2018 Astros: A preview of the defending MLB champions

We interrupt our review of the Astros’ divisional rivals to slide in a look-ahead for the local good guys prior to the season opener on Thursday.

2017 Astros

  • 101-61 Record (99-63 Pythagorean) – 1st Place in the AL West; 1 GB of Indians for best record in AL, 3 GB of Dodgers for best record in baseball…..oh, and World Series Champs
  • Offense – .282 BA (1st in AL) / .346 OBP (1st) / .823 OPS (1st) / 896 Runs (1st) / 238 HRs (2nd) / 98 SBs (4th)
  • Starting Pitching – 4.03 ERA (3rd) / 1.26 WHIP (3rd) / .243 BA against (3rd) / .721 OPSA (3rd) / 115 HR (2nd best) / 309 BB (5th most) / 931 K (3rd)
  • Relief Pitching – 4.27 ERA (10th) / 1.28 WHIP (7th) / 68% save % (4th) / .234 BAA (4th) / .719 OPSA (7th) / 77 HR (7th most) / 213 BB (7th most) / 662 K (1st)

Summary of 2017

It is hard to remember that the 2017 Astros did not set the record for the best season record in team history. That honor goes to the Randy Johnson led 1998 version that put up a great record of 102-60. However, all fans will take the 2017 team’s 11-7 post season record over the 1-3 crash of that earlier team. Looking at the stats with some time, distance and perspective a few things stand out. The Astros’ offense was almost flawless. Along with all the 1st in ALs, which were also 1st in the majors they did this while making a sea change in strikeouts. The Astros struck out 365 less times in 2017, an insane 25% improvement over 2016.

It is interesting to see that even with all the injuries to the starting rotation, that group ended up in the top three in the league, while the bullpen had overall mediocre numbers. These two items are linked. The bullpen suffered when Brad Peacock entered the rotation. This put more of a load on Chris Devenski and others and gave opportunities to folks like Francis Martes in the bullpen, who was a whole lot better as a starter than as a reliever. The Astros save percentage was not affected by these moving parts because Ken Giles did a solid job during the regular season and did not fall from that role until late in the playoffs.

2018 Astros Offense

There are a number of changes in this season’s offense that may help or hurt certain areas as the team moves forward:

  • The weak link in the Astros’ 2017 offense was 40-year-old Carlos Beltran, who finally played like his age at the end of a wonderful career. Using Evan Gattis as the main DH should improve that output which was near the bottom of the AL. However…..
  • It is likely that the weak link for the offense will now be the catcher position. Brian McCann and Gattis were a great tag team and together put up the best combined catcher numbers in the AL (87 runs/ 33 HRs / 102 RBIs). McCann may start slipping down as his age slides up and Max Stassi will probably not fill Gattis’ offensive shoes in the backup C spot.
  • It would not be a surprise if Josh Reddick and/or Marwin Gonzalez regressed after career years by both in 2017. MarGo in a contract year has a lot hanging on this season, but if they are both 90% of their 2017 production, that will be plenty in this lineup.
  • Jake Marisnick put up 16 homers in only 230 ABs and ended with a very good .815 OPS. His 90 Ks in so few ABs is a red flag that he may not have the consistency to repeat 2017.
  • The Astros are hoping that Carlos Correa, like George Springer before him, finds good health for a whole season (not just 109 games) and stretches that terrific .315 BA/.391 OBP/ .941 OPS over 600 plus ABs.
  • Alex Bregman and Yuli Gurriel now have a whole season at the major league level under their belts. Some improvement, especially by Bregman can be expected this season.
  • If Derek Fisher and J.D. Davis extend fine springs into fine regular season performances the Astros may have a much better bench than they showed last season.
  • Can Jose Altuve add anything else to his arsenal? Will he walk on water in 2018?
  • And waiting restlessly in the wings is Kyle Tucker who showed a lot this Spring training and will be busy polishing his skills until he is needed by the big club.

Starting Rotation

The Astros on paper look like the team with the best starting rotation and the most capable spot starters in baseball.

  • Mike Fiers started the most games for the 2017 Astros and was 8-10 with a 5.14 ERA in 28 starts.
  • Joe Musgrove was great in the bullpen, but as a starter was 4-8 with a 6.12 in 15 starts.
  • Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole should suck up those 43 starts and throw much better numbers in place of Fiers and Musgrove. Cole was 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA, but is young and just a few years away from competing for the Cy Young. Verlander was brilliant after coming to the Astros last season – 5-0 and 1.06 ERA and while he won’t repeat those insane numbers, he could easily be in the conversation for the Cy Young this season.
  • Dallas Keuchel is pitching for a purpose; a potential huge payday in the next off-season. He should bring a lot of value to the team and himself this season.
  • Except for one bad pre-season start, Charlie Morton has looked like the regular and post season hero he was in 2017, heading into 2018.
  • Lance McCullers is the wild card here. Can he turn into a dependable 6-7 inning starter or will he continue to be dominant in small spurts?
  • Behind the starting five, the Astros are strong with Collin McHugh, who won 43 games between 2014-2016 and Brad Peacock, who was 10-2 with a 3.22 ERA as a fill-in starter in 2017 on the 25 man roster. Oh and they have Francis Martes and David Paulino who are a year more mature (we hope) and Cuban Rogelio Armenteros waiting in the wings if needed.

Relief Pitching

The bullpen was the shakiest part of the Astros in 2017, which was totally exposed in the playoffs. But there are reasons for potential improvement in 2018.

  • The Astros added experience to their bullpen in picking up Joe Smith (3-0, 3.33 ERA in 59 appearances in 2017) and former closer Hector Rondon (4-1, 4.24 ERA in 61 games in 2017). Rondon had 77 saves for the Cubs in 2014-2016 and may be here to give the Astros another option at the end of games.
  • First option closer Ken Giles is back after a strong regular season (2.30 ERA and 34 saves) and a crash and burn playoffs (11.74 ERA with a 2.217 WHIP). Was it nerves? Was it the “playoff” baseballs that hurt slider pitchers? He has something to prove in 2018.
  • Will Harris was solid in 2017, but a step down from his outstanding 2015 and 2016 seasons. The Astros are hoping he can avoid the injury bug that slowed him in 2017.
  • How will manager A. J. Hinch use his potential multi-inning weapons out of the pen – Peacock, McHugh and Chris Devenski? Will any of these three float towards a late inning, single inning set-up man? Will any of them be used in “tandem” situations like those faced in the playoffs where they might throw 3 or 4 innings to close out games? It will strengthen the Astros’ bullpen if Peacock can stay out of the rotation for the year.
  • Tony Sipp – will Tony come back from two lost seasons where he was relegated to non-leveraged situations?

Predictions for the 2018 Astros

The Astros all-World offense may regress a tad, but the starting pitching should be stronger and the bullpen has the potential for improvement also. How many wins they hit may depend on how many wins they need and how much they rest their veterans down the stretch.

2018 Prediction – 103-59 and heading deep in the playoffs again.

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108 responses to “2018 Astros: A preview of the defending MLB champions”

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  1. The talent is definitely there – for all 25 roster spots and beyond. The talent level on this team is so strong that every other team and fan base knows very well that we are the team to beat. So, they have their sights on us. They will come loaded for bear, every game, every series. This is going to be war.

    The question that will be answered is how bad our guys want not just to repeat as WS Champions, but to individually and collectively take advantage of all the supporting talent they now have around them and perform at a ‘personal best’ level of performance.

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    • I think we saw last season what happens when players know that they do not have to carry more load than normal. They shine. Offensively, the Astros knew that very rarely would they be slumping as a team because there were just too many good bats in the lineup.
      I think we saw this with Verlander. He came over and he knew he did not have to do extra – he had plenty of help all around him, so he relaxed and killed it. Hoping that Cole does this too – knows that he does not have to carry a pitching staff – just take care of his 6 or so innings every 5 days.

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  2. I’m pulling this over for op – because it is relevant to this discussion

    1oldpro

    March 28, 2018 @ 10:14 am

    Talking strictly Astros:
    -Wouldn’t it be something if JD Davis turned into a good major league quality first baseman? How would that fit into the Astros future?
    -Jack Mayfield has a chance to make this club in the future as a utility infielder, but his fielding has always been shaky. He has to get better in the field. He committed 5 errors this spring.
    -Evan Gattis ends spring training with 10 walks and 8 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances. His OBP was .429.
    -The Astros will face three lefty starters against Texas, per ESPN.
    -Would Hercule Poirot be considered a Brussel sprout?
    -The worst thing that would be the result of the Whitley supension would be for him to try and make up ground when he returns and hurt himself. I hope he can come back and just be the pitcher he was turning into.
    -One of the most encouraging things I saw in ST was the bat of Josh Reddick.
    – Rogelio Armenteros pitches like a right handed Dallas Keuchel.
    -Odds that Max Stassi hits .250 this season. Would you settle for that if it were offered right now?
    -It would not surprise me if Brian McCann had a really good first month of the season.
    -Astros ticket sales are said to be at 115% compared to last season, the biggest jump in the majors, by far. The Astros are said to have jumped to #8 in ticket sales in the majors and that is a huge jump. The Astros were #15 in home attendance last season.

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    • – Let’s see – Davis takes over 1st base. Gurriel moves over to DH? Gattis gets moved to another team?
      – Mayfield did a lot of good things with the bat in spring training – the glove – not so much
      – Wasn’t Hercule that Greek god? Did he row his Poirot down by the bayou?
      – Bring on the leftys, rightys, whatever Rangers….
      – I hope Whitley does just like Correa did when he missed 1/2 a season with that broken leg (as I remember) in the minors and just be yourself afterwards
      – It was good to see Reddick hitting after he forgot how in the WS
      – A right handed Keuchel will work
      – Sure – would love to have .250 out of Stassi. That is BA and not OBP or OPS?
      – McCann is sure due – was bad this spring but what does he have to prove
      – Yes – no front runners in the ticket buyers. These are all the people who flooded the park during the 100 loss seasons…
      – The Astros might have been a couple slots higher in attendance last season if they did not have to play 3 games in front of ghosts(13,000 total for a 3 game series against the Rangers) in Tampa

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  3. Jeez guys, quit thinking about replacing Gattis, at least until next season. He will be a quality DH.

    Davis had a great spring, but he’s going to strike out a whole lot.

    I’d be impressed if Stassi hit .250, but would rather see a .700 OPS out of him.

    Anyone reading my thoughts already knows how I feel about Rogelio. In comparing him with Keuchel, development wise, he’s ahead of Dallas in some respects. Keuchel never owned in the minors. Rogelio already does. He’s got five pretty good pitches at the age of 23. He can get 94 out of his fastball when he wants to. But the big thing is that he’s already got a pretty good change. I’m not saying he’s ever going to win a Cy Young, but I do think he’ll be a quality starter on our club soon.

    Heck, if Reddick really has learned how to hit lefties, that’s an incredible bonus.

    OP, it looks like 3 million in attendance is realistic at this point. That’s 37,000 a game.

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  4. Tomorrow should be a national holiday! It’s one of the greatest days of the year. I’m excited to see what the 2018 Never Settle campaign looks like for the good guys. DanP I’m hoping your prognosticating is correct and we are sitting pretty going into the playoffs and making another long playoff run. Maybe we’ll be the first team since the late 90’s Yankees to repeat as World Series champs! I’m also looking forward to reading this blog daily. Keep up the great work everybody and GO ASTROS!!!

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    • I enjoy this forum very much. I usually learn things about our Astros and baseball in general, thanks to Dan, 1OP and everyone that contributes here. As a fan of this team since their birth, I am so looking forward to this season. Question for you Dan : Do you think Luhnow still might have interest in trading for the Marlins catcher?

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  5. – Will Harris said last week that when he went on the DL last july it was because his arm felt like it was about to fall off. The official wording for his injury was “a bone bruise”. This statement might explain a lot about the last few weeks of the season for Giles and Devenski. The addition of Smith and Rondon and Peacock and McHugh to this bullpen, coupled by a much superior rotation, might alleviate this situation.
    The only negative I see is other pitchers having to pitch Sipp’s innings while he sits in the bullpen because he gives up leads. Seven pitchers carry the load of eight is how you wear out a bullpen. Having a huge increase in attendance does give the Astros the option of acquiring another solid arm before the deadline if they need it.
    – Seeing the numbers that Marwin and Josh put up in spring training, I’m convinced they are ready to answer all the regression BS with emphasis.
    -Just so there is no misunderstanding, I cannot remember being so excited about a spring training performance by any player as I am by Kyle Tucker’s. When I say I don’t mind him getting sent down to get better, I really mean it, but I am ecstatic about having him down there getting better and better and being a great player in the future.
    Kyle Tucker was responsible for 3 or 4 losses turning into victories this spring. He was, literally, a win tree, which is like a money tree, only rarer.
    -Think about it: having Kyle Tucker as a good, inexpensive young starting outfielder may allow the Astros to tie up Springer with an extension, because they know they would not have to go out and sign someone like Reddick for 4/52 because they would already have Tucker. So they could give the money to Springer. They could afford a Springer extension because Reddick’s(and Yuli’s) contract expires at the same time as Springer’s.

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    • OP, I agree that a healthier (how can we not be?) rotation will make life easier on the pen. The better rotation will also help. I also think the ten day DL will be exploited more. And finally, if Tony Sipp can’t get guys out, he’ll go. I’m not sure if we’d need to acquire a solid arm to replace Sipp, unless we really want a lefty.

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    • As for Reddick and Yuli, I figure Reddick will be gone in ’21 but yuli might continue on depending upon need. 2020 looks to be an expensive year for the team. Payroll might be upwards of 200MM.

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  6. No more games that don’t count!! We are going to be on the road tomorrow, going to our family in Louisiana to eat Crawfish for Good Friday!! I’ll listen to the game while I’m in the car…..but I’m recording all the games we play against the arlington little league. Let’s hope they don’t get rained out, my sister lives in Ft. Worth and said it’s been raining everyday. I’m soo excited to get this season started, I’m like a 6yr old kid on Christmas morning!
    You know what’s funny (in a good way) when a guy is traded or leaves this club they are sad to leave. That’s what I want Reddick to say as well as Yuli! I want other players to know what a good organization this is….like Verlander has!
    Happy Easter everyone, and know what that day is all about. Becky⚾
    “He is risen it is finished”🙏

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  7. I think the Astros will be a better team than last year. I suspect they will be better defensively because of Bregman and Gurriel being more used to their positions.
    I expect they will be better in the pitching department because the health of their pitchers is currently better and they have a much better pitching staff from top to bottom.
    I expect the Astros to be slightly better offensively than last year because they will have growth at the plate from a number of players.
    I expect the team to be better because they have a lot more experience, as does their manager.
    And I expect the Astros will be better because their general manager will pull the trigger if he needs to and will have the blessing of the owner to do that.
    I expect the Astros to be better because the crowds will be bigger and louder at home and that is where the Astros needed improvement over last season.
    I’m a conservative person by nature, and this 103-59 prediction goes against that nature. But I think that it is a real good prediction.

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  8. And here comes Mr. Negative (glass half empty). I think that the Angels, A’s, and Mariners will be slightly better. I don’t know if the Strangers will even field a team. But with those 3 West Division teams being slightly better, we will lose a few more games than last year. So I am going to say 95-98 wins.

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    • You know AC – as far as the final number of wins goes it just does not matter that much as long as they win their division.
      They will be a tough team to meet in the playoffs and though home field advantage is better- this team can go all the way without it in every round. I think they can win more games this season due to a better rotation but if they don’t I’m not going to sweat it.

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    • It’s rather strange daveb – because yesterday we had over 600 views (we normally run about 300 views) which we have not had since the WS. So people are looking but not commenting.

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  10. Today is a unique day in the history of the Astros franchise. It is the first time they have entered a season with a huge target on their back. It is also the first season they have ever entered with the knowledge that reaching baseball’s Holy Grail is not only achievable, but achievable by mostly this group of players.
    It will be a fascinating season psychologically for the team. Did the pressure of never having won it drive the team to great heights last season? Can they toe the line between confidence and complacency? Will it help them to be more relaxed help them or will they lack the hunger they had last season?
    How will they face adversity this season, because it will occur…. Last season they faced quite a few injuries, but entered the playoffs really only lacking Jake Marisnick. Can they be lucky that way again?
    Whatever happens – this team is the defending world champs until someone takes that mantle away from them. How they play will determine when that occurs.

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    • I don’t think we were all that lucky in 2017. Heck, at one point the entire rotation was down. Pitching depth within the system and a great offense saved the season early. The team went flat after the break while guys got healthy and reignited in September. That’s great planning.

      With vets like McCann and Keuchel and Verlander, and still young hungry talent from a batch of the other guys and leadership from Altuve, I will be shocked if they come out flat.

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    • This thing that somebody named a hangover is NOT a hangover.
      Everyone knows what a hangover is and what it comes from and can describe it.
      What happens in baseball to a team winning the world series is more like sleepwalking. You know where you were when you went to sleep, but when you awaken you are in a place that you don’t recognize and you don’t have a clue how you got there or what you did to get there.
      The Cubs did not drink too much baseball or success. They went to sleep as World Series Champions and woke up in a different place and didn’t manage to get back to the comfort of their room before time ran out.
      Now we will see if the Astros rested well and will wake up to their normal, great cup of coffee today.

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  11. I expect pitching to be better, hitting to be a little worse. I expect 96 wins but I would love to be wrong and get to 102. Let’s hope the injury bug passes the Astros by, as I think it will be the only factor to mess up the Astros season.

    But in the end I don’t know squat, because I was ready to release Brad Peacock last spring training.

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    • I do not see an overall regression by the offense. I see continued growth from Bregman and Correa. I see Springer just coming into his prime. I see Gattis as a much more solid DH than last years options. I see less offense from the catchers position. I see the possibility of less offense from left field, but then again, that could change in a big way come summer. Marwin and Reddick? The popular position on them is regression. It would not surprise me. But it also would not surprise me to see them put up similar numbers in this offense.

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  12. Can’t wait till game time today. To use the old expression, “I’m chomping at the bit ” is an understatement. 3:35 EDT. As for predictions, I’m not very good but I’ll say between 96 and 103. Yes, I’m playing it safe. I just want another WS for our ‘Stros. But in the end none of us really knows what’s going to happen.

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  13. How many times have I mentioned Rusty Staub in this blog over the years?
    He was a hero to me when I was a boy. Here was a guy who made the world a better place to live.
    RIP, Rusty.

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  14. Okay, since we’re short on comments, I’ll take one for the blog. AC45, don’t you dare try to take my spot as the glass half empty person here. Remember, Dan once told me that I’m the type of person whose glass is totally empty and I’m hiding it because I’m afraid someone is going to steal it and beat me up with it. That was before the ‘Stros won the World Series of course. Now, I’m just Debbie Reynolds singing “Good mornin’, good mornin’, sunbeams will soon shine through, on Opening Day, good mornin’, good mornin’ to you … and you and you.”

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  15. Sorry to see Rusty “Le Grand Orange” Staub pass away. I think his real name was mine – Daniel. So Rusty was a nickname but Le Grand Orange was a NICKNAME.
    I always found it amusing that everyone pictured Rusty as he was in the end a kind of rotund DH type. Kind of like everyone pictures Babe Ruth as he was at the end of his career after a million hot dogs.
    Now neither of those guys were ever Roger Metzger slim, but Rusty was a good enough athlete to play the OF with the Astros and lead the NL in outfield assists one year.
    Anyways – sending him to Montreal was one of those trades like the Joe Morgan and Mike Cuellar trades that helped doom this franchise to long term struggles.

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  16. Will this link work?

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  18. I had to drive over to a city near Dallas this morning so I listened to the Metroplex sports station talking about the Rangers’ prospects and the ‘feeling’ about the team on opening day. The host was expecting the Rangers to be pretty bad in 2018. He described himself and others as being ‘very perplexed’ about the Rangers’ front office and the long-term plan. He acknowledged that the Rangers FO had not committed either to [a] a real rebuild; or [b] an all-in campaign to make the playoffs. He speculated that the plan may be to shop Beltre’ and/or other quality players who are getting a little age on them [Andrus? Hamels?] to a contender at the deadline, and use the talent/prospects they get in return to jump start a rebuild that will coincide with the opening of the new stadium.

    I would love to know what the Rangers’ players think about that! But more than that, I would really like to have the Astros come in and set the tone for the year by taking at least 3 of 4.

    Coffin? Meet nail.

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  19. Daveb7 has left the office early ( yes I really go to an office and do work ) and will watch the game live on my iPhone, as the local cable operation has no concern for MLB on Opening Day. I just wish I knew how to attach a photo of my beach setting here on little Nevis. Things could be worse. It’s a place called Chrishi Beach Club, run by a family of wonderful Norwegian souls, and although all they want to talk about even today are the Winter Olympic results, they also provide quality wifi. Things could be worse. Go Astros!

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  20. Greg Holland has signed a one year deal with the Cardinals and this is good for the Astros.
    Why? Because Holland got a QO and, thus, cannot receive another at the end of this year. If he chooses to become a free agent at the end of the season he would not cost the next team who signs him a draft pick and that sweetens the pot of free agents available for 2019. The more free agents that are available the less the demand.
    There are a lot of good relievers who will be available as free agents in 2019 which gives the Astros more chances to make a deal for a good reliever if they feel the need to sign one. If there is one thing that the Astros have been absolutely clear about with JL as their GM, it is that draft picks are at the top of the list of things they won’t surrender. And the Astros will have more of a book on Holland’s recovery from last year’s injury to get a good read on his worth.
    Plus, now the Cardinals had to surrender another draft pick to sign Holland, but won’t get one if he walks at the end of the year. Make no mistake, Gregerson’s injury hurt the Cards a lot.

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  23. Man – no one told George the World Series was over – he just wants to keep hitting dingers forever. Have to love Verlander with a 7 pitch first inning.

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  24. JV gets into a bit of problem with a single and HBP with no out, but gets a DP and a strikeout…..26 pitches thru 2 innings.

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  26. Astros up 2-0 in the 3rd, but Marwin has left four on the pond after a K and a DP. But they have run up Hamels pitch count a bit – we will see how it all goes down.

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  32. Slugging Jake with a bomb and fleet-footed Brian gets shot out of a McCannon for an infield single. The Astros can come at you from all different directions.

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    • I’m not watching – but he gave up a couple singles in the 6th but still has a shutout.
      Hamels was replaced during the 6th – I’m guessing JV may be replaced at 90 pitches heading into the 7th.

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  38. My observations Tuve and some pressing a bit nerves first game and Big $$, JV was tough but didn’t have his A game and Giles still a time bomb waiting to go off, when ever he gets on the mound.

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  39. It’s a win! It’s an opening day win on top of that! It’s a win over the Rangers on top of that!

    We did not muster much offense [only 6 hits] – fortunately we did not need to, as two of our hits were home runs.

    We struck out WAY too much.

    We still can’t buy a hit from the DH position.

    Our closer is still really, really iffy.

    But it’s a win. One down, 161 to go.

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  40. Not a good offensive effort save for the long balls. I though we should have blown them away when we had the bases loaded (twice) but only came away with a single run. JV didn’t have his best stuff today but managed to keep the Rangers off of the scoreboard. Bull pen save for Giles did their jobs. I think all were just a little nervous. Lots of flailing at pitches out of the zone (13Ks). Maybe due to expectations and nerves but the hometown boys came through. Lets do it again tomorrow.

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  41. What’s not to like?
    Our Ace doesn’t give up a run.
    Their ace gives up 3 runs.
    We hit two home runs and led the game from the very first batter.
    We did not commit an error.
    We’re as far ahead of the Rangers as we could possibly be after one game.
    Our Bullpen did their jobs.
    Dallas Keuchel faces Doug Fister tomorrow night.
    Jose Altuve is due.

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  42. Folks – if JV gives us 6 innings with 0 runs, 4 hits and 2 walks – we will win 90% of his starts.

    Yeah they were not as good as they could be hitting, but the Rangers sure would have taken it.

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  44. You know as we all get older, we have these memories for some reason that we can’t explain. In the summer of 1960, Nacogdoches had a American Legion baseball team that was composed of the all stars and also some players from around the area. They were really good. To get to the National Championships, they had to beat a team called the Crescent City 9. It was not to be and that team from New Orleans went on to win the National Title. Their first baseman was a 16 year kid named Rusty Staub. My earliest memory of him. Rest in Peace – Le Grand Orange.

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    • You guys know I’m gonna always be around. Reading every day as usual.
      I’m not a stat person so I leave that up to the guys. Nothing to complain about except maybe Giles. He still makes me nervous.

      This game tonight is weird. They’re hitting every thing Keuchel serves up and our guys can’t hit anything Fister delivers.

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  47. Chandler Rome had a list of where the Astros minor leaguers would start this coming season on his twitter account, and JB Bukauskas is listed to start at Low A Quad Cities and Corbin Martin is listed at High A Buies Creek.
    Tucker is listed as starting in AAA Fresno.

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  48. With a lot of pride and joy, and before seeing Gerritt Cole pitch for the Astros, I notice that Colin Moran is listed on the Pirates depth chart as their starting third baseman, Joe Musgrove is their #5 starter and Michael Feliz is in the opening day bullpen. Seeing the system work for our former prospects is a good feeling. I wish these three guys the best.

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    • All three of those guys could have made our opening day roster as well, but obviously had a better shot at winning a starting spot in Pittsburgh. To some extent, they were already ruled out as starters in Houston. I hope they have great years. I hope Cole also has a great year!

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  50. Was checking the Detroit/Pittsburgh game….Moran 0 for 3, Feliz, 4ER, 3 hits, 1 walk, no recorded outs. Makes you wonder.

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