barshels

Logan Morrison claimed the cheating went back to 2014. Altuve hit .283 in 2013 and .341 in 2014. 

The home opener weekend is going to be real interesting. I’m showing up for a couple of games to boo and heckle Astro batters. 
 

2pm

I think it's the opposite.  5.29 era as a reliever is 47.2ip.  As a starter (one start early in the year, one toward the end, and then starts in his last three appearances) he threw 20.2ip with a 2.61 era and 19k, 7bb and 14h.    
So let's dive into this guys numbers a repertoire a bit:
He was on Sickels 'others of interest' list at the start of 2015.  Milwaukee has a deep system so he was probably in their 25-30 range at that point.  He was BA #27 in 2015.  
So his 2012 season was solid in A/A+ with a 2.83 era.  Solid peripherals
2013 was a struggle but then he righted the ship as a 24 yo in AA with slightly above average for league 3.97 era 
In 2015, he got his first taste of Colorado Springs.  A pitching environment that is 20% worse vs lefties and 10% worse vs righties than our very own Smith's Ballpark where the bees play in SLC.  It's among the worst places to pitch in all of baseball.  Granted, he got pounded, but I'll get into that in a second.  
In 2016, he was converted to relief pitching until the end of the season where he made 3 starts.  He was much better with a 2.96 FIP at AA and 3.70 FIP in AAA.  
Even still, his bb rate at AAA hasn't been great but his k rate went to 10.1/9 this last year.  Also, his ground ball rate went to 52.2% this year.  hmmm interesting.  
So by his scouting report per baseball america, he's 88-92 fb with good life, a good curve, a fringe avg change and a cutter vs. lefties.  That was as of 2014.  But magically, he conjured a 52.2% ground ball rate in 2016 when he was previously in the high 30's.  I smell a new pitch.  Probably a sinker (pun intended).  
Here's the other thing.  The guy rights the shit a bit in AA and then goes to the most toxic pitching environment in almost all of baseball.  A guy who relies on command and movement even though he's got reasonable velocity.  
Does that sound like anyone we know?  
This is an Eppler special.  A peanut extraordinaire.  I bet he got a full chub when he got them to include this guy.  

Sorry for being late to the party on this thread. Going to start hitting the site more often. I'm pretty optimistic about Espionsa. His average and strikeout rate were punished by batting in front of pitchers. It's easy to develop some bad habits when you are getting pitched around so often. He could easily boost his numbers much like we saw from Simmons last year.

Sorry for being late to the party on this thread. Going to start hitting the site more often. I'm pretty optimistic about Espionsa. His average and strikeout rate were punished by batting in front of pitchers. It's easy to develop some bad habits when you are getting pitched around so often. He could easily boost his numbers much like we saw from Simmons last year.

Sorry for being late to the party on this thread. Going to start hitting the site more often. I'm pretty optimistic about Espionsa. His average and strikeout rate were punished by batting in front of pitchers. It's easy to develop some bad habits when you are getting pitched around so often. He could easily boost his numbers much like we saw from Simmons last year.

Sorry for being late to the party on this thread. Going to start hitting the site more often. I'm pretty optimistic about Espionsa. His average and strikeout rate were punished by batting in front of pitchers. It's easy to develop some bad habits when you are getting pitched around so often. He could easily boost his numbers much like we saw from Simmons last year.

MLB Net guys keep throwing CJ Cron comps on some of these picks, like that's a good thing.

If Cron continues to stink it up at DH and Cowart continues his tear in AAA, would you be up for demoting Cron, promoting Cowart to start at 3B, moving Escobar into the full time DH since he can hit?
 
Escobar has looked brutal at the hot corner so far. 

Respect everything that Weaver has done for the team.  But the Team and Weaver has to really work out a buyout before the season starts.  Don't force him to embarrass himself and his legacy for the Angels just because he thinks he can contribute.  Because if I know I'm done and won't get another contract, I'm not leaving $18 million on the table.  It's a lose lose for everyone involved. 

Let Kubitza and Cowart duke it out in ST for the starting 3B job since they hit lefthanded, Marte is their righthanded platoon partner. 
 
Move Escobar to 2B. 

We're not going to get him through waivers so a trade is going to have to happen.
 
I cannot think of another team that needs an outfielder more than us, so hopefully we can make a deal to acquire him. 
 
Good career minor league OBP, good amount of steals, good defense and some pop. 

No question for it me. Nolan Ryan. I was like 13 years old and totally crushed by this move. Still stings a bit when I read this topic.

You had to know he was going to have a big year...

You had to know he was going to have a big year...

Plan A: "Hey Joe, why don't you move to the other side of the rubber and see if that helps."
Plan B: "Hey Joe, why don't you move a little further and see if that helps. No, that's okay, just keep moving and we'll tell you when to stop."

Maybe I'm an optimist, but I believe Mulder makes the rotation. They wouldn't have signed him if they didn't see something that throwing session. The giants and d-backs wanted to sign him too. He picked the Halos because he thought he had the best chance to make the rotation here.