It is a low cost and potential high reward trade. He isnt magically going to he great but the raw tools are there to be useful for the Astros. If he doesn’t do well or adapt, the Astros can always move on.
I think there are two different points being rolled into one here. 1) Reclamation Project. Can he be remade? Can Strom help him? Is he a scrub? These are all good questions. 2) But another is whether he should be our 5th starter right now or ever. I dont feel great about putting what he has done in 2019 on the mound and expecting good results as things are. Can a guy really improve that much in one week? On the other hand, who else?
I do agree that Astros acquired him for the raw tools, and will move on if it doesn't work. Pitching is just tough to predict. On a side note, I expect Blue Jays are probably thinking they got a low cost high reward trade as well. They've done okay with trades with Astros picking up some nice depth pieces for short term or undesirable value.
If for no other reason, I like this trade because we exchanged hitting depth for pitching depth. Pitching depth has been a problem and hitting depth, abundant. More evening moves like this come winter I expect.
Our 5th starter only has to pitch one time between now and August 13th. Realistically he should be viewed as nothing more than a prospect, you gotta throw him out there to see how he fares. Pressley went from solid to steamroller almost overnight.
Considering Verlander, Cole, Greinke, and Miley...I think we can live with 1 game out of 5 where we might have to go deep into the pen at least until Peacock comes back (should be throwing a bp today if he didn't yesterday).
It is possible if he's doing the wrong things because he's being asked to do the wrong things. If he's doing the wrong things because he can't control his pitches is a different story. Looking over his heat maps this morning, it looks like a wreck. He throws his sinker up and in (basically this is where you want rise so fastball goes over bat and not sink like a bat-seeking missile). He throws his 4S away, but not too far away which allows batters to get arms extended and drive. Curveball is down which is good, but guessing that batters lay off it a lot as it doesn't look like the sinker.
love this trade. moved an immediate 40 man / OF glut down to the lower levels, while also getting bullpen help to solve an in-season need. Sanchez is both a reclamation hope, and also probably some potential bullpen help if they can find a way to repurpose him
These teams making deals with the Astros are often times getting good and productive players. The Astros farm system’s depth the last 4-5 years has been vastly underrated. The Astros are consolidating solid pieces for a single better player or a to fill needs. The Diamondbacks and Jays likely will get value out of the trades they have made with the Astros. The Diamondbacks potentially may do quite well. Even the Cubs trade for Kemp was a really solid move for them.
preach!!!! I whole heartedly think we are the Atlanta Braves of the 90s in terms of getting the most out of pitchers. Even Verlander has benefited from being an Astro and the people around the organization (like Nolan Ryan). Also if we are using analytics then you have to look at his stuff and say what is different now then 3 years ago when he was lights out? if his velocity is the same then its an injury thing (which is part of the issue) and its a mechanical thing (enter Brent Strom)
Its also possible that there are those clubs/owners that would rather see us win than some other teams. In the playoffs, you cant help think those teams we traded with want to see the guys they traded off show the other guys up. Well , maybe not the Indians and Bauer
It would be sweet if that turns out to be the case. Having wrote that, it feels a little more like wishful thinking though.
It will be what it will be. Astros will ask him to throw pitches in different locations than his pitches are currently going. He'll either hit those spots or he won't. Can't guarantee results even if he hits Astros spots. I can guarantee the he will stop throwing a lot of sinkers up and in. I hear Strom puts a shock collar on new Stros pitchers that provides a shock for every sinker thrown. Each shock get progressively worse.
ok sounds like you think our "staff" can automatically make any crappy pitcher to become the next Morton and Miley. Some wishful thinking there. Yes i know Sanchez was a 1 hit wonder a few years ago.
Morton 2 years before coming here … 4 starts one season with 4.15 ERA; 4.89 era year before Miley had a 2.67 (new team brewers) year before but had a 5.61 and 6.17 the 2 years before I think those two pitchers are a good example of how a proper environment along with coaching can enhance a players potential. Miley was basically crap until he reinvented himself starting with the brewers. And I don't think a scrubby pitcher can have the year sanchez did 3 years ago, or a scrubby guy can throw 100 mph, so I would not call him that at all. I think the faith is that this staff can unlock potential for those who have it, so we are focused on velocity and spin rate more so than success with other clubs