Another putrid, despicable, atrocious, embarrassing offensive effort. Totally disgusting. But, this has been the MO all season. Sickening.
I don't know how Cole got a $324 mil contract. The dude has a .163 batting average in 10 years. And if you thought it was his post season performance... (.125 batting average) WRONG!!!!
Next year we need a real bat to replace gurriel. We need a real slugger at 1B and batting 4th or 5th. Then we need a regular DH or LF who can also smash. Problems solved.
I feel very confident in Maton right now, TBH. Moreso than Neris. Make it 10 consecutive scoreless outings for Phil.
There have been too many games this season where the Astros make a mediocre or bad opposing pitcher look like Cy Young or Nolan Ryan or Greg Maddux. Last season's team had the same issue. This isn't some mere slump...every team has those; even the best teams have a few during a season. This is a legitimate concern. The 2017 - 19 teams were much better at punishing such pitchers. Our hitters this season are also striking out quite a bit more compared to past years. And most of our hitters are not making pitchers work as hard as they used to. Too many quick, non-competitive at-bats. This team will probably finish with 105 to 107 wins, and that's great...but I still feel like they have underachieved offensively. I still like our chances to get to the World Series, but I think Seattle or Toronto could be a very dangerous opponent for them in the ALDS.
I agree with this entire post. I will note, however, even the 2017-19 teams did do that at times against weaker pitchers, but not as much as this year. I remember very vividly ex-Astro Wade LeBlanc, of the Mariners, looking like Tom Glavine every time he faced us, even though he was pedestrian against everyone else. That's the first example off the top of my head, but I remember a few others. Still, the 2019 team had a ton of very high-powered offensive games that we haven't seen since. As far as the spike in strikeouts and quicker at bats, the loss of Brantley to injury really magnifies that. I would like us to sign one bat in FA, and trade for another one in the offseason. Should have traded for more help at the deadline. Toronto scares me the most. They already won both series against us in the regular season, and match up very well.
Definitely agree with this. They're underachieving this year and it's concerning. Just too inconsistent.
