How one can be at only 99.9% at this point I do not know.
I was at 100% four years ago.
Pena playing tonight against Sugar Land
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My fellow T-Mobilers:
Free MLB TV redemption day is here!
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I think heās done too. But the argument one could make is that he just had the first fully healthy offseason and spring training that heās had in years, so maybe he recaptures something
Nobody expects it to last, but if heās healthy for the moment then he can pitch for the moment. Any inning he throws keeps the rest of the staff that much fresher. Once he gets hurt again, since this is the last year of his contract, he can ride the 60-day into retirement.
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The Astros have $17 million reasons to give him one last chance. It either works, or the sides part ways as his salary is a sunk cost.
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Youāre assuming he will be effective. But whatās the value in running him out there to get his shit kicked in? How is that of any benefit?
I donāt think the other options for the fifth spot looked meaningfully more likely to pitch well in April starts, but if Lance sucks then you wish him a fond farewell and thank him for his years of service to the organization. Maybe Arrighetti will regain his second-half form from 2024 or Ryan Weiss will show that his stuff will play in the states. I donāt see rolling the dice on Lance as a very high-stakes decision vs the alternatives.
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If you think Arrighetti will likely suck too, then give LMJ a shot. But I think you know what you get with LMJ, and it will not be pretty. Games in April count just as much as games in September. Saying āwell, itās just April, letās roll the diceā is a really bad strategy, IMO.
Supposedly McCullers is hitting 95 again with his fastball. Last year he was barely hitting 90. Heās had a decent spring. Arrighetti had an era over 6. I canāt fault them for taking a look at McCullers.
Especially relevant for a team that missed the postseason by a tiebreaker last year, yes, wins and losses count the same all season. My point about April relates more to Arrighetti having an abbreviated spring and Weiss being new to MLB. Between the options, one will emerge as the best (or least-bad). But I think starting with the experienced guy makes sense and gives Arrighetti time to get back to work in AAA after the birth of his twins and lets Weiss get a taste of MLB before asking him to hold down a rotation spot. By mid-April or May the situation may be very different.
McCullersā problem has not been lack of velocity, itās been lack of ability to stay off the IL. That doesnāt get better with age.
Hey, I could be completely wrong about him, and he end up pitching really well and having a great season. I just think thatās ridiculously optimistic.
Arrighetti having options is a big factor, as is the fact that they will start with a 5-man but be moving to a 6-man a couple weeks in. Thatās when Arrighetti will be rejoining the team and my guess that is when the decision will be made with Lance. If things are going ok then he stays in the rotation and Weiss is probably sent down for Arrighetti. If things go horribly, Lance gets cut and Arrighetti and Weiss(or somebody else from Sugar Land) join the rotation.
April 10 is a big date early season, after that day they play 13 straight days, itās also the first day that guys on the IL like Hader and De Los Santos could return if they are ready, also start of a 4 game set with Mariners. Potentially a big inflection point for the pitching staff
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I agree with the last part of that. I do think lack of velocity hurt him quite a bit last year. Before the injuries, he was throwing 95 with movement and was able to overpower hitters. With an upper 80ās fastball, he wasnāt fooling many people last year. I wish the best for him but do not expect much. Hopefully Arrighetti gets lined out in the minors in the meantime.
Christian Vazquez makes the team as backup catcher. Salazar, who is out of options, will go on waivers. Peter Lambert also triggered his opt-out clause after the team informed him he wouldnāt make the roster, and he is now a free agent.
I think Jeremy is good for Thursday. He just hit a bomb over the train tracks in left field.
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āHope springs eternal in the human breastā
During the glory years hope was replaced by expectation.
Iām back to hope which is ok. There are some good players on this team and some intrigue.
If the big man can stay in the lineup, if the pitching is good, if ā¦ lots of other things.
Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.
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Roster is finalized. Cole optioned to AAA; Matthews made the team. Christian Roa made the bullpen.
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Chase the fight!