Yup. Almost certainly wins the division. I think ~85 wins is probably enough.

Drew Pomeranz has been granted his release by Mariners and is available for teams needing LH reliever. 10 K in 7 2/3 IP this spring. Fastball sat 91-94 with 92.0 avg

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 23, 2025

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Doesn't really matter, but Astros Spring Training record through the years:

2025: 16-12-1
2024: 13-14
2023: 14-10
2022: 8-5
2021: 6-14
2020: 9-11
2019: 18-12

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 23, 2025

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Can't remember, why only 13 games in 2022?

agdaddy04 said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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Doesn't really matter, but Astros Spring Training record through the years:

2025: 16-12-1
2024: 13-14
2023: 14-10
2022: 8-5
2021: 6-14
2020: 9-11
2019: 18-12

— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) March 23, 2025

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Can't remember, why only 13 games in 2022?

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Shortened due to lockout right?

The kid has only had 32 ABs at AA and not played much RF.

You want that guy to start at RF for a team that can win the division and has goals of winning a WS because he had a good spring training against pitchers that aren't even Nestor Cortez?

Is the majors where you want him working on things if he hits a slump? Because you have to decide how long you're going to let him slump at the ML level if you have him there before moving him down. Is that 2 weeks? 3? 4?

You have other options, and it feels like forcing something you don't need to force while taking the chance you don't mentally make things harder for him by not being able to work the failure at the appropriate level.

I wish we wouldn't rush Smith, but guys much closer to the team than me are making this decision. They must see something special.

Mr.Bond said:

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This is a different era of baseball. Young studs get called up early. If he struggles so what he can go work on stuff. If he lights the world on fire and helps us in arguably our weakest position then fanta

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He also gives us some flexibility. He can play 3B and RF.

Dezenzo can play a lot of positions as well. The combination of those two guys should allow them to get a pretty decent number of at bats and stay regular, especially if we have rest days for certain players.

I'm more concerned with how they get all these guys ABs. Maybe Chas gets traded.

If you're breaking in two new outfielders, Meyers has to be your primary CF. In an ideal world, we package Chas and Caratini for a left handed hitting CF that could platoon with Meyers.

I also think you have to consider what Rodgers (or someone else) at second and Altuve in left gives you compared to Altuve at second and someone else in left.

iBrad said:

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If you're breaking in two new outfielders, Meyers has to be your primary CF. In an ideal world, we package Chas and Caratini for a left handed hitting CF that could platoon with Meyers.

I also think you have to consider what Rodgers (or someone else) at second and Altuve in left gives you compared to Altuve at second and someone else in left.

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I still think that Smith at 3B and Paredes at 2B is the best lineup for us, but who knows.... I mean, Paredes has played 2B before so it's not like it's unheard of.

Maybe the Stros really, really want strong defensive infielding at 2B in particular

Chas is going to have to compete for playing time in RF, IMHO....he needs to split it with Smith and Dezenzo. He will also get some time at CF while Meyers is resting.

AggiEE said:

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iBrad said:

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If you're breaking in two new outfielders, Meyers has to be your primary CF. In an ideal world, we package Chas and Caratini for a left handed hitting CF that could platoon with Meyers.

I also think you have to consider what Rodgers (or someone else) at second and Altuve in left gives you compared to Altuve at second and someone else in left.

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I still think that Smith at 3B and Paredes at 2B is the best lineup for us, but who knows.... I mean, Paredes has played 2B before so it's not like it's unheard of.

Maybe the Stros really, really want strong defensive infielding at 2B in particular

Chas is going to have to compete for playing time in RF, IMHO....he needs to split it with Smith and Dezenzo. He will also get some time at CF while Meyers is resting.

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I don't think a 3 way split at one position is enough ABs for any of the players involved.

MaxPower said:

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AggiEE said:

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iBrad said:

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If you're breaking in two new outfielders, Meyers has to be your primary CF. In an ideal world, we package Chas and Caratini for a left handed hitting CF that could platoon with Meyers.

I also think you have to consider what Rodgers (or someone else) at second and Altuve in left gives you compared to Altuve at second and someone else in left.

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I still think that Smith at 3B and Paredes at 2B is the best lineup for us, but who knows.... I mean, Paredes has played 2B before so it's not like it's unheard of.

Maybe the Stros really, really want strong defensive infielding at 2B in particular

Chas is going to have to compete for playing time in RF, IMHO....he needs to split it with Smith and Dezenzo. He will also get some time at CF while Meyers is resting.

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I don't think a 3 way split at one position is enough ABs for any of the players involved.

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It's not a single position.

Chas can play CF, Smith 3B, Dezenzo multiple positions

I still don't think that's enough ABs. I don't see Walker sitting much if he's healthy, ditto for Paredes. They'd have to give Paredes a lot of PT at 2B, which is certainly possible. I don't see Altuve playing 2B much because I think they want to let him focus on LF.

So, a reason of subpar LF play? I guess the organization decided that miscues in left outweigh miscues at 2B

Yeah ideally they'd try out Paredes at 2B imho on occasion

I also think Walker is going to need more rest given his injury history and age, would like to see Dezenzo play there occasionally

Letting Jon go is a strange move. He's the left handed bat for 1B or off the bench.

I guess that is now Caratini.

I am starting to think the strategy might be to carry Hummel as a third catcher (and himself a switch hitter) so that Caratini/Diaz can always be the big pinch hitter off the bench without having to hold them back.

That makes a lot of sense

EastCoastAgNc said:

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This is where the cowboy rides away…

— Linzy Singleton (@linzysing14) March 23, 2025

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those bat flips were legendary

redline248 said:

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Sorry, this isn't exactly Astros related, but

There is a thread on premium aboutwhether or not the AD could set an objective of "win a NC in football by X date," and then actually meet it. It made me think of the Astros. Texas A&M should hire Jeff Lunhow and they would probably have a championship in 2 years

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Lunhows desire for brutal cost efficiency would not play well with NIL, recruiting, and facilities races

EastCoastAgNc said:

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redline248 said:

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Sorry, this isn't exactly Astros related, but

There is a thread on premium aboutwhether or not the AD could set an objective of "win a NC in football by X date," and then actually meet it. It made me think of the Astros. Texas A&M should hire Jeff Lunhow and they would probably have a championship in 2 years

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Lunhows desire for brutal cost efficiency would not play well with NIL, recruiting, and facilities races

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I think he'd be fine with the NIL game. He wouldn't have an owner telling him to stay under a certain threshold, and you aren't giving long term contracts to college players. Aggies almost always pony up the money for facilities.

Where Jeff would shine is talent acquisition in coaches and players, imo

Good

**** the dodgers

astros4545 said:

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Good

**** the dodgers

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I'll allow it.