I found "Smart Baseball" on my shelf earlier this evening. It's a Keith Law book about statistics from 2017. Someone must have given it to me at some point. I started reading it. Part one kind of destroys traditional stats. When talking about RBI it brought up Bonds 2001 season and his "low" rbi total for hitting so many home runs. Law credits Dusty Baker for this. He ran 2 guys out at lead off the large majority of the year who got one base well below league average. 22 years later and nothing has changed (see Dubon and Pena).
***** 2023 Houston Astros Season Thread *****
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Last: 10 mo ago by texasaggie2015
Lonestar_Ag09 said:AggiEE said:
Ideally, the playoff lineup would look something like this.
Altuve (2B)
Bregman (3B)
Alvarez (LF)
Tucker (RF)
Diaz (C)
McCormick (CF)
Abreu (1B)
Singleton (DH)
Pena (SS)
This of course assumes Jon Singleton rakes when he is called up and adds more power to our lineup. If Singleton doesn't rake, just replace him with Meyers and swap out Alvarez to DH while shuffling McCormick to LF.
Obviously, Maldy is going to play so this lineup of death is for some reason not realistic with Dusty...so that's always going to be a lineup liability.
Dude isn't even on the team let's slow our roll on making him a playoff starter
He's only on there assuming he's better than Meyers or Julks, which isn't a high bar
The only way Diaz is playing in the postseason is for the team to carry a third catcher. Dana hasn't made that move yet, so it seems like it's not a priority. Salazar will probably make the expanded roster in September so I'm hoping Diaz will DH down the stretch. Hopefully that makes a difference.
As much as dusty annoys us all we can all admit we have given him credit for his post season moves and decisions.
I really have a feeling Diaz is going to be one of those moves that wasn't don't in regular season but will be in playoffs.
I really have a feeling Diaz is going to be one of those moves that wasn't don't in regular season but will be in playoffs.
Lonestar_Ag09 said:
As much as dusty annoys us all we can all admit we have given him credit for his post season moves and decisions.
I really have a feeling Diaz is going to be one of those moves that wasn't don't in regular season but will be in playoffs.
That's what I'm hoping for as well
But man is it frustrating watching Dusty manage when we don't have a commanding lead in the division.
Astros don't have a lead in the division given Altuve and Alvarez missed however many games and 3/5ths of the starting rotation has been out for most if not all of the season. The latter has led to increased bullpen usage.
Now health and trades has improved the outlook for the remainder of the season.
Dusty's lineup tinkering hinders the offense at times but isn't the be and end all. Players need to perform and the impact of injuries has been the major issue this season to date.
Now health and trades has improved the outlook for the remainder of the season.
Dusty's lineup tinkering hinders the offense at times but isn't the be and end all. Players need to perform and the impact of injuries has been the major issue this season to date.
BadAggie said:
Dusty's lineup tinkering hinders the offense at times but isn't the be and end all. Players need to perform and the impact of injuries has been the major issue this season to date.
This
Dusty didn't give out 45 free passes yesterday.
As the wise poet Ludacris once was "Welcome to Atlanta where the players play". And that is true in Houston as well. The players do indeed play.Ag_07 said:BadAggie said:
Dusty's lineup tinkering hinders the offense at times but isn't the be and end all. Players need to perform and the impact of injuries has been the major issue this season to date.
This
Dusty didn't give out 45 free passes yesterday.
Jake Meyers has a 1.9 fWAR in only 84 games / 282 PA. That is good for 17th in the league for CFers. Everyone ahead of him has more PAs. Jake leads the team in Fielding Run Value (21st in baseball). Almost everyone ahead of him has more innings of work. The exceptions are Harrison Badar and a handful of catchers (Hedges, Bailey, & Murphy).
Is Jake a budding star? No. Should Jake get PT over Chas? No. But he should probably be locked in ahead of Julks & Dubon. He should be the "CF closer" like Jake Marisnick was. Even with Jake's weak exit velo he's slightly ahead of Dubon & Julks in xwOBA. .297 vs .291 & .290.
Is Jake a budding star? No. Should Jake get PT over Chas? No. But he should probably be locked in ahead of Julks & Dubon. He should be the "CF closer" like Jake Marisnick was. Even with Jake's weak exit velo he's slightly ahead of Dubon & Julks in xwOBA. .297 vs .291 & .290.
He certainly helped that exit velo yesterday.Farmer1906 said:
Jake Meyers has a 1.9 fWAR in only 84 games / 282 PA. That is good for 17th in the league for CFers. Everyone ahead of him has more PAs. Jake leads the team in Fielding Run Value (21st in baseball). Almost everyone ahead of him has more innings of work. The exceptions are Harrison Badar and a handful of catchers (Hedges, Bailey, & Murphy).
Is Jake a budding star? No. Should Jake get PT over Chas? No. But he should probably be locked in ahead of Julks & Dubon. He should be the "CF closer" like Jake Marisnick was. Even with Jake's weak exit velo he's slightly ahead of Dubon & Julks in xwOBA. .297 vs .291 & .290.
Long story short, we need to play our best players. The time has passed to get guys ABs. Put Julks in AAA the rest of the month if you want to get him ABs and bring up an emergency OF to ride the pine.
Umpire Angel Hernandez missed 23 calls in the #Yankees #Astros game.
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) August 7, 2023
He now has the lowest correct call rate in the league. pic.twitter.com/jmHyBL677w
Still waiting on the scorecard
Jake shutting me up after all the shit I’ve talked pic.twitter.com/LmXtapvvIw
— Jenn (@baseballnchill) August 6, 2023
Dirty Mike and the Boys
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Need to take that clown to pasture.
Edit re: Angel Hernandez
Edit re: Angel Hernandez
Good morning to everyone but New York City, #RepBX fans and Jake Meyers detractors. Two homers, a six-RBI day and the game-ending catch has a way of quieting those types down. #Ready2Reign🤘🏼🔥#ad @CramCrew @UVCPOWERSPORTS pic.twitter.com/6lhb2f3aMe
— Adam Clanton (@adamclanton) August 7, 2023
If I was a heavy gambler I wouldn't touch any game that he umpires.Johnsy3 said:Umpire Angel Hernandez missed 23 calls in the #Yankees #Astros game.
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) August 7, 2023
He now has the lowest correct call rate in the league. pic.twitter.com/jmHyBL677w
Still waiting on the scorecard
Has there ever been an umpire/referee more universally hated than Hernandez?
I saw a lot of people ragging on Dusty for JP France not getting the start yesterday. Just want to clear things up and say that's not his decision. It's Dana Brown's call.
France is about to reach his career high for innings pitched and they want to make sure his tank doesn't empty. I can't blame them. He's not going to leave the rotation, but they may skip him every other start or move to a tandem start like they do in AAA.
France is about to reach his career high for innings pitched and they want to make sure his tank doesn't empty. I can't blame them. He's not going to leave the rotation, but they may skip him every other start or move to a tandem start like they do in AAA.
They should do the same with HB.
And sadly I think Javier needs to be treated the same
And sadly I think Javier needs to be treated the same
It's honestly why I'd be ok w/ a 6 man rotation or do a 5 man where we skip one of France/Javier/Brown each time throughLonestar_Ag09 said:
They should do the same with HB.
And sadly I think Javier needs to be treated the same
txags92 said:From who?W said:
Angel is just cashing checks
The Joker.
gougler08 said:It's honestly why I'd be ok w/ a 6 man rotation or do a 5 man where we skip one of France/Javier/Brown each time throughLonestar_Ag09 said:
They should do the same with HB.
And sadly I think Javier needs to be treated the same
Someone wise on here has mentioned that rotation on here for a while now
Johnsy3 said:Umpire Angel Hernandez missed 23 calls in the #Yankees #Astros game.
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) August 7, 2023
He now has the lowest correct call rate in the league. pic.twitter.com/jmHyBL677w
Oh, and I know the next question will be "Then why doesn't Dana tell Dusty how to set the lineup too?"
And I honestly don't know the answer to that.
And I honestly don't know the answer to that.
JDUB08AG said:
Has there ever been an umpire/referee more universally hated than Hernandez?
No
But there also hasn't ever been an umpire/referee that has been this utterly and consistently incompetent at his job.
Ag_07 said:JDUB08AG said:
Has there ever been an umpire/referee more universally hated than Hernandez?
No
But there also hasn't ever been an umpire/referee that has been this utterly and consistently incompetent at his job.
Who sues anyone he can as often as he blows calls.
Ex-White Sox reliever Keynan Middleton rips club's 'no rules' culture - ESPN
I remember alluding to this when we were discussing trade candidates on the White Sox. I think a lot of those players will do very well once they get a change of scenery and culture. I haven't heard a single good thing about that organization, clubhouse and culture.
Fat Ketch knows things
Reliever Keynan Middleton who was traded by the Chicago White Sox last week told @JesseRogersESPN that there are no rules in the White Sox clubhouse and rookies are sleeping during games, players miss meetings and practices, and "there are no consequences for any of this stuff."
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) August 7, 2023
I remember alluding to this when we were discussing trade candidates on the White Sox. I think a lot of those players will do very well once they get a change of scenery and culture. I haven't heard a single good thing about that organization, clubhouse and culture.
Fat Ketch knows things
Re: Dusty and Postseason moves
Hopefully theses are the only two lineups we see in the post season
Altuve Altuve
Bregman Bregman
Yordan Yordan
Tucker Tucker
Chas Chas
Diaz Diaz
Abreu Abreu
Pena Pena
Meyers Maldonado
Hopefully theses are the only two lineups we see in the post season
Altuve Altuve
Bregman Bregman
Yordan Yordan
Tucker Tucker
Chas Chas
Diaz Diaz
Abreu Abreu
Pena Pena
Meyers Maldonado
Call my cynical, but I don't see Dusty starting Diaz and Maldy in the same game without a third catcher when it comes to playoff lineups.rmp15 said:
Re: Dusty and Postseason moves
Hopefully theses are the only two lineups we see in the post season
Altuve Altuve
Bregman Bregman
Yordan Yordan
Tucker Tucker
Chas Chas
Diaz Diaz
Abreu Abreu
Pena Pena
Meyers Maldonado
texasaggie2015 said:
Oh, and I know the next question will be "Then why doesn't Dana tell Dusty how to set the lineup too?"
And I honestly don't know the answer to that.
Because one is organizational and a personnel move. The other is a game decision.
In general, I don't want my GM making game decisions as those should be between manager and players. The manager should know the clubhouse and how they perform in situations. That's where your manager and GM should be on the same page and generally why a new GM brings in a new manager. Dana and Click both didn't get that luxury.
texasaggie2015 said:
Oh, and I know the next question will be "Then why doesn't Dana tell Dusty how to set the lineup too?"
And I honestly don't know the answer to that.
Although there was a lot of fiction in Moneyball I think it's universally accepted that the manager "owns" the lineup card. I'm sure Dana has given him a lot of input but ultimately it's his call.
Ever seen Moneyball?
JDUB08AG said:Call my cynical, but I don't see Dusty starting Diaz and Maldy in the same game without a third catcher.rmp15 said:
Re: Dusty and Postseason moves
Hopefully theses are the only two lineups we see in the post season
Altuve Altuve
Bregman Bregman
Yordan Yordan
Tucker Tucker
Chas Chas
Diaz Diaz
Abreu Abreu
Pena Pena
Meyers Maldonado
He's already done it a couple of times in season.
I do agree it's Lonestar that when playoff time comes around, Dusty roll out the best lineup. I bet we will see Diaz and Maldy in at the same time.
A lot of posters were worried in 2021 Yordan wouldn't play in Atlanta without the DH and he played every game.
A lot of people were worried in 2022 Dubon would play a ton, and he barley played at all.
Dusty wants to try people out in situations during the regular season to see how they respond so he knows who he can trust in the important games. However, it's different doing that when you have a 10 game lead versus being 2 games behind and in a dog fight for WC. I'd like to see the playoff lineup more starting with the Orioles.
This team is capable of beating the Orioles and anyone else with the right lineup.
We’re going to the White House! pic.twitter.com/MZkqBkYKyy
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) August 7, 2023
Yainer Diaz last 48 games (41 starts):
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) August 7, 2023
.297 BA/.313 OBP/.587 SLG, 11 2B, 13 HR, 30 RBI, 142 wRC+
That’s the highest wRC+ of any catcher in the AL during that time (minimum 150 PAs).#Astros #Ready2Reign pic.twitter.com/A0fLGjfQi0
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