2015 Houston Astros

[MichaelWinicki]

While I'm not predicting them challenging for a playoff spot this season, I think they're a .500 club (at least) at this point.

They still have the following weaknesses:
1. No "Ace" starter.
2. Still have a questionable bullpen (some of the pieces need to prove themselves).
3. 3rd base could stand a better/more productive player.
4. Singleton needs to prove that he belongs in the majors.
5. They may lead the league in being struckout.

They have the following strengths:
1. The makings of a solid rotation... not great, not horrible.
2. They could lead the league in homeruns and in an era where averages and walks are down, the importance of the homerun has increased.
3. Some very good young position players.
4. Still tons of talent in the minors.

All in all it's shaping up as the most exciting season for Astro's fans in a long time.

 

[Derinyar]

You're probably right about that. They are better setup then they had been.

Not sure I like the last couple of trades they made. They gave up a lot for a very flawed player in Gattis and they gave up a very good OBP guy in Fowler for a medoicre 3b and a #5 starter.

The rotation would scare me a little bit as I'd be a bit afraid of Keuchel and McHugh falling off a cliff. Optimistically they're both #2, realistically they're #3 and pessimistically they're #4/#5 types. The Homeruns are nice but they were #4 last year and still only managed #20 in runs. The last two points are good ones though. I think its possible where they have a worse record but a better team. Definitely think they are on an upward trend, but do wonder if the botching of the draft last year sets them back 2 years.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You're probably right about that. They are better setup then they had been.

Not sure I like the last couple of trades they made. They gave up a lot for a very flawed player in Gattis and they gave up a very good OBP guy in Fowler for a medoicre 3b and a #5 starter.

The rotation would scare me a little bit as I'd be a bit afraid of Keuchel and McHugh falling off a cliff. Optimistically they're both #2, realistically they're #3 and pessimistically they're #4/#5 types. The Homeruns are nice but they were #4 last year and still only managed #20 in runs. The last two points are good ones though. I think its possible where they have a worse record but a better team. Definitely think they are on an upward trend, but do wonder if the botching of the draft last year sets them back 2 years.

Yeah, pitching is more inconsistent than hitting, so you can't be sure how Keuchel and McHugh are going to perform.

I liked Fowler, Gattis could give the Astros 3 guys with 30 homers this season.

The runs scored thing really took a beating because of the lousy seasons put in at 1st base, SS and 3rd base. A little more productivity at each of those and the number of runs scored will shoot up.

But just replacing some of the fire-starters in the bullpen with guys that can keep their ERA around 3.50 would move several losses into the win column.

 

[Tabascocat]

They are going to be bad next season, they are still a couple of years from contending.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

They are going to be bad next season, they are still a couple of years from contending.

You mean like a 100 loss bad?

I can't see that.

This team is going to be right near the top when it comes to homeruns.

If Keuchel and McHugh pitch like last season, this won't be a bad team. Not 100 loss bad.

 

[Tabascocat]

You mean like a 100 loss bad?

I can't see that.

This team is going to be right near the top when it comes to homeruns.

If Keuchel and McHugh pitch like last season, this won't be a bad team. Not 100 loss bad.

70-90ish, they will improve just a bit but too many questions remain. I think, at best, can get to 75 wins if all goes well.

Just hoping my Mets can get to .500

 

[MichaelWinicki]

70-90ish, they will improve just a bit but too many questions remain. I think, at best, can get to 75 wins if all goes well.

Just hoping my Mets can get to .500

LOL!

.500... the Mets?

HA-HA-HA!

Just kidding... sorta.

The problem with the Mets is that the front office is just a screwed up mess.

I've always been a Yankee fan, but watched many a Met game on WOR over the years... ("Meet the Mets yeah, meet the Mets... come'on down and meet the Met").

To not have a better understanding of how to construct that team based on the stadium dimensions is just goofy. Now they're trying to change the dimensions of the stadium to better match the team... who does that?

 

[Derinyar]

You mean like a 100 loss bad?

I can't see that.

This team is going to be right near the top when it comes to homeruns.

If Keuchel and McHugh pitch like last season, this won't be a bad team. Not 100 loss bad.

If Keuchel and McHugh pitch like last year I expect they will be very similar to what they were last year. If they regress some the team will go down some, unless they get a significant improvements somewhere else, and I'm not convinced its coming from the offense this year. I'd expect some bumps from Springer Rasmus could be a find or could continue cratering. I do think the franchise is generally moving in the right direction just not convinced they're that much better for this year.

I think one of the Astros problems with improving their record is that the Rangers are going to take a step forward this year and probably take somewhere about 3-5 games more of the series then they did last year.

 

[Tabascocat]

LOL!

.500... the Mets?

HA-HA-HA!

Just kidding... sorta.

The problem with the Mets is that the front office is just a screwed up mess.

I've always been a Yankee fan, but watched many a Met game on WOR over the years... ("Meet the Mets yeah, meet the Mets... come'on down and meet the Met").

To not have a better understanding of how to construct that team based on the stadium dimensions is just goofy. Now they're trying to change the dimensions of the stadium to better match the team... who does that?

Don't get me started! heh

Wilpon is the worst owner in baseball

 

[MichaelWinicki]

If Keuchel and McHugh pitch like last year I expect they will be very similar to what they were last year. If they regress some the team will go down some, unless they get a significant improvements somewhere else, and I'm not convinced its coming from the offense this year. I'd expect some bumps from Springer Rasmus could be a find or could continue cratering. I do think the franchise is generally moving in the right direction just not convinced they're that much better for this year.

I think one of the Astros problems with improving their record is that the Rangers are going to take a step forward this year and probably take somewhere about 3-5 games more of the series then they did last year.

Hey I get that the Rangers will be better... they almost have to be!

But I think both the A's and the Angels are going to be giving games back.

Now as far as the team goes... Remember Springer only played 78 games last season. A full season of Springer and the kid will but up some monster numbers (at least monster numbers for this 2nd deadball era).

And they've added some decent relief pitchers... and the Astros relief pitching last year was like the worst in baseball.

They've improved 3B and SS. And have provided for some insurance at 1B.

Unless the overall team health really nosedives, I can't see them putting up the same record as last season (or worse).

 

[Biggems]

yes, but the real question is, will they be on TV in SA when they aren't playing the Rangers? I am so sick of the Comcast contract, it took the Astros off my TV. I am missing out on watching Altuve and this young cast building into a contender.

 

[Derinyar]

Hey I get that the Rangers will be better... they almost have to be!

But I think both the A's and the Angels are going to be giving games back.

Now as far as the team goes... Remember Springer only played 78 games last season. A full season of Springer and the kid will but up some monster numbers (at least monster numbers for this 2nd deadball era).

And they've added some decent relief pitchers... and the Astros relief pitching last year was like the worst in baseball.

They've improved 3B and SS. And have provided for some insurance at 1B.

Unless the overall team health really nosedives, I can't see them putting up the same record as last season (or worse).

The how is that the pitching staff performs to their career averages as opposed to what they did last year. That would pretty much offset any gains anywhere else. McHugh and Keuchel has an ERA closer to 4 then to 3. Feldman goes over 4. Lowrie plays under 100 games. That pretty much makes the team likely to have a worse record. That doesn't even include the variance of non elite relievers. I don't think its likely, as I said I think they are probably a better team, even if the record doesn't show it next year. But I do expect some regression out of McHugh and Keuchel, especially Keuchel.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The how is that the pitching staff performs to their career averages as opposed to what they did last year. That would pretty much offset any gains anywhere else. McHugh and Keuchel has an ERA closer to 4 then to 3. Feldman goes over 4. Lowrie plays under 100 games. That pretty much makes the team likely to have a worse record. That doesn't even include the variance of non elite relievers. I don't think its likely, as I said I think they are probably a better team, even if the record doesn't show it next year. But I do expect some regression out of McHugh and Keuchel, especially Keuchel.

You're right there could be regression. Pitching is always more inconsistent from year to year than what hitting is.

 

[Doomsday101]

While I'm not predicting them challenging for a playoff spot this season, I think they're a .500 club (at least) at this point.

They still have the following weaknesses:
1. No "Ace" starter.
2. Still have a questionable bullpen (some of the pieces need to prove themselves).
3. 3rd base could stand a better/more productive player.
4. Singleton needs to prove that he belongs in the majors.
5. They may lead the league in being struckout.

They have the following strengths:
1. The makings of a solid rotation... not great, not horrible.
2. They could lead the league in homeruns and in an era where averages and walks are down, the importance of the homerun has increased.
3. Some very good young position players.
4. Still tons of talent in the minors.

All in all it's shaping up as the most exciting season for Astro's fans in a long time.

As bad as the Astros have been, I do support the new management and how they have gone about rebuilding this franchise. They have strengthened their minor league system instead of trading them off for top players whom the Astros end up losing within a year or 2 since they can't afford the price tag.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

A link to an article that makes the point the Astros could be a playoff contender this year...

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/54661/astros-will-be-surprise-team-of-2015

In a nutshell, why could the Stros make some noise this season?

They were last in production in the majors at 3 positions:

1B
3B
LF

In addition they were last in ERA when it came to the bullpen.

That's many areas in which to be last and still win 70 games.

They improve 3 of those 4 areas to "average" and yeah, I can see a nice jump in wins.