Perhaps calling the Astros latest rise from the dead The Lazarus Effect is a misnomer as that faithful disciple only rose once. Perhaps this team that has been on the brink of ending their season more than a half dozen times in 2016 is really showing symptoms of the Michael Myers Effect or the Jason Voorhees effect.
Their latest flirt with baseball death has included losing their arguably two best starting pitchers (Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr.), their star in the making third baseman (Alex Bregman), their star shortstop’s shoulder (Carlos Correa) and their best player’s swing (Jose Altuve). This all occurred in conjunction with playing 13 straight games against first place teams (Rangers, Indians, Cubs, and Rangers) followed by three games against the hottest team in the league (M’s). They somehow stumbled out of that stretch not totally out of the Wild Card race and after Tuesday night’s 2-1 tenth inning win over the A’s they have scratched out of the grave and within 2 games of the second Wild Card.
The team has been riding good to very good starting pitching by everyone whose name does not rhyme with Sister, a really great effort by their bullpen led by multi-inning death ray Chris Devenski and just enough clutch hitting to win 5 of the last 6 games. They have 7 of their last 11 games at home and 7 of 11 against the last place Los Angeles/Anaheim/Redondo Beach Angels. They still need help to win the second Wild Card, but they are showing signs of holding up their end of the deal by winning a boat load of their own games and seeing where that gets them. (Note – if they go 6-5 the rest of the way they will tie their 86-76 record of 2015).
So…..
- Do they replace Fister in the rotation?
- If Keuchel and/or McCullers are able to pitch in the last two weeks do they dare use them?
- How many times can Devenski come out of the pen with his nasty stuff down the stretch – he has not given up a run in almost a month and has more than 100 innings out of the bullpen for them?
- Do they dare move Devo into the starting rotation?
- Will Altuve, Springer and Correa warm up for the stretch run exhausted and physically beat though they may be?
- Which of their lesser players (e.g. Tony Kemp on Monday night) will come through for them?
- Can Joseph Musgrove, Brad Peacock, Collin McHugh and Mike Fiers carry the team to the finish line?
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
162 responses to “Houston Astros 2016: The Lazarus Affect”
The thing about Lazarus is: Before he ariseth, alas, he must needs stinketh. And he must needs make grown men and women alike weep.
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I suspect Fister will stay right where he is in the rotation, no matter how bad his starts are.
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Haven’t been able t watch many games lately, but you all keep me in the loop TY. What ever happens in 2016. it’s pretty impressive how they have hung in there and fought , most nights with this mash unit that is left on the mound and loosing Bregman. Kuddos to AJ!
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And kudos to Luhnow for having the depth on hand to overcome these injuries. 🙂
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Last night’s use of Devenski for over three innings is a clear indication that the Astros will view every single game as a must win. That was a “forget about tomorrow” move.
I believe that is the way Hinch is going to have to manage every game in order to have a chance at the wild card.
I think Hinch will keep starting Fister, but will pull him a lot faster than he did the other day when Fister got in trouble and gave up 7 runs. Finch needs to have Feliz, Rodgers, Chapman, Sipp or Devenski ready before Fister gives it up, not after.
I feel better about McHugh pitching because in the last two seasons Collin has really had great success late in the year, and he appears to be getting it together once again.
If LMJ is ready, I would try to get him into a game or two, for an inning or two, so that he might be able to make a playoff start if we make it that far. There are no minor leagues for him to have a rehab start, so this is the stage he is going to make an appearance on.
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1OP, to finish up that last discussion, if you’re going to be making 3 million a year, I’ll help you organize the charter aircraft to bring down the entire extended 1OP family and in addition, the whole batch of knuckleheads here on the blog. That’ll be small potatoes for you to cover.
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Looks like Mr. Kemp’s heroics last night netted him a rare start in LF. Roll on, Tony. We need you to be a hero!
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I really don’t know how they are doing it, but it’s always about a couple of guys stepping up each night to make a difference. Chapman has done it, White, Kemp, Teoscar, Peacock, guys on the fringe all helping win games. And Musgrove and Hoyt, guys we have big expectations of. And I do think Springer (although he’s at this point probably played more baseball in one year then at anytime in his life) and Gurriel and Altuve and Gattis and Correa and Marwin all have big hits left in then. We really need a bit of a laugher today with a batch of early runs scored, to take a little pressure off the arms.
I think Fister might even have a good five innings in him. I just don’t want to kill Devenski though, regardless of how effective he is right now. He needs to be a big part of the plan next year.
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I doubt Hinch will skip Mr. Fister. Even though he doesn’t appear to have much left in his tank. He mentioned a couple of weeks ago, that he hasn’t pitched this many innings since 2014. A win today would surely give a second wind to these guys, call it women’s intuition, but I’m confident McHugh can pitch deep today. These guys aren’t any more tired than 29 other teams, so I’m not buying that excuse. When Tony Kemp enters a game, good things happen!
Dan…..Keuchel won’t pitch again, and unless it’s a pure emergency move, McCullers won’t either. I don’t want any pressure on that kid…..his arm is too valuable.
Hinch doesn’t trust Brady Rogers, but he should.
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Preston Tucker is having shoulder surgery today and should be ready by spring training.
Colby Rasmus was unavailable yesterday and also today. Not feeling right.
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Didn’t that start with Colby on May 1st, just saying
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Not been feeling right about Colby for awhile.
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LOl Man Altuve needs to come through in these do or die games Geez )-;
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Not feeling real good about Springer, either. Mengden is absolutely chewing him up and spitting him out.
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Ok Astros need to chip in some cash at the end of the year Lasik surgery Springer. I’ve said it before I think he has contacts -vison problems????
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However he sure can run like a gazelle!!
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WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Gattis chopping wood again.
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Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched, folks. Hinch put Sipp in the game.
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Tony Sipp. Uggg
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Yup Sipp needs give half his salary back to uncle jeff. He is horrible…………
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Gattis is now hitting regardless if he is catcher or DH…man…he is raking it.
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whoa that was closer than it had every right to be, but at least we won! 🙂
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He threw four strikes in the 9th that the umps did not give him.
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Every game in Oakland feels like a trip through a meat processor.
The umpires must be related to Rob Manfred because they don’t have the least bit of guts to call a strike a strike with the game on the line.
Back home for seven!
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They come home with not a second wind……but a 100 wind!!! This is where they will show us who they really are!
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But….I could do with a little less drama!!
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Both the Orioles and Jays lost today. There is no doubt now that the Astros are right in the middle of this WC chase. You have to hand it to Hinch, the players and coaches for kicking into another gear when it is needed. Regardless of how this turns out the character of this team is really shining through. If they can find a way to sweep the Angels they may be on the inside looking out come Monday morning. Man, is there anything better than September baseball when your favorite team is in the middle of a playoff race? These 11 days is going to be fun and nerve-racking so buckle up and let’s enjoy the ride.
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This team is one of the most resilient in team history. Everytime it seemed to be over – it was not over like when the Germans attacked Pearl Harbor….
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I checked my Civil War notes, Dan, and that didn’t happen.
When we’re up in my suite, eating sweets, with our Sweethearts and drinkin’ Sweet Tea, watching our sweet team sweep the other teams, we’ll talk more about history.
What about your job? Will they let you take off for all of October? I’ll git us some of that Why Fye installed and you can work right from the suite. That would be sweet!
Do they have elevators? Mrs 1OP may not be able to climb all those stairs to that suite. An elevator would be sweet, for my Sweet.
Later! The dryer buzzed.
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Sweet dreams, Dan.
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how sweet it is to be right in the middle of the wc race!!!
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Oakland is a different baseball universe.
Blummer and Ashby were talking about it being the weirdest place to play.
No other ballpark would put up with ripped outfield wall pads. What if a ball disappeared in one of the holes in the pads?
The infield tarp is one of Charley Finley’s old circus tents. That thing has more scars on it than Rocky Balboa.
The umpires missed two game-ending called strikes and two game-ending non-checked swings.
Altuve whiffed on a ground ball that he went down on one knee to get with the slowest runner on their team that would have ended the game.
The game ends when Castro throws out a base stealer for the first time since Moby Dick was a minnow.
Then they reviewed it, after our outfielders chanted Namaste.
The Astros hit line shots right at somebody all day. Gattis finally figured out you hit line shots to the fans in left and center.
A blind Springer finally found an acorn.
Foul balls that are in the upper deck in MMP, are handled by the catcher in Oakland. Fans sitting behind the dugouts are using binoculars.
Springer caught a foul popup ten feet from the Astros showers.
Kemp knew he had a triple the moment he saw twenty bullpen pitchers and thirty stools down the right field line. The pitchers just stood up and listened to the ball rattle off the legs of five or six stools. Baseball in Oakland. It’s like playing baseball in Alcatraz, only quieter.
The way fly balls bounce on the warning track in the outfield, they must water it down with Quikcrete.
I know there is an alternate universe when I heard Ashby talking about how wonderful Cal-Berkeley was. Just listening to him made me feel like The Twilight Zone.
Every time the Astros get blown away by Mengden the first time around the batting order, Root Sports puts up this graphic about how he slips up the second time around and craters the third time through. Sure enough the Astros start to break through after the fourth inning and then put Mengden away by the seventh. Of course, Hinch leaves McHugh in for one batter too many and then puts Sipp in there to get Oakland back in the game.
Ken Giles has been teaching Luke Gregerson how to pitch the ninth inning. Gregerson mimicked Giles perfectly today.
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I was sitting there watching the game thinking what a terrible place to watch or play a game that stadium is. The Dome was unique, but I hated that it was a big bowl and unless you had a box seat you were quite a ways from the action. Minute Maid is a lot closer to the action.It is amazing to watch a game where the foul territory is so large that people cannot get close to foul pops at times.
It is hard to get too hard on Gregerson when he should have been out of the inning 4 or 5 different ways without giving up a run if he had umps with any guts or if Altuve was not channeling his inner Buckner. Did the umps think that the old Oakland Raider fans with their biker spiked attire were now attending the A’s games?
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Great post on the funkiest park left in MLB.
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Great post on the funkiest remaining park in MLB.
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That’s the pre coffee “post comment” button confusion.
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Chug! Chug! Chug! Toot! Toot! Toot! The little engine that nobody thought could just chugged on. It chugged right through the poisoned Cotton fields. It chugged right over a man-eating Manea. It coughed and sputtered, but eventually it even chugged past a spunky young troll with an old man’s mustache. And as it chugged away, it was heard to say: “I think I can! I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!’
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Watching who among the rookies is getting what chances tells us who Mr. Hinch – if not Mr. Luhnow – sees as a part of the Astros’ 2017.
Gurriel is not a rookie. He’s being paid a mint to do a job, and he – unlike some others that are also being paid a mint – is actually doing it. Business is business. It’s a beautiful thing when a plan comes together.
Mr. Bregman? He was played – and played – until he couldn’t. He is clearly part of the vision for 2017. Get well soon, Alex.
Mr. Stassi, not so much love coming his way [5 appearances, only 6 PAs [2 of which resulted in Ks];
Mr. Devenski has become Hinch’s first go-to guy out of the bullpen.
Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Paulino? Well, not so much. An absolutely horrible, totally unreliable, Tony Sipp is still preferred to either.
Mr. Hernandez, Mr. White, and Mr. Kemp are occasionally slotted in and given a chance to do something. Each has responded with something that builds confidence.
Mr. Reed and Mr. Moran, on the other hand? Well, somebody put out a B.O.L.O, I think these guys have disappeared.
Of course, any of these guys [except Gurriel] might be the subject of an off-season trade. But barring that, the guys that are rookies this year that I expect to see in a Houston uni in April next year are: Gurriel, Bregman, Devenski, Hernandez, Kemp, and White. Mr. Stassi, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Moran will probably go back on the carne’ grill at our infamous Fresno, California taco stand.
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Perhaps being in the same dugout with “this guy” will make a difference in all of the careers of our rookies. I see the benefit of being exposed to the demeanor of one of the best baseball players alive. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17607819/houston-astros-star-jose-altuve-team-mvp-american-leagues
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I was there that night and we went bonkers when Altuve literally stole 3rd on the Rays laziness. Without that the back to back walk off HRs would not have happened in the 9th.
What a player he is – I don’t care if he has been struggling in September – he has meant so much to this team all year long as this article shows.
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Remember a couple of months ago I mentioned that if Devenski ever got command of that curve as a third pitch he would be devastating?
Here we go!
http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/New-weapon-emerges-for-Astros-Chris-Devenski-9237529.php
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Ten games to go. Seven at home. Seven vs. the Angels.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.
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Bill Brown is retiring. Next Wednesday’s telecast will be his last.
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Oh wow – he will be missed – smooth professional. But he has put in his time.
Along those same lines – on last night’s late ESPN broadcast of Dodgers-Giants they cut away to Vin Scully’s broadcast of the game as it occurred. Remarkable for someone 88 years old. His voice, cadence and information was something to truly admire. 67 years as a Dodger broadcaster. Really amazing. I guess he is down to the end of his last season broadcasting.
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yes dan two of my favorites, they will certainly be missed.
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You know until I just looked it up, I did not realize that Vin had been married to Joan “Mommie Dearest” Crawford for 14 years (I almost typed “14 seasons”).
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Wrong Joan Crawford. The famous actress was in her around 70 when she passed in 1977. Vin’s wife passed away in the early 70’s at age 35.
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Thank you Mike – it wasn’t making sense.
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The way Crane and company did Bill Brown last year, made my blood boil.
They went “sure” if he would be retained, so they let him call the home games, and let Ashby and Blum do away games. From what I hear about Ashby’S constant talking….I shouldn’t gripe too much having to listen to Steve Sparks ugh.
I’m going to the last game of the season on Wed afternoon, if anyone else is going I’ll let you know where we will be sitting!!⚾
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Fiers fiers fiers
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This team absolutely will NOT play small ball. You could have scored one run in three different innings…..but they keep grounding into double plays.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
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We’re looking at two shutouts here. Can someone please do something positive somewhere?
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I was wondering if there is a third Houston team playing tonight that would, perhaps, not put up a pathetic effort.
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Hernandez would have scored easy. Leftfielder gave it up.
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The Rockets haven’t scored tonight but they have an excuse since they aren’t playing
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Well….your football team is currently getting their butts handed to them in New England, and one bad pitch to uncle Albert sealed it for the Astros. Go back to the drawing board, and try to get a win tomorrow night. On the bright side, all the relievers in for the Astros pitched very well!
These guys could have scored tonight…..but, when you live and die by the long ball you beat yourself.
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Tough loss tonight and we’re down to 9 games left and 2 back of the 2nd WC in the loss column. This team has been resilient all year and I think they can only afford one more loss if they hope to make the playoffs. With Fister going tomorrow I think the offense will really need to have a good day if the Astros are going to win.
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I’d take that outing from Fiers anytime he takes the mound.
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He’s been pretty good two outings in a row….
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Uh-oh – did the little engine that could really just fall off the rails in the land of poo-hols?
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I recorded both games at the same time last night and just went back and forth from one to the other, eliminating the commercials, watching in total shock.
Both of my favorite teams imploding at the same time in critical games.
It never seems to change. Complete offensive ineptness as each one gets beaten like a dog by their masters, the Astros by Pujols and the Texans by BB and a defense that looked like they had a copy of the Texans game plan.
The Texans have hired Hudgens as their offensive coordinator.
Two shutouts.
I assure you, that after over fifty years out in the business world, caring little about taking care of individual’s health needs, that I am a much more qualified caregiver than Dave Hudgens is a hitting instructor.
I am so PO’ d this morning that I can hardly type(that’s code for hitting keys on a keyboard, for you youngsters).
I’m going to get breakfast ready. Mrs 1OP is probably going to want raw bear meat after what she was forced to watch on her TV screen last night.
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Well – I would say it was only one game last night for both teams, but with only 9 games left in the season for the Astros and their only being 13 games left for the Texans, it is critical not to lay stinkee eggs like last night.
The Astros just can’t waste good pitching like this. The Texans just did not show up in any phase of the game.
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Dan, I was joking (obviously) last night, but see where the Rockets traded Michael Beasley to Milwaukee for Tyler Ennis. I’m going to have a knee jerk reaction that bad news comes in threes and that’s the third. Now that it’s out of the way, we may need to win out for a chance at the post season…so let’s get back on track tonight!
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It’s a rare grey rainy day in Western Colorado. It’s fitting after the tough loss by the Stros. and the God awful , lackluster, prime time performance by the Texans.
OP please send some bear
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Pretty dismal around here as well. I could use some bear too after watching the Astros in the den while hubby watched the Texans in the bedroom.
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Fister tonight 😩
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ugh
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He’s either over-due or over-ripe. I guess tonight will decide which.
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So far in September Mr. Fister’s ERA is 12.42 and his WHIP is 2.52. He’s started 4 games and averaged less than 4 innings per start. He’s given up 5 HRs. Opposing batters are hitting an amazing .418 against him. He has walked more than he has struck out.
Wow! Those stats are unbelievably bad even for a position-player who had to pitch in a pinch. If he doesn’t right the ship tonight, his career in baseball is in serious jeapardy.
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Yikes.
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But the worst thing is that the Astros are starting a guy like that in a playoff race.
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Is George Springer our best option at lead-off next year? And is hitting in the lead-off position best for George Springer’s career? These are both serious questions in my mind. In light of George’s high strikeout #s, I personally hope Tony Kemp (minor league career OBP .392) and Teoscar Hernandez (minor league OBP in 2016 .377) can get their OBP numbers close to their milb levels next Spring. They could then platoon at the lead-off spot, and let George move down to #5 [putting him behind Bregman, Altuve, and Correa] or even to #6 [putting him behind Bregman, Altuve, Correa, and Gurriel]. That would let the order conclude with Gattis at #7, either White, Gonzalez, or Reed at #8, and Marisnick at #9.
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Agreed. Springer is completely miscast as a leadoff hitter.
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I don’t know that we want Springer hitting lower. He never really took the bull by the horns when given that opportunity in the past. Also, he hasn’t been great with RISP.
2016 : RISP – .246 / .370 / .433 – 50 RBI
RISP w/2 Outs .232 / .386 / .500 – 23 RBI
2015: RISP – .207 / .333 / .305 – 22 RBI
RISP w/2 Outs .184 / .311 / .342 – 9 RBI
2014: RISP – .214 / .394 / .300 – 6 RBI
RISP w/2 Outs .154 / .389 / .192 – 2 RBI
The sample is not tremendous, I’ll give you, but he doesn’t seem determined to drive people in unless he also knocks the cover off the ball.
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Exactly why I did not even suggest batting him 3rd or 4th. As the stats you quoted make it clear, while he is an asset to the team, what he is not is the clutch kind of a guy you want either leading off or in the 3 or 4 spot.
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Bill, I see no new names. Does that mean you are comfortable or resigned to having an offense made up of all guys presently in house?
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Kemp starting again!
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This is kind of interesting. Here are our starting pitchers of 2016, ranked according to WHIP [assuming you don’t count Chris Devenski as a starting pitcher]:
Best – Peacock 1.05 [Milb career – 1.30; MLB career – 1.43]
2nd – Musgrove 1.24 {Milb career – 1.04]
3rd – Keuchel 1.29 [MLB career – 1.26]
4th – Fiers 1.35 [MLB career – 1.25]
5th – Fister 1.41 [MLB career – 1.24]
6th – McHugh 1.45 [MLB career – 1.30]
7th – McCullers 1.54 [MLB career – 1.33]
8th – Paulino 2.00 [Milb career – 1.00]
Anything over 1.35 is too high. Hopefully a healthy LMJ can bring the numbers back in line.
By the way, Devenski’s WHIP for Houston this year is 0.89. His minor league career WHIP was 1.36 [all because of a really bad year in 2013].
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We’ve got to get Brady Rogers in so he can pull his 3.55 WHIP below Eric Kratz’s 3.00.
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Four things:
If Fister gives up 2 runs…..pull him.
I wanna see a “bunt me over brotha”…if a guy is on 1st base with no outs.
Why in the heck is Rasmus not playing??? “HE doesn’t feel like himself”
Is that an empty excuse, because he knows the Astros aren’t bringing him back?
If so……that’s pretty crappy.
If no one is on…..walk Uncle Albert. PERIOD.
Now get out there and win this game.⚾
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Let me go on record now. I do not believe that Fister should be making a start in the midst of a playoff push, and based on the way he has been pitching for the last 6 weeks.
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Ok….you’re….on the record, but it won’t do you any good.
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I totally agree.
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