WHAT APPEARED TO BE A STRONG SUIT FOR HOUSTON IS NOW LOOKING LIKE A GLARING WEAKNESS HEADING DOWN THE STRETCH
Astros: How much do you trust the bullpen?
Sep 3, 2019, 7:28 am
WHAT APPEARED TO BE A STRONG SUIT FOR HOUSTON IS NOW LOOKING LIKE A GLARING WEAKNESS HEADING DOWN THE STRETCH
The Astros bullpen started the year as one of the better relief units in the big leagues and after a few trades at the deadline, it was set up to be even better come playoff time. Now, due to a combination of injuries and multiple failed appearances, blown saves and relinquished leads, the pen may be the danger zone for AJ Hinch as they head towards the finish line for the regular season and prepare for a deep playoff run. Will Harris seems to be the only guy that can be trusted to protect a lead or keep the team in a tight game, while the rest of the group struggles to get its swagger back and re-build confidence. For all of Houston, the hope is that they can get it figured out and back on track before it's too late and it costs the team a chance at their second title in three years.
Injuries are a big reason why the once-reliable relief unit has struggled mightily late in the season. Former starters turned long relievers Brad Peacock and Collin McHugh are fighting arm and shoulder issues that have nagged them throughout this season and currently have them on the IL. Mchugh is dealing with lingering elbow issues, while Peacock may be in jeopardy of seeing his season come to an end as his shoulder problem has gotten worse instead of better and may require more drastic measures in terms of treatment. Josh James also has had to fight through a tired arm, loss of velocity and concern with his pitching shoulder, but currently he is back on the active roster and got the save in Milwaukee yesterday after getting out of some self-inflicted trouble thanks to his 100 mph fastball. All of those ailments have been a nuisance for Hinch and pitching coach Brent Strom, but none of those setbacks can come close to the knee issues that have put Ryan Pressly out of commission. Pressly went from a short stint on the IL to allow his arm and knee to rest and recuperate, to undergoing surgery to repair the knee and put the rest of his regular season and possibly the early stages of the postseason in limbo depending on rehab and recovery time. The all-star setup man is not only a luxury for Hinch as his best high leverage situation guy, but he may also be the difference between a return trip to the World Series and an early exit from the playoffs.
The biggest surprise in the bullpen this season has been the decline and shortcomings of all the arms that have been reliable and dependable over the last few seasons. Chris Devinsky has gone from All-Star to uncertainty when his name is called on to put out a fire, shut down a rally or hold a lead. His lethal C.O.D. or circle of death changeup is now more like a "chance of disaster." Devo had an ERA of 9.00 for his first 11 appearances in August and gave up at least one run in 7 of those opportunities. Hector Rondon has seen his fastball in the high 90's turn into the starting exit velocity for balls hit by opposing hitters with those numbers increasing with each passing inning. Joe Smith and Joe Biagini have suffered through similar fate as their one time highly affective stuff has been reduced to a roller coaster ride of highs and lows with every passing appearance. Even closer Roberto Osuna has lost his swagger and his lights out results since the all-star break and even before he received the honor of representing Houston on the AL squad. His ERA since the All-star break is over 5.00 and a deeper dive into the stats show even more reason for concern. Since late May he has 6 blown saves, a 4.86 ERA and has given up 8 home runs. He has two wins in his last two appearances, but only because he couldn't shut the door and close the two contests with saves. His ERA is 13.50 in those 2 victories and that should tell you all you need to know. How can you trust a closer that can't seem to put out a fire, let alone smoldering ash over the last 3 months? A closer on a championship-caliber team should not have an ERA over 3 for the year. If he can't get it together and figure out how to get back to his winning ways soon, Houston may need to start auditioning other candidates for the most important role in the pen.
The bottom line is this Astros team is extremely talented and has as good a shot at winning the World Series this season as any team in baseball. The roster is loaded and that includes the pitching staff. The starters are fantastic and the addition of Zach Grienke has made them the premiere rotation in the game. The bullpen has great numbers on the season, despite the injuries and this bump in the road. If they can get healthy, avoid any season-ending injuries and get back on track, they can be the key to bringing another title to H-town. If the pen continues to struggle and remains inconsistent, it could be a disappointing ending to an otherwise fantastic campaign. Let's hope Brent Strom and company can work their magic and the guys can rediscover their winning ways and once again be trusted and counted on to shut the door and seal the deal when called on.astros
After defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 135-131 on Saturday, the Houston Rockets (30-14) have one of the best records in the Western Conference and have playoff aspirations for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
Houston may have improved earlier than anticipated, but this team has the star players, depth, and head coach to make some noise once the playoffs start.
All-Star caliber players
Both Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün have improved greatly this year, and one of them (maybe both) could be selected to join the All-Star team this week for the first time in their careers.
Green leads the team with 21.3 points per game and has become one of the more consistent scorers for the Rockets this season. The 22-year-old is averaging career highs in both field goal percentage and three-pointers as well.
Complementing Green is Şengün, who is averaging a double-double this season and is developing into one of the top centers in the league.
Having not one but two All-Star caliber players on a roster is ideal for team success, and a great foundational piece to make the Rockets competitive for years to come.
Two players can have a big impact on a game-to-game basis, but having a good supporting cast around said players can make a good team elite.
Solid rotation depth
In addition to Green and Sengün, the Rockets have a plethora of role players who can step up if either one is having an off game.
Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks were brought in last season to give the Rockets a veteran presence to help develop their young core, and it seems to be working well. VanFleet can take over a game offensively when needed, and Brooks is a solid 3-and-D player who usually takes the toughest defensive assignment each game but can be a scoring threat as well. Another key contributing player is Amen Thompson, who is having a stellar second season of his NBA career and has filled in nicely for the injured Jabari Smith Jr.
Other players such as Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore can provide scoring depth off the bench, and Steven Adams, a defensive first role player, is an excellent rebounder and rim protector.
Forward Jabari Smith Jr. is out with a fractured left hand, and won’t return until at least February 21st, according to reports. Once Smith is cleared to play again, Houston will get a key contributor back to solidify their starting lineup.
Having a roster with depth is essential for any playoff-caliber team, and could be a formidable asset to ensure the Rockets finish the regular season with a good record and make a playoff run.
An elite coach
When Houston hired head coach Ime Udoka last season, they were hoping he could elevate the team to the next level, and he has more than delivered on that promise.
In Udoka’s first year, he helped the Rockets improve from a 22-60 record (in 22-23) to finish the 23-24 campaign with a 41-41 record, respectively.
Houston's rise to the top can be attributed to their improvement on defense.
According to Fox Sports, the Rockets give up on average 107.8 points per game, which ranks fourth best in the NBA behind the Thunder, Magic, and Clippers.
"If we guard the way we are capable of, we give ourselves a great chance every night instead of getting into shootouts," Udoka said.
Another asset the Rockets coach has on his coaching resume is his playoff experience.
When Udoka was the head coach for the Celtics, he led Boston to the NBA Finals before ultimately losing to the Warriors in six games.
The 47-year-old has also been a part of multiple coaching staffs whose teams went to the playoffs consistently, including winning a championship while he was on the Spurs staff in 2014.
Having an experienced coach is a good asset to have, especially for a young team in which most of the players have never been to the postseason thus far in their careers.
With two All-Star level players, a deep roster and a good head coach, the Rockets have all the necessary tools to make it back to the playoffs for the first time in four years and become a tough team to beat once the postseason starts.
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