2015 vs. 2017 Astros’ playoffs: Two years is a long time

I’m at that age where I not only have forgotten more than most people know, I seem to forget every day most everything I used to know. Therefore it is no surprise that in reviewing the Astros 2015 ALDS roster against the KC Royals that I’ve forgotten:

  • That the Astros split was only 11 pitchers and 14 every day players. The discussions about the 2017 playoff  rosters lately has been talking about dropping from a 13-12 split to a 12-13 split, not a 11-14 split. Did this lead to the bullpen disaster of game four back then? Probably not, but it did not help.
  • That Chris Carter and Jed Lowrie were still with us in 2015. It feels like so much longer ago than that.
  • That Oliver Perez and Josh Fields were prominent in the bullpen
  • That Evan Gattis was only DH’ing and Jason Castro and Hank Conger were manning the plate.

How would we compare rosters between 2015 and the likely roster for 2017? Well here is a shot at just that.

POS 2015 PLAYOFF ROSTER 2017 PLAYOFF ROSTER? COMMENTS
1B CHRIS CARTER YULI GURRIEL 2017 ADVANTAGE
2B JOSE ALTUVE JOSE ALTUVE PUSH
SS CARLOS CORREA CARLOS CORREA 2017 ADVANTAGE
3B LUIS VALBUENA ALEX BREGMAN 2017 ADVANTAGE
C JASON CASTRO BRIAN MCCANN 2017 ADVANTAGE
RF GEORGE SPRINGER JOSH REDDICK PUSH
CF CARLOS GOMEZ GEORGE SPRINGER 2017 ADVANTAGE
LF COLBY RASMUS MARWIN GONZALEZ 2017 ADVANTAGE
DH EVAN GATTIS CARLOS BELTRAN PUSH
SUB HANK CONGER EVAN GATTIS 2017 ADVANTAGE
SUB MARWIN GONZALEZ DEREK FISHER 2015 ADVANTAGE
SUB JED LOWRIE COLIN MORAN 2015 ADVANTAGE
SUB JAKE MARISNICK CAMERON MAYBIN 2017 ADVANTAGE
SP DALLAS KEUCHEL JUSTIN VERLANDER 2015 ADVANTAGE
SP COLLIN MCHUGH DALLAS KEUCHEL 2017 ADVANTAGE
SP SCOTT KAZMIR BRAD PEACOCK 2017 ADVANTAGE
SP LANCE MCCULLERS COLLIN MCHUGH 2017 ADVANTAGE
SP MIKE FIERS CHARLIE MORTON 2017 ADVANTAGE
RP LUKE GREGERSON KEN GILES 2017 ADVANTAGE
RP WILL HARRIS CHRIS DEVENSKI PUSH
RP PAT NESHEK WILL HARRIS PUSH
RP TONY SIPP LUKE GREGERSON 2017 ADVANTAGE
RP JOSH FIELDS JOE MUSGROVE 2017 ADVANTAGE
RP OLIVER PEREZ FRANCISCO LIRIANO PUSH
25TH PRESTON TUCKER MIKE FIERS PUSH

My assumption here is that the Astros will do a 12/13 split and that the last spot would be Fiers this time around.

Overall the starting lineup should be stronger this time around, even with a few of the same people involved. The bench seems a little worse this time around, while the rotation and the bullpen seem deeper and better.

  • Do you agree with the 2017 playoff roster shown above?
  • Do you agree with the 12/13 pitcher vs. everyday player split?
  • Do you agree with how this team is rated vs. that one?
  • Do you think this team has a better shot than that one of going deep in the playoffs?
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124 responses to “2015 vs. 2017 Astros’ playoffs: Two years is a long time”

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  5. My opinion only……but Hinch really mismanaged this bullpen tonight. I understand these guys have the West locked up, but now your bullpen is wrecked for the next three games with the arlington little league. Walking in runs??? I don’t get it.

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  6. Today was a rough day for Houston sports fans. The Texans left it all out on the field,
    but they didn’t have enough to begin with. It was a great game and a fitting one to end my NFL Football-watching career. I will play solitaire or tiddly winks.
    The Astros led 4-1 and then their manager gave the win away.. Obviously, wanting to win every game was just something you say to a microphone.

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