Some thoughts and musings as the Memorial Day weekend enters our rearview mirror…
Cristian Javier clearly wasn’t right after returning from his first IL stint earlier in May. On April 14, his final start before the initial IL stint with neck discomfort, Javier’s four-seam velocity hovered around 92.5 MPH. In his three starts following his return, the right-hander’s average four-seam velocity, in appearance order, was: 91.6 MPH, 91.3 MPH, and 90.8 MPH.
To put it plainly, it is a worrisome development, especially in light of the reason for his second IL stint, retroactive to May 24: Right forearm discomfort. While it remains too early to jump to conclusions about the severity of the injury, I do find it a bit baffling how the Astros have handled pitcher injuries this season. Specifically, if a player needs time on the IL and how those decisions impact the rest of the roster. I think back to the decision not to place Framber Valdez on the IL on April 8. Instead, Dana Brown chose to designate Miguel Díaz for assignment, promote Blair Henley, and rely on a shortened bullpen. But, wait, Valdez was eventually placed on the IL on April 9 in what was essentially a bullpen game the day before. Henley, in the meantime, only picked up one out while the bullpen and lineup somehow made it a win.
I also can’t help but wonder if Javier ought to have spent more time on the IL and rehabbing from his neck discomfort before returning earlier this month. Lower velocity without a plan or purpose is usually an indication that something is amiss. With that said, I am only a casual baseball observer who hasn’t experienced medical training of any kind, so my opinion on the subject ought to be treated as automatically invalid. I don’t know what this club knows. I mean, they have actual doctors to provide medical expertise on a player’s body. Still, whenever a pitcher’s velocity is trending down at noticeable levels without adequate explanation, it does invite doubt.
For as much recent turnover as the Astros have experienced in their front office, there has been one constant: An organization unwilling to provide a clear update about a player’s injury status. Discomfort, for example, has been commonly used for years to describe a plethora of injuries. Leadership will often apply an area that the discomfort is associated with, but any further information is relatively sparse, at least at the initial onset. I always expect a level of secrecy, but it feels overdone more times than not. I have always wondered how much of that stance was related to the front office. There is likely some bearing, without a doubt. But with now three general managers since 2019, I think we can state that it is more of an organizational stance, mostly regardless of the general manager. It is what it is, unfortunately.
With Javier now on the IL for a second time this season, and José Urquidy’s status also in limbo, the Astros are facing again another starting pitcher shortage. Thankfully, they can revert to the more traditional five-man rotation shortly, but the depth still looks noticeably thin. The recently signed Eric Lauer, now with Sugar Land, is one possibility to fill a role if needed. Henley likely receives another look or two at some point this season. Other than the on-field product, I am also curious to see how Brown navigates these waters in terms of roster management, especially on the margins.
Honestly, I wasn’t pleased with how the front office handled the roster in light of Valdez’s injury in April. While Díaz isn’t a revelation as a reliever, it was more on principle that I took issue with the decision to initially designate him for assignment and place more burden on the bullpen. Leaving Joey Loperfido on the bench for a week, even if part of that time was influenced by illness, was disappointing. Then there was the whole three-catcher decision to open last season, although I attribute some of the decision-making to how Dusty Baker wanted to utilize Yainer Díaz. To be fair, Brown has had his good moments as the general manager of the Astros. I am excited to see how the farm system progresses if he is left unhindered by Jim Crane. I think he is handcuffed by the José Abreu situation that he inherited. Not everything bad at the moment is his fault. But picking up value on the margins doesn’t appear to be a strong suit for Brown, at least right now. In a season when any extra win holds tremendous value, it feels like a missed opportunity to let certain situations unfold. Unfortunately for the Astros, those instances have become increasingly common in recent years.