Just throwing something out there, and I could be way off base here, but I think there is a chance when/if McCullers comes back, he ends up in the bullpen for the playoffs. Obviously, the situation with the rotation and bullpen's performance is pretty fluid. But if by chance Harris doesn't come back and others don't step up, AND if McHugh, Morton and Peacock keep performing well, AND if McCullers is not back in time to get any minor league rehab starts in before their seasons end...............................................
I think there is zero chance they move a guy who has dealt with injuries all along, into a different role heading into the playoffs If he is healthy, he will start game 2 Anything can happen, especially with an offense like we have But if Dallas and Lance don't start games 1 and 2 of a playoff series, and do so in top form, our chances of winning it all ain't great
Im starting to get more optimistic. Just need to get them healthy and in the zone for the playoffs. Something tells me dallas will be fine and in the zone during the po's Yall remember how dominant he was in the 2015 wild card game vs yankees?
There's absolute lately nothing that indicates keuchel is going to sniff the level he pitched earlier this year... he's downright terrible right now. Waiting for some miraculous turn around is a fool's errand for a team w World Series aspirations. Same thing w McCullers. We're TOAST if this is what we can expect from him.
I don't disagree with what Keuchel said after the trade deadline...but I think he should maybe pull his own f***ing weight. He's been crap since he's been back, tonight included. Looks like 2016 Keuchel...just lobbing the ball up there in the zone at Little League speeds.
His velocity has been down significantly...he doesn't even hit the 90s anymore. 87-88 mph are common. I think it's clear that he isn't healthy still, and that is what's most concerning to me.
Or maybe this is the new normal for Keuchel. It feels like he's been cursed ever since that article came out calling him more durable than the power aces.
My suggestions: Keuchel shaves off his beard in shame. McCullers isn't allowed to see pregame movies or cut his hair. Make them EARN their eccentricities and trademarks back. This is the best I've got. I dunno know what to do with these two aside from getting them to better doctors and trainers.
Put him on the DL again. Call up our minor league pitchers. Same results anyway for now--a probable loss. At least DK is able to rest and hopefully get healthy.
That's not what I said. I will grant that my post was written out of frustration at the moment. His 3rd outing against a team that's won 4 games since the All-Star break, theoretically, should've been the one where he showed he's ready for the stretch run and playoffs. Instead, it was 88 mph clunkers over the middle of the plate. I don't doubt that he's trying. But there's something clearly still not right and if he's going to open his mouth, it had better be to the trainers NOW to help him get right...not to the press about the front office. If he didn't learn what not dealing with your arm issues early does last season, when will he? There is no World Series run without him being right.
Keuchel may be done as a top level starter. Everything just fell apart too quickly and isn't getting better over time. McCullers still has tools, but he's unreliable for what they count on him for. If the Astros truly want to be consistently in the post-season picture, this off season is going to need some hefty investment in pitching.
ERA Italics (era <2.5) Normal (era 2.5-4.0) Bold (era > 4.0) -------------APR---MAY----June----July---Aug DK---------1.21---2.88-----DL-----DL----11.00 LMJ--------4.34---0.99----3.32----9.64---DL? McHugh----DL-----DL-----DL-----4.22---1.50 (one start) Morton----4.50---3.64----DL-----3.23---3.86 Fiers--------5.12---4.86---2.32----2.89---7.30 Peacock---0.79---3.21---3.33----2.42----RP At least two starts for data. DL otherwise. Kinda shows who-s done what by month. If the playoffs were tomorrow, id go with Peacock, McHugh, Morton. Since its not, based on what I am seeing, its going to end up being who is healthy and who is pitching best at the time. Peacock has by far been the most consistent followed by Morton. On McHugh, its too early. The rest of had sporadically bad months scattered among good/great ones. edit: Just noticed LMJ has the cycle. One great month, one good one, one mediocre one, one terrible one, and found the DL twice.
The same could be said about Luhnow. If it's fair to criticize him for not performing, why not a player? Especially when the player complains about others not doing their jobs well.
You again ... What can DK do? His arm is not working ... Different for Luhnow. He knew the weaknesses of the team (heck, fans like us knew) but blundered in not making an appropriate move. If player cannot perform, you sit him out. He probably needs to recuperate. If this year turns out to be a disaster, then rightly or wrongly Luhnow would get lion's share of the blame.
