EastCoastAgNc said:

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We’re at #Astros camp today and one things for sure both GM Dana Brown & MGR Joe Espada made it clear Cam Smith will be given every opportunity to win RF job and Jose Altuve told @PerezEd & I that he hopes Smith makes the team for more go to @MLBNetworkRadio

— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) March 9, 2025

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So I guess there is a chance.

Let this be a lesson for all of us to not speak in absolutes... unless you're discussing Alex Cintron (lol).

If I can play fantasy/video game GM for a moment. What if we were looking at this going into opening day in 2 weeks?

LF Altuve
2B Parades
DH Alvarez
1B Walker
C Diaz
3B Arenado
RF Cam Smith
SS Pena
CF Meyers/McCormick

Long RH heavy lineup. Elite IF defense. Shaky OF defense that will improve as the season goes. Deep rotation. Ring #3?

tylhair said:

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If I can play fantasy/video game GM for a moment. What if we were looking at this going into opening day in 2 weeks?

LF Altuve
2B Parades
DH Alvarez
1B Walker
C Diaz
3B Arenado
RF Cam Smith
SS Pena
CF Meyers/McCormick

Long RH heavy lineup. Elite IF defense. Shaky OF defense that will improve as the season goes. Deep rotation. Ring #3?

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Doubt we'll get Arenado, but even replacing him with someone serviceable would be fine. The lineup looks great if the players play up to their potential.

Really I think it comes down to health and pitching. Need guys to continue pitching well like they did last year for our starters.

Need Hader to return to form and some surprises to do well (Whitley) for our bullpen.

tylhair said:

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If I can play fantasy/video game GM for a moment. What if we were looking at this going into opening day in 2 weeks?

LF Altuve
2B Parades
DH Alvarez
1B Walker
C Diaz
3B Arenado
RF Cam Smith
SS Pena
CF Meyers/McCormick

Long RH heavy lineup. Elite IF defense. Shaky OF defense that will improve as the season goes. Deep rotation. Ring #3?

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Feels like Arenado won't happen. But take your lineup, move Parades to 3B, move Smith to the 6 hole, and slot Rodgers in the 7 hole at 2B. You still have elite IF defense and roughly the same offensive numbers.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Beeks joins the Astros, who are looking for a bridge to Abreu and Hader. A look at the Astros' bullpen with two weeks left in camp.https://t.co/1gSEgRRwIX

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 9, 2025

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Clarence Beeks?

If no Arenado, what combo is better overall (offensively and defensively)?

3B Paredes
2B Rodgers
RF Smith

or

3B Smith
2B Paredes
RF Gamel/McCormick (or even DeZenzo)

so if Smith wins the RF job - we'll have guys in the OF who have never played that position before? Smith had 3 games' experience in LF in his life playing in the Cape Cod League, and Altuve has zero playing OF anywhere. Doesn't that seem like a total defensive disaster waiting to happen?

If he can hit, put Smith him at 3B and put Paredes at 2B. Then Dubon doesn't have to start. Yes that puts Chas and Jake both in the OF mix with Dubon and Gamel, but if Smith can even hit .230 with 20 HR, he's a plus. And you have some options on the bench with guys in Rodgers and Dubon who can play multiple positions.

I agree that Cam Smith makes much more sense at 3B at the moment.

RF is definitely where he'll end up though.

I still love the idea of Arenado and want to come up with some way to make them both work.

I suppose the emergence of Cam Smith may have some deterring effect on the Arenado pursuit.

Option 1 for defense.

Option 2 for offense.

MAROON said:

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EastCoastAgNc said:

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Beeks joins the Astros, who are looking for a bridge to Abreu and Hader. A look at the Astros' bullpen with two weeks left in camp.https://t.co/1gSEgRRwIX

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 9, 2025

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Clarence Beeks?

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https://texags.com/forums/53/topics/3505135/replies/69798331

Gerrit Cole has been recommended to have Tommy John surgery, per @JimBowdenGM

They are waiting for a second opinion pic.twitter.com/DPk33hejVf

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 10, 2025

I wonder if last season was the precursor.

Sources: Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred and some owners are pressuring Stu Sternberg to sell the Tampa Bay Rays. Revenue sharing money could be at stake.

Several groups have expressed interest, including the family of Edward DeBartolo Jr.https://t.co/DgClN3C5D9

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) March 10, 2025

Who are the owners? LAD, NYY, Red Sox? That's all Manfred cares about. What a poon. I hate that guy.

And why? Aren't they building a new stadium?

"Hey Stu, we know a hurricane has destroyed your stadium recently, and you made the playoffs from 2019-2023 despite the crappiest attendance out of Oakland, and your team plays in a town where 1 out of every 5 people is over 65 and won't go to a game because they don't like the young people and their too loud music and the crowds, and also sorry that your best player is currently on house arrest in the DR and got arrested AGAIN last year while waiting for his trial for all that other crap.

Anyway, how about you sell the team on top of that? Thanks."

The Original Houston 1836 said:

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"Hey Stu, we know a hurricane has destroyed your stadium recently, and you made the playoffs from 2019-2023 despite the crappiest attendance out of Oakland, and your team plays in a town where 1 out of every 5 people is over 65 and won't go to a game because they don't like the young people and their too loud music and the crowds, and also sorry that your best player is currently on house arrest in the DR and got arrested AGAIN last year while waiting for his trial for all that other crap.

Anyway, how about you sell the team on top of that? Thanks."

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"And oh by the way, your monthly stadium rent of $15,000,000 is due at the end of each month. Please make the check out to the New York Yankees, Inc. you are responsible for any damages at the end of your lease and pets are not allowed."

We all know that he started fraying that UCL last year.

MLB thinks he is purposely torpedoeing the stadium proposal in St Pete to get out of dodge. For whatever reason MLB wants a team in that area (it's the 17th largest metro area in the U.S. even if geographically challenged) and doesn't take too kindly to his shenanigans. That said, if it's what Manfred wants then I hope Stu gives him the bird.

Fun facts about baseball in Florida that the commish is too stupid to understand.

NOBODY IN FLORIDA WANTS TO GO TO A BASEBALL GAME

The Marlins have played 32 seasons in Miami. They've never finished higher than 5th in the NL in attendance out of 14-16 teams..
They finished 5th in 1993 and 1994, their first two years, and in 1997 when they won the World Series.

Every year since 1997, they've finished no better than 12th in attendance, including 15th of 16 in 2003 when they won the World Series. They've finished last in attendance 11 years in a row.


The Rays have played 25 seasons in Tampa. have never finished higher than 7th in attendance in the AL out of 14-15 teams. They finished 7th out of 14 their first year, and 9th out of 14 in 2010.
In 2008 when they lost the WS, they were 12th of 14.
They've finished 13th, 14th or 15th every years since 2010.

tjack16 said:

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Gerrit Cole has been recommended to have Tommy John surgery, per @JimBowdenGM

They are waiting for a second opinion pic.twitter.com/DPk33hejVf

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 10, 2025

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Yo Gerrit, plenty of time to let your hair grow out so not a total waste.

Charlotte would gladly take the Rays. The city already has NFL, NBA, and a NASCAR track. The AAA stadium was built to accommodate expansion to meet MLB standards when they built it a few years ago.

These better not be it, these are hot garbage. pic.twitter.com/yJ6qyWbPGK

— Astros Knower (@AstrosKnower) March 10, 2025

Probably not accurate but I actually don't dislike this

It's boring but doesn't suck. If that makes sense

I wonder if the hat/pants would improve the situation

Gives me Walmart vibes. The stuff that licensed but looks nothing like offical gear. I highly doubt that's it.

Cam Smith at third base in Dunedin pic.twitter.com/4VqctqrpsA

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 10, 2025

I don't buy that he's being eyed to play RF for the big club immediately

tylhair said:

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I wonder if the hat/pants would improve the situation

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I'd assume maybe an orange hat? It just looks like a knockoff of a throwback to me

These were the original leak for 2022, and were wrong. So take that earlier one with a grain of salt…

Hummel keeps batting leadoff. I wonder if he's getting serious consideration. I'd think they would put fringe roster guys at the top who may get an extra AB.

Three former Astros in the lineup: Springer, Wagner and Loperfido. https://t.co/1uFRG82SV8

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 10, 2025

And former future Astro Anthony Santander

Four questions the Astros must ponder while constructing their roster - https://t.co/DQiBk35dAe

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 10, 2025

tjack16 said:

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These were the original leak for 2022, and were wrong. So take that earlier one with a grain of salt…

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holy crap these are terrible

gambochaman said:

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tjack16 said:

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These were the original leak for 2022, and were wrong. So take that earlier one with a grain of salt…

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holy crap these are terrible

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One of the Glee club kids tripped and spilled glitter all over them.