Should Chris Devenski be a starter for Astros?

There are two indisputable facts as the Astros wind down the first month of the season. First, Chris Devenski is one heck of a relief pitcher. Second, if there is a gaping hole in the Astros’ plans for world domination, it is a starting rotation that beyond Dallas Keuchel is shaky.

The Astros strong 14-7 start to the season has been built upon 5 super strong starts by Keuchel, overall great bullpen work and an offense, which struggled the first week, but has been the comeback kids the last two. The rest of the starting staff does not have 5 strong starts combined since the beginning of the season.

So, the question is – do the Astros move Devenski out of the pen and into the rotation?

Arguments For the Move

– Man he’s good – Devenski has been the best and most effective pitcher behind Keuchel on the staff.

– Insane control – His ability to control multiple pitches is almost machine-like. His 27 Ks vs only 1 walk in 14.2 innings seems impossible.

– The “other” pitchers – 4.34/1.310, 4.29/1.571, 5.91/1.453 and 5.40/1.533 –  Those are the unimpressive ERAs/WHIPs of the “other” starting pitchers currently in the rotation, Lance McCullers Jr, Charlie Morton, Joseph Musgrove and Mike Fiers.

– So much better – 1.26 / 0.558 – Those are the impeccable ERA and WHIP respectively of Devenski to this point.

– Two words – Collin McHugh. The former #2 starter is out for the first 6 weeks of the season with no guarantee he will be back at all.

Arguments Against the Move

– If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – The Astros have been far and away the best team in their division and one of the best in baseball to this point.

– Don’t screw up the bullpen – Devenski’s ability to absorb varying amounts of innings at a time has allowed other portions of the bullpen to rest. This has led to a reasonable work load and a very effective bullpen.

– More is not always better – What works for Devenski once or twice through the lineup might be figured out on the third or more viewing

– Will the velocity be there – It is likely that Devenski as a starter would have to throttle back that 95 mph fastball to 92-93 mph when he stretches out

– Losing the special weapon – Devenski gives the Astros something unique, a longer lasting version of Andrew Miller, an extremely effective pitcher who can come into high leveraged situations and not leave for a number of innings.

The question here is … Do you think the Astros should move Devenski into the starting rotation, not make the move or consider the move at a later date?

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129 responses to “Should Chris Devenski be a starter for Astros?”

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  1. I’m not sure he’s geared for it. All through his career he’s been a 4 to 6 inning guy. Rarely has he even gone 7. You might be taking a bullpen saver and making him a bullpen wrecker.

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    • I don’t think you can hold that against him at this point. He’s been saddled with developmental pitch count limits and the tandem pitching system his entire run as a starter in the minors. How many innings he’d go in starts is directly tied to how efficient he works in that role.

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      • I’m quite sure everybody here knows Nolan Ryan’s thoughts on this, but since I wasn’t sure I went and found this:

        “I know what pitchers go through and I know what it takes to do that and I really believe we don’t condition our pitchers for what they are asked to do. And because of that, I think we increase our chances of injury on them. I believe when an organization puts those kind of random restrictions [pitch/innings limits] on their pitching staff, they don’t take advantage and utilize the talent that they have. I think everybody has a pitch limit, but I think also you can tell when a guy’s reached his pitch limit by watching him. That’s what pitching coaches used to do. Now they look at the number of pitches and at around 100, they get somebody up and that pitcher comes out of the game no matter whether he’s having an exceptionally good game or if he struggled. Obviously, they put pitch limits to try to protect people, but I think it’s worked just the opposite.’’

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      • Grandad didn’t have Statcast, etc., but somehow their eye test was all they needed. Nowadays the average fan’s opinion can’t be trusted without the numbers to verify it. I think that’s sad bc we’re all seeing things from different seats of the stadium, and that’s what makes it fun. The debate.

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  2. As a starter he’s only good for one game out of five.
    Out of the bullpen he’s a possibility for at least two games out of five.
    I vote for leaving him where he is.

    But…later on in the season starting pitching is going to come back to bite us.

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  3. My take on the situation is that Devenski is growing every day as a pitcher and is doing a terrific job doing what he is doing, while the team is 14-7.
    Keuchel has been elite.
    LMJ has been great home and bad on the road, but he is also only 23 years old and has no experience in the upper minors, so he is just learning how to pitch.
    McHugh is hurt, Morton is still trying to get a feel for his stuff after a year off and no AL experience.
    Fiers is doing what he is capable of.
    Musgrove thinks too much and is only 24, for goodness sake.
    Go with the guys who have gotten you to 14-7 until you have to make a change and then do it. Don’t rock the yacht while there’s smooth sailing
    The Astros have some terrific wins so far this season. If they win tonight’s game it will be the best win of the season for any team in baseball so far this year.
    I can’t wait.

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  4. Peacock deserves to be next up to replace Fiers, which as it seems with every single start since his No No — his rotation spot is on the line.

    The fact that Lance is throwing beach balls (not as crisp) early in his starts, or Morton not finishing, Joe can’t find a strikeout pitch consistently — the offense is supposed to step up. We’ve still been in every single game with a comeback mentality.

    I used to say “always be adding a big arm and bat,” but more recently think we have in-house all that’s needed. It just takes proper discernment to have the right pitcher, at the right time, throwing to the right locations. The entire staff from Bjornson to Strom to Hinch to Luhnow – who is going to make the right decision is why they get paid and fans don’t. It’s easy to see after the fact.

    I think Devo Peacock or Feliz can start, and only until they get a fair shake will we know for sure. We agree they seem to be only 4-6 inning types, but who really knows until they get an actual chance to hold down the job with at least three outings. Unless of course, it becomes obvious right away.

    To Lance and Mike’s credit, they usually settle in after early damage. If we show that confidence to the others trying to break through, maybe we have more than we think?

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    • The reason we don’t just give them a shot is simple: it hurts your other guy’s confidence if you just pull him.

      For example, Fiers said he was fine and could pitch when he had the slight injury in Spring. Really, we just wanted to skip him, and Mike said all the right things. With Collin accepting his stuff wasn’t there, and going on the DL (as opposed to Keuchel who warrior-like, pitched through his injury), we have guys who are thinking Team First.

      Hinch is a player’s coach, despite when he tries to talk tough, “knowing there are guys upset with him about riding the pine.” He’s trying to make sure everybody stays fresh but also warm. That’s a helluva tightrope bc if you’re a major leaguer, everybody has the talent.

      Last night, it was just poor choicing from the bullpen. Sipp and Feliz shouldn’t have been inserting in those situations. I’m a big fan of Feliz, but I would’ve put Devenski or Giles or Luke or Harris in there at that spot – despite how it turned out in reality. That was the game.

      I think they were testing Feliz and Sipp with higher leverage because of their recent outings. It just didn’t workout, like Dan commented yesterday. Try again today!

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  5. Let’s not panic. Look at the results:
    – Fiers has one bad start…which our team won 10-5.
    – Morton has one bad start…which we lost 6-3. He gave up 3 runs in his other loss and we got shut out…don’t put the blame on him.
    – LMJ has two bad starts, but we’re 4-1 in games he’s started. I’m more concerned with his body language and attitude than results at this point. He’ll get better as he matures.
    – Musgrove has had two bad innings out of his four starts. We’re 2-2 in his starts and scored 2 runs in each of his losses. One of those losses we (mostly) agreed was a situation where he allowed a 3 run HR to Pujols…who probably has at least 200 HR against Houston for his career. The was against Tampa and we already praised how he bounced back and collected himself. Let’s see where he goes from here.

    I wouldn’t mind seeing Feliz sent down to Fresno to stretch out. I’m not saying one of these guys will be replaced for performance reasons, but with McHugh already down it makes sense to prepare for another injury rather than being caught by surprise. Then again, you could weather the first start or two by having Feliz go 3, Devenski pick up the next 3, etc.

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    • I’d rather see Sipp “bruise an elbow” (like Paulino), than send Feliz down, but it’s not a bad suggestion. We might ought to go with 13 position players soon too, as schedule dictates, and as guys like Moran and Fisher are pushing forward. Not that I can see where they’d fit in w/o another injury..

      We need to be at full strength vs Rangers!

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    • Though it does look like the storms may clear by 7 to 8 o’clock – so we’ll see if they can start it a little later.

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  7. For the time being I like Devenski right where he is. If Altuve comes back looking like Altuve, and if Springer comes back and gets his average/OBP up to .250/.325 or better, and if Bregman, Beltran and Correa ever join the hit parade, the starting pitching we have should be good enough to keep us in most games.

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  8. It might be conspiratorial to say, but it seems like managers don’t always put their best guys in throughout the year. [Different in playoffs, where Kluber pitches 3 out of 7 WS games.] Garner was notorious for leaving the hot guy out of the lineup, as sort of a showing that we can beat you without our best. And to prove to your own team that we can still win with our 2nd string. It’s a challenge to give a guy the gift of confidence, even when he’s not at his best.

    Case in point, Marwin broke out in a big way last night. This, after Julia said AJ mentioned he just needed a timely hit to regain form.

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  9. The idea for this post came from listening to the post-game last night on the radio. A fan called in and was pushing the Devenski to the rotation idea hard. The radio talk guy (not sure who it was – but it wasn’t Matt Thomas) acted like this was the most idiotic thought ever.
    While I think it would be better to not put Devo in the rotation, it is not an idiotic thought but an interesting thought. I lean towards the folks who would like them to continue as-is and not rock the boat….at least not right now.
    Devo is a very special weapon for the Astros right now. I guess until/unless the rotation totally implodes they can afford to be patient with how things are going right now.

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  10. Dan, the other side of the coin for me is the fact that Devenski was called, by Francona, one of the best pitchers in baseball.
    But one of the problems with analytics is that it gets you thinking and not pitching.
    I absolutely believe that the Devenski we saw last night was bulletproof. He believed that the hitters could not hit him and he was right. Everthing he threw up there was unhittable and he came into that game and all of the others this year thinking the same thing. You can tell from his body language.
    The question is: if they make him a starter do they fill his head with so much goobly goop that the attitude disappears when he starts to think about everything instead of pitching.
    This spring, McCullers learned that his fastball was the pitch causing his physical problems and not his curve. So, now he’s throwing his curve more and his fastball less and his fastball is suddenly in the low nineties, instead of the mid/high nineties and he’s getting hit more than ever because there is no longer the the high velocity combined with the drastically different velocity between the two pitches.
    LMJ is not a pitcher who is ineffective, he is basically a different pitcher who is not as good as the other one.
    Maybe LMJ needs to go to the bullpen and become a wipeout guy with his stuff for one or two innings and let Devenski start and let him and his catcher handle the game and keep everything and everybody else out of his head.
    Devenski reminds me a little of Nolan Ryan. Even though you have a bat in your hand, it feels more like a toothpick standing there waiting for him to throw at you.

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    • Diane –
      This is something I have wondered about for a long time. I mean pitchers used to pitch every 4 days and had lots of complete games. Were they injured then any more than now? Maybe they just gutted it out back then or maybe it built them up like Nolan is saying.

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      • I’m sure I’m the crackpot mentioning this in relation to more injuries, but look across the board in every sport at hinge-type injuries (knees elbows shoulders cartilages). Op, maybe you can relate bc it seems people in the country eat food they grow, or know more about (like Keuchel). But fast foods and modified foods have increased, while injuries and gastrointestinal disease on the rise WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, too. [see Jake Deikman]. Devin was the only one to mention about nutrition being a huge factor.

        I don’t think it’s that they just don’t “make ’em like Nolan,” it’s just that this generation has less energy. Those who come in prepared thru what they eat, paired with weight training rise to the top.

        (Sorry if this is off subject) I sure would like to see unbiased studies that are not funded by the very companies with an agenda. To me it relates to the old days when people smoked cigarettes. Even though there were no studies, and Phillip Morris hadn’t been sued for lying about the ingredients, it’s just common sense – one’s lung capacity is diminished. Everyone suspected it, but it couldn’t be proven.

        Watch a football game and see all the guys getting carted off. How many times did Jim Brown go off on a stretcher?

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  11. Darn, I just had a pretty good post disappear again. Gov, I even said something sort of nice about Marwin. In short, we’re 14 and 7. No need to change anything today.

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  14. If there is any guy I’d like to see “what he’s got”, for a starter it’s Feliz. Trust me there are 29 other teams that would keep Devenski right where he is….Hinch should too!
    Wasn’t Feliz a starter in Corpus? You never know, if you don’t let him try. I’m concerned about McHugh, we haven’t heard ONE word about him since spring training. We need him back…..and pitching like he did in 2015. I remember how awful Wandy was on the road, and his famous melt downs on the mound. I don’t see that with McCullers. He’s sooo hyped up in the first 2-3 innings, and that’s usually where he loses his temper, and it shows. Even with McCann catching him yesterday, Robert Ford said he was snatching the ball back from his catcher. The rotation is still trying to find its groove, after Keuchel the rest of the guys have had some big ups and downs……which is why we need McHugh back SOON!!

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      • Well, and the odds were bad he’d even be born alive.. there’s a part of me that thinks there’s nothing he can’t do. With baseball, though, as with being a professional QB, sustainable consistency will be his challenge. At least now he’s playing a sport that 3 out of 10 ain’t bad🙂

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    • Gov, I think you referenced bonus babies in a post a few days back. Tebow is a similar case. A large appeal in signing him was the fact he would fill the seats (like Jordan did). He’s going to have a longer rope than most guys…and his signing bonus was about $250k, I believe. Whether he makes it to the show comes down to a couple things: will he be average or better and how patient will the Mets be due to age. I imagine Tebow isn’t even immune to waning interest from fans the longer it takes.

      I do think he’ll make it to the big league club if he decides to stick with it. I fully expect to see him as a September call-up either this year or next, depending on whether the Mets think he’s improving enough to one day be a legitimate major league candidate.

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      • Mentioning the Mets, last year we talked about whether the Nats would win that division. Based on what I saw last Spring and this one (especially with Trea Turner and Harper coming into their own), I wonder if any of the Mets starters would be good trade candidates if (oops, When!) their season tanks?

        I agree he’s like 23. My first thought when asking the question was: will he go farther than Air Jordan? Anybody that brings new fans to the game is going to be a league darling, no doubt.

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      • I’m sure the Mets would be happy to trade Matt Harvey, but I don’t see them even listening to offers on Thor, deGrom, or the lefty who hasn’t pitched this year. I think they’re already out of it. Philly and Atlanta will both have bad records by the end of the year, but are putting up a fight right now. Miami even looks better than the Mets right now. Speaking of Trea Turner…do you think the Padres (and their incompetent FO) would do that trade over again?

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      • Preller is pitiful.
        Just for fun, since Turner was SD’s 1st round pick (13th overall), I wonder if there’s his prototype in this year’s draft. He’s the real deal!

        I think if we decide Devo is going to stay in the pen, and it’s too early for Martes, McQ takes too long to come to form, and we see a decline in our BOR, the offseason long pitching acquisition talk is going to fire up again. But that’s a lot of “if’s”.

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  16. The Astros have an above average rotation as it stands now, but they have an exceptional, probably the best in baseball, bullpen. Devo is one of the big weapons, if not the biggest, in our vaunted bullpen. The 2 games he went 4 innings in relief we won. Last year we would have lost both those games. I don’t want to change a thing and. like others have stated, we have other options such as Peacock or Feliz if we need another starter, but in today’s game a team that doesn’t have a strong bullpen is probably not going to make the playoffs and when you get to the playoffs the team with the best bullpen usually wins the series. I like the way this team is built as it is and I do not want to see Devo starting this year.

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  17. The consensus seems to be, if the rotation isn’t broke don’t fix it. That, from the league’s perspective he’s come out of nowhere, and even if you scout it and sit on it, the changeup is an elite offering.

    Can he get through the lineup 3 times? The rate he’s mowing people down, 4 IP for him is only 12 hitters.

    I tend to agree with Op – seems like somehow the mindset changes when you’re trying to get a CG, from where you anticipate behind pulled at first sign of trouble.

    Zach Britton talked about his transition from starter to elite closer. He said his key besides getting physically prepared and being able to contribute (almost) every night and keeping his head in the game, that it was the coaches confidence that he could be That Guy.

    Seems like a lot of different factors go into a player’s success, including luck.

    Basically, everyone worries Devo’s luck will run out if the league sees more of him.

    Look, if there’s a chasm between Keuchel and the rest of the rotation, it doesn’t change that we have 4 potential lockdown relievers. Fact is, we can afford to try Devo later (if 2-5 falters) bc we still have Harris Gregerson and Giles as weapons.

    The problem is no starters have options, so let’s leave well enough alone.

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  18. While we are posting about someone who should change jobs, don’t know if you read another great Angel Hernandez moment. Another ump ruled a single on a fly ball that was caught. No challenge on the play as the Phillies had none left. Scoreboard ran the replay clearly showing an out. Angel turns around at home plate wagging his finger at the press box.

    Never made a bad call in his career. Move him to the bullpen or AA.

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    • ac45 – the only part that is hard to believe about that story is that Angel wasn’t the one making the bad call. If the Astros are playing a game with him umping – I know he will blow a call (for or a against the Astros) in that game. He is just not a good ump

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      • C. B. Bucknor no better.

        Maybe, juuuust maybe it’s time to stop grandfathering in, or try merit-based hiring?

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    • on weather.com – it shows a big thunder cell right over Cleveland right now – but it shows it leaving soon – so they may start a bit late but not too bad.

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    • Billy, but seriously shouldn’t Bregman make that play a *little* closer? I don’t know, am I being too harsh? It’s like he’s taking extra steps to get a little extra on the throw, and it’s still not enough. Oh well, I admit some players just never measure up, and some hung the moon.. to each his own.

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      • Bregman is at 3b. As much of a fan as I have been of his since his college days, it is physically impossible for him to fly over to the outfield and catch that homer, so not sure what Bregman had to do with it.

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    • Obviously that was a joke because you were referring to the play AFTER the first home run…but what made it funny is that Bregman couldn’t get to the ball the very next AB after I typed my last post.

      All I know is thank God Fiers is out.

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  24. Devenski is living up to his billing today.

    As much as I would like him as a starter, though, the points about velocity and different approach concern

    oh hell right as I was typing it he gave up a 2 run homer. Damn jinx

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  28. Let’s see:
    – They have been having Devenski warm up a lot lately without using him, then they use him last night without the lead and expect him to go long tonight
    – Carlos Correa has gone from a clutch hitter to someone who does not belong in the middle of this lineup
    – Hate losing guys on the basepaths when we have so many high BA/OBP guys in the lineup
    – They needed to do more against Kluber with the bases loaded twice and just did not get it done.
    – So many LOBs tonight – ouch

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  29. Does anybody think that Correa should have “safety squeeze” in the 9th. After all a tie game, 2 out with a runner in scoring position after the fact. Instead a pop up and we lose with a runner stranded on third and first. Another night or poor base running. But I like being 14 – 8 but I want more.

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  30. That was a tough loss. The irony of this article coming out the day Devo has a bad day, for him, out of the bullpen is too much. That’s baseball and we’ll be fine, but how nice would it have been to take 2 of 3 in Cleveland with one of those wins being Fiers facing Kluber? Oh well, let’s take out our frustration against Oakland.

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  31. The problem with reliance upon a change-up like Devenski’s, and the reason I do not want to see him in the rotation, was highlighted by what happened tonight. Lindor was looking for one pitch. He was not going to swing at anything but a change-up. He had watched it thrown over and over again, and predicted precisely how and when it would begin to drop. He destroyed it – and sunk us in this series.

    But the game was not lost by Devenski. It was lost by what we could not get done offensively with bases loaded opportunities in the early innings and with multiple runners on and the heart of the line-up at the plate in the ninth.

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  32. I listen to 790’S 10th inning show sometimes, and tonight the guy said “well you know, the Astros didn’t really have may chances”. I would have loved to punch him in the mouth for that observation, because they had PLENTY of chances tonight. Load the bases with one out…..your heart of the order coming up, and get nothing. Ninth inning Altuve gets a hit…..gets picked off immediately, and the next two guys get hits that would have scored Altuve…..strike out, strike out. You leave *10* guys on base.
    NOPE…..they didn’t deserve to winn this game. Beltran needs to get Correa by himself and go to the batting cage. There is NO reason Correa should be swinging at bad pitches….. but he *is*. Put ear plugs in his ears everytime Hudgens opens his mouth. Oh….and AJ……Reddick is NOT a centerfeilder. I’m testy tonight, you should be thanking your lucky stars you’re not married to me!

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    • Frustrating game because it so easily could have been a win or at least in extra innings.
      Correa has to figure out what to do on inside pitches – they will continue to pound him inside until he does.

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    • I guess until Springer is ready Reddick is the CF. your only other choice is Aoki and I don’t think he covers as much ground and he does not have Reddick’s arm.

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      • Unfortunately, Hinch has no other choice, but to play Reddick in CF with both Springer, Marisnick and Teo out. As you stated we don’t want Aoki, Beltran or Marwin manning CF so there is nothing else A.J. could do.

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  33. Anyone else having a problem with their succinct, insightful and thoughtful observations being lost when tapping the post comment button? It’s very discouraging for a sensitive guy like me.

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    • Not sure what is happening daveb – it is not like we put a filter on so that only long winded, non-insightful and thoughtless observations get through.

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      • That’s a relief. Otherwise, you would never get to read my long winded, non-insightful and thoughtless observations. I appreciate the lack of a filter.

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  35. There were some previous comments about old time baseball, especially pitchers. So I thought I would post this.(**Indians played 8 fewer games**)

    Comparing the 1954 Indians to the 2016 Astros. First the records – Indians 111-43 Astros 84-78. Pitching: Indians (Baseball-Reference.com) had 5 Starters. Early Wynn, Mike Garcia, Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, and Art Houtteman. Three HofF’ers. (Note Wynn, Lemon, and Feller lost playing time in WWII – so they are 34+/- years of age) IP: Indians starters 270, 258, 258, 188, & 140. (Team ERA 2.78) Complete Games 77 ** Not a Typo) Astros 184, 180, 168, 168, & 81. (Team ERA 4.06) Complete Games 2. Side note: Baseball reference shows Ray Narleski as the closer and Don Mossi (LHP) the other major reliever. Narleski started 2 games and completed 1. Mossi started 5 and completed 2)

    Batting: Team runs: Indians 746 (with Pitcher Batting) Astros 724 (with DH). HR: 156 to 198 Astros. Hits 1368 to 1367 Astros. Total Bases 2102 to 2310 Astros. Stolen Bases: Indians 30 to Astros 102. Sac Bunts: Indians 107 to Astros 27. Sac Flies 59 to Astros 31.

    I just see it as a totally different game from 60 years ago.

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    • I’m with you on it being a different game ac45 – look at Bob Lemon a pitcher but also a decent hitter – career .232 BA . .288 OBP (Springer currently sporting a .213/.280) and Lemon had a career .674 OPS (Correa – .638, Bregman – .652, Beltran – .632) and he hit 37 HR and had 147 RBIs as a SP…..

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      • I started looking up this and other teams, not to prove a point. However, last night, if Altuve had Al Lopez as his manager would the sacrifice bunt to second been in order? The old school used to be “it is easier to score from second than from home plate.” Completely understand why now the teams do not want to give up any precious outs, but there are times that a team just really needs one run to stay in the game.

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      • Do we have anyone on our roster who can get down a good sacrifices more than 50% of the time? Our team has no short game and hasn’t sine Biggio retired. Every time someone bunts it’s either straight back to the pitcher, two feet in front of home plate, or hard enough to a corner infielder that we have to hope for bobbles / poor decisions to move the runners over.

        I bet Aoki can do it. I suspect Kemp can probably perform decently as well. After that…it’s probably someone on our pitching staff you’d go to.

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  36. Whitley sighting. Scheduled to start tonight for QC.
    Sore finger had to be kept as a huge organizational secret. Even Raymond Reddington didn’t know where the Forrest was.

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  37. Ten things I would like to see from the Astros this weekend:

    1. A sweep of the As;
    2. for the offense to ‘bat around’ a couple of times;
    3. for Carlos Beltran, Carlos Correa and George Springer to all have multi-hit games in two of the contests, and for Alex Bregman to have one multi-hit game out of the three;
    4. for Jose Altuve not to be picked off or caught stealing, even once;
    5. for each of our starters to qualify for a ‘quality start’;
    6. for none of our relievers to issue any walks [at least unintentional ones];
    7. for none of our relievers to throw any wild pitches;
    8. for our offense to average at least two doubles and two home runs [only one of which can be a solo dinger] in each of the games vs. the As;
    9. in each game, for us to score more runs from the bases than from home plate;
    10. for Springer to be back in CF, and Altuve back at 2B.

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  39. Congratulations to Akeem Bostick! Hone your craft well at Corpus Christi, young man, and hope to see you a little farther East before too long!

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  40. Thanks OP for the update on Whitley! Glad that wasn’t more serious.
    The A’S are starting Cotton tonight……I gotta tell you, he is TOUGH!! Watched him pitch the end of Aug last year, when the other team in texas played them. I’m just glad we won’t have to face Manea, or Graveman! Keep your fingers crossed that George is healed up, we NEED him in center. Please Lord, don’t let Charlie Morton lay a rotten egg tonight!!

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  41. Of course I love Altuve, but I wish he was a smarter baseball player. He’s gotten a mostly free pass today. Good chance we’re 15 and 7 today if he hangs at first. And I think there should be some situations when Hinch puts up a red light for everyone.

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  42. I saw the guys entering the draft this summer, and I was shocked at the amount of pitchers this year! There’s a RHP out of LSU, but I didn’t see him name…..but to be honest I only looked at the first 50 guys. You should check it out!

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  45. I had put together a few thoughts earlier today on my ipad that simply disappeared when I touched post. They centered around not making Devenski a starter because of his value in the pen, especially when we don’t need him to go through the order more than once. He’s the first guy I’d want out there with the bases loaded and nobody out. But he’s going to get beat sometimes. There are plenty of professional hitters out there.

    So I agreed with what I think was the majority of posters. I also mentioned not screwing around with the rotation at this point, as we’re sitting in first place with a pretty solid 14 and 8 record. I suggested that we could afford to give the five guys more time to gel. But I did caution that we can’t keep bringing guys into the game before five innings are up. Even with 8 guys in the pen, they’ll be gassed way too soon. So as I noted last week, I still think our rotation is the one glaring weakness on this club. Tim, I don’t think it’s a better than average rotation.

    I also believe that Luhnow thinks about our rotation every morning with his first cup of coffee. It’s got to be his major concern. And at some point, he’ll do something about it, whether from in house or out. Maybe even both. Which is good, because after watching our starter give up yet another early homer a few minutes ago, I think we officially have a real weakness that needs to get addressed now. So between earlier today and tonight, I’ve changed my mind. Let’s give Peacock a shot and take it from there.

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    • When I said the Astros rotation is above average I was looking at a lot of crappy rotations in baseball. Luhnow will definitely be looking to add a starter at the deadline, but there are so many bad rotations in baseball it makes the Astros rotation above average.

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      • They probably have the best rotation in the AL West. I would say it’s better than KC, ChiSox, Minnesota, Baltimore and NYY in the A.L. That would put them in the top half of rotations in the A.L. There is definitely room for improvement, but considering the bad rotations in baseball one could make a strong argument the Astros rotation is above average.

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  48. Morton turns it around and gives them a strong 7 innings. Davis gets him early but he digs deep tonight.

    And Gurriel is becoming a line drive monster – love what he is doing!

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  49. Astros proving that they are a first place club. Overpaid Yuri Gurriel shuts up the critics. Charlie Morton throws a great game. Should have given up two more walks and he would have had a shutout.
    Maybe Correa is starting to break out of his slump.
    Hinch was right about loading the lineup with righties.
    Reddick sure is starting to play like a star.
    Has Hudgens started working with Aoki?
    Two hustle plays running to first base were huge tonight.
    Blummer had me going for a second tonight talking about the blonds in CF.
    The Astros waited that Oakland starter out until he just wore out.

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  50. THAT ladies and gentlemen was an AWESOME game! Hitting with guys on and keeping the line moving! NOW….wouldn’t it be amazing to see Charlie Morton pitch like that for the rest of the season!! I wonder if there’s a permanent indentation of Josh Reddick’S face on that padded wall after tonight’s game? That guy is pretty dang special!

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