Well-traveled 31 year old who got his first shot at the bigs this year. Astros are his 4th organization and that doesn’t include his stint in 2019 in the KBO.
And yes he put up great AAA numbers this year. In friggin’ Las Vegas.
Dodgers are close to signing Cole Hamels.
That’s gonna be the missing piece that completes them.
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Just give them the title now
No way the Phillies win the World Series in 2008 without Hammels. It’s got to be true for any team in 2021.
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The Padres have some hot dogs on their team, but I still hope they beat the Dodgers’ ass in the one-game playoff. The Giants beating them in the NLDS would be great, too.
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That NL West is a tough division. One of those three teams will not even make the NLDS.
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Do we get to pick who? I know who gets my vote.
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Looks like the Astros will get a chance to face Ralph this week end.
Pressly activated.
Abreu sent back to the hotel
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But Pressly is not flying to LA but instead remaining in Houston.
Which means the Astros will be operating with one man short tonight.
I wasn’t aware of that.
So, what possible reason for making the move today instead of tomorrow?
What do you all think the organization does with Baez? I assume he has no options left and since he’s been sent on a rehab assignment the have 30 days from July 23rd to make a decision. Are the only choices activating him to the 26-man roster or DFAing him? If they activate him, I don’t see how there’s any other choice but to DFA Raley. Or am I missing someone?
They absolutely must let Baez pitch unless it is obvious he is done. They have a two-year investment in him and cannot cut him loose without knowing for sure.
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That is what I suspected but just wanted to know all their available options under the MLB transactions rules. Just for the sake of clarification, if they hadn’t yet sent him on a rehab assignment they could have just kept him on the 60 day IL all year?
Where is your cut-bait line with Baez? I’ve seen Kaplan (maybe Rome?) tweeting about his velocity at Sugar Land and that he’s topping out at 91. I’d really like to know what the Astros brain trust thinks about this and whether it’s something they’re concerned about or not at all. I caught one of his recent appearances on milb.tv where he went 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R 4 K 0 BB and I thought he looked pretty damn good.
I do not trust anything written unless it quotes Astros personnel. I do not know any of the transaction rules either.
The training staff/FO may have told him not to cut it loose for his first few rehab appearances. A steady ramp-up in intensity after an extended time out of service seems like a good idea to me.
2 weeks ago, the bullpen was clearly the team’s weakness and I think we can agree that it, if not a strength, is no longer a liability.
So what is it now? Rotation? Offense? Bench? Fielding? Managing?
The rotation has talent and depth. Each member has had great starts also consecutive great starts. In a 162 season, all players go through ups and downs.
If the rotation can just get to where they are each consistently pitching 5 innings every start and 6-7 occassionally then all will be well. It’s the 3 or 4 inning outings giving up 4+ runs that is maddening and throwing the whole staff off.
I think that is reasonable and very doable.
This offense, more than any other I have ever seen, relies on passing the baton and feeding off of each other. With Bregman and Yuli out, and sudden promotionnof Chas to starter, they are a bit out if sync. Also there is a different lineup nearly every day so that has also challenged them to get into a rhythm. Once Alex and Yuli return, and Chas has more starts under his belt ( and is no longer needed in #2 or #6 spot in lineup) this offense should gel into the 6+ runs per game machine it is capable of being.
Getting Alex and Yuli back will also help strengthen the bench so that improvement needs no more words.
The defense, overall has been fine, if not great. Tucker is an adventure in RF but solid. Robel missed some plays at 3rd but now he’s out. Alex and Yuli playing everyday will improveoff-season. Yordan has surprised me in left.
Managing: I’m afraid nothing can be done until the offseason, so if the team does not win it all, I’m afraid that will be the reason.
On a positive note- Dusty has not used Raley as a 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd option since he got his shiny new arms.