The teamwide slump is likely largely because everyone's being asked to do too much. We're running 4-5 AAAA players out there every day, then the remaining players are going to put more pressure on themselves. We don't necessarily think of baseball as a synergistic sport like football or basketball, but the length of the Astros' lineup just made life easier for everyone and put so much pressure on pitchers. For example, Jake was great as a backup outfielder. Now that he isn't, and they actually need him to perform instead of it just being a bonus, he's reverted back to AAA Jake. Brantley was playing at career-high levels, likely in part because there was just no pressure to do so and because opposing pitchers had no lineup sports to just work around. I think it was crazy to think they wouldn't be struggling through this period - even the games they are wininng require a lot more stress/work/extra innings. In the 20 games since Springer's first injury, they've won 3 games by more than 3 runs. In the 20 games prior to that, they did it 10 times. White Mayfield Kemp Marisnick (on offense) Fisher Straw That's 6 players that are AAA/AAAA/backup players at best, and 3-5 are in the lineup everyday right now. The Astros can survive it, but it's going to be a messy/difficult stretch until legit players start coming back or elite rookies come up and catch fire.
Is it wrong that when they pinch hit with him yesterday I thought "I'd rather just see the guy that's batting under .100."?
Springer has literally been out 2 weeks. Altuve was set to come back memorial day week, but had a set-back with the other leg... that was also less than 2 weeks ago.
Alvarez sighting !! Didn't know he was black and dark-skinned. Hell yeah !! Adding color to the sport.
