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Post by bearbryant on Apr 14, 2018 16:34:18 GMT -6
Might wanna dial that one back a bit
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Post by Saint on Apr 14, 2018 16:37:37 GMT -6
YEAh that went south quickly. Still, the point is accurate.
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Post by blcoach8 on Apr 14, 2018 18:21:40 GMT -6
I am sick of looking at Evan Gattis and I have an idea that we may see Kyle Tucker sooner rather than later if we continue getting nothing from Fisher and Marisnick. We also need to see Marwin get back to doing what he did last season. Right now, he isn't close.
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Post by unionstation82 on Apr 14, 2018 23:11:30 GMT -6
I am sick of looking at Evan Gattis and I have an idea that we may see Kyle Tucker sooner rather than later if we continue getting nothing from Fisher and Marisnick. We also need to see Marwin get back to doing what he did last season. Right now, he isn't close. Marwin will get better, but I don’t think he’ll be as good as last season. Gattis is useless. Hopefully, Tucker is going to be the real deal because the Astros can’t coast by again with unreliable players. The Angels are for real at least on offense. You can’t beat those guys 2-1, especially when our relievers eventually go into anaphylactic shock at the thought of being named the closer. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Apr 14, 2018 23:34:03 GMT -6
This loss was on you, chief. They should put it in the box score. |
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Post by blcoach8 on Apr 15, 2018 11:41:30 GMT -6
I am sick of looking at Evan Gattis and I have an idea that we may see Kyle Tucker sooner rather than later if we continue getting nothing from Fisher and Marisnick. We also need to see Marwin get back to doing what he did last season. Right now, he isn't close. Marwin will get better, but I don’t think he’ll be as good as last season. Gattis is useless. Hopefully, Tucker is going to be the real deal because the Astros can’t coast by again with unreliable players. The Angels are for real at least on offense. You can’t beat those guys 2-1, especially when our relievers eventually go into anaphylactic shock at the thought of being named the closer. If the offense continues to struggle, I would hope they decide to bring up Tucker and demote Fisher. I have always been a Marisnick fan due to his hustle and value on the bases and defense, but, there comes a time when he has to prove he can at least hit his weight. I would be OK with trading him and Gattis. I repeat........we should have signed another bat during the off-season. I am also not comfortable with this bullpen. Harris needs to go. |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Apr 15, 2018 11:46:05 GMT -6
“Value on the bases” always comes up in these conversations about Jake, but never shows itself on the field.
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Post by blcoach8 on Apr 15, 2018 11:57:38 GMT -6
jake has good range in the outfield with a great arm which saved our bacon a few times last season, especially in the playoffs. Good defensive replacement for Marwin in the late innings but should not be a starter. Fisher has yet to prove he can hit better than Jake at this level which is why I think bringing up Tucker should be considered.
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Post by Saint on Apr 16, 2018 11:08:19 GMT -6
This loss was on you, chief. They should put it in the box score. Yeah that backfired badly. |
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Post by olpapa on May 7, 2018 8:00:31 GMT -6
It might be time to revisit this discussion. I have always said that good things can happen when you put the ball in play. When you strike out..., not so much. The Astros batters struck out the least number of times of any team in baseball in 2017. So far this season they have the ninth most. Astros batters averaged striking out fewer tha 7 times per game in 2017. So far this season they are averaging just shy of 9 strike outs per game and they are getting worse.., not better. Astros batters averaged 8.67 strikeouts per game in April and are averaging an even 9 strikeouts per game so far in May.
The Astros are 1-5 in May. Over the last 7 days Marwin has struck out 9 times in 19 at-bats and is batting .211 (4-19) yet he continues to be in the starting lineup every day. Gattis has stuck out 5 times in 10 at-bats...has not had a hit in the last 7 days...and has struck out 29 times in 86 at-bats for the season. He is getting worse...not better... yet he remains on the ML roster. Fisher has struck out 4 times in 7 at-bats in the last 7 days and 28 times in 56 at-bats for the season yet he remains on the ML roster. Jake has been bad... 36 strikeouts in 72 at-bats for the season..., but at least he has shown improvement over the last 7 days with 2 strikeout in 9 at-bats.
It is time for some roster moves. Either Jake or Fisher has got to go. Neither guy is anything more than a 4th outfielder/late inning defensive replacement/pinch runner. It makes no sense to have them both on the ML roster. Fisher may get better with experience, but he needs to be getting playing time. He doesn’t need to be sitting on the bench. He should be sent to AAA where he can start and play every game. Jake should not start a game. He should be used only as a late inning replacement/pinch runner.
Marwin should not be starting every game. He played way above his head last season and I appreciate what he did for the team, but this is 2018.., not 2017. Marwin should be moved out of the everyday starting lineup and into the utility/replacement player role he is suited for.
Gattis has got to go...one way or the other. He has zero value with the glove. He only has value if he is hitting and he hasn’t been hitting in a long time. If he has an option left, send him down. If he refuses to go to the minors, let him walk. If some team claims him off waivers, let them have him. This is his last season with the Astros anyway.
What more could the team ask of JD Davis than what he is doing at AAA. Call him up to replace Gattis on the roster. Play him at first base and let Yuli DH. Play him in LF. Whatever. He has nothing left to prove in the minors and is being wasted there. Don’t like Davis? Call up Tyler White to replace Gattis. He is batting .342 over his last 10 games and .327 for the season. He has walked more time (22) than he has struck out (15) in 110 at-bats this season.
Call up Tony Kemp to replace Fisher on the roster. Stick him in left field. Start him and let him play every day. He has never been given the opportunity to have regular playing time at the major league level. He has nothing left to prove in the minors. He is currently on a 12 game hitting streak in which he is 17-50, BA .340. He has struck out 6 times in those 50 at-bats. He is batting .336 for the season with 15 strikeouts in 119 at-bats. He has stolen 12 bases in 13 attempts. He has at least one hit in 25 of 29 games played this year.
It is time to do something to shake things up on the Astros. The current roster of position players is not getting the job done and has looked even worse in May than they did in April.
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Post by astrosdoug on May 7, 2018 8:08:15 GMT -6
It should be Jake. Fisher has time and room to improve. In his last couple of weeks I think he has shown some improvement. And we saw in AAA last year that he can rake at that level. He also fills the late-inning pinch runner role just as well as Jake can.
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Post by astrosdoug on May 7, 2018 8:12:15 GMT -6
As for White vs. Davis, I would be happy with either choice from Hinch, but I have slight preference for White as I think he would strike out less (goes back to OlPapa's original point about how can you get on base if you strike out?) and also he has more experience at both AAA and ML levels... hence less of a learning curve. And White has proven his stuff in the minors for longer than Davis has -- which might be a reason why he strikes out less. The last thing I want to see from Gattis's replacement is strikeouts, I'll just put it that way.
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Post by astrosdoug on May 7, 2018 8:13:35 GMT -6
The sad thing is, if the Astros had started this month 4-2, Hinch probably wouldn't make the necessary roster moves. The recent losses are probably part of the price we have to pay to see the needed changes made.
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Post by unionstation82 on May 7, 2018 8:15:46 GMT -6
The Astros need another bat so Marwin can sit. This will bolster the depth of hitters on offense and greatly improve such a horrible bench.
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Post by unionstation82 on May 7, 2018 8:18:48 GMT -6
What astounds me is how badly all the hitters and relievers have done this season in pressure situations. They were absolutely bombarded with tough moments in the postseason and came through in the clutch time and again. This season, it seems like they’ve forgotten all that. It’s like I’m watching a different team.
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Post by unionstation82 on May 7, 2018 8:20:57 GMT -6
The sad thing is, if the Astros had started this month 4-2, Hinch probably wouldn't make the necessary roster moves. The recent losses are probably part of the price we have to pay to see the needed changes made. Hinch can only deal with the cards he’s been given. Unless he screws up like in that Yankees game, there’s really not much he can do. |
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Post by olpapa on May 7, 2018 8:24:57 GMT -6
It should be Jake. Fisher has time and room to improve. In his last couple of weeks I think he has shown some improvement. And we saw in AAA last year that he can rake at that level. He also fills the late-inning pinch runner role just as well as Jake can. I think I would rather see Fisher sent down to AAA until he can get his stroke back and cut way down on his strikeouts. I would rather see Kemp in the starting lineup for Houston while Fisher is getting playing time in Fresno and getting straightened out. Would kill two birds with one stone. Fisher could play every day in Fresno and Kemp would finally get regular playing time in the majors....for the first time ever...and we can see what he could be with regular playing time. Right now we really don’t know. If he can’t cut it with regular playing time, so be it. Replace him with Fisher when he is straightened out or with Tucker when/if he is ready. I don't want to see either Marwin or Jake starting in left field. Wouldn’t do Jake any good to be sent to AAA. He is what he is going to be going forward, but I’m ok with him as a late inning defensive replacement/pinch runner. In the same way, I’m ok with Marwin in the utility role making the occasional start to give a starter a day of rest. Just don’t want him in the everyday starting lineup. |
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Post by astrosdoug on May 7, 2018 8:25:17 GMT -6
One thing is, Luhnow and Crane probably won't allow Hinch to change the cards in his deck until underperformance is actually demonstrated. That means that losses are necessary in order to make the changes we knew were needed all along. And I took some nasty flak in the off season (though not on the MLB.com board) for saying that White should be the DH instead of Gattis from the get-go.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on May 7, 2018 8:25:54 GMT -6
Now just wait one damn minute here. You all assured us that Marwin was the real deal and was going to get a large, multiple year deal from some team. You also assured us that Jake had speed and defense that made him the God damn bees knees.
I demand an explanation.
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Post by olpapa on May 7, 2018 8:30:27 GMT -6
Now just wait one damn minute here. You all assured us that Marwin was the real deal and was going to get a large, multiple year deal from some team. You also assured us that Jake had speed and defense that made him the God damn bees knees. I demand an explanation. I don’t recall anyone saying Jake is the bees knees. Heck man..., he’s not even the cat’s pajamas!! |
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Post by unionstation82 on May 7, 2018 8:31:12 GMT -6
Now just wait one damn minute here. You all assured us that Marwin was the real deal and was going to get a large, multiple year deal from some team. You also assured us that Jake had speed and defense that made him the God damn bees knees. I demand an explanation. Marwin gets flukier by the day. Jake should never start unless George is hung over or got the wrong directions to the ballpark. |
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Post by olpapa on May 7, 2018 8:34:10 GMT -6
One thing is, Luhnow and Crane probably won't allow Hinch to change the cards in his deck until underperformance is actually demonstrated. That means that losses are necessary in order to make the changes we knew were needed all along. And I took some nasty flak in the off season (though not on the MLB.com board) for saying that White should be the DH instead of Gattis from the get-go. “...until underperformance is actually demonstrated?” My God man! If they can’t look at this lineup on paper and the stats they have produced and see underperformance, what will it take? A 1-27 May? Good grief! |
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Post by unionstation82 on May 7, 2018 8:41:41 GMT -6
One thing is, Luhnow and Crane probably won't allow Hinch to change the cards in his deck until underperformance is actually demonstrated. That means that losses are necessary in order to make the changes we knew were needed all along. And I took some nasty flak in the off season (though not on the MLB.com board) for saying that White should be the DH instead of Gattis from the get-go. People were snakebitten by White after the hot start he had a couple years back followed by a cliffdive into oblivion. Gattis is their fancy trade acquisition, and they’re always hesitant to bail on an investment (see: Giles, Sipp). People think Gattis’s 30+ home run season can be duplicated, but it’s looking more improbable bordering on the impossible. Despite his appearance on offense and the subsequent numbers, people love the guy. He’s burly, has a beard, and has a tough nickname. White can’t compete with all that. |
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Post by Saint on May 7, 2018 11:11:28 GMT -6
While I still say that the lack of production from our big guns is a bigger problem (if Springer gets a hit ONCE with RISP yesterday, we win that game), even I admit that it's time to do something. We're a quarter of the season in and we've dropped out of 1st place with no particular upside.
The bottom line is that we don't (and never did) need both Fisher AND Marisnick on the roster. You need one for speed and defense late in the game, but you don't need them both. And whoever stays shouldn't be starting, period. Marisnick's value is as a replacement role player. Fisher still has potential as a starter and should get regular playing time in AAA.
As much as I like Gattis, a good chunk of his value came from being a part-time catcher (and he hit great when he caught - check the numbers (.859 OPS)). If he isn't going to catch, even if he was hitting okay, he has limited value for us. And now he isn't even catching. In that case, let him go and bring up White or Davis.
Like Marisnick, Marwin's real value is as a role player and spelling people on the infield. Last year was a fluke. He is a not starting LFer.
Stop resting and playing matchups so much with Reddick and Gurriel. Take Springer out of the leadoff spot and put Altuve where he belongs. Start playing some more small ball and get more aggressive on the basepaths.
Altuve (2B)
Bregman (3B)
Correa (SS)
Springer (CF)
Gurriel (DH)
Reddick (RF)
McCann (C)
White (1B/LF)
Trade/Signed Veteran (LF/1B)
Bench:
Marisnick
Marwin
Stassi
Davis
The rotation is great. The bullpen is fine. The lack of run production has them knowing it's all on them and it's getting in their head. They'll come around. It's okay to go multiple innings with some of the relievers (especially McHugh).
We need to go after a veteran to DH or play 1B or LF. Maybe somebody like Holliday. Obviously don't spend a ton of money, but we need somebody that can put up some professional ABs even if they don't have much value defensively anymore.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on May 7, 2018 11:12:10 GMT -6
Now just wait one damn minute here. You all assured us that Marwin was the real deal and was going to get a large, multiple year deal from some team. You also assured us that Jake had speed and defense that made him the God damn bees knees. I demand an explanation. I don’t recall anyone saying Jake is the bees knees. Heck man..., he’s not even the cat’s pajamas!! ![]() ![]() |
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Post by blcoach8 on May 7, 2018 11:12:35 GMT -6
Gattis has had nore than a fair opportunity......time to move on and give someone else a shot.......bring up White
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Post by astrosdoug on May 8, 2018 0:55:38 GMT -6
I was looking at JD Davis's L/R splits today to compare them to White's. As I mentioned in another post, White has steadily improved his L/R splits since 2016.
Even in 2016, when he disappointed the fan community, White was still an above-league-average, .798 OPS hitter against lefties. It was his performance against righties that sunk him that year (.591 OPS).
However since that time, he has consistently gotten better, to the point that last year he hit ..780 OPS against righties and 1.333 OPS vs lefties (major league level!) and even better at AAA level (.879 OPS vs RHP).
This year, White has improved against righties even more, hitting 1.000 OPS on the dot. (and 1.251 OPS vs lefties)
Davis, by comparison, has also been a hitter who does better against lefties than righties. But he, too, is improving and becoming a more complete hitter.
Last year, Davis hit .734 OPS vs RHP and this year that is up to .938 (AAA level. In the majors, in very limited PAs, he hit .647 vs RHP last year and has hit for .661 OPS against them this year.)
This is all just to say that both hitters have improved on their main weakness, i.e. RHP, over the past couple seasons and they are no longer specialty hitters who only excel against lefties. White strikes out less and has less of a disparity between how he hits RHP and LHP. Davis is the stronger hitter (as reflected in SLG and exit velo) but strikes out more.
Overall, having less power has not prevented White from hitting more HRs this year than Davis however. White has 7 HRs over 136 PAs (about 1 every 20 trips to the plate) while Davis has 3 dingers in 97 PAs (about 1 HR every 32 trips). Of course it's not a huge sample size, but when we remember that White slugged 28 HRs over the season last year (majors and AAA combined), it's clear no one should be writing off White as a weak singles hitter, which is something I hear people say sometimes. White has a good shot at 30 HRs this year in my opinion. Davis could go on a tear and exceed 35.
My guess is that the Astros' DH solution lies in Fresno rather than the trade market. LF is a different story; Kemp is a good substitute but lacks power; and Ted Tucker may need more seasoning before joining a postseason campaign.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on May 8, 2018 1:03:11 GMT -6
Looks like AJ Reed is going to be another Brett Wallace.
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Post by astrosdoug on May 9, 2018 5:40:14 GMT -6
I was happy to see that the Astros now have the No. 5 ranked offense in MLB as ranked by wRC+ at 108. The Braves are in first place at 112 and the AL teams ahead of the Astros are the Yankees, Angels, and Red Sox.
The Astros have the 2nd highest OBP in the majors (and highest in the AL) at .336.
Strikeouts are down to 22% on the year now, which is much better than the 30% with which the club began the year. Still have a ways to go before approaching last year's mark of 17% but replacing Gattis and Marisnick will help.
The Astros have the second-highest walk rate in the AL at 9.7% (behind the Yankees).
The Astros rank 4th in MLB in ground ball avoidance (behind Twins, Mets, and Indians).
The Astros lead the AL in whiff avoidance with a swinging strike rate of only 9.6%.
The Astros also are the most patient team at the plate, swinging just 43.4% of the time.
* * *
Those are the interesting hitting stats that I see today. The Astros are getting on base a lot but not hitting for as much power as we got accustomed to last year. Perhaps, with the warm weather, and by adding a couple heavy hitters like Davis and White, the Astros can improve in that department.
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Post by unionstation82 on May 9, 2018 12:34:40 GMT -6
Wait, the Braves have MLB’s top offense? What have I missed?
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