***** Official 2017 Astros Off Season Thread *****

287,972 Views | 2546 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by Mr.Bond
iBrad
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In 2015, we were fifth in the AL in runs scored with 729. Last season, we were eighth with 724, which isn't bad considering the struggles of guys like Gomez and Rasmus and losing Valbuena when he was hot.

Right now, the guys on the roster are better than what we've rolled out the last two years, so I expect we'll be a top five offense again, and very likely top two or three.

I don't mind the platoon, especially when you're adding good left handed bats that will get the bulk of the ABs. I would expect Reddick and McCann to still get several starts versus lefties, too. They won't be straight platoon hitters.
Farmer1906
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Duck Patrol said:

Not that I agree with Nuke, but Valbuena, Tyler White/AJ Reed, and Rasmus come to mind, immediately.


We didn't sign white or Reed. Valbuena was not brought in as a platoon. He was traded for to be the everyday 3rd baseman. Same with Rasmus. He was signed to play everyday in the OF. He had ~450 ABs in 2015. It may not have always worked out, but we're not bringing in a bunch of guys to play half the time.
Ag_07
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I don't disagree that we have signed platoon players in the past, but I think we're seeing a move away from that.

I think we're signing players that have the ability to play multiple positions, not platoon players.

Think Kris Bryant. He's played multiple positions for the Cubs but he's not a platoon player. Marwin is a platoon player. Bregman is not even though he can play 3B, SS, OF.

There's a difference and I think we're moving more towards having a versatile lineup of quality players instead of having a lineup of platoon players.
Thriller
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I think Reddick absolutely has to be looked at as a platoon player until he can fix his splits. Whether he's worth 50MM as a platoon player/good defender is the question.
Nuke LaLoosh
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Rasmus, valbuena, gurriel...
Nuke LaLoosh
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aggie1906 said:

Duck Patrol said:

Not that I agree with Nuke, but Valbuena, Tyler White/AJ Reed, and Rasmus come to mind, immediately.


We didn't sign white or Reed. Valbuena was not brought in as a platoon. He was traded for to be the everyday 3rd baseman. Same with Rasmus. He was signed to play everyday in the OF. He had ~450 ABs in 2015. It may not have always worked out, but we're not bringing in a bunch of guys to play half the time.


But... they were platooned. This is pretty much my point.

I guess my frustrations are the following, whether unwarranted or not

1) I don't personally like seeing new lineups every day
2) sabermetrics places no value on the mental aspect of the game, and it will be hard to convince me that certain players are able to find a groove or get in the zone without everyday playing time
3) I don't trust hinch to make good decisions
Nuke LaLoosh
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I can buy this, but...

Gattis/McCann will be platooned. If we get Napoli add another DH/1b platoon.

Marwin is a platoon player.

Marisnick is a platoon player at best

Aoki is likely a platoon guy

Reddick is platoon.

I mean that's a big part of the lineup, is it not?
Farmer1906
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Rasmus was not regularly platooned in 2015. Valbuenna wasn't either when he was healthy and playing well. If you hit one side of the plate terribly then you should be platooned.
irish pete ag06
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Guess which MLB team had the highest platoon % last year?

Cleveland, but I'm sure Francona >>>> Hinch in most people'a eyes.
titanmaster_race
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Buck Compton said:

Basketball and Chain said:

Per mlbtraderumors, were showing interest in Napoli as 1b/dh with veteran leadership
No thank you. Any time at DH takes away from Gattis... Any time at first would mean one of our young stars (Gurriel, etc.) is sitting down. I just don't see the AB for him - he would truly just be a role player/clubhouse guy and he'll sign for more than that.

And I know Gurriel isn't exactly young, but still new to the US at least.


Any time taken away from Gattis at DH would be a godsend. He was a pathetic DH last year.
iBrad
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Nuke LaLoosh said:

2) sabermetrics places no value on the mental aspect of the game, and it will be hard to convince me that certain players are able to find a groove or get in the zone without everyday playing time

What if the numbers support the platoon? You can't measure the mental aspect, but you can measure results. If the results from the platoon are better than either player playing full time, then it's what you do.

When you have a guy like Castro hitting .149 versus lefties, I say screw him finding a groove. It ain't happening.

I think platoons work best when the primary player is a lefty, as they'll get the bulk of the playing time, and the right handed hitter has shown that he can perform better against lefties in a platoon situation than the primary player.

An example is Reddick and Marisnick. Marisnick has better numbers against lefties in a platoon situation than Reddick does in a full time roll. So why wouldn't you platoon? Do you think a day off here and there versus lefties is going to be detrimental to Reddick? I would argue that going out and batting .150 against them would have a more adverse affect on him. And in no case would Marisnick ever be a better hitter than Reddick, so regular ABs for him don't matter. All you need him to do is be better against lefties than Reddick, which he is.
shano0603
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I saw 30 new posts on this thread and was thinking something went down... just to find out it's a bunch of bickering about something that we know will happen.
HossAg
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Bunch of whining up in here
Farmer1906
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  • Quote:

    Though Nori Aoki has only been an Astro for less than three weeks, the veteran outfielder may now be a non-tender candidate, the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan writes. If the Astros plan to use the newly-signed Josh Reddick in left field, Aoki will be a very highly-paid fourth outfielder (thanks to a projected $6.8MM arbitration salary) and possibly an expendable part. If the Astros use Reddick in right and move George Springer to center field, Aoki will again have more of a clear role, platooning with Jake Marisnick in left. Houston has also been linked to some first baseman in rumors, which could push Yulieski Gurriel to left field and again leave Aoki without regular playing time.
Might be a very short stint for Aoki. I would much rather have a line up with Nap than Aoki.
mazag08
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shano0603 said:

I saw 30 new posts on this thread and was thinking something went down... just to find out it's a bunch of bickering about something that we know will happen.


Same here. At least it's mostly well informed people bickering.
Farmer1906
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Nuke LaLoosh said:

I can buy this, but...

Gattis/McCann will be platooned. If we get Napoli add another DH/1b platoon.

Marwin is a platoon player.

Marisnick is a platoon player at best

Aoki is likely a platoon guy

Reddick is platoon.

I mean that's a big part of the lineup, is it not?
Gattis will likely be playing some DH when not catching. Semi platoon. Both above avg hitting catchers.

Marwin is a utility player and should be a back up.

Jake is a 4th(5th?) OF and pinch runner.

Aoki is a cheap upgrade for what was a major need (OF) before we signed Reddick.

Reddick might platoon, but who's taking his ABs away? Maybe Breg or Gurriel if they move to the OF.
iBrad
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aggie1906 said:


  • Quote:

    Though Nori Aoki has only been an Astro for less than three weeks, the veteran outfielder may now be a non-tender candidate, the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan writes. If the Astros plan to use the newly-signed Josh Reddick in left field, Aoki will be a very highly-paid fourth outfielder (thanks to a projected $6.8MM arbitration salary) and possibly an expendable part. If the Astros use Reddick in right and move George Springer to center field, Aoki will again have more of a clear role, platooning with Jake Marisnick in left. Houston has also been linked to some first baseman in rumors, which could push Yulieski Gurriel to left field and again leave Aoki without regular playing time.
Might be a very short stint for Aoki. I would much rather have a line up with Nap than Aoki.

I don't mind this at all. Grab a guy off waivers that makes the team better. If you can then improve the team even more through a signing or trade, there's nothing lost in letting Aoki move on.
jbanda
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k20dub
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astros4545
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What the ****
astros4545
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Among those expected to be charged are the younger brother of Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor, also named Rougned, and
bigbass1170
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Wtf
Texaggie7nine
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They totally got him. haha.

That's how you build camaraderie right there.
7nine
Buck Compton
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Appropriate icon is appropriate.

That's not hazing... That's ****ing gay. WTF is wrong with people???
Ag_07
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Ok...Who's gonna go post that on their thread?
Buck Compton
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Ag_07 said:

Ok...Who's gonna go post that on their thread?
I think one of their own already did...
Nuke LaLoosh
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That's a fake news story right? No way this actually happened, right? And by Odors brother?
Buck Compton
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Nuke LaLoosh said:

That's a fake news story right? No way this actually happened, right? And by Odors brother?
Posted on the real Yahoo.... Seems legit. Just one of the most bizarre things I have ever heard. Also, who names both of their kids the same ****ing thing???
Nuke LaLoosh
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The ol George foreman playbook
irish pete ag06
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And we thought sno-cones in the crapper was bad publicity.
Habanero Guero
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"What's wrong with that?"
-Corps guys
iBrad
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I hear the Rangers have some prospects in their Dominican academy that can really stroke it.
irish pete ag06
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iBrad said:

I hear the Rangers have some prospects in their Dominican academy that can really stroke it.
I hear Rougned's little brother has really fast hands.
titanmaster_race
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That's Dallas bold.
TREX01
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Nolan Fontana claimed by the Angles. Nothing wrong with letting him walk.
 
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