Baltimore JUST got their perennial gold glove and former silver slugger shortstop back from injury and they have a really good catcher on rehab assignment right now who hasn't seen the field yet. They also have help on the way at 2B following an early-season injury at that spot. Their starting pitching is solid but unspectacular, just as it was last year when they blasted through the division. The back end of their bullpen is VERY VERY good. You are quick to put Detroit in the playoffs but this is the same team that swept them in the ALDS last season. Which reminds me, they have playoff experience. I wouldn't be so quick to discount this Baltimore team that's gotten off to a slow start. I'm also not sure (other than just being fans) why people in Houston think that we can already assume that the Astros will take the division and coast to the playoffs after a hot start. There's SO MUCH baseball left and the burden of proof is still on the Stros to prove that this is anything other than a hot start.
It shouldn't be assumed Astros take division. The Astros are the favorites to take division and have a 60% chance of making the playoffs based on Fangraphs Depth charts.
Move has been made. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Astros lineup <a href="http://t.co/Mro5iHximm">pic.twitter.com/Mro5iHximm</a></p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/603284229204680706">May 26, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Since April 18 Springer is slashing .255/.385/.528 for a .913 OPS. His BABIP over this stretch is only .303, so it isn't as if these numbers are simply extreme equalization either. Looking at his peripherals for the year overall and they look really good. A 29% K rate (25% since April 18), a 16% BB Rate, and a 25% LD rate. His BABIP is still only .284, which given his speed and LD% is still fairly low. His numbers have taken every step forward that I hoped they would. While his numbers overall are only solid, I am extremely happy about what I've seen, he looks like a guy that will be very productive.
just hope Feldman makes it out of the 1st inning without any damage...he's been horrible in the 1st but then typically stabilizes thereafter.
He is definitely getting better. I would not be surprised if he gets his OPS up to .850 by the end of the season which would be fantastic.
I agree, but i believe the O's overachieved last year. They also lost Markakis, not only his bat, but his great defense. But, out of that mediocre group, they are the best of the bunch. On that team, only players that scare with the bat are Machado, Jones.
He is swinging at so many pitches outside of the zone. So unlike him and the progress he had made last year. Meanwhile, Springer is seeing and hitting the ball extremely well.
