and 1 start per week in each of CF and RF vs a tough RH pitcher.
Before the season, Skenes vs McCullers, who is going to win a 3-0 game and who will win the game?!?!?!? LMJ last outing 12K, forget trade deadline we found pitcher #3 (#1 Hunter, #2 Framber). With Arrighetti and C.Javier returning 2nd half.
Honestly, and most would get mad and disagree, I do think something was off in ‘23 and ‘24. It felt like the team was in cruise mode and that key players seemed to carry a weird, flatline demeanor into every game. Seemed like the joy was gone. The players seem to have more life this year. More passion.
Melton needs to play every day or be in the minors. He’s too good of a prospect to play <80% of the time. My plan would be to move Altuve back to 2B except when Framber is on the mound or when the opposing SP is a lefty. In any game Houston leads after 6, Altuve can move to LF with Dubon coming in as a defensive sub. So the lineup when Alvarez is healthy would be: SS Pena 3B Paredes DH Alvarez 2B/LF Altuve 1B Walker C Diaz/Caratini RF Smith CF Meyers LF/2B Melton/Dubon Dubon hits lefties well so he makes sense as a de facto platoon mate with Melton anyway.
I'm back to thinking we should ride Altuve at 2B more. I think he's more comfortable there. I think his defense is slightly better at 2B. And I think finding a good lefty bat in LF is easier than finding the same at 2B, which is a weaker offensive position generally around the league.
I wouldn’t expect anything from Javier. While I love Lance we all know he could go down at any point.
He looks so much more comfortable, when he is in left it seems every hit and I am holding my breath. Just based on his size he makes me nervous playing LF and that's not a knock on him, let Melton play Left and end this experiment
Reverse ACG is equivalent to the Joker in the deck (or Ace of Spades if you aint wild like that), the Wild Draw 4 card in Uno, Frogger (OG game), and the Ark of the Covenant. Gives outsourcing fracking a whole new vibe.
I am absolutely on board with playing Altuve more at 2b. He has been energized and his play shows it. His metrics at 2b are the best they have been in years. However, after asking him to move to LF, all the work he has put in, and the very real possibility that he will regress back at 2b and need to be put back in LF in the future anyway, I do not see them giving up and taking him out of LF.
the youth has taken over. Pena, Hunter, Yainer, Meyers, Paredes and Cam to some extent. they are playing with more energy and fire. more hustle. yes, the offense is a lot left to be desired but you can't disregard the amount of comeback wins they have put up.
I love the "heart and grit" stuff too but I think this team is performing well because the pitching staff has stepped way way up. Bullpen is already at 4 bWAR and all of last year they had less than 6. Brown and Framber both on pace to be >5, which is All-Star level. Haven't had a SP hit that level since JV's last Cy. The elite pitching has given us a chance to come back in low scoring games.
