Assuming Brantley is at full health, personally I'd go:

Altuve
Brantley
Alvarez
Bregman
Abreu
Tucker
Pena

I still contend we need to attack lefty and righty starters with different lineups. Brantley, Pena, Chas all have some splits worth adjusting for.

If we have a more productive 7/8, Altuve might be able to get his RBIs back up to 2021 levels.

Put Brantley back at 2 and see how he does. If he struggles, you swap him and Pena. Or if Pena can keep the leg down like he learned at the end of the regular season and keeps torching the ball like he did in the playoffs, you make the switch.

Farmer1906 said:

---

I still contend we need to attack lefty and righty starters with different lineups. Brantley, Pena, Chas all have some splits worth adjusting for.

---

Lol, this is fan stuff

Man, these are tough decisions.... One of the two has to bat 7th..... A 5 time all-star with a career .298 average, or the 2nd year guy who happened to win both the ALCS and WS MVPs?

After the first game, I'm sure the Astros will go to their normal rotating rest, so the lineup arguments will be moot, but it is fun to think about. If Chas can stay solid, then the catcher spot may be the only weak link in the batting order....

Mathguy64 said:

---

That's interesting. I like that. But It's the wrong shade of blue to take the home blue/tequila sunrise jersey and make it in gold. So you wonder what the jersey will be.

---

There's only one shade of hat blue and it doesn't match the blue jersey. It annoys me, especially when they wear the all blue hat with the blue jersey. The orange bills break it up a little and it's harder to tell they don't match. Maybe a gold brim will will also look better.

In another note, they need to bring back the orange bills as the standard road cap. The all blue is too bland with the road grays. They wore the orange bill 9 times all season. None with the road grays. Might as well bring back the all orange hats for Friday home games while they're at it.

BadAggie said:

---

TarponChaser said:

---

The Porkchop Express said:

---

Winning the big $$ on the Astros appears to have turned Mac into a bit of a degenerate

---

You mean this and not the massive amounts of cocaine he did in the 70's & 80's?

---

Him, Dave Ward, Marvin Zindler, and however many hookers.

---

Don't forget Ed Brandon.

The Porkchop Express said:

---

Bill Brown and Jimmy D were really good together, DeShaies really brought out Brown's subtle humor.

Brown and Ashby together was like listening to paint dry.

---

I missed what Jimmy D brought to the broadcast. Feel like we have that back with Blummer. Ash was much better with Milo.

scrimp said:

---

Man, these are tough decisions.... One of the two has to bat 7th..... A 5 time all-star with a career .298 average, or the 2nd year guy who happened to win both the ALCS and WS MVPs?

After the first game, I'm sure the Astros will go to their normal rotating rest, so the lineup arguments will be moot, but it is fun to think about.

---

this is one quiet reason why the Astros are playing it cool with Yuli.

they know Dusty will find a way to give him 30 to 40 starts at 1st base if he returns.

even though Jose Abreu is a 155-game per season player

bearkatag15 said:

---

gougler08 said:

---

Probably made $4-5MM on mattresses with the promo, win/win as always

---

His promotions are becoming way too frequent for it to profit that much. If he broke even I'd be surprised

---

It's not just the frequency, it is how often he is not losing on them. If he was losing on them on a regular basis then it would be. a bigger deal and people would take a chance at it. I know I would rather risk it on one game then against the whole word series win. A lot easier to get your money back. He needs to start taking on some bad bets to flip the script.

W said:

---

scrimp said:

---

Man, these are tough decisions.... One of the two has to bat 7th..... A 5 time all-star with a career .298 average, or the 2nd year guy who happened to win both the ALCS and WS MVPs?

After the first game, I'm sure the Astros will go to their normal rotating rest, so the lineup arguments will be moot, but it is fun to think about.

---

this is one quiet reason why the Astros are playing it cool with Yuli.

they know Dusty will find a way to give him 30 to 40 starts at 1st base if he returns.

even though Jose Abreu is a 155-game per season player

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

A couple of days old, but I am really liking Abreu on this team. He's going to be in the mix with Alvarez, Bregman, & Tucker for the RBI lead. It might be kind of like 2017 when we have 5 guys 80+ and 7 guys 70+.

https://www.mlb.com/news/jose-abreu-feels-excitement-of-astros-fanfest?partnerId=zh-20230122-808761-mlb-1-A&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20230122-808761-mlb-1-A&bt_ee=PoP9kE6yYlyt1P0023Oqo6G3pmENcIruwYluemAkjfJdJu2eGCpatjjGIMVKeBBs&bt_ts=1674398451732

Quote:

---

When asked what excites him the most about the Astros, he didn't hesitate.

"World champions," he said with a smile.

...

"As an outsider, I'm a new part of his family, and we have a lot of talent," Abreu said.

Abreu is expected to bat sixth in the Houston order behind Alvarez, Bregman and Tucker, giving him plenty of RBI opportunities. Last year, Abreu hit .304 with a .824 OPS, posting a .378 on-base percentage that ranked second in his career and drawing a career-high 62 walks.

"He was kind of a nightmare facing him when I was in Minnesota," Astros closer Ryan Pressly said of Abreu. "He's a really good hitter. He has power to all sides of the field, and I have a feeling he's going to hit a lot of home runs here. It's fun to watch him, and it's good to have him on our side."

...

He's said regaining his power stroke will be a priority and getting a glimpse Saturday of the Crawford Boxes -- which are only 315 feet down the left-field line -- made him smile.
"I like this stadium," he said.

Abreu has already spoken with the hitting coaches to try to better tap into his strengths and his power. He averaged 29 homers per year from 2014-21.

"They spoke to me a little about my offense and how it would help the organization," Abreu said. "They told me to continue to be the same person, the same person I was the last nine years in the Majors."
The Astros will be a World Series contender again in 2023, and Ab

---

---

Great article. And Incould read this quote all day!

"The Astros, meanwhile, have been to six consecutive AL Championship Series and have won four pennants and two World Series titles since 2017"

Deluxe said:

---

Was listening to JayHay gush over the Astros Abreu signing the other day on the Carrabis podcast. Gave me warm fuzzies.

Also, if Altuve is leading off and Alvarez-Bregman-Tucker-Abreu is 3-6 (my god that's good), then Pena and Brantley are 2 or 7. Who goes where? A good litmus test on how much Dusty values the RLRL stagger.

---

I'd go

Altuve
Pena
Alvarez
Bregman
Tucker
Abreu
Brantley

tjack16 said:

---

Deluxe said:

---

Was listening to JayHay gush over the Astros Abreu signing the other day on the Carrabis podcast. Gave me warm fuzzies.

Also, if Altuve is leading off and Alvarez-Bregman-Tucker-Abreu is 3-6 (my god that's good), then Pena and Brantley are 2 or 7. Who goes where? A good litmus test on how much Dusty values the RLRL stagger.

---

I'd go

Altuve
Pena
Alvarez
Bregman
Tucker
Abreu
Brantley

---

I get that Peña was great in the post season but no way I putting Abreu that low.

Altuve
Abreu
Alvarez
Bregman
Tucker
Peña
Brantley
Chaz
Maldy

Could have a new nickname in the Triple A's??

Sorry if already posted, but the Blue Jays are moving the fences in.

Quote:

---

According to Scott Mitchell of TSN, here's how the fence distances in Toronto will be changing in time for the 2023 season:

• The center field fence distance will be reduced from 400 feet to 397 feet.
• The left-center power alley fence will move in from 375 feet to 366 feet.
• Most substantially, the fence in the right-center power alley will come in from 375 feet all the way to 357 feet.

In terms of raw distance from home plate, those are extreme changes. However, those alterations will be partly offset by an increase in fence height of varying dimensions. For example, Shi Davidi recently reported that the fence height at the corners in front of the bullpens will increase from 10 feet to 15 feet. That said, on balance the changes figure to help the many power hitters in the Blue Jays' lineup.

According to Statcast, Rogers Centre over the last three seasons has played basically neutral when it comes to run-scoring levels. However, at the same time, it's inflated home run rates by roughly 8 percent. More specifically, it's notably benefited right-handed power hitters while actually working against those who hit from the left side. The far more friendly dimensions in the right-center power alley should be of particular benefit to offseason additions like Daulton Varsho, Brandon Belt, and Kevin Kiermaier -- all of whom bat lefty.

---

3B Paul 97 said:

---

Hall of Fame voting wraps up tomorrow at 5pm CT.

Rolen and Helton just above 79%. Wagner just above 73%. Would love to see Wags get a big push here at the end to get him in.

---

Usually these numbers drop because the people who don't share their ballot usually have ****ty ballots. We might not get anyone in besides McGriff. Wagner is very likely to have to wait 1 more year.

Farmer1906 said:

---

3B Paul 97 said:

---

Hall of Fame voting wraps up tomorrow at 5pm CT.

Rolen and Helton just above 79%. Wagner just above 73%. Would love to see Wags get a big push here at the end to get him in.

---

Usually these numbers drop because the people who don't share their ballot usually have shorty ballots. We might not get anyone in. Wagner is very likely to have to wait 1 more year.

---

He got a bump in the last 20 pre announcement votes last year along with the last minute public votes. The private votes did bring that back down. Going to be close if he doesn't make it, but should be in with no issue next year.

Brewers Designate Jon Singleton For Assignment https://t.co/Uww6g74xeD pic.twitter.com/wvUBZ1fRka

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) January 23, 2023

bearkatag15 said:

---

tjack16 said:

---

Deluxe said:

---

Was listening to JayHay gush over the Astros Abreu signing the other day on the Carrabis podcast. Gave me warm fuzzies.

Also, if Altuve is leading off and Alvarez-Bregman-Tucker-Abreu is 3-6 (my god that's good), then Pena and Brantley are 2 or 7. Who goes where? A good litmus test on how much Dusty values the RLRL stagger.

---

I'd go

Altuve
Pena
Alvarez
Bregman
Tucker
Abreu
Brantley

---

I get that Peña was great in the post season but no way I putting Abreu that low.

Altuve
Abreu
Alvarez
Bregman
Tucker
Peña
Brantley
Chaz
Maldy

Could have a new nickname in the Triple A's??

---

Brantley is so valuable in the 2 slot because of his ability to move Altuve over if he gets on. Even more so now with the elimination of the shift.. could be a LOT of singles to right with Altuve taking 3rd. I also don't hate the idea of letting Bregman bat third and have Yordan behind him at clean up with those three in front of him.

That's why I had Brantley batting 2nd in my lineup earlier. Altuve is a pretty prototypical leadoff man, and Brantley is what you want in a 2 hitter. Puts the ball in play and doesn't really ground into a ton of DPs. DPs will likely go down more with no shift this year.

Alvarez/Bregman/Abreu is an on base machine, then you have Tucker bring up the rear. It's a 1-6 of death.

I wonder if there is anyone willing to invest in Leon and give him a shot. So many teams still need CF/SS and he could play either. He's probably not shown enough in AAA yet, but there are some serious out-of-position or "bleh" types are these key positions.

CF
Red Sox - Adam Duvall
Rockies - Yonathan Daza
Rangers - Loedy Taveras
Marlins - Jazz Chisholm (he's great, but he's never played OF)

SS
Red Sox - Keke Hernandez
Angels - Luis Rengifo
Marlins - Joey Wendle

Farmer1906 said:

---

I wonder if there is anyone willing to invest in Leon and give him a shot. So many teams still need CF/SS and he could play either. He's probably not shown enough in AAA yet, but there are some serious out-of-position or "bleh" types are these key positions.

CF
Red Sox - Adam Duvall
Rockies - Yonathan Daza
Rangers - Loedy Taveras
Marlins - Jazz Chisholm (he's great, but he's never played OF)

SS
Red Sox - Keke Hernandez
Angels - Luis Rengifo
Marlins - Joey Wendle

---

You're talking Pedro Leon? What do those teams have to offer in return and what would he likely be worth?

Didn't the Astros just sign him like 3 years ago?

redline248 said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

I wonder if there is anyone willing to invest in Leon and give him a shot. So many teams still need CF/SS and he could play either. He's probably not shown enough in AAA yet, but there are some serious out-of-position or "bleh" types are these key positions.

CF
Red Sox - Adam Duvall
Rockies - Yonathan Daza
Rangers - Loedy Taveras
Marlins - Jazz Chisholm (he's great, but he's never played OF)

SS
Red Sox - Keke Hernandez
Angels - Luis Rengifo
Marlins - Joey Wendle

---

You're talking Pedro Leon? What do those teams have to offer in return and what would he likely be worth?

Didn't the Astros just sign him like 3 years ago?

---

Less ready prospects. Just kind of a random idea when I saw how weak some of these positions are.