These Venezuelan fans are awesome. They're having a blast out there. Enjoyed the interview with Omar Lopez as well. Seems like a really good dude.
I think TK said the Venezuelan team is short on pitchers tonight, so the Astros agreed to let one of their guys pitch for them.Texaggie7nine said:
Just tuned in. Why is an Astros pitcher beaning Astros batters?
Farmer1906 said:cap-n-jack said:
"Plus, they're going to make some adjustments to Peña this year. … I don't believe in the sophomore jinx. I believe in a year of adjustment."
This is going to be as interesting a story line as any this year I believe. And this kind of knowledge, insight is what Dusty's 40+ years or whatever it is in the league brings to this team.
I kind of think Pena was figured it in his rookie year. He chased at an alarming rate. He adjusted by the end of the season too. I'm sure he'll get a steady diet of slider and curves away. I don't think it's going to be as effective this time around.
I wish you could meet my brother in law who has been an Astros fan for at least as long as me. He still calls Cabell the Thrashing Machine. 'Ol Enos loved him some sliders in the dirt. Couldn't hit em but couldn't resist em. My BIL is a devout Southern Baptist who I think has literally never cursed in his life. But get him talking about the Thrashing Machine and he might come close.Quote:
The longest tenured Astro to wear #23 is of course, my mom's least favorite player, Enos Cabell, who wore the MJ from 1975 to 1980.
I mean during that time frame what ball players didn't.Mathguy64 said:
IIRC Enos had a thing for cocaine back in the day.
Nolan.n_touch said:I mean during that time frame what ball players didn't.Mathguy64 said:
IIRC Enos had a thing for cocaine back in the day.
Yeah but his was big. He and a group of Pirates all got suspended for a year for it. They eventually got the suspension lifted for community service.n_touch said:I mean during that time frame what ball players didn't.Mathguy64 said:
IIRC Enos had a thing for cocaine back in the day.
Too busy roidingMcInnis said:Nolan.n_touch said:I mean during that time frame what ball players didn't.Mathguy64 said:
IIRC Enos had a thing for cocaine back in the day.
The @Astros and owner Jim Crane have a golden opportunity ahead of them to become a true media powerhouse. @pcreighton1 writes about why Crane should come full circle on RSN ownership.
— Gallery Sports (@gallerysports) March 8, 2023
Full Story ➡️https://t.co/R7VqJy4xDw pic.twitter.com/jVvywXkqZi
No any chance he makes the opening day roster without someone else getting injured, right?Deluxe said:
Slim Dirden really putting on a show this spring
POTD right here. At least for this thread.Harry Dunne said:Too busy roidingMcInnis said:Nolan.n_touch said:I mean during that time frame what ball players didn't.Mathguy64 said:
IIRC Enos had a thing for cocaine back in the day.
Harry Dunne said:No any chance he makes the opening day roster without someone else getting injured, right?Deluxe said:
Slim Dirden really putting on a show this spring
Farmer1906 said:Jose Altuve waved over to the Astros dugout before his first at-bat. Dusty Baker and Joe Espada were applauding him as he walked up to the batter's box. He then lined a first-pitch single into left field.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 8, 2023
TLDR: I think it's very unlikely. To me, the overwhelmingly likely scenario is that Dirden starts the year at AAA, gets regular playing time and tries to earn a call up later this year.Harry Dunne said:No any chance he makes the opening day roster without someone else getting injured, right?Deluxe said:
Slim Dirden really putting on a show this spring
Sweeter words have never been said.Deluxe said:Harry Dunne said:No any chance he makes the opening day roster without someone else getting injured, right?Deluxe said:
Slim Dirden really putting on a show this springTLDR: I think it's very unlikely. To me, the overwhelmingly likely scenario is that Dirden starts the year at AAA, gets regular playing time and tries to earn a call up later this year.Farmer a
Even though I've been givinghard time about his Tyler White comparison,he's probly rightthatif we rush him to the show, he'll get shut down by big league pitching in due time. An extra year of AAA seasoning is probably for the best.
And as nice as Dirden has looked this spring, he's probably still in line behind Meyers, Hensley, Madris and JJ in terms of getting big league developmental reps (all of which are on the 40... s/o lonestar ag). So even if there's an injury, some combination of them will probably pickup the load in the foreseeable future. That's not even mentioning the ABs Dusty is going to give Dubon.
I'm anticipating alot of make-shift lineups early in the year as we rest starters and carve out ABs for those guys. This is the year that we need to figure out what we've got with Meyers and Hensley specifically. So I'm guessing the "extra" ABs early in the year will skewed toward them.
Sidenote: I'm really wondering what Dubon's purpose is now. I get that he can play plus defense at multiple positions and that utility has some value in October, but we have too many other guys we need to develop for him to suck up ABs with the big club this year. He's not part of the future plan. I know he's probly not going anywhere cuz Dusty seems fond of him, but I think we can cover his defensive footprint with a combination of other reserves.
It would be interesting to see a list of potential Rule 5 guys we'll need to protect in the next year. I think I read earlier this spring that Dirden is on that list.Lonestar_Ag09 said:
I believe Dubon would have to be traded. We acquired him because he had to be waived and had no more minor league options.
Top trade prospects for us at the moment I believe:
JJ
Dubon
Dubin (pitcher)
Perez
They either need to be traded or waived to allow room for up and comers with more mobility. We will also have to look at tile 5 eligible guys that need to be protected
This feels very weird saying it, but here goes.... Dubon is too valuable to trade. His defensive versatility brings actual value in the long season. How many guys can play CF, SS, and basically anywhere on the diamond at a competent level? If you replace Dubon with Dirden, who can play INF? Bregman, Pena, Altuve, Abreu, & Hensley. Dirden means we have Brantley, Alvarez, Tucker, McCormick, and potentially Meyers that can play OF. No way it makes sense to have a roster of 6 OF and 5 INF. Maybe someone like Will Wagner could be brought up in place of Dubon. He can play all 4 INF positions. He was red hot in the fall and now in spring. If Meyers makes the big league squad then you have enough OF depth to not need a swing INF/OF like Dubon.Lonestar_Ag09 said:
I believe Dubon would have to be traded. We acquired him because he had to be waived and had no more minor league options.
Top trade prospects for us at the moment I believe:
JJ
Dubon
Dubin (pitcher)
Perez
They either need to be traded or waived to allow room for up and comers with more mobility. We will also have to look at tile 5 eligible guys that need to be protected
that's some evil mastermind stuff right therecc10106 said:The @Astros and owner Jim Crane have a golden opportunity ahead of them to become a true media powerhouse. @pcreighton1 writes about why Crane should come full circle on RSN ownership.
— Gallery Sports (@gallerysports) March 8, 2023
Full Story ➡️https://t.co/R7VqJy4xDw pic.twitter.com/jVvywXkqZi
I don't believe it is a Dubon for Dirden idea but more so as you put yourself...Hensley can potentially do those same thing but better (besides CF) can also play first and probably a much more complete hitter.Farmer1906 said:This feels very weird saying it, but here goes.... Dubon is too valuable to trade. His defensive versatility brings actual value in the long season. How many guys can play CF, SS, and basically anywhere on the diamond at a competent level? If you replace Dubon with Dirden, who can play INF? Bregman, Pena, Altuve, Abreu, & Hensley. Dirden means we have Brantley, Alvarez, Tucker, McCormick, and potentially Meyers that can play OF. No way it makes sense to have a roster of 6 OF and 5 INF. Maybe someone like Will Wagner could be brought up in place of Dubon. He can play all 4 INF positions. He was red hot in the fall and now in spring. If Meyers makes the big league squad then you have enough OF depth to not need a swing INF/OF like Dubon.Lonestar_Ag09 said:
I believe Dubon would have to be traded. We acquired him because he had to be waived and had no more minor league options.
Top trade prospects for us at the moment I believe:
JJ
Dubon
Dubin (pitcher)
Perez
They either need to be traded or waived to allow room for up and comers with more mobility. We will also have to look at tile 5 eligible guys that need to be protected
I'm not worried at all about OF coverage. Even in CF.Farmer1906 said:This feels very weird saying it, but here goes.... Dubon is too valuable to trade. His defensive versatility brings actual value in the long season. How many guys can play CF, SS, and basically anywhere on the diamond at a competent level? If you replace Dubon with Dirden, who can play INF? Bregman, Pena, Altuve, Abreu, & Hensley. Dirden means we have Brantley, Alvarez, Tucker, McCormick, and potentially Meyers that can play OF. No way it makes sense to have a roster of 6 OF and 5 INF.Lonestar_Ag09 said:
I believe Dubon would have to be traded. We acquired him because he had to be waived and had no more minor league options.
Top trade prospects for us at the moment I believe:
JJ
Dubon
Dubin (pitcher)
Perez
They either need to be traded or waived to allow room for up and comers with more mobility. We will also have to look at tile 5 eligible guys that need to be protected
That is why I amended my post and added a bit about Wagner. We can't afford to trade Dubon without having someone we trust to cover the INF. Duban is a somewhat proven major-league hitter which is more than any of our minor leaguers can say. Our crop of AA & AAA INFs doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies like out OF and pitching guys.Deluxe said:I'm not worried at all about OF coverage. Even in CF.Farmer1906 said:This feels very weird saying it, but here goes.... Dubon is too valuable to trade. His defensive versatility brings actual value in the long season. How many guys can play CF, SS, and basically anywhere on the diamond at a competent level? If you replace Dubon with Dirden, who can play INF? Bregman, Pena, Altuve, Abreu, & Hensley. Dirden means we have Brantley, Alvarez, Tucker, McCormick, and potentially Meyers that can play OF. No way it makes sense to have a roster of 6 OF and 5 INF.Lonestar_Ag09 said:
I believe Dubon would have to be traded. We acquired him because he had to be waived and had no more minor league options.
Top trade prospects for us at the moment I believe:
JJ
Dubon
Dubin (pitcher)
Perez
They either need to be traded or waived to allow room for up and comers with more mobility. We will also have to look at tile 5 eligible guys that need to be protected
I agree with the concern about INF, specifically SS. Hensley can cover every INF position and should be first man up in all cases. Obviously we'd never want Hensley to be an everyday SS, but he can play it when we give Pena a day off.
I don't mean to downplay the importance of having depth at an important position like SS, but does Dubon's value add as essentially INF insurance outweigh the fact that his presence means he's going to get ~250 ABs that one of our prospects should otherwise get? You could probly make a case either way.
IMO, the red flag scenario of trading Dubon is if Pena gets hurt. But in that case, Hensley can cover the position for a few days while we track down a more regular option externally. Finding a solid defensive SS on the scrap heap who OPS .565 shouldn't be THAT hard.
Not at all. Only reason we traded for Dubon was to have a super utility guy that was super cheap with four years of control.agproducer said:
Isn't Dubon in his last year of control before he is a free agent?