TCB March Madness 2013: Dallas Keuchel vs Domingo Santana

TCB's Astros Fan Favorite March Madness Tournament is underway. From now until the end of Spring Training, 64 players will face off in a head-to-head public vote to determine who advances to the next round, and who will eventually be crowned the community's favorite Astros player. For more details, click here for the introductory post.

The rules are simple: Determine which player you think should advance to the next round by voting for that player. Arguments made for an advancing player in the comments section below may be used in that player's description for the next round. Vote subjectively, objectively or by using your trusty magic eight ball. Votes will last exactly 24 hours.

In this match-up:

28 - Dallas Keuchel

To say that Dallas Keuchel had a bad year would be an understatement. In 85.1 innings, 16 starts, Keuchel posted a 5.27 ERA while walking more guys than he struck out, but that's something Keuchel's minor league track record suggests won't be the case. His minor league record also suggests he is due for some improvement if given the opportunity, as he's struggled at each new level in professional ball. If Keuchel imrpoves his walk rate and gets some favorable regression in his left-on-base percentage, he could be in for a surpising year as a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Vs

38 - Domingo Santana

It's hard to believe that outfielder Domingo Santana was the player to be named later in the Hunter Pence trade that included Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart, but thems the breaks. Santana followed up 2011 with a spectacular offensive season in 2012. He surpassed 500 plate apperances for the first time in his professional career and hit .302/.385/.536 with 23 homers and that was as a 19 year old. He will likely get a shot to produce similar numbers at AA next season as a 20 year old.