We've all heard about the Astros having one of the better second half records in the league, a lot. What would the standings look like if the first two and a half months never happened. How different would our view of the season be.
The Astros are 47 - 34 since late June, when Ed Wade swallowed his pride and called up three minor league players to replace some of the veterans on the roster. The youth movement was on! But what if we were to wipe out the first two and half months of horrendous baseball the Astros played. Where would the Astros be?
I've decided to find out.
I have wiped out ever game that was played before June 22nd, below are the National League Central standings:
| Team |
Record |
GB |
|
Reds |
48 - 33 |
- |
| Astros |
47 - 34 |
1 |
|
Brewers |
40 - 41 |
8.0 |
|
Cardinals |
39 - 42 |
9.0 |
|
Cubs |
37 - 44 |
11.0 |
|
Pirates |
27 - 54 |
∞ |
It's early July, and the Reds and Astros are in a close race for the division lead. Brewers, Cardinals and Cubs have an outside chance of doing something, but with a month to go before the deadline that have to make a move now or become sellers. The Pirates, well they're still the Pirates.
Heading into the All-Star break the Astros are looking really good for a post season spot within the division. They're in Drayton's favorite position at the deadline non-sellers. He may not necessarily acquire anyone at the deadline, but at least he doesn't have to deal anyone. Which not might be such a bad thing considering the Astros are still rebuilding the farm system, to acquire someone to help the current team you'd have to trade what little is in the farm system.
Want to see how the Astros stack up in the National League? I have a table for that as well.
Below the National League standings.
| West |
Record |
Central |
Record |
East |
Record |
|
Giants |
47 - 36 |
Reds | 48 - 33 |
Phillies |
56 - 29 |
|
Rockies |
46 - 35 |
Astros |
47 - 34 |
Braves |
44 - 38 |
|
Padres |
44 - 37 |
Brewers |
40 - 41 |
Marlins |
42 - 39 |
|
Dodgers |
35 - 47 |
Cardinals |
39 - 42 |
Mets |
35 - 47 |
|
Diamondbacks |
32 - 48 |
Cubs |
37 - 44 |
Nationals |
31 - 49 |
| Pirates |
27 - 54 |
The Astros have the third best record in the league behind the Phillies and Reds. The Astros currently hold the wild card position, but are followed closely by Giants and Rockies. The Giants are currently the leader in the west, and the Rockies are one game behind the Astros for the wild card. The Braves, and Marlins have records above .500, and can be considered legitimate contenders. Brewers, Cardinals and Cubs look to still have a chance but need to start making something happening.
If we take the team as it currently is, the Astros are looking to upgrade shortstop, the rotation, and Ed Wade's favorite area, the bullpen. There's also the possibility they'd look to move Lee to first and try to acquire a slugging left fielder.
Not surprising, with the exception of the Astros, those that have had a good second half are the ones sitting atop the current standings. Eliminating two and a half months of bad baseball certainly puts a positive spin on the season. Instead of pining for the beginning of football season their would of been quite a bit of excitement for Astro fans.
Their are some gotchas in the reverse engineering, and I didn't really need to adjust the records to prove the Astros have had a wonderful second half, but it was an excuse to use the term reverse engineering in a post.