Agreed on his role, but lack of control goes to the pen because they can't go deep in games and can always be replaced quicker. Goes hand and hand with lack of 3rd pitch as they often don't really focus on it as much for those guys (most throw heat Fiers can't touch). Fiers probably gets dealt in the offseason. With Keuchel, LMJ, Verlander, Morton, & McHugh under contract, he doesn't really have a spot. I'm also willing to bet he complains publicly about not being on the postseason roster. He may even get non-tendered if they can't find a taker. Barring rest/injury I feel pretty confident he has made his last start as an Astro.
I don't imagine it would be a 1st. The 2004 Angels had only one relief appearance by a LHP, and they won the AL West. The only LHP on their roster was Jarrod Washburn and he started game 1 (though he came on in relief in game 3 and gave up the series ending HR to David Ortiz, the only batter he faced). On one hand they need a LHP in the bullpen for the situation, on the other it showed it is silly to use a LHP just because you are facing a LHB. A terrible LHP isn't a better option than a good RHP.
He may indeed, but his case is non-existent. Among starters including Peacock, he is last in ERA, WHIP, WAR, HR's, BB's, Losses.... Its hard to find an area he is NOT last in.
They didn't have one on the roster. They had one appearance the entire 162 game season by a lefty reliever. They didn't have a LHR on their postseason roster.
Amount of tattoos. (I stole this from a joke I saw where the tv put tattoos as a characteristic so mcgregor would have more of something than mayweather)
I was just curious how rare it was. But I agree that having a (several) RHR that can get lefties out seems more important than which side of the mound he (they) throws from.
It's all the rage now to slag on Mike Fiers. I come not to bury him but to praise him. Mike Fiers carried this team through the month of June and much of July. While all the other pitchers took their breakations, Mike took the ball every 5th start and pitched like a Pitcher of the Month during that crucial stretch. Guy never missed a start and did his damn job the best he could. This is not an argument for him to be on the playoff roster. He should not be. This is just giving the guy some respect that he earned. He's not a great pitcher. His shortcomings are well known. But if the Astros win the World Series in 2017, Mike Fiers will have earned every bit of that ring and played his crucial role in helping the team reach that goal. Mike Fiers. I put some respeck on your name.
IP, starts, & Ks he is first, so there is that. His poor performance at times speak for itself, but I'm sure he's still to full of pride not to be upset by it. Happened to Colby Lewis a couple years ago and he was pissed. Extremely rare to be sure. I think we will carry one (no way they've 100% changed their minds on Liriano yet). I'm afraid the team will put him in and it will be a mistake. Maybe we do face a guy that flat out can't hit LHP, but then what happens if they use a PH? They know more than us, but that doesn't mean they don't make bad choices too.
Maybe not 100%, but so far he's making the average batter he faces look better than Altuve. I don't care how thickheaded the Astros are, he just can't keep doing that and end up postseason roster.
