This is one of those “hurry up and write something” posts that are crammed into an ever-shrinking lunch hour break. But your not-so-humble writer wants to nourish you with something to fill your days with deep Astro thoughts pulled from my nether regions. Without further ramblings here are 5 questions for your long Labor Day weekend.
- Should the Astros do everything possible to get home field for the playoffs? Should they limit the playing time of youngsters brought up or should they limit the playing time of veterans feeling slightly frayed at the end of a marathon 162 game season?
- Who gets the call after the first of September? Besides activating the injured if and when they heal (Carlos Correa, Ryan Pressly, Aaron Sanchez, Brad Peacock, and Josh James), who gets the call from the minors? Kyle Tucker, Myles Straw, and Garrett Stubbs are no brainers. Rogelio Armenteros? Cionel Perez? Jose Urquidy? 2 out of 3 seem likely. Jack Mayfield? Likely not needed with Abraham Toro up. Bryan Abreu or Dean Deetz? Not likely. Non-40 man switchouts like Forrest Whitley or Cristian Javier. This front office has surprised us before.
- Who will be in that 7 or 8 man bullpen, if the Astros make the playoffs? Part of this is hard tied to folks recovering from injuries. 1. Roberto Osuna, 2. Ryan Pressly, 3. Will Harris, 4. Josh James, 5. Joe Smith, but…… 6. thru 7. or 8. “This space for rent” – is it the veterans – Peacock, Collin McHugh and Hector Rondon? Is there a spot for Sanchez if he comes back or the struggling Joe Biagini or Chris Devenski? If everyone continues to melt-down and/or the injured do not return is there space for one or more of the youngsters Armenteros, Framber Valdez, Perez or even a Whitley or Javier? There will be no tougher or more crucial roster decisions to make between now and the end of September.
- If Carlos Correa does not heal, can they win it all without him? He is super talented. He has been a top-notch performer (when well) this season. If Correa can’t recover from his back injury (and he is not swinging a bat yet) can the Astros cobble together a lineup with Mr. Toro at 3rd and Alex Bregman at SS and ride it to the promised land?
- Who is the Astros best everyday player? Is it Alex Bregman, who is leading the team in HRs, OBP and OPS? Is it steady Eddie, Michael Brantley, who has a good shot at a batting title, while getting hits almost at will at key points in the game? Is it Yuli Gurriel, who is leading the team in RBIs and has been their best hitter in the second half of the season? Is it Jose Altuve, who has a career-high in homers despite missing a month of the season and who has turned a bad start of the season into another .300+ BA season? Is it Mr. Everything George Springer, who is the straw that stirs the offense? Or is it Mr. RBI per game, Yordan Alvarez, who has full-season numbers (21 HRs, 62 RBIs) in less than 40% of a season?
Anyway, come to the Astros post buffet hungry. Eat, discuss and enjoy.
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
81 responses to “Astros’ stretch run: 5 questions for the weekend”
Didn’t see it. Does anyone have information about a replay today?
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A replay of Sunday’s game is on the Astros regular network at 11 am central time today.
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OP, thank you. Something to look forward to! Also, was thinking about you just yesterday. Something you said on here couple years ago.
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I hope it was nice.
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Better than nice. It was foremost.
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Interesting stats:
The Astros are tied for the MLB lead in team batting average at .275 but are tenth in team batting average w/RISP at .268.
The Astros are just fourth in MLB in HRs, but, somehow, lead all of MLB in HRs w/ RISP. So they are the best in baseball in hitting homers with runners in scoring position but aren’t near as adept at hitting singles or doubles with runners in scoring position.
Combine that with the fact that the Astros are the hardest team in baseball to strike out, except when there are runners in scoring position, in which they are the tenth easiest and there is an obvious conclusion: The Astros are drastically altering the way they hit w/RISP. They are swinging for the fences w/RISP.
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And my words to those guys batting with RISP, “Stop it! Just Stop it! Get a base hit.”
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I guess that did wonders for his WHIP.
As it was a day game, got to watch it in the UK. Nerve racking as the 7th became the 8th became the 9th and still no runs. What a relief at the end. No pun intended.
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We spent a wonderful weekend with our daughter and 4 of our 5 grandchildren!
Although I couldn’t see the game just listening to Robert Ford call it, was AWESOME! Verlander has found a wonderful new home here, and has had the chance to realize his dream for the height of baseball….*THE RING*! Pitching another no hitter added another chapter in the book of Justin Verlander. Everytime he takes the ball is another start that has the possibility of something unbelievable happening! He is determined to bring another championship to this city……I hope with all my heart that he will!
*Game today is on ESPN*!! Happy Labor day everyone! Becky
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Kent Emanuel was scheduled to start Round Rock’s final regular season game this afternoon. But the Express started the reliever McCurry instead.
Playoffs start Wednesday, so RR might be just lining up their starters for that.
Astros bringing up Cionel Perez, Garrett Stubbs and Kyle Tucker today.
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Those who pitched in the look-ahead game are probably not long in RR next season (McCurry, Blanco, Hartman and Scheetz).
Wish Hooks would send Yohan Ramirez, Collin McKee back, Bailey, Nick Hernandez, Enoli Paredes and of course I wish Ivey weren’t shut down, and Whitley were a little sharper for E-Train run.
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Just watched the replay. It’s hard to make a case against baseball being unique. The number of “co-incidences” in this one game alone are enough to give you pause. (Not to mention Verlander hugging Osuna at the end.)
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