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3 Changes We'd Already Make to the Houston Astros
Changes? After only seven games? Are we crazy over here?
Not quite. yes, the season has 155 games left. Yes, some guys are still ramping up after shortened springs or stints in the WBC. Yes, some key pieces are missing with injuries. That doesn't mean some tweaks can't be made to help weather injury storms and ensure the best possible team takes the field each day.
Here are the three changes we'd make to the Astros in 2023.
1) DFA Mauricio Dubon
The Astros are 3-4 heading into their first off day of the season. Their common denominator in all four losses? Mauricio Dubon. Dubon has appeared in four games this season, and Houston has lost all four.
The reigning champs simply can’t continue to let Dubon take the field at second base in Altuve’s absence. It's time for the Dubon experiment to end.
Dubon still can’t hit and has had multiple defensive plays that David Hensley likely makes, including a later overturned error that shouldn’t have been overturned.
If Houston is to weather the storm in Altuve’s absence, David Hensley needs to be the everyday second baseman until Jose can return. The offense needs more pop until Altuve and Brantley are back, and Dubon's defense isn't enough to justify keeping him in the lineup.
Houston needs to open another roster spot and let some of their other prospects take a shot. They can't be all that much worse.
2) Rearrange the batting order
The Astros two most impactful bats this year have unsurprisingly been Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Yordan is hitting .348 with two home rubs and 10 RBI. Tucker is hitting .333 with three home runs, eight RBI and a 1.217 OPS.
Dusty likes to split them in the order so an opposing manager is less inclined to go to a lefty against them, but each have proven they can handle left handed relievers with no issues. Kyle Tucker is far too good to be getting the fifth-most at-bats over the course of the season.
It’s a small nitpick, but Kyle Tucker should bat third, Yordan fourth and José Abreu should bat fifth.
Commit to Chas McCormick
In only four games, Chas McCormick has already racked up a 0.3bWAR. He’s 4-14 with one home run, one double, three walks, three stolen bases and three RBI.
Jake Meyers has two singles this season, and while a dreadfully small sample size, has a -6.8 launch angle. He continues to just bash balls into the ground off the bat. Additionally, teams continue to disrespect Jake’s arm.
Chas was the starting center fielder for the World Champs. It’s time Dusty act like it and play Chas everyday. Meyers can be a backup outfielder that brings great speed and a plus glove while Chas takes the lion’s share of the workload.
Chas isn’t going to sustain a 1.016 OPS all year, but he deserves to start in center (or left in the case of injury) 140+ times this season.