Does J.J. Watt need the time? Bob Levey/Getty Images
The concept of a two-game preseason comes up every year when injuries happen to important players and teams now have holes they weren’t worried about before. This year there are already over a dozen players just with knee injuries who may not play in 2018. It’s about normal, but everyone complains about it like it isn’t anyway. It’s a great idea for some because it’s two fewer meaningless games we have to watch. But this change would have to be collectively bargained in a few years and might only happen if the players agreed to an additional two regular season games.
That’s a hard sell all around. From the players standpoint, it’s two more games they have to play at full speed where the chances of injury are higher. For the owners, it’s two less games they collect huge revenues while paying the players very little. It also means teams will have less time in training camp to get healthy and coaches will have less time to evaluate players.
That could be a huge deal for teams like the Texans. Imagine if Deshaun Watson had to be ready for game action a week from now. Would he be less than 100 percent? Would he have to sit out a game or two while Brandon Weeden leads the offense against the Patriots and Titans? The same argument applies to J.J. Watt, Carson Wentz, and Andrew Luck; all star players who suffered major injuries last year.
If the season were to start after two preseason games, it would make them a lot more interesting too. It would mean that the starters see more playing time instead of sitting out most of the game. That’s bad news for players at the back of the roster. Less playing time is less of an opportunity to make an impression. If coaches build their roster with less game film, it might not work out for the best.
Depending on when the regular season begins some players won’t be ready to take the field. With a four-game preseason, major injuries have time to heal but also be put to the test in practice and games. But because the games don’t count there is no reason for those coming off an injury to rush themselves. They generally start with a few plays and then work their way up to a full quarter or more. Shortening the schedule will force those same players into more action sooner. That could lead to a choice between recovery or getting prepared to play, but also make the games exciting. The current four-game schedule keeps a little more space for them to get used to full speed again.
Injuries are going to happen in football. It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when. Major ones that end a season take longer to recover. Cutting the schedule to two games will help some teams, but for the Texans it would hurt. Having Watt and Watson and Mercilus all coming back from injured reserve, there may not be enough time; forcing them to play the start of the season in less than ideal condition. These players are ready to return though. If they really are back to full strength, then having to play in only two games will be just what they need to work hard but not overwork early on.
Fans will probably be happy. This is a sort of neutral part of the season for them. The games don’t mean anything, but reporters write about them like they do. Fans spend money on game tickets only to see their favorite players for one series. On the other hand, preseason tickets are cheaper than regular season ones and it may be their only opportunity to make it to a game. A shorter preseason would mean that those games will have more stars on the field and fans will get a good look at them for a more affordable price.
The truth is, it’s going to be a hot-button topic until the next negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement in 2021. I’m on the side of shortening the preseason to two games. Adjustments will have to be made to training camp and regular season practice schedules so that players can be better prepared but it’s doable. I welcome the shortened schedule and would enjoy less time watching meaningless games full of players that won’t make a roster.
But owners don’t want a two-game preseason. For them these four games are a cash cow. The players are making less money for these games. However; ticket prices, concessions, and merchandise are still the same. Cutting that revenue stream in half won’t be on any of their to-do lists. There would have to be a lot of discussion and some give and take.
We will talk about this next year and the year after that. Nothing can change right now but I’m interested in the direction it’s going. The Texans still have three games left before the start of the regular season. They will continue to evaluate the young guys and work others back from injury. This year they need the extra game while plenty of others don’t. It won’t be the same scenario next year.
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After finishing up with the Guardians the Astros have a rather important series for early May with the Seattle Mariners heading to town for the weekend. While it’s still too early to be an absolute must-win series for the Astros, losing the series to drop seven or eight games off the division lead would make successfully defending their American League West title that much more unlikely.
Since their own stumble out of the gate to a 6-10 record the Mariners have been racking up series wins, including one this week over the Atlanta Braves. The M’s offense is largely Mmm Mmm Bad, but their pitching is sensational. In 18 games after the 6-10 start, the Mariners gave up five runs in a game once. In the other 17 games they only gave up four runs once. Over the 18 games their starting pitchers gave up 18 earned runs total with a 1.44 earned run average. That’s absurd. Coming into the season Seattle’s starting rotation was clearly better on paper than those of the Astros and Texas Rangers, and it has crystal clearly played out as such into the second month of the schedule.
While it’s natural to focus on and fret over one’s own team's woes when they are plentiful as they have been for the Astros, a reminder that not all grass is greener elsewhere. Alex Bregman has been awful so far. So has young Mariners’ superstar Julio Rodriguez. A meager four extra base hits over his first 30 games were all Julio produced down at the ballyard. That the Mariners are well ahead of the Astros with J-Rod significantly underperforming is good news for Seattle.
Caratini comes through!
So it turns out the Astros are allowed to have a Puerto Rican-born catcher who can hit a little bit. Victor Caratini’s pedigree is not that of a quality offensive player, but he has swung the bat well thus far in his limited playing time and provided the most exciting moment of the Astros’ season with his two-out two-run 10th inning game winning home run Tuesday night. I grant that one could certainly say “Hey! Ronel Blanco finishing off his no-hitter has been the most exciting moment.” I opt for the suddenness of Caratini’s blow turning near defeat into instant victory for a team that has been lousy overall to this point. Frittering away a game the Astros had led 8-3 would have been another blow. Instead, to the Victor belong the spoils.
Pudge Rodriguez is the greatest native Puerto Rican catcher, but he was no longer a good hitter when with the Astros for the majority of the 2009 season. Then there’s Martin Maldonado.
Maldonado’s hitting stats with the Astros look Mike Piazza-ian compared to what Jose Abreu was doing this season. Finally, mercifully for all, Abreu is off the roster as he accepts a stint at rookie-level ball in Florida to see if he can perform baseball-CPR on his swing and career. Until or unless he proves otherwise, Abreu is washed up and at some point the Astros will have to accept it and swallow whatever is left on his contract that runs through next season. For now Abreu makes over $120,000 per game to not be on the roster. At his level of performance, that’s a better deal than paying him that money to be on the roster.
Abreu’s seven hits in 71 at bats for an .099 batting average with a .269 OPS is a humiliating stat line. In 2018 George Springer went to sleep the night of June 13 batting .293 after going hitless in his last four at bats in a 13-5 Astros’ win over Oakland. At the time no one could have ever envisioned that Springer had started a deep, deep funk which would have him endure a nightmarish six for 78 stretch at the plate (.077 batting average). Springer then hit .293 the rest of the season.
Abreu’s exile opened the door for Joey Loperfido to begin his Major League career. Very cool for Loperfido to smack a two-run single in his first game. He also struck out twice. Loperfido will amass whiffs by the bushel, he had 37 strikeouts in 101 at bats at AAA Sugar Land. Still, if he can hit .225 with some walks mixed in (he drew 16 with the Space Cowboys) and deliver some of his obvious power (13 homers in 25 games for the ex-Skeeters) that’s an upgrade over Abreu/Jon Singleton, as well as over Jake Meyers and the awful showing Chas McCormick has posted so far. Frankly, it seems unwise that the Astros only had Loperfido play seven games at first base in the minors this year. If McCormick doesn’t pick it up soon and with Meyers displaying limited offensive upside, the next guy worth a call-up is outfielder Pedro Leon. In January 2021 the Astros gave Leon four million dollars to sign out of Cuba and called him a “rapid mover to the Major Leagues.” Well…
Over his first three minor league seasons Leon flashed tools but definitely underwhelmed. He has been substantially better so far this year. He turns 26 May 28. Just maybe the Astros offense could be the cause of fewer Ls with Loperfido at first and Leon in center field.
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and I discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via YouTube: stone cold stros - YouTube with the complete audio available via Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.