It's Such a Roller Coaster!

I cannot think of a better way to describe this past week for the Houston Astros than the chorus lyric to a song by the band, Bleachers. It really was some week for the spacemen. From working out the kinks of a .500 record, to soaring back to first place in the AL West division, the first road trip proved to be quite the beneficial one for the team.

How much, exactly? Well, take a look at these particular offensive splits from the team from week to week:

Week 1
Team Average: .238
Team RISP (runners in scoring position) Average: .175

Week 2
Team Average: .302
Team RISP Average: .344

Very nice jump up in the numbers, if I do say so myself. What's even better about this is that every single player off the bench has been slashing incredibly well since the start of the road trip. They have favored more contact and RBI opportunities over power, though that quality still remains pretty strong, too. Here's a look at where everyone stands:

1.   George Springer - .231/.298/.596/.894 (6 HR, 11 RBI in 58 plate appearances) 
2.   Alex Bregman - .238/.373/.286/.658 (0 HR, 3 RBI in 52 PA's) 
3.   Jose Altuve - .319/.418/.381/.801 (0 HR, 2 RBI in 55 PA's) 
4.   Carlos Correa - .234/.315/.298/.613 (1 HR, 3 RBI in 54 PA's) 
5.   Carlos Beltran - .283/.313/.348/.661 (0 HR, 5 RBI in 48 PA's) 
6.   Brian McCann - .267/.395/.500/.895 (2 HR, 7 RBI in 38 PA's) 
7.   Josh Reddick - .273/.306/.303/.609 (0 HR, 2 RBI in 36 PA's) 
8.   Yulieski Gurriel - .229/.229/.257/.486 ( 0 HR, 1 RBI in 35 PA's)  
9.   Nori Aoki - .375/.407/.542/.949 ( 1 HR, 4 RBI in 28 PA's) 
10.   Marwin Gonzalez - .214/.333/.536/.869 (3 HR, 6 RBI in 34 PA's) 
11.   Jake Marisnick - .308/.438/.538/.976 (1 HR, 1 RBI in 16 PA's) 

At first glance, some of these averages may not be ultra superstar. However, it does show how skipper A.J. Hinch is utilizing all 12 offensive weapons that he has. Especially, after the scare regarding Correa getting hit by a pitch on Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, the X-Rays came back negative and his injury ended up being a minor contusion in his left hand. He's slated to be back in the lineup tonight, as the spacemen are back home to host a 4 game set with yet another divisional rival, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. (LATE EDIT: Correa's hand bothered him in BP, so he will not be in tonight's game. Bummer!)

It is almost as if this ball club is utilizing the Dan Quinn/Atlanta Falcons method on offense. That is to say, that there is not just one or even a couple of offensive targets to make the opposing team pay. Rather, 12 different men can pick up the team at any given time. This will certainly be very useful coming down the stretch. So long as they can keep stringing those comeback wins together in making other teams' bullpens knock out after a few pitches, no one in the entire American League, let alone the west division, will be able to stop them!

Oh, and did you think I'd forget your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis, from this discussion? He's been doing mightily in just a few appearances so far. Here's how he's stacking up!:

• Evan Gattis - .286/.423/.381/.804 (0 HR, 4 RBI in 26 PA's)

It should also be noted that El Oso Blanco also has 2 doubles, 5 walks and only 3 strikeouts in 7 games played and 21 at-bats. (6-for-21). He also has a BABIP (batting average on balls in play) of .333 and a wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) of 141. Small sample size, I know. But still, nothing to sneeze at, since this is his best start to a season since his rookie campaign with the Atlanta Braves in 2013. Brian McTaggart of MLB.com even gave a nice in-depth look at Gattis' new patience and contact approach at the plate. 

And yes, CDH (Critics, Doubters, Haters) crowd, I used saber numbers to illustrate my point on how the Big White Bear should get more playing time. Forgive me if I used more stats on him than anyone else in the lineup. But honestly, you all knew what this was before you started reading the post. So be little lambs and take your negativity elsewhere. I'm about as stocked up on that as much as I can handle.

In all seriousness, though, back to the surge this team is on. Every last one of these players is making an early and lasting statement, and we as fans need to commend all of them for it. The process can seem like a roller coaster, especially with all of the different lineups that have come out. But I happen to think it is one that, in the end, can be trusted. Even in the midst of me venting my frustrations at the lack of playing time he gets, Evan Gattis will continue to be a perennial part of this team. The hope is, for him as well as the team as a whole, that will be for plenty of more years to come. No more dips in the roller coaster, please! Stay soaring ever higher!

FYI Readers, as I'm writing this, El Oso Blanco will be in the lineup tonight as catcher to Charlie Morton. He will also bat 5th in the order!

Original Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson of Getty Images

The Bear is All Smiles, Which Makes Me All Smiles! Keep Playing Him, Hinch!!!!