Philadelphia Freedom

Before I get started with today's post, I wanted to update everyone on the situation highlighted in my previous entry. Since publishing, Jason Marbach has retracted his Facebook post and issued an apology to me. I commend him for the courage to do so, as most that have smeared me stand by their outrageous claims. And while I will not pursue friendship with Mr. Marbach, forgiving him puts closure to this particular saga.

Okay, now to the positive stuff of baseball. I can think of no better way to highlight a stint in the city of brotherly love than referencing the popular Elton John tune! The Houston Astros continue to win series, and all of us fans are loving every minute of it. At the same time, we are all getting anxious as to whether or not a trade will be made for some pitching help. It's no secret that this team really does need it. But will Jeff Luhnow pull the trigger before the trade deadline this coming Monday at 3pm CST? The hope is that he will get something done. If it means sacrificing a bit of the future to get the world title this season, so be it!

After a very disappointing 9-0 shutout loss to the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday helped out by the stellar performance of their ace, Aaron Nola, pitching help couldn't get to this team any sooner. Granted, they did win the series 2 out of 3, but there was no reason that the spacemen could not get another sweep under their belt. Especially, against the likes of a team like the Phillies are. This is no time to get complacent, or throw in the towel just because they win series. The Astros need to keep giving it everything they got to keep getting as many wins and success as possible.

Speaking of success, your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis has had himself a slump lately. After owning a .292 batting average, .860 OPS and 130 wRC+ just this past Saturday, El Oso Blanco had gone 0 for his last 10 with 4 strikeouts, the longest slump he has had all season. To make matters worse, one of them came last night with two outs in the top of the 9th inning with runners on 1st and 2nd. His average is now back down to .279 and his OPS is down to .824 with a wRC+ of 120, all in the span of the past 3 games he has been in.

Don't get me wrong with saying all of this, as the Big White Bear is still doing exceedingly well. I merely point this out as a means of feeling somewhat worried about when he will pick it up again. Baseball is a very cruel sport, after all. One that can see a player go for one of the best stretches of his career to a devastating slump all within the span of a day or two. Even with as limited playing time and a shorter leash that he has had this season, I still believe in Evan Gattis, as I always have and always will. I just wish that the universal powers that be will help bestow upon him another fantastic hit streak, like the 11 game one he had just before the All Star Break. 

Thankfully, I'm not the only one noticing how valuable of a contributor he has been to this stacked juggernaut of an offense. The website fanragsports.com did a recent article about him, which you can read in the following tweet I sent out yesterday:

Great piece on the quiet contributions of Evan Gattis. One I will be dissecting in my blog post tomorrow. #Astros⚾️https://t.co/YTEHJNBgyq

— James I Zeankowski (@tvwizard85) July 26, 2017

I have to say I was very impressed by what Ms. Morrison wrote here. Here are some of the quotes that I agreed with her saying:

1. "What hasn’t been talked about is that quietly, among Houston’s brighter lights, Evan Gattis is repeating his career year while supporting the better-known Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran."
2. "There is something to being allowed to rest, to fully recover from each game, especially for catchers. It’s why, unless your starting catcher is someone like Buster Posey, catchers usually see the least starting time of any of the positions (though the introduction of absolute platoons has changed that somewhat). Catching involves squatting for hours at a time, and letting someone hurl projectiles at you. It’s a difficult position, and a mental one, and it’s good for both Gattis and McCann to be able to take the occasional break."
3. "What he has shown, though, is a better approach at the plate, leading to both a higher batting average and on-base percentage than at any other point in his career."
4. "Right now, the Astros have made Gattis into what he really is — a power bat, the kind of catcher/DH every team wishes they had the luxury of having as a backup."

Then, there were some statements that I either did not quite agree with, or questioned:

1. "It’s that diminished playing time, actually, that might be helping Gattis achieve new heights in production."
2. "With the current setup of the Astros, Gattis isn’t being asked to shoulder the everyday duties of either catcher or DH, and he appears to be benefiting from it."
3. "He’s not the most exciting player available to the Astros,...."
4. "Years from now, Gattis may be the player trivia hounds forget when trying to name the full 25-man roster from whatever Houston becomes known for this year, but that doesn’t make his role any less important."

The first two quotes from this second set were the ones I questioned. I mean, can any of us really be sure that the only reason for Evan Gattis doing so well and having a career year is because he is playing less? I would argue no, but then again, I'm no soothsayer. I've fashioned a formula many times that would allow for the bear to start one catching game and one game at DH, while resting the remainder of any given series. I mean, it's not a substantial increase from what he's playing now, and he wouldn't overshadow either or both of the combination of veterans in Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran at either of those two positions.

But this is Hinch's and the team's call, not any of ours. As vocal in opposition as I have been to this decrease in playing time, I have to accept, like everyone else, what the plans are for this team going forward. I still have every right to voice concerns, but I intend to do so in a much more civilized manner in the future. As hard as it is for me at times to do so, I have to trust that the skip and the team will make the best decisions for the team to win, as well as to help the players themselves. They obviously all know things that we don't. But I digress....and dissect!

Those final two quotes had me shaking my head. I mean, Ms. Morrison could have explained everything she did in a manner that didn't bring up an assessment left up to interpretation. Even though everyone may not think it, El Oso Blanco has shown time and again that he can change the course of a game with a single swing, along with being the fan favorite that he is. In all honesty, if anyone truly forgets what the bear brings, intentional or not, it's just plain foolish. I do appreciate that she added at the end about his role being no less important. It is actually a role that is extremely vital to the success of this team. He may not be the superstar that Jose Altuve, George Springer or Carlos Correa are and will be for years to come, but Evan Gattis is still a vital and perennial team player to have around. Hopefully, this Astros organization sees it the same way in order to keep him around for a while.

Now, it's on to Detroit, where the spacemen will open up a 3 game set against the motor city men this weekend before heading back home. In the meantime, Astros slugger, Jeff Bagwell, is being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY this weekend. I wish all in attendance well, as I will not be able to make the journey up there. Perhaps, there will be a coincidental sweep to go along with that? And maybe Tigers' ace, Justin Verlander may be flying back with the spacemen to H-Town as part of a trade? Only time will tell, and it's quickly running out to make a move. So let's make some magic happen!

Original Photo Credit: G. Fiume of Getty Images

Just like the Liberty Bell, the Astros will make freedom ring by getting a (World Series) ring, and allowing Evan Gattis' bat to ring up those pitches!!!!