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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.
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