Record: 11-17 (80-53) 11.5 games up
Average: Alex Bregman (.345)
Doubles: Yuli Gurriel (8)
Triples: Alex Bregman (3)
Home Runs: Jose Altuve (6)
Runs Batted In: Alex Bregman (20)
Stolen Bases: Jose Altuve (7)
Walks: Alex Bregman (9)
Strikeouts: Derek Fisher, Jake
Marisnick (24)
On Base Percentage: Alex Bregman
(.395)
Slugging Percentage: Alexa
Bregman (.584)
On Base Plus Slugging: Alex
Bregman (.979)
Wins: Dallas Keuchel, Collin
McHugh (2)
Losses: Mike Fiers (4)
Earned Run Average: Collin McHugh
(2.94)
Saves: Ken Giles (5)
Innings Pitched: Dallas Keuchel
(35.2)
Hits: Mike Fiers (36)
Earned Runs: Mike Fiers (27)
Home Runs: Mike Fiers (9)
Walks: Mike Fiers (16)
Strikeouts: Brad Peacock (36)
Walks Plus Hits Per Inning
Pitched: Charlie Morton (1.200)
Wow, this was a
bad month. I predicted it would be the
worst month of the year (hopefully it will be) but I did not expect this
bad. They started with three losses in a
row to the Rays, followed by winning two out of three against the Blue
Jays. Then came the worst stretch of the
season, with five losses in a row on the road including a sweep to the terrible
White Sox. It was only slightly better
in the second half of the month, only because they didn't have any prolonged
losing streaks.
It's hard to pin
it on any one thing. Certainly injuries
played their role, as the Astros are clearly missing Correa in the middle of
the order. In a lot of ways, the second
half as been the opposite of the first half.
When they get good pitching, they can't hit. When they hit, the pitching is terrible. The bullpen certainly hasn't helped. Overall, it's been difficult to watch.
The only real
bright spot this month was Alex Bregman, who really lifted the rest of the
offense. Even Altuve had a bit of a
slide.
Then, of course,
there is the human side. Hurricane
Harvey has been a staggeringly horrific disaster. It is understandable that the players have
been effected as well. It's hard to play
a game when you're wondering about your family.
We must continue
to pray for those affected by the hurricane.
As much as we can love and enjoy baseball, we can never forget that life
goes on in other ways.
The final day of
the month brought two surprises, one curious and the other potentially
huge. In the mid-afternoon, the Astros
signed Cameron Maybin off waivers from the Angels. It will be interesting to see where he slots
in with the outfield, though rosters expand so that won't be an issue. I suppose after the months Derek Fisher and
Jake Marisnick had, they can use improvement.
He and Altuve are the league leaders in stolen bases, so they will have
more speed on the paths. He already made
fans by tweeting "I'm ready to serve you, on & off the
field." Then boom went the
dynamite. Minutes before the end of the
waiver trade deadline at minute, the Astros traded three of their top 11
prospects to the Tigers for Justin Verlander.
This trade had been rumored since before the initial trade deadline, but
there were a lot of hang ups over prospects and money. They were able to get it done, and didn't
give up the top-top prospects to get him.
Hopefully this will solidify the rotation. At least he brings postseason experience.
Oh, and Correa
is expected to return either Sunday or Monday.
McCullers should be back shortly thereafter.
September
outlook: After a three-game homestand
against the Mets, the Astros head out on a potentially killer roadtrip to their
friends out West. In the middle of the
month, they return home for the final nine home games of the season against the
Mariners, White Sox, and Angels. The
final seven include a three game trip to Arlington and four in Boston to finish
it off. There are a lot of playoff or
potential playoff teams on this schedule, adding to the difficulty. A more-or-less healthy team should be able to
manage it ok. Predicted record: 15-14.
Overall Grade: D
