I think with Brantley's injury history we'll see him DH and even get some reps at 1B with Yuli at DH.

Buck Compton said:

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Damn. The bottom third of that lineup could be a string of automatic outs when they are struggling. Would still likely be a top third of the league offense, but no longer a truly elite offense.

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This team is a top 10 offense if they all suck

So I'm reading through Astroball (I know I'm behind but I just got it for Christmas) and reading the bit on Keuchel and it just hit me.

He's the first one brought up and developed by this front office to be a FA. It'll be interesting to see how he fares without the resources he had that developed him from the pitcher he was then into the pitcher he is now.

We've seen what pitchers brought into the system can do given the tools and coaching but have we ever seen if pitchers can sustain the success they've had here elsewhere?

I guess it never dawned on me that he's kind of a guinea pig of sorts and I'll certainly be keeping on him wherever he ends up.

speaking of Keuchel...it's getting about time to sign a deal. Less than 30 days until pitchers & catchers report

Musgrove has only been in the league for 2+ seasons, wouldn't consider it the same. Although he obviously did work his way through the Astros organization from the bottom up

So it ends up the Ranger's new ballpark won't be just like MMP...It'll have artificial turf.

With the lack of activity and still a month out from ST now is as a good time as ever to go watch the train wreck over on the Ranger thread. It's quite the entertaining.

Artificial turf? Really? Boo. I hate turf for baseball.

If you haven't already listened, CFM on McHugh's Twelve Six Podcast is pretty good. I'm going to miss that guy.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twelve-six-podcast/id1448122136?mt=2&i=1000427802943

I'm half way through it. I really would love to get the inside info on this offseason. What the Astros really offered and what ultimately drew CFM to TB.

Justin Verlander included on the list of no-doubt Hall of Famers, and Altuve included on the "ones who should get in under 30"

https://www.mlb.com/news/which-2019-mlb-stars-are-headed-to-cooperstown/c-302690710

I delude myself more and more every year into thinking JV might go in as an Astro.

Some hardware last season would have helped. He's going to need to pitch into his late 30s/40s as an Astro to do it. I just can't see it.

Farmer1906 said:

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Some hardware last season would have helped. He's going to need to pitch into his late 30s/40s as an Astro to do it. I just can't see it.

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What about 1 more WS victory?

Evening Time Joke Man said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Some hardware last season would have helped. He's going to need to pitch into his late 30s/40s as an Astro to do it. I just can't see it.

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What about 1 more WS victory?

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Let's get it, but I think time is the factor here. He'll have more top 2 cy young seasons in Det than total years in Houston.

so i was reading over there and this has to be my favorite....

Quote:

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Quote:

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AccidentProne said:
I guess y'all didn't read the article I posted. It wouldn't be the same turf that's in Tampa or Toronto.

"Prefer not to watch a game played on carpet." Seriously? You most likely won't be able to tell the difference

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powerbelly said:
Orange carpet is as old as the game itself.

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If they do end up going with turf, the one silver lining will be real dirt infields and basepaths. I think the seats would be half empty all year if they installed something like that haha
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Do they really think the stadium wont be half empty no matter what the field surface is.....

Evening Time Joke Man said:

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Justin Verlander included on the list of no-doubt Hall of Famers, and Altuve included on the "ones who should get in under 30"

https://www.mlb.com/news/which-2019-mlb-stars-are-headed-to-cooperstown/c-302690710

I delude myself more and more every year into thinking JV might go in as an Astro.

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There are going to be several HOFers over the next several decades who will have a tough choice of whose cap to wear. Unfortunately I don't think JV will be one of them.

dlance said:

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WES2006AG said:

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Evening Time Joke Man said:

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Justin Verlander included on the list of no-doubt Hall of Famers, and Altuve included on the "ones who should get in under 30"

https://www.mlb.com/news/which-2019-mlb-stars-are-headed-to-cooperstown/c-302690710

I delude myself more and more every year into thinking JV might go in as an Astro.

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There are going to be several HOFers over the next several decades who will have a tough choice of whose cap to wear. Unfortunately I don't think JV will be one of them.

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It's up to the hall which team they go in with isn't it?

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The hall has final say, but they take into consideration the player's wishes.

Mr.Ackar07 said:

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dlance said:

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WES2006AG said:

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Evening Time Joke Man said:

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Justin Verlander included on the list of no-doubt Hall of Famers, and Altuve included on the "ones who should get in under 30"

https://www.mlb.com/news/which-2019-mlb-stars-are-headed-to-cooperstown/c-302690710

I delude myself more and more every year into thinking JV might go in as an Astro.

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There are going to be several HOFers over the next several decades who will have a tough choice of whose cap to wear. Unfortunately I don't think JV will be one of them.

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It's up to the hall which team they go in with isn't it?

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The hall has final say, but they take into consideration the player's wishes.

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They do, but the player can't override and doesn't always get his wish: https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2018/01/how_does_the_mlb_hall_of_fame.html

Verlander would need to win a Cy Young (or two), maybe win an MVP, and win another world series (or two), and pitch in Houston for probably six more years (until he is 41) for it to even be debatable.

In short, he's going in as a Tiger.

Ottavino to Yankees, 3 years 27,000,000

And their 40 man roster is at, what, 87? Not to mention I see no way they can whittle it down to the playing 25.

Starters (6)
Tanaka
Happ
Paxton
CC
Gray
Severino

Relievers (7)
Chapman
Britton
Betances
Kahnle
Green
Holder
Ottavino

Catcher (2)
Sanchez
Romine/Higasjioka

Infield (7)
LeMahieu
Gregorius
Bird
Tulo
Torres
Andujar
Autin/Voit (?)

Outfield (6)
Ellsbury
Gardner
Hicks
Frazier
Judge
Stanton

I probably missed a few guys, but that is at least 28-30 guys that should be on their 25 man roster. They're going to have to trade or cut some. I would think they're going to try an unload Ellsbury on anyone who will take him. Gray is who I want from them. Maybe Gardner and Bird are on their way out?

I bet they just park as many as they need to on the DL with "tightness in forearm" or "lower back discomfort"

Correa working on those beach muscles for Miss Texas

Buster Olney thinks the Astros could be a "mystery team" for Bryce Harper...

http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/25784729/could-mystery-teams-manny-machado-bryce-harper

Quote:

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For Harper, the Astros. They negotiated a trade for the slugger before the July 31 deadline, before the Nationals pulled Harper off the table. They are in their window to win right now, with George Springer, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa all in their prime years, and with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole each entering a final season before reaching free agency. "They've got the money, for sure," said one rival official.

A caveat mentioned by rival officials is they cannot see Astros GM Jeff Luhnow agreeing to a whopper of a decade-long contract, given the growing industry concerns over that type of arrangement. But on a short-term deal with opt-outs, perhaps. Can you imagine the lineup the Astros would field?

CF Springer
LF Harper
2B Altuve
3B Bregman
DH Michael Brantley
SS Correa
1B Yuli Gurriel
C Robinson Chirinos/Max Stassi
RF Josh Reddick

That would be fun to watch (although opposing pitchers might disagree).

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So serious question. Do the Yankees have 50 people on their 40 man roster now

Mr.Bond said:

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So serious question. Do the Yankees have 50 people on their 40 man roster now

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All kidding aside, It's gotta be 43-45 by this point. They were having number problems trying to protect people from the rule 5 draft this year.

bearkatag15 said:

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Correa working on those beach muscles for Miss Texas

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Based on his back issues and flab in that video I think he should be working on his core.

Flab? GTFO

Farmer1906 said:

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Flab? GTFO

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The dude is 24 and a all star ss

Was thinking that he should be a little more ripped in the core

With spring training still a month away and the Boras free agency shutdown still hanging over the offseason, I guess we've resorted to critiquing men's bodies