THE PALLILOG
Here's what to expect from the Astros new-look bullpen
Jul 30, 2021, 10:39 am
Kendall Graveman is having a career year. Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images.
Astros' General Manager James Click did fine work this week in trading for two boosts to the Astros' very shaky bullpen in acquiring Kendall Graveman from Seattle and Yimi Garcia from Miami. Graveman especially. He has pitched well over his head this season but that's what "career" seasons are about. A 0.82 earned run average is obviously attention grabbing. The mere eight walks he's issued in 33 innings is a big part of that and a sight for Astros' fan sore eyes that have watched just about all their relievers not named Ryan Pressly struggle with control. 2021 Graveman is a clear upgrade over Ryne Stanek as the number two weapon in the Astros' pen. One question to be determined about Graveman is how he fares under the pressure of big late season and postseason games. He's yet to throw a big league pitch in one.
Garcia from the Marlins has been more or less average. Average is an upgrade over the work of Stanek, Joe Smith, Enoli Paredes, Andre Scrubb, Brandon Bielak, Bryan Abreu, and Brooks Raley.
Click gave up nothing of consequence to acquire either guy. Abraham Toro could develop into a decent regular with the Mariners, but other than occasional power he didn't show much over parts of three seasons with the Astros. The occasional power does include one moment many Astros' fans will remember. Justin Verlander sure will. A couple of years ago in Toronto it was Toro's top of the ninth two run homer that provided a 2-0 lead ahead of Verlander finishing off his third career no-hitter. If the Astros have Carlos Correa to replace after this season, it is unlikely that Alex Bregman slides over to shortstop. So other than via injuries to others Toro had no path to starter status here. He should have a shot in the Mariners' weak lineup.
The balance of the top six in the Astros' lineup is amazing. I'm thinking unprecedented. None is among the top 10 in the American League in OPS but all are in the top 20. Yordan Alvarez enters the weekend at .867, Yuli Gurriel .861, Jose Altuve .860, Michael Brantley and Kyle Tucker .856, Carlos Correa .849. Alex Bregman should rejoin the party next week.
Football time in Houston
Texans' training camp is underway with Deshaun Watson on the team and on hand, and that's about it. He's not taking part in full, with new Head Coach David Culley offering silly explanations about Watson missing all the offseason work. Culley is in a tough spot but come on. As if a few OTA practices were a big deal. Mandatory minicamp was so important the Texans cancelled it. Plus, the Texans aren't installing a new offense. Coordinator and Watson endorsee Tim Kelly was retained. We'll see how this plods forward.
Don't know if Texans' GM Nick Caserio sent Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers a thank you note but he should. Pouty Rodgers wanting wide receiver Randall Cobb back with the Packers gave the Texans a millions of dollars saving escape hatch from the absurd contract Bill O'Brien signed Cobb to before last season. The Texans had to send the Pack three million to close the deal, so the Texans take a five million dollar dead money charge on Cobb this season. That's a lot better than the more than ten million dollar cap figure Cobb carried if here. The Texans are in all likelihood going to stink this season, so taking all the dead cap hit this year (especially with it cut roughly in half) is a boon ahead of 2022.
Rockets draft reaction
Jalen Green in Rocket Red. Or white, silver, black, powder blue, or whatever else they plan to wear. The 19-year-old Green was widely considered the most explosive offensive talent on the board this year. At number two overall, Green is the Rockets' highest choice since Yao Ming. Green is the Rockets' first first round pick period since 2015 (Sam Dekker). Qualitatively if Green becomes what Yao did they nailed it. Quantitatively it's a disappointment if Green doesn't go beyond Yao. The only other time the Rockets made the second overall selection was 1970. The San Diego Rockets drafted Rudy Tomjanovich. That worked out fairly well. In all the Rockets' haul was four first rounders. Six foot 10 Turk Alperen Sengun is an interesting choice, but what Jalen Green becomes ultimately defines the Rockets' Class of '21.
Buzzer Beaters:
1. Simone Biles had every right to make the decision to drop out of Olympics events if she felt doing so best for her mental health. That needs to be respected and treated sensitively. However, is it so unfair to wonder if Biles had been performing up to her previous standards would the pressures have felt so intense and would she have dropped out? Seems a chicken or egg situation.
2. Possible World Series preview this weekend with the Astros at San Francisco for three. The Giants have been shockingly good this season. Best record in Major League Baseball and on pace to win 101 games good, leading the mighty Dodgers by three games in the National League West.
3. Greatest ever Giants: Bronze-Andre The Silver-Lawrence Taylor Gold-Willie Mays
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The Texas Longhorns still believe in quarterback Quinn Ewers despite two poor games from the third-year starter who was briefly benched in last week's loss to No. 1 Georgia, coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday.
Ewers struggled through one of his worst career games against the Bulldogs, completing 25 of 43 passes for 211 yards with an interception and two fumbles. He was 6-of-12 passing for 17 yards on the Longhorns' first six drives, and was replaced by Arch Manning in the second quarter as Georgia took a 23-0 lead into halftime.
Ewers returned in the third quarter and led two touchdown drives. But the overall performance in one of the biggest games of the season was well below what was expected from a veteran quarterback who some predict as a potential first round NFL draft pick.
Texas never led against the Bulldogs and Ewers looked rattled.
Sarkisian has insisted that Ewers remains the No. 1 quarterback going forward.
“We have confidence and belief in him,” Sarkisian said. “I think he's going to come out and play really good football for us here in the second half of the season.”
Texas (6-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) plays at No. 25 Vanderbilt (5-2, 2-1) on Saturday.
Ewers did not meet with reporters on Monday.
He had performed at his best in some of Texas' biggest games the previous two seasons. He was considered a likely Heisman Trophy contender after the Longhorns won at defending national champion Michigan in week two.
But he was sidelined by an abdomen strain in the first half a week later against UTSA, and the injury knocked him out of the next two games. He returned for Texas' 34-3 win over Oklahoma, but had just 199 yards and one touchdown passing and said he needed to play better.
Against Georgia, Ewers appeared hesitant against a fierce Bulldogs pass rush and missed several throws. The Bulldogs recorded seven sacks and Texas never led.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was arguably having an even worse game. He was 23-of-41 passing for 175 yards and three interceptions.
But after Texas cut the Georgia lead to 23-15, Beck answered by leading the Bulldogs on an 11-play, 89-yard drive to the final touchdown of the game.
“I think Quinn definitely can play better. We've got to continue to work on his pocket presence,” Sarkisian said. “But I also think we need to play better around him. You know, our offense isn't about one player playing well.”
Texas rushed for just 29 yards and and managed only 259 total yards of offense against Georgia.
Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. said the Longhorns will rally behind Ewers.
“We're always going to trust Quinn. We're always going to believe in Quinn,” Banks said.