I’m getting pretty excited about how Houston’s pitching staff is looking. Brown, Imai, and Burrows have shown signs of dominance. Lambert, Roa, Weiss, Blubaugh, Carlson, and VanWey all look like great upside RP options. Not as stoked about how Javier, McCullers, King, and Arrighetti have looked, and obviously Hader being hurt sucks. But overall I think Houston could be really really good on the pitching side.
And Arrighetti with 6 ks with his velo right where it should be. I wish Javier had looked sharper because he’s the only key guy who hasn’t looked great.
Stros gonna have some gas. 10 guys who could be on their opening day staff throwing 96+: Roa Brown Munoz Lambert Imai Abreu Weiss Sousa Blubaugh McCullers, Arrighetti, Javier, Okert, and King would be the only guys not offering premium velo.
Have to think we'll be up there in K/9 as a team, especially if Hader returns relatively soon after opening day. Even those guys you've listed who don't throw as hard all have high K potential.
Pitching looks good especially top 3 pitchers. Cam looks like he’s lifting the ball which is all he needed to correct. Cole looks like he’s not ready. I hope he figures out how to get the bat on the ball more often because he’s good at everything else.
Him and Brice both have unlimited upside, but unfortunately they also both have a floor of never making it
Good reason for Cole and Brice to start in AAA. Meyers and Smith can handle CF/RF until they can't or there's someone better.
Cam is having a monster Spring, he's not just making the Opening Day roster, he is starting every day.
I don't think there is a world where he doesn't start everyday if he makes the team. And I think its 95% that he does. I still think the best, long term, play is to get him 3 weeks in AAA but that would require the other outfielders beating him out and it simply isn't happening. Either he is a FA at age 28 after 2030 or He's a FA at age 29 after 2031.
