Yah, with the way things went at the plate this year. If you can't DH for him because you're too stupid to play Diaz at catcher, it would make sense to at least try to maximize his only real offensive strength which is his speed in the 9 hole.W said:
and another example of the insanity of Dusty's 2023 lineups...
Pena had 229 at-bats in the leadoff spot or 2-hole....with a season OPS+ of 95
144 at-bats in the 6-hole...woof
only 97 at-bats in the 8 or 9 spot in the order
Both seemed like solid guys all year. I think it just comes down to the money. The league is full of solid / average relievers and lots of starting pitchers that never lived up to potential that could be just as solid from the BP.MAROON said:
what is the board's consensus on Neris and Maton? I for one would be in favor of signing both of them - obviously if the money is reasonable and not crazy.
But I haven't looked at the available FA bull pen guys to see if there is an upgrade (or lefty) in the same price range.
Keep both of them (for the right price) and add Hader. I really believe that's all we'd need to do for the bullpen.MAROON said:
what is the board's consensus on Neris and Maton? I for one would be in favor of signing both of them - obviously if the money is reasonable and not crazy.
But I haven't looked at the available FA bull pen guys to see if there is an upgrade (or lefty) in the same price range.
The Astros are expected to hold a news conference tomorrow concerning the status of manager Dusty Baker. No official word from the team. @KHOU
— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) October 25, 2023
I will puke incessantly if I ever see Altuve in another uniform.txags11 said:
I'm assuming Altuve wants to retire an Astro and will take a discount to stay if it means being able to put more money into re-signing Bregman
Dont you do that Ricky Bobby. Dont you lay that on me.texasaggie2015 said:The Astros are expected to hold a news conference tomorrow concerning the status of manager Dusty Baker. No official word from the team. @KHOU
— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) October 25, 2023
Imagine if they announced they were re-signing him
Announcing that Maldonado is the new manager and Dusty is moving to first base coach and also activating himself as utility infielder.Mathguy64 said:Dont you do that Ricky Bobby. Dont you lay that on me.texasaggie2015 said:The Astros are expected to hold a news conference tomorrow concerning the status of manager Dusty Baker. No official word from the team. @KHOU
— Matt Musil (@KHOUSportsMatt) October 25, 2023
Imagine if they announced they were re-signing him
I agree with your post but will bold the last sentence since it is something no one else has mentioned. This team has not filled the leadership void of Correa. Pena was so good last year it didn't matter but having this team complain about the batter's eye and it doesn't affect our opponents shows mental weakness. I think Correa would have told them to quit whining and sack up.SpaceCityAg05 said:
I would put my roster priorities in this order (not counting contract extensions and coaching):
1. Two platoon outfielders (to be used in LF/CF/DH alongside Yordan and Chas). Platoon guys can be had for cheap and can be used highly effectively when not managed by Dusty Baker. Plus we need better bench depth than this year. Goodbye Meyers.
2. A steady 2/3 starter. We don't need to pay/trade for ace value. We have talent behind Verlander, but not reliability. We need what Montgomery provided: a quality, consistent arm that can be counted upon for innings and postseason.
3. Bullpen. I keep seeing the Hader stuff and must admit I am puzzled. Analytics prove that overspending on bullpen can be a waste. You need a deep bullpen, but individual bullpen arms tend to be volatile. You return Pressly and Abreu on the backend and despite rhetoric Montero is fine as a 6/7 guy. Out of Neris, Maton, and Stanek, you need resignings and replacements and we don't have much ready-made help within the system. We need to make a major investment in 1 reliever to pair with Pressly and Stanek, and we need to trade for another young arm (think Pressly and Maton trades).
4. We need a backup catcher. While Salazar seems to hold favor, I also know it is important to have someone ready at AAA as well when a catcher inevitably goes on the IL. I would prefer to acquire an inexpensive but good fit backup to Diaz.
5. Among these moves you need to acquire 1-2 vocal, veteran, playoff-experienced guys to help in the locker room. If you lose Maldonado, Neris, and Brantley, you will be down to Bregman in terms of strong locker room voices.
* This is why I am still inclined to favor Espada at manager. Part of our dynasty is culture and as you lose leading player voices from that run, you need coaching continuity voices to help keep it going.
Let's stay optimistic but this doesn't give me great feelings.From @brianmctaggart: "Dana Brown... will have a say in who’s in the manager’s chair, but owner Jim Crane and Jeff Bagwell, the team’s senior advisor to ownership and baseball operations, will oversee finding the next Astros skipper."
— Mike Mitchell (@MikeMitchNH) October 25, 2023
Absolute clown show in the front office.
That doesn't match what we've heard here in that Bagwell doesn't have that kind of pull.linkdude said:Let's stay optimistic but this doesn't give me great feelings.From @brianmctaggart: "Dana Brown... will have a say in who’s in the manager’s chair, but owner Jim Crane and Jeff Bagwell, the team’s senior advisor to ownership and baseball operations, will oversee finding the next Astros skipper."
— Mike Mitchell (@MikeMitchNH) October 25, 2023
Absolute clown show in the front office.
I want Altuve in an Astros uniform for the remainder of his career. Would be the worst.Wabs said:I will puke incessantly if I ever see Altuve in another uniform.txags11 said:
I'm assuming Altuve wants to retire an Astro and will take a discount to stay if it means being able to put more money into re-signing Bregman
Willy Wonka said:
I like Neris. He's got that dawg in him.
Bagwell is an advisor. That's it. He doesn't really have any pull whatsoever. Crane values his opinion and there's really not much more to it.linkdude said:Let's stay optimistic but this doesn't give me great feelings.From @brianmctaggart: "Dana Brown... will have a say in who’s in the manager’s chair, but owner Jim Crane and Jeff Bagwell, the team’s senior advisor to ownership and baseball operations, will oversee finding the next Astros skipper."
— Mike Mitchell (@MikeMitchNH) October 25, 2023
Absolute clown show in the front office.
tjack16 said:
Whoever thebatman26 is … he's making us look really stupid on the trash talk thread. Just move on already
And people say Astros fans were harsh post ALCS. Not even…
— RobnCypress (@robncypress) October 25, 2023
Take a listen-#Ready2Reign
pic.twitter.com/iV73bABBUc
Odds to replace Dusty Baker as Astros manager (via @BovadaOfficial), should Dusty not return:
— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) October 24, 2023
Joe Espada -200
Will Venable +700
Buck Showalter +700
Don Mattingly +700
A.J. Hinch +700
Craig Counsell +750
Walt Weiss +750
(Photo: @KHOU file) pic.twitter.com/ggRjG0RCZa
If it ends up being Showalter, kiss this era goodbye.texasaggie2015 said:Odds to replace Dusty Baker as Astros manager (via @BovadaOfficial), should Dusty not return:
— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) October 24, 2023
Joe Espada -200
Will Venable +700
Buck Showalter +700
Don Mattingly +700
A.J. Hinch +700
Craig Counsell +750
Walt Weiss +750
(Photo: @KHOU file) pic.twitter.com/ggRjG0RCZa
If I had to guess as of right now, I would probably go with Espada so this checks out. Venable is a name that was mentioned to me last night. I think Counsell goes to the Mets. I don't think any of the other names on this list are in play aside from Weiss but I don't think that's likely.
AgLA06 said:
I'm sure I'm out of the loop on this, but why is it a conclusion we can't resign Brantly to be the purely situational platoon outfielder / DH against righties? I mean the health issues are a glaring problem, but they would be for anyone else that might be interested as well and should mean you could get him at a discount.
txags11 said:
I'm assuming Altuve wants to retire an Astro and will take a discount to stay if it means being able to put more money into re-signing Bregman
WES2006AG said:
Hinch seems like an odd name for that list. Crane has clearly wanted to move on from 2017 and bringing AJ back makes that front page news again.
I would be legitimately stunned if it's either one of those guys. All of the names I've heard are younger guys.Wabs said:
Good Lord, we don't need a re-tread manager. We need some youth, energy, and creativity.
Showalter? Mattingly? Come on dude.
