He and France have been godsends, Stros are 5-6 in their starts (I'm including when Bielak came in for Garcia after 1 batter) In Bielak's 3 starts that the Astros lost, he's given up 7 ERs in 16.1 IP (3.87 ERA) For France's 3 losses, it's 5 in 16.2 (2.78)
Stros survive 2 pitching mismatches going 1-1 (so close to 2-0 damn) Now Brown takes his 3.12 ERA into the rubber game Win the series
I will always appreciate what he did on the field as an Astro and that he would speak up and defend his teammates when no one else would. Having said that - it’s very bitter sweet because of what Correa could have been had he been healthy, especially early in his career… he could have been a 6-10 WAR guy for well over a decade and one of the best 4-5 shortstops to ever play. I feel the same way about Buxton, he could have been a Hall of Famer if he stayed healthy…. Weird with both on the Twins…
I will always appreciate what he did on the field as an Astro and that he would speak up and defend his teammates when no one else would. Having said that - it’s very bitter sweet because of what Correa could have been had he been healthy, especially early in his career… he could have been a 6-10 WAR guy for well over a decade and one of the best 4-5 shortstops to ever play. I feel the same way about Buxton, he could have been a Hall of Famer if he stayed healthy…. Weird with both on the Twins… The White Sox tried to resign him, even with Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jiminez on the roster. The White Sox also changed his launch angle last year. It cut down his strikeouts a lot and he hit into less double plays and his average went up a bit - but as a result a lot of homers became doubles —- so he hit 40 doubles but only 15 homers. He has had a tough start and we will have to see how the rest of this year goes - but the White Sox didn’t think he was toast.
He has had two REALLY bad appearances out of 21 innings - has given up half his runs in those two appearances. Baker will give him a chance to earn his way back into the mix with the other top relievers. The stuff is there - but he has to do it. Four of his last 5 appearances has been scoreless but he has a ways to go.
He is fine as a #5. His stuff even has some upside. The problem is when he and France make up 40% of the rotation.
Fun fact: the Oakland A's have won a dismal 12 games this season. Five of them have been in walk off fashion (tied for most in the league).
Yet those 2 combine for an ERA of roughly 3.50. Which is better than the combined era of Garcia and Urquidy in 2022. Crossing fingers, but as it stands right now the 4th and 5th starters are the least of our problems.
Astros 32-22 at the 1/3 mark of the season. The difference between this year's 96 win pace team and last year's 106 win team, the losses by the bullpen. We averaged 3 more losses 1/3 of the way through by the bullpen than in 2022. Make just that adjustment and this team is on pace for, wait for it, 105 wins. Simply put, it's the 3 game meltdown by Montero that's the difference.
I think they are holding up ok for now. Hope is that in the playoffs we are going with valdez, javier, mcculers and brown with a potential of having urquidy, Frances, bielak starting a game if a 5th starter is needed
So it's definitely Montero's fault and not the fact the offense ranks 22nd* in OPS (.706*) vs last year's 7th place (.743) As for the bullpen.. Maton's ERA is nearly 6x lower than last season. That more than negates Montero's suckage with his ERA being 2.5x higher *ESPN hasn't updated Tuesday's games yet
