The Astros ChipalattAwards for the July

The Astros had a 13-11 record for the month of July. Looking at the offensive numbers for the month that almost seems like a miracle. But there are some folks we do need to celebrate or lament, so it is time to give the Chippy Awards for the month of July.

Starting Pitcher of the Month. Dallas Keuchel. This was not even close as the other four members of the rotation fell off to one extent or another. DK was 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA and a 1.010 WHIP over 32.2 IP in July

Runners-up. Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander. Both GC and JV did not have much to show for very solid months. Cole was 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.180 WHIP. Verlander was 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. They both deserved better.

In June – It was Gerrit Cole followed by Lance McCullers and Charlie Morton.

Everyday Player of the Month. Alex Bregman.   Alex pulls a repeat as he led the team in most categories for the month. Bregman hit for a .300 BA/.407 OBP /.985 OPS slash and put up 20 runs / 6 HRs / 18 RBIs.

Runner-up. Tyler White. In only 28 ABs he was very productive with a .286/.394/1.001 slash including 4 runs / 3 HRS/ 4 RBIs. It is a sign of how poor a hitting month it was that White earned this in 1/3 of a month.

In June – It was Bregman with Evan Gattis as the runner-up.

Relief Pitcher of the Month. Collin McHugh. He did not allow the All Star Game snub to slow him down as he had a 2-1 record, 1.15 ERA and a tiny 0.442 WHIP in a bullpen leading 15.2 IP.

Runner-up. Tony Sipp and Joe Smith. The left and right of the ‘pen had impressive Julys as they were used in higher leverage situations after earning A.J. Hinch‘s confidence. Sipp did not give up an earned run for the month and Smith only one run. Smith had a 1.00 ERA / 0.556 WHIP and 0 HRs. Sipp had a 0.00 ERA and a 1.043 WHIP.

In June – This award belonged to Chris Devenski (how things change) with McHugh and Brad Peacock as the runners-up.

Biggest Surprise (Positive). Tony Kemp. Everyone has been waiting for TK to fall off, but he had another solid month with a .271 BA/.397 OBP/.834 OPS slash. When a guys is getting on 40% of the time he needs to get to the plate a lot.

Runner-up. Smith and Sipp. A little lazy choice, but not a bunch to choose from.

In June – It was Tony Kemp backed up by Joe Smith.

Biggest Surprise (Negative). Ken Giles. Giles has had his ups and downs, but his total meltdown both performance-wise (18.00 ERA in only 2 IP) and with mouthing off to Hinch led to a demotion and eventually a trade.

Runner-up. Kyle Tucker. I know he did not get enough ABs to write off, but I really thought he would do better than he did – .156 BA/ .240 OBP / .462 OPS and 0 HRs.

In May – George Springer followed by Dallas Keuchel

The crazies stats award. Justin Verlander. Verlander struck out 15.33 hitters for every walk he gave up in July. That is insane. He only walked three hitters the whole month. However with the hitters knowing he would be around the zone, he gave up 7 HRs…more than the other four starters gave up together.

The surprising stat award. Hector Rondon. Even though he had a 0.960 WHIP, and gave up only a .188 BA/.235 OBP/ .579 OPS slash – Rondon also posted a very high 5.40 ERA, which makes no sense.

The stats that might have shown an injury was coming award. Chris Devenski. and Lance McCullers. Both of these pitchers struggled mightily in the month of July (Devo – 23.40 ERA / LMJ – 6.53 ERA) and are currently on the DL.

Do you agree with these awards?

Want to propose awards of your own?

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127 responses to “The Astros ChipalattAwards for the July”

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  1. And the MVP award goes to the medical staff if they can mend our heroes. Oops, does that become an August award.

    I would change the Surprise award to JL for bringing in Osuna. He had to do something with Giles and probably had few, if any, other takers.

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  2. I see Paxton has a 3.51 ERA, but against us it’s almost non existent. They should watch game videos of the teams this year that did him some damage and hopefully it will do some good. Need to score runs. Maybe some small ball is in order.

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  3. I give the July MVP award to Hinch. What team loses it’s SS for seven weeks, doesn’t have one in the minors to bring up and still has a winning record, even though nobody is hitting well. It’s pretty amazing to me.

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    • And I think the loss of McCann is an under the radar item. He ain’t sexy. He does not hit like he used to. But he was a glue guy for this team.

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  4. Like ac45’s award to the medics and OP’s award to AJ. Like all your awards too; just disagree with one. Kemp continuing is not a surprise to me. Now remember, in late spring when there was talk of including Kemp in a trade package, I firmly said: keep Kemp. Of course as soon as he falls off, I’ll forget that and this post too.

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    • You make a real good point. Kemp is doing in the majors what he did in the minors and that is to hit for average and get on base and score runs. I think I have Jose Altuve Syndrome when it comes to Kemp, That is, not believing that a person of smaller stature can make it in the big leagues. I was wrong before and maybe I’m wrong again.

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    • I saw that!! Luhnow has done a GREAT job of including any of our lefty pitchers!
      He’s a barrel chested lefty, he will come to Spring training next year hunting for a starting pitcher in our rotation. He’s not alone….we have SEVERAL really good pitchers who will be in that mix!!!

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  6. A couple things I want to throw out there:
    – Martin Maldonado had 54 ABs in July, 7 of those ABs with the Astros. His overall hitting line for July was as bad as I’ve seen for a non-pitcher – .111 BA / .169 OBP / .318 OPS. But he has helped our team….

    – The hitting slashes for almost all of our hitters was below average for the month – here are ones not mentioned in the blog post
    Stassi – .217 BA/ .294 OBP/ .555 OPS
    Federowicz – .222 / .250/ .546
    Tucker – .156 / .240 / .462
    Marwin – .219/ .333 / .615
    Springer – .233/ .337/ .709
    Reddick – .224 / .286 / .739
    Gurriel – .256 / .300 / . 678
    Altuve – .270/ .325/ .703
    Gattis – .222/ .305/ .805

    Plus nothing from McCann, Correa or Marisnick – again amazing we won more than we lost considering the bullpen was a bit shaky too.

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  7. i can agree with your picks, dan. but let me add a no surprise award. its no surprise that luhnow would make the necessary trade(s) to aid the team in their stretch run. time and time again he has shown (and crane through his wallet) the wherewithal to pull the trigger. on another note i just learned that wherewithal doesnt have that second ‘L’. who says an old dog cant learn new tricks?

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  8. Pretty darn impressive managing to go 13 nd 11 when looking at the offensive stats and injuries in July.

    To me, we’ve had last years August already.

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  9. Agree with your list, but I gotta give Luhnow his credit too! He managed to make a few trades, without giving up those “golden delicious” arms on the farm! Correa will be cleared to join the big club tonight…..who goes back to Fresno??

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    • Oh my God…hits home as my wife and I both have battled that since my stroke and subsequent intermittent loss of income. As bad as it was to go through it myself it was ten times worse seeing her worry over me. But we see these guys on tv and we think they’re superhuman. They struggle with things like we all do

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      • In the “game” of life we all have to deal with all kinds of adversities no matter what our status is in the social-economic world. The Bible teaches us that God never gives us more than we can handle. Sometimes it doesn’t seem that way but I believe it. Stay strong Billy.

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  12. Trying to keep their awful record on games after off days intact. Kemp in right and Marwin in left? Maybe they’ll switch at game time. Verlander better be on tonight. At least Maldonado is catching which should make him happier. I’m going tonight. My wife thinks I’m trying to dampen her enthusiasm.

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  14. What it comes down to for me, is that I’d rather see Reddick playing and Davis sitting. Maybe tonight is the night that Davis gets the job done.

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  15. jake has been contributing in august and gattis, if he hasnt gone stale sitting on the bench in NL parks, ought to be ready to go after he sees a few pitches. maybe they will make the line up alittle deeper than it seems. i sure would like to see verlander get that #200 win!

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  16. Hinch said in pre- game interview that Correa was resting tonight after rehab starts and would be in the lineup tomorrow. That’s about the best news I have heard in a few weeks. If that’s the case J. “Dominguez in Disguise” Davis is probably playing his last game before being sent down.

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  20. There are a lot of times when JV dies not give up 4 hits in a start much less four to the first four hitters. May be a loooooong night

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  21. Not exactly how Verlander thought this game would go. Already 3-0 and still no outs. GOOD LORD……Put your team behind the 8 ball, against one of the toughest lefty’S in MLB. (((((SIGH)))).😢

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  24. Not enough internet speed for the feed tonight out here in the Atlantic. I guess I’m fortunate. Maybe our guys will pick their man up tonight and I’ll awaken to a marvelous outcome! Over and out folks.

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  31. I deplore cynicism. But I just heard an Astro rep come on and talk schmaltz about Beltran, how they wanted to honor him. And how come on the day Verlander is trying for 200 out of nowhere appears this story about suicidal thoughts? Somebody tell me I’m imagining things. I know the Astros organization is pure, right?

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    • Yeah Diane, I was thing the same thing. WHO would want that spread all over the place, whether your name is Justin Verlander or not.

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      • Clearly Justin and Kate chose to share this information — no other way to get it. What I wonder about is the timing. I can see letting people know about this at some point. But I would have thought post-season a better option. That’s just me. Maybe there was feedback and it threw him off last night.

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  38. King Felix has been moved to the bullpen. The starter for the M’s for Sunday will be announced, probably Sat. Correa will play tomorrow!! Thank goodness!!

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  39. Well, another game that needs to be filed and forgotten about.

    Verlander has a bit of Lance in him. He was not at his best last night but sure did let his circumstances get to him. I don’t think he wanted to pitch anymore after the second.

    God Bless Tony Kemp. He’s been a real spark. But he has to be hidden on the field and right is definitely not where he should be hidden again.

    I sure hope J.D. Davis is the guy headed to Fresno. I still can’t figure out why Reddick sat and Davis played last night. Easy to say now, but that played a real role in the game.

    Paxton was definately gettable. Alex Bregman is officallly suffering from Home Run Derby disease.

    We went to the pen after six outs last night, but still have a whole batch of guys that are rested and ready to go. A better start tonight is essential though.

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      • As I said earlier, Bregman needs to shave that garbage off his head. It ain’t him. And it sure doesn’t help his hitting. Oh and he shouldn’t be hitting 1st.

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    • dad gum that home run derby. i was nervous to see him take part. this has happened to many a player who participated in it and had their swing changed and/or mindset on how to swing changed.

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  40. There was a flash on the screen tonight that read something like JV has 5 career starts with less than 3 innings in his career. During those terrible 100+ loss seasons, I can remember our starters combined doing this 5 times in a week. It was a game we were destined to lose. And a pat on the back to Dave because he sure taught his nephew how to hit.

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    • Thank you 45, but alas, nephew is on borrowed time. He’ll be going back to purgatory in a week or two. I should have had him join a gym when he was 6 rather than buying all those damn video games.

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  41. Football season is upon us. So on an unrelated but VERY important note, mark your calendar for November 15th. Northwestern State (Natchitoches, LA) plays SFA (Nacogdoches, TX) in the Battle for Chief Caddo. A prized trophy that SFA furnished a log, and an artist from Northwestern carved and painted an Indian. Most important game of the season. 53rd battle for the trophy. Chip, it is on…………

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  45. The balk call last night unhinged JV and led to two HRs and 3 runs in the 2nd inning and his ejection. Offensively, putting guys on 2nd and 3rd with no outs in the fifth and the top of the order coming up and not scoring killed their comeback chances.

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    • You know, maybe I just am not seeing the picture here… JV gets a balk call because he, allegedly, steps towards third base. The rule states “a balk is called if, the pitcher, while standing on the rubber, throws to a base without stepping directly toward that base.” Okay, I get that part. Now the confusion… a left handed pitcher can stand on the rubber and complete a “snap” throw to first base while not stepping towards first base all day long and into the night too.

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  47. I’m not a pitching coach, nor do I play one on TV, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and I do not promote hitting batters, but….. I think JV needs to do something to make the batters a little more uncomfortable at the plate. They are counting on his control and were almost diving over the plate (check out Haninger’s leadoff HR) to whack his pitches. Just some high and tight or at least tight to back them off a bit and lower their comfort zones.
    OK – now back to my normal job of fan blogger….

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  48. Maybe it’s just me, but do you think the lack of run support so far for Verlander is eating at him?? As for the balk call……I imagine Justin knows when to come to a complete stop before he throws a pitch. Are we seeing Hinch giving these guys extended time off, and calling it an injury…..or are they THAT hurt????? The next one to fall ill, will be Bregman. I’m suspicious. The Astros are now saying they believe McCullers ingury is because he had to swing the bat when they played the Dodgers in their park. I’m suspicious. Anyone else buying these excuses?

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  49. Dodgers put Kenley Jasen in the hospital with irregular heartbeat. He had the same problem last year…..said he will be out for at least a month. Not good news for him or the Dodgers.

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