***** Official Houston Astros 2024-2025 Offseason Thread *****

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tjack16
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9:50a, 2/20/25
AG
I guess I'm in the minority but I'd just like to keep Altuve at second full time.

Is he the best at it? No. But is he bad enough that he costs us games at that position? No. So there shouldn't be "uncertainty" in my opinion

And yes I'm sure the advanced analytics say he's bad, but it's not costing us games or championships
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AggiEE
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In reply to redline248 • 9:51a, 2/20/25
redline248 said:
EastCoastAgNc said:
I have avoided this topic bc I dislike any Altuve slander, but now I will offer my two cents.

There is no uncertainty at 2B (for 2025). Altuve will play 2B most of the time. Dubon's better defense is nowhere good enough to make up for his much worse bat, especially when we still have no idea if Jake and Chas will produce, and both of them will be in the lineup most days.


Then who is better at LF when Yordan is DH as he mostly will be?

You're going to have somebody batting in LF that's less than ideal, might as well improve your infield defense by moving Altuve to left
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Farmer1906
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In reply to AggiEE • 9:56a, 2/20/25
AG
Dezenzo and Gamel. Edit: meaning these two are better than Dubon.

Offensively it makes more sense for Altuve at 2B. Long term defensively it might make more sense in LF. We need to figure out what we have on the roster and if we're going to add another INF.

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redline248
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In reply to Farmer1906 • 10:01a, 2/20/25
AG
Exactly. When Yordan DH's we can Chas/Jake/Gamel or Dezenzo/Jake/Chas

I suppose the occasional Dubon in the OF with some combo of Jake/Chas/Gamel/Dezenzo is fine. However, my fear is we get another 450 ABs from Dubon
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iBrad
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10:06a, 2/20/25
AG
Lineup and roster flexibility is not a bad thing. There are probably instances where we would benefit more setting a defensive lineup for our starter than an offensive lineup for the opposing starter. Having a stronger infield for a GB pitcher is not a bad thing.
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tylhair
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10:13a, 2/20/25
AG
This has everything to do with Altuve not having enough range (due to size and deteriorating quickness) to play adequate 2B.

He was essentially the worst defensive 2B in MLB last year. He's going to get worse and he's under contract for a bunch more years.

If Yordan is gonna be our primary DH the next few years, you have a big conundrum.

It is clearly the plan to get Altuve acclimated to LF sooner rather than later.

LF defense is less important than an up the middle, infield position. Less balls are hit your way and less plays need to be made. Additionally, LF at Daikon is smaller and easier to play than most stadiums.

I'm sure the fanbase, especially Facebook types, are going to go insane when Altuve takes a bad route, has a ball sail over his head, or can't throw someone out at the plate. But the value added by having a league average (perhaps above average) 2B is going to be a huge net positive.
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W
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10:16a, 2/20/25
AG
of course a critical question for 2025...

can Espada manage all the position changes correctly?

maximize a given player's strengths and minimize his weaknesses
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EastCoastAgNc
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10:25a, 2/20/25
AG
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EastCoastAgNc
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10:54a, 2/20/25
AG
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EastCoastAgNc
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10:54a, 2/20/25
AG
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RED AG 98
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11:00a, 2/20/25
AG
Yeah I don't understand the Altuve in LF stuff either just to ride with Dubon. It might be worth discussing Doobie as a regular if the other two choices are Jake and Chas but that's about it.

Honestly I don't any 2 of those playing full time but that's probably just wishful thinking at this point.
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texasaggie2015
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11:04a, 2/20/25
AG
FWIW - I mentioned to one of my connections the other night that I have a hard time believing they're moving Altuve to LF to give Dubon more reps at second base and something must be happening behind the scenes.

He responded "Bingo."

I know they're still working on an Arenado deal as of yesterday. Not sure the details- I'm assuming it's salary stuff and there's no guarantee that happens.
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Bobby Jimbo
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In reply to tjack16 • 11:05a, 2/20/25
AG
tjack16 said:
but it's not costing us games or championships
Didn't his defense at least partially cost us a championship in 2020?
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RED AG 98
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In reply to texasaggie2015 • 11:05a, 2/20/25
AG
thank goodness
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Mr.Bond
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11:21a, 2/20/25
AG
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15Nyeavk9v/

I love stuff like this
Im looking for Ray Finkle.... and a clean pair of shorts. Im just a very big Finkle fan. This is my Graceland, sir.


MAGA

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tjack16
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In reply to Bobby Jimbo • 11:22a, 2/20/25
AG
Bobby Jimbo said:
tjack16 said:
but it's not costing us games or championships
Didn't his defense at least partially cost us a championship in 2020?


I don't think so. We couldn't score much in the first 3 games of that ALCS and Yordan/JV both being injured had more of an effect than Altuve at defense
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TarponChaser
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In reply to Bobby Jimbo • 12:00p, 2/20/25
Bobby Jimbo said:
tjack16 said:
but it's not costing us games or championships
Didn't his defense at least partially cost us a championship in 2020?

You mean the season when he had knee surgery almost immediately after the playoffs? IIRC, he played most of the season with a torn meniscus.
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EastCoastAgNc
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12:05p, 2/20/25
AG
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Mathguy64
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In reply to EastCoastAgNc • 12:05p, 2/20/25
AG
EastCoastAgNc said:
Dave Roberts will be signing a 10 year, $100MM contract. He will get $37/year and a free yearly pass to Disneyworld for himself and his immediately family. The remaining $99,999,630 is deferred until 2040.
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EastCoastAgNc
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12:06p, 2/20/25
AG
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redline248
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In reply to EastCoastAgNc • 12:24p, 2/20/25
AG
EastCoastAgNc said:
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redline248
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In reply to texasaggie2015 • 12:26p, 2/20/25
AG
texasaggie2015 said:
FWIW - I mentioned to one of my connections the other night that I have a hard time believing they're moving Altuve to LF to give Dubon more reps at second base and something must be happening behind the scenes.

He responded "Bingo."

I know they're still working on an Arenado deal as of yesterday. Not sure the details- I'm assuming it's salary stuff and there's no guarantee that happens.
Let's say that Houston acquires Arenado. That means Parades at 2B? Didn't Farmer show a stat the other day that Parades was just as bad at 2B as Altuve? (Maybe I misunderstood that post)
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mwm
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12:44p, 2/20/25
RE: Altuve in LF - I wonder how much the physicality of playing in LF will factor, if at all? Altuve is not a "spring chicken". A LFer's sprint for a ball just looping over the IF or down the line or in the gap is much, much farther than is customary for a 2B. Likewise, there will be collisions at the wall, etc. I am not convinced that he has an OF arm. Heaven knows the other two OFers don't have one, either.

I am skeptical of this move even if it's only 50% of the time. I can also foresee that playing LF may actually shorten his playing future.

I sure hope I am wrong.
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The Original Houston 1836
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12:49p, 2/20/25
We should make predictions on when Jose's first multiple base error will come in LF. It seems like throwing accuracy would be a huge concern. He's never thrown it more than probably 100 feet in 13-14 years, and now he will have to throw the ball from the track to second / third / home? Even Gary Pettis would know when it was time to send the runner.
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Mathguy64
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In reply to The Original Houston 1836 • 12:56p, 2/20/25
AG
He will just throw it to Jake and let him make the relay.
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redline248
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1:00p, 2/20/25
AG
After careful consideration, it's fine. The nerds will just mold all our pitchers to keep batted balls from CF to RF. This way, we don't even need to worry about a good 3B, either.
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Farmer1906
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1:00p, 2/20/25
AG
How many meaningful throws do you think a left fielder makes in a season?
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EastCoastAgNc
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1:02p, 2/20/25
AG
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EastCoastAgNc
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1:02p, 2/20/25
AG
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JYDog90
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In reply to mwm • 1:22p, 2/20/25
AG
mwm said:
RE: Altuve in LF - I wonder how much the physicality of playing in LF will factor, if at all? Altuve is not a "spring chicken". A LFer's sprint for a ball just looping over the IF or down the line or in the gap is much, much farther than is customary for a 2B. Likewise, there will be collisions at the wall, etc. I am not convinced that he has an OF arm. Heaven knows the other two OFers don't have one, either.

I am skeptical of this move even if it's only 50% of the time. I can also foresee that playing LF may actually shorten his playing future.

I sure hope I am wrong.


I was told by this board 3 weeks ago when I brought this up that there's nothing to worry about as the infield and outfield throwing motion is completely different.
Formerly Willy Wonka
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MaxPower
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In reply to Farmer1906 • 1:32p, 2/20/25
Farmer1906 said:
How many meaningful throws do you think a left fielder makes in a season?
Yeah, I'm more worried about range and reads. Jake is a really good defender for those exact reasons. I'm not saying Jose will be strong in those areas but certainly more room for optimism there than with his arm.
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The Original Houston 1836
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1:50p, 2/20/25
Are the Astros secretly putting Altuve out there so people will stop saying we have the worst outfield in baseball?
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Farmer1906
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In reply to redline248 • 1:58p, 2/20/25
AG
redline248 said:
texasaggie2015 said:
FWIW - I mentioned to one of my connections the other night that I have a hard time believing they're moving Altuve to LF to give Dubon more reps at second base and something must be happening behind the scenes.

He responded "Bingo."

I know they're still working on an Arenado deal as of yesterday. Not sure the details- I'm assuming it's salary stuff and there's no guarantee that happens.
Let's say that Houston acquires Arenado. That means Parades at 2B? Didn't Farmer show a stat the other day that Parades was just as bad at 2B as Altuve? (Maybe I misunderstood that post)
Overall, Paredes is serviceable defensively. Not exactly a great 3B.

He did actually do fairly well in a limited stint at 2B a few years ago.



When I see him, he is built more like a 3B.
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txags92
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In reply to RED AG 98 • 1:59p, 2/20/25
AG
RED AG 98 said:
Yeah I don't understand the Altuve in LF stuff either just to ride with Dubon. It might be worth discussing Doobie as a regular if the other two choices are Jake and Chas but that's about it.

Honestly I don't any 2 of those playing full time but that's probably just wishful thinking at this point.
With the number of groundball pitchers we have in our starting rotation, I think the idea is to put the best defensive lineup they can in the infield. So if Dubon is likely to be playing either way, they would prefer to have his defense at 2B and Altuve's defensive liability in LF alternating the DH role with Yordan. Or they go find a better 2B/3B and keep Dubon as a utility guy.
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The Original Houston 1836
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2:01p, 2/20/25
Pena is going to hit .470 in the 6th spot if we're trotting Jake, Chas and Dubon every day.
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