Springer sits due to data-driven injury fear
George Springer is not hurt, but he sat out Monday’s series opener against the Mariners because Statcast said he might end up that way.
The second-place Astros have not clinched a playoff spot, and Seattle entered Monday’s game four games back behind them in the AL West. The series is Houston’s most crucial of the season, yet it played without its hottest hitter — a decision that manager Dusty Baker said was driven by “Statcast data.”
“It was my call,” Baker said. “He’ll go out there like most warriors will and limp out there. I have to take care of him sometimes if he won’t take care of himself.”
Baker labeled Springer as “high risk” for injury, again citing Statcast data. The manager said that according to the data, Springer was “even more high risk” than third baseman Alex Bregman was on Aug. 19 in Colorado. Bregman played that day, pulled his hamstring, and missed three weeks.
“The Statcast data is kind of new to me, kind of new to baseball, and it’s pretty accurate,” Baker said. “We decided today would be the day,”
Springer is the only hitter in the Astros’ order showing any sort of power. He has carried them through parts of September, slashing .304/.353/.658 in 86 plate appearances this month. The Astros are still just 8-12 during this dismal month, one in which they’re scoring 3.7 runs per game.
On Sunday against the Rangers, Springer struck two home runs. His first was an inside-thepark shot off the left-center wall. Springer was in full sprint from the moment he rounded first base.
The 31-year-old center fielder beat out an infield single in the first inning as well.
Since the team’s last scheduled off day on Sept. 11, Springer had started eight straight games. He was 9-for-33 with five home runs. Baker said he had a “long talk” with Springer when the team arrived in Seattle on Monday to deliver his decision, one rooted with more long-term focus.
“We really can’t afford to have Springer out for any extended period of time,” Baker said. “I figured today was the day that we give him off to work on his legs, some maintenance on his legs.”
Springer has appeared in 46 of the Astros’ first 52 games. He had a minor wrist issue after diving for a ball in August and an elbow contusion after being hit by a pitch in September. Springer’s legs have not been a public issue at all this season.
“No, he’s not hurt, but like I just told you, our Statcast data shows us he’s on the road to possibly get hurt,” Baker said Monday. “We can’t take a
Slumping Gurriel wants to stay put
Yuli Gurriel wants to remain an Astro — but first he must resurrect his horrific offensive season.
Gurriel is mired in an 11-for-68 slump in 71 September plate appearances. His OPS has dropped more than 100 points since August. His on-base percentage is a paltry .286.
“It’s been a tough season, to be honest with you,” Gurriel said Monday through an interpreter. “There’s a stretch of two or three games where I’ll feel really good, and then I’ll have five games in a row where I just don’t feel good at the plate. I think a lot of it has to do with the preparation, and it’s been a weird season. We just didn’t have the time to get going and get ramped up like I usually do, so that may have an effect on my season.”
Gurriel acknowledged he is still feeling hand pain from a slide into second base on Sept. 12 against the Dodgers. An uncomfortable wrap around the injury is also contributing to some problems gripping the bat, Gurriel said.
Manager Dusty Baker gave the 36-year-old first baseman a mental day off Saturday against the Diamondbacks. Gurriel returned on Sunday, finishing 1-for-4 in the Astros’ 3-2 win — perhaps his final game in Minute Maid Park wearing an Astros jersey.
Gurriel is set to enter free agency following this season. How the industry will measure Gurriel’s poor production during a shortened season is a mystery. He had the best season of his career in 2019 — one that didn’t kick into gear until mid-June. Gurriel slashed .331/.385/.656 after the 60th game of the 2019 season. He finished with a career-best .884 OPS.
During this 60-game season, Gurriel has consistently reiterated his desire to remain with the Astros. He reaffirmed it again Monday.
“Yeah, I still have the same mentality. That that would be my best option,” Gurriel said. “I still want to re-sign with the
Astros, but we’re getting close to the playoffs, and the mentality right now is not worrying about those negotiations — it’s worrying about getting into the playoffs.”
Pool of players shrinks in playoffs
If the Astros clinch a playoff berth during their upcoming seven-game road trip, seven pitchers and five position players will round out the club’s 40-man postseason player pool.
Teams have played this 60game season with a 60-man player pool and, for the last month or so, have deployed 28-man active rosters. The 28man active rosters will remain for the postseason, but teams that qualify can carry only 12 extra players.
The Astros will have six righthanded pitchers — Brandon Bailey, Nivaldo Rodriguez, Humberto Castellanos, Chase De Jong, Ralph Garza Jr. and Shawn Dubin — along with southpaw Cionel Perez as extra pitchers.
Position players in the pool include infielders Taylor Jones and Nick Tanielu, catchers Garrett Stubbs and Michael Papierski, and outfielder Chas McCormick.
Of the 12 extra players, Bailey, Castellanos, Rodriguez, Perez, Jones and Stubbs have appeared in major league games this season.