ENCOURAGING SIGNS
The Astros are off to an excellent start, and they don’t miss George Springer. Yet.
Though consecutive home losses have put a bit of a damper on the Astros’ excellent start to the MLB season, the good news as far as they are concerned is, well, their start has been excellent.
If they manage to win seven of every 10 games throughout the season, the Astros would set a franchise record for wins in a season.
Of course, that is not likely to happen. But the first week and a half of the season has been encouraging.
One aspect that stands out is, on the field at least, the Astros have not missed George Springer.
Had the Astros matched the six-year, $150-million offer Toronto made to Springer, their record to start this season would be the same.
Entering play Saturday, Houston led the American League in batting average, OPS and slugging percentage.
Meanwhile, the springy outfielder, who was the franchise’s top pick 10 years ago and the catalyst for so many great games, has yet to play in the regular season because of injuries.
So, yeah, 10 days into the season, Astros leadoff hitter
Jose Altuve, who is hitting .351, is having a far better year than Springer.
Simply: Today, the Astros are just fine without Springer. How about tomorrow? We’ll see.
After crushing the Oakland
A’s on the road last weekend, the Astros lost two of three to them at Minute Maid park this
weekend, including Saturday’s 7-3 loss.
“This is the life of baseball,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “One week you’re hot, one week you’re not.”
While we don’t have to go long-term, a la the Rockets’ Rafael Stone, and wait a generation to evaluate the Astros’ decision not to dig deeper into Jim Crane’s pocket to keep Springer around, let’s not applaud the move just yet.
Do note, I would have written this same column if Altuve was 0-for-the-season and Springer playing at an MVP level.
There is no bad guy here. In accepting the bigger offer in Toronto, Springer made what he deemed was the smartest decision for his life and career. In not paying top dollar from Springer, the Astros did what they thought was best for the franchise.
The loud, but small, subset of
Astros fans that are rooting against Springer need to be better.
I assure you his former teammates are hoping he has great success north of the border.
Just as they are rooting for A.J. Hinch to do well in Detroit, save for those days — the first of which are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday — when the Tigers play the Astros.
Baker, who has benefited from Hinch’s firing, said he hopes the former Astros’ manager receives the welcome he is due when he returns to Minute Maid.
Perhaps, we shouldn’t play the silly Hollywood “what if ” game at all and ignore any poll that asks, “Where would the Astros be if Hinch were never fired?” or “If you could go back in time and sign Springer, would you?”
Save that for the good stuff. Springer leaving the Astros would not crack the top 100 of Houston sports events I would change if given the power.
Shoot, a dude named Bill O’Brien is involved in at least 10 of them.
Had he ruled Mike Renfro’s catch a touchdown, there is a good chance a Houston team would have played in and won a Super Bowl in 1980.
O’Brien was the field judge that day in Pittsburgh, but when officials huddled to discuss the play, he said he didn’t have a clear enough view of the catch to overrule the questionable call by side judge Donald Orr.
Sure, we’re talking about a wholly different Bill O’Brien here, but does it matter?
Both O’Briens got in the way of something, and left the Houston Oilers and Texans with nothing.
Conversely, Springer and Hinch led the Astros from nothing to something.
Now, if you want to hate on Mike Fiers …