We will have to wait and see on Javier. On one hand, he hasn't pitched an extended time while healthy since 2022. He pitched with some degree of pain in most of 2023, by like June he was having periods of stiffness and pain but they couldn't find any structural problems. Ultimately he was diagnosed with structural damage. Last year was a small sample size - the era was ugly but if I remember the FIP was solid, and under the hood, the advanced information was consistent with a pitcher coming back after an injury and rusty - some of the raw data was promising but location was off. The hope is this year that he doesn't have to be a #2 type starter and fall in line as a #4 - with the Astros having a deep rotation. He hasn't pitched a lot last year or this spring - what I have seen is that his approach is a little different. He used to try to place pitches and avoid contact and now he just throws his pitches and isn't as concerned about contact.
They seem to be running Cole out there like they were Cam last year. After seeing him in person this week, his arm worries me and he looks fooled on every off speed pitch. Love the kid. But I don’t think he’s ready. Meyers can’t seem to buy a hit. Taylor and Joey look the most ready to me. But we still have a few weeks left. Cam will make the team for defensive reasons, imho
Who you calling pal, friend? Felt like you can't leave that one hanging and it clearly went over his head.
With Walker only 1-20 this Spring and 0.050 avg., he has instilled zero confidence. He has for as long as Pena is on the IL to hit his weight, otherwise he loses the 1B job to Paredes, $40M remaining salary be damned.
Updated opening day roster wish: 2B Altuve 3B Paredes DH Alvarez SS Correa LF Burleson (acquired from Cardinals for pitching prospects) 1B Walker C Diaz RF Smith CF Matthews Bench: Allen, Vasquez, Loperfido, Trammell SP: Brown, Imai, Burrows, Arrighetti, McCullers, Javier RP: Abreu, Sousa, Munoz, King, Okert, Lambert, Weiss Optioned: Teng, Gordon, Alexander, Ullola, Blubaugh, Murray, Whitcomb, Dezenzo, Cole IL: Blanco, De Los Santos, Hader, Pearson, Walter, Wesneski, Pena DFA: Salazar Traded: Meyers
While there is logic to this, I can guarantee he will get a longer leash than this board will like if he ends up sucking.
I know that the Astros were in a rush to make the Burrows trade, because they wanted him locked in and not dealt elsewhere. At the time I thought it was odd the Astros did not do more to get Brandon Lowe in the deal. The Pirates really wanted some reliever from the Rays that had not done much the last few years - so the Pirates got that reliever and Lowe, and the Rays got Brito and Melton. However -- Lowe was someone that the Astros have wanted and tried hard to get last deadline. He isn't a star, but he can play OF and 2nd, he is left handed and he hits well enough to hit 5-7 in the line up. With hindsight, I wonder if Brown wishes he had offered more to get Lowe along with Burrows. It would have cost them more for sure, but Lowe financially is in his last year at 11.5 million and he is a great fit. I am not ripping Brown, he did very well to pry Burrows away, and for all I know, maybe the Pirates don't move Burrows without getting that reliever, regardless of what the Astros offered. I suspect at the time Brown believed he could get the guy from St. Louis, or an outfielder from Boston or another player to fill the spot by moving Paredes. Still --- a line up of with Lowe would be pretty damn nice. Pena Paredes Correa Alvarez Altuve Lowe Smith Diaz Meyers That is assuming the Astros wanted to keep Paredes and move Walker by eating 40% of his contract.... the other option is they could have moved Paredes for some of the Red Sox pitching prospects.
The Pirates were in desperate need of power and a good bat as well. What makes you think they would have moved Burrows unless they were receiving that bat in the trade?
FTR I only and specifically want Cam in AAA for a month or less, before the ASB, and for a specific reason - whether that is learning CF or working on launch angle, etc. Him spending 3-4 weeks in AAA is because I like him and hope he becomes a star. That COULD help him be better in 2026 and WOULD give the team control over him for 1 additional year of his prime = 2031 when he will be 28 years old and on another team after filing free agency if it doesn't happen. And he would still be on this team the last 5 months + the post season of 2026 if they make it.
Listen, A-hole, how do you know I wasn’t agreeing with “buddy”? Don’t ever try to act smarter than someone else again.
