Post by Saint on Oct 1, 2018 14:42:10 GMT -6
All the starting pitchers. Stats taken from baseball-reference.com.
Justin Verlander: A+
16-9 2.52 ERA (159 ERA+) 214 IP 290 K .902 WHIP 6.3 WAR
The ace of the staff and easily in the top-3 of the AL for starting pitchers. Leading the league in Games Started, WHIP, K/BB, and Strikeouts, Verlander was dominant most of the year. Any better run support (especially at home) and he easily would have won 20 games this year. If the voters take IP into consideration he'll receive a good amount of CY votes, but I think he falls short and ends up with another 2nd place (3rd at worst) finish. You can't say enough about this guy. Outside of Bagwell, I don't think there is any doubt that he is the best trade acquisition we've ever had, and we still get another year out of him in 2019. As an Astro he is now 21-9 with a 2.32 ERA in 248 IP. Incredible. I think the road through the postseason will be even more difficult this year, so we better hope he is at his best.
Gerrit Cole: A
15-5 2.88 ERA (140 ERA+) 200.1 IP 276 K 1.033 WHIP 5.1 WAR
I think we all hoped he would be good and thought he would be at least a solid #2 or #3 pitcher for us. I don't think any of us expected him to end up leading the league in Strikeouts per 9 IP and finishing up with the 4th best ERA in the league. On many years he'd be a favorite for some 1st place CY votes himself. Great year for him with him back in his 2015 form. He hasn't had a ton of experience in the postseason (1-2 3.94 ERA), but he got rocked in his last game (a wild card game) back in 2015. Hopefully he feeds off of Verlander and can be that dominant guy for us in the postseason this year. We also get him next year too.
Dallas Keuchel: B-
12-11 3.74 ERA (108 ERA+) 204.2 IP 153 K 1.314 WHIP 2.6 WAR
People will disagree with this grade because they're own expectations for him are too high and/or they don't like the softer tossing pitchers, but besides Verlander, Keuchel was the only pitcher to start 34 games this year. The only pitcher with more IP than Keuchel were Kluber and Verlander. He wasn't the dominant corner spotting CY winner from a few years ago, but he had a strong season with mostly strong performances. Like Gattis he was kind of up and down; he had a rough June and a fairly rough September. But, he was arguably our best starter from July thru August going 6-2 over 70 IP and an ERA well under 3.00. I believe he led the league (or was 2nd) in groundballs induced, but had some unfortunate luck with some of them, especially against the shift quite often. He had 20 Quality Starts out of his 34. Odds are that he'll no longer be an Astro after this postseason, but, if he isn't, he'll leave as one of our more notable pitchers in franchise history that helped brings us from the cellar to being champions. As an Astro: 76-63 3.66 ERA and he averaged 11-9 and 170 IP per season. 3 Gold Gloves (so far), 2 AS appearances, and 1 CY.
Charlie Morton: B+
15-3 3.13 ERA (129 ERA+) 167 IP 201 K 1.162 WHIP
Uncle Charlie continued his very good run as an Astro. I hope we offer him a Qualifying Offer and I hope he takes it. He led the league in Win-Loss % for what that's worth, and set career highs in virtually every pitching category. The only thing that kept him from an A- was the IP. I still feel there is value in eating innings as a starter. That being said, he had a very strong year, and he's a hard humble guy not to like. I hope we get him back for another year.
Lance McCullers: C+
10-6 3.86 ERA (104 ERA+) 128.1 IP 142 K 1.169 WHIP
Like Morton, his grade is affected by his IP. The guy has amazing movement and you have to like his energy....but he needs to stay on the field. He did set a new career high for innings but 128 is still low. However, he did average more than a K per inning again, and he had a new career best for WHIP. With the club control over him for 3 more years, he has lots of value. He's got the stuff to be a CY contender if he keep his emotions in check and stays healthy, but he's also the kind of guy to blow up 2 out of every 5 starts and hover around a 4.50 ERA. Stay healthy and consistent, Lance!
Framber Valdez: Incomplete (A- for body of work)
4-1 2.19 ERA (185 ERA+) 37 IP 34 K 1.243 WHIP
He came as a surprise to me. I had barely even heard his name before he was promoted, but he stepped up and did an excellent job in limited work. I hope gets plenty of chances to be a starter for us next year with Keuchel leaving. He has to work on the command some.
Josh James: Incomplete (A+ for body of work)
2-0 2.35 ERA (174 ERA+) 23 IP 29 K .957 WHIP
I really like this guy. I think he's better suited to being a reliever, but it's hard to argue with his results as a starter in limited appearances. He received a higher grade than Framber even though Framber had a better ERA, because that WHIP is fantastic.
Justin Verlander: A+
16-9 2.52 ERA (159 ERA+) 214 IP 290 K .902 WHIP 6.3 WAR
The ace of the staff and easily in the top-3 of the AL for starting pitchers. Leading the league in Games Started, WHIP, K/BB, and Strikeouts, Verlander was dominant most of the year. Any better run support (especially at home) and he easily would have won 20 games this year. If the voters take IP into consideration he'll receive a good amount of CY votes, but I think he falls short and ends up with another 2nd place (3rd at worst) finish. You can't say enough about this guy. Outside of Bagwell, I don't think there is any doubt that he is the best trade acquisition we've ever had, and we still get another year out of him in 2019. As an Astro he is now 21-9 with a 2.32 ERA in 248 IP. Incredible. I think the road through the postseason will be even more difficult this year, so we better hope he is at his best.
Gerrit Cole: A
15-5 2.88 ERA (140 ERA+) 200.1 IP 276 K 1.033 WHIP 5.1 WAR
I think we all hoped he would be good and thought he would be at least a solid #2 or #3 pitcher for us. I don't think any of us expected him to end up leading the league in Strikeouts per 9 IP and finishing up with the 4th best ERA in the league. On many years he'd be a favorite for some 1st place CY votes himself. Great year for him with him back in his 2015 form. He hasn't had a ton of experience in the postseason (1-2 3.94 ERA), but he got rocked in his last game (a wild card game) back in 2015. Hopefully he feeds off of Verlander and can be that dominant guy for us in the postseason this year. We also get him next year too.
Dallas Keuchel: B-
12-11 3.74 ERA (108 ERA+) 204.2 IP 153 K 1.314 WHIP 2.6 WAR
People will disagree with this grade because they're own expectations for him are too high and/or they don't like the softer tossing pitchers, but besides Verlander, Keuchel was the only pitcher to start 34 games this year. The only pitcher with more IP than Keuchel were Kluber and Verlander. He wasn't the dominant corner spotting CY winner from a few years ago, but he had a strong season with mostly strong performances. Like Gattis he was kind of up and down; he had a rough June and a fairly rough September. But, he was arguably our best starter from July thru August going 6-2 over 70 IP and an ERA well under 3.00. I believe he led the league (or was 2nd) in groundballs induced, but had some unfortunate luck with some of them, especially against the shift quite often. He had 20 Quality Starts out of his 34. Odds are that he'll no longer be an Astro after this postseason, but, if he isn't, he'll leave as one of our more notable pitchers in franchise history that helped brings us from the cellar to being champions. As an Astro: 76-63 3.66 ERA and he averaged 11-9 and 170 IP per season. 3 Gold Gloves (so far), 2 AS appearances, and 1 CY.
Charlie Morton: B+
15-3 3.13 ERA (129 ERA+) 167 IP 201 K 1.162 WHIP
Uncle Charlie continued his very good run as an Astro. I hope we offer him a Qualifying Offer and I hope he takes it. He led the league in Win-Loss % for what that's worth, and set career highs in virtually every pitching category. The only thing that kept him from an A- was the IP. I still feel there is value in eating innings as a starter. That being said, he had a very strong year, and he's a hard humble guy not to like. I hope we get him back for another year.
Lance McCullers: C+
10-6 3.86 ERA (104 ERA+) 128.1 IP 142 K 1.169 WHIP
Like Morton, his grade is affected by his IP. The guy has amazing movement and you have to like his energy....but he needs to stay on the field. He did set a new career high for innings but 128 is still low. However, he did average more than a K per inning again, and he had a new career best for WHIP. With the club control over him for 3 more years, he has lots of value. He's got the stuff to be a CY contender if he keep his emotions in check and stays healthy, but he's also the kind of guy to blow up 2 out of every 5 starts and hover around a 4.50 ERA. Stay healthy and consistent, Lance!
Framber Valdez: Incomplete (A- for body of work)
4-1 2.19 ERA (185 ERA+) 37 IP 34 K 1.243 WHIP
He came as a surprise to me. I had barely even heard his name before he was promoted, but he stepped up and did an excellent job in limited work. I hope gets plenty of chances to be a starter for us next year with Keuchel leaving. He has to work on the command some.
Josh James: Incomplete (A+ for body of work)
2-0 2.35 ERA (174 ERA+) 23 IP 29 K .957 WHIP
I really like this guy. I think he's better suited to being a reliever, but it's hard to argue with his results as a starter in limited appearances. He received a higher grade than Framber even though Framber had a better ERA, because that WHIP is fantastic.
