Lance – The Last Time….

The word is in that the prodigal son, Lance McCullers Jr. (well son to his dad who also played in the Big Show) will start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field.

The last time Lance McCullers Jr. pitched in a major league game (November 1, 2022- Game 3 of the World Series against the Phillies)….

  • The Astros were four days and three straight wins away from their second championship
  • Cam Smith, who may be playing right field behind him this week – had just finished his senior year in high school (the Sun Sentinel 7A-6A Player of the Year)
  • His home field was some ancient, archaic stadium called Minute Maid Park
  • His right fielder was Kyle Tucker (Now with the Cubs)
  • His first baseman was Yuli Gurriel (Played with Marlins, Royals and now the Padres)
  • His relief help was Ryne Stanek (Pitched with the Mariners and now the Mets) and Jose Urquidy (Has not pitched in the majors since 2023 due to injury – is currently signed by the Tigers, but still healing)
  • There was no pitch clock, there were no limitations on pickoff attempts, the bases were smaller and extreme defensive shifts were allowed
  • The Astros manager was Dusty Baker and the GM was James Click
  • The average price per gallon for gasoline in the U.S. was $3.90 – it is $3.15 now (Just wanted to throw a change of pace here)
  • Cristian Javier (has not pitched since May 2024 after TJ surgery) was about to go 6 innings in a HUUUUGE Game 4 no hitter for the Astros
  • Justin Verlander (Has pitched with the Mets, Astros and now the Giants) was about to win his first World Series game in nine starts to put the Astros on the brink of winning it all
  • The Rockets were starting a season where they were about to put up a sterling 22-60 record (a little worse than the current team – where’s my sarcasm font)
  • The Texans were about halfway through a season where they would put up a sterling 3-13 record (OK – they are A LOT better the last two seasons)

Anyway, even with all the concern about Lance being able to sustain anything without getting hurt, it will be wonderful to see that tough bulldog back on the mound again.

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5 responses to “Lance – The Last Time….”

  1. I really want to thank Chip for helping out lately – I think he is enjoying it – and we are too.

    Thoughts

    • Really wondering why the Astros bypassed Wesneski and had to add AJ Blubaugh to take the start (and the loss). Would not be surprised if Wesneski ends up on the IL
    • And really really wondering why Yordan needed to take a day off from sitting on his butt for 90% of the game when he is normally a DH, when he is getting Thursday off. Would not be surprised if he has some continued chronic knee soreness or hand soreness and needs a little more rest.
    • The bullpen continues to pitch terrifically – yesterday it gave them a shot in a game that young Blubaugh had put them in a hole.
    • Loving this Pena – Altuve top of the lineup. Pena really seems livened by batting up there and having a much better hitter protecting him
    • The Astros get a day off -they get a series against the lowly White Sox – do something about it

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    • I wondered about Yordan sitting also. There’s probably an ailment with him. We know by now that this management team is certainly not going to be honest about it. I too like this new Pena, Altuve opening lineup. I know that Altuve hurts us defensively at 2nd base, but I sure would like to see Dezenzo play left field more often. The kid looks like a solid player to me. I would like to see him and Cam in the same lineup.

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  2. I didn’t watch yesterday as I typically can’t watch day games. Blubaugh’s line wasn’t great, but it looks like his defense didn’t help him. I think it was fairly obvious that he was only up to make 1 start on an emergency basis. Likely that Wesneski is probably headed to an IL stay and that LMJ is the replacement. Means we are probably going to see Blubaugh get 2 or maybe even 3 starts in May. Hopefully though Weneski dodges this bullet and just needed a skipped start. Lower velocities are always troubling though, especially just 5 starts in. Gusto is probably in the rotation to stay, at least until he isn’t due to performance. I’ve loved what he has brought but there is both a discernible difference visually and statistically after pitch 60. Long term I’m betting he is a leverage reliever in the making, but I’m speculating.

    I didn’t see Pena’s 3 hits yesterday, but I did see the 3 hit day last week that included 2 soft grounders and a hard hit grounder that went off the pitchers glove. He could have easily been hitless that day, but the defense (and his speed) helped him out. I know the dinger was obviously going out of anywhere at 375. I don’t know about the other two hits. Right now, he has put a surprising 73 points between his BA and OBP, the kind of number you want to see from a leadoff hitter. I don’t think Pena batting leadoff is just a fad that Espada is trying. I’m thinking its going to be typical spot for now. Pena is right now on pace for 49 BBs, easily a vast improvement from previous seasons. Can he sustain a .282 BA? His LD rates are up, his hard hit percentages are up, his average EV is up a full point. .282 doesn’t seem fluky with that in mind. Infield hits are not going to be fluky for a guy with a 30 ft/sec number down the line. Maybe he settles in at .270, maybe its .280, but it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t continue the 70 point difference between the OBP and BA, drawing those walks is going to define him as a leadoff hitter. Let’s see what the next 30 days bring us. I can say he is on pace for 20+ HR and 60+ RBI, along with 20+ steals, along with his usual strikeout numbers.

    It’s such short sample at 30 games though. If he does this for another 30 games, we can start talking about finally seeing some of that potential that Altuve continues to go on about.

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    • A couple things, Steven

      • On Blubaugh – his first two runs were totally on him – a single and a homer. On the second one – Pena’s error led directly to the first run in the third inning. Then he was sitting there with two outs and a man on first. If they had not had the error earlier in the inning he would have been out of the inning. But instead he gave up a hit and a walk and a grand slam. It’s not like they were throwing the ball all over the place, but also he did not overcome the one error.
      • Yesterday Pena had the homer, then he had an infield hit to third, but his other hit was 104 mph to right field. He really seems to be hitting more solidly and most important not diving for sliders. His K rate is the lowest of his career, his walk rate has doubled over 2024. He’s hitting it harder and pulling it more, which seemed like a problem last year with some wimpier opposite field contact.

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  3. Not to Jinx the Astros but they have a tendency to lose to teams that they should be beating handily. Hopefully this will not be the case in Chicago who has the worst record in the AL. Look forward to Lance’s return Sunday.

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