Astros Mid-Spring Training Report Card

Spring Training performance has little predictive value relative to regular-season performance. So don’t accuse me of panic or pessimism.

But it’s a good thing. Because the Astros haven’t looked very good so far this Spring Training. Especially with the bats.

Not including ties, the Astros record is 3 - 9, the worst in baseball.

Hitting

Team hitting statistics are at the rock-bottom of MLB.

OPS .630, ranked 29th

BA.....217, ranked 29th

OBP .320, ranked 24th

SLG .330, ranked 29th

HRs 7.......ranked last

Runs 52....ranked 29th

When you consider who’s carrying what little offense there is, it looks even worse. The top hitters by OPS, all over 1.000, are, in order:

Freudis Nova

Alex DeGoti

Abraham Toro

Aledmys Diaz

Ronnie Dawson

Robel Garcia

Not a starting Astro in the group. In fact, mostly minor leaguers. The competition between Toro and Garcia looks interesting for that second utility spot. Looks like they’re both in it to win it.

Myles Straw has been one bright spot among likely Astros starters, .917 OPS. All others are hitting below average.

Carlos Correa.............769 OPS

Martin Maldonado......722 OPS

Yuli Gurriel..................707 OPS

Kyle Tucker..................634 OPS

Jose Altuve..................602 OPS

Michael Brantley..........467 OPS

No one is stepping forward to grab the fourth outfielder position. Chas McCormick is hitting .321 OPS, Steven Souza, .568, and Jose Siri, .652.

Pitching

Pitching brings a higher grade.

Team ERA is 4.18, 8th in MLB. Team BAA is .233, also 8th. And team WHIP is 1.24, 4th in MLB.

Among pitchers with three or more innings pitched the following have allowed no runs.

Austin Hansen

Tyler Ivey

Cristian Javier

Andre Scrubb

Brooks Raley

In his three innings, Scrubb has walked only one and struck out six. If he can continue to keep the walk rate down he could become a top relief pitcher.

Another prospect having an impressive early Spring is Kent Emanuel, who has allowed only one run in six innings with five Ks and no walks.

Here’s what the rest of the starting pitching corp has been doing.

Zack Greinke..........2.25 ERA..............1.00 WHIP

Lance McCullers....2.57 ERA...............1.00 WHIP (11 K’s in 7 innings)

Jose Urquidy...........6.75 ERA...............1.13 WHIP

Ostensible closer Ryan Pressly has looked great in his only two innings this Spring, allowing no runs, no walks, one hit, and four K’s.

Again, success or failure in Spring Training does not predict success or failure in the regular season. And that is doubly so for the first half of Spring Training. Just thought you all would like to see an overall statistical update of the Spring Training season you’ve seen so far.

Grade: D.

Some hitting and pitching prospects have given us hope for the future, but Astros starting hitting has been abysmal. Good thing this is only the Kindergarten phase of the season and everyone graduates.

Soon the games count.

Go Stros.