Aug 29 2018

Astros 2018: What’s happening Wednesday?

Here are some random Astro thoughts for today:

  1. So is Geoff Blum the poster boy for Less is More? His style is a lot less grating than (as Zanuda so aptly named him) Chatty Cathy / Mike Stanton.
  2. There is something wrong with you if the answer to the next question isn’t “Alex Bregman“.  Which Astro do you want hitting in the most crucial situations?
  3. There is something wrong with you if the answer to the next question isn’t “Almost Any Astro”.  Who do you not want giving base running tips to your local little league team?
  4. It feels like the September 1 call-ups will have more of an effect on the pitching than the hitting side of the team.
  5. Who bet on this? Bregman with 85 RBIs has a 14 RBI lead over the next highest performer on the team. And the next highest performer on the team (Evan Gattis) is not even playing regularly.
  6. Who votes for Collin McHugh being given a shot at closing?
  7. Is Carlos Correa becoming like a previous Astro CC, Cesar Cedeno? Tremendous talent, but may never become transcendent player in his case, due to injuries?
  8. The Astros are currently 11 games better on the road (47-21) than at home (34-30) – the next closest in the majors are the Mets, which are 4.5 games “better” or in their case less worse. What does it mean? Why is it happening?
  9. If the season ended today, there is no doubt that the best everyday Astro is Alex Bregman. The best pitcher? Is it Justin Verlander (13-9, 2.72 ERA) or Gerrit Cole (12-5, 2.85 ERA)? This is too tight to call right now.
  10. Who does A.J. Hinch trust out of the bullpen in a one run game? I don’t mean who will he use, because he uses almost anyone, but who does he feel confident about as he hands that ball over?

What do you, dear readers, think today?

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200 comments on “Astros 2018: What’s happening Wednesday?”

  3. If Framber puts up numbers good or better than DK into the post season, does he replace DK if he shows the mettle to handle the bright lights?

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    • First AB for Altuve 3-2, pitch was outside by 1/2 again the width of the baseball. He started running to first, stopped and asked Cooper if he called it a strike. Jose said nothing. Next at bat, Altuve came up and first pitch was about the same place and Cooper called it a strike again. After Altuve flied out to center, the inning was over. As he trotted out to 2nd, Cooper walked 1/2 to the mound apparently yelling at him. You could tell that Altuve was responding. That was when Hinch went ballistic on the ump basically chasing his player out on the field.

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    • Best I can figure out is Altuve was arguing with the ump about a call earlier in the game and AJ took over and got ejected to keep Jose in the game.
      The explanation wasn’t quite clear.

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    • Cooper came out on the field to challenge Altuve who had complained about the previous pitch calling by Cooper. Hinch apparently came to his defense and Cooper ejected him. Didn’t see the ejection. Maybe we need to get the whole team thrown out. They might have a better chance of winning that way.

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  8. I can’t watch much more of this. It’s discouraging and depressing.
    I’m with Kevin. I don’t see much of a play off future if the FO doesn’t do something different. Soon

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  16. I feel ya Dan, our top guns, except Mr. Clutch, who took his walk, snuffed out. GS swung for the moon, Tuve just swung & CC should have been the 1st out. He ain’t there yet

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  22. I’m sure not embarrassed, but it is inexplicable, this inability to play at home. Analytics won’t help here. These guys have a month to win or lose. We’ll find out a lot about them.

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  24. So I just feel excited for Josh James today. Here’s a 34th round pick who proves that it is what you do on the field not where you were picked that matters. Major league debuts are special

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      • Maybe it’s time to bring out the dreaded boo birds. They certainly deserve it. And one more thing in watching the game. Even on pop ups the spectators start screaming as if the ball is leaving the park. It’s annoying as hell. I guess they can’t tell the difference.

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      • I didn’t word that right. If I was there at the stadium I might feel like booing but hopeful I would not let my emotions get carried away. I’m surprised that nobody has. Don’t know what the major league for GIDP’s is but we must be getting close. I’m just frustrated beyond words and I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Yes we’re on top of last years pace but if we don’t make the playoffs or get knocked off in 1st round or the WC then I consider the season disappointing. As many have stated, there’s something going on because everybody doesn’t stop hitting at the same time save for a couple.

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  25. Not to be a boor, which I most assuredly probably am, but we are being treated to Aretha and McCain, technically polar opposites, at the very same time. Now what could this possibly mean?

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  26. They know they are stinking up the joint right now, but if it would make you feel better, by all means, boo them. I still see a team with the third best record in baseball struggling mightily to get back on an even keel. I think they will, but admittedly, Verlanders frustrations bubbling over should be of concern. There might be other issues too, but of course, we’d not be made aware of them.

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  27. I really don’t think booing would help. They feel bad enough already you can tell by their expressions.
    Something is wrong and like Dave says, if management knows, they ain’t going to share with us.
    My guess is no one knows what’s wrong or how to fix it.

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    • You may have a point there AC. When we got JV last year you could feel the excitement in the air and it was breath taking and contagious. With Osuna, you could feel the tension in the air and cut it with a knife.

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  32. Riding in the car coming back from the casino, and just caught the 8th on my phone. So how Josh do tonight? I saw where he struck out 9, that’s Verlander and Cole territory! I don’t know what woke the guys up tonight, but not a minute too late!! Yes Daveb I won too!! Seattle has a 6-1 lead on the A’s, 4th inning.

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    • Josh James looked impressive. I think he was a little over amped early, Becky and this led to the 3 runs against him, but he settled down and pitched well his last 3 innings.
      Correa’ two out hit was the key. They were so close to another disappointing rally that led nowhere, but he had a good at bat and delivered and then Tyler came through.

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      • Thanks Dan! Old Pro and I have been following this kid, and he has some ELECTRIC stuff! I’m glad someone was as impressed as we were, you never know, we may have found a couple of GOLDEN arms to start next year in our starting rotation next year!

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      • Way early to know whether these kids will be the ones, but it is very encouraging that the situation is not too big for them

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  34. I feel a bit sorry for Evan Gattis. He’s a good, team guy. He’s lost his job for now though.

    Our emergency starters have done a great job for us.

    Oakland used nine arms in a nine inning game last night. They got 1.2 innings from their starter. Even with an expanded roster, they can’t keep that up.

    Our guys simply have to start manufacturing some early runs, even if that means doing something counter to analytics. The nerd cave does not know how to break out of a slump.

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  35. Altuve and Correa have problems between their ears that are much more serious than their physical ailments. Despite his clutch hit last night Correa has had one bad at bat after another and Altuve is a statistical success with his high average but almost non-existent run production. He gets himself out so much that I’m actually surprised when he doesn’t strike out or hit into a DP. The answer is so obvious; swing at strikes. That’s what separates Bregman and White from the rest and accounts for their consistency. Hinch could send a message by shuffling the lineup and rewarding those who are performing. Continuing to reward poor performance will only bring more. For a guy with some psychology training I’m dismayed that Hinch just seems to be in denial regarding his big Three and their ability to self correct. He’s proving Einstein’s definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

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  38. As y’all may or may not remember – they got Bostick in a trade with the (Team that shall not be named from North Texas) for Carlos Corporan.
    Akeem has been up and down – but most of his struggles were at Lancaster where ERAs went to die.

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    • Good point, Dan. Every time Bostick moved up a level toward the end of a season his stats would dive. But the following spring and summer at the same level, his numbers would improve. Then he would get a promotion and his numbers would suffer, but he would repeat that level and he would improve and get another promotion.
      Bottom line is: Bostick is only 23, has kept getting better and has been able to increase his number of pitches to get to be that four-pitch pitcher. This time next season he might be ready to make a jump, if the team protects him this winter.

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  41. You know in Pole Vault and High Jump you can “pass” on the lower heights. How about Astros waiving the first 4 or 5 innings and just go to the plate in last 4-5 innings. The Commish would love the time saved.

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