By: Joshua Reese
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane has made it known he wants another big time pitcher. He shared this vision with me early in the offseason and just recently during the "Diamond Dreams Gala" he shared this mantra again.
"We've made some great additions this year, we hope the guys live up to expectations," Houston Astros owner Jim Crane told Mark Berman of Fox 26. "Hopefully, we'll add another pitcher or two."
The edict from the owner is there, and the reports have been out there that the Astros are looking.
Usually, where there is smoke there is fire.
Going into spring training, the Astros have a lot of options.
1 - Dallas Keuchel
2 - Lance McCullers
3 - Collin McHugh
4 - Mike Fiers
5 - Charlie Morton
6 - Joe Musgrove
7 - Brad Peacock
8 - Chris Devenski
Of those names, only Keuchel and McCullers are guys that can or have the potential to carry a staff. But Keuchel is coming off a down season and McCullers is coming off of an injury-shorted season.
If they can add more arms that could help the Astros go from being a legit contender, to just give them the damn championship now.
The Astros won't lack offense going into next season, but having a cache of good to great pitchers is something that they just don't have.
Last year the two World Series participants had one common theme, great pitching.
The Chicago Cubs who would end up winning the championship had five great starters.
Defense, er pitching wins championships and right now the Astros aren't on the same level as other teams.
I've chronicled in the past the pitchers the Astros could be on.
The names that are out there hasn't changed and no doubt general manager Jeff Luhnow and his staff are probably engaged in daily trade talks with multiple teams. While nothing has happened yet, chances are Luhnow will eventually find out the combination that will get something done.
The Astros are set up for plenty of years to come but snagging one or two top of the line starters could put them on a Cubs level of contention.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Monday, January 16, 2017
The next Houston Astros super-duper star
By: Joshua Reese
Jose Altuve is a star. Carlos Correa is a star. Alex Bregman has so much hype behind him that he might as well be a star.
It's hard to think that Altuve will get much better, with having 26 home runs and 96 RBI's last season. Correa has had back to back 20 home run season's and is still one of the best shortstops in the league. Bregman's potential is unlimited but it's still unknown what he can do year after year.
The one person who often gets overlooked on the Astros is George Springer, but he's on the cusp of becoming baseball's next super duper star.
Springer does not get the same love as the others, but he's improved season over season and this year he's likely going to be adding center fielder to his title.
Since coming to the majors Springer has been an above average right fielder and there is no reason to think he can't continue his great defensive play in center.
Being a great center fielder is a bigger deal than being a great right fielder.
Defensively Springer will be fine, but it's offensively where he could take the next step.
Last year he had nearly 30 homers, but ultimately finished the season with 29 homers and 82 RBI's while scoring 116 runs (seventh most in the MLB).
When Springer debuted in the majors he stuck out a lot, like a lot, lot, 33% of the time in fact. In the past two season's he's cut that down nearly 10%, he still strikes out at a high margin but it's not nearly as bad as when he broke into the bigs.
Last year Springer did a fine job batting leadoff, but he needs to go back to batting farther down the lineup. If he moves to clean up with Altuve, Bregman, and Correa in front of him, Springer could be looking at 120 RBI's pretty easily.
In 2013 before Springer got to the majors, he fell just short of having a 40/40 season, finishing with 36 homers and 39 stolen bases.
He hasn't had many stolen bases since coming to the big leagues with 30 in three years, but he can steal bases.
Springer has the power to hit 40 home runs, the speed to steal 10-15, hell maybe 20 bases and the potential to drive in 125 runs and if he's able to have a season like that he'd be entering Mike Trout territory.
When you think of the Astros you instantly think of Altuve or Correa, but if Springer is able to continue progressing like he has been, there is no reason to think he can't get to their level or maybe even slightly higher.
Jose Altuve is a star. Carlos Correa is a star. Alex Bregman has so much hype behind him that he might as well be a star.
It's hard to think that Altuve will get much better, with having 26 home runs and 96 RBI's last season. Correa has had back to back 20 home run season's and is still one of the best shortstops in the league. Bregman's potential is unlimited but it's still unknown what he can do year after year.
The one person who often gets overlooked on the Astros is George Springer, but he's on the cusp of becoming baseball's next super duper star.
Springer does not get the same love as the others, but he's improved season over season and this year he's likely going to be adding center fielder to his title.
Since coming to the majors Springer has been an above average right fielder and there is no reason to think he can't continue his great defensive play in center.
Being a great center fielder is a bigger deal than being a great right fielder.
Defensively Springer will be fine, but it's offensively where he could take the next step.
Last year he had nearly 30 homers, but ultimately finished the season with 29 homers and 82 RBI's while scoring 116 runs (seventh most in the MLB).
When Springer debuted in the majors he stuck out a lot, like a lot, lot, 33% of the time in fact. In the past two season's he's cut that down nearly 10%, he still strikes out at a high margin but it's not nearly as bad as when he broke into the bigs.
Last year Springer did a fine job batting leadoff, but he needs to go back to batting farther down the lineup. If he moves to clean up with Altuve, Bregman, and Correa in front of him, Springer could be looking at 120 RBI's pretty easily.
In 2013 before Springer got to the majors, he fell just short of having a 40/40 season, finishing with 36 homers and 39 stolen bases.
He hasn't had many stolen bases since coming to the big leagues with 30 in three years, but he can steal bases.
Springer has the power to hit 40 home runs, the speed to steal 10-15, hell maybe 20 bases and the potential to drive in 125 runs and if he's able to have a season like that he'd be entering Mike Trout territory.
When you think of the Astros you instantly think of Altuve or Correa, but if Springer is able to continue progressing like he has been, there is no reason to think he can't get to their level or maybe even slightly higher.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
The Astros forgot to upgrade centerfield, but don't fear they'll be ok
By: Joshua Reese
With all the upgrades the Houston Astros made this offseason, the one that was missed was centerfield, and without some sort of blockbuster move, it's going to be filled in-house.
The Astros started off 2016 with Carlos Gomez and we all know how that worked out. They ended the season with a mix of Jake Marisnick, Colby Rasmus, and Teoscar Hernandez playing in center.
George Springer last year patrolled right for the Astros, and now with Nori Aoki, Carlos Beltran, and Josh Reddick the team finally has enough starting quilty outfielders to free him up.
For years fans have yearned to see Springer roaming centerfielder but the Astros have seemed hesitant to unleash him. In three seasons of baseball, he's played nearly 3,000 innings in the field, but only 142 of them have been spent in center.
Going into this upcoming season the person you trust to handle centerfield is Springer.
Beltran has the most background playing centerfield but he seems destined to spend the majority of his time playing DH.
Marisnick is the best overall fielder on the team but his defense doesn't outweigh his offense. He's good, but he's not quite Adam Everett good.
Springer's defense while extremely flashy is just underneath Marisnick's, but he does bring much more to the plate offensively.
Marisnick will get playing time, probably at all three spots, but the opening day centerfielder will be Springer.
Below are clips of Springer's defense, look for it a bunch in center next year.
With all the upgrades the Houston Astros made this offseason, the one that was missed was centerfield, and without some sort of blockbuster move, it's going to be filled in-house.
The Astros started off 2016 with Carlos Gomez and we all know how that worked out. They ended the season with a mix of Jake Marisnick, Colby Rasmus, and Teoscar Hernandez playing in center.
George Springer last year patrolled right for the Astros, and now with Nori Aoki, Carlos Beltran, and Josh Reddick the team finally has enough starting quilty outfielders to free him up.
For years fans have yearned to see Springer roaming centerfielder but the Astros have seemed hesitant to unleash him. In three seasons of baseball, he's played nearly 3,000 innings in the field, but only 142 of them have been spent in center.
Going into this upcoming season the person you trust to handle centerfield is Springer.
Beltran has the most background playing centerfield but he seems destined to spend the majority of his time playing DH.
Marisnick is the best overall fielder on the team but his defense doesn't outweigh his offense. He's good, but he's not quite Adam Everett good.
Springer's defense while extremely flashy is just underneath Marisnick's, but he does bring much more to the plate offensively.
Marisnick will get playing time, probably at all three spots, but the opening day centerfielder will be Springer.
Below are clips of Springer's defense, look for it a bunch in center next year.
"#George #Springer robs #Jose #Abreu of #ahome #run" #baseball #mlb #sports pic.twitter.com/rD8ZUuxR8g— RussellHodson2 (@RussellHodson2) December 1, 2016
Ridiculous, George Springer. Just ridiculous. (Vine by @MLB) https://t.co/MKcpOU7uQz— alvadi vita (@AlvadiV) August 28, 2016
You probably don't want to run on George Springer... pic.twitter.com/CX3DalRL7J— 120 Sports (@120Sports) August 7, 2016
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