Houston Astros
2015 Win/Loss Record:
86-76, 2nd in American League West, second Wild Card spot
Last Postseason
Appearance: 2015
Last World Series
Championship: None
Key Arrivals: Ken
Giles (P)
Key Departures: Chris
Carter (1B), Jed Lowrie (3B), Chad Qualis (P)
Manager: A.J.
Hinch, 2nd Year, W/L 86-76 (175-199 in 3 years with D-Backs and
Astros)
Overall Review: The experts predicted
that the Houston Astros would be competitive in 2017. They made it two
years earlier than that. In their third season in the American League, Houston made a dramatic turnaround from the three consecutive 100+ loss seasons from
2011-13 and the 92 losses in 2014. They qualified as the second AL Wild Card,
upset the Yankees in the Wild Card game and nearly knocked off the eventual
World Champion Kansas City Royals in the ALDS.
The starting lineup and the
starting pitching basically remains intact and the Astros will be looking for
all players to step it up and be even better than last year. It’s very
possible--because playing in the rather weak AL West should see Houston return
to the post season in 2016--that a division title and a trip to the World
Series would not out of the question.
Offense: It starts with second baseman
Jose Altuve. In only his fourth full season in the Majors, Altuve has proven he
is a perennial All-Star. He even added a Gold Glove proving he is outstanding
as much in the field as he is at the plate. Speaking of his offense, he led the
NL in hits (200) and stolen bases (38) while batting .313, hitting 15 home runs
and driving in 66 from the top of the order. At 20 years of age, shortstop
Carlos Correa played in 99 games in his rookie year and proved he is another
potential All-Star in Houston’s lineup. He batted .279 and smashed 22 home runs
and added 66 RBIs. Projected over the course of a full season, Correa could hit
thirty dingers.
Designated hitter Evan Gattis
had a low average (.246) but he did smack 27 home runs and add 88 RBIs.
Right-fielder George Springer can also provide some pop. In only 102 games, he
managed to hit 16 homers while driving in 41 and stealing 16 bases. The team
loses some power with the departure of first baseman Chris Carter (24 HRs) and
his replacement, Jon Singleton, isn’t a proven everyday player yet.
Left-fielder Colby Rasmus had a bit of a resurgence with the Astros after being
an underachiever in his three seasons in Toronto. In 2015, Rasmus batted only
.238 but did hit 25 homers and 61 RBIs in 137 games.
Pitching: The Astros boast the 2015 AL
Cy Young Award winner in Dallas Keuchel. A record of 20-8, with an ERA of 2.48
and 216 strike outs was enough edge out Toronto’s/Detroit’s David Price for the
award. But Houston almost had another 20-game winner. Collin McHugh had a 19-7
record, a 3.89 ERA and 171 strike outs. Pencilled in for the other three
starters are Lance McCullers (6-7, 3.22, 129 in 22 starts), Scott Feldman (5-5,
3.90, 16 in 18 starts) and Mike Fiers (2-1, 3.32, 59 in nine starts, including a no-hitter.)
The bullpen was a bit of a
problem for Houston down the stretch. In the final two months, they were 8-13,
a balloon-type 4.28 ERA and five blown saves in only 17 chances. Luke Gregerson was
the closer last year but he has been demoted to a middle-reliever role. Ken
Giles will fill the closer role in 2016. With the Phillies last year, Giles was
6-3, a 1.80 ERA and 15 saves. Tony Sipp was brilliant as the set-up man (3-4,
1.99 and 62 K’s) and should continue to be so again this year.
 |
| Astros' left-hander Dallas Keuchel |
Prediction: Ahead of schedule, the
Astros should continue to improve in 2016. A division title should be theirs
when the end of September rolls around and they will go even deeper into the
postseason this year. They had a two games to one lead over Kansas City in the
ALDS and a 6-2 lead in Game 4. However, the bullpen collapsed and KC won the
game 9-6 and would take Game Five. A stronger bullpen will go a long way into
getting Houston into the World Series for the first time since 2005.
Follow us on Twitter at @topofthethird
No comments:
Post a Comment