Three takeaways from Astros’ opening day

After a delayed opening day, the Astros are quickly out of the chute. Here are three quick takeaways from Wednesday.

Keuchel is still the man.

For a guy whose ERA was above 5 for two seasons, Dallas Keuchel has become one of the top elite pitchers in the majors since turning 26. Since 2014, Keuchel is 33-17 with a 2.69 ERA, a 1.089 WHIP and a 3.56/1 K/BB ratio. You can take that to the bank everyday and twice on Sunday!

It’s hard to argue he isn’t the Astros’ MVP. Further, it’s easy to say he would be the player the Astros would most miss if he were injured.

Correa is better than elite.

Byron who? Remember when the Astros made Carlos Correa the first pick in the draft, passing up players like Byron Buxton? Now who’s second-guessing? Correa is clearly one of the most exciting players in the game and may establish himself further this season. It’s a shame he wasn’t playing the game when Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Ken Caminiti came up. What an infield!

Correa plays the game with reckless abandon like Biggio and has the smarts of a Bagwell. He’s the anchor the Astros have needed for years and he makes everyone around him better. That’s the sign of a star player.

There is still depth.

The Astros announced their minor league rosters and it’s clear there is still depth, despite a “sell off” of sorts, especially in the pitching realm, over the past several months. The most interesting observation is that the top prospects in the organization — at least those who may be ready in the next year — are mostly position players. Alex Bregman and Derek Fisher start the season in Corpus Christi while Fresno boasts a tough corner set in A.J. Reed at first base and Colin Moran at third base.

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118 responses to “Three takeaways from Astros’ opening day”

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  1. First, it is difficult for me to get too excited over just one game. But I am. It had all the drama that we hope to see time and time again. DK gives up 2 runs. Astros are down, but continue to battle back. The rest of the way, except for a HR, the pitching is superb and the hits finally start to happen. A good win. Yep, just one but a good ONE.

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  2. That defensive gem by Correa was amazing when he snagged the line drive. That would have been a hit with most any other shortstop. He is a pleasure to watch play.

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  3. My takeaways from opening day.
    The Astros showed that they can win a big game, on the road, in November-like weather!
    Their outfield defense is good.
    The Astros went into a team mini-hitting slump the last few says of spring training. It’s still there, and I hope it ends soon
    Major league baseball is not too big for Tyler White. He looked bad on two swings and then lined a single up the middle. I’s possible he could be a major league .300 hitter. The signs just keep showing up.
    Tucker keeps getting good at bats.
    Correa struck out in the first inning on a pitch on the outside corner at the knees from Tanaka. The next time he saw that pitch, BOOM!
    It’s really weird seeing three old bombers in a row, when Rodriguez, Teixeira, and Beltran come up to the plate.
    Dallas Keuchel may be the most driven player I have ever seen. He thrives on proving himself.

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  4. Kuechel is one tough Son of a gun, Our defense will be tops in the majors, CC well is um CC, special. Tucker has some good swings and Gomez needs to quit listening to everyone dissecting his swing , he is way over thinking , just be your self.

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  5. Great way to start the season. Only 161 more wins to go. Thursday’s game on mlb network for those who can get it. Can’t wait to see”our” Stros.

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  7. All is well – except I may have spoken a little too soon about Carlos Gomez finally learning how to stay back and aim the bat at the ball instead of swinging out of his shoes at every pitch anywhere close to the strike zone. Hoping that ‘poke and stroke’ double he hit down the right field line against the Brewers, who tried to pitch him outside, was not a fluke.

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  8. In all my years as an Astros fan, Carlos Correa is the most talked about Astros player by the baseball world.
    Drafting a 17 year old shortstop from PR with the first pick of the 2012 draft is going to make Jeff Luhnow a household name.

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  9. It was gratifying to see a well played game in less than ideal conditions in front of a hostile crowd. This game pointed out how important solid defensive play is for team success. It also showed that we have some margin for error. There were plenty of times in the not so distant past that a little bobble like Correa experienced on the potential double play ball in the inning the Yankees scored would have been enough to sink us. Not so much now.

    In Keuchel, Correa and White I think what we see also is how important mental toughness and preparation are. I’m hoping White is able to shake off the effects of the HBP and I’m anxious to see his approach with RISP. Props also to Valbuena for a clutch two out hit and for some aggressive baserunning and decision from Rasmus and Pettis.

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  10. About the call on Bautusta that cost the Blue Jays a win. Looking at the review, it appeared the interference was not necessarily the slide, in which Bautista had his back to the bag and was obviously going after the SS, but rather him reaching out with his left hand and intentionally grabbing at the SS’s foot. That was blatant interference.

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    • Agree 100%. The commentary I heard complained that it was only caught because of replay checking if his slide was legal. What’s wrong with that? A cheater should be held accountable. Harold Reynolds and the other talking heads should be ashamed that they aren’t calling Bautista out.

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  11. Speaking of the Tyler White HBP – did anyone see that as an intentional message sent by an upset Yankee bench to a rookie who drilled a base hit to center field in his first major league at bat, leading one of his team-mates [Carlos Gomez] to call for the ball in mid-game?

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    • No. Coaches always call for a ball in mid-game when something like this happens. The fact that a player did so is just coincidental and I am sure the coaching staff was calling for it as well.

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  12. It is a wonderful thing to have a relevant team again. It is a wonderful thing to have two premier talents in Keuchel and Correa.
    Keuchel has that Roger Clemens like intensity that I just love. He gave up the 2 runs and then dug in and said no more on my watch. In 2013 he would have let more runs in and then the bullpen would have let more runs in and the offense would not have come back much and this would have been maybe a 7-2 loss. But no more…..
    Correa …. well he is just the best young player I think I have ever seen for being the whole package physically, mentally and emotionally. Nolan Ryan was interviewed yesterday on 790 AM and the only comparison he could make for someone this young and this good was Ken Griffey Jr.
    This is what I wrote early last August and I stand by it…

    Unbelievably exceptional: That’s Astros’ Carlos Correa


    You have to love the fact that the pipeline is still pretty full with more moving up the line every year. I do wish we had some folks closer in both the catching position and the outfield.

    I’m stoked – now come on Dr. Hugh – give us a solid start tonight.

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  14. First five game starters for the Memphis Grizzlies: Devenski, Peacock, Wojo, Hauschild and Rodgers. Last Fall I was thinking it would be Appel, Feliz, Velasquez Musgrove and Devenski.
    First five game starters for CC Hooks: Musgrove, Paulino, Martes, Holmes and Cy Sneed.

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      • Where in the world did that come from? I haven’t even followed the Rockets this year.
        Doot Da Doot Da Doot Da Doot Doot.
        I am on some new meds. But, it might be something that I am losing, rather than something I’m taking.

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      • Listen guys, if I start referring to third baseman Bugsy Moran or first baseman Lou Reed, you are just going to have to confront me with it.

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      • OP1, referring to 3B Bugsy Moran and 1B Lou Reed is far preferable to referring to 3B Matty Dominguez and 1B Chris Carter. If you start referring to the latter two, we will know Houston has a problem

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      • 1OP, you are so respected that I just assumed you were ahead of the sports media world knowing they were moving from Fresno. So I look forward to the summer and hope that Bugsy and Lou make it to the show.

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  15. I guess Tyler White’s hand is not hurting him too badly. He’s in the line-up tonight at 1B batting between left-handed hitters Valbuena and Preston Tucker.

    Looking for something from places 4-5 in the batting order tonight. That will be one of my litmus tests to see how good we are going to be this year.

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  16. Yesterday’s win is official. The Yanks have announced they are not going to file the paperwork necessary for the next step of a formal protest.

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    • NO formal protest? In fact, every kid learns to run down the inside of the line there, RH Texiera gives no target inside the base, pitcher loses cool in heat of the moment, but instead of coaching your boys up in a 101 session, Girardi argues. For a day in NY they cant fathom the idea of “assaulting” their future SS. Maybe their PR guy finally slipped the message: there is no crying in baseball.

      I look for a very strong performance by Collin McHugh, of the mind we have a solid rotation built for long haul, and tonight our guy solifies the Top End.

      White deserves the start tonight over Marwin. Gomez goes o-fer and we’ll get a Jake sighting. Might even see Feliz and/or Duff tonight since LMJ is off DL Apr 9. One of those two are on bubble.

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  18. Tolleson has given up five without getting an out. Everyone has been talking about how good Texas’s bullpen would be.

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  19. Oh how I love it when the “Strangers” get beat!! The Mariners just went up 9-5!!
    I just hope the cold weather in New York doesn’t freeze up McHugh’s, arm.
    That was what I was worried about yesterday with Keuchel. What a great day for baseball!
    Chip….tell everyone what your son did yesterday! Sign that guy up!!

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  28. The kind of game that makes a mess of things. Feliz has thrown a bunch of pitches – mostly bad and they need to cover 5 more innings. Maybe we pray for the rainout tomorrow?

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  29. Oh Lordy……I just hope McHugh isn’t hurt. Hinch just needs to put this game in the toilet and flush down. It’s gonna be a verrry………looong game. ((( sigh )))😳😳

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  31. Just got home and checked in. 162 games. 162. Hoyt might be on the roster tomorrow. Please do not bench the starting CF after two games. NY already loves Correa. Incredible. How can we pay him in 5 years? This is a 12-6 game that might not be over yet.

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  32. Well Feliz gutted out 100+ pitches and 4-1/3 innings. Not great but got better as he went along. Maybe he saved the pen a little bit.
    White with two hits tonight – the kid just rakes.
    Ump seems to be handing out strikes to theYanks that we were not getting.

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  38. Quit listening at 16-6 let’s hope this will be the one and only game these guys get beat like this……this would be a game the 2014 Astros would have had. JEEZE.

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  39. Who knows if McHugh is hurt, I guess we’ll find out tomorrow. If he IS hurt, we will still be on par for McCullers to come off DL on Sat without having to move Feldman or Fister to the bullpen. Lets hope McHugh is ok, and this was just a hiccup. I hope Correa has some more homeruns in that bat for tomorrow.

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  40. Saw where Tyler Kolek is having TJ surgery. He was in the mix when the Astros picked Aiken in 2014 and was picked 2nd by the Marlins.
    Not a great draft for HS arms.

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  42. Last week I commented that McHugh was leaving everything up, especially his curve. After last night’s game Beltran said their game plan was to wait on his low pitches and pounce on his high stuff. It’s apparent the Yankees scouted him this spring and he has to fix it, because the Royals were scouting him last night, at least for one third of an inning.

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  43. So last night the Astros pitchers threw 234 pitches in 8 innings – yuck! They only three 137 strikes against 96 balls, while walking 7 batters – ouch!!
    After the game…ERAs
    McHugh – 135.00
    Feliz – 12.46
    Sipp – 9.00
    Fields – 20.25
    And the star – Neshek – 0.00

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    • I would rather the Astros bear down and take game three of this series and fly to Milwaukee ready to do some damage. The road to winning the world series is incredibly hard and this is the first roadblock they have to bust through. I would rather see them beat the Yankees in the rain than to fly out of there with a 16-6 loss and a rainout to make up.
      Come on Astros, just line up behind Captain Correa and take that GD hill! This is the WAR.

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      • Agree to disagree, Get some rest, next series, 160 to go. The ship is fine, it’s to early for me for any season crystal ball philosophies., IMHO. If they play I will be watching every pitch (-:

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      • Fully agree 1OP. Get two of three now. That would be a great accomplishment so early. We don’t need day-night doubleheaders stacking up for later on in the season as a result of crappy April weather.

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      • my dad always used to tell me (a procrastinator) never put off to tomorrow what you can do today. his way was better, i have to say. so with that lets go take care of business

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  45. Three of our guys – Gomez, Gonzales, and J. Castro – have yet to get a hit. I would like to see at least two of them [Castro probably won’t play] break out in a big way today. And man, do we need Fiers – or somebody – to throw a gem.

    Also, Fiers and Kratz must know now that Fiers has been scouted to the Nth degree by the Yankees. I hope those two have a better game plan, and a few more surprises for the Yankees, than McHugh and Castro did last night.

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    • Yeah those guys have left 7 (Gomez), 5 (Castro) and 4 (Margo) on base – and that includes Gonzalez not hitting in the second game. Too bad White was stuck hitting in between the black holes.

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  46. Wow! Game two trickle down effect. Feliz optioned to Fresno, Devenski called up, even though he was scheduled to start opening night tonight. Devenski is not on the 40-man and someone will have to be removed.

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  49. 3.5 million contract, with international signing fees etc about 7 million. official after july 2, so goes on next years budget

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