Raley’s platoon splits this season…
Not that it will make a huge difference at this point but I would also note that Raley is out of options.
(I’m not making a huge case for Raley, btw. I do think his hold on a roster spot is fairly tenuous at this point. I just think he’s a slightly better option than others.)
Man, I disagree with the last sentence
Yimi - like the name. Should provide a little help. As long as Raley is in uniform no lead is safe.
Giving up an .847 OPS to 62% of the batters you face is not good enough unless you get the other 38% out 90% of the time.
Is Paredes in the mix?
Raley’s strength and imo the reason the organization believes in him is his top 1% avg exit velo and hard hit %. His fb and curveball spin is elite as well but he can’t seem to put that to use in high leverage situations. I’ve been a Raley defender but I think he’s best used coming in to start an inning than with guys on base in big situations.
Oh, please.
Spin rate, rpm, mph, IQ
Does he get hitters out?
8+ ERA on the road
Raley doesn’t have the stuff and command to consistently get big-league hitters out. His one plus pitch is his sweeping curveball, and he doesn’t consistently command it.
Plus, the Astros’ front office needs to save Dusty Baker from himself. If he wants to use a lefty in a big spot, that’s what Blake Taylor is for.
I need my relievers to be able to come in to any game at any time with runners on or not and just get outs. If the 3 batter minimum wasn’t a thing and I could be sure to only have him face leftys then I would be more than happy to give him a roster spot and he can be my “break glass in case of lefty” guy. But if he is gonna be on my team in October… I need him to be able to get outs no matter who is at the plate. And there are at least 8, probably 10 guys who I’d rather have in my October bullpen that are currently Astros. He’s been worth -1.2 WAR in 30 innings… it’s hard to be that bad. He shouldn’t be in any game that is less than 6 runs either direction
I added him to the “odd men out” category just to cover all the bases. His original rehab assignment morphed into being optioned to the Skeeters. So he’s now been at Sugar Land for five weeks. Hard to see him getting called up anytime soon with the recent acquisitions.
Pruitt added to the Yimi trade.
Pressly tweaked his leg fielding a tapper down the 1B line in ALCS G6.
Strom on Graveman, courtesy of The Athletic:
It’s funny. In the (eighth) inning of the game we gave away (on Monday), Carlos (Correa) came by me and tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the mound and said, ‘That guy would look good with an H on his jersey.’ I’ve always liked him.”
Another reason to pay the man, Crane.
Maybe this has been reported elsewhere and I just missed but Jake Kaplan says in this article that Pedro Baez has only been 88-91 on his FB in his return from the shoulder inflammation.
Walt, if MLB.com is correct we will have to make a move to get Y Garcia on the active roster. Did you say Raley is out of options? Seems like to me the decision comes down to Raley or Bielak.
I expect it will be Bielak.
I agree that it has to be Bielak.
If one of these 3 new pitchers were left handed then MAYBE Raley, but Dusty appears to love him.
And this front office/coaching team doesn’t talk about handedness not mattering like the last group did.
Yes, will probably be Bielak. But if it turns out to be Raley, could mean another move is imminent and we need the 40 man roster spot. Will be interesting. Since I’m sure Y Garcia is probably already with the team in San Fran, I’m betting we won’t see an announcement on which way it goes until right up to the deadline, depending on if they need the roster spot for a trade.