May was Astros’ turn-around month

It may not seem like it, but May was a successful month for the Houston Astros. A month that began with the Astros sporting a dreadful 7-17 record, ended with the team going 17-12 during the month. That would be a 95 win pace over a whole season.

Yes they were a mediocre 10-11 for the first three weeks of the season, but after winning less than 30% of their games in April, mediocre was a step up. The seven wins in eight games to end the month are the key to their modest resurgence.

The pitching staff, especially the bullpen, has been the key to stabilizing the team. Both the starters and relievers were the worst in the AL in April. The starters are now 13th in the league and rising and the bullpen has risen to the 6th best in the league by ERA.

But it has been a better offense in the last week or so that has really gunned the engines. The bottom end of the lineup has finally helped the cause. The year to date numbers for Luis Valbuena, Jason Castro and Jake Marisnick are pretty poor, but they are all much improved over the last couple weeks.

The biggest boost to the offense in their 7 wins out of 8 games tear at the end of the month has been George Springer. In the last week he has 3 HR / 7 RBIs / 7 runs scored and is posting .444 BA / 1.335 OPS. Since moving into the leadoff spot, he has sparked an offense that sputtered so much over the first six weeks of the season.

Going forward – here are some questions:

  • Can they keep this momentum going through June?
  • Is pitching or offense more of a key to their success?
  • Who will be the 4 key players to watch in June?
  • Who do you think will likely be replaced in June on the team?
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106 responses to “May was Astros’ turn-around month”

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  1. One correction – I should have written they were a mediocre 10-11 for the first three weeks of the month of May, not of the season.

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  2. The momentum they need to keep going is the 17-12 months. A month like that in June and they are sitting at .500 with three full months of the season left. One advantage the Astros may have over the Rangers and the Mariners is their youth and the types of athletes they have. If they can keep from running into fences or each other or into fastballs, they could be in better shape as far as injuries are concerned than an older team.
    I think pitching and offense both have to be good, because we will need the pitching to beat Texas and Seattle, whereas we can outscore weaker teams with our offense.
    The four players to watch in June are Keuchel, because we need our ace to win his games, Rasmus because we need a hot lefty bat in this lineup, Marisnick because we will need him to replace Gomez, and LMJ because he needs to be the difference maker on that staff to separate our Aprilness from our Mayness. LMJ has to pitch better than he has and throw fewer pitches and go deeper into games. He is a big deal!
    I think Marisnick/Kemp replaces Gomez.

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  3. I’m guardedly optimistic that they can continue to play well in June. I’m still not convinced Keuchel is right. His pitches have been elevated and he’s not getting as much weak contact. IF he’s right things could get very interesting.

    I still think offense is the key. I’ve been a fan of Springer leading off since he had some success in that role last year. I expect him to continue to produce and perhaps even get better. A big key to the offense will be Correa. A pleasant surprise has been the offensive contributions of the catching corps. And Gattis is looking pretty respectable behind the plate.

    Valbuena and White providing some offense at the corners would be huge.

    I’m hoping Gomez will be gone by the end of June. I just don’t see him regaining any semblance of competence. Not sure if anyone noted his comments after the home run he hit in Corpus. He said he was happy that he guessed changeup and was able to make good contact. I would have been a lot more impressed if he had hit a 95mph fastball. I still don’t see him catching up with the hard stuff. I just hope he doesn’t do too much harm before we cut him loose.

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  4. Paredes traded from Blue Jays to Phillies for cash.
    Marlon Byrd suspended for a full year for PEDs. Indians lose another player. Likely the end of his MLB career.

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    • How are the Astros to get rid of Gomez? I can’t imagine any team wanting him and I fear Luhnow’s ego is reluctant to admit that he made a bonehead trade. I fear that Luhnow will damage the season in keeping Gomez with a desperate hope that he will suddenly be able to make contact with MLB fastballs.

      But a bigger fear is that he will make another bonehead trade giving away our better prospects.

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      • I would be shocked if Gomez gets traded/released.
        But on the other hand if Luhnow does somhow get rid of him, it could change my opinion about his ability to lead this team.

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      • This is ironic because everyone said the same thing towards Luhnow about Conger and Chris Carter, but lo and behold, he got rid of both of those players. I guess this just goes to show that everyone’s a pundit and cynical no matter what.

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  5. With Gattis catching so much lately, is Luhnow trying to trade HIM or Castro???
    Seems like every single pitcher, besides Fister are having trouble in the first two innings. This is alarming to say the LEAST. McCullers was REAL LUCK yesterday that these guys could come back and put up a bunch of rus for him because that’s not been the MO for these guys.

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  6. Every time I watch Friers pitch he proves even a monkey can fall out of a tree. How the heck did he ever throw a no hitter.

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  7. If you ever want to see a picture of a total fool go look up a picture of Marlon Byrd.
    I hope to never hear his name and MLB mentioned in the same sentence again.

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  11. Leaving the bases loaded with one out…..no runs scored. The tale of the 2016 Astros. I bet we see Devenski tonight, Fires pitch count is way up.

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  13. Phenomenal play by Bourn on that Correa triple. Carlos was jogging a bit and probably not in position to try for an inside the parker, but if Bourn even hesitated after hitting the ground…

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  14. Not kidding here gang. My plane landed at Hobby, I walked to the. Ar and turned on the radio. Just I. Time to hear Segura get HBP I. The top of the ninth….Astros are up in bottom of 10th. Should I book a new flight???

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    • I had a bad feeling when Gregerson came in. not a good idea to let these same guys see the same pitchers two days in a row. Should’ve started the ninth with Feliz.

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  19. Thoughts
    Tonight, Giles’s slider was the best I have seen it all year.
    Gattis’s home run while catching was a thing of beauty. That is a move by Luhnow that could be very fruitful, both for the Astros and for Gattis.
    Harris was beautiful.
    Neshek didn’t fold, when it looked like he could.
    Tony Kemp’s first major league RBI turned out to be huge.
    Gregerson didn’t just blow a save, he blew a win for Fiers, who worked very hard to earn it. I liked that Hinch blamed Gregerson’s problems on himself. He said after the game that it wasn’t a good decision on his part to have Gregerson out there.
    I am going to vote for Springer for the ASG. I didn’t think he deserved it, up until now.
    They talked about a captain tonight in the booth, but the unnamed captain of this team is Altuve. Day in and day out he is the leader of this team and the best player on the field.
    Gomez earned his pay tonight.
    Feliz is going to be big in this team’s future. How many 22 year olds are out there doing what he’s doing?

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  20. Alex Bregman has gone 3 games without a hit. But in those 3 games he has five walks and has scored three runs.

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  21. Feliz is in the mix for Rookie of the week accolades! And you are sooo right Old Pro this kid is gonna be a force in our bullpen this year, that kid has one very special arm! Next year….Harris/Feliz 8th….Giles or Feliz to close. Both Giles and Feliz could be used in the closer role. George is having a year of first this year, first grandslam, and first walk off! This young man is starting to show us the talent we always knew was there. Two more doubles for Altuve tonight, and they left him standing there. He has the most votes so far for a second baseman for the All Star game….I’ve been busy voting for him, and now I’ll be busy voting for Springer! By the way Gattis is becoming my favorite catcher….he’s got a cannon for an arm throwing guys out!

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  22. The Corpus Christi Hooks now have the best record in the Texas League. The Frisco Roughriders are on an 8-game losing streak putting the Hooks 1 game ahead of them.

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  23. Some more thoughts about last night.
    – Kevin pointed out a couple of the great plays last night. There were also throw ’em outs by Gomez, Springer and Gattis that I saw. The defense was integral to last year’s run and seems to be coming on lately.
    – What do you think – would it have been better to win the game with a 3 up 3 down ninth or does a walk-off in the 11th give them more bounce in their step going forward?
    – I think this whole Springer being a beast when leading off is interesting. I mean he is only sure of leading off once a game. Last night he led off 3 times in an inning and had his double in one of those ABs. Three times he batted later in the inning including the walk-off HR. Is it his mind-set or is it having Altuve batting behind him getting him better pitches to hit?
    – I have to say I never saw Gattis catch (knowingly – maybe we played the Braves and I was sleeping on it) but he is doing a very, very good job. Wish he had been well in ST so he could have started the season this way.
    – Feliz looks tougher and tougher to hit every time out. Great stuff and decent location going hand in hand.

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    • It would have been better on my heart if they won 3 up and 3 down in the 9th. I’m not too worried about Gregerson. I think, as Hinch alluded to, that he has been over-worked and he’ll be fine with a few days off.

      The defense is a big part of this team’s success or failure. Luhnow built this team on power, pitching and defense and until the last 2 weeks the defense and pitching hasn’t been there (the power was still there). The improved hitting is nice, but if they are going to continue this surge the pitching is going to be key. It’s always about the pitching.

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    • Walk offs are exciting but good teams don’t give up the lead as often as the Astros do. Especially against a team like Arizona. 3 up and 3 down or at least 3 outs without giving up a run. That builds confidence.
      This is a good defensive team ( at least on paper) but the pitching and hitting needs improvement.

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      • Arizona is a bad team due to a bad pitching staff, but their offense is good – they are 5th in the NL in runs/game, HRs and OPS. But in general the Astros have to stop giving up late leads to anyone. We know when the team goes to Arlington, this type of hiccough will not lead to an extra inning loss. Need to put their feet on the Rangers necks and not let up.

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  24. My thoughts

    * How soon before Feliz closes his stuff is nasty, hitters knees are shaking
    * Springer is just insane right now
    * if CC can pick it up at the plate we might be set up for a good run here
    * DK needs to be DK of 2015
    * every time Kemp comes up I have visions of the Rat Pack and SDJ. I like the kid just not sure he can hang
    * I’m liking Gattis behind the dish more and more
    * Lest sweep the snakes

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    • Someone posted on another blog about Feliz closing. Some replies pointed out Feliz’s ability to go multiple innings and what a waste it would be to only use him in the ninth. Makes sense. But he would make an awesome closer.

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  26. I vote Harris/Feliz coMVP’s of the game. Pitching has been more than adequate for awhile now. The Stros can and will win with it.
    Letting The Billygoat sit for a day or two is a good thing. He has been striking out at a good clip or GIDP. Gomez cannot be allowed to continue play like he has. Yes he had a hit and a good play (that either Marisnik or Springer make as well), but lightening has been striking a lot around here lately.
    Honestly, I was not having positive thoughts when they had the bases loaded and 1 away and did not score. I think against good teams, that can be a death knell.
    But I managed to stay awake and catch the ending…and slept fitfully after.

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  27. The lineup today is exactly what I would have liked, except for Castro having the flu.
    Kemp in the 9 hole is sweet.

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  28. Correa needs to have a big day. Altuve has hit Greinke better than maybe anyone in baseball has, and may get pitched around.
    Greinke has been hit more and given up HRs more than normal this season. You have to beat him because he does not beat himself.
    Rasmus and Valbuena have hit him decently in the past.
    Springer has never faced him.

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  30. Springer, Altuve and Correa are a tough 1-2-3 punch. Any of those guys can beat you and it does not seem likely that Altuve does not get some strikes with Correa behind him. At least, that’s the hope.
    Can you believe that pitch that Gattis took downtown ? The guy must be really strong !

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  31. I yelled “dammit” when he hit it because I thought it was just a flyball the way he lunged down at it. When it went halfway up the wall I couldn’t believe it.
    I thought Correa’s shot in the ninth was gone. It seemed like it was in the air forever.

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  36. Hinch should bench the guy, but he has to get permission from his highness Jeff Luhnow…….but he needs to be gone. Tough to get shut out after playing so well, but I’ll take 3 outta 4 games. Now we get to go play the ever tough A’S….and the
    *T H U G S * to our north.
    Kazmir trade: we got screwed
    Gomez trade: we got screwed
    Giles trade: TBD….we will revisit it at the end of the seaon.

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    • Kevin……hide and watch, he WILL make another trade or TWO before the summer is over. If my name is Chris Devenski or Joe Musgrove, I’d be very worried.

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  38. Astros lost, and my family lost our eviction hearing. Going to appeal but if we do lose again, well, we’re in a world of s***. Eviction on our record now will make it hard to find another place, we don’t have money to move, and no place to stay. I’m in a real dark place right now and trying not to think certain dark thoughts that keep popping up but failing.

    I set up a new donation page; if something were to happen to me, my family will get it. Any little bit helps right now.
    https://www.youcaring.com/my-family-579512

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    • Billy, you sound as if you need real help. And I don’t think you can fully help your family without first getting help for yourself.

      The good people here on this blog could probably assist you in finding rent money this month and next. But that is not going to fix your problem. If you are in a dark place, you need to seek out real help from professionals. We can’t do that for you.

      But, you can go on line and make a phone call. There is help for you all around the Houston area. Whether it be in the form of family crisis assistance, or adult mental health support, there is assistance from the State of Texas, from Harris County, and other non profit organizations, including most any church in the city, whether you are a member or not. Please seek out help. Good luck.

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      • I know, and I will…I’m just at my wit’s end right now, and my immediate concern is making sure we have somewhere to live, and right now I feel hopeless/

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    • Please,Don’t go there Billy. Your family needs you more than anything else in their lives.
      Surely there is help for families in your situation in a city this size. Please think of the people who need you.
      I’m really sorry for your troubles.

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      • Pretty much have been told I ‘make too much’ for assistance. And really, I can see that…issue is when I went from working 90-100 hours a paycheck (every two weeks) to 75-80 when overtime got stopped. I did get a raise at work, but problem is rent was due in between pay cycles, and the previous check went to car payment. We tried to make a payment but they refused to accept unless we paid the following month’s rent too, We *almost* have enough, but still short, plus the deadline is the day *before* I get paid next.

        That said, I apologize if I worried anybody…I’m just extremely upset, and the fact that the apartment manager smirked at us when the judge made his decision made me really angry (I made my initial post in the parking lot of the courthouse)

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  40. If the Astros are gonna get beat I prefer it to be by one of the best pitchers in baseball. Hats off to him and the Diamondbacks. They are paying him a ton of money.
    I think that was a couple of classy teams that played four games against each other. The umpiring was some of the worst I have seen and the reviews agreed with me. The strike calling was horrible, but neither team lost it’s cool.

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  41. David Paulino and Kent Emanuel combined on a one-hit, 4-0 shutout for CC on the road against Arkansas tonight.Teoscar had 2 hits, as did JD Davis and James Ramsey. Bregman had a hit and a BB. Paulino gave up the hit and pitched five shutout innings giving up a walk and struck out 7. Emanuel was his four inning tandem partner and he gave up no hits, no walks and struck out 5.
    I talked about Brady Rodgers earlier in the week and he was real good again tonight in the first game of Fresno’s double header. Rodgers went six innings, gave up 1 hit, no walks and struck out 8. Kevin Chapman gave up two runs in the seventh, mopping up. Reed hit a two run HR.
    Preston Tucker and Tyler Heineman were both 3 for 3 in the nightcap with Tucker hitting a HR and a 2B. Duffy had two hits tonight. Hauschild with the win and Hoyt with his 11th save in a 4-3 win.
    Quad Cities won 4-3 tonight and Lancaster is leading 5-1 in the 8th. Catcher Garrett Stubbs with a two-run homer in that game.
    The Mariners lead the Padres 13-12 in a pitcher’s duel and they are in the seventh in San Diego.

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  42. My thoughts on Bregman are that he will get promoted to Fresno soon after the 1st half of the season is over, especially if CC clinches the 1st half and a playoff spot. AAA does not have 1st half winners so promoting Bregman to Fresno could be a boost to their chances of making a strong push for the playoffs. This is pure speculation on my part.

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  43. I have to agree with Tim here. Unless we give up a big piece, I cant see us getting much on some of these Kemps/Morans of the baseball world. Now stumbling, bumbling, Uncle Jeff could do another bone head 12/1 deal.

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    • If we don’t it is our own fault. If we don’t it is because we have held on too long to – and kept playing despite horrible performance by – the underperforming veterans who block the path. Moran should have been afforded more chances to shine in place of Valbuena. Kemp should have been afforded more chances to shine in the place of Gomez [after all, we have multiple excellent CFs] OR whoever we had underperforming at the DH position.

      My personal preference – if Bregman is going to be our 3B – is to trade Duffy eand keep both Moran [LHB] and Davis [RHB] next year as back-up 3Bs and DHs. I would like to see us keep Kemp – who is exactly the hustling, fiesty, kind of fire-starter/playmaker that this team needs. I’d like to see us either play him in LF or let him DH. I’d take an OBP like his historic OBP – or even 80% of it – at the DH position. We will have plenty of other guys – like Springer, Altuve, Correa, Bregman, and Reed who can hit a lot of HRs.

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      • By the way, the ‘if we don’t’ phrase is in response to the ‘I can’t see us getting much on some of these Kemps/Morans of the baseball world’” statement above, not the ‘uncle Jeff could do another bone head 12/1 deal’ statement. Heaven help us if the GM pulls another one of those ‘there really is a sucker born every moment’ kind of moves.

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      • Moran isn’t ready. That’s it.
        He is only 23, he has not had enough time in the minors to become the player he will be. He needs to face more AAA pitching and that will be coming for him in the second half of this year as more AA pitchers get moved up to AAA. He needs time and we need to give him that time in the minors.
        We need to play Valbuena as much as we can. He is a good defensive 3B who hits for some power but not for average and he is a free agent this fall. We need to play him now and if some team wants him at the deadline that is great. If they don’t, we need to let him walk and decide between Duffy, Moran or Bregman at 3B for next year. There is every reason to play Valbuena right now while we pay him his big salary. The biggest reason is to let Moran and Bregman mature.
        Kemp will get his chances. Gomez is going to be gone.
        Tucker needs to get his chances, too. He’s always been second fiddle, even when he was hitting good, because the Astros stuck with a non-hitting Marisnick.

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      • Yeah, the one thing I will add is that great teams generally have depth. My point on Moran and Kemp was that some see them as expendable or only consider whether they are better than the starters. Now that Gattis is finally occupying a roster spot as a player with defensive value we have some flexibility. Trading players like them may not maximize individual player value and may greatly limit your future options/leverage.

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    • No problem with the page loading or refresh, but I have to enter my email address every time I post. Didn’t have to do that before yesterday.

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      • I had that problem for awhile, but it seems to have fixed itself. I haven’t had any issues with the page loading.

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  46. Fister looks a hell of a lot better than earlier this year and last.

    I think Devenski may end up replacing Fiers.

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  49. Gomez wouldn’t have caught it. If Jake can get to the .230s, I’d give him the everyday job. Heck I’d say give it to him anyway

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