First of all we would need 94 more runs to be top 5 in baseball and 86 to be top 5 in AL. Based on what our numbers project out to be, the 2 teams closes to those totals from last year are the Angels and the Orioles. They scored 773 and 705 runs respectively. We scored 629 runs last season. So to answer your question, yes I absolutely expect us to be a top 5 offense. Numbers don't lie. It's time to jump back on the bandwagon.
Does Carlos get his own appreciation thread? Spoiler Spoiler Really liked him, and i hope he lands on his feet. Always seemed to a be a joy in the clubhouse.
I do think we have been improved...but being top 5 in offense is a very difficult feat considering our K rate. Look at 2014...top 5 highest scoring teams along with their strike out ranking in parenthesis: Angels (13th) Tigers (25th) Rockies (12th) A's (29th) Blue Jays (24th) Look at 2013: Red Sox (8th) Tigers (28th) Cardinals (26th) A's (20th) Orioles (24th) Look at 2012: Rangers (24th) Yankees (21st) Brewers (13th) Angels (23rd) Cardinals (20th) Look at 2011: Red Sox (19th) Yankees (16th) Rangers (30th) Tigers (15th) Cardinals (29th) There is a HUGE correlation between runs scored and strike out rate. Fact of the matter is that it is incredibly rare to be top 5 in K's, but have a top 5 offense. The Astros are looking to be either 1st or 2nd in baseball in strike outs, which makes it almost impossible to be a top 5 offense. History proves that. Now, if the Astros are, in fact, a top 5 offense, then it means that their K rate has decreased to the point where there are about 7-8 teams that strike out more than the Astros. For the most part, and history backs me up, teams that have a top 5 offense strike out at a FAR lesser rate than the current Astros lineup.
I don't think people realize how bad the Astros production was 1B,3B,LF. Dominguez posted a .586 OPS, playing basically every game at 3B. Singleton posted a .620 OPS, Jesus Guzman posted a .520 OPS and Marc Krauss posted a .601 OPS. That was our 1B platoon most of the year. We had a sub .600 OPS from 1B, the premier offensive position. Singleton will start the year there, but he will not be allowed to stay there if he struggles, Carter will likely replace him. Lastly the LF/RF platoon consisted of LJ Hoes(.517 OPS), Robbie Grossman (.670 OPS), Alex Presley (.628 OPS) and Marc Krauss (.601 OPS). That's 3 positions, including 2 top offensive positions, where we got pathetically bad production. Out collective OPS at these 3 postions could easily improve 100 points, probably much more at LF and 1B. Not to mention a full year (hopefully) of Springer and an improvement st SS. This offense should be greatly improved overall.
Are the Astros trying to be the Rockets of baseball with an extreme strategy? Swing for the fences every time no matter the consequences? Sort of like shooting the 3 at a crazy rate.
I threw up reading this. I forgot it was that bad. Our line up is coming together. Showing signs of life at first, third, left field will be huge. Not to mention, Lowrie at SS should be an improvement as well (though Marwin was better than people give him credit last season). Improvements by FA: 3B, SS, LF, possibly C (Conger in platoon duty should be better than Corp) Improvements by a new season: RF, C & 1B. Got to think Castro and Singleton don't ***** the bed this year and benefit from it not being 2014. A healthy Springer shouldn't hurt. Possible decline: 2B and DH. Man... got to think Altuve comes back down to earth a little. Carter may produce the same, but I am cautious. Status quo: CF. I think Rasmus will replace what Fowler did well in OBP with defense and power.
I equated the Rockets and Astros just the other day. Very similar philosophies. HR or bust. 3 pointer or bust. Stockpile assets until it's time to move them for proven players. They're incredibly similar.
Altuve--2B (6 hr) Lowrie--SS (15 hr) Springer--RF (30 hr) Carter--DH (35 hr) Gattis--LF (28 hr) Rasmus--CF (25 hr) Castro--C (12 hr) Valbuena--3B (16 hr) Singleton--1B (20 hr) Total: 187 dingers from the starting squad . 10000000 strikeouts
Long ball! Rockets like 3 pointers, Astros like homers. :grin: These nerds... _________________ Amen. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I'd say $8 million is a steep price for a guy like Rasmus. It provides cover for Marisnick, but the Astros need a real No. 3 starter more.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/557669531196608513">January 20, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I think this will be our lineup: 1. Altuve 2b 2. Valbuena 3b 3. Springer rf 4. Carter DH 5. Gattis LF 6. Rasmus cf 7. Lowrie SS 8. Singleton 1b 9. Castro C Many lefties, we need to try to balance the lineup The big question mark is Singleton, if this guy is able to hit he could be hitting 4th in the lineup, and moving Carter to the 6th spot would make this team awesome.
With all of the additions, there will be no set line-up. It will depend on each days match-ups. I totally agree that Singleton is the X Factor. This line-up could rival the Indian teams in the 90's.
Also, it is fun seeing Lowrie not be the focal point of the offense. His stats and where they stood on the Astro leader board in 2012? HR - 16 (2nd) RBI - 42 (3rd) OPS - .769 (1st) Runs - 43 (3rd) Man... 2012 was rough.
L-R Balanced Lineup LOL: 1. Altuve (R) 2. Valbuena (L) 3. Springer (R) 4. Rasmus (L) [if Singleton can find his stroke, insert here] 5. Carter (R) 6. Lowrie (Switch) 7. Gattis (R) 8. Castro (L) 9. Singleton (L) 9. Singelton (L)
ONe great thing our GM has made this year, there are going to be a lot of competition on this team. No more Villar or Dominguez sucking for a whole year (yes, i know, Villar was demoted) because we did not have an alternative. Or Guzman or Krauss. This year is going to be fun.
The over/under on Yu Darvish no hitters against Houston next season is two. Good pitchers are going to make this lineup look really bad and then there'll be days where they crush mediocre pitching.
You showed correlation, not causation. For all we know, offenses with lots of K's tend to suck because they generally include lots of sucky hitters. What if you had a lineup of good hitters that strike out a lot?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ryan Vogelsong is no longer N Houston. He was here for a physical.When reached last night he was not ready to discuss his situation w/Astros</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/557693382160809984">January 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
