MLB Team Outlook: Houston Astros
The Houston Astros have not lived up to the expectations of many this season. They are easily ranked as the League’s least performing team. Many analysts have cited Minute Maid Park to be an unlucky home venue for the Astros but superstition has limited
scope in the game of baseball, realistically speaking.
The Astros have played 52 games at home this season so far and have managed to register victories in just 16 of these encounters. 36 of these games have ended in disappointment for the fans and players alike and this is a substantial number if the percentage
is to be considered.
Their record on the road has not been impressive either, ruling out the superstition about Minute Maid Park. They have played 45 games on the road and have come out victorious in just 16 of them and falling on 29 occasions.
Overall, the Astros have a win-loss record of 32-65 and a winning percentage of .330. They are still at least 33 games short of achieving the .500 mark which, given their dismal display, is a distant possibility this season. Houston is 20 games back of American
League Central Division leader Pittsburgh and 6.5 games behind fifth placed Chicago Cubs. The Astros are placed sixth in the AL Central which has six teams in total.
Pointing out a particular department to be the cause of this lacklustre performance will not do justice. The team has not been efficient at the plate and the pitching’ staff has not helped at the mound either. Where they have been able to score just 378
runs in total this season, the Astros have leaked 112 more than they have scored. The 490 runs which they have conceded are the second most in the Majors, just one less than 491 which the Chicago Cubs have conceded. If they continue at the current rate, it
will not be long before they overtake the Cubs in that as well.
Houston has been historically renowned performers in the second half and critics believe them to repeat that achievement this time around. In the first five games after the All-Star break, there have been little, if any, signs of that performance. They have
won just two of their five games in this half up till now with a 2-1 series loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates to begin with.
Their current three-game series against the Washington Nationals is tied at one game each with the final game scheduled for Wednesday, July 20. The Astros will be looking to win this game and subsequently the series which may turn out to be the required
confidence booster for this half.
Hunter Pence has been their key batter with the best batting average (.315), most home-runs (11) and most RBIs (61) among his team-mates. His statistics are not impressive compared to the League leader but his being the Astros’ best explains the story itself.
The Houston pitching’ staff is not in a very healthy condition. Wandy Rodriguez has a 6-6 win-loss record which is the best in their line-up. Brett Myers’ ordinary showing at the mound has not helped the cause of the Astros much. Myers has a poor win-loss
record of 3-10. Things could have been better if his win-loss record was the other way round.
However, the Astros are now in a phase where they are famous to topple even the strongest opposition. It will be interesting to see how this season goes as far as their second half performance is concerned.
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