pic.twitter.com/LT6LqGzwg4

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 13, 2025

Welcome Spencer Arrighetti to the sinker revolution - https://t.co/mTEWKp1Zrn

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 13, 2025

The #STLCards have signed RHP Phil Maton to a major-league deal, the team announced this morning.

— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) March 13, 2025

EastCoastAgNc said:

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Welcome Spencer Arrighetti to the sinker revolution - https://t.co/mTEWKp1Zrn

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 13, 2025

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When did two-seam fastball become synonymous with a sinker? I see it referenced a lot on social media and even pitch track simulations. It's the same grip, but two different movements depending on how the pitcher finishes the pitch.

Today is my last day at @SportsTalk790. Yall come hang with me @SeanUnfiltered on the @SSalisburyShow until 10am. Call in, laugh with us, yell at us, we don't care just come join us.https://t.co/q6BuaczCXF and on the free @iHeartRadio app.

— Brian LaLima (@BLima790) March 13, 2025

The Astros reassigned Brice Matthews, Brandon Walter and Bryan Lavastida to minor league camp.

— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) March 13, 2025

It's interesting watching the trends change. 10-15 years ago, the 2-seamer was all but banned by most teams from being thrown as it was getting crushed. Hitters adapted, and now it's becoming in vogue again.

Hopefully the Astros continue to be on the front edge of identifying the trend changes like they were with the 2-seamer change.

If I was reading tea leaves, I don't think I would be surprised if Smith gets the opening day nod in RF, with Altuve and Meyers, and McCormick gets the bench.

I just checked because i haven't heard much on him but Chas is having a pretty rough ST

16 ABs, 2 hits, 2 RBIs, .125 BA, .542 OPS

I know they want to give him every chance possible and that's a just a small sample size in ST but that's going to be tough to trout out there.

redline248 said:

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If I was reading tea leaves, I don't think I would be surprised if Smith gets the opening day nod in RF, with Altuve and Meyers, and McCormick gets the bench.

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Yeah Banana pudding may be the odd man out, hate to see it, he's just imploded the last year and can't figure it out

New @Crush_City_Pod with @tylercstafford and a special guest: Astros AGM Gavin Dickey

Great stuff about Dickey's rise in the Astros' system and Friday's Spring Breakout game

Apple: https://t.co/dTg71ssgtk

Spotify: https://t.co/vBKa80DqB5

YouTube: https://t.co/kL3QcZHr9n

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 13, 2025

Joe Espada said second base "is a place where I think (Matthews) can find comfort and he can be an above-average defender." Expect to see a lot of that in Triple-A this season. Wrote earlier this spring about that and Matthews' long-term future - https://t.co/ln3MyqZn9Z https://t.co/ymjRpOR2zf

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 13, 2025

Jumping ahead a bit…#Astros 2026 opening day lineup:
LF Jose Altuve
3B Isaac Paredes
DH Yordan Alvarez
1B Christian Walker
C Yainer Diaz
RF Cam Smith
SS Jeremy Peña
CF Jacob Melton
2B Brice Matthews
P Hunter Brown

— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) March 13, 2025

I really hope I'm wrong about Melton but right now I'm thinking his best case is a platoon guy in CF.

Good info that doesn't show up when I just glance at his stat line

texasaggie2015 said:

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I really hope I'm wrong about Melton but right now I'm thinking his best case is a platoon guy in CF.

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I am with Farmer in that I hope the organization finds a way to package him in a trade this season before he loses value.

Use him as part of a package for a good leverage arm or solid OFer if Chas doesn't prove to turn it around once the season begins.

They were really high on him as recently as last year. I just don't see it. Maybe the ceiling is so high they want to hold on to him in case he breaks out. I really don't know.

Beat40 said:

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It's interesting watching the trends change. 10-15 years ago, the 2-seamer was all but banned by most teams from being thrown as it was getting crushed. Hitters adapted, and now it's becoming in vogue again.

Hopefully the Astros continue to be on the front edge of identifying the trend changes like they were with the 2-seamer change.

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The two-seam was never dropped. What you saw was an increase of four-seam usage at the top of the zone in response to the focus on launch angle by hitters and the subsequent "uppercut" swing. The best example was Cole's sinker (not "two-seam") getting crushed while in Pitt. The Astros immediately changed his pitch selection/usage/sequencing to decrease his sinker usage and increase his for-seam usage. The Astros were definitely one of the first teams to emphasize that strategy.

Miles Finch said:

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Beat40 said:

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It's interesting watching the trends change. 10-15 years ago, the 2-seamer was all but banned by most teams from being thrown as it was getting crushed. Hitters adapted, and now it's becoming in vogue again.

Hopefully the Astros continue to be on the front edge of identifying the trend changes like they were with the 2-seamer change.

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The two-seam was never dropped. What you saw was an increase of four-seam usage at the top of the zone in response to the focus on launch angle by hitters and the subsequent "uppercut" swing. The best example was Cole's sinker (not "two-seam") getting crushed while in Pitt. The Astros immediately changed his pitch selection/usage/sequencing to decrease his sinker usage and increase his for-seam usage. The Astros were definitely one of the first teams to emphasize that strategy.

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We're saying the same thing. The team didn't tell Cole or other guys to never throw the 2-seamer/sinker again, but they highly, highly encouraged him to stop throwing it. They did with a lot of other guys too, which is why I used the phrase "all but banned." Cole ended up throwing the sinker 2.4% of the time in 2019.

I was just commenting on the Astros were on the fore-front of identifying the trend and took advantage of it for several years. Now, we see them encouraging guys to use their change-up more, and certain guys like Brown and Spencer to use a 2-seamer or sinker to take advantage of current batter's swings. My hope is they are on the fore-front of an effective trend and get to take several years advantage.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Yep.. I know I sound like a broken record but don't look at ST stats. Players don't and coaches don't. Neither should we.

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for the guys on the bubble fighting for a roster spot the stats dang sure do matter

Everyone comes in and out of trends as well as people figuring out what shapes, locations, etc are effective.

Lets throw some data on this.



As trendy as the sinker is, its still used much less and is less valuable than the ole 4 seamer. The slider is still the king.

Farmer1906 said:

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Lets throw some data on this.



As trendy as the sinker is, its still used much less and is less valuable than the ole 4 seamer. The slider is still the king.

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The Astros are a huge outlier. It kind of makes sense. We don't have velo fiends gassing it by everyone.

texasaggie2015 said:

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Yep.. I know I sound like a broken record but don't look at ST stats. Players don't and coaches don't. Neither should we.

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For my part it isn't just the stats, but also that Chas appears to be getting more games with the "B" team. Again, just reading tea leaves and I'm not really hyper dialed in to spring training. Chas has productive history and big league experience that Smith doesn't...but I just won't be surprised by anything, I guess.

Yeah, I think everyone looks at Cam Smith's spring stats and gets excited, but lots of guys get on ST heaters. I think the real thing that is forcing the real attention/action for Smith is how good his approach and eye at the plate have been combined with swinging the bat with loud barrels.

I had to go to a meeting last night and was forced to autodraft 75% of my first fantasy baseball draft and wound up with Marcus Semien and Josh Jung from Arlington. Considering just forfeiting

Last one. It is interesting to me to see how teams find success or failure (see Colorado) with different pitches.

jja79 said:

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I'm still trying to get over the Orioles breaking out orange jerseys in 1971 and the Braves following suit. I still prefer white at home and gray on the road. Obviously I'm old. Went to my first MLB game 61 years ago.

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strangely enough...the Braves' jersey kind of worked

in part because Hank Aaron wore it

he hit 714 in the blue jersey -- 715 was in the white version