The high-flying Houston Astros: Observations at the quarter pole

The Houston Astros are playing at such a high and consistent level that wins, no matter the situation are no longer a surprise. Go on a road trip and the only question about the 6-1 record is why they coughed up the one loss late in the game. Play a game after the greatest franchise in the history of baseball honors one of their modern legends? Just kick the crap out of them. Trail by 5 runs early in the game? Come rushing back. Three times. The South Denton Rangers go on a 7-3 streak? Frustrate them by matching and then seeing their run with a 9-1 run of your own.

29-12 is in a stratosphere this team has never flown. They are 8 games up in their division. They are 3.5 games up on the next best team in the AL and 3 games up on the next best team in the majors. They’ve won close games and romps. Extra innings and in regulation. They played come from behind early in the season, but lately have run away and hidden from the competition in games. So how have they done it? Well it has not been by smoke and mirrors.

Offense

A lot has been made about the Astros not having offensive players among the league leaders in the sexier offensive stats. Jose Altuve is 3rd in SBs with 11 and Carlos Correa is tied for 4th in runs scored. In BA, OBP, SLG and OPS they have no one in the top 10. Brian McCann is tied for 14th in RBIs and George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez are tied for 10th in HRs. But consider this, the league averages for BA/OBP/SLG/OPS are .247/.321/.407/.727. After Tuesday’s game, when looking at the Astros top 12 position players – Altuve, Correa, McCann, Springer, Gonzalez, Yulieski Gurriel, Nori Aoki, Josh Reddick, Alex Bregman, Carlos Beltran, Evan Gattis, and Jake Marisnick – the Astros look very good against the league averages. BA? All 12 are above the league average, most well above. OBP? Only Beltran is under the league average. SLG? Only Bregman, Aoki and Beltran are under the league average. OPS? The same three are under the league average.

And while a very few of the guys are under the league average in a category or so – there is no one close to the Mendoza line in BA or the .500 OPS’s that were floating around in previous years. And that consistency is why the team is 2nd in runs/game in the AL. They have 3 players (Altuve, Correa and Springer) on track for 100+ runs scored. They have 6 players (McCann, Altuve, Correa, Springer, Gonzalez and Reddick) on track for 20+ HRs. And they have four players (McCann, Springer, Gonzalez and Correa) on track for 85+ RBIs. They are a formidable offensive team with no I in team.

Pitching

None of the pitchers on the staff have a losing record. Both Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton project to 20 or more wins with DK pro rated at 28-0. Keuchel is first in wins and innings pitched in the AL and 3rd in ERA and WHIP. Lance McCullers is projected out to a 16-4 record for the season. Even though, Joseph Musgrove and Mike Fiers have been roughed up more than the top 3 pitchers in the rotation, they have hung tough and do not have losing records and they have both pitched through some tough spots to get more innings than was believed possible the way some of their starts have begun. Even with struggles at the end of the rotation, the Astros have the 2nd best starting rotation ERA in the AL.

The bullpen has had a few hiccups in the late innings, but these have usually been in games where they were far ahead. Luke Gregerson has struggled the most and a few bad outings have Ken Giles ERA higher than a closer’s should be. But he is 3rd in the league with 11 saves and a lot of his compadre’s in the pen have been excellent. Michael Feliz, Brad Peacock, and James Hoyt (who is striking out batters at a rate of 20.3/ 9 IP) all have ERAs well under 2. A couple poor outings have pushed Chris Devenski‘s ERA over 3, but he has been critical in many of the Astros’ wins this season. Will Harris continues to be his solid self and there has been a Tony Sipp (circa 2015) siting in the last few weeks.

Can the Astros continue winning at this pace and be one of those 110 win miracle teams? Maybe not, but right now they don’t enter any game thinking they are going to lose and frankly their fans feel the same way.

 

 

 

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154 responses to “The high-flying Houston Astros: Observations at the quarter pole”

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  1. Eventually, this team is going to have a slump. It is extremely doubtful they will maintain a .700 winning percentage throughout the season. That makes this great start so much more important. The team will probably go through a stretch where they lose 7 out of 10 as it happens to almost every team (the Cubs had a similar stretch last year, which involved a sweep at the hand of the Padres). When that happens I am not going to panic as I am expecting it to happen eventually (I just hope it doesn’t involve getting swept by the Rangers).

    The nice thing is that this team has enough depth where a complete collapse is highly unlikely. They have a great mix of young, athletic players combined with savvy veterans who have been through the rigors of a pennant race. I like the composition of this team.

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  2. When you spend years asking ” Are they really this bad?”, it’s hard to shift to “Are they really this good?”.
    2015- There is no way Dallas Keuchel is this good.
    2016- There is no way Dallas Keuchel is this bad.
    Spring, 2017- Is there any way Dallas Keuchel could be somewhere in between 2015 and 2016?
    May, 2017- There is no way Dallas Keuchel is this good.
    Spring, 2017-Will LMJ ever stay healthy?
    May, 2017- Yes
    Will adding veterans who have a history of hitting, turn this team into one that hits like a veteran team? Yes.
    Will adding veterans with a history of not striking out, turn this team into one that doesn’t strike out? Yes.
    Will adding a starting pitcher who showed big velocity increases, add a pitcher with good velocity to your rotation? Yes.
    Can they keep up this pace? No
    Why not? Because no team keeps up this pace.
    Can they win the WS? Yes, if they shore up their weak spots and if Marwin Gonzalez and Jake Marisnick are for real.

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  3. Now that the Stros are getting more attention, the Mgr seems more quotable. He’s filled in most of the blanks as to ‘why?’ Most of this winning has been predicted (in Chipalatta) with the veteran additions, and with the notion that what we saw in LMJ and DK weren’t apparitions. What isn’t talked about much is the process, the Astros Way under Luhnow.

    In interviews with Jeff, he speaks in terms of what he saw in each player, sometimes years ago. Much like in the upcoming draft, we’ll have selections that are best available, but more probably those that fit our needs as a team. We have assembled a unit, have a plan and we’re working that plan without the benefit of firing on all cylinders.

    Pitching has kept us in virtually every game, timely 2-out rallies never hurt and an Astros camaraderie unmatched in other dugouts, seems to smooth out bumps along the way [think 2016, Fiers Gomez Hinch outburst]. That bodes well down the road.

    (Side note)
    Also, by contrast, while being supportive during a tragedy, our ace(s) don’t go out hammered on drugs, responsible for the deaths of two others at 3 am in freak boating accidents. (Not a hero in any fashion!) We have a core of guys who are focused, like George Springer who doesn’t own a phone, singularly-minded on a championship. Dedication and hard work speak volumes about this team.

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    • I mentioned Cole a week ago..
      But the number of guys which are going to be available (with less parity in the league) will be many.
      If the shoulder eventually checks out, think I’d rather have Bumgarner!

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      • I really doubt the Giants will trade Bumgarner, even if they are out of it at the deadline. However, yes, I would rather have Bumgarner over Cole, and I like Cole a lot.

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  6. 1oldpro, you mention shoring up the weak spots. What would that be? (Fiers?). What happens to Fiers when or if McHugh returns. Do the Stros go after Quintana at the deadline or a left handed relief pitcher?

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    • Their weak spots are Fiers and LH relief. You answered your own question about McHugh when you used the words “when or if”.
      Something tells me that Luhnow is done calling the CWS about Quintana, because of their GM’s smug attitude that has blown up in Hahn’s face.
      Hahn had the perfect opportunity to complete his mission, but let his own ego get in the way and now his team sucks and his valuable assets look a lot less valuable.
      He’ll bounce back, because: Yankees, but I think he will have to call Luhnow.
      There are going to be lots of good pitchers available for the deadline. The one I would be very leery of is Ervin Santana. Look at his career BABIP Against and then look at his current BABIP Against. This guy is so due for an adjustment. It could be an adjustment similar to his majestic catcher’s adjustment from 12 BBs in April to only 1 in May. Pitchers slapped themselves on the forehead and remembered the real Jason Castro. What kind of a month is Santana going to have when his .128 BABIP Against reaches .275? Oh, Dear! I don’t want that month to happen when he is wearing an Astros uniform.

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  7. Man, I read about Freddie Freeman’s injury last night and count our blessings for the close calls our guys have had with HBPs this season.
    I wish Freeman a speedy recovery and said a prayer for Jameson Taillon today, too.
    So many players with injuries this year!

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  9. OP….Freddie Freeman wrist is broken…..he will be out about 6 weeks. That’s a dang shame, he was nearly 100% of their offence.

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      • Doug Fister has a job? Next thing, somebody will be digging Jesse Crain out of mothballs.

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      • Fister was the Astros best starting pitcher for the first couple of months until he went bad. Can he be the good Fister (12 wins last year) to bring value or is he truly washed up?

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  10. More bad news, Jameson Tallon did indeed have testicular cancer, and had surgery today. Tough diagnosis, when you’re a young man.😢

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  11. With the big lead we’ve built up, we don’t have to be perfect the rest of the way. We just have to stay healthy and keep pace with the best teams in our division through August, then retool and be at our best again in September and October. Adding a Gerritt Cole or equivalent in the place of Fiers and a lefty specialist in the place of Sipp, plus having a healthy David Paulino and an improved and a hopefully more in-command Frances Martes as September call-ups, should be the ticket.

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  13. With the Astros at 29-12 – what do you think is the most likely:
    – They go 71-50 or better and end up at 100 wins or better
    – They go 66-55 or so and end up around 95 wins
    – They go 61-60 or so and end up around 90 wins
    – Something worse?

    Right now a 90 win or less start would seem disappointing. That is what being in every game and having a good shot at winning every game does to the expectations.

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    • Dan, as it stands now, this team is too good to play .500 ball the rest of the way. Even if they just play .500 against the better teams, I think 95 wins is almost an automatic, unless we get hit really hard by injuries to our pitching staff. This next 29 game stretch will tell us quite a bit.

      Luhnow will also make a couple of moves at some point to make the club better than it is today. I expect 100 wins. I feel comfortable saying that. After the moves made this winter, my goal for 2017 was for us to win the division early enough to have the rotation rested and the club healthy enough for a deep run into the post season. Today we are right on track, even with a few inevitable set backs on the road ahead of us.

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  14. Dan, I am thinking about your question above and will give my opinion later because I want to let it all sink in and give you my OTBG answer.
    But I have a question for you and others:
    Brian Mctaggart said, in a Q&A on MLB.com that Derek Fisher did not go to the Phillies in the Giles deal because the medical concerns were about Vince Velasquez’s health, and the Phillies decided to ask for more pitching. I try to keep informed on things, but I don’t recall this item being revealed before now. Am I right that this is the real story finally coming out, or did I miss this in the past?
    I was under the impression that it was Fisher’s or someone else’s medicals that were a concern to the Phillies, not VV’s.

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    • OP – I was a little fuzzy on this – had forgotten that the media announced the trade with Fisher and it ended up with Appel and the two Arauz’s.
      I can’t add the link right now – but found an article from the South Jersey ESPN radio site from 2016 that discusses this. This was right after Velasquez started the season spectacularly and then had a bicep problem. The article straight out says that concerns about Velasquez’s injury history (he had TJ in 2011) was the reason the Phillies wanted Appel in the trade.

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    • My recollection was that we all assumed Fisher to have some injury concern, but that an article did come out about a week later explaining that the Phillies wanted more pitching to offset the risk they perceived in VV.

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  15. Speaking of Vince, he’s pitching almost as bad as Fiers. I was one of the guys pissed when we gave him up in that deal. And Appel has never pitched so badly in his professional career than he is now, except for that one horrific stretch he had in Lancaster. I was one of the guys pleased when we gave him up in that deal. At 25, he’s throwing for a club called the Iron Pigs. Probably not what he had in mind at this point. I was always concerned that he might be soft. That could be the case. Looking back, Jonathan Mayo wrote in December of 2015 that Phils got quite a haul for Giles. Although the jury is still out on Arauz and Eshelman, Mayo got it wrong.

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    • The Phils DID get quite a haul – a haul of Prospects. The failure / burn out rate for prospects is very high. I feel great for how this is turning out for the Astros but a rebuilding Phillies club made a solid trade and took a legitimate risk on those prospects.

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      • Mike, it could end up as a solid trade, but not so far. Let’s face it, they were counting on Velasquez and Appel being the best part of that “haul”.

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  17. Tim or Russell, quick question?

    I’m in San Marcos tonight. Any suggestions on where we might watch Root SW, at perhaps a bar or restaurant somewhere? Just call around to see if any subscribe, or is the root here in this region only Rangers baseball?

    Thanks!

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    • Also, ROOT doesn’t carry the Rangers. They are broadcast on FSSW. Now, I will bet Pluckers won’t initially have the game on TV, but all Pluckers carry Directv for the NFL Sunday Ticket so if they are not showing it just ask them to turn it to channel 674. Good luck!

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      • Thanks, guys!
        Found that Tap Room has it, too. Is it Astro Killer Bauer tonight? Surely we can get the better of him like the rest of the league has this season?!

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  19. Snoozer of a loss – no energy with the guys tonight. Offense pretty dead. Pitching pretty meh. And there was a good crowd ready to explode. And the frigging Rangers won again.

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  21. Not much to say when Trevor Bauer walks in Colby Lewis’s shadow and beats the Astros.
    The Astros usually lose when they have 11 Ks and five hits.
    George Springer is not a leadoff hitter.
    I don’t know where Aoki was on that triple in the eighth inning, but I do know where Jake Marisnick was. I just don’t know why Jake was where he was.
    Morton said he didn’t throw cutters or change ups Friday night. With all the LH batters he faced, I wish he had told us why.
    I thought Cleveland was a terrific team this winter and haven’t changed my mind.
    Michael Feliz should be pitching six or seven innings every fifth day in Fresno. He is never going to figure out how to get some movement on his fastball in one inning of tension filled baseball, once a week against major league hitters. What happens when his 98 mph fastball falls to 95 mph. He won’t get anybody out because he wasn’t given a chance to grow his stuff.
    29-13 is good.

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    • Five hits and two walks are not going to get it done most nights.
      Morton is such an enigma. He can start off as a stone cold killer and he just seems to lapse after awhile. I know there is the thought that he gets exposed on multiple viewings but it seems like he just starts making bad pitches. A couple of the HRs he gave up were elevated pitches in the hitter’s wheelhouse and the third one was at the knees but in the middle of the plate – the lefty hitter said thank you and uppercut it into the stands.

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  24. Tolliver (lhp) has been called up, and should be here by first pitch. Brad Peacock will start Monday against the Tigers. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he can give at LEAST 4 innings, then I guess the bullpen will be abused for the next 5 innings.
    AND…..call it women’s intuition, but I don’t think Keuchel is hurt. I think Hinch just wants to give him a week off to “baby” that golden arm. I’m probably gonna get pummeled for this, but it’s my opinion only!
    YA know, I think I’ve said this before but…..Charlie Morton is one STAGE dude.
    His post game video’s, are odd to say the LEAST! The guys were still sleep walking in last night’s game……wake up boys you got work to do!
    OP…..saw all those tornadoes headed your way the last couple of days. Stay safe my friend!

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    • You won’t get pummelled but it explains to me why he was pulled after 70 pitches earlier in the week and we did not see footage of him stomping his feet in the dugout. And I can’t think of any rationale for sitting him on Sunday against the Indians. In fact, I think they waited until today to announce it so that tickets to Sunday’s game would keep selling. I’m still the cynic around here. I just hope it’s only ten days. Neck nerve issues can be a reoccurring thing.

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    • Last thing we needed was to finally get somebody on with the meat of the order coming up and then get Reddick thrown out stealing.

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  29. Dang. Top of the 8th. Pitch 100% in the square, and it is called a ball. So 2-1 and not 1-2. Astros continue to have to play against 10. It is supposed to even out, but it seldom does.

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  31. You should be watching the Tigers game…..3 homeruns back, to back on the rangers Griffin. Verlander is pitching for the Tigers. They have some hitters on that team! At least we won’t have to face Verlander in this next serues! I hope the Tigers just hammer that other team. Oh yeah, another homerun for J.D. Martinez.

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  33. Random internet people reacting to the possibility of Cole being available have me concerned. First, I haven’t liked what I’ve seen this year. Second, it sounds like Pitt wants a Sale-esque haul. I hope Luhnow leverages these rumors and speculation to drive down the price on another target (Quintana, Archer, Cobb, etc.)…but who knows at this point.

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  34. Brian McCann has been placed on the 7-day concussion DL, retoactive to yesterday. Juan Centeno has been added to the roster.

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  37. Well….there goes this game. Tough home stand for the boys. Can’t give the Indians a 5 run lead….. ((JEEZE)).

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  39. I was a bit concerned that today would turn into today. Couple of bad outings seem to expose things. What if the league is catching up to Morton and Musgrove? We know that Fiers has already been caught up to.

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  40. Cleveland is doing to Houston exactly what the Astros did to the Yankees last weekend. This is baseball.
    What can the Astros do to shake things up and turn it around? They could shake things up a little bit and turn things around.

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  41. It doesn’t get any easier starting tomorrow. The Tigers have some healthy hitters, as we saw last night. All we can hope is when we lose, the little league team in arlington will lose too.
    As I said yesterday……Luhnow has GOT to get another pitcher A.S.A.P.
    Can’t wait until the break to make a deal, he needs to make a deal RIGHT NOW.

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  42. Please re-read my very first comment on this page. It may not help, but what we are seeing is something called baseball. We knew this was going to happen, but it still hasn’t prevented some of the over reacting and panic. I’m not worried at all. The Astros are clearly the best team in the division and will improve by the deadline, but the last thing Luhnow should do is show his hand and act desperate looking for a trade. Most of the GMs in this league are very smart and most teams still have aspirations of making the playoffs this year. It’s going to take a huge overpay to get a quality starting pitcher right now. The cost for someone like Jeremy Hellickson today may be the same price you pay for Quintana or Gerrit Cole at the end of July. Luhnow knows this and he’s not going to make a panic move when the team has a 6 game lead in the loss column, which could be 7 if the Rangers lose tonight, when the prices will be too high. This team is fine and they’ll get back to winning again fairly soon.

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  43. One week ago we were 8 games ahead of the disgusting arlington little league.
    Tonight we are 5 1/2 games in front. The Tigers come in for 4 games starting tomorrow. With Keuchel gone from his start and Peacock taking his place…..the only pitcher I have a “little” faith in is McCullers. I absolutely despise the rangers……and I am going to be SEETHING mad if that group of disgusting people pass us up. Tim…..I know you were speaking to me about getting another pitcher, and if you think waiting until the end of July to get one like Luhnow did with *Scott Kasmir*…………..
    good luck with THAT. Spit-spit-spit.

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    • I was speaking to everyone who was in panic mode. We didn’t wait until July to get Scott Kazmir. We got him in June, which is another reason Luhnow wants to wait until we get closer to the deadline, rightfully so, to make sure we wait out all possible sellers. Luhnow came out and said if he had waited another month David Price would have been available and he could’ve have gotten involved in his market instead of ‘settling’ for Kazmir. At the time we traded for Kazmir the Tigers were not considering trading David Price.

      I know it’s difficult because it is the Rangers gaining ground on us, but the very last thing Luhnow should do right now is panic and over pay for an average starting pitcher. Who do you think we could get right now? What teams are willing to admit to their fan base on May 22nd that they are throwing in the towel? There are very few pitchers the Astros can get right now without an extreme over pay. Are you willing to trade Kyle Tucker, Francis Martes and another top prospect for Jeremy Hellickson? If you are going to trade those players wouldn’t you rather wait it out to see if they can be included for someone like Jose Quintana, Gerrit Cole or Chris Archer? It is best to wait out the market and make a trade closer to the deadline. If you regret the Scott Kazmir trade I can assure you that you will regret any trade Luhnow is able to make now. Hang in there and things will figure themselves out.

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      • Tim, I think those of us in panic mode agree – we want to deal in early July rather than early June. Based on the Kazmir and Gomez trades we are fearful Luhnow (and Crane) may lack patience. After getting burned by Keuchel and LMJ injuries in 2016 we have to hope JL doesn’t overreact right now.

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      • Devin,

        That’s exactly what I am saying and some on here are preaching the opposite, demanding Luhnow make a trade now for a starting pitcher. I think that would be foolish for a couple reasons. First, the Astros would have to over pay to get a decent starter now and, second, very few teams are willing to sell this early in the season so you may miss out on a better pitcher if you make a trade now. I would rather wait until July, unless we are just completely beset by injuries where we have no choice, and add more sellers to the market, which will drive down the price.

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  44. Part of the deal is the other team has to concede on 2017. Then do they have anything you want?

    Right now it MIGHT be Marlins, Mariners, Padres, and perhaps Jays and A’s. Off those pitching rosters who would be worth 1 top prospect?

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    • Maybe Marcus Stroman and that is about it. I am not sure I would want to trade a top prospect for Sonny Gray at this point. Also, when you say ‘top prospect’ are you referring to someone ranked in the top 100 in all of baseball or just one of the Astros top 10 prospects? There are very few pitchers on the teams you listed I would be willing to trade Martes or Whitley for right now. There isn’t one, other than maybe Stroman, I would trade Kyle Tucker for at this time. I don’t want to trade Kyle Tucker for anybody, but if the Astros feel they must trade him it better be for someone like Quintana, Cole or Archer. I sure don’t want to give him up for Jeremy Hellickson.

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  45. It really is hard for me to say this , but I have to agree with Mr Congeniality Tim. The Indians pitching shut us down or is it MMP, we looked like the old Astros for 3 games. I think if we reviewed all the posts for Oct – March a lot of us expressed concern in the SP after DK and LMJ, its obvious we need anther big arm.

    However with 118 games left I’m not sure its time to panic. Lets see how the next 2 weeks go. The last thing we need is another trade that sucks.

    Let just win tonight Go Peacock you got a good game in your right? We need to score 6, we win 6-4!

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    • It doesn’t have to be that hard to agree with me. I may say it like it is, but occasionally I am right, just like that broken clock mentioned above.

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      • Tim, the pile on really makes no sense to me. But like those who don’t care much for my comments either, to each his/her own. I find you and Daveb have both tempered your words ‘n I’ve come around to enjoying your tack, and even tone. Stay the course. This blog should be “in good fun” since we all want like hell for the Astros to come around…

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      • I don’t know what I said that would warrant such concern other than just giving my opinion. Some times words don’t come across as intended, but I made no personal attacks on anyone. I just stated why I disagreed with making a trade now as opposed to waiting. I didn’t realize that had to be delivered with humility, but, as Gov astutely states, to each his/her own.

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  46. I just looked at the standings and the Astros have the best record in baseball and a 5.5 game lead on our rival.
    Everyone who contributes to this site has known all along that the key to this season would be how the Astros play against the Rangers head to head.
    Why in the world would we panic with the best record in baseball entering the second quarter of the season?
    There are things to work on.
    Aoki is in a slump and is not playing well in LF. But Marwin Gonzalez has been one of our best hitters this year, so maybe I would replace Aoki with Marwin.
    Maybe I move Altuve to the top of the lineup to take advantage of his speed and OBP.
    Maybe I move Springer to the five or six spot to take advantage of his power.
    Maybe move Gurriel back to the 8 spot where he was productive earlier.
    I am looking at Brad peacock as a major league pitcher and am asking him to beat the Tigers tonight. With the best record in baseball, I’m not asking my spot starter to just show up. I’m expecting his best and looking for a win.

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    • We went to the game as a group of 20 last night. Those who left early missed an awesome 9th where there was so much hope, we BELIEVED we’d come back!

      What really surprised me was bringing in Tolliver when we did (felt like conceding), then leaving him in with nobody warming up! The Indian series from all accounts looked very lackluster ho hum. Not a feather in Hinch’s cap for how drab we played.

      Can’t help but think the Keuchel news, subsequent McCann concussion and poor starter outings played a big part.

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    • OP what do you thin about Fisher coming up soon in LF. It seems bedside striking out to much he has maybe hit his peak at AAA, the rest of his stats are stellar right now

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      • I don’t think Fisher has hit his peak at AAA. He is only 23 and his K-rate at AAA has not changed since last season. I read up on him yesterday and he is making strides on his routes to the baseball in the outfield, and on his swing to boost his contact rate.
        I don’t think he is ready. He can work on his fielding, on his K’s and on his base stealing, where he is 7 out of 14 this season. I don’t see the advantage in bringing him up, when we have Marisnick and Marwin to help out in our outfield right now. I doubt that Fisher is as ready to play in our outfield as either one of those players. That is my honest assessment. I think he can help himself a lot if he can continue to keep the barrel of his bat in the zone longer and quit missing pitches at this level. Despite his speed, he does not have good acceleration, so he needs to work on seeing the ball off the bat quickly in the outfield. Finishing the year out in Fresno gives him more experience and more looks at good pitchers who will move up from AA in the last half of the year and expand his view of the baseball world of pitching.
        Fisher is not on the 40 man because he was drafted in 2014. He has to be added to the 40-man at season’s end anyway, so adding him in September seems right to me.
        I see him fighting to make this team next spring and possibly winning a spot.

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    • Book Report:
      As to shaking up the line-up, Keith Law says your best hitter should always bat second. “Best” he defines as OBP. So Margo needs to bat second.

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  47. Also, let’s not forget the Rangers have traded away many of their top prospects the past 2 years mid-season to help the push for the playoffs. Their farm system has taken a huge hit and they will not be able to upgrade the team much at the deadline. The Astros have a much better farm system and the ability to greatly improve a team that is already 6 games up in the loss column. I completely understand, after how the Astros have fared against the Rangers the past 2 years, the trepidation and concern with them slicing 3 games off our lead in the past week, but I still am confident the Astros are the better team. The only thing that should prevent us from winning this division is long-term injuries to Keuchel and McCullers. Otherwise, the Astros sit in a very good position.

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  48. I had a minor eye injury Friday so I couldn’t see the ugliness. I did however, hear it. Sounds like guys were swinging at all kinds of bad pitches.
    This is were we see what this team is really made of
    They could regroup today and go on another winning streak or they could dig a bigger hole. Either way I’m hoping Boston can slow down that Dallas team.

    I like OPs thoughts on shaking up the line up and Tim is right on the trading situation. I hope Our front office has grown up enough not to panic at this point and I hope our manager can go outside of his comfort zone and make those lineup changes.

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  49. Jordan Jankowski has been called up and room must be made on the 40-man roster for him.
    Someone is either going to be DFA’d or put on the 60-day DL.

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  50. It was pretty evident that my post last night was filled with much anger and frustration. Although Luhnow probably won’t make a move anytime soon, the problem I have is when, not if this rotation goes south and we free fall in the AL West. I’m not going to apologize for it…….I meant every-single-word.

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    • If everyone had to apologize for posting after being angry and frustrated this blog would be full of apologists. I feel your angst, but I just don’t think the Rangers have enough to be serious contenders. I could be wrong (as we have seen numerous times here), but they have an aging roster with a few decent, young players and a depleted farm system.

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    • Becky, this team can hit better, it can field better than it has and it can pitch better.
      Musgrove had no fastball yesterday and he paid for it.
      We have seen them play good baseball, but I don’t think we have seen their best yet.
      If we get the Altuve and Beltran that we have seen in the past, this team can beat anybody.

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