Bag said:

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Any update on Uncle Mikes status?

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Hate to say it but the official announcement he's done for the season will likely be made Aug. 2nd.

That the Astros are still looking for a bat and the dearth of info on his return ('hey he ran the bases') tells you all you need to know.

Hope I'm wrong.

Whether we think Brantley is coming back or not should have no impact on our need to go get another bat.

Brantley was taking swings yesterday before the game, I don't know if that means anything, but he was taking cuts.

Cron makes sense and should be low cost.

Thinking about Altuve I went down the rabbit hole on the best 2nd basemen heading into 2023 and how they are doing this year.

Most lists for the position are similar at the top (based on 2022 results), so here's one for grins:
https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/top-10-mlb-second-basemen-for-2023/

Here's how they performed in 2022 (from the linked article) and 2023 (I use bWAR for 2023 because I find it easier to navigate the site):

1. Altuve - (hurt most of the year) 6.6 fWAR in 2022
.6 bWAR; .850 OPS; 135 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/altuvjo01.shtml

2. McNeil (Mets) - 5.9 fWAR in 2022
.8 bWAR; .652 OPS; 83 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcneije01.shtml

3. Semien (Rangers) - 4.2 fWAR in 2022
3.9 bWAR; .786 OPS; 115 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/semiema01.shtml

4. Giminez (Guardians) - 6.1 fWAR in 2022
2.3 bWAR; .702 OPS; 96 OPS+ 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gimenan01.shtml

5. Hoener (Cubs) - 4.0 fWAR in 2022
2.8 bWAR; .725 OPS; 96 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hoernni01.shtml

6. Marte (Diamondbacks) - 1.4 fWAR in 2022
-4. bWAR; .640 OPS; 79 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martest01.shtml

Apart from Semien and Atluve that's a pretty sad hitting bunch this season.

Our offseason acquisitions/signings.......wow.......

Faustus said:

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Thinking about Altuve I went down the rabbit hole on the best 2nd basemen heading into 2023 and how they are doing this year.

Most lists for the position are similar at the top (based on 2022 results), so here's one for grins:
https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/top-10-mlb-second-basemen-for-2023/

Here's how they performed in 2022 (from the linked article) and 2023 (I use bWAR for 2023 because I find it easier to navigate the site):

1. Altuve - (hurt most of the year) 6.6 fWAR in 2022
.6 bWAR; .850 OPS; 135 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/altuvjo01.shtml

2. McNeil (Mets) - 5.9 fWAR in 2022
.8 bWAR; .652 OPS; 83 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcneije01.shtml

3. Semien (Rangers) - 4.2 fWAR in 2022
3.9 bWAR; .786 OPS; 115 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/semiema01.shtml

4. Giminez (Guardians) - 6.1 fWAR in 2022
2.3 bWAR; .702 OPS; 96 OPS+ 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gimenan01.shtml

5. Hoener (Cubs) - 4.0 fWAR in 2022
2.8 bWAR; .725 OPS; 96 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hoernni01.shtml

6. Marte (Diamondbacks) - 1.4 fWAR in 2022
-4. bWAR; .640 OPS; 79 OPS+ in 2023
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martest01.shtml

Apart from Semien and Atluve that's a pretty sad hitting bunch this season.

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Marte has been great.

Can we count Mookie? He's played 30+ games at 2B.

Padres are not playing well, but Kim has been.

Mr. Not really close to .400 but still has a good BA in Arraez.

I think Nolan Gorman has a bright future at 2B

BadAggie said:

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Abreu reverting to his career average the rest of the season would be a better acquisition than anything outside of the Robert pipe dream

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Getting Verlander would be better IMO because of how it helps the rotation and bullpen whereas Abreu doing well just helps keep the line moving and run production. It would be very nice, don't get me wrong, but Justin would have more of an overall impact.

It's a part of his rehab. Also you never want to reveal your hand.

Imagine if this is our lineup today:

Altuve
Bregman
Yordan
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Diaz
Pena
Julks

Probably a pipe dream, but with everyone healthy and not including any trade deadline additions, it might be your ideal lineup

Altuve
Dubon
Yordan
Bregman
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Diaz
Pena

Here is how the lineup shakes out IMO

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

We're made no Diaz in the lineup.

Hopefully Maldy continues to get Diaz ready and as has been mentioned, and Diaz is ready to start consistently by the end of the year. This line up with playing Yordan in LF instead of Julks and inserting Diaz as DH could absolutely do damage too

Farmer1906 said:

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Here is how the lineup shakes out IMO

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

We're made no Diaz in the lineup.

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Chas has proven he needs to bat #2.

Dusty is old school and won't **** with pushing him forward and potentially screwing up his mojo

Ciboag96 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Here is how the lineup shakes out IMO

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

We're made no Diaz in the lineup.

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Chas has proven he needs to bat #2.

Dusty is old school and won't **** with pushing him forward and potentially screwing up his mojo

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I like Bregman at #2. With his command of the strike zone and with Alvarez behind him, it will put quite a bit of pressure on a SP in the 1st inning.

For me, it's either Bregman or Tucker at #2.

Knowing Dusty he'll probably put Maldy in the cleanup spot after raking last night.

bobinator said:

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It's not really the reading it, it's the reporting back here with what they're saying when it's obviously going to be trolling like 50% of the time. Like the obvious "biggest win in Houston sports history" thing yesterday.

Maybe that's just me though.

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"Biggest win in sports history". … LMAO. our biggest wins were the 5-10 games in our 2 championship runs .. and of course pounding the Yankees arse each year .. I probably enjoyed beating the Yankees in the playoffs just as much as winning the ALCS ….

Beating or even losing to the Rangers during the regular season is a non event non starter .. and it shouldn't be for either team .. big deal we won the last 2.. we may get our asses kicked the last 4 games .. it's all about pitcher match ups and the rotation during the regular season .. well and having your lineup in good order

Farmer1906 said:

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Here is how the lineup shakes out IMO

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

We're made no Diaz in the lineup.

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I think it's going to look like this because of the whole back to back lefties deal:

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Abreu
Tucker
Chas
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

I hope Dusty has gotten over his back-to-back lefties deal with Alvarez and Tucker and puts them together. I like the idea of enticing teams to throw a lefty reliever to them.

One thing I could argue for is this line-up:

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Chas
Abreu
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

Really punish teams for brining the lefty in to face Alvarez and Tucker with a guy behind them that crushes lefties.

Beat40 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Here is how the lineup shakes out IMO

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

We're made no Diaz in the lineup.

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I think it's going to look like this because of the whole back to back lefties deal:

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Abreu
Tucker
Chas
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

I hope Dusty has gotten over his back-to-back lefties deal with Alvarez and Tucker and puts them together. I like the idea of enticing teams to throw a lefty reliever to them.

One thing I could argue for is this line-up:

Altuve
Bregman
Alvarez
Tucker
Chas
Abreu
Julks
Pena
Maldonado

Really punish teams for brining the lefty in to face Alvarez and Tucker with a guy behind them that crushes lefties.

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I forgot, Dusty only likes to do back-to-back lefties when the opposing team only has one lefty in the bullpen. Since the Rangers have several, Dusty is likely going to bat the best hitter in baseball 5th.

And I love your point about getting whoever bats after Yordan/TED to crush the LHP.

Farmer1906 said:

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Rays looking at add.

The #Rays are one of 10 teams on Lynn’s no-trade list but has informed the White Sox he will waive it for chance to be with Rays https://t.co/TssSAW3AU7

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 26, 2023

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Dodgers too.

While the #WhiteSox and #Rays have exchanged names on veteran starter Lance Lynn, the Los Angeles #Dodgers have not given up their pursuit of Lynn, while also showing interest in White Sox teammate Lucas Giolito.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 26, 2023

Y'all forgot Pena got a hit in the 2 hole last night, so he probably stays there

Altuve
Pena
Yordan
Bregman
Tucker
Abreu
Chas
Julks
Maldy

Tucker in the 2 hole would be my pick.

Besides having to adjust the 40-man, why wouldn't the Astros pull Singleton up? No way he can be/do worse than 3 or 4 guys on our bench.

My list:

Year 1: Astros
Year 2: Astros, Aggie FB
Year 3: Astros, Aggie FB, Aggie baseball
Year 4 Astros, Aggie FB
Year 5: Astros
Wildcard: Aggies never lose to the sips in any sport again.

I don't care about boundyball.