October 26, 20187 yr Re: Tucker. Give it a rest. He’ll be fine. He knows what he needs to work on. I have no doubt he’ll make good on figuring out how to recognize and hit pitches down and in (without sacrificing everything else).Re: White. I can’t help but think he is the 2018 offensive equivalent of 2017 Peacock.He may be serviceable but you can easily do better.....and a part of me can’t help but wonder how much of his July/August was aided by a certain Kyle McLaughlin, et al. (Yeah, I went there... sorry)
October 26, 20187 yr Haven't seen Myles Straw mentioned anywhere. He had a nice stint late in the year. He got some hits and is lightning fast. Minor league average over .300
October 26, 20187 yr 13 minutes ago, Mo Horn said: Haven't seen Myles Straw mentioned anywhere. He had a nice stint late in the year. He got some hits and is lightning fast. Minor league average over .300 I think 3putt could hit .270 in the PCL. Edited October 26, 20187 yr by Fudge Nuggets
October 26, 20187 yr 11 hours ago, Pablo said: Tucker is such an enigma. He destroys AAA and still hasn't hit one home run in the show. Hopefully he WINS the LF spot without question and allows us to buy a real DH or something else beneficial. Nah, he's 21, which, despite the Trout/Harper/Acuna/Sotos of the world (unicorns), is still really young for MLB. On top of that, he had all of 72 plate appearances. His 8.3% BB rate and 18.1% K rate are encouraging - it's not like the kid was striking out all the time, a la (trigger warning) Singleton or Reed or Fisher. He had a .176 BABIP, suggesting that he had some bad luck. Some of that is due to hitting a few more ground balls than you'd like to see, but again - 72 plate appearances, less than a full month.
October 26, 20187 yr .176 BABIP for a lefty reeks of shift effects. I’m drawing a blank - did Tucker see a lot of shifts during his time in the majors?
October 26, 20187 yr We gave it away by calling him Ted - of course teams started shifting him. And it seemed like roughly 120% of his at bats ended with him grounding right into the shift.
October 26, 20187 yr 57 minutes ago, kevwun said: Yeah he did. He grounded out into it fairly often. Yeah, he ended up at 16% line drives, 49% ground balls, 35% fly balls among batted balls (a lot of hitters tend to be somewhere near 20-40-40 here). 49% GB is pretty high - it would have ranked him around #20 in MLB if he had qualifying number of ABs. Most of the guys in the top 20 in GB% don't fare too well overall, though a few did - Yelich, Cain, Springer are up there (interestingly, Springer has been around 49% GB% the last 3 years)...so some guys can make it work for them, but it isn't generally a recipe for success. Per Fangraphs, Tucker also posted a pretty low hard-hit ball rate (33%) - it isn't necessarily awful, but Yelich, for example, while hitting a lot of balls on the ground, had an elite hard-hit ball rate of 48% - that's one way to have success even if you hit it on the ground. Again, I wouldn't read too much into any of this because we're talking about 72 PAs. I'm optimistic on Tucker because of the BB% and K% in his first taste - he wasn't overmatched and showed a reasonably good eye at the plate.
October 26, 20187 yr He doesn't swing and miss a lot which can work against you when you're first up and overwhelmed. Lots of weak grounders for instance. Eventually he's going to start squaring up the ball a lot more often when he gets settled in and they will either get elevated or have enough juice to make it through the shift. He'll probably also get better at going to the opposite way. I don't believe he's been an extreme pull guy in the minors. Edited October 26, 20187 yr by kevwun
October 26, 20187 yr He also doesn't swing and miss a lot and he struggled even worse than Tucker when he was first called up.
October 26, 20187 yr I’m most interested to see how tucker is going to handle...having his first HR negated because of RF fan interference (Triggered)
October 27, 20187 yr Author 10 hours ago, runthebone said: And good thing Bregman is still young and getting better Agree, gives him even more value. Might be able to pry Realmuto for Bregs and a pick.
October 27, 20187 yr Agree, gives him even more value. Might be able to pry Realmuto for Bregs and a pick. Screw Bregs for Sale.I won’t settle unless Eovaldi is included too.Hindsight 20/20, yeah, yeah but I and others (hg comes to mind) really wanted him around the trade deadline.The fact Boston only had to give up their #15 prospect doesn’t help.
October 27, 20187 yr List of Astros prospects in the AFL, in addition to Whitley: Spoiler Astros hitters in the Fall League Ronnie Dawson, OF Known most for his power when the Astros made him a second-round pick from Ohio State in 2016, Dawson has lost weight and significantly improved his speed since turning pro. He hit .258/.333/.428 with 16 homers and 35 steals this year between high Class A and Double-A. Drew Ferguson, OF An AFL replacement for Myles Straw, who made Houston's postseason roster, Ferguson was a 19th-round choice out of Belmont in 2015 and has average tools across the board. He battled a wrist injury in 2018 and batted .304/.432/.443, mostly in Triple-A. Abraham Toro-Hernandez, RHP A product of the Astros' extensive scouting of Oklahoma junior colleges, Hernandez was a 2016 fifth-rounder out of Seminole State JC. He's a switch-hitter with solid raw power and plus arm strength, and he hit .247/.345/.435 with 16 homers between Class A Advanced and Double-A. Astros pitchers in the Fall League J.B. Bukauskas, RHP The 15th overall pick in the 2017 Draft out of North Carolina, Bukauskas was hampered by back issues related to a Spring Training car accident for much of his first full pro season. He did post a 2.14 ERA, .199 opponent average and 71 strikeouts in 59 innings at five levels, showing a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider that are plus-plus offerings at their best. Erasmo Pinales, RHP Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, Pinales has some of the best pure stuff in the system: a fastball that reaches 97 mph with running and rising action, a short slider and hard curveball that are plus pitches at times and a solid changeup. He's still figuring out command and control, which is why he had a 5.17 ERA while striking out 72 in 55 2/3 relief innings in Double-A. Trent Thornton, RHP A Tar Heels teammate of Bukauskas in 2015, when he was a fifth-round selection, Thornton has a funky delivery that adds deception to an arsenal that includes a 93-95-mph fastball and solid curveball and slider. He compiled a 4.42 ERA with a 122/31 K/BB ratio in 124 1/3 Triple-A innings.
October 27, 20187 yr Cross posting from the Stark article in the WS thread: Quote And no National League player has hit an 18th-inning walk-off bomb (or later) in the regular season in over three decades – since Billy Hatcher off Greg Maddux (in relief!) on Sept. 2, 1986. First off, Stark is mistaken. This wasn't a walkoff because the game was at Wrigley: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198609020.shtml Also the HR was on the 3rd because the game was suspended on the 2nd in the 15th due to darkness (pre-lights Wrigley) and resumed on the 3rd. Does anyone remember this game? This was 2 days before my 6th birthday. I started watching the Stros and became a fan that season but sadly I don't remember this one. It looks like a preview of Game 6 vs the Mets the next month. Both teams scored 3 in the 17th to keep the game going and light hitting Billy Hatcher hit an extra inning HR. Also, longhorn badass Keith Moreland had a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 17th to tie it.
October 28, 20187 yr 19 hours ago, WBT said: Cross posting from the Stark article in the WS thread: First off, Stark is mistaken. This wasn't a walkoff because the game was at Wrigley: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198609020.shtml Also the HR was on the 3rd because the game was suspended on the 2nd in the 15th due to darkness (pre-lights Wrigley) and resumed on the 3rd. Does anyone remember this game? This was 2 days before my 6th birthday. I started watching the Stros and became a fan that season but sadly I don't remember this one. It looks like a preview of Game 6 vs the Mets the next month. Both teams scored 3 in the 17th to keep the game going and light hitting Billy Hatcher hit an extra inning HR. Also, longhorn badass Keith Moreland had a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 17th to tie it. Chris Burke.
October 28, 20187 yr On 10/26/2018 at 6:46 AM, Mez2 said: He's gonna be a nice piece for a trade package for paul goldschmidt Goldschmidt will be on the wrong side of 30 and has been showing troubling signs this season I'd rather pass... http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23566931/real-not-arizona-diamondbacks-worry-paul-goldschmidt
October 28, 20187 yr On 10/27/2018 at 12:00 PM, WBT said: Does anyone remember this game? This was 2 days before my 6th birthday. I started watching the Stros and became a fan that season but sadly I don't remember this one. This game was a week before my 9th birthday. I was very much an Astros fan by this point in life but I honestly don't remember many of the weekday Wrigley games from back then due to being in school and not having access to cool tech or even replays. I do remember the games in 1989 vs the Dodgers where we played 35 innings (22 in the first game and 13 in the following game) winning both of them.
October 28, 20187 yr I do remember the games in 1989 vs the Dodgers where we played 35 innings (22 in the first game and 13 in the following game) winning both of them.Nice Looks like I’m about 3-4 years younger than you, but definitely remember this as well... and was thinking about those games last night when Jansen gave up the bomb to tie it up in the 8th...”Dodgers about play the WS equivalent of that time when they played the Astros and played ~ 3 games in the span of 36 hrs.”The first game was Saturday night followed by a Sunday afternoon game if memory serves.My folks didn’t have cable and I remember listening to most of the first game on the radio. Next day had some family gathering at a relative’s house and they had HSE in all of its SD glory!That was ~29 years ago. Now, I can’t remember things 29 minutes ago/csb
October 28, 20187 yr if Correa bounces back, having white at DH is a little more tolerable You have to try and make something happen at DH if the plan is to turn the reigns over to Tucker.Planning on Tucker and White to be meaningful everyday contributors with no Marwin (I’m assuming he won’t re-sign) doesn’t seem very wise)
October 28, 20187 yr 6 minutes ago, UTexasFight said: Nice Looks like I’m about 3-4 years younger than you, but definitely remember this as well... and was thinking about those games last night when Jansen gave up the bomb to tie it up in the 8th...”Dodgers about play the WS equivalent of that time when they played the Astros and played ~ 3 games in the span of 36 hrs.” The first game was Saturday night followed by a Sunday afternoon game if memory serves. My folks didn’t have cable and I remember listening to most of the first game on the radio. Next day had some family gathering at a relative’s house and they had HSE in all of its SD glory! That was ~29 years ago. Now, I can’t remember things 29 minutes ago /csb Yup that was the first thing that went through my head was oh shit they may be headed to another 30+ inning debacle then of course they literally lit themselves on fire in the 9th and took away any doubt. You are indeed correct that the 22 inning marathon was Sat and the 13 inning game was on Sunday. It really was pretty much the high point of the 1989 season because they were the 9th and 10th games the Astros had won in a row and part of the 16 wins in 17 games stretch. It was the last year Mike Scott was a great pitcher and with Nolan Ryan moving up to Arlington that year it really was the end of the elementary school Astros for me. After that the 1990 and 1991 seasons were pretty miserable but at least were met with the hope from Bagwell & Biggio on the horizon. I'm totally with you on the can remember stuff from 29 years ago bit but can't remember 29 minutes ago now.
October 28, 20187 yr im much more concerned about correa bouncing back, then tucker or white Really?!?That’s about concern #13 on my list heading in to 2019.
October 28, 20187 yr Correa's swings were noticeably better the last couple of games of the ALCS. Made me feel a lot better about him bouncing back next season.
October 28, 20187 yr Anyone have PPP stats from ‘89? I remember Dodger 3B Jeff Hamilton coming and giving up the winning run in the 22nd. Curious how many times a PPP occurred that year
October 28, 20187 yr The main thing I remember about that game was Orel Hersheiser pitching an insane number of innings in relief and feeling like there was little to no hope for getting the win until Lasorda brought in the 3rd basemen. This was of course the year after the Dodgers had just won the WS so they still had a talented squad... Kirk Gibson Eddie Murray Fernando Mike Scioscia
October 28, 20187 yr Excuse my stupidity but what's PPP?Position player pitchingHappened ~40 times in 2018.Doubtful it came close to that for the entire decade of the ‘80s
October 28, 20187 yr 51 minutes ago, Pimphand said: You are indeed correct that the 22 inning marathon was Sat and the 13 inning game was on Sunday. It really was pretty much the high point of the 1989 season because they were the 9th and 10th games the Astros had won in a row and part of the 16 wins in 17 games stretch. It was the last year Mike Scott was a great pitcher and with Nolan Ryan moving up to Arlington that year it really was the end of the elementary school Astros for me. After that the 1990 and 1991 seasons were pretty miserable but at least were met with the hope from Bagwell & Biggio on the horizon. I was at the Sunday game. I remember Louie Meadows hit a grand slam and Biggio tied it up with a homer in the ninth. Edited October 28, 20187 yr by Seasick Sailor
October 28, 20187 yr Duh not sure why I spaced on that. Obviously it was a huge thing back in the day with Babe Ruth pitching over 1,000+ innings before becoming exclusively a position player. I remember Vance Law, Jose Oquendo & John Cangelosi throwing a few innings in the late 80s but honestly that's about all I can remember. It definitely wasn't a common place thing for sure.
October 28, 20187 yr My dad always told me about the time Dave Kingman pitched for the Giants back in the 1970s. He really was a player ahead of his time he was the original 2 outcome hitter (strikeout or homer).
October 29, 20187 yr I was at the 22 inning game. My dad's work had a bus to take his group and families to the game. About the 11th inning people started whining about babysitters and we had to leave - 8 year old me was pissed. We listened to it on the bus radio for the hour drive back to where the bus dropped us off then listened to it in my dad's truck on the way home. Then I had it on the radio when I went to bed but fell asleep long before it was over. I remember that someone on the Dodgers got hurt sliding into the 1st in the top of the 1st and had to leave the game. I think it was Lenny Harris and he was replaced by Chris Hatcher, or maybe it was the other way around. Anyway, this guy didn't start the game but ended up playing all 22 I think. Also when Lasorda finally pulled Hershiser and put the 3B in to pitch, Fernando had to go into the game to play 1B. EDIT - looks like it was Chris Hatcher that got hurt and was replaced by Mike Davis. Lenny Harris wasn't even on the Dodgers that year. Edited October 29, 20187 yr by WBT
October 29, 20187 yr 3 hours ago, Pimphand said: Goldschmidt will be on the wrong side of 30 and has been showing troubling signs this season I'd rather pass... http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23566931/real-not-arizona-diamondbacks-worry-paul-goldschmidt I suspect Goldie will end up getting way too much money and/or too many years someplace else. But if he still has his stroke and overall health, you have to think he could bang the ball around in the AL. Better to play a borderline has-been than a never-will-be, of which there are many.
October 29, 20187 yr 3 hours ago, tx 3 putt said: im much more concerned about correa bouncing back, then tucker or white Assuming he's healthy, Correa is a known commodity. Assuming he's alive, Tyler White sucks
October 29, 20187 yr 1 hour ago, Gut Wagon said: I suspect Goldie will end up getting way too much money and/or too many years someplace else. But if he still has his stroke and overall health, you have to think he could bang the ball around in the AL. Better to play a borderline has-been than a never-will-be, of which there are many. There is a 0% chance he signs with LA or NY. He is really private and is honestly very uncooperative with the AZ media (no comment, no comment, no I'm not going to do that), and they don't attack him for that like the big markets would. I could imagine him signing with BOS because his dad grew up in the NE as a huge Red Sox fan, but other than that, he'll take less money to stay in AZ or to go home to HOU/TEX, rather than going to some place like SEA or STL for more money/years. I'd be surprised if he wants to play more than 5 more years. If either HOU/TEX(not happening)/AZ offered him 4/80, he'd grab a pen.
October 29, 20187 yr World Series has been over for at least 15 minutes now. Why haven't we signed any free agents, or made any deals yet? C'mon Luhnow you slacker
October 29, 20187 yr Just now, Planet Houston said: Reigning WS Champs no more. Take it back in 2019. Let’s go. le sigh. Up for the taking!
October 29, 20187 yr Author 4 minutes ago, Mo Horn said: World Series has been over for at least 15 minutes now. Why haven't we signed any free agents, or made any deals yet? C'mon Luhnow you slacker I saw him at a kids’ Halloween party today at the Menil. Clearly doesn’t have his priorities in order.
October 29, 20187 yr We're co-favorites with Boston at 6-1 next seasonIf this year is any indication, smart money bets the house on wherever Espada lands... unless it’s Arlington
October 29, 20187 yr 40 minutes ago, maninblack said: We're co-favorites with Boston at 6-1 next season
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