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Post by Saint on Dec 23, 2019 14:17:46 GMT -6
We've added catching depth and re-signed a solid reliever. Anything else at this point is just icing on the already-expensive cake that we have. They’ll all be a year older, they’ve re-signed two minor players and lost a major one and added a PR disaster. It hasn’t been an improvement yet. They need to get on it. But if you expected them to be better than they were last year you were being unreasonable with your expectations. The goal needs to be, stay a contender without using up too many extra resources for the next couple seasons. Then semi-rebuild around Altuve-Bregman-Tucker-Yordan. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 23, 2019 15:03:15 GMT -6
They’ll all be a year older, they’ve re-signed two minor players and lost a major one and added a PR disaster. It hasn’t been an improvement yet. They need to get on it. But if you expected them to be better than they were last year you were being unreasonable with your expectations. The goal needs to be, stay a contender without using up too many extra resources for the next couple seasons. Then semi-rebuild around Altuve-Bregman-Tucker-Yordan. I don’t expect them to replace Cole successfully nor do they need to do so. However, I think other areas need to be addressed. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 23, 2019 15:12:46 GMT -6
One thing for sure, we Astros fans ain't getting anything worth a damn for Christmas......as far as improving the team is concerned. We've added catching depth and re-signed a solid reliever. Anything else at this point is just icing on the already-expensive cake that we have. I don't call signing Dustin Garneau as catching help. Maldonado won't put up close to the numbers we got from Chirinos. I am not convinced that Joe Smith is that solid. I would not have signed him for more than one year, Unless we sign Harris or another effective reliever, our pen is weaker. Without Chirinos, our catching went downhill. Plus, we still have holes in the rotation. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 23, 2019 15:15:31 GMT -6
We've added catching depth and re-signed a solid reliever. Anything else at this point is just icing on the already-expensive cake that we have. They’ll all be a year older, they’ve re-signed two minor players and lost a major one and added a PR disaster. It hasn’t been an improvement yet. They need to get on it. What "PR disaster"has been added? |
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Post by Saint on Dec 23, 2019 15:16:18 GMT -6
But if you expected them to be better than they were last year you were being unreasonable with your expectations. The goal needs to be, stay a contender without using up too many extra resources for the next couple seasons. Then semi-rebuild around Altuve-Bregman-Tucker-Yordan. I don’t expect them to replace Cole successfully nor do they need to do so. However, I think other areas need to be addressed. There is always changes that can be made, but at some point you have to ask yourself if it's just change to be change. We've talked about a lot of possibilities, trades, FAs, and such, but, in the end, I'm not sure how many of them actually improve us in the Win column over the last couple years. Like last year, the focus doesn't need to be trynig to get us to be the best on paper. The focus is to win the division while keeping the core players healthy. Personally, at this point, I think the focus needs to be more about improving our situational awareness with baserunning and moving runners. All these HRs are nice, but we need Altuve getting on base more (along with hopefully Straw and Tucker) and we need to be running and focusing on advancing runners. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 23, 2019 15:16:26 GMT -6
We've added catching depth and re-signed a solid reliever. Anything else at this point is just icing on the already-expensive cake that we have. I don't call signing Dustin Garneau as catching help. Maldonado won't put up close to the numbers we got from Chirinos. I am not convinced that Joe Smith is that solid. I would not have signed him for more than one year, Unless we sign Harris or another effective reliever, our pen is weaker. Without Chirinos, our catching went downhill. Plus, we still have holes in the rotation. Garneau is catching help, just not in the batter’s box. I’m not sold on Smith either, but he figured it out when it mattered. Re-signing Harris wouldn’t hurt. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 23, 2019 15:20:01 GMT -6
I don’t expect them to replace Cole successfully nor do they need to do so. However, I think other areas need to be addressed. There is always changes that can be made, but at some point you have to ask yourself if it's just change to be change. We've talked about a lot of possibilities, trades, FAs, and such, but, in the end, I'm not sure how many of them actually improve us in the Win column over the last couple years. Like last year, the focus doesn't need to be trynig to get us to be the best on paper. The focus is to win the division while keeping the core players healthy. Personally, at this point, I think the focus needs to be more about improving our situational awareness with baserunning and moving runners. All these HRs are nice, but we need Altuve getting on base more (along with hopefully Straw and Tucker) and we need to be running and focusing on advancing runners. Agreed on all points. Station-to-station plus homers isn’t enough. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 23, 2019 15:35:52 GMT -6
I don't call signing Dustin Garneau as catching help. Maldonado won't put up close to the numbers we got from Chirinos. I am not convinced that Joe Smith is that solid. I would not have signed him for more than one year, Unless we sign Harris or another effective reliever, our pen is weaker. Without Chirinos, our catching went downhill. Plus, we still have holes in the rotation. Garneau is catching help, just not in the batter’s box. I’m not sold on Smith either, but he figured it out when it mattered. Re-signing Harris wouldn’t hurt. We needed Harris more than Smith., If Garneau and Maldonado are our catchers, we have automatic outs in the lineup no matter which is playing. I realize Luhnow is limited on what he can do right now,but, he hasn't done a thing to help the team so far this winter. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 23, 2019 15:38:31 GMT -6
Garneau is catching help, just not in the batter’s box. I’m not sold on Smith either, but he figured it out when it mattered. Re-signing Harris wouldn’t hurt. We needed Harris more than Smith., If Garneau and Maldonado are our catchers, we have automatic outs in the lineup no matter which is playing. I realize Luhnow is limited on what he can do right now,but, he hasn't done a thing to help the team so far this winter. Even if Houdini were our GM, I think he’d have a tough time convincing a team to take on Reddick’s contract. |
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Post by Saint on Dec 23, 2019 16:01:11 GMT -6
We've added catching depth and re-signed a solid reliever. Anything else at this point is just icing on the already-expensive cake that we have. I don't call signing Dustin Garneau as catching help. Maldonado won't put up close to the numbers we got from Chirinos. I am not convinced that Joe Smith is that solid. I would not have signed him for more than one year, Unless we sign Harris or another effective reliever, our pen is weaker. Without Chirinos, our catching went downhill. Plus, we still have holes in the rotation. Offensively the catching declined some, but it's not like it's that's much of a blow to the team. You've got three solid defensive catchers at a combined salary of about $9 million over the next two years. In 2021 it might be more of an issue if we lose Springer, Brantley, and Gurriel without replacing their offensive production, but it's not an issue for next year. Those guys eating up 3-4 ABs a game was never going to make or break us. And who knows, Stubbs and/or Garneau could do okay, and Maldonado at least shows some pop now and then. If you can get a collective .240/.290/.400 10 HR 50 RBI with solid-good defense out of them, you did pretty well for catcher anyways. As for the bullpen, I'm not sure it's that much weaker depending on what happens with the rotation. Osuna, Pressley, Abreu, Smith, James could be a pretty good core of a bullpen. The changes to catcher and the bullpen will likely only be a loss of maybe 3-4 wins over the course of the season, I would imagine. The rotation is considered the biggest question. How do you replace the 200 innings of great pitching we got from Cole. Even if they leave McCullers in the rotation, you can't expect him to be an above-average pitcher for much more than 100-120 of those innings given his history. But, on paper, we go into the season with a rotation pretty similar to how we started last year: 2019:Verlander Cole Miley McHugh Peacock 2020:Verlander Greinke McCullers Urquidy Peacock You're replacing Miley with McCullers and McHugh with Urquidy. (Odds are that's actually probably better, if they stay reasonably healthy.) And then a full season of Greinke with a full season of Cole. As dominant as Cole was the last couple years, Greinke's last two seasons were right behind him. Net-win-wise, I don't believe the overall production from that rotation is worse (if McCullers can stay reasonably healthy). There are moves that can be made during the season if we need it, but, on paper, this team is virtually identical to last year's to start the season (if reasonably healthy). It all comes down to that extra 80-100 innings over the course of the season that you have to replace somehow when McCullers gets hurt. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 23, 2019 16:39:10 GMT -6
I don't call signing Dustin Garneau as catching help. Maldonado won't put up close to the numbers we got from Chirinos. I am not convinced that Joe Smith is that solid. I would not have signed him for more than one year, Unless we sign Harris or another effective reliever, our pen is weaker. Without Chirinos, our catching went downhill. Plus, we still have holes in the rotation. Offensively the catching declined some, but it's not like it's that's much of a blow to the team. You've got three solid defensive catchers at a combined salary of about $9 million over the next two years. In 2021 it might be more of an issue if we lose Springer, Brantley, and Gurriel without replacing their offensive production, but it's not an issue for next year. Those guys eating up 3-4 ABs a game was never going to make or break us. And who knows, Stubbs and/or Garneau could do okay, and Maldonado at least shows some pop now and then. If you can get a collective .240/.290/.400 10 HR 50 RBI with solid-good defense out of them, you did pretty well for catcher anyways. As for the bullpen, I'm not sure it's that much weaker depending on what happens with the rotation. Osuna, Pressley, Abreu, Smith, James could be a pretty good core of a bullpen. The changes to catcher and the bullpen will likely only be a loss of maybe 3-4 wins over the course of the season, I would imagine. The rotation is considered the biggest question. How do you replace the 200 innings of great pitching we got from Cole. Even if they leave McCullers in the rotation, you can't expect him to be an above-average pitcher for much more than 100-120 of those innings given his history. But, on paper, we go into the season with a rotation pretty similar to how we started last year: 2019:Verlander Cole Miley McHugh Peacock 2020:Verlander Greinke McCullers Urquidy Peacock You're replacing Miley with McCullers and McHugh with Urquidy. (Odds are that's actually probably better, if they stay reasonably healthy.) And then a full season of Greinke with a full season of Cole. As dominant as Cole was the last couple years, Greinke's last two seasons were right behind him. Net-win-wise, I don't believe the overall production from that rotation is worse (if McCullers can stay reasonably healthy). There are moves that can be made during the season if we need it, but, on paper, this team is virtually identical to last year's to start the season (if reasonably healthy). It all comes down to that extra 80-100 innings over the course of the season that you have to replace somehow when McCullers gets hurt. Concerning the catching situation..........cheap doesn't mean the job gets done. |
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Post by Saint on Dec 23, 2019 16:45:12 GMT -6
Offensively the catching declined some, but it's not like it's that's much of a blow to the team. You've got three solid defensive catchers at a combined salary of about $9 million over the next two years. In 2021 it might be more of an issue if we lose Springer, Brantley, and Gurriel without replacing their offensive production, but it's not an issue for next year. Those guys eating up 3-4 ABs a game was never going to make or break us. And who knows, Stubbs and/or Garneau could do okay, and Maldonado at least shows some pop now and then. If you can get a collective .240/.290/.400 10 HR 50 RBI with solid-good defense out of them, you did pretty well for catcher anyways. As for the bullpen, I'm not sure it's that much weaker depending on what happens with the rotation. Osuna, Pressley, Abreu, Smith, James could be a pretty good core of a bullpen. The changes to catcher and the bullpen will likely only be a loss of maybe 3-4 wins over the course of the season, I would imagine. The rotation is considered the biggest question. How do you replace the 200 innings of great pitching we got from Cole. Even if they leave McCullers in the rotation, you can't expect him to be an above-average pitcher for much more than 100-120 of those innings given his history. But, on paper, we go into the season with a rotation pretty similar to how we started last year: 2019:Verlander Cole Miley McHugh Peacock 2020:Verlander Greinke McCullers Urquidy Peacock You're replacing Miley with McCullers and McHugh with Urquidy. (Odds are that's actually probably better, if they stay reasonably healthy.) And then a full season of Greinke with a full season of Cole. As dominant as Cole was the last couple years, Greinke's last two seasons were right behind him. Net-win-wise, I don't believe the overall production from that rotation is worse (if McCullers can stay reasonably healthy). There are moves that can be made during the season if we need it, but, on paper, this team is virtually identical to last year's to start the season (if reasonably healthy). It all comes down to that extra 80-100 innings over the course of the season that you have to replace somehow when McCullers gets hurt. Concerning the catching situation..........cheap doesn't mean the job gets done. It doesn't mean it won't get done either. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 23, 2019 16:55:38 GMT -6
Concerning the catching situation..........cheap doesn't mean the job gets done. It doesn't mean it won't get done either. We won't get offense from any of them. I would think we get more production from Stubbs than from Garneau or Maldonado......We would get more from Chirinos than the three of them put together, |
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Post by Saint on Dec 23, 2019 16:58:03 GMT -6
It doesn't mean it won't get done either. We won't get offense from any of them. I would think we get more production from Stubbs than from Garneau or Maldonado......We would get more from Chirinos than the three of them put together, Possibly, but Chirinos is going to be 36 years old and caught more innings/games than he ever has before. He was noticeably wearing down in July and August, and he only hit .146 in the postseason. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 23, 2019 17:42:22 GMT -6
We won't get offense from any of them. I would think we get more production from Stubbs than from Garneau or Maldonado......We would get more from Chirinos than the three of them put together, Possibly, but Chirinos is going to bze 36 years old and caught more innings/games than he ever has before. He was noticeably wearing down in July and August, and he only hit .146 in the postseason. He was wearing down from not getting enough time off........Hinch rested guys who didn't need it and failed to give Chirinos the rest he needed. |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Dec 23, 2019 19:21:41 GMT -6
Chirinos isnt Buster Posey. Let's be honest here...hes mediocre just like the 3 we have signed.
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Post by Saint on Dec 23, 2019 21:02:50 GMT -6
Possibly, but Chirinos is going to bze 36 years old and caught more innings/games than he ever has before. He was noticeably wearing down in July and August, and he only hit .146 in the postseason. He was wearing down from not getting enough time off........Hinch rested guys who didn't need it and failed to give Chirinos the rest he needed. If he plays less he has even less value and we miss his production less... Doesn't help the case that we needed him again. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 23, 2019 22:40:28 GMT -6
Chirinos isnt Buster Posey. Let's be honest here...hes mediocre just like the 3 we have signed. The narrative that he’s an imperative signing is amazing. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 23, 2019 23:56:37 GMT -6
Chirinos isnt Buster Posey. Let's be honest here...hes mediocre just like the 3 we have signed. I am not saying he is one of the top catchers and he is mediocre......But,he is better than the 3 we have. We can't depend on offense from any of them. We got 17 home runs and 58 runs batted in from Chirinos....we won't get that combined from the 3 we have |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 24, 2019 0:01:11 GMT -6
Chirinos isnt Buster Posey. Let's be honest here...hes mediocre just like the 3 we have signed. The narrative that he’s an imperative signing is amazing. Y ou Seems like I recall you bashing Maldonado the entire time we had him in 2018 and now you are celebrating the fact that we re-signed him. LOL LOL You thought Stassi was better. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Dec 24, 2019 0:02:23 GMT -6
He was wearing down from not getting enough time off........Hinch rested guys who didn't need it and failed to give Chirinos the rest he needed. If he plays less he has even less value and we miss his production less... Doesn't help the case that we needed him again. Wrong. It makes sense that he would give more produciton if he received proper rest. His decline in production at the end was due to fatigue. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 24, 2019 4:59:39 GMT -6
The narrative that he’s an imperative signing is amazing. Y ou Seems like I recall you bashing Maldonado the entire time we had him in 2018 and now you are celebrating the fact that we re-signed him. LOL LOL You thought Stassi was better. Me? The only time I ragged on him was when he was a passed ball machine in the ‘18 ALCS. |
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Post by Saint on Dec 24, 2019 7:17:49 GMT -6
I'm the one that ragged on Maldonado. I didn't feel he was necessary in 2018. Now we're in need of some catching depth so I don't mind it as much. But I don't feel we needed to spend $7 million to get it.
We have a history of not giving young catchers much of a chance (outside of Biggio and Castro).
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 24, 2019 8:11:30 GMT -6
I'm the one that ragged on Maldonado. I didn't feel he was necessary in 2018. Now we're in need of some catching depth so I don't mind it as much. But I don't feel we needed to spend $7 million to get it. We have a history of not giving young catchers much of a chance (outside of Biggio and Castro). I think the hesitation to go sink or swim with Stubbs is smart because I think they should do that for just one player at a time, Tucker. |
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Post by Saint on Dec 24, 2019 8:39:15 GMT -6
I'm the one that ragged on Maldonado. I didn't feel he was necessary in 2018. Now we're in need of some catching depth so I don't mind it as much. But I don't feel we needed to spend $7 million to get it. We have a history of not giving young catchers much of a chance (outside of Biggio and Castro). I think the hesitation to go sink or swim with Stubbs is smart because I think they should do that for just one player at a time, Tucker. But it doesn't have to be full sink or swim. And in any case, it's not like we'd be giving Stubbs 140 games this season. He'd get 60-80 most likely. |
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Post by thomasj13 on Dec 24, 2019 8:51:19 GMT -6
Seems like I recall you bashing Maldonado the entire time we had him in 2018 and now you are celebrating the fact that we re-signed him. LOL LOL You thought Stassi was better. Me? The only time I ragged on him was when he was a passed ball machine in the ‘18 ALCS. I definitely ragged on him for his 2018 Boston Butchery. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 24, 2019 9:55:03 GMT -6
Me? The only time I ragged on him was when he was a passed ball machine in the ‘18 ALCS. I definitely ragged on him for his 2018 Boston Butchery. Has Verlander thrown to him since? |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 24, 2019 9:55:38 GMT -6
Me? The only time I ragged on him was when he was a passed ball machine in the ‘18 ALCS. I definitely ragged on him for his 2018 Boston Butchery. It was like hey, Boston, you don’t need to steal on us. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 24, 2019 9:56:18 GMT -6
I think the hesitation to go sink or swim with Stubbs is smart because I think they should do that for just one player at a time, Tucker. But it doesn't have to be full sink or swim. And in any case, it's not like we'd be giving Stubbs 140 games this season. He'd get 60-80 most likely. That’s a lot of games. Like a Carlos Correa amount. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Dec 24, 2019 10:04:03 GMT -6
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