Now about the Astros’ closer…..

Luke Gregerson is not and never will be your classic fireballing, shutdown closer. He is a guy who has an OK fastball and a good slider. He succeeds when the opposition goes diving for that slider, which then dives under their bats. He does not succeed when he gets behind on the count and has to come in with that OK fastball.

Currently, Gregerson is tied for 4th in the AL with 13 saves. However, he is also tied for the lead with four blown saves on the season. Most of the best closers have between zero and two blown saves at this point in the season.

Beyond that, in his last 12 appearances, he has six saves and four blown saves and two appearances when a save was not on the line. His ERA, that was 1.64 on May 3rd, has now ballooned to 4.32 exactly one month later. So what are the options at this point?

  • As George (41) Bush said, “Stay the course”. Keep the veteran Gregerson as the 9th inning guy. Recognize what A.J. Hinch admitted, that he had been over-used (4 games in 5 days) and that his ERA was an acceptable 3.28 before his three run outing the other night.
  • Move lights out 8th inning reliever Will Harris into the 9th inning spot. How lights out is Mr. Harris? He has made 23 appearances this season and only allowed one run. And the one run he has been charged with? In the third game of the season (his first appearance), he had gotten the Yanks out in the 6th and in the 7th was pulled after allowing a single with one out. The runner scored when Ken Giles gave up one of his early season late inning bombs two batters later. You need the Hubble telescope to see Harris’ 0.36 ERA and both his 0.730 WHIP and his 6.75 Ks / BB are outstanding.
  • Speaking of Ken Giles….He was brought here to be the closer or the closer-in-waiting. He pitched great in Philadelphia the last two seasons. He has a high-octane fastball and an inconsistent slider that can be devastating (sometimes to the other team, sometimes to him). Yes, his ERA is 6.00. Yes, he has blown up at inopportune times. But if he was handed the keys would he get his confidence back?
  • Since giving up 10 runs (9 earned) in two early season blow-outs, Michael Feliz has been death out of the bullpen. In his last 11 appearances, his ERA is 0.48. In those last 18.2 innings he has 30 Ks against one BB and only four hits. He has four wins in four extra inning games in that time frame. He has been Beast Feliz.

It says here, that the front office will probably continue with Gregerson as the closer, rightly or wrongly, but will look to move him at the deadline. They will likely say that Giles is not ready (which he is probably not), that they don’t want to tamper with Harris or Feliz, who are both almost untouchable. But it is likely they will make a move at some point.

  • Who do you like in the closer role?
  • Do you think Harris would melt if asked to pitch one inning later than he does?
  • Do you like having Feliz in this role where he comes out of the bullpen and holds on to tied games until the Astros un-tie them?
  • Do you feel better with Gregerson as the grizzled veteran anchoring the bullpen?
  • Do you think Giles would pitch better if the front office and dugout handed him the closer’s role?
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177 responses to “Now about the Astros’ closer…..”

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    • Well, it would probably be last year as we traded Nottingham away when he had put up:
      QC: .326 AVG .387 OBP .543 SLG .931 OPS
      LANC: .324 AVG .368 OBP .606 S:G .974 OPS

      His BB/K was worrisome though, and he has struggled a bit at AA for Milwaukee.

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    • We’ll have to see what he does once out of Lancaster. Something to look forward to. If he keeps up with the numbers, Corpus should be a next stop later this year.

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    • Lewis vs. Fiers:
      ERA: Lewis 3.09; Fiers 4.84
      WHIP: Lewis 1.11; Fiers 1.32
      WAR: Lewis 2.2; Fiers -0.1

      Dig Deep, Mike. We are going to need a whole lot more of that no-hit vibe and a whole lot less of that ‘it’s out-a here!’ vibe.

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  3. 28-30. With Seattle dropping 3 to TEX, we are now only 4.0 back from them in the standings, but remain 7.0 behind TEX. This would be a great series to win…

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    • So the possibilities are:
      Scenario #1: We win all 4 and become tied with the Rangers [probably for 1st];
      Scenario #2: We win 3 of 4 games, and finish the series 2 games out;
      Scenario #3: We split & stay right where we are in the standings vis-a-vis Texas;
      Scenario #4: We lose 3 of 4, and finish the series 6 games out of 1st;
      Scenario #5: We get swept, and finish the series 8 games out of 1st, probably back in the cellar.

      Anybody placing odds or taking bets?

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      • No we are 4 games back of the M’s (for the second WC) and 7 back of the Rangers – so we could end up 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 back of the Rangers.

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      • Dan, I guess my mind has still not adjusted to how horrible this team has been this season. It boggles my mind that at this point in the season a team with this much talent and potential could theoretically sweep the Rangers in their home park and still be 3 games behind them in the standings. But then you look at the ERAs and WHIPs of their starting pitchers vs. ours, and the BAs of their starting position players vs. ours, and it begins to make a lot more sense.

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      • Dan,
        We could be 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 games back. Seems a bit “odd” if you ask me, and I think we are “primed” for a good series against the bad guys (that is if you take out the 9.

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      • Im in Vegas – how are the Astros favored? It’s comical. Some guy said, I just think the Rangers wont hit, or it’s Monday and some teams rest their starters. And? Im definitely down on the thugs until we prove we can beat them. Colby Lewis has owned us.

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      • Mark,

        The Rangers opened as slight favorites, but the money went on the Astros and they are now favorites. Needless to say, I agree with you and took the Rangers as well. Of course, my hope is that I lose money and the Astros prove me wrong.

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      • We all WANT a sweep, but I liken this to a person facing a criminal trial with a plea bargain for 10 years in prison or going to trial with a chance of being acquitted or a chance of life in prison w/o parole. Do you risk getting sent away for life or do you just accept the plea bargain and take the 10 years? Yes, I want the Astros to sweep, but if the baseball gods offered me a split right now I would jump on it and move on to Tampa Bay, especially considering our lack of success in the Temple of Doom known as Globe Life Park.

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  7. The meaning of a true rivalry is respect for each other. Mohammed Ali had respect for nearly every one he fought, there were probably a couple of guys who despised him but they had respect for the man. The Astros do…*NOT*.. have a rivalry with the rangers…..our rivalry just left town. Our true rivals are the A’S and the Angels. You must have respect for a team for it to be a rivalry…….we have NO respect for the team in arlington, and the feeling is mutual I’m sure. The Cardinals were our rivals in the NL, because we RESPECTED their manager, and their players. Albert drove us crazy, but believe me he WAS respected as one of the elite guys to ever play this game. I love the guy….just not when we are playing the Angels!! Lol!!
    I have absolutely NO respect for the rangers…manager or their 2nd base THUG.
    As a matter of fact the only guy I do respect is Beltre, because he is just a dang good guy. He’s the best 3rd baseman in the game, and the club leader in his clubhouse.
    So…..no, they are NOT our “daddy”, and I’m willing to bet any of you money that the *thug* at 2nd base will start some sh*T somewhere in this set of 4 games. Take that to the bank.

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    • I can guarantee if Odor played for the Astros your opinion of him would be different. The reason he is beloved by Rangers fans is the same reason he would be loved by the fan base for any team he plays. He gives everything he has and I wish the Astros had more players with his fight and tenacity.

      Also, I must ask what’s your beef with Banister? I wish our manager had the same fight for his team the way Banister does for his players. Odor and Banister are a big reason why the Rangers are our ‘daddy’.

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      • I’ll have to agree with Tim on this one. I used to hate even the mention of the name David Eckstein. He was a hustler, an irritant – and he absolutely killed us. But at one point as I was expressing a longing to dance over his capture by Biggio and Bagwell, his waterboarding, and then his slow, extremely painful disembowelment, one of my sons looked at me with a grin and said, Come on Dad, you know that if he was playing for us instead of the other team, you’d think he was the greatest player in the game. He was right. Sorry, Fluffy [for old timers from the Chron *spit* days only].

        I confess that I don’t like snakes – or Odor or Bannister. I don’t like either one of them one bit. But I know full well that the reasons I don’t like them are the very same reasons I would probably love them if they were Astros instead of Rangers:
        a. they play, or in Bannister’s case manage, hard-nosed baseball, using grit instead of keystrokes;
        b.they don’t take crap off of anybody; and
        c. they absolutely have our wimpy ‘club Astros’ number.

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      • Bingo! I challenge anyone to find a Rangers fan that dislikes Odor or Banister. I have many friends that are Rangers fans and they despise Joey Bats because of the bat flip in the playoffs and they love Odor for doing what many of the fans wanted to do. Yes, Odor stepped over the line with the punch to Joey’s face, but it wasn’t like Bautista had his back turned to him or was retreating. He was showing signs of aggression as well.

        I want the Astros to, figuratively, punch the Rangers in the nose these next four games. I don’t think the Rangers respect us because, I think, they see no fight in our team and they take the fight to us and all we do is cower and retreat (in a figurative sense). If the Astros want to start beating the Rangers they will have to show some fight, whatever way they can.

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      • Nope, Personally, I don’t have any respect for the punk. I love the Astros but he’d still be a punk, in my book, regardless of where he plays, even if it’s for the Astros. I want them to play hard and I don’t care if they flaunt it a bit. Playing hard is admirable but Odor is a bully. Period.

        I can understand Becky’s comments. I’m as frustrated as she is.
        Please don’t leave Becky. You are respected here. A very few held this blog together through years of losing, I read every day but rarely commented simply because I didn’t have anything to say. You were one of the few that checked in every single day and kept the interest going.
        Just wouldn’t be the same without you.

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  8. “That’s because he’s a great teammate. Day in and day out he grinds with us no matter what. Tired of seeing this crap.”

    This was a McCullers tweet today when a fan tweeted that Gomez returning was not a distraction. Maybe we can FINALLY put to rest any more talk of Gomez being a cancer on this team. I was so glad to see this tweet today.

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  9. Look, I will be surprised if we will beat the Rangers even once all year. Looking at their line-up, then looking at ours, it is a miracle we have even stayed close to them. The only way to beat a team that hits significantly better than yours is to shut them down with lights out pitching. We don’t seem to have anybody in the rotation capable of that. Our ace has a 5.50 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Our #2 has a 4.97 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Our #3 has 4.23 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. Our #4 has a 4.54 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP, and our fifth starter has the best of them all – a 3.51 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP.

    It is no longer a Silver Boot series. It is a Ranger Blue Boot walk-over.

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  11. I’m beginning to think I need to leave this blog. If everything I post is going to be met with an arrogant condescending remark, I think I may leave. I wish our guys well tonight. Thanks, Becky

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    • That’s a shame, Becky, but you have to do what you feel is best for you. You’ll be missed and Godspeed to you on continued health.

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    • Becky, with all apologies and huge cudos to Chip and Dan, you are in many ways the heart and soul of this blog. If you leave, be sure to leave a forwarding address, because I’m going with you.

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      • My thoughts after the game tonight:
        1. Marwin is not an every day player, but has been in almost every game.
        2. White and Kemp need to be playing every day. If not here, then trade them or send them to AAA. I prefer Kemp as an every day player.
        3. Veteran leadership is lacking on this team. We need somebody to fill the role if we are going to win agains Beltre’s Rangers.
        4. AJ can’t seem to keep his players from constantly trying to win the game with one swing of the bat and their hitting suffers for it. If the manager can’t get his players to do what he wants, then he hasn’t earned their respect because they view it as an opinion, not an order

        To beat the Rangers with their ability to put the ball in play, Astros can’t make mental errors In the field and can’t leave so many runners on base because they are trying to score 2-3 at once instead of one at a time with good ABs.

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  12. C’mon folks.
    Tim – I know you are smart enough to have worked for Enron – but quick frigging rub everybody’s nose in it every time. Treat everyone like they are your friend that you would like to keep as a friend.

    Becky – I would like to ask you to apply the following “Consider the source”. Tim is to you like Bopert was to me and finally I just said the heck with it and realized he was never going to change.

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    • Dan,

      If you or Chip want to ban me from this blog then that’s your choice, but it’s really sad that some people tend to over-react because of a differing opinion. I’m not sure where I was rubbing anything in Becky’s face other than to disagree with her assessment of Odor and Banister. If it’s because I referred to the Rangers as our daddy then I would have to say she was rubbing it in my face by saying they are not our ‘daddy’ as I first mentioned them being our daddy before anyone else said otherwise. It’s a 2-way street and, as I have stated before, if you’re easily offended by differing opinions then the internet may just not be for you (anyone who is easily offended).

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      • Also, while I respect everyone here and their opinions I don’t get the Kumbaya desire to be everyone’s friend. Some of the best discussions/debates are generated by anger/frustration/disagreement. What’s wrong with a nice heated debate as long as there’s no personal attacks on someone’s character or being? I have never, not once, made a personal attack toward anyone here, but I have been called rude, arrogant, condescending, whatever term you choose to use. I have also had condescending replies to my posts, but I don’t take offense and I would ask the same of others. Again, I’m not leaving this blog unless you force me out and I won’t make a personal attack on anyone, but I’m not changing who I am because someone is easily offended. It’s not happening.

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      • Tim, the problem is you seem to just want to disagree just for the pleasure of arguing. And you are rather condescending in doing so. Yes, you are entitled to express your own opinion, but you seem to take pleasure in doing it in a way to irritate people. And no, I don’t agree to not blame Luhnow for the big holes in the major league roster he has assembled. He is a big boy and highly compensated. I am sure that he doesn’t get his feelings hurt by our comments. Jim Crane’s opinion is all that matters to him. If you don’t like reading criticism of his moves, they have plenty of room over at TCB.

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      • Well, Nance, if you don’t like dissenting opinions from yours then the Internet may not be the place to go. I don’t take pleasure in agreeing or disagreeing with anyone. If I disagree with you I’m not afraid to say why and some people don’t like that. Oh well, such is life. I have already received, just here today, condescending replies and name-calling, but am I whining over it or threatening to leave this blog because of it? No, I just roll with the punches and continue with defending my positions. Honestly, I’m worn out by the over sensitive nature by some on here and I’m definitely worn out by the pre-emptive Luhnow bashing. You know, the comments that assume he’s going to keep a certain player simply because he traded for such player or that he’s going to make another bad trade because the wrong assumption is all his trades have been bad.

        i argue with my own family at times, but I love them dearly. I don’t know what to tell you. This over sensitivity is sad and ridiculous, but I tolerate it because that’s how some people are. You’ll just have to learn to tolerate me.

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    • I don’t want to ban you from the blog, Tim. I don’t want Becky to go away either. How about you pick on my comments (like you just did) for a while instead of Becky’s. Just go cold turkey.
      Just lighten up a bit that is all.

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      • Apparently he was the smartest guy in the room at that company like he is here, Dan. For him to say he makes no personal attacks is comedic at best.

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      • Diane,

        First, Dan was saying I am smart enough to work for Enron, but I have never worked for that company, thankfully. Next, I challenge you to find one of my posts where I made a personal attack toward anyone on here. If you’re going to spew lies at least have the gumption to back it up with facts because there are none.

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  13. Like I said the other day Tim has ruined Chipalatta. Love you Becky, Sandy OP BIll and everyone else, but if I need to read BS from young bag of wind, I can watch fox news

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    • Hmmm, that sure seems like a personal attack (young bag of wind), but I guess that’s allowed since it’s directed toward me.

      Now I know why you’re so easily offended. The Fox News comment tells me all I need to know.

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  14. The Rangers have been dominant. We’ve shown some zest and staying in some of the games, but for the most part they have embarrassed us. Now is the time to put up or hear the daddy comments, simple as that. I revered the Cardinal fans for clapping us toward the World Series, but Dallas and the way they look down their nose at Houston – it aint ever gonna change. They got big hair, oil money drunkards in swanky country clubs and better corporations they think… its all a silly mindset. We get to see what product is between the Lines. Thats the only thing that matters. Both teams are in a position to be riding high. I liken this series to the mid season brawl in KC last year. We have to take 3 of 4 to reverse what they did to Seattle, or we are relegated to all types of sneers.. as bragging rights go

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  15. Moving on . . .
    Who do you think is the most likely to break through and have a good game against Lewis. I will vote Springer and – I know it may come as a shock – Gomez. Springer because he ain’t skeered of nobody, and Gomez because he is both due and hungry.

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  16. The lineup is out. MarGo is at 1B, Castro at C, Gattis at DH, Rasmus, Gomez and Springer in the OF from left to right. VB is at 3B, Altuve at 2B and the Captain at SS.

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  18. Tim, I expected that believe it or not. Give me some time and I will go back through the files and show you an unbelievably mean attitude. Furthermore, Mr. Bill once called you the “Nazi of the blog.” I guess he decided to go another direction. A lot of people can be intimidated by your “smarts.” Let me remind you God gave whatever smarts you have and it’s not to be used against people, which you have done many times. You have indicated by a few statements that you are a believer. I challenge you not to be unkind. It’s not even about being “nice.” Anybody can be nice. If you are a believer, stop putting people down. You don’t have to be a name-caller to be unkind and mean. You are too smart for that. You go at it with your brain. Which, again, God gave you, and He didn’t give it to you to be used as a weapon. Wake up, young man, have a look in the mirror. Why do so many people see you as a problem and a drain? Are we all wrong and you all right? Probably. Because that’s how you live your life.

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    • Diane,

      I challenge you to find any comments where I put someone down. It’s one thing to be argumentative and it’s a whole other thing to make personal attacks. I’m guilty of the former, but I have never done the latter. You don’t care for my attitude then that’s your problem, but you won’t find any comments where I called someone stupid, arrogant, dumb, a jerk, etc. That’s not my style, but you choose to make false assertions without facts so shame on you.

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    • “Apparently he was the smartest guy in the room at that company like he is here,”. Are these the type of comments you reference when you say you don’t have to be a name-caller to be unkind and mean? So, you want me to stop being condescending, huh?

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      • Now, now, Tim. Don’t be thin-skinned. “Because if you’re thin-skinned, maybe you shouldn’t be on the internet.”

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      • Just pointing out the hypocrisy in your comments. This doesn’t bother me in the least, but just know the gloves are off. You want to be condescending, but stop others from being so. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way. Now, let’s hope we can finally beat daddy tonight.

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      • By the way, I’m still waiting for you to point out the alleged personal attacks I have made against others.

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  20. Watching Fiers and his bizarre arm tattoo – what would happen if a pitcher had a tattoo up and down his arms made up of a series of baseballs? Would that be illegal?

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  21. OK Tim it’s my turn.
    I thought you were an Astros fan? Why are you taking the side of another team tonight? Is it just for the sake of argument are do you actually respect these punks?
    Remember your hero put this Astros team together. From the coaches down to the players. Can’t have it both ways my friend, when you call them “our daddy” you’re puttin down your hero Mr. Luhnow.

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    • Sandy,

      When one team continues to beat another they are called that team’s daddy. How you indirectly relate this to Luhnow doing a bad job is confusing. Some times a team just has another team’s number and the Rangers have the Astros number. Calling them their daddy is just a way of illustrating their dominance over the Astros.

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      • If we took a vote, I bet that a majority would be in favor of retiring that euphemism. Many have asked you (and others) to give it a rest. Can we move on and stop intentionally antagonizing others.

        I’ll stop coming here if no one dissents with my opinions. If people have to dissent in TCB style I will stop coming here as well.

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      • So far, the term has been used by 3 others besides myself. As Mark stated, all the Astros have to do is start beating the Rangers and that term can’t be used any more.

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  24. I’d be happy if we stopped the constant Luhnow bashing and blaming. Can we come to an agreement on this? If so, I’ll agree to stop using the ‘daddy’ term.

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  27. Very disappointed in last nights game. I couldn’t follow it due to too many things going on butt seems we just keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Just got to go out there and take care of business.

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