Out in the working world, we used to have a saying that an Expert is anyone who lives at least 50 miles away and charges twice as much as you do.
There is nothing in that sentence that says the so-called Expert knows more or deserves the high invoice rate. But there is nothing in the real world that is fair, so I’ve gotten over it.
And even though your loyal servant makes nothing around here, I will still call myself an expert, because I have control of the keyboard.
What area of the team are you most worried about down the stretch and into the playoffs?
The bullpen has gotten quite a bit more solid the second half of the season with a hiccup here and there. The hitting has its cold spots but usually that lasts only a game or two. Overall, they look like a team that can score 5 or 6 runs most any night.
I have to say the starting pitching. Yes, Framber Valdez threw a no-hitter and part of one that came close. The same with Hunter Brown with his recent five innings of no-hit ball. But looked at more broadly, the starting pitching has been worrisome.
Cristian Javier – In his last thirteen starts since June 21, he has pitched an average of less than 5 innings a start, and has a horrendous 7.27 ERA and an OPS against of .881.
Hunter Brown – In his last 18 games (17 starts) since the end of May, he has also pitched an average of less than 5 innings an appearance has a poor 5.58 ERA and an OPS against of .822. Now if he repeats Wednesday’s start over and over – this problem goes away.
Framber Valdez – In his last 9 starts he has been averaging more than 6 innings a start, but his ERA is 4.10, which is pretty mediocre for the ace.
Justin Verlander – In his 8 starts with Houston he has been averaging just over 6 innings a start and his ERA is 3.86, which is not bad, but not as good as his 3.15 ERA with the Mets. He’s also given up 7 home runs in his last three starts, which included a 6 run and a 5 run outing.
J.P. France – In his 6 starts since his one-off venture out of the bullpen, he has been averaging less than 6 innings per start with a poor 6.19 ERA and .890 OPS against.
Jose Urquidy – In his 7 appearances, including three starts since coming off the IL in August, he has been averaging less than 4 innings per outing with a bad 6.84 ERA.
So, this is the area that has been in decline in the second half of the season and the one that has caused me the most concern heading down the stretch.
What’s happening with this home/away split for the team?
Baseball can be a very odd bird, any way you look at it. Kyle Tucker goes 80% of the season without a triple and then whacks two in one inning. Jeremy Pena starts hitting the best he has all season but has gone 58 games without a home run.
A couple things come to mind with this home/away deal…
- Talking about the batting eye bothering them (and not the opposition) tells me this might be in their heads. They think it is tougher to hit at home – so they are hitting worse at home. It is a little illogical – it’s not like suddenly, this season they put a spinning windmill or a clown face in the middle of the batting eye. Is this really bothering them or are they putting pressure on themselves because they have not been playing that well at home and are searching for an excuse?
- Maybe the question should be, why the heck is a team that has been just above average most of the time so extra good on the road? They have both the best team ERA in the AL on the road (3.77) and the best runs scored per game on the road (5.82 runs per game). At home, they have the eighth-best ERA in the league and they have scored the 9th most runs per game. Are they just relaxing more on the road away from homebody responsibilities? No HEB ads to film on the road? None of this makes sense unless it is just fluky.
I’m tired today. I have no Astros to look forward to, so I’m calling two questions a post. If you want to ask me more questions – have at it.
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
25 responses to “Questions to a self-proclaimed Astros’ expert”
“Expert” is a compound word. Let’s break it down. An “ex” is a has been. A thng from the past. And a “spurt” is a drip under pressure. So there you are! 🙂
Not being an expert, I’m just opinionated. IMO, the problems cited (starting pitching and poor hitting at MMP) are both in their heads. Most problems do have their genesis between someone’s ears.
Too much drama? Too many distractions? Too much resentment/hard feelings? Maybe just hubris? Quien sabe?
Maybe someday we’ll find out. Until then, I’ll keep my opinion to myself.
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Gosh, when you lay out the starters that way, it’s hard to understand the fact that we’re actually 18 games over .500 and in first place. And Framber being hittable and Verlander being very hittable against the A’s this week adds an exclamation point!
I’m already thinking (wondering) about what Grienke might come up with to keep Astros hitters off balance tomorrow night. I have no clue what our guys will do in KC. They might launch as they did against the Rangers in Arlington or they might keep struggling. I’m not even going to touch on line up issues. The Rangers have obviously righted their ship, at least for now. I don’t have a pulse on the M’s. But it’s a good thing the Jays seem to be folding, because we might need their spot.
Could there be too much friction going on at the home ball park? I don’t know if Crane hangs around. Does Dana Brown typically travel with the club or stay in Houston?
I’m ignoring the batters eye question because I think it’s phooey. I think our guys won 55 at home last year before decimating everyone in the post season. One question: Did any major renovations occur out there this past winter?
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On a side note there are 15 games left, Texas and Seattle have 16. That’s 6 against the Royals, Three against the O’s, Three against the M’s, and Three against the D-backs. Playing .500 ball will not get it if we want to win the division. The odds of making a playoff spot are good since the Blue Jays have a tougher schedule and are in a funk having lost 4 in a row to the Rangers. However, in the baseball world that don’t mean squat as anything can happen. If we want to win the division we have to win at least 10 of those 15 IMO. Otherwise we might be on the outside looking in. Not going to say anything but to quote Al Davis, “Just win baby!”.
The NL WC race is crazier than ours as 6 teams are vying for a playoff spot with 6 teams in the hunt 3 tied for the last spot, one a 1/2 game out and the Phillies only 4.5 up and the Cubs only 2.5 up. It’s anybody’s race at this point. It’ll probably go down to the last game of the season. Pretty exciting stuff if I say so myself.
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Until my brother pointed it out – I had no idea that Greinke was 1-15 this year. That worries me – it shouldn’t – but it does.
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His WHIP is 1.295. Christian Javier also has a WHIP of 1.295. Who would have thunk it?
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Yeah not walking anyone but gives up more than 10 hits per 9 IP and 1.8 HR per 9 IP. The homers is almost twice his career number per 9 IP
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Nice little write up on Yanier Diaz by McTaggert on MLB.com about his accolades for this year. Unfortunately somebody isn’t paying attention so Diaz gets to catch only 1 out of every 5 games and gets to DH occasionally when not catching.
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After watching this tms lineup stumble through 6 innings of uninspired baseball I flipped channels after Bregman 2nd GIDP. Someone has to light a match under this tm. They cannot be in cruise control mode the rest of the season and hope to win
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I’d move Tucker up and Bregman down but stop the presses! That would upset Dusty’s batting order of lefty/Righty. Realistically, I don’t give a happy rats ass about his line ups. It’s time to fish or cut bait, make hay while the sun shines, or to press your pants while the irons hot. It doesn’t take a lot for us to win the division or get a WC spot. Conversely, it wouldn’t take much to miss the playoffs altogether. I hope these guys get it.
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You’ve never heard me say this before. Maldy should be starting tonight. He has hit lefties all year. Yainer has not been hitting lefties all year. Yainer should have caught on Friday. We know he hits the heck out of righties and he’s been very hot for the past month, with a .946 OPS. But unfortunately, Maldy has to catch Javier. Yainer should also catch tomorrow so he can hit against perhaps the worst righty in MLB. But unfortunately, Maldy has to catch Framber. With Brantley sitting today, Yainer will likely sit again tomorrow. This is the theme of the 2023 season. Ignoring the most basic of stats. Over 162 games, it could be enough to keep us out of the post season.
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Thank you Diaz for preventing me from turning this game off. I know gang, it’s early. You’re right Dave, Diaz does not hit L but I was shouting at the tv for him (anybody really) to get a hit & he came through. So did Bregman. Wake up top of the order!
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Doesn’t look like anybody wants to win the AL West this year. What a pathetic display. Do MLB pitchers even do PFP these days? Wow……
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Jim Crane, order them to watch the game films of the last five games – from stem to stern. Make Dusty watch them too! Every one of these prima donnas them needs to see – and hopefully be shame- motivated by – how absolutely pathetic they look.
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Well, the fish stinks from the head down.
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I feel better. Looking at the line up, I don’t see any sense of urgency, so there must not be any need for urgency.
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Framber is pitching today? Will we see the untouchable Dr.Jekyl-Valdez who throws no-hitters with ease? Or will we see the embarrassing Mr. Hyde-Valdez who throws multiple-hits-allowed-per-out-outings with equal frequency?
Jose Abreu is hitting clean-up today [no Tucker, no Diaz in the line-up]? Is it Halloween already?
Sedatives – I need sedatives.
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Test.
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After the horrible losses this week, one win just has little excitement today. How do you win 7-1 while sleepwalking and committing three errors and going 2 for 13 w/RISP.
Wait a minute! Did they take away Abreu’s error for throwing his glove at the ball? It is not listed in the box score.
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I’m having a hard time being overly enthusiastic about our Astros right now. Indeed 1oldpro, today was once again an uninspiring effort. Remarkably, it does not seem as though any team in the West wants to play post season baseball this year.
That remarkable incompletion between Framer and Abreu was a first for me though. I wonder when the last time an MLB umpire had to make that call?
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no Astros to look forward to? what the fluff is that about? I hope that was a facetious comnment and not a cry baby one. Altuve isn’t hitting enough over .300 for ya pal??!?!?! Tucker is Mr. Consistent. Let’s not mention A.B. who has ONLY on strikeout more than walks this year. In today’s game, more specifically this season, there are like an entire total of 1 player that has more BB than SO. There’s only a total of 3 players this year than have same number of BB as SO and yes Bregman is one of them. Can you name any others? I’ll lick the soles of your shoes clean if you can. Oh snap, almost forgot Yordan……..oh snap again…..Chas is hitting .283! that’s like 30 points above league avg. Pitching wise…ehhh it’s pretty bleak. But Bryan and Hector are solid as a rock. Wait didn’t Framber through a f&*%$# no hitter this year? Geez man, you’re Debbie Downer
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ok i just counted 7 players this year with same amount of BB as SO (with a 10 BB buffer). Hand over them shoes……….
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7 players and two are Astros. Stop y’alls whining
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Dear Forrest (Whitley) Chump – I’m confused by your comment – 2 out of 7 are Astros – what list are you talking about?
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Chump, we’re older and slower here. Please assist with clear points. Thank you.
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Some observations:
There is no need to rest players on the weekend after a Thursday off day.
Valdez made a major change in his selection of pitches to fool KC batters.
The home series against the team with the #1 seed will tell us a lot about the Astros, who just lost two series in a row against the two worst teams in MLB.
In the past, the Astros have taken the division by winning. This season, we are leading the division because of the other two contenders losing more than us.
I started losing faith in the Astros when the Yankees kicked our butts. The motivation just wasn’t visible like it was in the past.
Next year, we need a young outfielder to play in place of an undependable Brantley. A guy who hits .000 for 4/5ths of the season doesn’t work for a team who has World Series goals.
My fandom is dependent on Dusty Baker’s retirement. What will I do if he comes back? I will have to start working out to build up endurance and then get back into hunting and fishing.
My trip to New Mexico told me that I can still drive, but not do much else. Especially at an altitude of 10,000 feet. My hands shook the whole time we were there and they don’t shake here at home.
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