Career ops vs lefties: Rodgers .842, Guillorme .543 Career ops vs righties: Rodgers .677, Guillorme .690 To me this sets up nicely with Rodgers being the “everyday” 2B and Guillorme playing 2 games a week against a RHSP. Guillorme can also spot Pena against a RHSP once a week. The real open question is who plays RF: Dezenzo Smith McCormick (with some Gamel mixed in against righties) I’m ready to say Whitcomb and Singleton are out of the mix for the opening day roster. LF Altuve 3B Paredes DH Alvarez 1B Walker C Diaz RF Dezenzo/Gamel/Smith 2B Rodgers SS Pena CF Meyers Bench: Dubon, Caratini, McCormick, Guillorme
Altuve needs go call up John Cangelosi and spend some time with him on how to handle the outfield as a dwarf. He also needs to get one of those Cangelosi mitts. He wouldn’t need to jump with a Cangelosi special glove.
It wouldn't hurt to spend some time watching film of Astros center fielder (in the Dome's huge ass outfield) Jimmy Wynn " the toy cannon" either.
Juden was what, 6'9? Whitley's 6'7? Cangelosi kicked Juden's ass, we should set up an Altuve vs Whitley
Very excited about Baseball coming back in less than 2 weeks, but man I am nervous about Altuve, this is year 1 in a 5-year extension and he really doesn't have a position where we can claim he is serviceable. It's very early and it's a small sample size but I am not sure LF will work, he can't necessarily DH because Yordan needs rest on those knees. As long as Altuve can stay above .800 OPS then I am fine but once he cant keep that up I will be very worried on what they do......................not gonna panic, and we will all bend over backwards to make the best of it, but I will say this could end badly
Astros probably have the best lineup in the league against lefties, but for now they project to be 2 bats short of a good lineup against righties.
I firmly believe that Altuve would skin Whitley alive - Whitley can't even play through a knee bruise and Altuve has quietly played for years through bone on bone in his knees and hip issues.
I'm not worried unless Altuve stops hitting. He will be serviceable in left field for a while. He reads the ball well and gets a good jump. He's only going to get better.
I don't see enough of a difference against right handers to platoon them. Rodgers should be full-time unless he shows that he can only hit at altitude. Signs show that what he says is correct and he will hit better now that he doesn't have to hit differently all the time based on the park.
Well when you consider that Rodgers’ ops numbers are inflated due to Coors Field, it’s a little more meaningful. Rodgers wRC+ (which is park adjusted) against RHP is 72; Guillorme’s is 98. That’s the difference between a terrible hitter and an average hitter.
I like Dubon for the vibes and chemistry but the better Rodgers. Guillorme, and Dezenzo play, the more expendable he becomes.
Dubon needs to figure out how to use his new big boy body. He has not looked good at the plate so far.
Those are AAAA numbers at best. 1 in 3 chance Rodgers makes the team. 1 in 3 chance Rodgers takes a Astros AAA/AA assignment. 1 in 3 chance Rodgers goes elsewhere.
It would be sweet if by June 1 the bottom of the Astros lineup was all stud rookies: RF Dezenzo/Smith 2B Matthews/Whitcomb CF Melton
Unless Rodgers bombs out the rest of camp, I would take the chance on him as the near everyday 2B. There probably isn't anything to the away from Colorado improvement we're hoping for and he'll fail, but I would do it all the same. He at least presents some upside as an impactful player. Guillorme/Dubon, they could probably tread water as a passable duo, maybe even decent, but they are what they are and I don't really want to settle for that in April. We could always acquire a player at that level very cheap in season if all else fails. Hopefully Matthews lays claim by midseason.
Using FanGraphs's Active Roster button, the Astros current roster was 2nd best against LHPs and 10th best vs RHPs last season.
The Mariners caught lightning in a bottle last year with Victor Robles, a former top prospect himself. Even if it’s not likely, it’s worth the gamble to give Rodgers a month and see if we can’t do the same with him. Going with Dubon and Guillorme has absolutely zero upside.
