When the rangers were at their peak this season, my bro-in-law (lifetime ranger fan) said it wouldn't last....because of their bullpen.
I'm going to be there, hoping to continue the Astros 3-0 mark when I attend games at the new ballpark. I'll be there with a Rangers-fan buddy, and two of his other Rangers-fan buddies. Should be an amazing time.
Or fly in Bad Bunny and have him host a concert while serving .10 cent beer. Field becomes a biohazard that MMP is shut down for 30 days.
3-5 with Chas starting in CF and Diaz at C The record is less interesting than the number of games eta: 8-7 overall with Chas starting in the OF and Diaz at C
There were a couple of guys here saying, "they can't keep playing like this...it's not sustainable to have nearly EVERYBODY have a career year over 162 games." They regressed to the mean...and the bullpen was a huge part of that.
It looks like Stanek is done for 2023 and likely as an Astro (but I wouldn't mind him coming back if he's super cheap - 2 yrs / $8-10M and vesting option?). He just feels like if he can improve his control and BB rate just a touch he becomes a high value leverage guy. But even as he is, he has value as a low leverage innings eater. That said his ability to pitch innings the remaining 23 games is/was more important than his playoff role. The bullpen isn't as dominant as last year so I could see them using an extra guy, but with Montero's re-emergence and Graveman the bullpen is fine. Closer: Pressly High leverage: Abreu, Neris Mid leverage: Graveman, Montero Fill in: Maton, starters not in rotation.
Even after he gets hot. Even a good Abreu is our 8th best hitter if we do the lineup right. In order: Yordan/Altuve/tucker/Diaz/Bregman/Chas/Brantley/Abreu/Peña. Against a LHP swap Diaz and Chas and swap meyers into the lineup for Brantley.
Nobody, but just like Urquidy and Garcia (and even Stanek) last year whomever it is will sit in the bullpen and watch the games unless one is 99% likely decided, or in the 15th inning.
Maybe he has some good advanced stats since coming off the IL, maybe he meets your "eye test" But his numbers since coming back from the IL are NOT good. He is hitting .206, the 2 HR are nice but he only has 1 double to go along with it Now maybe his exit velos are good and he is hitting into bad luck, or whatever. And honestly, if we were still in June, hell even July, it would be easier to buy in to that Fact is he has sucked, hit in a very important position in the order, and plays while Diaz/Chas sit.
