The Astros went 1-5 at Tropicana Field this year.
The Rays are currently 1-4 at Minute Maid Park this year.
For the sake of the numbers, I'm hoping they both finish 1-5.
Here is what the
#Astros
did today:
Acquired
RHP Zack Greinke
RHP Aaron Sanchez
RHP Joe Biagini
OF Cal Stevenson
C Martin Maldonado
OF Rainier Rivas
OF Raider Uceta
Sent
1B Seth Beer
INF Josh Rojas
RHP JB Bukauskas
RHP Corbin Martin
C Max Stassi
INF Tony Kemp
OF Derek Fisher
The Astros have survived for this long without breaking the bank for Cole, Springer, Correa, etc. due to having a strong pipeline.
That pipeline, however, has considerably weakened. Can't let Kyle Tucker walk following 2025 and expect it to remain business as usual.
Talk about salt in a wound...
Top 3 Hitters at MMP in 2023
Yainer Dรญaz - 164
Yordan Alvarez - 144
Chas McCormick - 144
Guess who didn't play tonight...
Michael Brantley as an Astro (1,666 PA):
42 HR
215 R
192 RBI
.305/.365/.463
127 wRC+
8.6 fWAR
Uncle Mike played in the ALCS or World Series in four of his five seasons with Houston (didn't in 2022 due to injury earlier that season). What a freaking run.
FWIW, Ronel Blanco's average spin rate by season in light of his ejection.
2023 to 2024
4SM: 2267 RPM -> 2196 RPM
CH: 1431 RPM -> 1504 RPM
SL: 2149 RPM -> 2082 RPM
CU: 2211 RPM -> 2271 RPM
Spin rate difference in tonight's start against the A's compared to his 2024 average:
Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Tucker in Game 3: 0-for-15.
I still think Dusty shouldโve pulled LMJ once it was 4-0 Phillies, but the core of the lineupโs disappearing act played a major role.
Something I just realized: The Astros won't have Jose Altuve at second base on Opening Day for the first time in 11 seasons.
The last second baseman not named Jose Altuve who played second base on Opening Day for Houston? Bill Hall.
Talk about a lifetime ago.
Call me biased, but I still think this game-ending double play against the Cardinals in the G4 of the 2005 NLCS remains one of the best Iโve ever watched.
That throw by Adam Everett, in particular, was *chefโs kiss*.
The #โฃ1โฃbest finish of the year is....
Adam Frazier and George Kirby sealing an incredible 7- run comeback, to secure an ALDS trip for the
@Mariners
!
AJ Hinch on returning to Minute Maid Park Monday: โThe Houston fans have been incredible to me. Both before the sign-stealing, after the sign-stealing when I was the manager there..Itโs home for me. That city matters to me..Obviously, itโll be very emotional when I see โem.โ
Ryan Pressly since joining the Astros at the trade deadline in 2018:
- 162 2/3 IP
- 636 total batters faced
- 33.6% K
- 5.5% BB
- 2.21 ERA
- 2.28 FIP
Yes, reliever performance is generally volatile, but this is an extension you take every single time.
17 years ago today, the Astros clinched their first-ever pennant, but the clubโs only one in the NL.
Shoutout to Roy Oswalt for his tremendous start in Game 6 of the NLCS when he held the Cardinals to one run across seven innings.
The Astros will have paid Josรฉ Abreu and Rafael Montero $93 million for a combined -2.9 fWAR from 2023-24. They were both signed through the 2025 season.
#Astros
Yordan Alvarez in his first 174 career plate appearances:
14 home runs, 197 wRC+
Albert Pujols in his first 174 career plate appearances:
14 home runs, 189 wRC+
#Astros
lineup five years ago on July 4, 2013
2B Jose Altuve
3B Brett Wallace
C Jason Castro
1B Chris Carter
DH Carlos Pena
LF Marc Krauss
CF Brandon Barnes
RF Jimmy Paredes
SS Jake Elmore
Happy 4th everyone!
FWIW, Pedro Leรณn has recorded only two strikeouts since April 24th, or 33 plate appearances. He had 26 in his prior 84 plate appearances.
We need more of a sample to determine if this recent improvement at the plate is a blip on the radar or something more meangingful.
Either
Sources: Oz Ocampo, lauded for his work internationally with the Astros, has been let go as assistant GM, part of sweeping changes throughout the Marlinsโ front office and scouting department made by first-year GM Peter Bendix.
This is what happens when you have an entire starting rotation on the IL and did little to nothing to address depth.
Thatโs on Jim Crane and Dana Brown.
MLB proposed that, beginning with the first pitch of the game, Club Personnel may not print any Scouting Information for the purposes of providing it to On-Field Club Personnel during the game. (Ex. No Club employees can print and deliver information mid-game to the dugout)
If you told me back in March that the following four starters would have these kind of results in early May, I would have felt really good about the season.
Cristian Javier - 1.54 ERA
Justin Verlander - 2.08 ERA
Ronel Blanco - 2.09 ERA
Framber Valdez - 3.97 ERA
But when these
The Kyle Tucker injury is one (major) thing, but Chas McCormick's regression from a 125 wRC+ from 2022-23 to 52 in 2024 looms large over recent roster decisions.
Here's something to remember about the World Series:
The Rays (37.2%) and Yankees (35.8%) were among the top-six teams in terms of shifting in the regular season. The Nationals were 27th at 14.3%.
Brandon Bielak, J.P. France, and Ronel Blanco as starters for the Astros:
โข 11 GS
โข 59 1/3 IP
โข 20.5% K
โข 7.8% BB
โข 3.49 ERA
โข 5.19 FIP
โข 4.28 xFIP
As a reminder, the Rays didn't win 96 games by accident. They're really good. By the same logic, the Astros are also really good as they won 107 games. Game 5 ought to be fun.
Is fun the right word?
Astros offense in the 2017 postseason
.315 wOBA, .338 xwOBA
Astros offense in the 2018 postseason
.362 wOBA, .326 xwOBA
Astros offense in the 2019 postseason
.288 wOBA, .332 xwOBA
Luck is the uncontrollable factor in the postseason. Oh, along with the actual baseball.