Well, the Dodgers in ST and then the Brewers (who needed bullpen help early in the year) cut him in the past 3 months, and the Rangers, who could always use pitching and are surprisingly in the WC hunt, have watched him at AAA for a month and there he still resides. There's obviously something teams are seeing that they don't like about him right now.
Scouts compared him to David Ortiz when he was with the Twins, very skinny during that time. Rule V later, Red Sox Legend.
Yordan Alvarez could be the Greatest Cuban hitter ever. Yuli Gurriel, Cionel Perez, Yordan Alvarez are from Cuba.
Ideally, we'd have some more pop at 1B, since Gurriel's OPS is below average at 1B, as he's not a power hitter. Still has excellent approach at the plate, though his BA does appear to be dropping too. However, it's clear Luhnow views Alvarez as a "Minute Maid Park left fielder" (his own words from last month), and the fact he (almost) never plays first in AAA has to be telling. I think Brantley should move to first, since he said he's open to it during ST, he clearly hates DH'ing, and the OF is crowded. My ideal lineup (through the injury bug) with all that in mind: Fisher LF/DH Bregman SS Brantley 1B Gurriel 3B Reddick RF Alvarez LF/DH Chirinos C Straw CF Kemp 2B
Does he speak English? Always curious how latino English speakers adjust compared to Spanish speakers.
Just to temper expectations, he’s not coming up with a hot bat - .231 in his last ten games, 2 strikeouts/game his last three games.
[Premium Post] I will have none of this needless pessimism! Yordan's amazing MiLB production is undeniable. I expect him to be a perennial MVP candidate for the Astros through 2030+ and his Cooperstown bust has already been commissioned. GOOD DAY
“Fernando Tatis Jr. is 1000X the player that Yordan Alvarez is” “The difference between Alvarez and other star prospects”
How bad is he at 1B? It isn't as if playing there this season glues him to the position permanently. If they think he will be a solid LF then fine, moving forward we can plan accordingly, but in 2019 1B is clearly the position where AB's can come from. If we have any designs on giving Tucker a good look this season it's gonna be a massive bottleneck in the outfield.
Just DH him and for goodness sake put Brantley back in the field. Dude doesn’t look so good at the plate as a DH. Seems he wants to play the field in order to hit well.
This is the problem. If Alvarez sticks who gives Gurriel a day off when needed after everybody is back. Can Diaz play first? Obviously, the Astros don’t want Alvarez or Brantley there.
