Agreed, we desperately need production from #2 and #3 assuming Springer still bats lead off. Correa and Lowrie when he finally returns will hopefully remedy this. I would consider dropping Altuve in the order until he stops pressing. Needs to look at more pitches so guys like Correa, Gattis, and Carter can mash.
Correa needs to bat immediately behind whomever is going to get on base the most. I'd either bat Altuve first, Springer second and Correa third or move Altuve down in the order but I don't think they would do that to Altuve.
Guys, the line-up is going to be in constant flux as Hinch deals with injuries and inconsistency. Plus, I would wager the Astros don't necessarily favor a set line-up; I'm sure they're perfectly content to mix-and-match to try and find combinations that work. Maybe next year, once they have a better handle on the parts, they'll be more prescritpive. Until then, it's going to be likely different from day-t0-day.
Springer needs to focus on hitting and he is going to get the game to slow down to the point his power stroke will be in the 30-40 home runs. Springer is a 300+ hitter, 100 RBI, 25 SB, 30+ HR guy. But if he keeps whiffing and striking out, he wont get there any sooner. Springer needs to return to the discipline that got him here.
why would you move altuve all the way down, when he has been hitting very well leading off? his struggle has been hitting at 2, .250. I think altuve thinks that because he is hitting second, he is supposed to be swinging for the fences.
So you think that Altuve's mindset has changed that much from last year? What do you think happened, that would make Altuve feel like he has to hit for power hitting second, and average hitting first this year? I ask because, last year he hit 1st in 78 games and hit .331 And he hit 2nd in 65 games last year and hit .373 I think a LOT of people are over reacting to the "lineup" and thinking people are not producing because of their spot in it Altuve is just not hitting well right now, it's not because they put him in the 2 hole...unless, as you say, he has totally changed his mindset over the past 12 months....which I think is unlikely
My original thought was wasting Springer's hitting and not trying to improve Altuve's. I think (or I should say hope) Altuve will get his swing back eventually. But in the meantime, Springer could be turning those hits and walks into RBIs if someone is on base.
Wha??? Springer has always struck out a lot; it's the primary baseball reason he stayed in the minors as long as he did. As a result, it's highly unlikely he'll ever be a .300/30/100 guy. He is, generally, a perfect #2 hitter because Ks don't kill you as much as GIDPs do. But you have to find someone to get on case ahead of him. Altuve, in theory, is a (mostly) terrible lead-off hitter. Again, I don't get the sense the Astros care a lot about a set line-up - but if they do, I'm sure they envision Springer/Correa hitting 2-3.
Just heard that Altuve has a .244 OBP for the last month which is lower than his batting average (.250), meaning he has not walked and has at least one sacrifice fly. You can't bat him leadoff at the moment. Giving him protection is irrelevant because opposing pitchers understand that he doesn't walk. I think he's going to be a career .290 AVG/.330 OBP player, which is still great. He was great last year but he's not going to get any pitches to hit if he doesn't walk.
If he slugs .400 (his career average), a .730 OPS for a 2B isn't "great." I'm not trying to bust balls - just set more realistic expectations. It certainly isn't terrible. Or even bad. It's... average. And if he's your 4th, 5th best hitter... it's perfectly acceptable.
They showed a stat the other night on Altuve that his avg # of pitches per AB is 3.1, which was the lowest in MLB.
Atluve needs to let the first 2 pitches go by no matter for about a week. Pitchers don't need to throw him strikes right now. He's constantly behind in the count.
Yeah his pitches per PA is 3.16 and the next lowest is Simmons with 3.21. That is actually about .05 higher than last year. He just doesn't take pitches.
I think this is a tricky thing. On one hand, he's been terrible and obviously swinging at junk is not helpful. On the flipside, this is also how he's had all his success his whole career. You don't want to have him start 2nd guessing himself, because that can lead to all sorts of new problems.
Yeah; he hit .340 last year; they shouldn't be messing around with him with him too much. At the same time, he's shaping up to likely be a bottom-of-the-order hitter - possibly a very good one. But your lead-off hitter needs to get on base, and Altuve doesn't work counts, he doesn't draw walks... he's actually, on a fundamental level, a terrible lead-off hitter. But as a 7-8 hitter? He could be very effective.
Altuves is struggling because he feels he has to drive in runs. When he was leading off his role was to get on base. He needs to be leadoff.
He is swinging because he knows a walk wont drive in runs and there is no one hitting on this team right now. Put him leadoff and the walks will come again.
