Despite a weekend sweep of the division-rival Brewers (16-16) and another stirring comeback victory over the Nationals (14-19), the Stros’ record (17-16) reflects their performance through the first fifth of the 2008 season — an average National League ballclub.
Collectively, the Stros are generating one less run through 33 games than a National League-average club would have generated in the same number of games (RCAA — that’s 9th among the 16 National League clubs) and the Stros’ pitching staff has collectively given up nine more runs than a National League-average pitching staff would have given up (RSAA — that’s 10th in the National League). Thus, the 2008 Stros have essentially the same record and collective statistics as the disastrous 2007 club had at roughly the same stage of the season.
Nevertheless, there is a reasonable basis for thinking that the 2008 club will turn out somewhat better over the course of the season than the 2007 edition (73-89). SS Miguel Tejada (12 RCAA/.379 OBA/.565 SLG/.944 OPS) appears to be revived by his new surroundings and has been much better than predicted, both offensively and defensively. Although still below National League-average, the Stros’ pitching staff can look forward to ace Roy Oswalt (-7 RSAA/5.57 ERA) improving steadily over the balance of the season after an uncharacteristically bad start (after going 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his first three starts, Oswalt is 3-0 with a 3.46 ERA in his last four starts), that second-best starter Wandy Rodriguez (5 RSAA/2.31 ERA) will eventually return from a stint on the disabled list, and that the relief corps will continue its recent improvement after a horrid start that was primarily responsible for the club’s atrocious 6-14 record after the first 20 games of the season. Likewise, an increase in offensive productivity is likely as RF Hunter Pence (-5/.288/.432/.720) and LF Carlos Lee (5/.333/.541/.874) rebound from slow starts and regular 3B Ty Wigginton (-2/.275/.333/.608) returns after missing 22 games with a broken thumb. Finally, the Stros’ prospects this season are buoyed by 1B Lance Berkman’s (22/.428/.731/1.159) strong rebound from a so-so 2007 season (at least by his standards) as he returns to his customary status as one of the top sluggers in the National League. Berkman went nuts at the plate again on Tuesday night against the Nationals, going 5 for 5 for the first time in his career and stealing two more bases, making him 6 for 7 on steal attempts this season.
However, that’s not to suggest that there aren’t warning signs that could lead this club to swoon in the same manner as the 2007 club did (26 losses in 40 games) during the second quarter of last season. Contrary to the mainstream media’s suggestion that the Stros are a good hitting team, no Stros hitters are producing above National League-average except for Berkman, Tejeda and Lee, and Lee is not producing anywhere near the rate he needs to in order to make up for all the runs he gives away with his laggard defensive play. Meanwhile, young players Pence, CF Michael Bourn (-5/.275/.315/.590) and C J.R. Towles (-3/.318/.386/.703) are all showing signs of their lack of AAA seasoning. Bourn has yet to learn that his future as a Major Leaguer is in being a line drive/ground ball hitter, while Pence is having to deal for the first time with the reality that he will get few meaty fastballs from NL pitchers unless or until he learns to lay off breaking pitches thrown outside the strike zone. On the pitching side, the starting rotation is seemingly on the brink of disaster most of the time (Chris Sampson has a -11 RSAA/7.96 ERA so far this season!), which has led to Manager Cecil Cooper’s quick hook and the resulting overuse of the relievers. Although they have been better over the past 20 or so games, those relievers are at high risk of reverting to their early season mediocrity as the innings pile up.
Consequently, through a fifth of the 2008 season, there still is not much evidence that the Stros can contend for a NL playoff spot. So long as they can avoid injuries to key players, the club might be able to achieve a .500 record, which would be 7 games better than my pre-season over/under prediction of 75 wins. However, the club’s pitching is simply too inconsistent to generate a sustained period of generating more wins than losses, which is necessary at some point in any season to propel a club into playoff contention. Look for the Cubs (19-14; 31 RCAA/24 RSAA) to take control of the NL Central as the season wears on, although the Cardinals (22-12; 28 RCAA/13 RSAA) have been the surprise of the division so far. I just don’t think the Cards will keep it up.
By the way, the 2008 season has brought us another solid source of information on the Stros. Zachary Levine — who takes a refreshingly objective approach to baseball analysis — has quickly become the most insightful Houston Chronicle reporter on the Stros. Along with Lisa Gray’s insightful Stros blog and Alyson Footer’s articles at Astros.com, Levine’s reports on the Stros provide solid sources for keeping up with the Stros on daily basis.
After finishing up against the Nats this week, the Stros make a West Coast swing against the Dodgers (18-14) and the Giants (14-19) before returning to Texas to play the Rangers (13-20) in the first inter-league games of the season. Then, it’s back home later this month to play the Cubs and Phillies (19-14) before going back on the road to finish May against the Cardinals and Brewers.
The 2008 season statistics for the Stros are below (through 33 games), courtesy of Lee Sinins‘ sabermetric Complete Baseball Encyclopedia. The abbreviations for the hitting stats are defined here and the same for the pitching stats are here. The Stros 40 man roster is here with links to each individual player’s statistics:
