Is that still a thing? I thought the Astros lost it when Luhnow was fired, and luckily the Astros hadn't needed to find it.
People hating on Lance McCullers is wild to me. Dude won two rings here while having huge post season performances. He pitched hurt in in the 2018 post season to help the team and has worked his ass off trying to get healthy.
Espada is basically saying at this point that Dezenzo is the everyday RF. Dana Brown is leaving it up to Espada but I'm thinking when Cam Smith made the opening day roster it wasn't to be a bench player. Dezenzo has been okay overall but the upside is with Smith. Just don't understand the approach with the outfield at this point. They've won the last 2 series so that's the most important thing but the handling of Smith is something to pay attention to.
Yea there is no reason for Cam to stay on the team if Joe isn't going to play him Hitting major league pitching is hard enough when you are getting consistent run, even harder when you aren't. That's why great pinch hitters are almost always veterans. Cam has basically played 50% of the games over the past 3 weeks. Too much Caratini too. He had that huge game last week when Cincy was throttling our ass, but take that one game out and he is barely over the mendoza line. That's our DH Oh well, Hunter shouldn't need more than 2 runs anyway Fk the rangers
I don't think it is so much Cam vs Dezenzo. Our best lineup with the most upside has both of them in it and Altuve back at 2B. Or at DH right now with Yordan out.
Corbin and Mahle are due for regression, especially Corbin. They’re relying on Eovaldi and DeGrom to stay healthy and I’m not sure you can bank on that all season.
I agree it's room to play both Smith and Dezenzo especially with Yordan out but Espada is saying that Smith is not going to play everyday that's why I'm assuming Dezenzo has moved ahead of Smith. Why else is Smith increasingly on the bench not getting playing time and Dezenzo is playing more than Smith in recent times even with Yordan hurt.
Maybe that's the best lineup but defense counts too, so that isn't always the best team. With Hunter Brown starting, there is no way the best starting 9 includes Altuve at 2b. With Alvarez injured, there is no reason Smith, Dezenzo, and Altuve can't start every game AND Dubon or Rodgers play 2b when Hunter or Framber are starting ( Lance is an extreme ground ball pitchers, too, if he ever gets right). Altuve can play 2b when Blanco, Arrighetti, or any of the new guys ( not here in 2024) start. Just not more than 1-2 starts per week.
Fully agree until Yordan comes back. Not only that, but it gets Altuve off his feet a lot early in the season, which could be beneficial down the stretch
I don’t think anyone is “hating on McCullers” here. Everyone would love for him to pitch decent enough and stay healthy the rest of this year and next to stay in the rotation. The drop in velocity and his stuff in general his first two starts is worrisome though. I think it’s fair to question whether his days of being even a #4/5 on this staff are over. He never had great control - if his stuff isn’t good enough to get guys out without hitting corners that’s going to be an issue.
At what point do we need to have the Jose Altuve conversation? I don't want to have it....but I think we can put it off only so long.
What conversation are you referring to? The you are no longer at 2b conversation? Done The you are no longer at leadoff hitter? Done ( even if he initiated it) The you are no longer an everyday player? Doesn't matter until the team has 9 better players. AND until Espada is willing to actually play the better players. Unfortunately Altuve is aging before our eyes and still has over 4 1/2 yrs on his contract. He will still play quite a bit throughout that time.
