Apparently Jason Castro is no first baseman. Apparently the Astros have considered the move. And nixed the move.
Nearly two years ago, Houston said it would not move him there. “For now.” Well, despite a well-documented search for a first baseman and a slew of journeymen, prospects, also-rans, and first basemen wannabes, Castro is still the Astros’ starting catcher. And Houston still searches for the prodigious replacement for Lance Berkman.
In fact, barring an injury or unforseen acquisition, Castro will be making his fifth consecutive opening day start behind the plate next month. Only Brad Ausmus (six) has had more.
Still, for an organization that hasn’t hesitated to move players from one position to another when necessary, it does beg the question of how deeply the Astros have considered the Castro move — if at all — and what other options behind the plate the team may have had. Though it may be those options or lack thereof that has prevented the move.
Of course, Jonathan Lucroy has been available for the better part of the off-season and Houston has apparently had some interest. Given the relationship of former Astros’ assistant and now-GM for Milwaukee David Stearns, it would seem obvious the discussions may have been deeper than a single phone call.
Lucroy behind the plate in an Astros’ uniform and Castro at first base might provide the Astros a bit of security in both spots, though Castro can obviously become a free agent at the end of 2016.
Despite his perceived shortcomings, Castro is still in the top half of catchers in the league, but his fragile nature may also be something of a consideration as he moves into his age-29 season. A move to first base could also increase his marketability if the Astros determined he could bring a return this season rather than let him walk in the offseason.
Meanwhile, Lucroy — who hits from the right side — is signed through 2017 at what is considered a team-friendly deal. He would give the Astros some stability until others are either healthy or move up in the system.
Rather see Tyler White or A.J. Reed at first? No worries. The Astros also need a designated hitter to open the season as Evan Gattis heals up.
Of course, the big question in a potential Lucroy acquisition is what the Astros may have to give up. Lucroy is one year removed from All Star form when he hit .301 with 53 doubles. The UL-Lafayette product also fits more nicely into Jeff Luhnow’s previously stated OBP lineup than others might. Lucroy has a career .340 OBP and is typically also a low-K guy, which also would be a departure from current norms.
The Astros still have the players with which to deal, unless Stearns is holding out for a player like Lance McCullers Jr. or Collin McHugh. While a deal is still a possibility, the likelihood diminishes each day as teams don’t generally like to make those types of changes behind the plate this close to opening day.
For the record, Lucroy also played six games at 1B for Milwaukee last year and hit second most of the season. He would slot in nicely between Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa in Houston’s lineup as a solid bat handler. Or in the five hole behind Altuve, George Springer, Correa and Carlos Gomez.
So, for your Monday brain teaser:
- Is a Lucroy acquisition worth giving up a prospect or two?
- Would you trade Castro and a mid-prospect straight up for Lucroy?
- Should the Astros consider the move to first for Castro?
- If the Astros should acquire Lucroy, is it only a sign that Castro will be traded mid-season?
- Was Max Stassi ever really the “guy” to back up Castro?
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
73 responses to “Lucroy and Castro: An upgrade for Astros’ lineup”
1) No
2) Maybe
3) No
4) Moot point – see #1
5) Beats me. I have no idea what these guys are thinking. Is the catching position really a black hole? Maybe I’m missing something here.
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I have to ask why would there be talk of moving Castro to first base. We have sucked at first base and Jason Castro would suck at first base. He hasn’t hit a lick for two full seasons, so why stick a bad bat at first base again? The only reason he’s still around is because he is in the top five defensively behind the plate. We have Castro for one more season at five million dollars, so use him for as many games behind the plate as he can possibly play because he is going to bolt in free agency.
Lucroy is going to cost a lot and you won’t be able to utilize him behind the plate if you are paying Castro to be behind the plate.
What the Astros need to do is to get the guy who they think is the best catcher they have in their system and get him up here to spend the next year learning from Hinch, Castro and anyone else who can help develop him into a catcher like Castro, one who is good defensively and can hit .220 but maybe not strike out with RISP as much as Castro does.
I believe Stearns wants his pick of any catcher in our system, plus one of Martes, Musgrove or Feliz, plus the biggest power arm in our system, Jandel Gustave, in a Lucroy deal. All three of those guys would be on his 25-man roster by 2017 and he would have six or seven years control over each of them for two years of Lucroy, which would make Castro basically a backup for a year. That is too much!!
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if Lucroy would cost either Musgrove, Martes, Gustave, or any catcher in our system other than Castro or Gattis it would far outweigh any benefit we would realize from having Lucroy’s OBP for a couple of years.
Meanwhile, looks like we get another chance at Folty tonight. Last time out he absolutely shredded us, all up and down the line-up. There will be no surprises this time. So let’s see exactly how the potential MOR or BOR guy we gave up for a couple of years of Evan Gattis and something yet-to-be-determined from James Hoyt does against us the 2nd time around.
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I disagree with you on Lucroy.
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Not a problem – but be assured I have intentionally left open the idea of trading a trio of guys they might choose from a pool of Wojo, Peacock, Devenski, Bostick, Cabrera, D. Reynolds, McCurry, Paulino, Duffy, Marisnick, and Singleton [to name a few] along with either Evan Gattis or Luis Valbuena, for a. Lucroy and b. the return of either Brett Maverick or Josh Hader.
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No surprise to anyone I suspect, but it was announced today that Vince Velasquez has made the Phillies’ team and will be in their starting rotation. Congratulations, VV!
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Q&A
◾Is a Lucroy acquisition worth giving up a prospect or two?
I think if the Brewers were asking for a reasonable trade it would have happened already. I would be fine if it could be done with guys who have little future here, but have value to someone else.
◾Would you trade Castro and a mid-prospect straight up for Lucroy?
It will probably take more than that. Castro and a higher prospect or a couple of mids
◾Should the Astros consider the move to first for Castro?
It made sense three years ago when Castro was showing a good bat and not much defensively and we had an empty cabinet at 1B, but let White and MarGo and Valbuena cover 1B to start the season and bring in Reed behind them.
◾If the Astros should acquire Lucroy, is it only a sign that Castro will be traded mid-season?
Yes – it means they want to get something for Castro because I doubt they sign him as a FA. However, do you really want to get rid of the guy who has a good rapport with one of the top pitching staffs in baseball?
◾Was Max Stassi ever really the “guy” to back up Castro?
I think Max Stassi is the default backup to Castro. He has struggled ever since getting hit in the face a couple years ago. But we do not have much in the way of top C prospects close to the majors.
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* Was Max Stassi ever really the “guy” to back up Castro? *
The reason I said I would not trade any catcher in our system other than Castro or Gattis for Lucroy is that catching is one of two areas of glaring deficiency in our minor league system. Two of our best catching prospects – Carlos Perez and Jacob Nottingham – got traded away [with others] for Conger and Kazmir. That left us with a big void in the catching ranks – and it made either Stassi, Heineman, and Pena our closest-to-prime-time catching prospects. Maybe James Ritchie will develop, but til then either Stassi, Heineman, or Pena are what we have. With Castro leaving next year, we need to either see one of the three catching amigos start pushing him or trade him and some non-catching, non-outfield, prospects for Lucroy or some other major league proven defender and good OBP catcher.
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I hope once Stassi comes back, he gets his shot as backup. Castro is going to be playing most of the time anyway. No reason to trade for a catcher unless Castro gets hurt.
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The common theme here is that Castro does not hit enough to play first base even if he could play first base. If this Lucroy deal should come about, Castro needs to be a part of it. Depending on who else would be involved in the trade I’m leery. And we’d be paying a pretty hefty salary to the new guy going forward. I don’t care about the money, but is it realistic for this club?
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And Castro for certain does not hit well enough to ever play DH.
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And including Castro in the Lucroy deal makes absolutely no sense whatsoever from Stearns’s point of view. Castro has a higher salary and will be a free agent at the end of the season and doesn’t hit as well as Lucroy. Why would a rebuilding team do something so stupid?
Adding Lucroy just continues to send the Astros down the same old path of not having a catcher because they won’t develop one. They have to take one of their catchers and make him into their catcher. It is what they are doing with every other position on their team. They have to develop a young catcher who they have team control over for years. They have put up with a lousy hitting/decent fielding catcher for years. At least they have a couple of those right now in their system that won’t cost them millions so why not do that. If they can’t develop a catcher like that then they don’t deserve their jobs as a front office.
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1. Yes…but the part of equation missing is which prospect(s)
2. I’m not a fantasy baseball player. What does Keuchel, McHugh, and McCullers want? If they are OK changing receivers this close to a season I do it.
3. April 1st is this Friday
4. Something’s gotta give. Castro or Gattis should be the backup catcher/platoon partner in the scenario, but both make too much for Crane to eat. You would think a trade is necessary for 25 man reasons.
5. Stassi was ‘the guy’ the same way Singleton was the first squad first basemen to start spring training. Nothing was written in stone.
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If we could get Lucroy for a package of Castro, Kemp and Gustave I would do it and be very happy. I doubt that would be enough, but I’d be comfortable with this type package.
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I would hold on Castro and if is our weakest link and hitting .240 I’m in. I think he can do it, unless we can trade a bunch of AAAA folks. After watching a lot of the ST games, White, Reed and Moran all look like the can hit ML Pitching. All the other youngsters looked a bit over whelmed. Stassi who knows, never really seen him play much at the big league level.
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I see no evidence to suggest Castro can hit .240 without some unworldly BABIP like .350. I think what you can expect is a .220, hope for a .240, but don’t be surprised when its a .200.
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Let’s calm down on these trades. We need at least one catcher. We have one and perhaps a back up. Someone needs to bat 9th. We have that guy and he is catching. We need a 1B. We currently have a guy that can hit and perhaps play 1st. We also have a guy that can’t hit and mostly is not dependable at 1st. If JL works a trade, then I can only approve it if Mr Bill gets fills in the part of “here is what they get.”
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nice to see you back chip. if we trade for lucroy, castro is part of the package going the other way. then you still have the backup problem. i like lucroy over castro in just a one on one evaluation, but who goes with castro to complete the trade. dave, castros and lucroy’s salries are fairly close so no big salary problem. if it happens it has to happen early this week, so the pitching staff has time to get comfortable with the new catcher. i would trade csatro and ONE midrange prospect for lucroy.
i dont like castro at first, too many young guys ready to take it.
i dont know enough about stassi yet to say, and as long as the starting catcher doesnt get hurt its not a big problem. but if the starter DOES get hurt, then houston we have a problem.
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rj, I don’t care about the money. But if Lucroy puts up his historical numbers, he’ll get paid much more than Castro.
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It looks like Tyler White has won the 1B job. Big Jon was assigned to minor league camp.
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Good riddance. Maybe we can throw him in for a future trade.
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Who would want him?
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Maybe the Houston Zoo needs someone to clean out the hippo pond on the weekend.
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Say again, we are good to stand pat with Jason Castro until another look midseason (don’t we lose a draft pick if we dont see his contract thru?). Neither would we be classless to take away his opportunity to win a ring and to see if he can (John Houseman’s) “earrrrrrrn” $5M benchmarked – and it is my opinion the players and staff wholeheartedly support Jason. In the meantime, scour the wire on players/teams leveraged against like Lucroy and many names we’re connected with interest. Work deals to unload positions we’re heavy in prospects like pitching and IF, which are blocked by the firm of Tuve Correa and Reed Inc; or guys we’ve seen enough of. Lets not freak out, Pena and Heine are fine for now until Max comes back; or until we get a guy who can hit the baseball hard.
Now, the real story is not Castro at 1B to gain trade value. It is the 5’10”, sober and disciplined first baseman, who was drafter 977th just three short years ago, and who is about to take America by storm. If he comes anywhere near his 467! on base % in Fresno, then a light-hitting catcher in our lineup (least of our worries) will obviously be the guy to pitch to. We need a crafy RHH to compliment Castro that Lucroy could provide – so why be cheap? Over pay the position, since Castro knows he’s out next season anyway? Give him his swan song with Gomez, Feldman and Rasmus too. If Jason isnt in that celebration – its really sad considering what he’s been a part of. We’re trying to win championships – so acquiring the greatest value while maintaining player integrity will separate us. I suppose we’ll figure out that equation soon.
Hold on, let me check the news before hitting “post comment” ha!
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I do not mind a bit having Castro and Lucroy on the same 25 man roster, and I don’t care a bit what it will cost financially, but how much do we lose in talent? And do we need the Lucroy upgrade to get to where we want to go?
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Today’s cuts of Reed, Heineman, Buchanan, Sclafani, Singleton, Feliz, Valdez and Perez means that either Pena gets added to the 40-man, A. Gonzalez(40-man) becomes the backup until Stassi returns or the Astros are going shopping for a catcher. It means Straily, Hoyt and Wandy are still fighting it out for the last bullpen spot(Hoyt is still in the MLB camp, right?).
Remember when White left Kissimmee after being sent there to catch? Then he got sent to the DR to work on playing 1B in the winter leagues. His work paid off, it appears.
Every time I wonder about how Fiers, Fister and Feldman will do at the back of the rotation, I remind myself that the back of the rotation on opening day last year was Feldman, Wojo and Fausto, and that McCullers is going to be ready pretty soon and that Musgrove and Feliz will be starting in Fresno, hopefully.
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Agreed. But I would feel even better if Fister pulled off a really good outing today against Atlanta.
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Alfredo Gonzales only got 6 PAs with the big club this Spring. What was up with that?
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Bill, it’s just my opinion, but I think the Astros had to put Gonzalez on the 40-man last fall or lose him to Stearns. Same with Gustave.
I’m sure the Astros want to give Gonzalez another year in the minors, especially if he keeps improving the way he did last year. But the Brewers might have gone after him in Rule 5 and stashed him in a backup role. After all, they are in a full blown rebuild, which is why they want to move Lucroy.
Remember, Stearns knows a lot about the Astros, but the Astros know a lot about Stearns, too.
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Oh, what a beastly lineup tonight, and with Tuve and Valbuena sitting! See what Danny’s got in primetime.
Then Reed super 2 is about 1.) money less than control, but could be explained away as, 2.) (L) Tucker til Gattis, and (R) White at DH, 3.) White/Marwin/Valbuena at 1B til Reed. He’ll get his swings in Fresno, as he has his share of strikeouts in camp. But so did Tuve, Spinger, Duffy, Correa, and Singleton.
If I were sitting down with Worth, I’d say, “son, you really impressed us, just like White, Reed, Hoyt, Feliz, Devenski and until his whole Spring was complete, Moran. To a lesser extent but a very important guy we need to step up is Derek Fisher. Those guys moved up my depth chart for whatever a Spring is worth,…Danny.”
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Reed is going down to get more work. His biggest issue is 2BB/13K. White made the decision an easy one.
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I bet the Astros want either Wandy or Straily as the last man in the bullpen, but I still hope they decide to add Hoyt. I don’t think we’ll need a long man in April and when McCullers returns we can decide to move one of the F’s to the bullpen. Of course, this means either Hoyt will have to be sent down or someone traded/released. Personally, I prefer Hoyt over Fields, and maybe if Hoyt performs very well until LMJ returns they may look to unload Fields via trade. Teams are always looking for an arm that can throw in the mid 90s.
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If thats their feeling, Im Ok with all that, Tim, except Straily. We have better long men than both he, or Wandy. Its a good point you make though, early on. Both of their ceilings are Innings Eaters. Their floors however will make you wonder why we still have studs toiling in lower levels after they’ve already proven it. One thing which seems pretty obvious if you look at a guy like Musgrove (50 innings a year for 4 yrs) or Feldman for example, they’ve been limited – held back. Presumably, they will all be fresher as we get to post season, like LMJ, if a Straily can outperform his projections. Hopefully, we dont need Straily is my point.
And btw, SI reported yesterday the Astros are “grooming him as a starter.” Guess who?
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Hinch told Moran and Worth that they will go to Fresno, but that they will make the trip to Houston to play with the team for the last spring training games.
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is the game blacked out on 674 Root direct TV?
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The Astros website says they are carrying it but it’s not on here. can’t find it anywhere.
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Springer led off the game with a homer over the CF fence. Messed up Folty’s shutout and no-hitter.
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Well Astros 3HRs , Folty Zero
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Gomez leads off the second inning with a homer over the left center fence, followed by Tuckers homer over the RF fence
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Fister is looking strong )-:
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Mr. Fister sure does not look ready to start the year in the Astros rotation. Maybe we are going to need Wandy after all.
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Fister giving it all back in the second with a leadoff walk followed by two singles and a double. Why does a veteran pitcher walk the leadoff guy with a good lead.
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Gives up a sac fly to tie the game and then walks Folty.
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Fister strikes out Aybar to stop the bleeding. 4-3 Braves top of the third
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Fister had looked like damaged goods the last couple of outings. I guess it’s a good thing we have Wandy to step in when Fister completely explodes.
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Springer leads off the third with an infield single, followed by Colin Moran’s homer over the opposite field fence. 5-4 Astros
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Me likey Moran, bats looking good
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Correa doubles with no outs in the third and scores on a two out error by the SS on a ground ball by Tucker. 6-4 Astros middle of the third inning.
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And Fister immediately walks the leadoff guy, Freddie Freeman and then gives up a hit.
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Then gets a flyout to LF and a DP started by Moran at 3B. still 6-4 going to the fourth.
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Springer homers with two outs in the fourth, 7-4.
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Astros crushing the ball. Preceding Springer’s second HR was a lineout to first by Castro and a line drive out to CF by Worth. After Spring’s dinger Moran singled, and Correa tripled him in. Folty long gone by now.
Kemp ran for Correa and Rasmus doubled him home, 9-4 Astros. Gomez ended the inning with a flyout. Headed to the bottom of the fourth.
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You’ll never guess what Fister did. He walked the leadoff hitter in the fifth and then gave up 2 more runs. 9-6 Astos top of the sixth.
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So am I reading right that the Astros hit 5 HRs off Folty?
Saw where Harvey who looked like somebody pitching around an injury against the Astros is probably hurt.
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4 off Folty and the fifth off off the reliever
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If Fister continues to leave the ball up I’m guessing about a 9.00 ERA
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Goodbye Dan Straily. Apparently we have traded the Padres out of a back-up catcher?
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Drellich tweeted and now MLBTR has picked it up. Fixing to head to the Padres depth chart.
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Eric Kratz is the catcher we got.
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36 years old and has never spent the entire season in the majors. Pretty much all I know about him.
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Wait…what? We got a new catcher?
Hopefully we’ll trade Stassi when he’s healthy so he can catch on (pardon the pun…) with someone else. I hate it when some people get chance after chance despite not producing (looking at you, Simpleton)or putting forth any effort, and others never get their chance.
Kind of like me in life in general, except if I made the major league minimum salary. I might get to eat every day.
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Singleton, not Simpleton. Guess my phone feels the same way I do about pampered buffoons who don’t know the meaning of trying instead of loafing.
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35 year old journeyman catcher. right handed batter. checking any stats. Recently with the Royals.
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he has 2.0 career WAR, mostly on the defensive side. Many years in the minors, had a decent year with the Royals and Phils last year. ARH backup catcher, just like we figured we needed. Best stat is a career K rate of only 20%.
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So Wandy enters the game in the bottom of the seventh with the Astros up 9-6 and proceeds to walk the leadoff batter, Freeman, and then gives up a hit. and another double, 9-7. And a groundout, 9-8. and a double, 9-9 at the end of the seventh. Fister and Wandy just have nothing.
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I’m feeling worse about Cotts getting released.
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As a wise man once said: Can’t anybody here play this game?
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I have to believe behind the curtain, Uncle Jeff is getting a bit nervous about Giles for half of out top 20, ST or not.
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Well hells bells! I’ve missed a whole bunch of stuff! Today is Easter Monday in the English speaking Caribbean and we tend to go to the beach, cook chicken, fish and drink too many cold beverages. I’m darn happy for Tyler White. Looks like he might well be taking a short stroll across the diamond to first base from the visiting dugout at Yankee Stadium in a nationally broadcasted Opening Day. I’m taken by his calm. I’m impressed by his Mom and Dad. Regular people. It certainly translates. Hard work. Focus. This kid is going to be a .300 hitter in the major leagues before long. Screw the computer generated forecasts.
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Oh Lordy….you guys have made this Easter weekend interesting!! Glad my name isn’t Jason Castro, or you guys would have sent me on a slow boat to China!
Chip, glad to see you back with all of us mentally deranged Astros fans!! Spring training is nearly over, and the season is almost here….and I can NOT wait!! We finally got our wish folks, Tyler White is our shiny new first baseman! He joins a pretty select club with Correa, and Giles being the other two! I keep reading the comments Fister makes about his starts, and I gotta tell ya…..I’m not impressed.
Who knows the guy might return to his old self, but I’m not betting on it….and you know me I’m a gambler, but I’d have passed on this guy.
I do believe my Houma family has the best crawfish boil in South La.!!! I’m just glad I felt good enough to travel this Easter to join in the fun! Welcome Eric Katz !!!
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Funny – the folks here at the blog have been saying for weeks that it should be White making the squad and Singleton not making it. They also have been saying that Reed would be sent down but be brought up ala Carlos Correa at the “right time” financially. Man – a 33rd round pick, who is built more like me than a baseball player, but the kid can plain stroke it.
I wonder how long a leash Valbuena is on. Moran had a great spring and would seem to be in line to be back up if V starts hitting like last season again.
I think most folks here would rather see Hoyt take the last spot over Wandy. Frankly, with the way that Harris gets lefties out – he is the “other” lefty in the pen even if he does not throw from that side.
Getting excited – getting close to reality time.
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Dan, I would rather they kept Cotts than Wandy. My assumption is that it shows they have buyer’s remorse on Fister and are hedging their bets that they will need more starters in the early going. It probably comes back to bite us in Sept/August.
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I like Castros def prowess behind the plate and pitch framing skills, but offensively he appears lost, as evidence his ofers against NY the 1st two games. His swing adj during off season looked good in spring training but has yet to translate. Trade for Lucroy not bad idea come June as Stros will/should not pay him big $$$ end of season. Playing him at 1st base not an option in my book. Let young guns have their turn there. Tyler looks like he can rake and Reed lurks waiting his turn.
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