EastCoastAgNc said:

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ttha_aggie_09 said:

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If they send Emanuel over Raley, I will join your riot

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Raley has no options, so if he's out, he's out for good. Emmanuel will likely be the guy who goes down, if for no other reason than to stretch him out as a spot starter. Plus, he's not available for the post-season with his PED suspension bleeding into this year, so you'd rather find other bullpen arms to rely on if possible.

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Now I am going to riot regardless! Freaking BS

Garcia is the easy call going back to the pen. And honestly would really elevate your arms down there and who you can use it late high leverage scenarios.

Personally I think Javier is better than ordorzzi for that 5th spot but I think both would be wasted in the pen.

bearkatag15 said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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ttha_aggie_09 said:

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If they send Emanuel over Raley, I will join your riot

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Raley has no options, so if he's out, he's out for good. Emmanuel will likely be the guy who goes down, if for no other reason than to stretch him out as a spot starter. Plus, he's not available for the post-season with his PED suspension bleeding into this year, so you'd rather find other bullpen arms to rely on if possible.

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Didn't realize his suspension causes him to not be available in the post season. Still doesn't change my mind on Raley and Smith. Neither are worth keeping on this roster once we get healthy. Odo and Parades are back this month likely and Framber sometime in June. 3 big decisions are coming up pretty quickly

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I'm pretty sure about the post-season thing, but not positive. I agree they are probably not long for this team.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/houston-astros/payroll/

According to this, Joe Smith makes $4M this year, which means we have to eat all that money if we release him, and it doesn't fall off the luxury tax (AFAIK). Raley is pre-arbitration, but he has no options left. He's getting $2M on the payroll we have to eat if he is released.

Interesting to look at that page...our IL consists entirely of pitchers.

bullard21k said:

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Garcia is the easy call going back to the pen. And honestly would really elevate your arms down there and who you can use it late high leverage scenarios.

Personally I think Javier is better than ordorzzi for that 5th spot but I think both would be wasted in the pen.

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I'd move Javier and pair him with LMJ.

So in the not too too distant future we should see Paredes back, Odorizzi back, and Framber back. Also at some point maybe finally see Baez.

That could be a huge shift and I dont see how you make it all work. I would think there is a really good chance we see Javier and Garcia both go down to Sugarland to get regular starting work so theyre ready for when they are needed again.

The other two spots I would assume would be between:
Bielak
Scrubb
Abreau
Emanuel

I would guess Emanuel and Scrubb

it's amazing how well the Astros have managed their payroll.

only 3 players are making over $12 MM this season. And the commitments to those players are not long term (i.e. 5 years or more).

(hopefully insurance is taking care of the fourth one -- JV)

Youre welcome to your opinion but theyre not going to just throw their next two guys to get starting spots in the bullpen to sit out there and not get innings and stay stretched out and on a schedule.

Having those two guys out there to get an inning here/inning there isnt going to help us when we need them to step into the rotation and all of a sudden go 6... and there are only so many long relief outing to go around. If I have one "starter capable" guy sitting in the pen for over a week straight not getting used or getting work id rather it be Bielak than Javier or Garcia....plus they already sent Javier down once.

Marvin said:

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bullard21k said:

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Garcia is the easy call going back to the pen. And honestly would really elevate your arms down there and who you can use it late high leverage scenarios.

Personally I think Javier is better than ordorzzi for that 5th spot but I think both would be wasted in the pen.

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I'd move Javier and pair him with LMJ.

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At this point pair him with Grienke.

I know he's the vet and he's changed and adapted but I'm honestly worried about ZG. I'm afraid the league has caught up to him and the game may be passing him by.

He's had a great HOF career and he's been good for us but I'm glad he's not on our books after this year.

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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So in the not too too distant future we should see Paredes back, Odorizzi back, and Framber back. Also at some point maybe finally see Baez.

That could be a huge shift and I dont see how you make it all work. I would think there is a really good chance we see Javier and Garcia both go down to Sugarland to get regular starting work so theyre ready for when they are needed again.

The other two spots I would assume would be between:
Bielak
Scrubb
Abreau
Emanuel

I would guess Emanuel and Scrubb

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They're needed in the bullpen now. Both should come in and pitch 3+ innings after a starter either leaves early or just piggyback the game.

We'd be making a mistake sending 2 of our best pitchers to the minors with so many holes in our bullpen.

Wouldn't Raley be put on waivers if wanting to be sent down? If so I am confident everyone will pass on him.


Can someone please explain how he got the contract he did. His numbers have always been below average, and both MLB and in Asia.

He got it from the reds. Who knows what they were thinking.

Ag_07 said:

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Marvin said:

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bullard21k said:

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Garcia is the easy call going back to the pen. And honestly would really elevate your arms down there and who you can use it late high leverage scenarios.

Personally I think Javier is better than ordorzzi for that 5th spot but I think both would be wasted in the pen.

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I'd move Javier and pair him with LMJ.

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At this point pair him with Grienke.

I know he's the vet and he's changed and adapted but I'm honestly worried about ZG. I'm afraid the league has caught up to him and the game may be passing him by.

He's had a great HOF career and he's been good for us but I'm glad he's not on our books after this year.

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He's in damn near an unprecedented "slump".

I tried to go back and find if he's ever made 3 starts in a row where he failed to pitch 5 innings and gave up 3 or more runs per start.

Here is the closest I found.

Aug 2012
7 IP, 6 ER
5 IP, 4 ER
7 IP, 4 ER
6 IP, 6 ER
9 years ago I am sure managers were much more willing to let the starter go deep than today. He would have been yanked in these most likely.

May/June 2013
4 IP, 5 ER
4 IP, 4 ER
5.1 IP, 4 ER

You can find stuff his rookie year, but that just speaks to how consistently good he's always been.

So far this year he's 4/8 of pitching at least 5 innings. And in those 4 times he failed to he's given up 6, 4, 3, & 4.

Now, I don't think he's "done", but he's a crafty vet. He's not an ace. The torch needs to be passed to Framber & LMJ. They're the guys we're going to need to rely on the biggest games.

Farmer1906 said:

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Lonestar_Ag09 said:

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So in the not too too distant future we should see Paredes back, Odorizzi back, and Framber back. Also at some point maybe finally see Baez.

That could be a huge shift and I dont see how you make it all work. I would think there is a really good chance we see Javier and Garcia both go down to Sugarland to get regular starting work so theyre ready for when they are needed again.

The other two spots I would assume would be between:
Bielak
Scrubb
Abreau
Emanuel

I would guess Emanuel and Scrubb

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They're needed in the bullpen now. Both should come in and pitch 3+ innings after a starter either leaves early or just piggyback the game.

We'd be making a mistake sending 2 of our best pitchers to the minors with so many holes in our bullpen.

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I agree we CURRENTLY have holes but im not talking about currently....I said when those 4 come back. heck im counting Taylor and he isnt even back yet wither but he will be soon enough and he will bump someone as well

SP: Greinke, McCullers, Valdez, Odorizzi and Urquidy

RP: Abreau, Bielak, Baez, Paredes, Raley, Smith, Stanek, Pressley

With that group there are no significant innings for Garcia and Javier and a GM isnt creating their bullpen with the mindset of having to throw a reliever 3-4 innings a night.

Also I understand that TexAgs doesnt want/like Raley and Smith but those two arent going anywhere and they arent being sent down or cant be sent down.

Pretty sure he's pitching on a 1 year deal given by us.

Which honestly isn't a problem. We were absolutely desperate last year looking anywhere for BP arms.

Click found him and he worked out for us. We signed him to a 1 year prove it deal. The only thing he's proving is that he isn't a ML caliber pitcher.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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He got it from the reds. Who knows what they were thinking.

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Pretty sure the Astros picked up the option in the offseason.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/astros-exercise-brooks-raleys-option.html

EastCoastAgNc said:

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He got it from the reds. Who knows what they were thinking.

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We picked up his option this year. We went and got him because we didn't have a lefty out of the bullpen besides a rookie.

He did exactly what he needed to last year to earn the extension. He destroyed lefties and survived righties.

This year? Not so much.

Like I’ve said before, Alvarez is probably at worst a top 5 hitter in baseball. I think it’s him, Soto, and Trout top 3 in any order. What do you guys think

— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) May 10, 2021

Yordan has been elite with 2 strikes. 👀 pic.twitter.com/xi7rymihIB

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 10, 2021

Some nonlocal Yordan love

Dusty Baker said Framber Valdez may come into Houston this week to throw a bullpen session at Minute Maid Park before going on a rehab assignment.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 10, 2021

bearkatag15 said:

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The Astros against Junior Guerra and a bulk guy: Altuve 4, Brantley 7, Bregman 5, Alvarez DH, Gurriel 3, Correa 6, Tucker 9, Straw 8, Castro 2

Garcia RHP

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 10, 2021

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Castro actually getting a start vs a righty!!!

Castro vs righties this year
.353
.450
.706
1.156

Farmer1906 said:

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bearkatag15 said:

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The Astros against Junior Guerra and a bulk guy: Altuve 4, Brantley 7, Bregman 5, Alvarez DH, Gurriel 3, Correa 6, Tucker 9, Straw 8, Castro 2

Garcia RHP

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 10, 2021

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Castro actually getting a start vs a righty!!!

Castro vs righties this year
.353
.450
.706
1.156

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So this is our "A" lineup then

bearkatag15 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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bearkatag15 said:

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The Astros against Junior Guerra and a bulk guy: Altuve 4, Brantley 7, Bregman 5, Alvarez DH, Gurriel 3, Correa 6, Tucker 9, Straw 8, Castro 2

Garcia RHP

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 10, 2021

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Castro actually getting a start vs a righty!!!

Castro vs righties this year
.353
.450
.706
1.156

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So this is our "A" lineup then

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Basically, unless Dusty finally pulls the Harry special and puts GG TED in CF and Diaz in RF. That would be my lineup of death. No breaks. tons of L/R/S mixed in.

bearkatag15 said:

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Like I’ve said before, Alvarez is probably at worst a top 5 hitter in baseball. I think it’s him, Soto, and Trout top 3 in any order. What do you guys think

— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) May 10, 2021

Yordan has been elite with 2 strikes. 👀 pic.twitter.com/xi7rymihIB

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 10, 2021

Some nonlocal Yordan love

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Kinda surprised Brantley isn't at the top with 2 strikes...

Prosperdick said:

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bearkatag15 said:

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Like I’ve said before, Alvarez is probably at worst a top 5 hitter in baseball. I think it’s him, Soto, and Trout top 3 in any order. What do you guys think

— Jeremy Frank (@MLBRandomStats) May 10, 2021

Yordan has been elite with 2 strikes. 👀 pic.twitter.com/xi7rymihIB

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) May 10, 2021

Some nonlocal Yordan love

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Kinda surprised Brantley isn't at the top with 2 strikes...

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.226 with 2 strikes this year.

But he is batting .563 with 1 strike and either 1, 2, or 3 balls.

No talk about Pujols sudden departure from the angels?

Best team at each position by WAR:
SP: Giants
RP: Blue Jays
C: D-Backs
1B: Astros
2B: Phillies
3B: Indians
SS: Rangers
LF: Reds
CF: Twins
RF: Reds

— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) May 10, 2021

Keep this up and Yuli should get some all star consideration

W said:

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it's amazing how well the Astros have managed their payroll.

only 3 players are making over $12 MM this season. And the commitments to those players are not long term (i.e. 5 years or more).

(hopefully insurance is taking care of the fourth one -- JV)

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Well it's a little easier to do that when you have so many stars with team control. We will see how they build the team in 2022 after losing another star to free agency.