Post by Saint on Oct 2, 2018 11:13:26 GMT -6
The bullpen. Heavily criticized last year during the postseason, but ended up one of the best in baseball this year. All stats taken from baseball-reference.com. I didn't get into some of the deep down stats like swing/miss rates and such.
Collin McHugh: A-
6-2 1.99 ERA (203 ERA+) 72.1 IP .912 WHIP 0 Saves
I kept expecting McHugh to get a spot start here and there but they left him completely as a reliever all year. An all-star snub, in my opinion, McHugh did fantastic as a reliever. The only reason he got the minus part in his grade was because he wasn't used in a ton of high leverage situations. I don't know if he'll stay in the bullpen next year or not with us likely having some rotation spots open up, but, if he does, I hope he gives us another great year.
Hector Rondon: B
2-5 3.20 ERA (126 ERA+) 59 IP 1.322 WHIP 15 Saves
Personally, I feel Rondon was a steal as a FA acquisition. He struggled a little towards the end of the season, but the guy stepped up was and was arguably our unexpected MVP of the bullpen while went through our closer adventure. His stat line doesn't look as pretty as McHugh's, but he guy did fantastic work for us in a lot of tough situations.
Brad Peacock: B-
3-5 3.46 ERA (117 ERA+) 65 IP 1.169 WHIP 3 Saves
Another guy that I expected to see more of after his strong 2017 season, Peacock had another solid year as a reliever. He was kind of a mixed bag this year; he'd have good streaks and bad streaks. His usage also seemed erratic to me. However, in the end, it was a solid season where he led our entire staff in K/9IP at 13.3. Considering it's possible that he won't make the postseason roster despite pretty solid ERA and WHIP numbers and excellent K/9IP ratio is a testament to our strong bullpen.
Will Harris: B
5-3 3.49 ERA (116 ERA+) 56.2 IP 1.094 WHIP 0 Saves
This guy took sh*t from a lot of fans all year, but he ended up with another pretty solid year for us (and he did it while pitching in a fair amount of higher pressure situations). I doubt we pick up his option next year, but if not, he ended up with great numbers as an Astro: 14-12 16 Saves 2.58 ERA (154 ERA+) with 253 K in 237 IP.
Joe Smith: B-
5-1 3.74 ERA (108 ERA+) 45.2 IP 1.007 WHIP 0 Saves
Smith had a rough start and a rough ending, but he was really quite good in the middle. Another very solid acquisition by Luhnow in the offseason to pair with Rondon. He'll be borderline for the postseason roster, but he had a quality year for us.
Chris Devenski: C-
2-3 4.18 ERA (97 ERA+) 47.1 IP 1.162 WHIP 2 Saves
The most disappointing member of the bullpen this year. He had a big HR problem when he came off the DL. He was fantastic until July (2.33 ERA before the AS break) and then just brutal in limited time. Hopefully he bounces back next year because he had been a bright spot the previous two seasons. Still lots of potential with him for a couple more seasons under club control.
Tony Sipp: B+
3-1 1.86 ERA (218 ERA+) 38.2 IP 1.034 WHIP 0 Saves
In a contract year he looked like his 2015 version again. The only reason he didn't get an A is because he didn't even throw 40 innings. Obviously it's not his role to throw a ton of innings, but I think that limits his value and therefore his grade. Likely a career year for him in 2018, a year in which we didn't think we were going to have a good lefty specialist.
Ken Giles: D-
0-3 4.65 ERA (89 ERA+) 50.1 IP 1.212 WHIP 26 Saves
His numbers include his time with Toronto. The only thing that kept him from an F was the fact that he didn't blow a Save all year. Not much else to say. He throws hard and could be a successful closer if he gets his head right... He was obviously no longer a fit for us.
Ryan Pressly: A+
2-1 2.54 ERA (169 ERA+) 71 IP 1.113 WHIP 2 Saves
His numbers include his stint with Minnesota, but his Houston numbers are pristine. In my opinion he is the best reliever in our bullpen right now. He led the league in appearances this year and struck out 101 batters in 71 IP for an excellent 12.8 K/9IP. His 0.77 ERA with us got him his A+. If we had a guy that I would consider a shutdown reliever, Pressly is the guy. He ended up being our best trade pickup during the year, in my opinion.
Robert Osuna: A
2-2 2.37 ERA (176 ERA+) 38 IP .974 WHIP 21 Saves
The acquisition of Osuna was highly controversial, but he has ended up being quite effective. The only reason he didn't get an A+ is because he only pitched 38 innings due to the administrative leave (suspension? Whatever it was.). With him and Pressly our bullpen feels very stable for this postseason. The only thing that is concerning is that his K/9IP is the lowest of his career. You don't see many closers that can't strikeout more than a batter per inning...
Cionel Perez, Dean Deetz, James Hoyt, Reymin Guduan: Incomplete
Really not enough to say much about this group. Perez and Deetz both showed glimpses of potential, and Guduan probably has some value if he stays healthy. Hoyt is inconsequential.
Collin McHugh: A-
6-2 1.99 ERA (203 ERA+) 72.1 IP .912 WHIP 0 Saves
I kept expecting McHugh to get a spot start here and there but they left him completely as a reliever all year. An all-star snub, in my opinion, McHugh did fantastic as a reliever. The only reason he got the minus part in his grade was because he wasn't used in a ton of high leverage situations. I don't know if he'll stay in the bullpen next year or not with us likely having some rotation spots open up, but, if he does, I hope he gives us another great year.
Hector Rondon: B
2-5 3.20 ERA (126 ERA+) 59 IP 1.322 WHIP 15 Saves
Personally, I feel Rondon was a steal as a FA acquisition. He struggled a little towards the end of the season, but the guy stepped up was and was arguably our unexpected MVP of the bullpen while went through our closer adventure. His stat line doesn't look as pretty as McHugh's, but he guy did fantastic work for us in a lot of tough situations.
Brad Peacock: B-
3-5 3.46 ERA (117 ERA+) 65 IP 1.169 WHIP 3 Saves
Another guy that I expected to see more of after his strong 2017 season, Peacock had another solid year as a reliever. He was kind of a mixed bag this year; he'd have good streaks and bad streaks. His usage also seemed erratic to me. However, in the end, it was a solid season where he led our entire staff in K/9IP at 13.3. Considering it's possible that he won't make the postseason roster despite pretty solid ERA and WHIP numbers and excellent K/9IP ratio is a testament to our strong bullpen.
Will Harris: B
5-3 3.49 ERA (116 ERA+) 56.2 IP 1.094 WHIP 0 Saves
This guy took sh*t from a lot of fans all year, but he ended up with another pretty solid year for us (and he did it while pitching in a fair amount of higher pressure situations). I doubt we pick up his option next year, but if not, he ended up with great numbers as an Astro: 14-12 16 Saves 2.58 ERA (154 ERA+) with 253 K in 237 IP.
Joe Smith: B-
5-1 3.74 ERA (108 ERA+) 45.2 IP 1.007 WHIP 0 Saves
Smith had a rough start and a rough ending, but he was really quite good in the middle. Another very solid acquisition by Luhnow in the offseason to pair with Rondon. He'll be borderline for the postseason roster, but he had a quality year for us.
Chris Devenski: C-
2-3 4.18 ERA (97 ERA+) 47.1 IP 1.162 WHIP 2 Saves
The most disappointing member of the bullpen this year. He had a big HR problem when he came off the DL. He was fantastic until July (2.33 ERA before the AS break) and then just brutal in limited time. Hopefully he bounces back next year because he had been a bright spot the previous two seasons. Still lots of potential with him for a couple more seasons under club control.
Tony Sipp: B+
3-1 1.86 ERA (218 ERA+) 38.2 IP 1.034 WHIP 0 Saves
In a contract year he looked like his 2015 version again. The only reason he didn't get an A is because he didn't even throw 40 innings. Obviously it's not his role to throw a ton of innings, but I think that limits his value and therefore his grade. Likely a career year for him in 2018, a year in which we didn't think we were going to have a good lefty specialist.
Ken Giles: D-
0-3 4.65 ERA (89 ERA+) 50.1 IP 1.212 WHIP 26 Saves
His numbers include his time with Toronto. The only thing that kept him from an F was the fact that he didn't blow a Save all year. Not much else to say. He throws hard and could be a successful closer if he gets his head right... He was obviously no longer a fit for us.
Ryan Pressly: A+
2-1 2.54 ERA (169 ERA+) 71 IP 1.113 WHIP 2 Saves
His numbers include his stint with Minnesota, but his Houston numbers are pristine. In my opinion he is the best reliever in our bullpen right now. He led the league in appearances this year and struck out 101 batters in 71 IP for an excellent 12.8 K/9IP. His 0.77 ERA with us got him his A+. If we had a guy that I would consider a shutdown reliever, Pressly is the guy. He ended up being our best trade pickup during the year, in my opinion.
Robert Osuna: A
2-2 2.37 ERA (176 ERA+) 38 IP .974 WHIP 21 Saves
The acquisition of Osuna was highly controversial, but he has ended up being quite effective. The only reason he didn't get an A+ is because he only pitched 38 innings due to the administrative leave (suspension? Whatever it was.). With him and Pressly our bullpen feels very stable for this postseason. The only thing that is concerning is that his K/9IP is the lowest of his career. You don't see many closers that can't strikeout more than a batter per inning...
Cionel Perez, Dean Deetz, James Hoyt, Reymin Guduan: Incomplete
Really not enough to say much about this group. Perez and Deetz both showed glimpses of potential, and Guduan probably has some value if he stays healthy. Hoyt is inconsequential.
