Silly Season

Everything can't be true, can it?

I first recall hearing about Silly Season in relation to NASCAR as the time of year when “silly” rumors began to fly about what drivers/crew chiefs were going to be with what team in the next season.

Sometimes there was some truth in the rumors, but usually, they were just silly, unfounded speculation.

Hence, Silly Season.

I’ve heard it used in different sports since that time, but now it seems like a good time to use it regarding the Astros as the 2024 PR campaign ramps up to full throttle.

I generally try not to make too much of it. It’s PR. A new manager and a relatively new GM answering questions without answering the questions, as it were.

Not wanting to definitively answer a question that there’s very little chance of getting “right”, while likely being bashed over the head with it in July if you got it “wrong” seems wise.

You can't keep them all and that's a good thing

Since the end of the 2023 season, we’ve heard that Chas McCormick is “an everyday MLB player and will be treated as such” and “Jake Meyers will be given a chance to start in centerfield” and that Yordan will play more left field.

We’ve heard about a 6 man rotation and Victor Caratini playing first, how Yainer Diaz is the everyday catcher, but will be seeing time at designated hitter and on and on and on.

They can’t all be true.

Or maybe they can if you bend your definition of “everyday” and “opportunity”.

If Yordan plays more left field and Jake is given a chance in center that means Chas isn’t an everyday Major League player. At least by my definition.

If Chas is an everyday MLB player and Yordan is playing left, how much of an opportunity is Jake going to get?

Deciphering all of this is an art that I’ve never been very good at, which is one reason I generally stick to numbers, but here goes.

Dana Brown wants Jake Meyers to succeed for whatever reason and if Yordan can play more left field then Diaz can DH and Caratini can catch.

I’ve been vocal before about believing Yordan is better suited as a DH, though some have disagreed. My take is not a knock against Yordan’s defense (though Chas would be better), it’s simply that he is continually “hurt” and “sore” (maybe that was a Dusty thing) and would likely miss fewer at-bats as a “mostly DH”.

In short, I’d rather Yordan get hurt swinging a bat versus chasing a fly ball.

He’s simply too important offensively to risk injury in the field.

The Astros need his bat more than they need his bat and glove.

Projected Win Total

Long-term, I understand that you don’t want a guy with Diaz’s bat skills catching 120 games a season, but last season Diaz hit .324/.353/.648 as a catcher and .213/.247/346 as a DH.

We’ll see if that trend continues this season and playing him at first (or DH if Yordan is in left) makes perfect sense.

Maybe he’s the long-term answer there once Jose Abreu’s contract runs its course at the end of 2025.

I don’t know what to make of the seeming push to get Jake Meyers in the lineup. He’s skilled defensively and has some pop.

That doesn’t change the fact he’s a .235 career hitter and has hit .227 in each of the last two seasons.

As an admitted fan of Chas McCormick, I am continually amazed at how little he appears to be respected within the organization, even now without Dusty Baker on the payroll.

World Series saving catches are met with Mauricio Dubon being called a better defensive center fielder.

Homeruns are met with little league slights (“not a big boy”).

Dusty leaves and he’s called an “everyday MLB player” only to find out Meyers, whom he’s outplayed for the better part of three seasons, is going to get the first shot at centerfield.

I understand Meyers was playing well before his injury, but the fact is he has not hit well since. That’s reality.

It all could be true, I suppose. Yordan could start 70 games in left, Yainer could DH more than the 38 games last season, Jake could be given a real shot in center and the rotation could feature 6 starters.

Nah.

It’s just silly season talk, something to keep the reporters and fans happy till there’s really something to talk about.

Something for people like me to write about.

There’ll be a five-man rotation, Yordan will DH 120 games, Chas will play left, Diaz will catch 120 games and Meyers will struggle at the plate.

Thanks for reading!