Espada needs to refer to real world data and move Correa out of a prime RBI spot in the lineup

Judge is hitting 2nd. Ohtani hits leadoff. Kurtz is a big beefy guy hitting leadoff. The "best hitter hitting 3rd" stuff was standard back in the 80s and 90s but we've progressed beyond that now in terms of analytics. Hit your best hitter in the spot where he will get the most opportunities to hit, full stop.

The offense is NOT the problem so far.

 

Why are we arguing about Correa after 10 games? He had a near .800 OPS last season for the Astros and is on pace for 6.5 WAR early this season. In 2024 he had an OPS north of .900.

I am far more concerned about the pitching right now.

 

It’s a bait thread to hate on Joe. This poster hates Espada which is fine and he’ll be glad to tell you why but posting this right after the loss in SAC is tell me without telling me it’s not REALLY about CC, data or analytics, it’s about Espada but there’s no evidence to support his claim. Had Alvarez or Walker done their job last night with men on late this thread doesn’t exist.

To your point, don’t look now but CC has done his job in CO but the pitching is ******** itself once again but let’s talk about Joe and his lineup…..

 

So you're comparing those lineups with the Astros? I'm not talking about analytics or what was done in the past. Talking specifically about this team. This team has struggled hitting with RISP. You can disagree all you want but I want Yordan up with men on base and on this team that's hitting 3rd.

 

This isn't the whole equation, which also reflects the likelihood that someone is on base for the hitters coming later. There's just a ton of data on this, and that's why you see virtually every team hit their best hitter second.

 

So again you're going to compare the Astros to other organizations?? We all know where Yordan has been hitting in this lineup when they won a World Series and have been at their best (offensively) since.

 

So you're comparing a lineup with from 4 years ago with a whole different cast of players in it to today's lineup? That seems sillier than comparing this Astros lineup to decades of statistical data. One has a lot more merit than the other.

 

I didn't just include '22 as I also "since". Look we can go around and around on this, but from my perspective I would prefer Yordan hitting 3rd. Now if other players (hitting behind him 3rd + 4th) start to show that they can hit better with RISP (which has been a huge issue on this team) then I wouldn’t have a problem with Yordan hitting 3rd.

 

We won in spite of and not because of that.

 

The depth is not the issue.

Having depth at one spot while being deficient in another is the issue.

If Cam continues his breakout ( which I expect) and Loperfido continues to be a net positive producer (which I am not sold on yet) then this is no longer a "too many infielders, not enough outfielders" issue.

Then it becomes a "too many infielders not enough pitching" issue.

Getting all 6 guys on the field at the same time regularly is the only way ( short of injury) that this roster is not flawed and unable to maximize its potential.

 

Once again you’re completely ignoring the injury risk with our guys and the fact it’s probably for the best guys like Yordan, Correa, Altuve and Walker aren’t playing 162 games.

 

Correa be sick today. That’s one game we get Paredes instead of nick allen. Maybe yesterday was one too.

 

Good player his first run with the Stros but definitely didnt pan out the way I thought he would. Envisioned he would be a multiple 30+ homer and 100+ rbi type. Shocked if he hits 20 this season.

 

He has definitely had some poor ABs with runners in scoring position and maybe he should have made a better swing decision, since the pitch was outside, but that was not a bad PA.

He put a fastball in play, hitting a linedrive to the 1B that had an expected BA of .420 and would have given the Astros the lead if the 1B was holding the runner on.

Sometimes all you can do is put the ball in play and hope.

Correa gets a lot of undeserved hate in here.

 

Of course im not talking about now. Im saying peak CC i thought would be a 30/100 type.

 

Was easily understood, what you meant. We all felt that way back then.

A lot of people just skim posts and then fire off a rebuttal.