The Astros are projected by fangraphs to finish with 32.6 total position player fwar this season; that’s adding what’s already happened to what the projections show for the remainder of the season. That’s elite production and I haven’t looked it up but it could be the most in Astros history. The pitching has been the opposite story; they are projected to finish with a paltry 9.7 fwar, with only one pitcher (Valdez) finishing with more than 1.2 fwar. They expect Verlander, Javier, and Brown to finish with a combined 2.7 fwar, and the vaunted back end of the bullpen (Hader, Pressly, Abreu, Montero) to combine for a weak 1.9 fwar combined. Houston doesn’t have much hope for playoff success if none of their SP (Verlander included) aside from Valdez are able to be consistently dominant.
Verlander is getting paid by the Astros like a 3/4 starter and that's about what I expect from him. 1. Valdez. 2. Javier 3. Blanco 4. Verlander 5. Urquidy is, IMO, a very very good rotation. We should finally have it soon. No reason to think we shouldn't roll the rest of the season.
Javier has not pitched like a contending team’s #2 SP this season. He’s never been that level of pitcher over an extended period of time. He’s been a solid MoR guy who you don’t mind if he has to start a playoff game, but he’s not a reliable guy you want in Game 1 or 2 of a playoff series.
Episode 63 of breathing orange fire is up- we have the chance to talk about the first good week of the Astros season- and even bring up and talk about my favorite @Snake Diggit trade suggestion of the week.
2022 happened regarding being a No. 2 starter over an extended period of time. He was less good last year, and his velo issue is still a tick and half less than 2022. I worry as he is having to depend on the slider and the changeup this season while his velo is down. If he has a game with an average velo on his invisiball over 93.5 mph, I will want him starting playoff games. If his velo doesn't return, sure treat him like a MoR starter.
Sorry if this has been posted, but I love plays like this. Bregman does all the hard work and makes a great throw. Singleton is just smooth on how he catches it.
I'm not much of a better. I will place 2 or 3 bets some years on World Series or NFL Championships or stuff for fun, but don't bet on individual games. I have family going to Coushatta in a couple weeks, and am gonna have them place World Series and NFL Championship bets on the Astros and Texans. The odds should be high for the Astros, and I'm hoping that McCullers comes back strong, and our pitchers and batters are on a roll in Sep and Oct. We have the guys to make it happen, and our young guys are doing great too.
