Glen “Feets don’t fail me now” Barker.
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Thanks. I suspected you would know.
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Carr was “Chuckie be hackin’” re a 3-0 pitch.
I think.
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Yes sir, that was Carr.
Yeah, I knew it was Carr but was not sure if I had quoted his words correctly.
That ain’t Chuckie’s game. I think Garner shipped him out the same day.
As for current/recent players, maybe Billy Hamilton is a good comp?
I would be happy if he could duplicate that career.
1-3 WAR for each of the 5 yrs he was an everyday starter with very good defense.
The downside is only 1 season with an OB% over .300 but scouts have reported that Myles should take more walks.
Not a star but not negative.
With the other bats in the lineup that should be enough to stay a contender.
Yeah, I think a healthy Alvarez is the most important factor. He’s a special bat that changes everything.
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IF the roster is completed for opening day, and therefore likely until close to the trade deadline:
Just looking at position players.
Infield/catching is set:
C) Maldonado, Castro
1b) Gurriel, Toro
2b) Altuve, Diaz
3b) Bregman, Toro
SS) Correa, Bregman
DH) Alvarez, ( everyone)
Assuming a 26 man roster with 13 position players that leaves 4 spots for the outfield.
Brantley and Tucker are guaranteed spots and start at the corners. Diaz and ( Hopefully ) Alvarez can fill
Outside of surprise spring training invitees, that leaves a starting CF, and backup CF
2 spots left for starting CF, backup CF, and backup RF.
Candidates are: Straw, McCormick, and Taylor Jones.
Straw and McCormick are it. They have similar skills with McCormick having a bit more power and Straw a bit more speed. They should battle for starting CF but both make the team.
Jones just doesn’t have the needed skill set
I would love to coach a guy like Straw at the HS level. Oh, wait! I did.
He would bat leadoff, and in a perfect world, he would accept my plan for him to get a lot of walks. He would take as much pride in a walk as a hit, and he would take a lot of pitches, many takes mandated by me. I will not bore you with more of my stories, but I had guys like that 2-3 years in Brenham and at Mac, and there is no doubt buying into this system (taught to me by Cliff Gustafson) helped us win and made them better players.
Straw likely is too much “I am a professional” to become a “walk first, then hit” leadoff guy, but if he goes up there free-swinging, he will hit .200 and go back to the bench.
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The 2019 version of Straw would be very successful with this approach. I imagine most teams would happily take .269/.378/.343 and 19BB/24K ratio out of the leadoff spot, and once pitchers inevitably adjust and start challenging him his 91.1% contact rate in the zone would be fairly top-tier. Tough to project that out over a whole season, though.
If Straw can figure out a way to walk more and strikeout less, taking an approach like Jim suggested, Myles could be an impact player and really extend his career if he can also stay healthy. Comparable to a Brett Butler type. He seems to be blessed with a lot of raw athletic ability. He has made some bad routes and a couple of bad/wrong throws but he has yet to be charged with an error.
Where did the idea that Straw won’t take a walk come from?
In 2020, the mlb average was 9.2% of plate appearances.
Straw has so far averaged 10.7% in his short mlb career and averaged 12.5% in the minors.
If he can just maintain that 10.7% and get 600 PA
He has >.300 Ob% even if he hits .220
He only needs to hit .272 to have .350 OB%
That’s plenty good enough with the other bats that Houston has.
Nobody said he doesn’t take walks.
However, as a leadoff hitter, going up and looking to take MORE walks and swing at less pitches/get on base more is ideal.
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I’d actually like him to be more aggressive at times. I know he’s not Springer, so you don’t want that, but when he gets a good pitch to hit, I’d like to see him hit it.
This is exactly what I was going to say. Thank you.
If I get to coach him with my approach, I want you to stay away from him. If he disciplines himself to take more walks and to swing only at strikes when he is not required to take the pitch, he will hit it and hard.
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Ok. I promise not to give him any advice.
Ha!
I know this idea really doesn’t work…1) because it’s not a primary need (RE: CF and the pen); and 2) because we probably don’t have the finances left to get it done, but if we could indeed live with Straw in CF, and roll with a pen that’s already quite a bit better than the one that got us to the ALCS…who here would be willing to take a shot on Paxton? We could send Javier back down to AAA for seasoning until the first injury strikes. I know he can’t stay on the field, but when he’s right, he’s damn good. I can’t believe he’s still out there.