Nice bench snapshot, Marty.....I find it kinda weird how the 'Stros seemed to view the bench as an afterthought in the offseason. I agree about not paying Diaz free agent $, but it really feels like an odd laissez-faire attitude to just "play it as it lays" with the young-uns coming up (Dirden, Hensley), while hoping Dubon plays over his head.
That said, with a team like the 'Stros, perhaps a segment can be a tad overlooked (from a financial standpoint), with the $$ outlay already put into the heart of the rotation and starting lineup pieces. I was tempted to poll-vote more optimistically with a heart-driven "stronger," but I just couldn't pull the trigger...so, "weaker" it'll stay with all my optimism still intact!
If Yordan and/or Brantley need extended fill-ins, it's times like those that stars emerge, and that's where a Dirden or a Hensley could put their name on the map as a solid ML contributor.
Agree. Diaz probably wanted to play full time anyway, which I imagine he'll get the opportunity in Oakland. It seems like they could have found someone mid (as the kids say). Not $7.5MM, but not an untested rookie, or worse Dubon.
Dubon's an interesting case in that he was less terrible in the NL, so maybe there's hope. That said, he's an 88 career OPS+. Yikes.
I think you're right. They're rolling with what they got, hoping it won't matter. My take is the gap is closing and while this may work this year it's not a good long term strategy.
There's also the AAA season to unfold, revealing new potential "bodies to fill a ML uniform," as well as the trade deadline for Brown to flex those muscles for whatever need unfolds!
Nice bench snapshot, Marty.....I find it kinda weird how the 'Stros seemed to view the bench as an afterthought in the offseason. I agree about not paying Diaz free agent $, but it really feels like an odd laissez-faire attitude to just "play it as it lays" with the young-uns coming up (Dirden, Hensley), while hoping Dubon plays over his head.
That said, with a team like the 'Stros, perhaps a segment can be a tad overlooked (from a financial standpoint), with the $$ outlay already put into the heart of the rotation and starting lineup pieces. I was tempted to poll-vote more optimistically with a heart-driven "stronger," but I just couldn't pull the trigger...so, "weaker" it'll stay with all my optimism still intact!
If Yordan and/or Brantley need extended fill-ins, it's times like those that stars emerge, and that's where a Dirden or a Hensley could put their name on the map as a solid ML contributor.
Agree. Diaz probably wanted to play full time anyway, which I imagine he'll get the opportunity in Oakland. It seems like they could have found someone mid (as the kids say). Not $7.5MM, but not an untested rookie, or worse Dubon.
Dubon's an interesting case in that he was less terrible in the NL, so maybe there's hope. That said, he's an 88 career OPS+. Yikes.
I think you're right. They're rolling with what they got, hoping it won't matter. My take is the gap is closing and while this may work this year it's not a good long term strategy.
There's also the AAA season to unfold, revealing new potential "bodies to fill a ML uniform," as well as the trade deadline for Brown to flex those muscles for whatever need unfolds!