10 reasons for Astros’ fans to be happy, happy, happy!

One of the occupational hazards of being a baseball fan is a general inability to smell the roses; to live in the moment. If a team is going well, there is angst and focus on the calamities that are bound to appear during the rest of the season. If the team has stunk up to this point, there is angst and focus on all the calamities that have brought them to this sad state. If the team is pretty good, everyone obsesses on the injuries, the bullpen collapses, the missed opportunities, etc. that have prevented the team from being the monster it could be.

So today is a day to appreciate the terrific start that the Houston 25 have gifted to their fans. Here then is a list of ten reasons for every Astro fan to be happy.

  1. Top Shelf – After Wednesday afternoon’s win the Astros had a 23-11 record and a 6 game lead in their division over the Mariners and 9 games over the South Denton Rangers.
  2. Consistently Competitive – The Astros are almost always in their games – they have only lost two of what are defined as blowouts (losing by 5 or more runs) in the first 32 games.
  3. Never Say Never – The Astros cannot be counted out of games. They have now come from behind to win fifteen times, including three times when down 5-0
  4. Dallas Keuchel – the April AL pitcher of the month has set the pace for the team with a 5-0 record and a great imitation of Cy Keuchel from 2015.
  5. Many Hands Make Light Work – Despite really not having individual players topping the hitting categories, their deep and solid lineup is 1st in BA, 2nd in OBP and OPS and 3rd in runs scored.
  6. The Sharpest Blade in the Drawer – Swiss Army Knife Marwin Gonzalez leads the team in HRs, RBIs and OPS while playing 5 different positions.
  7. Belt Buckle Bestowal – RF Josh Reddick has brought his solid bat, solid glove and WWE sensibilities to the clubhouse and has begun awarding a fancy belt buckle that he purchased and designed to a player after every Astros win.
  8. Pop-Pop Fizz-Fizz – Relief has come in varying quantities, and qualities, led by the change-up zen master Chris Devenski.
  9. Why Stop at Nine – The Astros are a perfect 4-0 in extra inning games this season.
  10. The Best is Yet to Come – Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltran have just started warming up lately, Alex Bregman has not connected for his first dinger, James Hoyt has pitched only 5.2 innings (but struck out 13 of those 17 outs) and Collin McHugh is just starting to throw a little. There is some room for improvement.

So…..what makes you happy about our little hometown club?

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105 responses to “10 reasons for Astros’ fans to be happy, happy, happy!”

  2. 1. THEY know they are a good club.
    2. Our hometown fans are starting to show up at the park.
    3. Our rotation is unremarkable but yet we’ve got the best record in MLB.
    4. We’ve got about two holes in our roster. We had a legitimate 20 just a few years ago.
    5. Outside of not having an effective lefty out of the pen, there’s nothing I can hold against our GM right now.
    6. Not one guy we’ve traded away is doing anything in 2017.
    7. Every guy we picked up for 2017 is doing something.
    8. I don’t think we have even one butt hole on this team.
    9. We’ve been blessed with good health.
    10. When I sit down to watch a game, I expect a win far more than I don’t.

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  3. Things that make me happy about our club.
    Jake Marisnick contributing on offense.
    James Hoyt pitching like he belongs.
    Our injured pitchers mending before they are needed.
    Charlie Morton getting to be a starting pitcher.
    Altuve struggling, while hitting .300.
    Reddick’s acceptance on this team.
    Beltran’s steadiness while working his way out of a slump.
    Bregman’s improving defense.
    Having a good first baseman.
    Keuchel’s health
    LMJ new delivery, saving his arm while he gets used to it.
    Base hits.
    A big lead in our division giving us some cushion for when we need it.

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  4. What ever Hinch is doing….keep it up. Daveb is 100% correct, THEY know they’re good, they know they are never “out” of it! We have no idea how this year will end for these guys, but for right now…..it’s AMAZING! I’m a happy girl👱

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    • For me AC – it is like this. If the Astros were bad and the Rangers were bad I would not be happy, but maybe about 20% less upset than if only the Astros sucked.
      If both were good (like in 2015) I would be happy. But having the Rangers bad when we are good is more than the cherry on the sundae – it is like the whipping cream and the cherry on the sundae.
      Last year the Rangers had an insane record (95-67) while only scoring 8 more runs than they gave up. This year they are 15-20 despite scoring 3 runs more than they have given up. So there is a bit of deserved regression going on right now.

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    • When Ranger’s fans are talking about Andrew Cashner being their new ace, that they should trade Darvish at the deadline for two top prospects and then resign him as a free agent, that they will reload and win the world series next year, yeah I enjoy that.
      When their press starts talking about how, finally, the Silver boot has meaning, after laughing about it for years, Yeah, I like that.
      When their fans start complaining about everyone on their team, yeah, I like that.
      When they’re in last place, yeah, I love that.

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  6. 2016 Record: 95-67 1st Place in AL West
    Pythagorean W-L: 82-80, 765 Runs, 757 Runs Allowed

    2017 Record: 15-20, 5th place in AL_West (Schedule and Results)
    Pythagorean W-L: 18-17, 158 Runs, 155 Runs Allowed

    Looks like the Lucky Charm of the Rangers got lost. Maybe someone stepped on the foul line on their way back to the dugout.

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      • Man on Man. I had no idea that I would have to explain Pythagorean. It you break it down, it becomes very simple. “Pyth” means it is a short answer. It also means why a 1st grader needs to go to the restroom, however that does not apply here. “Ago” means in the past so it is not current. “Rean” actually means “I forgot” in Liechtenstein. So it actually means, “a short time ago, I forgot.” Which covers just about everything for me, everyday.

        Now what was I saying?

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  7. I am happy that all my friends on this blog are getting happy. That makes the Chipalatta experience – and life – a whole lot more pleasant!

    Meanwhile, down with those foul-mouthed Yankee Dogs! Get a rope – oh, and a broom!

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  9. Dan, I really like your post today and thank you for it. If you go back and read the first paragraph, it sounds like you’re talking about LIFE, the way many of us tend to deal with it, which of course is all wrong. But I know the comparison between life and baseball has been clichéd to death, so I won’t dwell on it. I’ll just go back to the top and reread it throughout the day.

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    • Thanks Diane – I think you are spot on – the inability to live the moment is more than a baseball thing. So many folks I know spend their time regretting the past and fearing the future and forgetting to live in the present.

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  10. So far a happy honeymoon, and with Yanks Marlins Injuns Tigers Orioles on tap – winds of adversity will surely blow – we are about to see if it’s a stick ‘n stay union! I have my doubts with the left side defense of yesterday (Bregman -0.6 dWAR, and Marwin’s atrocious routes), but our team as constructed seems to insulate players who are trying to catch on, like Jake and Sipp. We’re able to take some lumps through the trials, until everyone is wearing a boxing or wrestling belt.

    The more I think about it, what a great idea to be the knock out puncher, the body slam dunker, the sleeper hold machine… Bill, take it from here!

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    • Gov, no doubt Bregman has much to learn about playing third. He probably started playing short when he was about 7 and never left those cozy surroundings until our organization gave him all of 13 games at third prior to his call up last year. That was a real mistake. We already knew who our shortstop was. Alex should have started playing the corner at Lancaster. That said, DWAR is a far from perfect stat.

      Marwin is a good problem to have right now. He’s doing far more damage at the plate than in leftfield. He’ll correct at some point, but for now, he should be starting regularly.

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  11. As good as the record says, it’s probably time to start ID’ing that TORP again. I’m liking how Morton has basically assumed No. 3, but I wonder if we have a true middle rotation with Joe and Mike pulling up the rear.

    Any novel ideas out there on who we should be targeting? It might turn this happy boat in the Now, into a debate of who to throw overboard, but “we gotta give to get” – who would you like to add, or bring along in-house? Quintana, Holland, Estrada, a Happ(y) reunion, maybe Gerrit Cole, Archer; wait and see on Paulino, Martes?

    Just fueling a discussion. Too soon?

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    • Maybe too soon for us to talk about, but not too soon for the Astros to be scouting and doing their homework, even from afar. There are ten teams who will be out of it and probably a few more will join them.
      The Astros are definitely aided in their search by knowing exactly who they might be able to count on from their own minor league pitching staffs. Noone!

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      • I saw where the Perez’ (Cionel and Hector) had rough outings. It’s hard to believe we can’t shore up the live arms we have toward better strike zone command. That seems to be the case with our top prospects – high K/9 and high BB/9..

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      • At least with Paulino’s return to the mound we finally at least have a question mark again, in place of just a lot of *&#$@!

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    • I think I said this last week. I’m sure Luhnow considers his rotation situation with his first cup of coffee every morning. At some point, we’ll get a guy and it will hurt. I also said a couple of weeks ago that we needed to address the rotation immediately. I might have been wrong again. Let’s see what happens over this series in NY and then the big home stand back in Houston.

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    • Gov, I think the Giants, Braves, Rays, Blue Jays, CWS, Detroit, KC, A’s, Rangers, Pirates, Phillies, D’ backs, and possibly Seattle could have pitchers available at the deadline.

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      • I was thinking if somebody had counted us out by May 11 of last year (read some posts then), our boys had something to say about that! It’s amazing the comeback we undertook.

        But yes it would be impossible to zero in with so many things which might happen. I’m ready to concede a start for Peacock, or Feliz at some point. Does anyone expect a pleasant surprise out of McQ, or do you all think he’ll take a good while to regain (if ever) form again?

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      • My thought on McHugh is that I am not counting on anything from him this year and if we get something it will just be an added bonus. A tired arm could by symptomatic of something more, which could be a lingering issue all year. Thus, I don’t expect any big return from McHugh, but I’m open to being pleasantly surprised.

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  13. WHEW…… that was closer than it needed to be. Now…..if McCullers goes sideways tomorrow night, Devinski can’t come in to rescue him. Found out tonight that the Sunday game will be on ESPN Sunday game of the week. It’s supposed to be a big celebration because the Yankees are retiring Derrick Jeter’s, number. Pretty cool!
    I didn’t get to see Keuchel pitch tonight, but when he struck out three batters in a row, to get out of the 6th inning, that was AMAZING! Keuchel is the Yankees killer!

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  14. Dan is happy:
    – Keuchel getting another win
    – Keuchel striking out the side with guys on 1st and 3rd
    – Correa clubbing another big homer
    – Devo with a couple more fine innings
    – Jake charging hard and throwing a bullet to gun down the tying run
    – The Yankee crowd becoming silent after the last out

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  16. Paulino threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and four walks and striking out four in first start tonight for Fresno.

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  17. Before all the drama: Correa should not have gotten a chance to hit the two run shot in the first. Keuchel keeps cruising if Gurriel does not inexplicably drop the second out of the 5th inning.

    Hard not to get at least a split when you win the first game of a four game series.

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    • The good news is that rain is in the forecast for tomorrow in NYC and there is a good chance that game gets rained out. By the way, Fiers is slated to start that game. 🙂

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      • John Alexander ⚾ @big_john819
        I’m not mentally prepared for what Aaron Judge will do to Mike Fiers on Saturday.

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      • Would rather not have a rainout. We’re playing well. Those day-night double headers down the road are no fun for anyone, especially the rotation.

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  19. I would expect more RH bats in the lineup tonight. We face a lefty who has been tough on lefties. Astros are 5-5 against LH starters.
    What a throw by Marisnick.
    So much catcher interference. Whats up with that?
    Astros got a win even though their closer wasn’t sharp. Walks in the ninth inning suck!
    Astros had 8 Ks, but also had nine hits and 3 walks.
    Yankee Stadium was only 78% capacity last night.
    Rangers start a series with Oakland. One of them is going to lose.
    Astros now lead Seattle by 7 games in AL West.
    The #9 position was 2 for 4 again last night. The Astros have the highest BA in the majors from the #9 position in the batting order, 37 points higher than the second place team.

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    • The walk by Giles was what set up the inning, but I thought he was out of the inning by how he attacked Ellsbury with 2 outs. Two great pitches to go up 0-2 and then threw one high and outside (probably barely in the strike zone) and somehow Ellsbury swung at the very last second and flicked it the other way. Great hitting, but I would have liked to see a devastating slider down in the zone at 0-2.

      On Marisnick’s throw – I am betting that with any other OF in the league there was about a 5% chance of getting the runner. JFSF charged it hard and just threw a perfect laser. It could not have been executed any better.

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      • Dan, I feel it necessary to point out that Jake was completely under control. He positioned himself to field, gather, and throw as well as you can do. Most outfielders resemble NBA players charging through the lane in those situations. This allowed him to make a controlled and accurate throw. My biggest complaint of his defense is that in past years he had a tendency to lose control and get around that throw, causing it to go 10 feet up the line.

        Tim, that throw alone should earn Jake a WAR in my book.

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      • Re-watching the throw a couple times this morning I have to totally agree with you Devin. He charged the ball and got to it quickly – but he did take his time gathering himself and throwing – perfect form – perfect result

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      • That’s so funny, Dan!
        My son and I discussed that 0-2 to Elsbury, and just before he released it we chimed in, “breaking ball!” After Jacoby went with the pitch down the line (are we ever going to cover the freakin’ lines in the 9th?), we both then said, “he shoulda thrown the slider!” Lol!

        On Devin’s comment about Jake. Bottom line, he’s an athlete. You can just see it in him, Reddick and Springer throwing the football. I’m even more impressed 6’5″ running bases like he does. A stud, for sure. Mark my words, the day is coming when he lays off that nasty stuff he’s been chasing at the plate. When they have to throw strikes to Jake, he’s going to find a way to bettter this league.

        If credit isn’t due Dave Hudgens and staff, then who re: last for three years to first in strike zone swings? It’s a culture that Luhnow has surrounded us in. Swing/miss increase on the mound, decrease at the plate.

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      • I will give some credit to Hudgens for improvements we’ve seen especially in Marwin G and Gattis. Most of the improvements are due to the front office getting McCann, Aoki, Reddick, Beltran, Gurriel and Bregman – giving those guys ABs completely changes the type of offensive team that they are.

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      • Credit luck/timing/budget (of signing those guys) and Luhnow, as opposed to Powell Hudgens. True.

        However, each of those veterans you mentioned are constantly having to review video and tendencies today to stay re-adjusted. They even tell each other passing from on-deck to plate, “watch for the FB.”

        They may have brought experience in the league and better strike zone command, but more importantly a “coachability”, unlike the downward spiraling effect Rasmus Castro and Gomez brought offensively. You can explain til blue in the face how to switch to an uppercut finish, but until you start seeing the execution (Gattis Marwin agreed) playing out in production, we’ll get more of these (right, or wrong), “why do we even have coaches?” comments.

        I know we beat this horse dead. A much bigger factor has to be there’s no holes now. You have to throw strikes to every Astros batter, bc there’s no let up! Teeming with professional hitters instead of getting our 3, 4 pitched around, means credit is due to the entire staff. Very little of what happens on a baseball field is without clear intention.

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      • Dan, any other outfielder in the league, just a 5% chance? I think George gets that out at the plate, not routinely, but he can make that throw. He does not have the same velocity of Jake, but I think he’s generally more accurate. And there are other big arms in MLB. I don’t want to take anything away from JFSF and his game saver last night because it was a beautiful thing to see and I when I saw that ball go through the infield, I knew Ellsbury was going to be sent, and I immediately felt that Jake would get him.

        The best part was that Ellsbury looked genuinely shocked to be gunned down on a play that was not all that close.

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      • Daveb
        Let me slightly revise that statement – Only 5% of LEFT fielders make that throw. Most would not get to the ball that quick – most would over muscle that throw.

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      • Dan, I can agree with that addendum. Not many arms in leftfield to start with. Inrtestingly, we’ve seen George moved to right and Reddick to left when Jake comes in to play D. Wonder why he went to left last night?

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  20. Just a little tidbit to start off your weekend. The Astros lead over the 2nd place team in the division is larger than the A.L. Central’s first place team (Minnesota) lead over the last place team in the A.L. Central (K.C.).

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  21. Virtually every living, breathing reliever cherishes a set role, the better to help him establish a routine and mentally prepare for each outing.

    “That’s what the pitchers want, that’s what the media wants, that’s what the fans want,” Luhnow says. “But it’s not what’s best for the team.”

    No, Luhnow says, a team improves its chances of winning by keeping its bullpen roles flexible – provided that the manager can placate the various personalities, which in Luhnow’s estimation, Hinch does quite well.

    https://www.google.com/amp/www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/astros-chris-devenski-is-simply-the-hottest-pitcher-on-the-planet-051217%3Famp%3Dtrue

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  24. Well it looks like DB7 is going to owe me $16. Bought Smart Baseball by Keith Law.
    (At his insistance !) Didn’t get through the Introduction before I knew Law was full of it. He states that the back of the baseball cards contained OBP and SLG.

    When I was collecting baseball cards, you bought a packet of one gum and one card. If you could find them you could by packets of 5 cards and I threw away all the gum except one.

    Let me explain that you NEVER got Stan Musial, nor Ted Williams, nor Mickey Mantle. If you had 50 cards, you had at least 10 Spook Jacobs and 12 Jerry Schoonmaker. No card them included nor had they heard of OBP or SLG.

    Will keep you updated on more of his mistakes.

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    • 45, I think you’re dead on, especially with your supporting stat analysis. I was a lucky kid. I had access to five card packs, but to be honest, I spent my nickel on a Milky Way. I got my stats out of the sports section, especially on Sunday when all the team stats were listed in those long columns. And I absorbed every box score. I hated waiting an extra day for the West Coast games.

      Keep muddling through the Law book. If I feel guilty at any point about your purchase, I’ll send you a 16.00 food and beverage certificate from the Astros organization.

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  25. It is one of those mathematical oddities, ac45. You just have to know how to apply sabermetric analysis to it. This Law guy knows his stuff, you see, like I know the back of my head. So here’s the deal. It is simple, three-step formula:

    1st, Take the player’s date of birth [which was on the cards]. Turn that into an eight-digit number – example, January 1, 2001 is 01012001.

    2nd, multiply that number by the number of the position the person plays [which was also on the cards]. Example, the guy is a RF, so his multiplier is 9.

    3rd, divide that number you get by multiplying the first two numbers by the number the player wears on his jersey [also on the card]. This is the player’s combined OBP and SLG. Or not. What, you think the game of baseball is an exact science?

    Note: the above might not work if the player is Carlos Correa, or in regard to any player whose jersey number is less than 2 or over 90.

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  26. I note that Teoscar Hernandez is back from the DL. He started for Fresno in RF and went 2-4; but he was replaced in the late innings. Does anybody know why?

    Paulino’s return was pretty good. 3 IP, 0 ER, 0 R, 1 H (a single), and 4 Ks. But his control was rusty. He threw 65 pitches, and only 35 were strikes. He walked 4. He got 2 groundouts and 1 flyout. All in all, it was a good return.

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  27. I know that according to sabermetrics analysis RBIs don’t matter – but the pitchers in Fresno are reportedly pretty happy that Preston Tucker now has 26 of those meaningless things for their Fresno Grizzlies.

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  28. Lineup is out. 8 RH batters for the Astros but two of them are switch hitters.
    Marwin is playing 1B, Beltran is in RF, which he is very familiar with, and Jake is in LF. LF is humongous in Yankee Stadium.
    Gattis is the DH and McCann is catching. Aoki, Gurriel and Reddick on the bench.

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  29. Just a short note on the previous DanP post about Hinch. Last night, once again he proved how smart he is by allowing Ellsbury to take 2nd with no throw. Then when the hit to tie the game came up, Jake was able to throw him out at home. If Jacoby was still on first, he would not have been at home plate.

    Smart, Smart, Smart — heady managing.

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  30. That’s the best 3 innings pitched I’ve seen of LMJ. Fair to say, he’s at the top of his game, and solidifies among the best 1, 2 punch.

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  31. What a bonus getting Chapman to go out there and throw 24 pitches. Assuming the weather is as bad as forecasted, we’ll only have to see him once on Sunday at the most.

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    • Remember when he came up with the Reds, and how scared guys were of those 103-104 fast balls? He’s still scary.

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  32. 6 innings….2 hits, 6 strikeouts, NO walks, no runs.
    This kid is finally showing us he’s the real deal! Pretty cool, pretty cool!

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  33. Great Game. I am so glad that Astros gave up on that high strike crap from last year. These guys are almost un-hittable when they pitch waist down.

    By the way, I saw in the Modern Vernacular Dictionary that “Yankee” and “Quickee” mean the same thing, except Yankee is when you are alone.

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  34. I’m so unbelievably happy right now. This team is just so enjoyable to watch. Never know who is going to get the big hit – but you know someone will.
    Great things are happening!

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  36. My observations for whatever it’s worth….

    *Team is supremely confident in itself.
    *Coming from behind (many times) is the mark of a winner
    *In every win there is always somebody who excels when the game is on the line.
    They are playing as a unit and there is no sign of any conflict between players, manager, coaches, GM, and owner. (Of-course why should there with their winning ways).
    *They are having fun. Isn’t baseball supposed to be a fun game?
    *The youth movement (rebuilding) is paying big dividends.
    *The added pieces are contributing big time, even when it is not all that apparent. (reminds me of the old Atlanta teams who always seem to add just the right piece to complement and complete the picture).
    *And the stands are filling up again with fans. Everybody loves a winner. (with apologies to those that have always been there).

    I’m just having a good time watching these guys. I’m sure everyone else is too. Wish it was in person but have to settle for the media devices I have access to.

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  37. Jason Castro has a slash line of .198/.309/.346 and Jonathan Villar has a slash line of .208/.274/.333. Also, Hank Conger is not even playing in the major leagues (his highest OPS was his 1 year in Houston).This is what happens when they get away from the effect of Dave Hudgens. I’m sorry, but the temptation is too big to pass up. 🙂

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      • For all three of you, I have no use for “outcome based” opinions.

        And I read someplace on the Internet (so I know it is true) that Conger is working with 8 X 10 glossies, suitable for “framing.”

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    • Villar has been a disappointment this year as opposed to last year, but Castro has always sucked minus 3/4 of one season. This is no surprise.

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      • True, Tim, although he was close the first two years of college! he has gotten progressively worse the past few years…the rate he’s going he’ll be out of the majors by the end of next season.

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    • I don’t care about all those advanced stats you guys keep spewing. Conger is still a great pitch framer if just given a chance.

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  38. Marwin Gonzalez made me miss Gurriel at 1B yesterday.
    Keuchel and LMJ are starting to act like something great at the TOR.
    This team is the best “team” in baseball right now.
    The three hits Hoyt gave up were weak grounders. His strikeout of Judge was the biggest moment of his career that I have witnessed. That was big-time pitching.
    Fiers is due to pitch a good game.
    McCann measures up to Sanchez.
    I think the Astros are going to trade for a pitcher. Nothing Luhnow says about this is important right now. He will not tip his hand.
    I still think Altuve is going to break out in a big way, and it could be in a double header.
    Reddick’s little looping RBI single yesterday was a huge two-out hit that wasn’t there for the Astros last year.
    The Astros and the Red Sox hit for the highest avg in the AL, strike out the least of any teams and hit into the most DPs. I have never been able to make that connection before, because the Astros have always struck out so much it never figured in.

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    • On your first comment, that was exactly what I said to my son-in-law. We needed Gurriel at either first or 3rd. Bregman is having a tough time adjusting. And one would think (perhaps incorrectly) that because the throws from 3rd shorter, and mostly moving toward 1st base would be easier than from short. But so far, that has not been so for him.

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      • Yesterday, Bregman allows a ball right under his glove (no error), and another where if he just plants his foot to throw – fine. But instead he takes three running steps, like Johnny Manziel trying to throw off back foot, has no zip on it, and Marwin can’t dig it out on the bloody side of the bag. The day before, he drops one off his glove well within his fielding range in the 2nd inning (no error?!) Keuchel pitched out of it, but was visibly unhappy after the inning. The Rangers game we lost, he let’s a ball carom off his glove into the stands for a double, no less! I’ve counted 8 E’s and he’s only credited with 4. And still! he is making only 25% of even odds plays, and only 70% of those that are “likely” to be made. He’s a cumulative -3.9 fielder which is closer to below average than average. I wouldn’t say he’s improving anything, not to mention a corner IF with no HR’s? Bregman is making me miss Gurriel. There’s your trade bait right there. We have a 3B signed for 4 years, and other options for 1B… but instead we’re gonna make excuses for him til cows come home. He’s young, it was a bad hop, he’s from LSU, he’s got a nice smile, he hit a triple (vs the lowly Braves in a game we won by 5).

        http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=17678&position=3B#fielding

        Why are we talking about losing Tucker, or Martes when we’re not even talking about the player we’re getting? Sorry, this post was held off for a full week. Couldn’t keep it in any longer Lol!

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      • I didn’t mean to kick Gov’s cage while he was asleep. But my assignment was to read Keith Law’s book. Sure wish I had the Cliffs Notes version.

        Anyway, I have learned that BA is a useless stat. RBI is a useless stat. Pitcher’s wins and saves are useless stats. And the coup de grace fielding percentage is a useless stat. Plus Bregman should never steal a base.

        So therefore Bregman who can play at least 3 positions marginally, hits well with runners in scoring position (also Clutch hitting is a myth per Mr. Law), has a strong but erratic arm, just doesn’t cut it.

        Before we trade Bregman or anyone, I need to read “Art of the Deal.”

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      • 45, I’m delighted you’ve made the effort and picked up the Law bible. Even better is that you’ve now read beyond where I muddled to. So I don’t have to read any further. Just keep reporting in. Thank you. I will organize the gift certificate.

        Before we write off young Alex Bregman after 83 ML baseball games, it should be noted that our pal Jose Altuve did not put up better offensive stats than Alex until his 4th season. Altuve had 350 plus games under his belt before he became an offensive force. And he was an unremarkable second baseman too, a position he played almost exclusively throughout his minor league career. Alex did not have that luxury.

        At some point we will indeed trade for a pitcher. I hope Luhnow sticks to his guns and does not make Bregman a part of that deal. Do we really need to give up on the kid now, when we’re the best team in baseball in 2017 to date?

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    • It’s virtually a given Luhnow will trade for a starting pitcher. It’s probably going to hurt deep as far as prospects are concerned, but this team has a legitimate chance to win the World Series this year. I was not in favor of trading prospects last year because we really had very little chance, but this year is different. I only implore my fellow chipalatters to not be upset if we lose Baby Tucker and/or Martes because it’s likely to happen and this is the year to make it happen. This team is for real.

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      • I still don’t want to give up Baby Tucker. Trade the other guys. There are plenty of hosses in our corral. Hide Tucker out on the north range. Tell them he’s your daughter’s pony and not for sale.

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      • He’s the one prospect I don’t want to lose either. Much will depend on how many buyers and sellers there are at the deadline and who Luhnow wants. Personally, I’m very comfortable with Keuchel and LMJ fronting our rotation and think we just need a solid #3. However, Luhnow may want someone like Archer and Baby Tuck will have to be included for someone like him. It’s still early now to know who will be available and who won’t.

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  39. Any Astro fan who bought a ticket for today’s game will not be happy. Admission for tomorrow’s double header is on the single admission for a Sunday’s game which is already sold out.
    They could use it at another home game thru the end of 2018 – so I guess they could see the Astros next season….

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  40. I wonder if both…or either game will be on ESPN tomorrow. I know te game at night was to be the game of the week because of the Jeter celebration. I would be a very happy girl, if BOTH were on television!! I can’t remember the last time these guys played a double header, it’s probably been a few years!

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  42. Man…..I don’t know what happened to the A’s, they just lot AGIAN to the arlington little league. How come they play us soo dang tough, but lose to those guys???

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  43. Organizational plate discipline..

    A.J. Reed leads @TripleABaseball with 24 walks (35 G). Who leads all of @MiLB? That’d be Jon Singleton, with 36 for @cchooks (33 G).

    Centeno has hit safely in 16 of 18 games overall. Fisher has raised overall average from .254 when streak began on April 25 to .336.

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