If the Houston Astros do miss the postseason altogether, then Dusty Baker as well as owner Jim Crane are going to have a tough conversation. Baker's group won the World Series last November, and it would have been a decent time for the veteran manager to walk off into the sunset. Instead, Baker came back, hoping to repeat as World Series champs.
Houston is at risk of losing the AL West to the Texas Rangers, and perhaps the AL Wild Card altogether if the Mariners are to win this series. Seattle poses a very real threat, and Wednesday night's game looms large in deciding which division opponent will make the playoffs at all.
In this scenario, let's just say the Houston Astros get in. If that's the case, this group will have some very tough calls to make as it pertains to their postseason roster.
Houston Astros who shouldn't be on the postseason roster: Jake Meyers
With the return of Michael Brantley and the emergence of Chas McCormick in center field, there's no real need for Meyers on this roster outside of possible depth. However, Meyers has hit just .130 in his last 15 games, and .205 in his last 30 games. He doesn't offer much with the bat.
Meyers only hope is that Baker continues to be stubborn about how he employs the outfield. McCormick is one of the best outfielders in the American League, but Baker continues to sit him in important moments, opting instead for Meyers or Mauricio Dubon. While Dubon can and should play a role this postseason, Meyers doesn't really have an argument to replace McCormick at any given time. McCormick has grown frustrated with Baker's mentality.
"He ain't a big boy yet," Baker said, digging himself into an even deeper hole. "It's hard to be a big boy right out the gate. What is this, Chas' third or fourth year? The big boys are Altuve, Bregman, Tucker, those are the big boys. The other boys are approaching big boys."
McCormick responded to this bizarre assertion, perhaps making the drama even worse.
"I've been with (Baker) for a couple years now so I know his agenda. I know that he likes to play everyone. Obviously I want to be out there every night. But he does a good job," McCormick said. "I think that's what he goes off, the best matchups and how he sets things up. I haven't really spoken to him. He's the manager. He does what he wants. I don't think I have any right to ask what his deal is. He's been in the league for a while and has a good plan."
That felt like a big boy answer to me, but perhaps not Baker. Either way, if this team is going anywhere but Cabo, McCormick needs a greater role. That means Meyers is on his way out.
Houston Astros who shouldn't be on the postseason roster: Jon Singleton
For the majority of this season, Houston has been frustrated with their lack of offensive prowess at first base. While Jose Abreu has played slightly better of late, it's still not enough to stop the Astros from pursuing a replacement this offseason. However, if Houston does make the playoffs, they should stick with Abreu and perhaps Yanny Diaz at first base. Beyond that, there's really no need for the likes of Jon Singleton, who has filled in as a defensive replacement at times this season.
Abreu has turned around his season somewhat, with the Houston Chronicle even outlining what exactly has gone late with the right-handed hitter of late.
"Abreu will never again sniff his 2020 MVP heights at the plate, and frankly, his first season in Houston is little more than a disaster for his current club. But Abreu's recent run could provide a degree of optimism as we approach the postseason. He entered Monday night with a more respectable .773 OPS across his last 20 games, with five home runs and 25 RBI. What was previously one of baseball's leading run generators could be finding something of a groove ahead of a crucial stretch," Michael Shapiro wrote last Monday.
Singleton isn't a bad option at first base by any means. Heck, on some teams he'd be a serviceable backup. But if Houston is going to make a surprise playoff run, Abreu will have to play like his old self, especially with the bat in his hands.
Houston Astros who shouldn't be on the postseason roster: Hunter Brown
If Baker has any sense to him, he will skip Hunter Brown's next time through the rotation. Brown has been brutal the second half of the season, and has an ERA over nine in his last seven games. The only reason he is still on the major-league roster is because the Astros don't have a ton of options at the back end of their starting rotation.
In their embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals, Brown gave up six runs and four home runs in three innings. Enough said. Despite Brown's attempts to sink their season, Astros veteran Jose Abreu was confident they would get their swagger back.
"The champions always have pressure and I think the guys know what they need to do to be able to get out of this," he said in Spanish through a translator. "We haven't got the results (we wanted) but we know what we need to do and it starts tomorrow."
A series-opening win in Seattle proved Abreu right, to some extent. A series victory on Wednesday would do wonders for their confidence moving forward, especially if their future includes a wild card berth.
