How significant Astros spring training revelation highlights even more reasons for optimism
TIPPING HIS HAND?
01 March
The Houston Astros had a very successful season in 2023 which led them back to the ALCS for the seventh-straight season, but despite another deep playoff run, their pitching did regress from the prior year.
While many would point to their historic bullpen in 2022 and say they had nowhere to go but down, that doesn't paint the full picture. It was the starting rotation that really fell off in 2023. Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, and Jose Urquidy all saw a spike in their ERAs from the previous season.
According to a recent report from The Athletic's Chandler Rome, we might have an explanation for Jose Urquidy's down year.
The Astros and Urquidy believe he was tipping his pitches. Which would explain why the slugging percentage against his fastball jumped from .482 in 2022 to .632 in 2023.
José Urquidy said he discovered this offseason that he was tipping some of his pitches by how he moved/squeezed his glove in his delivery. He worked this winter to solve that in addition to strengthening his lat/shoulder area where he got hurt last season.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 27, 2024
When hitters know a pitcher is tipping, they often start hunting fastballs. Also, his strikeout percentage went down last year and his walks went way up. He had 2 more walks per nine innings in 2023 than he had in 2021.
Part of that could be him aiming for corners and refusing to give in to hitters because his fastball wasn't performing up to expectations.
His WHIP in 2023 really jumped off the page as well. He finished with a WHIP over 1.4. While his career WHIP is 1.143. That's a huge difference.
Back to the big picture
Until last season, Urquidy never finished with an ERA over 3.95. He recorded a 5.29 ERA last year. So when we factor in his shoulder injury that cost him three months of the season, and the fact he was tipping pitches, we believe he's in store for a bounce-back season.
And the Astros are going to need him, especially with Justin Verlander and JP France possibly not being available for the start of the season.
What will the rotation look like early on?
The Astros haven't ruled Verlander out yet, so he could be ready to go. But if not, and we base this off what we saw last season. The rotation will likely include Valdez, Javier, Brown, Urquidy, Ronel Blanco, and Brandon Bielak.
Don't miss the video above for the full discussion!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan every Monday on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel.
We'll continue to drop videos throughout the week!
With two picks in the second round, the Houston Texans went defense with their first selection. At No. 42 overall, the Texans selected Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter. Lassiter should be able to compete Day 1 at nickelback for Houston, according to NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah.
Draft analyst Lance Zierlein had Lassiter as a second round pick before he ran a 4.64 forty at his pro day. Both Zierlein and Jeremiah projected Lassiter as a third round pick because of his slow forty time.
He may not be fast, but he can really cover. Lassiter allowed 136 pass yards in coverage in 2023, per PFF. The fewest among FBS cornerbacks.
Protecting the franchise
The Texans turned their attention to the offense with their second pick in the round, selecting Notre Dame right tackle Blake Fisher. Jeremiah said on the broadcast that Fisher was the best tackle on his board when the Texans selected him. Jeremiah believes he would have been a first round pick next season if he went back to school. It will be interesting to see if the Texans experiment with Tytus Howard at guard again this year.
In the third round, the Texans traded up to No. 78 overall and selected USC defensive back Calen Bullock. He recorded 9 int, and 15 pass breakups in his career with the Trojans.
Be sure to watch the video above as we react live to the Texans selections on YouTube!
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