In NFL terms, the season is in the first quarter of week 2 and the Astros have started…well the season has certainly started. The pitching has been unsustainably good and the offense has been unsustainably bad. Both are due for some reversion to the mean, but who knows what that will look like. It will take until mid-June to get a feel for how good or bad this team actually is. With that out of the way, here are a few Astros thoughts.
LMJ should accept that he can’t start anymore
Since 2018, Lance McCullers has pitched over 100 innings in only one season, 2021, and even then he got hurt in the playoffs that year. If he couldn’t stay healthy in his 20’s, why should anyone think he will in his 30’s?
Apparently Lance is delusional enough to think he can start again; however, he has to move to the bullpen. Of course, he isn’t going to be the guy to pitch back-to-back days, but maybe they can pencil him in for multiple innings twice a week. The fact is that he can’t be relied on to even pitch five innings every fifth day and the team has to try to maximize his value, which at this point may mean him pitching 80 innings as a tandem pitcher.
The Cam Smith call up seems a bit pre-mature
Cam Smith is probably going to be a good player but he clearly needs more reps to work things out. It appears that those reps are not only costing Crane future control and money through service time, but are also costing the team wins. Currently, Cam Smith is playing at replacement level and the Astros have a few options who can be at least as good, if not a bit better.
I am not dooming on Cam Smith, but wouldn’t it make sense to let him learn in AAA? The man didn’t get a lot of seasoning in the minors anyway.
Jose Altuve is really good at baseball
One of the more impressive parts of Altuve’s career is his ability to adapt with age. Early in his career he was a contact hitter who could win a batting title and steal 40+ bases; as he matured into his late 20’s he developed into a power hitter who could draw a bunch of walks. Now, as a 34 year old, he is learning a new position and still hitting like an all-star. If Altuve is good for another three years, he will make the hall of fame.
What do you all think? Comment below!