I’d be more worried about the types of injuries (with increased recovery time) that happen in year 15 of any professional athlete… If he’s healthy, he’ll warrant enough production at the plate to be in the lineup… but if it’s not good enough to off-set the questionable defense, then playing time will be reduced. He played too much last year, for sure.
His offense, while still decent, took a fairly sizable hit last year. Maybe he can stabilize at last years .790ish OPS for a couple of seasons before further decline continues. Hopefully.
We’ve got 6 guys that all project to be at a minimum league average regulars, probably 7 if Jake plays every day bc of his defense. It’s not a problem that we have 2 spots that are up in the air with a lot of interesting options to fill them.
Focusing solely on offensive production. I also hope you’re not talking about these 6… I’d also like at least one of them to be above average… when the fear is that they may all be below average (either due to youth or being who they are or once teams adjust to the adjustments).
Diqz Diaz, Walker, Pena, Paredes, Yordan, Altuve, Meyers. If you write those 7 guys in the lineup every day you will get somewhere between 2 War and 6 war from every single one of them. 2 War is league average regular. So- that really only leaves 2 spots to fill with the contenders being cam, ZD, Rodgers, chas, melton or whitcomb, or Mathews. That seems like a healthy dynamism. If the other guys all mash then Jake doesn’t need to hit. If they don’t then Chad or Melton have a shot at lots of playing time.
got it. Still not sure how Cam, ZDZ, Dubon are getting 400+AB’s, along with Melton 250+… along with answering about Chas, Caratini (who will probably play some first as well), and Rodgers…. Unless we’re just automatically penciling in a half-season or lengthy injury time to multiple of those top 6.
He is a bench bat and fills that need nicely. He will get two or three starts a week but most days he will probably get a single plate appearance per game.
His low defensive value and a pretty full roster. I think he will be very valuable in that role but not more than the regular position players he would have to replace to get more time.
25 Astros Relative Strength by Position Catcher, Diaz, Defense -Avg, Offense Avg++ 1st base, Walker, Defense Avg++, Offense Avg+ 2nd base, Rodgers, Defense Avg+ , Offense Avg Short Stop, Pena, Defense Avg++, Offense Avg+ 3rd base, Parades, Defense Avg, Offense Avg++ DH, Alvarez, Defense N/A, Offense Avg++ RF, Smith, Defense Avg, Offense Avg CF, Meyers, Defense Avg++, Offense -Avg LF. Altuve, Defense --Avg, Offense Avg+ I may be a little more optimistic than many are but I really do not think this is too far off.
I hope Chas getting sporadic at bats mbe a Diaz is a good defensive catcher and will continue to improve. Has a good arm too.
One nice stat is that he has zero passed balls in his career so far. He has room to improve his defense, dont get me wrong, but it’s not a liability at all.
For Dezenzo it’s simple. If he hits - he plays and getting at bats won’t be an issue. He is a solid defensive outfielder and can play first well.
Not sure how this compares to previous years but I feel like Houston has one of its youngest teams in years. 8 guys are 26 or younger and probably not quite in their prime yet: Smith, Paredes, Diaz, Brown, Arrighetti, Dezenzo, and Gusto And only 5 guys are 32 or older and likely past their prime: Altuve, Walker, Scott, Okert, and Montero
I have been thinking about this and want to do a deep dive but haven't taken the time. I will say, I need stats to back it up and may be completely wrong but I think position players and pitchers age differently. I think position players may hit prime about 26 and start slowing down about 32 or 33 while pitchers hit their prime about 28 and start slowing down at 34 or 35. Like I said, I may be totally off.
I really think he belongs where he is. But if he has to have a position of his own left field is where I think he could do the most good.
Let's say Altuve, Cam, Walker and Yordan all get one day off per week, that's 4 starts per week for Dezenzo. Dubon covers the paredes, pena and Rodgers days off. Chas covers center on Jake's days off as well as being a defensive replacement in left. I could see Altuve getting multiple days off in some weeks. I think they are really going to manage his time conservatively this year to the point where it may even appear to be closer to a platoon with Altuve and Dezenzo.
