It warms my heart to hear about the next crop coming up. They're getting closer and closer too.

Are either of these guys good enough to bet the future on and not sign a top tier SS this offseason? Neither has played AA yet.

It would be kinda fun to reallocate the money bookmarked for Correa to retain Lance + sign Thor. My preference is still to keep Correa and find other uses for those guys.

There's ways we can utilize Nova/Pena even with a full infield. Whichever one is ready quickest could possibly play LF next year. The other could man the utility role and we flip Diaz. And we might need a replacement for Altuve in a few years anyway.

Or you go crazy and get Freddie Freeman to play first.

Thor is unlikely given he will get a QO. Hell Scherzer might be a more likely option as he can't receive a QO and fits our typical MO of a short term deal.

Souza is a good defender as well. Has probably lost a step since the injury and not likely to be filling in @ CF like he did earlier in his career, but certainly still a plus RF. Brantley, Tucker, Souza would be a more than capable defensive outfield.

I am a Straw guy, by which I mean I don't think he sucks like some on this board and I'd like to see him get a chance to continue to develop. I think he can be a Marisnick-level contributor, but Souza's ceiling is so much higher.

As would I, just working off your hypothetical. I think the likely targets next year are Pham and belt on the offensive side and Jon Gray on the pitching side. I'd also like us to look at D'Arnuad but even without a QO he might be seen as too risky given position injury risk and pay likely exceeding $10m a year. None are going to get a QO, all will likely get 3 years max and they all can produce WAR that exceeds their annual pay without long term risk.

Saw the lineup today. I actually really like the idea of Correa at leadoff to replace Springer. Even though it makes absolutely zero sense from a righty/lefty perspective.

It's intriguing until I think about all the RBIs he'd be missing leading off or batting behind Castro/Machete/Straw/Souza.

I'm not so worried about that, same as Springer. Can't see how to make 2-7 work with him in that spot though. Probably have to do:

Correa
Altuve
Brantley
Bregman
Yordan
Tucker
Yuli

Could maybe swap Tucker with Yuli, but I think that's too low for him. Correa at 5 between Yordan and Tucker makes way more sense. But Correa's power at leadoff, ala Springer, would be cool.

Just spitballing. Back to your regularly scheduled complaining about our CF situation.

It would be and it is tempting.

Thing is I never thought of Springer as a legit middle of the lineup run producing guy. I never felt like he was wasted at the top because that's just where he performed best.

Correa is a clutch bat that thrives off moving guys in and I want him in the middle of the lineup where he can do the most damage.

Put Altuve at lead off.

It wouldn't be the Astros offseason thread without a lineup composition discussion every 5 pages during spring training

I'm guessing we'll tinker with the lineup quite a bit early in the season before we find one that sticks. My personal preferences with the lineup are:

1) Don't care about speed at the top. Just want whoever is likeliest to get 5 ABs to be an elite hitter.
2) Strongly prefer to space two righties between each lefty. Force any opposing lefty specialist to face two righties if they want to face two lefties.

With regard to 2, Yordan actually mashed both lefties and righties at a 1.000+ OPS clip in 2019 (which is effing insane). But while Tucker and Brantley aren't terrible against lefties, they are materially better against righties.

So my lineup pref atm is:

1) Brantley RF
2) Altuve 2B
3) Bregman 3B
4) Yordan DH
5) Correa SS
6) Yuli 1B - wild card, hoping he's back to 2019 form
7) Tucker CF
8) Maldy/Castro C
9) Souza/Diaz LF

I see what you're doing. I definitely don't hate it. I'd probably still put Tucker 6th. even with Yordan 2 spots ahead because I don't have faith in Yuli to be anywhere near 2nd half of 2019 good again. As we all know, I do think TED has the potential to be very very very good.

I am with you about the lead-off spot. I don't care how fast you are. The lead-off spot gets 40-50 more plat appearances than your 4 hole hitter. I want someone who gets on base a ton, but isn't your best power hitter. I read an article several years ago that tried to define it statically and said OBP minus ISO. Looking at both 2019 and 2020 stats combined and setting a floor at .340 OPS. The guy with the best OBP-ISO is Michael Brantley followed by Robinson Chirinos, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, George Springer, and Yordan Alvarez.

I think the biggest thing is getting Altuve back to pre 2020 more so thank Yuli. I believe the will get back to being Jose, but man, a slow start from him like last year would be really tough.

Dan Shedd said:

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game today isn't being broadcast til 3pm on mlbn

Deluxe said:

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I'm guessing we'll tinker with the lineup quite a bit early in the season before we find one that sticks. My personal preferences with the lineup are:

1) Don't care about speed at the top. Just want whoever is likeliest to get 5 ABs to be an elite hitter.
2) Strongly prefer to space two righties between each lefty. Force any opposing lefty specialist to face two righties if they want to face two lefties.

With regard to 2, Yordan actually mashed both lefties and righties at a 1.000+ OPS clip in 2019 (which is effing insane). But while Tucker and Brantley aren't terrible against lefties, they are materially better against righties.

So my lineup pref atm is:

1) Brantley RF
2) Altuve 2B
3) Bregman 3B
4) Yordan DH
5) Correa SS
6) Yuli 1B - wild card, hoping he's back to 2019 form
7) Tucker CF
8) Maldy/Castro C
9) Souza/Diaz LF

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I thought I recalled that Tucker was destroying Lefties during most of the season last year. Maybe I am misremembering...

I have to say though I think you are wishful thinking that Ted will be in CF and Diaz will see significant time in the OF.

Lastly I just prefer the idea of flipping Brantley and Altuve
1.Altuve
2.Brantley
3. Bregman
4. Yordan
5.Correa
6.Tucker
7.Yuli
8. Machete/Castro
9.Straw/Souza

The question come when you flip in Diaz for Bregman, Yuli, Correa and Jose for their days off....I dont like him in their usual spots.And personally I dont want him playing in the OF

It takes like 2 seconds to Google that Tucker OPS .695 against lefties and .905 against righties last year

I've been gotcha'd

We know who the 6 top batters are. Put them in a hat and draw names for the line each game. We'll get some fun combos.

Maybe, just to screw with a starting right-handed pitcher, leadoff Brantley, Tucker, Alvarez. Poor guy wouldn't be allowed to face the lineup the 2nd time around.

Trying to stream the grame on my computer at work it is still showing MLB Network programming....anyone else?

Framber just hung a curve. McNeil hit it a long way.

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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Trying to stream the grame on my computer at work it is still showing MLB Network programming....anyone else?

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Delayed broadcast, will air at 3

I have a bad feeling that we're on the back side of Altuve's bell curve. He's got some holes in his swing that teams have found. Hope I'm wrong.

For the record, Altuve's C game is still better than most 2B in the league.

People have been throwing him that low and away slider his entire career. Still can't lay off.

He just needs to stand closer to the plate.

Ag_07 said:

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He just needs to stand closer to the plate.

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You have to wait til October to catch anyone with that!

Farmer1906 said:

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We know who the 6 top batters are. Put them in a hat and draw names for the line each game. We'll get some fun combos.

Maybe, just to screw with a starting right-handed pitcher, leadoff Brantley, Tucker, Alvarez. Poor guy wouldn't be allowed to face the lineup the 2nd time around.

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**** it, Yordan leadoff.

CoachRTM said:

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I have a bad feeling that we're on the back side of Altuve's bell curve. He's got some holes in his swing that teams have found. Hope I'm wrong.

For the record, Altuve's C game is still better than most 2B in the league.

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So it just took everyone 8 years?