It depends on what other teams are in the bidding. He's a FA-to-be, that can drive down the price. Many times teams have traded for solid starters at the deadline and not given up much.
Yeah, even down 3-7, I felt like there was too much time left. I posted that too, but it didn't post on here. Damn uverse timeout. Team is fun and there is more young talent to come!
What's the Astros' formula for early-season success? Spoiler On Sunday, the Houston Astros did it again while beating the Tigers 10-8 to split a four-game series. What’s "it"? It’s the Astros falling behind early, but coming back to win with their league-leading power while their bullpen and defense combine to stifle the opposition. After the Astros put a quick three-spot on the board to start Sunday’s game against Anibal Sanchez, the Tigers answered with a five-spot against Ramon Hernandez. That really wasn’t that much of a surprise -- Hernandez’s 2015 FIP was 4.95 coming into the game, and it was 4.85 last year with the Dodgers. That’s who Hernandez is, a fairly typical No. 5 starter, and even with Sanchez struggling this season, he came in boasting a career 2.96 FIP as a Tiger. Per ESPN Stats & Info, over the last five years teams that score five or more runs in the first inning win 86 percent of the time (155-24). In another year, it would seem obvious how this was supposed to turn out: The Tigers would proceed to beat Hernandez into the ground, pad their stats against the relievers who pitch when their team isn’t leading, and call it a good day in the Motor City. Maybe that was last year against the Astros, or even the last several. No longer. The Astros scored seven runs to catch up and win, four on a pair of home runs in the sixth inning off a tiring Sanchez. That reflects something of a season-long trend for the Astros. Counting Sunday, they have been outscored through the first five innings of their games by a combined score of 111-96. That’s despite out-homering their opponents 33-23. But how about in the sixth through ninth innings, where you face bullpens and scoring gets harder (MLB relievers are allowing a collective 3.9 runs per nine this year, against starters’ 4.4 RA/9)? In the back four, the Astros lay into teams. They’ve scored more total runs in 50 fewer innings at-bat, plating 98 men and homering 30 times, while their opponents have scored just 46 runs and hit 12 homers in that time. Much of that is the benefit of getting above-average power from every lineup slot but center field, but even there Jake Marisnick is providing good offense. By winning after trailing 7-3 through five, the Astros came back from four runs down to win for the first time in more than a year. The last time was May 14, 2014, against the Rangers, and they’d lost 40 straight games in which they’d been in that situation. (Thanks again, ESPN Stats & Info.) That makes this win unusual, but again symptomatic of the other half of what’s becoming a team-level formula for success: A revamped bullpen that keeps the Astros in games. Astros relievers have a collective 2.14 ERA, a mark second only to the Royals’ much more famous relief corps in the AL. They can thank the offseason additions of veterans Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek and lefty Joe Thatcher, as well as the decision to grab Will Harris on waivers from the Diamondbacks. Gregerson gives the Astros a workmanlike closer, while Neshek and Thatcher are a pair of premium situational relievers for late-game matchup battles. Harris has been especially remarkable as the guy coming into games the Astros narrowly trail late, striking out 29 in 22 2/3 IP, allowing just 12 baserunners and a run. Adding that quartet to Tony Sipp and Chad Qualls, and you’ve got a strong bullpen. The net cost? Just $13 million on the Astros’ 2015 payroll, a worthwhile investment to put a difference-making everyday unit on the field. You can add all of that to an improved defense. As noted on Saturday, the Astros are fielding an improved defense, one that has seen its Defensive Efficiency improve from .702 in 2014 to .719 in 2015. So if the Astros are with you through five, they have the bullpen to stay in a game, and the top-to-bottom power in their lineup to kill a mistake if you can’t keep up in the matchup game. This was a game and a series where these elements of the Astros’ early-season success came together, and where splitting with the Tigers doesn’t seem so extraordinary because good teams do that. League-best power, quality relief pitching and a bit of defense? Put those things together and what the Astros have in any ballgame is a puncher’s chance, not just the days when Dallas Keuchel dominates. And because those building blocks for success rely on multiple players and not just one star, the Astros might have the assets to turn their 29-16 start into success they can carry to the second half and beyond. The Astros are a joy, and dangerous Spoiler The Astros are an absolute joy to watch. That's surely one part of this season's sweetest and most improbable story. They have youth and energy, resilience and toughness. They have some confidence, too, growing day by day. Is there anything else? Yes, there is. They're a simple team in a lot of ways. They hit home runs in bunches and play very good defense and hold onto leads when they get them. Isn't that a formula for success right there? When is it OK to believe in a team? Are 45 games enough? Isn't Memorial Day supposed to be the first important checkpoint? The Astros have sprinted into this one with baseball's second-best record (29-16) and largest division lead (6 1/2 games). Raise your hand if you saw this coming. Even those of us who believed that owner Jim Crane had a great plan and that general manager Jeff Luhnow had been doing brilliant work building an organization never figured it would happen this season. Not after beginning a complete franchise overhaul just over three years ago. Not after averaging 104 losses the last four seasons. Even after showing improvement last season and adding some veterans this offseason, there just seemed to be more work to be done. Maybe not. What builds confidence faster than winning and winning and then winning some more? Winning one-run games (11-4). Winning against other American League West teams (18-11). Winning on the road (14-6). If there's such a thing as winning time in baseball -- and there absolutely is -- the Astros seem to have that figured out, too. They've scored 81 runs in the seventh inning or later, tops in the Majors by a wide margin over the A's (70). Those 81 runs tell you that despite not having an everyday player who has turned 30, there's talent and toughness and smarts. Best of all, there's a scary amount of talent in the Minors that figures to have an impact on the big league club this summer. There's also a great manager, perfect for this job. A.J. Hinch probably figured he wouldn't get another chance after a disastrous couple of seasons in charge of the D-backs. Luhnow believed in Hinch for a long list of reasons, beginning with his people skills and consistency and ability to run a game, especially a bullpen. In ways large and small, Hinch has been one of the best of a long list of important decisions Luhnow has gotten right. For instance, Sunday afternoon. If you hadn't seen the Astros play another game this entire season, Sunday's 10-8 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park would have told you plenty. The Astros trailed, 7-3, heading into the sixth inning. Then Evan Gattis, one of Luhnow's offseason acquisitions, led off the top of the frame with a home run. After two more Astros got on base, Hinch summoned 24-year-old rookie Preston Tucker to face Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez. When Sanchez left a changeup over the plate, Tucker hit it out of the park for his second career home run, the other one also a pinch-hit homer, against the Tigers on Thursday. "It was a matchup we'd been waiting for," Hinch would say later. Finally, catcher Jason Castro, one of the guys who was around for the worst of the losing seasons, finished a tremendous eight-pitch at-bat against reliever Angel Nesbitt with a two-run single in the top of the seventh for a two-run Houston lead. At that point it figured to be easy. The Astros' bullpen had the worst ERA in baseball last season and tied for the Major League lead in blown saves, but no more. Newly signed free agents Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek, along with waiver claim Will Harris, and holdovers Tony Sipp and Chad Qualls have created one of the best. Astros relievers have a 2.14 ERA, second best in the AL. More important, the Astros are 29-3 in games in which they've had a lead at any point and 26-1 when leading or tied after the sixth inning. Some of that success is having more talent in the bullpen. Some of it is Hinch's ability to put people in the right place. Third baseman Luis Valbuena, yet another of Luhnow offseason acquisitions, leads the Astros with 10 home runs, but he's followed close by Gattis (nine), Colby Rasmus (eight), Chris Carter (seven) and George Springer (six). Dallas Keuchel (6-0, 1.67 ERA) is a bona fide ace at the top of the rotation, and the debut of highly touted 21-year-old rookie Lance McCullers (1-0, 2.53 ERA) has added depth to a rotation that has baseball's 22nd-best ERA (4.29). And there's that batting champ. Jose Altuve (.294) has struggled some lately, but his struggles would be career years for some others. Springer has had trouble getting his average above .200, but the Astros are convinced he'll eventually be a five-tool star, an impact player in every way. Anyway, so far it's all working. The Astros homer and steal bases and strike out (only the Cubs have more), and they hold leads. Summoning Tucker and McCullers from the Minors has given the club a burst of production at a time when it was needed, and 20-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa, MLB's No. 3 prospect, is on track to make his debut shortly. Luhnow said that the Astros have the resources, especially in terms of young talent, to swing a trade for another starter at some point. Yes, Cole Hamels has been discussed internally. For now, though, the Astros are continuing a magical ride. This is the best 45-game record they have ever had and a 12-game improvement over the 17-28 they were sporting a year ago. They were 11 1/2 games out of first then. Know this: Teams such as the Astros are dangerous. The more they win, the more they believe they can win, the more they understand the fine line between inning and losing. No trophies are awarded after 45 games, but that's enough of a season to expose flaws and reveal strengths. The Astros have more of the latter than the former. As the Orioles reminded us three years ago, a bunch of players who have taken their lumps can begin to enjoy life on the other side of town pretty quickly. That the Astros are doing.
IT could also be winning a game when scoring first. We haven't lost many of those this season. Great game, greats series Astros played some great competition on the road and split. Stros have heart the squad with Tejada a few years ago, only this team has more talent. And there's more talent coming in the minors. Don't forget Lowrey will return soon enough too. Second best record in the AL (and MLB)!!!!
the Astros seem to play better when the pressure is on. They like to come back when behind, and it 'feels' like even the pitchers like Keuchel and McHugh pitch better when only protecting a 1 run lead vs a larger lead. They seem to thrive off the competition..loving this team.
Agree that he's solid, but solid isn't mandatory. We can, and should, have 5 studs. It's really the most obvious way that they can significantly improve this team. The lineup doesn't need any outside-the-organization strengthening, and with the 2nd-lowest payroll in baseball, it makes all the sense in the world to plan for a 4 or 5 year championship window, and throw money at 2 aces. Our team is going to be disgusting. Hopefully it's complete at some point this season, but there's no doubt in my mind that we're going to see the best roster the franchise has ever seen by opening day 2016. And that's a top 1/5 farm and adding 2 top 5 picks in our back pocket. It's amazing that we can for once talk about our Astros this way.
don't you mean filthy? Disgusting is such a harsh word :grin: agree though, if we can get a Kazmir/Hamels/Cueto (or 2! ) this team will be amazing. Add some of our farm talent (correa, singleton) + return of Lowrie and this team is SICK (But not disgusting)
Today's lineup below. Springer lead-off. I like this lineup a lot. Tucker for Rasmus vs southpaw makes sense. 1. George Springer (R) RF 2. Jose Altuve (R) 2B 3. Luis Valbuena (L) 3B 4. Evan Gattis (R) DH 5. Chris Carter (R) 1B 6. Preston Tucker (L) LF 7. Jonathan Villar (S) SS 8. Hank Conger (S) C 9. Jake Marisnick (R) CF
Springer almost certainly going to start cracking homers on the reg now that no one will be on base for him.
