The depth of talent is unreal -- new players AND "old" players improving. Astros basically NEVER get blown out - only 3 losses by 4+ runs since opening week.
They're a true team. Hitting has picked up the pitching. Pitching has picked up the hitting. Both have picked up the bullpen. Bullpen has carried both. Sure, they'd probably be very good if all the starters remained healthy (regardless of a stacked lineup), but as we all have seen, injuries happen. Cutting down on the K's, while it was seen as somewhat irrelevant in the SABR world just 2 years ago, has improved this lineup's production by leaps/bounds. KC won the World Series by featuring a lineup that was best at not striking out/staying alive. Trade deadline will be interesting. They're going to be buyers. Luhnow states that typically most deals take a good 1-2 months to complete, so he's likely already started making his pitch.
KC also had a bullpen that was one of the best of the last 30 years. That bullpen pitched more innings than any other bullpen in 2015 (540 innings) and had the lowest ERA in the league. They had mediocre starting pitching, but that team won a lot of games in the late innings.
??? SABR world cares about production and saying SABR world sees Ks as irrelevant is a gross misrepresentation. SABR world typically prefers guys with both contact and power to guys that have only one in general. SABR world typically prefers guys with one of those to none. SABR world has a preference towards not making outs such as Ks over power. Astros had high Ks two years ago because they got a lot of high K, but somewhat productive players cheap (Rasmus, Valbuena, Gattis, Carter) along with guys that were drafted by previous regime (Castro, Springer). It was not a choice to punt Ks, but a choice to get as much production in whatever form they could get cheaply. As most teams operate in the SABR world, the fact that the best players in the bargain bin were high K guys shows that SABR World cares about Ks. If you look at guys Astros have been drafting (guys Astros actually spending resources on), there are a few high K guys, but most of them are contact guys or contact guys with power.
Especially for someone that really had no business keeping his 40-man spot coming into this season. I was certainly one that was saying he should've been released last season. I don't think it was wrong to think so. The Astros obviously knew better...or have just gotten extremely lucky...because he's earned a spot in the rotation. With Fiers looking better too, there's going to be some interesting decisions that have to be made once Keuchel, McCullers, Morton, and McHugh are all back. Right this minute, I'd keep Peacock in the rotation.
I was just thinking about this as well. If everyone's healthy... who's in and out of the rotation? Keuchel and McCullers are obvious. That leaves 3 spots for (my order): 1a. Keuchel 1b. McCullers 3. McHugh - longest track record // most rust? I'd assume he's in 4. Morton - most electric stuff // most injury issues. With his stuff and his success through the early part of the order, I'd love to groom him to be another multi-inning weapon for the playoffs (especially if McHugh is healthy or we a quire another TOR pitcher), but between injuries and routine, that's probably not possible. 5. Fiers - When he's on, he puts up #3 type performance, and eats innings. I don't see a role for him in the pen. 6. Peacock - His performance is legit. He also is a known commodity in converting back to the bullpen, which would be a huge relief right now. 7/8. Martes/Paulino - Martes is possibly pitching for a rotation spot tonight. They've both shown immense potential, but I'd guess we'd want to keep them stretched out to give our other guys rest. They also have injury issues of their own. 9. Musgrove - I'd debate between sending down and seeing if he can give the pen some rest. His stuff probably plays up out of the pen. Devo could probably use one of those 10 day DL stints at some point, and having either Peacock or Musgrove (plus Feliz) to play his role would help
Generally agree with the above. Could think about a vague tandem type of setup. Could also have Morton go every other start or something and see how that works for him. Only difference is, Martes and Paulino should be sent back down and Musgrove should stick either in the pen or as the next starting option. These guys are young. But use the Dodgers as an example. Something continues to happen injury-wise. It's interesting to worry about this problem, but not surprising if more minor issues continue to pop up over the course of the season (that hopefully resolve before late September)
While I don't expect him to continue pitching like this, he's 1st in K%, 5th in K%-BB%, 6th in FIP, and 7th in xFIP among all starters. That is surreal from Brad Peacock. I don't know what to expect going forward. Projections have him at about 4.20-4.25 FIP going forward, but I'm taking the under on that (though he could be way under it). Wish he could pitch longer, but he's likely trading off some longevity for stuff.
Keuchel and McCullers are in. I think Astros trade for a guy as well and think he's in. So that leaves two spots. I think Peacock is in unless he fall apart. Martes and Paulino are out unless they are just flat out incredible while others are out until deadline. McHugh is a wild card to me. He has the track record to give him the edge if healthy. Musgrove, likely out, but could be used for spot starts/long relief to give guys additional rest. Morton has a chance to unseat McHugh. Fiers, the ride the last few starts has been great, but long relief looks to be in his future. I think Astros may trade a SP to a NL WC hopeful at deadline if they start getting healthy (specifically if McHugh gets healthy.
If everyone is healthy and I'm going on the last 3 weeks worth of performances... 1. Keuchel 2. McCullers 3. Morton 4. McHugh 5. Fiers Peacock moves back to the pen and is there for spot starts. I agree that Fiers doesn't seem like his stuff would translate as well to the pen. Musgrove (hasn't pitched particularly well and has options), Paulino, and Martes back to AAA. I wouldn't mind terribly if they found a way to give Devo, Harris, and Feliz a 10-day breather once the rotation is back in place. If Morton goes down again or McHugh takes even longer, Peacock stays in the rotation.
Why not "Peamores" be our fourth or fifth starter after we acquire Gray? It's outside the box, one of peacock, morton and fiers get three innings to show off their stuff.
