Where Do We Go Now?
Astros fans, I don't know what I can possibly say to make anyone feel better out there. The team has lost 8 of their last 10, including another 2 of 3 series win for the rival Texas Rangers. For whatever reason that science, religion, or anything on the face of this universe can explain, that team continues dominating us, both on the field and in the standings. What's worse? I have to live up here in Fort Worth, aka Rangers Country, and hear an earful from Ranger fan colleagues. And let me tell you, it's not pretty.
Now, the Houston Astros have to go on a pair of long road trips in the coming weeks remaining in August to only fuel the meaning of the phrase "The Dog Days of Summer." It doesn't get any easier for the spacemen, or for your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis. This upcoming trip will see 4 in Minnesota against the Twins, and then another 3 up in the Great White North against the Blue Jays, who just took 3 out of 4 from the Astros while in town at Minute Maid Park. Pretty grueling.
But with dark clouds come silver linings. There are still roughly 50 or so games left to play, and while the division seems like a long shot, it's not out of the realm of possibility. And for that matter, neither are the playoffs. There is also further discoveries that I am making about El Oso Blanco;
1. Since the All-Star Break, Evan Gattis is batting .273 (18-for-66) with a .854 OPS (.530 of that slugging) and less than half as many strikeouts. (60 before the ASG, only 25 since)
2. In this past Texas Rangers series, Gattis also went 5-for-12 (.417 BA) over that stretch. This is a big indicator of how much better he has been seeing the ball lately.
What's really sad is that things like this get lost in the shuffle all because of his current .228 batting average on the season. Not mentioned as much is how different his numbers would be if he was the starting catcher.
Current stat line for that: .296/.330/1.015
That catching stat line is also after he has made 108 plate appearances as a catcher. 27 starts and 31 total game he has played in that position as well. As much as critics, doubters and haters would want to claim, the sample size for him isn't that small anymore.
So then, the questions remain: Why do they continue to play Jason Castro, when his OPS is down at .671 and brings nothing to the bat? Is he so good of a defender that the team and organization would rather sacrifice even more offense just to keep him back there? Are they just using up the tread on Castro before he becomes a free agent? Is there something else at work here that is potentially setting Evan Gattis up for failure?
I'd like to think that the last question is just me being paranoid. But look at the numbers again, folks? In an offense currently as anemic as the Houston Astros, why sacrifice more of it just for the sake of some supposed "defensive gem?" Is it really worth it to have Castro come up there to the batter's box and fail to come up with another RBI just because there are some things about his glove that he may still have slightly better than Evan?
Yes, Gattis could still use work on the blocking and not letting the wild pitches get by him. I get that, Astros Country, and I feel your pain on that. But at this point, I think the defense, which has already been stellar with the pitching staff ERA and all the fielding assists this team has, may have to sacrifice a little of that at backstop so that Evan Gattis can get more playing time to tick up what is already a solid game on both sides of the ball and help this team win games.
He did catch Keuchel's complete game on Friday night after all, and even Keuchel gave almost all of his success credit to Evan. Don't believe me? See for yourself here:
Photo Credit: David Reginek of Getty Images North America
And HE has a bigger bat, for sure!!!!
Now, the Houston Astros have to go on a pair of long road trips in the coming weeks remaining in August to only fuel the meaning of the phrase "The Dog Days of Summer." It doesn't get any easier for the spacemen, or for your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis. This upcoming trip will see 4 in Minnesota against the Twins, and then another 3 up in the Great White North against the Blue Jays, who just took 3 out of 4 from the Astros while in town at Minute Maid Park. Pretty grueling.
But with dark clouds come silver linings. There are still roughly 50 or so games left to play, and while the division seems like a long shot, it's not out of the realm of possibility. And for that matter, neither are the playoffs. There is also further discoveries that I am making about El Oso Blanco;
1. Since the All-Star Break, Evan Gattis is batting .273 (18-for-66) with a .854 OPS (.530 of that slugging) and less than half as many strikeouts. (60 before the ASG, only 25 since)
2. In this past Texas Rangers series, Gattis also went 5-for-12 (.417 BA) over that stretch. This is a big indicator of how much better he has been seeing the ball lately.
What's really sad is that things like this get lost in the shuffle all because of his current .228 batting average on the season. Not mentioned as much is how different his numbers would be if he was the starting catcher.
Current stat line for that: .296/.330/1.015
That catching stat line is also after he has made 108 plate appearances as a catcher. 27 starts and 31 total game he has played in that position as well. As much as critics, doubters and haters would want to claim, the sample size for him isn't that small anymore.
So then, the questions remain: Why do they continue to play Jason Castro, when his OPS is down at .671 and brings nothing to the bat? Is he so good of a defender that the team and organization would rather sacrifice even more offense just to keep him back there? Are they just using up the tread on Castro before he becomes a free agent? Is there something else at work here that is potentially setting Evan Gattis up for failure?
I'd like to think that the last question is just me being paranoid. But look at the numbers again, folks? In an offense currently as anemic as the Houston Astros, why sacrifice more of it just for the sake of some supposed "defensive gem?" Is it really worth it to have Castro come up there to the batter's box and fail to come up with another RBI just because there are some things about his glove that he may still have slightly better than Evan?
Yes, Gattis could still use work on the blocking and not letting the wild pitches get by him. I get that, Astros Country, and I feel your pain on that. But at this point, I think the defense, which has already been stellar with the pitching staff ERA and all the fielding assists this team has, may have to sacrifice a little of that at backstop so that Evan Gattis can get more playing time to tick up what is already a solid game on both sides of the ball and help this team win games.
He did catch Keuchel's complete game on Friday night after all, and even Keuchel gave almost all of his success credit to Evan. Don't believe me? See for yourself here:
The writing is on the wall, folks. And as I'm writing this, Evan Gattis has been inserted into tonight's lineup as catcher. Let's hope this will soon become a regular thing for this Astros' ball club. Again, no disrespect to Jason Castro and his really solid glove, but the bats are what is needed right now.Dallas Keuchel said going into tonight he knew it was going to be good. August is here. #Astros pic.twitter.com/Eru0BoXorq— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) August 6, 2016
Photo Credit: David Reginek of Getty Images North America
And HE has a bigger bat, for sure!!!!
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