re: Your Houston Astros. over/under 88 wins this year.

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they also have a bunch of talented arms in their system.

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Which brings me back to the original question. Who are the homegrown pitchers that will make sure they aren't throwing 9 figures at free agents every winter?

Duane Underwood
CJ Edwards
Pierce Johnson

they have a young Asian guy too, i forget his name.

they got some nice arms in last years draft which they paid over slot bonuses too. Carson Sands, Dylan Cease, and Justin Steele.

90% of big deals will frick the team on the back end my man. You're paying for those early years. You gotta pay to play. The Cubs don't sign Lester to 7 years with plans to really cash in on years 5,6,7. That's just how it works unless you can lock up a Kershaw in his early years

This thread just makes me even happier that I'm not a Cubs fan.

I thought this was an Astros thread....did I misread the title?

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Duane Underwood

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Pierce Johnson

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Both on my FSBDL minor league roster.

Tseng is the Asian pitcher.

Johnson projected to have #2 upside, but he has to get over injuries. He hasn't thrown a pitch at all this year yet. Underwood might end up being the best out of all of them, but he is still in A ball. He has top of the rotation talent though. I think he is 4-0 with a sub 2.0 ERA right now. CJ Edwards has great stuff, but many project to hit the bullpen. Tseng has been pretty damn good and keeps getting ranked higher & higher in the clubs prospect rankings each year, but still most see him as a #3-4. Still in A ball too, so has a couple of years to go.

how about some peanut butter with an Appel

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I mean that's nice in theory. Pitching is volatile and a lot of them take time. If your window to win is now then you just have to go out and get it. It's delusional to think you can build an entire staff internally

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Right, but the risk is higher with a large contract than a prospect. I know the Cubs can spend but there's a limit to everything. If you can take the Cards approach (I hope they aren't fricking reading this) and stock up enough talented young arms you limit having to spend big on older guys through FA or trade. Of course you will have to at some point, but the goal shouldn't be to build the rotation through FA.

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Your Stros have more arm "prospects" . You have two guys set in place. Assuming you think your window is now (you're in 1st place after all) do you lean on the McCullers, Appel, Velasquez types to develop in that timeframe? Chances are you'll be forced to pay or try to pay a big name SP. is your FO ready to roll out 9 figures to a starter?

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I don't know what the plan is obviously but they say they will spend. We won't really know until this offseason, but they supposedly made a pretty big run at Tanaka and Jose Abreu. If only one of those had worked out this year could be really interesting.

If one of McCullers, Appel or Velasquez can supplement the two guys we have, and they can add one big piece through FA or trade I think that could be a pretty solid rotation. I know a lot of people still aren't sure what to think of Keuchel or McHugh. Personally I think Keuchel is very legit and I am more wait and see on McHugh.

I'm gonna say over, winning 90 on the season

94 wins