Everybody Wants to Rule the World
In my continuing saga of contemplation over the Houston Astros having the best record in the entire league, the hit song from Tears for Fears just happened to be playing on my radio on the way to work today. Said ear worm got me to thinking about the long 10 game home stand that the spacemen are about to get underway. First, they will place host the Cleveland Indians for 3 games through the weekend, followed by the Detroit Tigers for 4 games next week, and then wrap up with the Baltimore Orioles next weekend for another 3 games. No easy feat, to be sure. But one that this team is more than capable of handling.
While listening to the Tears for Fears song on the radio, there was a lyric the lead singer sang that seemed to stick with me. Even now, as I'm writing this piece, it still echoes in my head:
The only way he'll be able to do this, however, is with increased playing time. You can't expect a player to get better if you keep benching him, now can you?! I drive that point home pretty well in my latest House of Houston piece, published just this morning. You can read by clicking on the tweet below:
What also offends me is no one taking the time to actually look at the outline that I pinpoint in the very last slide. Under no circumstance did I ever suggest that Carlos Beltran be benched. Far from it! I made the argument that a mere shift in some of the playing and rest time could be shared a little bit better than it is right now. For those of you that have not, or don't have the time to, read my article, here was the formula I came up with for the two DH players in question:
Carlos Beltran - 2 DH games, 1 rest for 3 game sets; 3 DH and 1 rest OR 2 DH, 1 OF, and 1 rest for 4 games sets.
Evan Gattis - 1 DH game, 1 catching game, 1 rest for 3 game sets; 2 catching, 1 DH game, 1 rest for 4 game sets.
Rest and travel days between series can also help keep both of these players fresh. Brian McCann could even take a DH during 4 game sets in addition to his catching 4 games a week. Plenty of ways to get players both their time to play and time to rest. Hinch just needs to be willing to switch things up a little bit more than he has. Anyone on that roster can pick this team up at any given time. The Big White Bear has done that a lot, fighting for playing time, and "earning it." Therefore, it should be granted to him.
Again, for Gattis to get out of his current slump, he needs to get out there and play. Don't risk making him more rusty just to rest him in favor of Beltran. Sure, money changes everything. The question is: Should it?! Both of these DH heavy players can be seen plenty in any given week. Formulas are there, they just need to be put into action. Just like another lyric from the song says, "I can't stand this indecision, parried with a lack of vision!"
It's your move now, Hinch and Luhnow. Please do the right thing, here!
LATE EDIT: It appears as if they are staying the course with benching the bear in tonight's game. Incredibly disappointing! It appears as if this team and organization want to do nothing but set up Gattis for failure, and it bugs the hell out of me!
While listening to the Tears for Fears song on the radio, there was a lyric the lead singer sang that seemed to stick with me. Even now, as I'm writing this piece, it still echoes in my head:
"All for freedom, and for pleasure,
Nothing ever lasts forever,
Everybody Wants to Rule the World."I have a habit of overthinking things sometimes. But that middle lyric had me ponder about the state of the current lineup. And, by extension, the playing time for your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis. He has had a rough May so far, but is still maintaining really good numbers across the board. The power numbers may leave just a tiny bit left to be desired, but I'm fairly confident that El Oso Blanco can still get the 20+ bombs on the season to go with well over 75 RBI.
The only way he'll be able to do this, however, is with increased playing time. You can't expect a player to get better if you keep benching him, now can you?! I drive that point home pretty well in my latest House of Houston piece, published just this morning. You can read by clicking on the tweet below:
Coming with the territory of being a sports blogger, I was immediately met with plenty of hostility by Astros fans across social media. Comments like, "Don't fix what isn't broken," and "They have the best record in baseball because of Beltran at DH" are the ones that seem to be the most prevalent. That second one is nerve grinding, mostly because it implies that people are more interested in headlines than actual context or substance. As a journalist, that offends me!Via @tvwizard85 - Carlos Beltran's production could be utilized elsewhere, time to rethink his DH role? #Astros ⚾️🔥🤔💯https://t.co/GqgCLVxsbb— House Of Houston (@HouseOfHouston) May 19, 2017
What also offends me is no one taking the time to actually look at the outline that I pinpoint in the very last slide. Under no circumstance did I ever suggest that Carlos Beltran be benched. Far from it! I made the argument that a mere shift in some of the playing and rest time could be shared a little bit better than it is right now. For those of you that have not, or don't have the time to, read my article, here was the formula I came up with for the two DH players in question:
Carlos Beltran - 2 DH games, 1 rest for 3 game sets; 3 DH and 1 rest OR 2 DH, 1 OF, and 1 rest for 4 games sets.
Evan Gattis - 1 DH game, 1 catching game, 1 rest for 3 game sets; 2 catching, 1 DH game, 1 rest for 4 game sets.
Rest and travel days between series can also help keep both of these players fresh. Brian McCann could even take a DH during 4 game sets in addition to his catching 4 games a week. Plenty of ways to get players both their time to play and time to rest. Hinch just needs to be willing to switch things up a little bit more than he has. Anyone on that roster can pick this team up at any given time. The Big White Bear has done that a lot, fighting for playing time, and "earning it." Therefore, it should be granted to him.
Again, for Gattis to get out of his current slump, he needs to get out there and play. Don't risk making him more rusty just to rest him in favor of Beltran. Sure, money changes everything. The question is: Should it?! Both of these DH heavy players can be seen plenty in any given week. Formulas are there, they just need to be put into action. Just like another lyric from the song says, "I can't stand this indecision, parried with a lack of vision!"
It's your move now, Hinch and Luhnow. Please do the right thing, here!
LATE EDIT: It appears as if they are staying the course with benching the bear in tonight's game. Incredibly disappointing! It appears as if this team and organization want to do nothing but set up Gattis for failure, and it bugs the hell out of me!
Original Photo Credit: Jim McIssac of Getty Images
Though it hasn't been seen much yet in 2017, El Oso Blanco's power is still very much there. He just needs a chance to be able to flex it!!!!
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