At least we can go with this formidable line up that I think will be able to manufacture runs. kemp springer altuve correa alex marwin .113 DH of your choice until yuli shows up Marisnick Catcher not named lucroy of your choice
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Mariners' win pushes the Astros back to 3rd place in the American League West.</p>— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakemkaplan/status/762420763978715136">August 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tony Kemp will be in the Astros lineup tomorrow, A.J. Hinch said.</p>— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakemkaplan/status/762414821048320000">August 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Astros have scored a grand total of 17 runs in their last nine games, two of which required extra innings.</p>— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakemkaplan/status/762410406543450112">August 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rasmus says that he's been experiencing some vertigo. "I haven't been myself." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/762417304634208257">August 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> haven't hit a home run in six games. Longest stretch since Sept. 6-13, 2014.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/762420405172776960">August 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> went 2-5 on homestand. But pitching staff had a 2.31 ERA and struck out 86 in 70 innings.</p>— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith/status/762420648220033024">August 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Peak and valleys offense. Peak coming just as soon as we run into a crap pitching staff. Oh, hello Twins!
Hilarious how Houston fans can never be more creative than blaming everything on the manager. Especially in baseball, when the manager doesn't have nearly the impact of a coach in the NFL or NBA. I mean seriously, MLB managers basically don't do anything. Yet he is the one to blame for this entire season? Huh? How about we just say we may have been a bit overrated going into the season, and bad performances by Keuchel, Gattis, Gomez, Rasmus, basically anyone not named Altuve/Springer/Correa are the reason we're not very good.
At the game. Its incredible to see the difference in a team with 1-9 hitting above .240 vs a team with low contact guys. The rangers may not be loaded with "star" talent but they are miles above us in terms of every player able to contribute at every at bat. Reality is, the Astros have a great core of talent but unless Bregman and Reed can provide a punch, I am seeing this window closing before it really opens. We need 2 solid bats more, and frankly at this point I dont see Reed or Bregman able to contribute every day. Kemp looks nice, no idea what his ceiling is but I am a fan.
Astros are 28th in clutch hitting (high leverage situations) per FanGraphs: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=11,d I'm not sure I put that much into clutch hitting though, to be honest. Studies show clutchness in baseball generally isn't relevant or not a big determinant for batters. The Reds are #1 in this list. More of a luck indicator than anything, IMO.
Seriously, it's like every damn game I go to I'm amazed at the other team's lineup on the big-screen. "They have that many guys with good batting averages! Damn!" I'm not against the HR approach, but were #14 in HR's hit this year! Feel's like ages since I've seen an Astros HR. We were #2 last year! If I had to pinpoint the Astros woes this year, this has to be it ^
I have no clue how Rasmus and Gomez have regressed to this extent. And I don't know how offensive prospects like Reed, White, and Preston Tucker aren't just hitting poorly, they're reaching new lows.
Exactly. Everyone outside of Altuve/Springer/Correa (it's not like the latter 2 are killing it either) and Marwin seem to be playing well below their expected level.
No. Its on ESPN firstly, and secondly on the fans that believed them. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Offensively, we have one great player (Altuve), and two good-very good players (Correa/Springer). Beyond that, pretty much a AAAA club. Pure homerism to think this is a good TEAM with so many pathetic players playing every day. If expectations were realistic, we would be thrilled that we were in all three games vs TEX. Out scored them in the series even. But instead, many moan and groan after every loss as if our team had earned a crown and it was below us to hover around .500 News Break: .500 is who we are right now. And its going to take replacing 4 or 5 players, not 1 or 2 before we deserve to think of ourselves as contenders.
Absolutely 3 decent everyday players and a bunch of slappy's The reality is that they have been pathetic going back to last June. They just dont have enough good everyday players If they go under .500, after all the years of losing trying to build a team "that lasts", it may be time to question the whole organization if the know what they hell their doing
ESPN? I thought it was SI. Spoiler Spoiler More like Spoiler Are you saying the 'experts' were wrong? How about 2017? Still on target or do we need to scrap that as well? Spoiler
Despite what I said, I think the club is going in the right direction. Its over zealous expectations that have caused us to question things.
I've been as critical as anybody for their lack of action at the trade deadline... but your overall assessment is a bit of throwing out the baby with the bathwater-ish. As of 2 weeks ago, this club was on the cusp of 3 straight solid months. Now, within those 3 months you had your aforementioned 3 players.... plus a very good Valbuena, an intermittently contributing Gomez (he had at least reached replacement level status), a solid hitting catcher (provided he hits only when he catches) in Gattis, and a pretty damn consistent rotation. Since then, the loss of Valbuena, the Rasmus/Gomez dilemma, and the other injuries have all stifled the performance and sent this team into a major slump. Now, if none of the above players come back... and Gurriel/Bregman can't continue to make improvements and be solid contributors... its essentially a lost season. But, ignoring the loss of several key/needed contributors to judge the overall state of the team would be short-sighted.
