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2018 Astros Minor League Thread

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by tellitlikeitis, Nov 12, 2017.

  1. verse

    verse Contributing Member

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    Which is why I, and apparently others, hold him in high regard.
     
  2. vince

    vince Member

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    I’d take my chances with a heap of bona fide prospects than MLB journey men or non prospects.

    There is a lot to be said for guys who make it on sheer heart, but natural talent combined with heart is the way to go.

    Martes has a nice delivery, he’s just got to make a few adjustments. He may succeed, he may not, but he’s got some great tools to work with.
     
  3. htownbball

    htownbball Member

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    Hopefully he figures it out. I just don't see him becoming a guy that really becoming a guy that's able to work in and out or change speeds, along with mastering command of all of his pitches. Just seems like a grip it and rip it kind of guy and hopefully he can wither blow it past you or get you swinging at his breaking pitch.

    Would really like to see him become more efficient. If he never becomes the strikethrower he needs to be, maybe incorporating a two seamer to get more groundballs to keep his pitch count down. He also has a really stinking good changeup with great action, but only throws it maybe three times a game. I think he just needs to slow the game down, be more focused, and hopefully grow as a professional and a pitcher to take that next step.
     
  4. xcrunner51

    xcrunner51 Contributing Member

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    Man that's basically every young pitcher. I've said most of that about McCullers at some point or another. Most of what you're describing are "old man" skills.

    The fact that he made it to the bigs at 21 is a) a testament to his raw talent and b) a sign that his 'polish' is gonna be behind the curve for the average 1st year pitcher.
     
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  5. xcrunner51

    xcrunner51 Contributing Member

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    Something I'll add is that the classic model of a starting pitcher is going out the window, particularly among the more progressive teams like the Dodgers and the Astros.

    The 200IP starter is being replaced with a guy who goes higher/max effort for shorter periods. Bullpens are getting longer and DL-trips are becoming more frequent. I wouldn't be surprised if the thought among the Astros FO is that Martes is exactly on track. Sure he could give up less runs or walk less people, but I doubt they're worrying too much about creating cheap contact or going extended innings right now.
     
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  6. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    This can't be said enough. Not sure how progressive teams are going to do it going forward, but expect shorter outings from non-ace starters. There will be some DL manipulation. I'm guessing some teams are going to have a shuttle going back and forth from AAA for pitchers with options. There will be some 6-man rotations which may be 6 guys taking turns or could be 5 guys taking turns with a 6 man giving those 5 a breather. We could see tandem pitching.

    I'm guessing there will be a return of the long reliever except this time around they won't suck. I'm guessing some team soon will try the 2017 Astros postseason model in the regular season using DL manipulation, options to rest guys. Provided the Astros add a starter and don't trade the guys in AAA with options, the 2018 Astros may be that team.
     
  7. Snake Diggit

    Snake Diggit Member

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    I wonder if there will be defined roles (and even new terms!) for the different skill sets:

    Ace: guys who are in the traditional starting pitcher role and are expected to go at least 6 innings each time out.

    FIG (“Five Inning Guy”): 2nd tier starters who are only expected to go through an opposing lineup twice.

    Long Relievers: 3rd tier starters who can follow FIGs and go 2-3 innings every 2-3 days.

    Specialists - LOOGY/ROOGY/Doobie (“Double play guy”): guys who do well against a certain type of hitter or in a specific situation who are expected to pitch less than an inning each appearance.

    Setup men: non-elite 1 inning pitchers.

    Closers: elite 1 inning pitchers.

    I’d expect to see different variations like 6 man rotations, tandem starters, rotating optioned pitchers (a group of AAA pitchers with options who are prescheduled to make appearances in the bigs then be switched out), etc. Itll be fun to watch.

    In Houston’s case for this season, I would expect Verlander and Keuchel to go 6+ each time, with McCullers, Morton and McHugh as five inning guys. Peacock, Devenski, and Musgrove should be able to pitch multiple innings to cover for the 5 inning guys and extra innings. Rondon, Smith, and Harris are setup men and Giles is a closer, with Sipp or Gose as a specialist (although Gose has closer upside).
     
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  8. Snake Diggit

    Snake Diggit Member

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    Another thing I think we might see over the next few years is the concept of defensive plays, where the defense performs a dramatic, last-minute shift based on the pitcher-hitter matchup. For example, man on base, ground ball pitcher, Young but good hitter who can hit to all fields; right before the pitch an outfielder sprints to the infield with the other two OF shifting to cover. The last minute aspect throws the hitter off and doesn’t give him time to adjust and hit to the gap. I think that will also be fun to watch.
     
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  9. Jeremy Williams

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    I wonder which is more important to MLB at this moment in time: shortening the time of play to keep fans engaged, or preserving pitching arms. If the trend continues to change to multiple pitching changes through a game (as you point out), the game is going to slow down more.
     
  10. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    I like the term OTTO for one time through order pitchers (saw it on twitter).
     
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  11. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Game may slow down. Though, I expect some of the less than one-inning reliever appearances will go away. Hopefully, a lot of the pitching changes will be at the beginning and middle of innings.
     
  12. Jeremy Williams

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    If managers start using more pitchers situationally, as predicted above, the game will slow down a lot more.
     
  13. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Using more guys only takes more time if more reliever changes occur during a half inning. Multi-inning guys should not affect game time much as ideally these guys come in during normal inning breaks. Changes for future appear to be less innings per start for starters. However, I suspect more innings per appearance for relievers will be occuring in future if it hasn't started already.
     
  14. Jeremy Williams

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    I foresee more 4 innings-3 innings-1out-1out-1out-2out-1out sequences.

    7 pitchers per game is not out of question.
     
  15. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    That will happen sometimes, but even the most aggressive use of DL and options requires a reliever to pitch 3 straight games if 7 are used a game routinely as there are only 40 spots on a 40 man roster. That didn't work well for Morrow.
     
  16. Snake Diggit

    Snake Diggit Member

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    I could see a rule whereby teams are limited to 3 mid-inning pitching changes per game, with any subsequent mid-inning changes penalized by the opposing team’s next batter getting an automatic walk. Also, pitch clocks.
     
  17. Spacemoth

    Spacemoth Contributing Member

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    That seemed to be the Dodgers MO these playoffs. By the end their vaunted bullpen was spent. Astros on the other hand stayed nimble, weren’t afraid to ride a hot hand once they found one. We’ll close a game with anyone as long as he’s still got his stuff and the other team can’t sniff it.
     
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  18. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    Dodgers lost because they played a great team. Their strategy is sound for the playoffs.
     
  19. Jeremy Williams

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    Totally agree--in the playoffs. But we are not going to use that strategy in the reg season.
     
  20. No Worries

    No Worries Contributing Member

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    If MLB pitching strategy changes as described above, I would not be surprised to the 25 man roster grow to 26-27.
     

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