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July 2017 Recap: Houston Astros

Standings & League Leaders

Around the League

Trades: 7/8, RHP Jacob DeGrom traded from NYM to SF…7/24, 2B Robinson Cano traded from SEA to CWS.

In the AL, the Indians continue to dominate behind the AL team lead in steals and top-half finishes in just about everything else (everything but BABIP and hits allowed!). Even injuries to Tyler Naquin (has returned since) and Jason Kipnis (out for the season) haven’t slowed them down. They also made a couple interesting trades, acquiring RHP Simon Castro to shore up their rotation and trading DH Casey Gillaspie (.251, 18 HR at the time) for outfielder Michael Burgess (.233, 19 HR). Burgess has hit .366 with two homers in ten games since the trade though, so it appears to have worked out well.

In the NL, the formerly league-leading Rockies have slipped to fourth place, four games under .500. The Cardinals and Brewers are in a tough race for the NL Central, while Pittsburgh looks to wrap up the other wild-card spot. Milwaukee is a balanced team with no true superstar. St. Louis is led by a starting rotation that can hit the ball well. More importantly, though, they can also pitch well, with the highest ERA being 3.69. Closer Trevor Rosenthal came back from injury and has pitched 13.2 scoreless innings since, with 12 saves. He took over for Arquimedes Caminero (17 saves), who slid into a set-up role. The Cardinals’ bullpen fills out nicely, and offensively they are led by a total stud in center fielder Oscar Taveras. Taveras, 25, is hitting .335 with 12 home runs, and has a 4.9 WAR through the end of July, which is second only to Bryce Harper (5.5 WAR, .350, 19 HR) in the NL. Speaking of the Nationals, they haven’t gotten much better. They are mostly carried by Harper, Anthony Rendon (4.1 WAR, .310, 18 HR), and Gio Gonzalez (11-3, 2.24 ERA).

Significant injuries: Indians 2B Jason Kipnis (ruptured foot tendon, 4-5 months), Diamondbacks SP Jordan Zimmermann (torn meniscus, 3 months), Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (strained hip muscle, 4-5 months)

Astros News

July 4: Outfielder Slade Heathcott (fractured thumb) was placed on the 15-day DL. To take his place, RHP Jose Cisnero had his contract selected from AAA. Wei-Chung Wang was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster. Heathcott, 26, was acquired in a trade from the Yankees in the offseason, and has hit .246 with 13 home runs and 21 stolen bases thus far.

July 5: Oklahoma City LHP Carlos Rodon, the Astros’ first overall pick back in 2014, pitched a no-hitter against Colorado Springs! He only walked one batter and struck out twelve in the 2-0 win.

July 7: Starter Jarred Cosart was placed on the 15-day DL, with Zach Petrick getting the call to replace him. Petrick, 28, has a 3.36 ERA and 10-2 record in 18 starts for Oklahoma City (AAA) this season.

July 25: Starting pitcher Jarred Cosart was activated from the disabled list. Left-hander Carlos Rodon, who pitched a no-hitter in Triple-A on the 5th, was sent back to AAA. He made two major-league starts, going 1-0 with a 5.11 ERA.

July 30: Second baseman Scooter Gennett led the Astros to victory with a six-hit game! In the 12-8 win over Boston, he had four singles, two doubles, and 3 RBI.

Stats

Our Astros are currently leading for the second wild-card spot in the AL, and are five games back in third place for the AL West. We are currently top-seven in all offensive categories and a handful of defensive stats (hits allowed, opponents AVG, strikeouts, and defensive efficiency). The X-factor this season has been Anthony Rizzo, though we now have a great lineup top-to-bottom. Rizzo is currently hitting .349 (2nd in MLB, 1st in AL) with 22 home runs (T-4th in MLB, T-2nd in AL), a 1.030 OPS (2nd in MLB, 1st in AL), and a 6.0 WAR (1st in MLB). DH Dan Vogelbach, 2B Scooter Gennett, SS Nick Gordon, and LF Robbie Grossman all have at least a 3.0 WAR as well. On the pitching side, the rotation has held up, but there are some questions in middle relief, namely left-hander Boone Logan (5.40 ERA since acquisition) and right-hander Shawn Tolleson (5.59 ERA, 2 blown saves). There are plenty of options to replace them, including Corey Knebel (26 saves, 2.36 ERA), Zac Rosscup (10 holds, 2.60 ERA), and Matty Ott (.122 BAA). The situation with Logan, however, brings to mind the situation with recently-traded Aaron Crow, whom the Astros ended up demoting to OKC several times despite having to pay him about $2.5 million per year. Logan’s contract is even more lucrative, as Houston owes him $29.6 million over the next three years.

Batting Stats
Pitching Stats

Holy shit, you might make the playoffs!

August 2017 Recap: Houston Astros

NOTE: All standings and stats as of September 5th

Standings & League Leaders

Rangers INF Jurickson Profar hit for the cycle!

Astros Recap

8/2: Recalled LF Austin Wates from Oklahoma City (AAA), demoted RF Stryker Trahan to the same team. Designated RF Brandon Barnes for assignment. Sent RF Slade Heathcott (thumb) to Corpus Christi (AA) for injury rehab.

REGRETTABLE TRADE OF THE MONTH:
8/5: Traded 2B Micah Johnson, RF Brandon Barnes, and SP Miguel De Los Santos to Chicago (NL) for UTIL Junior Lake and C Charles Cutler.

8/6: Purchased the contract of RF Dan Robertson from Oklahoma City (AAA). Recalled RP Corey Knebel from OKC. Demoted LF Austin Wates to OKC. Designated RP Shawn Tolleson for assignment.

8/8: Placed RF Hunter Renfroe (oblique) on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Zach Eflin from Oklahoma City (AAA). Claimed P C.J. Edwards and RF Brandon Barnes off waivers from Chicago (NL).

8/10: Placed 3B Brock Holt (quad) on the 15-day DL. Recalled SS Josh Morgan from Oklahoma City (AAA). Outrighted RP Shawn Tolleson to OKC.

8/11: Outrighted P C.J. Edwards and RF Brandon Barnes to Oklahoma City (AAA).

8/17: Recalled RF Stryker Trahan from Oklahoma City (AAA); placed him on the 60-day DL (elbow).

8/18: Placed RF Slade Heathcott (shoulder) on the minor-league DL. Notable as he was in AA on a rehab assignment for another injury (thumb).

8/24: Activated RF Hunter Renfroe from the 15-day DL. Demoted RF Daniel Robertson to Oklahoma City (AAA).

9/5: Recalled SP Carlos Rodon; RPs Zac Rosscup, Matty Ott and Mike Foltynewicz; C Reese McGuire; 1B Conrad Gregor; and LF Austin Wates from Oklahoma City (AAA). Purchased the contract of CF Drew Stubbs from OKC.

Batting Stats
Pitching Stats

You went from 61 wins to almost surely making the playoffs? Ok...

Two words: Anthony Rizzo.

This guy gets it.

September 2017 Recap: Houston Astros

Standings/League Leaders

Major Transactions:

RP Boone Logan, LF Nick Williams, and LF Robbie Grossman went on the DL. Logan has returned though.
SP Matt Wisler was re-signed to a four-year, $6.8 million contract.
Minor-league C Charles Cutler retired.

Team Home Page

The Team Home Page includes team leaders, team stats, and a mini minor-league recap. Sorry to not get a full update but I'm kinda in a rush. Enjoy!

here are the stats (end of September)

Batting

Rizzo already has 200 hits

Pitching

#MediocreChicagoRelievers

Already has 200 hits... at the end of October?

september, oops

2017 MLB Playoff Preview

Our Astros have made the playoffs as the first wild-card team! With a 91-71 (.562) record, they finished two games back of the Athletics for first in the AL West, and will face Boston in the first round. Due to our repeated trades with them, some players will look familiar, including two starters: 1B M.P. Cokinos and RF George Springer. Reserve outfielder Charlie Blackmon also made the playoff roster.

Houston’s playoff roster will look like this:

Pitching

Left-hander Patrick Corbin will get the ball for the wild-card game. Should the Astros advance, the rotation could be reset. Strasburg and Syndergaard are the other definites in the rotation. Wisler and Cosart will likely rotate based on performance, with Wisler getting the edge for the first start.

In the bullpen, the shaky Aroldis Chapman will continue to close ballgames, with Kevin Chapman and Boone Logan serving as set-up men/emergency closers. Ferrell and Knebel will pitch in middle relief but could find themselves in the late innings as well. Owens is the team’s long man. Rosscup, a September call-up, pitched well enough to earn a spot as the lefty specialist.

Batting

The lineup should look the same as it did most of September and October, with six straight lefties at the top. MVP candidate (and MLB batting champion!) Anthony Rizzo will hit third and play first base. Hopefully Gennett and Heathcott will get on base and he can drive them in. If not, Castro, Vogelbach, and Gordon are able to pick up the slack. Brinson, Asche, and Renfroe make up a tremendous bottom third of the order. Barnhart, the backup catcher, will start if Castro struggles or fatigues. Fontana is the backup middle infielder. Holt backs up all four infield positions, primarily the hot corner. Austin Wates, another September call-up, got the nod over fellow call-up and veteran Drew Stubbs (who was 0 for 5) to be the fourth outfielder. He will mostly serve as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement.

Season Recap

Team Stats

Final Standings/League Leaders

Scooter is in beast mode.

Yes he is...

Fontana's clutch hit sends Astros past Sox, 2-1

"Fontana! You're hitting for Castro!"

Those were the last words from Houston manager Terry Francona before Nolan Fontana's pinch-hit single served as the walk-off finish to an eleven-inning Wild Card playoff game. Neither team scored until the 8th inning, when Patrick Corbin, the Astros' starter, allowed a solo home run to catcher Christian Vazquez. The Astros struck back against lefty Matt Harrison, with a game-tying RBI single from leadoff man Scooter Gennett, who was 1 for 2, but drew three walks. The bullpen took care of their job, as Zac Rosscup, Riley Ferrell, and winning pitcher Aroldis Chapman combined for three scoreless innings out of the 'pen, with six strikeouts. Bobby Parnell lost the game for the Sox, allowing the single by Fontana to drive in the winning run...Gennett.

Box Score
Pitching/Other

The Astros advance to face the Cleveland Indians. That series starts Friday the 13th (…), with RHP Rob Carr against RHP Noah Syndergaard. The series rotation will be Syndergaard, followed by right-hander Matt Wisler. The rotation will then flip over, and Stephen Strasburg will start. Corbin, last night’s starter, will start Game 4 if necessary, and Syndergaard is likely to start Game 5, again if necessary. Jarred Cosart is also available to spot-start.

In addition, outfielder Robbie Grossman is almost ready to come off the DL. A switch-hitter, Grossman started 113 games this season, hitting .287/.360/.423, with 11 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He hit the DL in mid-September with a separated shoulder, but could be cleared tomorrow, per team doctors. It is unclear whether he will be able to join the team mid-series or if he would have to wait and join them for the ALCS, should they advance.

Look at Scooter, doing his thang.

If only he or Fontana could play outfield...*sighs*

By the way I am "managing" all playoff games

Series Preview: ALDS

Opponent: Cleveland Indians
Manager: Brad Mills
Record: 96-66 (.593), 1st AL Central

Rotation:

RHP Rob Carr (5-5, 3.36), RHP Danny Salazar (13-10, 4.18), LHP Francisco Liriano (19-8, 3.96)

That’s it? Carr appeared in 34 games out of the bullpen before converting to a starter, a role in which he has a 4.12 ERA through ten starts. Henderson Alvarez, Clay Buchholz, Robbie Erlin, and Simon Castro all started 18 or more games this season, and will mostly serve as long relief. Heath Bell (6.14 ERA), Casey Janssen (21 holds), J.P. Howell, and Michael Blazek (22 holds) serve as the bridge to solid closer Bruce Rondon (40 saves, 2.79 ERA). One more thing to note: Liriano is not scheduled for a start in this series.

Cleveland offensively relies mostly on infielders Carlos Santana (.263/35/104) and Francisco Lindor (.268/8/65, 22 SB), and outfielder B.J. Boyd (.270/7/27, 41 SB). Here’s a look at their full lineup:

Boyd, CF
Lindor, SS
Clint Frazier, RF (.227/16/70, 18 SB)
Santana, 3B
Michael Burgess, DH (.237/29/67)
Alexis Rivera, LF (.258/3/11, 28 games)
Kyle Skipworth, C (.216/6/23)
Jesus Aguilar, 1B (.285/4/20)
Ronny Rodriguez, 2B (.173/0/2, 24 games)

Against lefties, Jonny Gomes (.186/4/20 in 39 games) replaces Burgess at DH, and Brayan Pena (.255/4/20 in 46 games) replaces Skipworth at catcher. They slot in at 7th and 9th, respectively, bumping everyone else up. Lonnie Chisenhall has also been a stud, with a .272 average, 19 home runs, and 68 RBI in 113 games (94 starts), but for some reason benching him was viewed as a good idea. Shortstop Dorssys Paulino, who has played in 45 games and hit .229 this year, rounds out the bench.

The return of outfielder Tyler Naquin (.284/11/54, 19 SB) would do wonders for the club, but he is on the DL for another five days with a strained oblique, and reportedly will need at least a few extra days past that to finish recovering. Jason Kipnis (ruptured foot tendon) is out for the entire playoffs, and he was only hitting .229/.307/.342 with 6 HR and 9 SB in 88 games before the injury, suffered in mid-July.