Carlos Gonzalez

[JimR]

Multiple reports say Gonzalez has offers from the Padres, Giants, and Astros. Before you stat guys say Fisher would do as well as Cargo did last year, maybe we are preparing to include Fisher in a trade for someone we want more than him?

[Reuben]

Theoretically they could find ABs for both. Fisher could share DH duties with Gattis, while Gonzalez plays LF. Personally I'd be a little surprised if Fisher doesn't start the year back in Fresno - why not let him try to get his groove back there. His late-season performance sure didn't earn him a starting gig, and it would probably be more beneficial to him to get more regular playing time and hopefully develop a little further.

If they open the season with Reddick/Marisnick/Springer across the OF, Gattis DH'ing, and Stassi/McCann catching, that doesn't sound bad at all to me. But I could see signing someone like CarGo or Logan Morrison or Lucas Duda to DH or play LF, and add another dependable LH bat to the lineup.

[HudsonHawk]

I have mixed feeling about Fisher. On one hand, I like some of the tools he has, and he's shown flashes that he could be a good major leaguer. Other times he looks lost. Perhaps that's just age and experience, so I'm fine seeing him over a full season.

[HudsonHawk]

Theoretically they could find ABs for both. Fisher could share DH duties with Gattis, while Gonzalez plays LF. Personally I'd be a little surprised if Fisher doesn't start the year back in Fresno - why not let him try to get his groove back there. His late-season performance sure didn't earn him a starting gig, and it would probably be more beneficial to him to get more regular playing time and hopefully develop a little further.

If they open the season with Reddick/Marisnick/Springer across the OF, Gattis DH'ing, and Stassi/McCann catching, that doesn't sound bad at all to me. But I could see signing someone like CarGo or Logan Morrison or Lucas Duda to DH or play LF, and add another dependable LH bat to the lineup.

I may be in the minority, but I think J.D. Davis has a future as a DH. I think he will hit in the bigs.

[Jacksonian]

Reddick/Marisnick/Springer

People need to give this up.  The Astros have made it very clear by their actions that Marisnick will not be a starting outfielder for Houston.

[MusicMan]

Multiple reports say Gonzalez has offers from the Padres, Giants, and Astros. Before you stat guys say Fisher would do as well as Cargo did last year, maybe we are preparing to include Fisher in a trade for someone we want more than him?

Left handed, left fielder looking for a bounce back? I’d love it on a 1-2 year deal.


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[juliogotay]

I have mixed feeling about Fisher. On one hand, I like some of the tools he has, and he's shown flashes that he could be a good major leaguer. Other times he looks lost. Perhaps that's just age and experience, so I'm fine seeing him over a full season.

I agree with this. I think the rest of the team is deep enough to carry a guy honing his craft at the MLB level. You could always pick up a guy at deadline if necessary.

[MusicMan]

I agree with this. I think the rest of the team is deep enough to carry a guy honing his craft at the MLB level. You could always pick up a guy at deadline if necessary.

That can be done as a bench player, too.


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[JimR]

Theoretically they could find ABs for both. Fisher could share DH duties with Gattis, while Gonzalez plays LF. Personally I'd be a little surprised if Fisher doesn't start the year back in Fresno - why not let him try to get his groove back there. His late-season performance sure didn't earn him a starting gig, and it would probably be more beneficial to him to get more regular playing time and hopefully develop a little further.

If they open the season with Reddick/Marisnick/Springer across the OF, Gattis DH'ing, and Stassi/McCann catching, that doesn't sound bad at all to me. But I could see signing someone like CarGo or Logan Morrison or Lucas Duda to DH or play LF, and add another dependable LH bat to the lineup.

Marisnick is a great 4th OFer and nothing more, imo.

[JimR]

People need to give this up.  The Astros have made it very clear by their actions that Marisnick will not be a starting outfielder for Houston.

This, this, and more this.

[Reuben]

People need to give this up.  The Astros have made it very clear by their actions that Marisnick will not be a starting outfielder for Houston.

Yes, it's clear that is not their preference for the long term. However, I could see them doing so to begin the year (with Marwin and possibly Moran playing some LF too) so Fisher could get more seasoning.

I do love how deep this team is. Marwin, Jake, and Gattis are high-quality guys to have in part-time rolls.

[Jacksonian]

However, I could see them doing so to begin the year (with Marwin and possibly Moran playing some LF too) so Fisher could get more seasoning.

What have they done to make you see this?  They discarded the idea of him being an everyday outfielder during the 2015 season.  The very most they've done is give him starts when Hinch thought he was seeing the ball well but never regularly.  If anything they've done everything they can to keep him as the 4th outfielder.  They continue to try to find a regular left fielder while not including Marisnick in that search.

[JimR]

Yes, it's clear that is not their preference for the long term. However, I could see them doing so to begin the year (with Marwin and possibly Moran playing some LF too) so Fisher could get more seasoning.

I do love how deep this team is. Marwin, Jake, and Gattis are high-quality guys to have in part-time rolls.

They are on record as saying Marwin will go back to his super untility role because he is more valuable there.

[Reuben]

What have they done to make you see this?  They discarded the idea of him being an everyday outfielder during the 2015 season.  The very most they've done is give him starts when Hinch thought he was seeing the ball well but never regularly.  If anything they've done everything they can to keep him as the 4th outfielder.  They continue to try to find a regular left fielder while not including Marisnick in that search.

Jake started 65 games last year, and would have started more if he hadn't gone on the DL in September. And he finally had success offensively, and not just vs. LHP.

Why does the idea of Marisnick sharing time in the OF to start the year, with Marwin and Moran or whoever rotating in occasionally, sound so outlandish to you? At some point I'd expect either Fisher to come up and play regularly, or Luhnow to trade for another OF, or Marwin to play more LF - especially if the other regulars are all healthy and he's not getting many ABs in the super-sub role. So it's not as though I'm forecasting some huge spike in Games Started for Marisnick - probably about the same as he had the last couple years.

In any case, it also wouldn't surprise me at all to see Luhnow sign a veteran OFer on a short-term deal.

[Jacksonian]

Jake started 65 games last year, and would have started more if he hadn't gone on the DL in September. And he finally had success offensively, and not just vs. LHP.

Why does the idea of Marisnick sharing time in the OF to start the year, with Marwin and Moran or whoever rotating in occasionally, sound so outlandish to you? At some point I'd expect either Fisher to come up and play regularly, or Luhnow to trade for another OF, or Marwin to play more LF - especially if the other regulars are all healthy and he's not getting many ABs in the super-sub role. So it's not as though I'm forecasting some huge spike in Games Started for Marisnick - probably about the same as he had the last couple years.

In any case, it also wouldn't surprise me at all to see Luhnow sign a veteran OFer on a short-term deal.

Hinch used him masterfully as the 4th outfielder before they dealt Aoki and then through July while backing up Fisher.  But check the numbers again.  In August both he and Fisher were terrible.  Marwin was headed to left before Marisnick's injury.

[JimR]

Hinch used him masterfully as the 4th outfielder before they dealt Aoki and then through July while backing up Fisher.  But check the numbers again.  In August both he and Fisher were terrible.  Marwin was headed to left before Marisnick's injury.

Also, they acquired Maybin two weeks before Marisnick was injured. What did that say?

[juliogotay]

They are on record as saying Marwin will go back to his super untility role because he is more valuable there.

It will be interesting to see how they get him as many ABs as last year. Maybe they don't plan to but his offense was very key, particularly first half.

[geezerdonk]

Jake was greatly improved last year - 16 HRs and 35 RBIs in 259 ABs. He raised his OBP 60 points and his SLG 160 points - an almost 50% gain in OPS. He is one of the best outfielders in the major leagues - arm, range, instinct - he has it all. Added to that, he is one of the best base runners in the major leagues. Does any other current player exceed his combination of speed and instinct on the bases? He is not a great base stealer but I think that there is no one better going first to third, first to home or second to home.

All that said, I don't think Luhnow/Hinch feel that they can rely on him as the full time center fielder. They detect some flaw or weakness in his game not apparent in statistics or to my untutored eye.  I think that he has proven that he is ready to be the Astros starting center fielder but I don't see it happening.

[JimR]

Jake was greatly improved last year - 16 HRs and 35 RBIs in 259 ABs. He raised his OBP 60 points and his SLG 160 points - an almost 50% gain in OPS. He is one of the best outfielders in the major leagues - arm, range, instinct - he has it all. Added to that, he is one of the best base runners in the major leagues. Does any other current player exceed his combination of speed and instinct on the bases? He is not a great base stealer but I think that there is no one better going first to third, first to home or second to home.

All that said, I don't think Luhnow/Hinch feel that they can rely on him as the full time center fielder. They detect some flaw in his game not apparent in statistics or to my untutored eye.  I think that he has proven that he is ready to be the Astros starting center fielder but I don't see it happening.

He cannot hit consistently. Maybin is a better player and is equal as a baserunner, but Marisnick is very close to him and is cheaper. Marisnick is a great 4th OFer.

[TerryPuhl21]

Marisnick is a great 4th OFer and nothing more, imo.

My thoughts exactly regarding Jake.


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[TerryPuhl21]

I may be in the minority, but I think J.D. Davis has a future as a DH. I think he will hit in the bigs.

I agree HH. I think Davis would benefit from a full season of ab’s in the bigs and I think he may hit as well. The problem for JD is the Astros do not have a position on the field to put him and and let him find his way at this level. It would be ideal for him if he found his way somehow to one of those rebuilding teams.


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[HudsonHawk]

I agree HH. I think Davis would benefit from a full season of ab’s in the bigs and I think he may hit as well. The problem for JD is the Astros do not have a position on the field to put him and and let him find his way at this level. It would be ideal for him if he found his way somehow to one of those rebuilding teams.


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His position is “batter’s box”. Depends on if they think he’s a viable option at DH with any regularity.

[juliogotay]

My thoughts exactly regarding Jake.


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Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Jacksonian]

His position is “batter’s box”. Depends on if they think he’s a viable option at DH with any regularity.

He spent most of his time in college playing first base.  I'd expect he'd be adequate there.

[HudsonHawk]

He spent most of his time in college playing first base.  I'd expect he'd be adequate there.

Oh yeah. I’m sure he could play there, no problem. Just not an opening there at the moment. He could probably play some LF too.

[Texifornia]

Why was Carlos Gonzales a total bust with the Astros before? What has changed? I can't explain his complete feebleness when he was an Astro, but he was certainly given a chance to turn it around and he just got worse and worse.

I'm not all that anxious to see him in an Astro uniform again.

[Jacksonian]

He could probably play some LF too.

Let’s not get carried away now.

[HudsonHawk]

Why was Carlos Gonzales a total bust with the Astros before? What has changed? I can't explain his complete feebleness when he was an Astro, but he was certainly given a chance to turn it around and he just got worse and worse.

I'm not all that anxious to see him in an Astro uniform again.

Carlos Gonzalez was never an Astros.  Perhaps you're thinking of Carlos Gomez?

[Reuben]

Carlos Gonzalez was never an Astros.  Perhaps you're thinking of Carlos Gomez?

Or Carlos Febles? Although I don’t think he was an Astro either.

[Texifornia]

Carlos Gonzalez was never an Astros.  Perhaps you're thinking of Carlos Gomez?

Holy shit, sorry.

Never mind.

[BizidyDizidy]

I would suspect we are not going to see Gomez back

[Bench]

Why was Carlos Gonzales a total bust with the Astros before? What has changed? I can't explain his complete feebleness when he was an Astro, but he was certainly given a chance to turn it around and he just got worse and worse.

I'm not all that anxious to see him in an Astro uniform again.

Luis Gonzalez was terrific as an Astro.

[doyce7]

Luis Gonzalez was terrific as an Astro.

So is marwin Gonzalez

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[hostros7]

Carlos Hernandez, now there’s a lefty I would have liked to have seen in the AL.


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[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Carlos Hernandez, now there’s a lefty I would have liked to have seen in the AL.


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One can only wonder.

[Reuben]

Why was Carlos Gonzales a total bust with the Astros before? What has changed? I can't explain his complete feebleness when he was an Astro, but he was certainly given a chance to turn it around and he just got worse and worse.

I'm not all that anxious to see him in an Astro uniform again.

How can you say Carlos Corporan was a bust? He was a perfectly fine backup catcher.

[toddthebod]

I may be in the minority, but I think J.D. Davis has a future as a DH. I think he will hit in the bigs.

I'd like to see him as a two-way player.  DHing and pitching out of the pen when needed.  He looked pretty good in his few relief appearances last season. 

[Randy Watson]

I would pass on Carlos Gonzalez.  His Coors non Coors splits are awful.  A career 72 OPS+ away from Coors Field.  Also away from Coors a career .252 hitter with a .308 OBP and .427 slugging percentage.

I would rather give those at bats to Moran and Fisher.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Not for nothing, but I seem to recall that he rakes at Minute Maid.
Is that wrong?

[Reuben]

I would pass on Carlos Gonzalez.  His Coors non Coors splits are awful.  A career 72 OPS+ away from Coors Field.  Also away from Coors a career .252 hitter with a .308 OBP and .427 slugging percentage.

I would rather give those at bats to Moran and Fisher.

It seems like certain hitters are messed up by playing half their games at Coors. Maybe they get used to curves or sinkers that don’t move as much in the thin air, or get too pull-happy. But I don’t think Carlos Gonzalez is really as poor a hitter as his road numbers.

Remember Jeff Cirillo? He went from Milwaukee to the Rockies and tanked. I think he hit great at Coors but lost his ability to do it in normal parks.

[homer]

Not for nothing, but I seem to recall that he rakes at Minute Maid.
Is that wrong?

.216/.216/.378 in 37AB

[JimR]

I would pass on Carlos Gonzalez.  His Coors non Coors splits are awful.  A career 72 OPS+ away from Coors Field.  Also away from Coors a career .252 hitter with a .308 OBP and .427 slugging percentage.

I would rather give those at bats to Moran and Fisher.

Apparently Luhnow disagrees, and Fisher is trade bait.