2019 Houston Astros Thread

[MichaelWinicki]

Man, how bad would it be to give up some youngsters for Bumgarner? How much would it take?

I'm back & forth on acquiring another starter.

The cost will be high.

Might be better off picking up a mid-name reliever.

 

[RodeoJake]

I'm back & forth on acquiring another starter.

The cost will be high.

Might be better off picking up a mid-name reliever.

I want to get a good starter. Come October, I don't want Peacock or Miley as our #3. We won't match up well with the Yankees, Rays or Bosox if they get in.

I'm also hoping for a solid reliever. Our BP is already showing signs of fatigue.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Geez louise what a lousy week the Astros had.

Springer plays tomorrow.

And Alvarez... What more can you say about that kid?

 

[kskboys]

Geez louise what a lousy week the Astros had.

Springer plays tomorrow.

And Alvarez... What more can you say about that kid?

He can marry my daughter?

 

[RodeoJake]

Well Valdez turned into a pumpkin. Getting a quality #3 starter just became more important.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Well Valdez turned into a pumpkin. Getting a quality #3 starter just became more important.

Agreed.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

OK, the second half of the season starts tonight...

I think the club has performed pretty much to expectations record wise. Some guys underperforming. Some overperforming. A few injuries here & there– But you kind of have to expect that.

The biggest question is will they add another starter?

If they do not have to give up Tucker then I'm for it. But Tucker is off the table IMO.

The entire outfield is up for free agency after next season and Tucker will be an important cog.

One disappointment has been the lack of any of the young starters to step up and do anything for any length of time that would indicate that they're ready.

I believe Frambler is getting another shot. He had two decent outings and two crummy ones when he was up before. Went back down to Round Rock and performed decently. We'll see what happens.

As it looks right now Houston is only about $17 mil under the "Tax" threshold for next season and they have to replace like 7 guys with Cole headlining the list. I don't see them resigning him.

 

[kskboys]

OK, the second half of the season starts tonight...

I think the club has performed pretty much to expectations record wise. Some guys underperforming. Some overperforming. A few injuries here & there– But you kind of have to expect that.

The biggest question is will they add another starter?

If they do not have to give up Tucker then I'm for it. But Tucker is off the table IMO.

The entire outfield is up for free agency after next season and Tucker will be an important cog.

One disappointment has been the lack of any of the young starters to step up and do anything for any length of time that would indicate that they're ready.

I believe Frambler is getting another shot. He had two decent outings and two crummy ones when he was up before. Went back down to Round Rock and performed decently. We'll see what happens.

As it looks right now Houston is only about $17 mil under the "Tax" threshold for next season and they have to replace like 7 guys with Cole headlining the list. I don't see them resigning him.

Every time I watch Tucker, I see a kid w/ a beautiful swing who doesn't appear to "get it". I'd let him go if a Bumgarner was on the table.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Every time I watch Tucker, I see a kid w/ a beautiful swing who doesn't appear to "get it". I'd let him go if a Bumgarner was on the table.

At this point the can't afford that contract for next season.

 

[RodeoJake]

Every time I watch Tucker, I see a kid w/ a beautiful swing who doesn't appear to "get it". I'd let him go if a Bumgarner was on the table.

MadBum is on a rapid decline. He's lost too much on his fastball and just ain't that good anymore. No way I give any of our top prospects for a half season of a mediocre hurler.

If Tucker is included, which I really doubt, it will be for a top pitcher with at least 2 years of team control.

 

[RodeoJake]

At this point the can't afford that contract for next season.

He's a FA after this season. So he's basically a half season rental. Besides, he ain't good anymore.

 

[RodeoJake]

How about Marisnick? Keeping our guys from a pointless bench clearing brawl. That's a clubhouse leader. He's a must resign after the season.

Angels showed themselves to be classless. I could accept throwing at the ribs, but going for the head is a punk act.

 

[kskboys]

MadBum is on a rapid decline. He's lost too much on his fastball and just ain't that good anymore. No way I give any of our top prospects for a half season of a mediocre hurler.

If Tucker is included, which I really doubt, it will be for a top pitcher with at least 2 years of team control.

Yeah, he has had some injury issues. You're right.

My Astros buds thought I was crazy when I was so POed that they put McHugh and Peacock back in the rotation. Both failed miserably there previously, but both were very good in long relief. It never made sense. We should've found some innings eater pitchers w/ a 4 or so ERA to fill the spots.

Mark me as not impressed w/ Hinch.

 

[RodeoJake]

Yeah, he has had some injury issues. You're right.

My Astros buds thought I was crazy when I was so POed that they put McHugh and Peacock back in the rotation. Both failed miserably there previously, but both were very good in long relief. It never made sense. We should've found some innings eater pitchers w/ a 4 or so ERA to fill the spots.

Mark me as not impressed w/ Hinch.

Peacock has been solid as a #5 man. I agree with you though. He's better out of the pen. McHugh just doesn't have the stuff to go more than once through the lineup. I also hated the decision to have them in the rotation. We weakened the rotation and the pen at the same time. I think Luhnow wanted to get James and Valdez more experience at the MLB level, maybe to showcase for a trade. Them Devo, and Rondon have been really bad. I think Luhnow and company were arrogantly thinking they were that much better than the rest of the AL west.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Peacock has been solid as a #5 man. I agree with you though. He's better out of the pen. McHugh just doesn't have the stuff to go more than once through the lineup. I also hated the decision to have them in the rotation. We weakened the rotation and the pen at the same time. I think Luhnow wanted to get James and Valdez more experience at the MLB level, maybe to showcase for a trade. Them Devo, and Rondon have been really bad. I think Luhnow and company were arrogantly thinking they were that much better than the rest of the AL west.

Well, the truth is they are that much better than everyone else in the West.

Just going through a rough stretch presently.

What they have to do is match up with the Yankees... Verlander, Cole, ?, Miley. The ? is the issue. They solve that and things will be fine.

BTW if they can't get a decent starter, then bring in another reliever and move James to the starting rotation.

He seems to have sorted out his early season issues and recently pumped out 3 fastballs > 101 mph.

 

[RodeoJake]

Well, the truth is they are that much better than everyone else in the West.

Just going through a rough stretch presently.

What they have to do is match up with the Yankees... Verlander, Cole, ?, Miley. The ? is the issue. They solve that and things will be fine.

BTW if they can't get a decent starter, then bring in another reliever and move James to the starting rotation.

He seems to have sorted out his early season issues and recently pumped out 3 fastballs > 101 mph.

A new arm for the bullpen is a must, even if we get a starter or 2. Whether that's Peacock or someone else doesn't matter.

We can't go the rest of the season with Verlander, Cole, Miley and crap. The As will pass us in the standings. Miley is a good #4 come October, but we need a better #3 to beat the Yankees, Rays or Bosox in a series. Rumors are swirling everywhere. I hope deals start coming soon.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

A new arm for the bullpen is a must, even if we get a starter or 2. Whether that's Peacock or someone else doesn't matter.

We can't go the rest of the season with Verlander, Cole, Miley and crap. The As will pass us in the standings. Miley is a good #4 come October, but we need a better #3 to beat the Yankees, Rays or Bosox in a series. Rumors are swirling everywhere. I hope deals start coming soon.

The A's wouldn't be leading the division at the end if you and I were the 4th & 5th starters.

 

[RodeoJake]

The A's wouldn't be leading the division at the end if you and I were the 4th & 5th starters.

Don't look now, but they're closing fast. We've been treading water for over a month and they've been winning. With 2 nearly guaranteed losses out of 5 that overworks the BP, winning the other 3 becomes problematic. Going .500 the rest of the way is gonna bite us in the backside. I'm sure Luhnow knows this and is gonna fix the problem. He just ain't gonna be held hostage and pay a ransom.

 

[Tabascocat]

You guys can go trade for Thor but he is pitching more like Groot this year

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Maybe, just maybe things aren't so dire...

Rookie Jose Urquidy went 7 innings tonight vs. the Rangers and only gave up 2 hits and 1 run.

Oh and he had 9K's and 0BB's.

His weakness is giving up HR's. If he can keep that under control (if he has to give them up, then give up solo-shots).

In the minors this season he's giving up less than 2BB per 9 innings. That's important.

The kid needs to string together a few good to OK starts and eliminate those disastrous ones.

He could be the 5th starter this team needs.