Astros Getting Better at Being Not As Bad

Published on 11-Jun-2014 by J Square Humboldt

MLB    MLB Daily Update

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Astros Getting Better at Being Not As Bad

It's now one-third into the season, and GM Jeff Luhnow's super-sabremetrics experiment is showing signs of life.

The Houston Astros go into tonight's tilt against Arizona only eight games under .500, which is more than a handful of other clubs can say.

The 'Stros stand at 29-37, which is a winning clip of .439. Right now, that's better than five others, four of whom haven't been the butt of jokes over the past three years. No need to guess the fifth. It retired the role of butt-dom long ago:

  Won Lost    Pct
Houston   29   37   .439
San Diego   28   36    .438
Arizona   29   38   .433
Chicago Cubs   26   36   .419
Philadelphia   26   36   .419
Tampa Bay   24   42   .364

Luhnow came from the St Louis Cardinals front office, where his penchant for trends often locked horns with old-school eye tests. No one can dispute the results of the compromises, but Luhnow wanted full rein whenever his next opportunity beckoned. That happened when new Houston owner Jim Crane agreed to his conditions.

He knew it wouldn't be pretty at the start:

As one would expect from a sabremetrics disciple, Luhnow takes an academic approach to building a strong system.

 

The 'Stros have put together three stong drafts, and Luhnow isn't shy about touting his top choices, like this year's first overall pick, lefty hurler Brady Aiken:

So Luhnow isn't shy, either, about the concept that with great contracts comes great responsibility.

But he's looking good with his first wave of prospects hitting the big club, starting with George Springer, who's having an immediate impact, as confirmed by his being named May's AL Rookie of the Month. His call-up still had to come within Luhnow's frame of reference, though:

 

So, like Luhnow, Springer has this game down to a science already.

This is only Year Three of Luhnow's four-season cycle, and there's no mistaking that the 'Stros have a ways to go, but looking at what Billy Beane's Oakland A's are now doing in consecutive seasons, there's also little doubt that geekball is here to stay.