Post by Astros GM (Adam) on Sept 27, 2020 23:39:07 GMT -5
Yearly results:
5 years total:
403 - 274 - 43 (.595)
2016:
124 - 46 - 10 (.729)
1st overall
Lost World Series to Nationals
2017:
94-76-10 (.553)
3rd in AL West
Missed playoffs
2018:
90 - 82 - 8 (.523)
3rd in AL West
Missed playoffs
2019:
95 - 70 - 15 (.569)
2nd in AL West
Missed playoffs
2020:
255.5 roto points
3rd overall; 1st in AL
Category leaders (In terms of stats contributed to the team’s results throughout the year. Not necessarily on the Astros’ roster at the end of the year, nor the players' end of year stat totals.):
BA: .323 - Michael Conforto
HR: 16 - Manny Machado
RBI: 47 - Manny Machado
R: 44 - Manny Machado
SB: 6 - Manny Machado
Worst BA: .173 - Gregory Polanco
Strikeouts: 76 - Framber Valdez
ERA: 1.59, 11 IP - James Hoyt
WHIP: 0.545, 11 IP - Burch Smith
W: 5 - Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier
SVH: 6 - Richard Rodriguez, Blake Taylor
Worst ERA: 7.02, 16 IP - Patrick Sandoval
Worst WHIP: 1.636, 25 IP - Brandon Bielak
Season summary:
The 2020 Astros far exceeded my expectations. Most of this abbreviated season was spent in 2nd place, although trailing 1st by a very large margin. Braves claimed runner-up position on the final day. Royals also had momentum and would likely have surpassed us if the season was any longer. 2nd - 4th was a tight race.
Much of my team’s unexpected success came as a result of the real-life Astros injury problems. With only a short summer camp to prepare, the Astros lost many pitchers due to injuries early on, which led to a high number of call-ups from the lower minors who wouldn’t have debuted under ordinary circumstances.
The free agent signings of Wilmer Flores and Travis d’Arnaud also yielded results far beyond what was expected.
Surprises:
- 1B,3B Jed Gyorko (.264, 9 HR) Gyorko started the season in a platoon role, but by season’s end he was playing most days, and provided solid production.
- 1B,2B Wilmer Flores (.286, 12 HR) When the season was shut down early in the pandemic, I had thoughts of letting go of this hobby. My life has never been busier. However, one of the things that kept me attached was that I had signed Wilmer Flores in free agency. He was my primary target in the offseason, and I had high hopes. I was dying of curiosity to see it play out. Somehow, he managed to exceed my lofty expectations. He was remarkably consistent all year.
- C,1B Travis d’Arnaud (.321, 8 HR) d’Arnaud followed up a successful 2019 with an excellent 2020. My biggest surprise was that he held his lineup spot (usually batting 4th or 5th in a good lineup), a rarity for a catcher.
- Jorge Alcala, Jonathan Hernandez, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Enoli Paredes, Blake Taylor - A variety of new pitchers earned my trust, taking advantage of opportunities that wouldn’t have been available in a normal year.
Disappointments:
- LF Josh Rojas. (.179, 1 SB) Rojas made a cool defensive play, but didn’t help at a time when my team was starved for SBs.
- C.J. Cron and Starlin Castro (100 ABs) Losing Cron and Castro to injuries so early was an unexpected hurdle.
- Bryan Abreu (3 IP) Going into the season, I expected Abreu to be my star reliever. The few games he pitched were wild. He was demoted and never recovered.
Awards:
Team Batting MVP: Manny Machado. Tip of the cap to Manny. He absolutely earned his hefty salary this year.
Honorable mention: Michael Conforto, Wilmer Flores, Travis d’Arnaud.
Team pitching MVP: Framber Valdez. Don’t know if I trust his improved walk rate, but if Mike Trout compliments him, he’ll get my praise too.
Honorable mention: Cristian Javier. Never seems particularly impressive until the game’s almost over and you look up to see the results.
Minor league player of the year (batting or pitching): RHP Luis Garcia. It was rare to hear reports from the ominous “alternate site”, other than COVID disruptions. The few reports I heard often drew attention to Garcia. He acquitted very himself quite well in a very small big league sample.
Runner up: Julian Merryweather. Sigh. There was just so little information.
Final thoughts:
I’m very grateful that baseball was played at all in 2020. Designated hitters in the NL was also purely positive from my biased perspective. That we enjoyed a stable enough season to play as a Roto league is also something that I’m grateful for.
It feels a bit greedy to ask for a full season of H2H in 2021. But, I’m hopeful.
5 years total:
403 - 274 - 43 (.595)
2016:
124 - 46 - 10 (.729)
1st overall
Lost World Series to Nationals
2017:
94-76-10 (.553)
3rd in AL West
Missed playoffs
2018:
90 - 82 - 8 (.523)
3rd in AL West
Missed playoffs
2019:
95 - 70 - 15 (.569)
2nd in AL West
Missed playoffs
2020:
255.5 roto points
3rd overall; 1st in AL
Category leaders (In terms of stats contributed to the team’s results throughout the year. Not necessarily on the Astros’ roster at the end of the year, nor the players' end of year stat totals.):
BA: .323 - Michael Conforto
HR: 16 - Manny Machado
RBI: 47 - Manny Machado
R: 44 - Manny Machado
SB: 6 - Manny Machado
Worst BA: .173 - Gregory Polanco
Strikeouts: 76 - Framber Valdez
ERA: 1.59, 11 IP - James Hoyt
WHIP: 0.545, 11 IP - Burch Smith
W: 5 - Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier
SVH: 6 - Richard Rodriguez, Blake Taylor
Worst ERA: 7.02, 16 IP - Patrick Sandoval
Worst WHIP: 1.636, 25 IP - Brandon Bielak
Season summary:
The 2020 Astros far exceeded my expectations. Most of this abbreviated season was spent in 2nd place, although trailing 1st by a very large margin. Braves claimed runner-up position on the final day. Royals also had momentum and would likely have surpassed us if the season was any longer. 2nd - 4th was a tight race.
Much of my team’s unexpected success came as a result of the real-life Astros injury problems. With only a short summer camp to prepare, the Astros lost many pitchers due to injuries early on, which led to a high number of call-ups from the lower minors who wouldn’t have debuted under ordinary circumstances.
The free agent signings of Wilmer Flores and Travis d’Arnaud also yielded results far beyond what was expected.
Surprises:
- 1B,3B Jed Gyorko (.264, 9 HR) Gyorko started the season in a platoon role, but by season’s end he was playing most days, and provided solid production.
- 1B,2B Wilmer Flores (.286, 12 HR) When the season was shut down early in the pandemic, I had thoughts of letting go of this hobby. My life has never been busier. However, one of the things that kept me attached was that I had signed Wilmer Flores in free agency. He was my primary target in the offseason, and I had high hopes. I was dying of curiosity to see it play out. Somehow, he managed to exceed my lofty expectations. He was remarkably consistent all year.
- C,1B Travis d’Arnaud (.321, 8 HR) d’Arnaud followed up a successful 2019 with an excellent 2020. My biggest surprise was that he held his lineup spot (usually batting 4th or 5th in a good lineup), a rarity for a catcher.
- Jorge Alcala, Jonathan Hernandez, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Enoli Paredes, Blake Taylor - A variety of new pitchers earned my trust, taking advantage of opportunities that wouldn’t have been available in a normal year.
Disappointments:
- LF Josh Rojas. (.179, 1 SB) Rojas made a cool defensive play, but didn’t help at a time when my team was starved for SBs.
- C.J. Cron and Starlin Castro (100 ABs) Losing Cron and Castro to injuries so early was an unexpected hurdle.
- Bryan Abreu (3 IP) Going into the season, I expected Abreu to be my star reliever. The few games he pitched were wild. He was demoted and never recovered.
Awards:
Team Batting MVP: Manny Machado. Tip of the cap to Manny. He absolutely earned his hefty salary this year.
Honorable mention: Michael Conforto, Wilmer Flores, Travis d’Arnaud.
Team pitching MVP: Framber Valdez. Don’t know if I trust his improved walk rate, but if Mike Trout compliments him, he’ll get my praise too.
Honorable mention: Cristian Javier. Never seems particularly impressive until the game’s almost over and you look up to see the results.
Minor league player of the year (batting or pitching): RHP Luis Garcia. It was rare to hear reports from the ominous “alternate site”, other than COVID disruptions. The few reports I heard often drew attention to Garcia. He acquitted very himself quite well in a very small big league sample.
Runner up: Julian Merryweather. Sigh. There was just so little information.
Final thoughts:
I’m very grateful that baseball was played at all in 2020. Designated hitters in the NL was also purely positive from my biased perspective. That we enjoyed a stable enough season to play as a Roto league is also something that I’m grateful for.
It feels a bit greedy to ask for a full season of H2H in 2021. But, I’m hopeful.