I’d really like to see loperfido get a good 7 game or so consistent run of playing time. Don’t the Astros get a draft pick or something if he’s roy?
I just didn’t think Javier was our full time #2 starter that year, that is all…. Yes, he was a middle rotation starter from the summer on through the playoffs. Didn’t start a game in the first round. Started game 3 in the second round. Started game 4 in the World Series (and what a start!) That’s exactly what @Snake Diggit was referring to as far as where his ideal spot in the rotation would be, and how many playoff starts that spot in the rotation would actually make.
The post I was responding to clearly said: "pitched like a contending team’s #2 SP this season. He’s never been that level of pitcher over an extended period of time." I specified 2022 as fitting that criteria though I was not explicit when I said No. 2 starter as being equivalent to "pitched like a contending team’s #2 SP" as I thought that was easily understood from Snake's post. Of the No. 2 pitchers on the teams I consider contenders in 2022, Javier pitched better than most of them, IMO. JV pitching better is irrelevant because he was the best pitcher on a contender. How the Astros deployed Javier isn't relevant as they weren't the only contender. The Astros did not pitch Javier as if he was 2nd best starter on their team. JV was better. This doesn't change that Javier pitched great in 2022 such that most contenders did not have 2 pitchers that pitched better.
I was surprised to see that Javier was among the top 40 or so pitchers in MLB in xfip and fwar in 2022. So there’s certainly an argument that he was a #2 on the whole of that season. Defining slots for starters is extremely subjective so it’s not something worth getting worked up about, but my opinion is still that if Javier is Houstons clear #2 SP, they’re in trouble.
Ok. Still seems very confusing when re-explained… but I guess I see where you’re coming from. All that being considered, was LMJ really deservedly ahead of Javier in the pecking order in 2022? Was it solely based on playoff experience at that point that a still injured LMJ gets the game 3 start in the first round (where he did pitch very well… last time he has pitched very well as an Astro starter…)
One-Run Games After starting the season 0-7 (1-9), Astros have gone 5-2 and have 4 consecutive wins. Current record: 5-9
Current MLB fwar rank by position (min 100 pa): C Diaz 15th 1B Singleton 18th 2B Altuve 4th SS Pena 6th 3B Bregman 14th RF Tucker 1st CF Meyers 2nd LF n/a DH Alvarez 9th
Wish they had re-signed Tucker when they traded for Verlander last season. Just give him his 10 years, he's worth the cost.
Diaz, Bregman and Alvarez are real disappointments there. Meyers, Pena and Singleton pleasant surprises. Singleton is about where you would have hoped Abreu would be preseason. I expect the first 3 I mentioned to her better as the year goes on and the other 3 to get worse netting out to about where we are right now- probably a top 5 offense in true talent that will score more runs a going forward than we’ve scored to date due to bad luck, but not historically great like in 2017 and 2019.
These belong to Jake Meyers, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez in that order. Jake Meyers is putting up star-level numbers with the peripherals to match.
Diaz is really in his first full season at the most difficult position on the field. I am shocked that he is holding his own there.
Random thought but I just remembered Graveman. Man that really sucks. With our pitching woes to start the season he really could have been a massive help. Such is life I guess.
Maybe my expectations were too high. I think he’s an all star with an outside shot at some mvp level seasons if he can improve his plate discipline which is a skill that often ages well. His complete lack of barrels and crappy launch angle explain his plummeting SLG. All the peripheral stats are fine. The guy isn’t a league average hitter imo- he’s an125-140 ops plus guy. Need to see that again.
