So is the new batters eye causing issues with our guys? Maybe the scoreboard in right is distracting? Has to be some reason for the home and away splits.

We signed Reddick and Beltran. That's it. McCann was traded for, Aoki was a waiver claim, and Morton was a cheap injury risk pick up.

We had to clear Castro off the team to go get a McCann. Rasmus was supposed to be our veteran leader last year (and he wasn't cheap), but the ear stuff he dealt with rendered him useless. Fister was our cheap rotation signing.

It's not like this offseason was a huge deviation from past offseasons. We had the opportunity to add a couple more pieces and we did, but it's not like our signings were being heralded at the time as fantastic or franchise altering.

Last season should have been another step in the right direction after winning the WC in 2015, but injuries, Keuchel's struggles, and Gomez forgetting how to play baseball really set us back...and yet we had about the same record as 2015.

The struggles and bad luck of 2016 is what makes 2017 look so good, but the process has been building towards this since Lunhow took over. There was nothing magical about this offseason. The guys we have are just performing to their abilities, unlike last year.

Looking into the numbers... it seems the difference is the usual suspect.



Nearly a 50 point difference in BABIP. This could be explained a little more with the bottom table... The Astros have 4 more infield hits and 4 more bunt hits on the road. Their batted ball stats other than that have been almost identical.

They've actually hit for more power at home if you cite ISO for that (also have a 2% higher HR/FB rate at home... Crawford Boxes).

Now, there's been a misconception for a while that MMP is a "bandbox." It's simply not true. The Crawford Boxes are a short porch, sure, but MMP has actually been a pitcher's ballpark in the last few years.






If you'll notice BABIP on the above graphic. It's extremely low for MMP. Getting rid of the spacious centerfield and Tal's Hill will only suppress BABIP more, and it's showing up this year.


So in summary, we should see a little regression to close the gaps between home and road splits, but not too much.

As far as Jose goes. I have no idea. It's either batter's eye or the Crawford Boxes, but he's definitely a different cat on the road.

Good research. You are the man as usual.

Very good point. And just to back that up. The month of april was the killer last year. Over the last 162 games dating back to last year the Astros are 98-64.

Also this... Jose has a .266 BABIP at home. It's an astronomical and unsustainable .432 on the road. BABIP'ed again.

However, he has a 6% higer hard hit rate and 6% higher line drive rate on the road. This suggest his BABIP should be higher on the road but not 160+ points higher.

stat man

Dallas Keuchel said:

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"We're going to make sure it's fully ready to go this time instead of trying to rush back and miss a start or whatever."

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Chron

Quote:

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Keuchel said the discomfort he experienced from the pinched nerve that cost him a start last month had dissipated before resurfacing between his June 2 start in Arlington and the outing from which he was scratched Wednesday in Kansas City. He described it Saturday as "kind of a dull ache" that feels "a little bit more sharp" when he pitches.

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Quote:

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He said looking back he probably should have missed an additional start last month before returning from the DL.

"As a pitcher you feel a lot of things," he said. "I don't think it probably went fully away, but at the same time I felt a lot better than what I did after Miami. It's just kind of one of those things where at this point right now we're in a good position (as a team) and I'd rather miss a few starts right now than miss like I did last year (with a shoulder injury) the final month in September."

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Quote:

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Keuchel said he's just getting over the virus that began the day after his last start, when he woke up and "just didn't feel really good at all." He said he experienced body aches, chills and a sore throat. Illness was the original reason the Astros offered for why he was scratched Wednesday before the recurrence of the neck injury was revealed. Keuchel said he lost about 10 pounds while sick.

"Maybe I'll put some weight back on while I'm waiting to pitch," he said.

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Quote:

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He said he didn't recover as well as he usually does after his start in Arlington and notified the team on Tuesday he wasn't feeling "right." When he started warming up Wednesday it "just wasn't feeling good." A bullpen game ensued.

"I didn't want to push it and have to revisit it later (in the season), so I decided to shut it down and here we are," he said. "It's kind of a bad spot to put the bullpen in, but I didn't really know how I was going to feel until I actually started to warm up.

"I put them in a bad position, but at the same time I want to do something now and not revisit something later in the season when we're getting ready for the playoffs and hopefully playing into October."

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Quote:

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In the meantime, Keuchel said he's relegated to only cardio work. He acknowledged he won't truly be able to gauge his rehab until he picks up a ball and resumes throwing.

"It's probably about the same (as last time)," he said of the severity of his neck discomfort. "If I really had to push it I probably could, but it's not something I want to just keep reaggravating every time I go out there every five days. So I'd rather nip it in the bud right now and make sure it's fully gone and get back out there and enjoy being healthy."

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Quote:

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Astros starters for the Rangers series expected to be Musgrove on Monday, McCullers on Tuesday and Peacock on Wednesday.

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I saw it for the 1st time this afternoon.

And of course it's Pujols hitting a little duck fart to break up Fiers' no-no.

Another great AB by Gonzo.

Great at bat for Marwin

who is this pitcher? and what did he do with the real mike fiers??

Fiers ERA at 4.38.

2 GIDP for correa in 3 ABs

Fiers through 7

1 hit, 2 walks, 7 k's, 0 ER.

shano0603 said:

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wait... do we like Fiers now? I don't know what to think.

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I don't like the Fiers who gave up 2+ bombs a game and acted like a petulant child when he'd get yanked.

I do like this Fiers who has stepped up in a huge way with 3 of the other original 5 starters injured, and who seems to be mentally focused and ready to come to work.

I feel like Bregman has a disproportionate amount of hard hit balls that actually turn into a hit. He seems to square it up often, but hits it right at a fielder a lot.

Maybe I'm crazy.

titanmaster_race said:

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shano0603 said:

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wait... do we like Fiers now? I don't know what to think.

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I don't like the Fiers who gave up 2+ bombs a game and acted like a petulant child when he'd get yanked.

I do like this Fiers who has stepped up in a huge way with 3 of the other original 5 starters injured, and who seems to be mentally focused and ready to come to work.

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The stat they showed about opponent averages 1st time, 2nd time and 3rd time through the order was pretty eye opening. Basically if he makes it through the lineup the first time through without giving up a run, he's going to have a solid outing.

way to be lazy correa. get your body in front of it

just gonna let them both steal?

would have been a double play

Frok said:

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would have been a double play

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that was dumb. way too easy for the angels to score there

Fiers looked pretty pissed they were pulling him and maybe rightfully so. He pitched a hell of a game.

Good job devo

titanmaster_race said:

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keuchel out
Morton out
Musgrove out



does this make Fiers the #2 guy?

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Fiers got the memo that he needs to pitch like a #2

**** Giles

JJxvi said:

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**** Giles

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