Stros Drop Game in 10th. Final Score:3-2
Stros Drop Game in 10th. Final Score:3-2
Second game to go to extra innings in two days but this has no walk-off ending. Also more roster notes.
In the 10th inning of the first game of the Guardians/Astros series, the Astros took the game away from the Guardians with some timely hitting. At the moment the Stros were on a small winning streak and things were looking up. Then yesterday a similar game (with a lot less offense) took place. However, the Guardians were the ones to take the W. Even though it felt like Steven Kwan single-handedly beat the Astros.1 This left the Astros with a 10-20 record and frustrated fans as far as the internet can spread.
There has been plenty to be frustrated at with the Astros this season, that’s for sure. I’ve seen every game and they seem to be a good team that just can’t put it all together at once. Like a much loved old car that just seems to always have some kind of problem. I just fixed the alternator and now it looks like I have to replace the radiator.2 But don’t take this metaphor as me saying the Golden Days are over or the Astros are done. Now, realistically they are having a bad beginning to the season and it is going to take a lot of good baseball to climb up the standings. So what gives?
Obviously starting pitching has been a problem. Playing the majority of April with a rotation of youngsters and prospects is not going to equate to a lot of winning. At least that is when your offense has been inconsistent in the late innings and with runners in scoring position. While pitching has been the glaring weakness—one that GM Dana Brown and fans were expecting—no one expected hitting to be this much of a struggle.
The overall offensive stats for the Astros look good but when you look at numbers with RISP, things aren’t so good. Jose Altuve, who has been on a tear, has only 2 hits with RISP. Bregman has only 1 home run and hasn’t found his footing yet, Chas McCormick’s slugging is down and dealing with an injury while Joey Loperfido (5 strikeouts in 2 games) is breathing down his neck. The Astros have been clutch in the Golden Era but right now are struggling with situational hitting. Mauricio Dubon is our best hitter right now with men on base. I don’t doubt the Astros ability to figure this out long-term. They are professional hitters with championship pedigree. There are plenty of clutch hits from this team, but right now there are in a period of adjustment that is costing them. The Astros have had to make adjustments before and will have to again. That’s what baseball is. The problem for the Astros right now is that they are in a hole and must have a successful enough May to stay within a punchers shot of the playoffs. Seasons don’t end in April. Organizations aren’t failures in one tough season.3 But the reality is every loss this May is going to sting a little. The Astros can’t lose focus on how they play and start pressuring themselves to swing at bad pitches with runners in scoring position. Baseball is a weird, emotional, long sport. The Astros will start hitting with runners in scoring position when they stop feeling the pressure, and they’ll stop feeling the pressure when they start hitting better with runners in scoring position. The established hitters of the Astros will figure it out and turn it around. Some of the younger guys will have to play their game and pass the baton until they get a pitch they can yam. And they’ll have to have the confidence to not do too much. I know this can happen. I just need this to happen this month and not later so that I can have a somewhat relaxing summer…
Roster Notes
Not only have the Houston Astros used more pitchers than they have in previous seasons4, they also appear to not be able to go 3 whole days without a roster move. I pride myself in knowing my Astros. I may not know the whole AAA roster but I have always had my pulse on Astros transactions. This year has made my head spin. Honestly, if we actually had a budget this blog could have hired a full time writer just to keep up with Dana Brown’s roster moves.
In recent days Trey Cabbage was called up, then down and then up again. OF/1B Cabbage was called up for the Mexico City series as an extra bat and started the first game as well as started the run production for Houston. Cabbage came from the Angels farm system where he had the reputation for having a lot of power and high strikeouts. With the unexpected news of Jose Abreu agreeing to go to the minors, the Astros were blessed with some roster flexibility. Speaking of…
Joey Loperfido, also OF/1B, was the minor-leaguer getting his call up either way. But with Abreu spot opening up and Chas McCormick being out with shoulder discomfort Loperfido is able to flex his versatility by playing his natural outfield position. With his nice throw to snag a runner trying to turn a single to a double and Espada putting Dubon on first as a defensive sub, it looks like Loperfido isn’t there to flash his glove at 1B. I can see him getting starts out of necessity but it doesn’t seem like the team is eager to have him play much 1B. And while he doesn’t seem to be a shy hitter, his high strikeout ratio could see him playing a backup to a patient Jon Singelton and hit machine Dubon. Watch out Chas and Jake.
RHP Cristian Javier is throwing bullpens and is hopefully to start in the Mariner series.
RHP Joel Kuhnel was DFA’d to make room on the 40 man roster for Joperfido.
IF Grae Kessinger was placed on the IL with discomfort. As well as OF Chas McCormick being out with shoulder discomfort as mentioned earlier.
MIF Jacob Amaya, who was brought over in the beginning of this season in a trade from Miami has been called up to the main team to take the Kessinger spot.
I’m sure there is another roster move happening now that I’m not aware of.
Let’s hope everyone get’s healthy, finds their swing and let’s the pressure go. We’re rooting for a win tonight to take the series to build that confidence to fight off the Mariners.
Vamos Vamos Astros.
He’s officially on the list of guys so good you despise seeing them if they’re not on your team.
This was my very first car. A 1987 small Toyota Truck that I loved and always needed some kind of work. (For my young readers, no, I’m not that old. That’s just how old of a vehicle I was driving around.) Sometimes I wonder if I pushed the truck around more than it actually drove me around.
Also, it’s still May. Cálmate
And that number is counting folks! It’s only April right now it stands at: 24. I just want to let GM Dana Brown know that I am available. Let me pitch you coward!