Team Milestones 2018

[Nate Colbert]

Yes it's the Strikeout Era and the record is likely to be broken again next year but...

The pitching staff broke the record for most strikeouts in a season with 1,615. The top 14 team Ks in all MLB history are all from the past 3 seasons:

1. Astros, 2018........1,615
2. Indians, 2017........1,614
3. Astros, 2017..........1,593
4. Red Sox, 2017.......1,580
5. Yankees, 2017.......1,560
6. Dodgers, 2017.......1,549
7. Yankees, 2018.....1,540
8. Dodgers, 2016.......1,510
9. Dodgers, 2018.....1,496
10. D-Backs, 2017......1,482
11. Red Sox, 2018....1,476
11. Nats, 2016............1,476
13. Indians, 2018.....1,464
14. Nats, 2017............1,457

And what an absolute shock--every single team on the list went to the playoffs (assuming the Dodgers are able to hold on).

[juliogotay]

there was a stat on the game last night that I wish I could remember exactly. It was a K stat and the take-away is how much many more Ks are in the game now than, say, 20 years ago.  It is an alarming number and I wonder, personally, if the game is not as entertaining because of it.

[geezerdonk]

Is that record more attributable to the hitters than to the pitchers?

[juliogotay]

Is that record more attributable to the hitters than to the pitchers?

I'm sure both. Notice how the 2018 teams on this list are pretty good.

[Tom Servo]

there was a stat on the game last night that I wish I could remember exactly. It was a K stat and the take-away is how much many more Ks are in the game now than, say, 20 years ago.  It is an alarming number and I wonder, personally, if the game is not as entertaining because of it.

Strikeouts are fascist.

[Nate Colbert]

2,980,549 home attendance this season is the 5th highest in franchise history:

2004  3,087,872
2000  3,056,139
2006  3,022,763
2007  3,020,405

[NeilT]

2,980,549 home attendance this season is the 5th highest in franchise history:

2004  3,087,872
2000  3,056,139
2006  3,022,763
2007  3,020,405

They should have had more ring days.

2000 was the last year in the Dome, right?

[Ty in Tampa]

2000 was the last year in the Dome, right?

First year at EPUS.

[Nate Colbert]

Top 10 Strikeout seasons in Astros history (entering today)...

1.   J.R. Richard • 1979...............313
2.   Mike Scott • 1986.................306
3.   J.R. Richard • 1978...............303
4.   Justin Verlander • 2018....280
5.   Gerrit Cole • 2018.............276
6.   Nolan Ryan • 1987...............270
7.   Nolan Ryan • 1982...............245
8.   Don Wilson • 1969...............235
9.   Mike Scott • 1987.................233
10.   Larry Dierker • 1969..........232


Top 10 K/9 seasons in Astros history (entering today)...

1.   Octavio Dotel • 2001..............12.429
2.   Gerrit Cole • 2018................12.399
3.   Justin Verlander • 2018.......12.115
4.   Nolan Ryan • 1987..................11.480
5.   Brad Peacock • 2017...............10.977
6.   Charlie Morton • 2018............10.811
7.   Octavio Dotel • 2000...............10.224
8.   Lance McCullers Jr. • 2017......10.011
9.   Charlie Morton • 2017............10.002
9.   Mike Scott • 1986....................10.002

Minimum: 100 innings


Top 10 WHIP seasons in Astros history (entering today)...

1.   Justin Verlander • 2018.......0.909
2.   Chris Devenski • 2016............0.914
3.   Mike Scott • 1986...................0.923
4.   J.R. Richard • 1980..................0.924
5.   Turk Farrell • 1963..................0.969
6.   Mike Scott • 1988....................0.983
7.   Roger Clemens • 2005...........1.008
8.   Doug Jones • 1992..................1.012
9.   Don Sutton • 1981..................1.015
10. Dallas Keuchel • 2015............1.017

Minimum: 100 innings


Top 10 K/BB seasons in Astros history (entering today)...

1.   Hal Brown • 1963....................8.500
2.   Justin Verlander • 2018.......7.778
3.   Roy Oswalt • 2001...................6.000
4.   Doug Jones • 1992...................5.471
5.   Shane Reynolds • 1999...........5.324
6.   Jose Lima • 1998......................5.281
7.   Shane Reynolds • 1994...........5.238
8.   Chris Devenski • 2016.............5.200
9.   Shane Reynolds • 1995...........4.730
10. Shane Reynolds • 1996...........4.636

Minimum: 100 innings

[Nate Colbert]

Steve Grande @AstrosGrande 1h ago
After their Game 1 win tonight, the #Astros have tied their franchise record with 102 wins, have moved to a franchise best 44-games above .500 (102-58) and have secured the 2nd-best road record (56-23) in the Majors in the expansion era (since 1961).

[Nate Colbert]

Updated after yesterday.

Top 10 Strikeout seasons in Astros history...

1.   J.R. Richard • 1979...............313
2.   Mike Scott • 1986.................306
3.   J.R. Richard • 1978...............303
4.   Justin Verlander • 2018....290
5.   Gerrit Cole • 2018.............276
6.   Nolan Ryan • 1987...............270
7.   Nolan Ryan • 1982...............245
8.   Don Wilson • 1969...............235
9.   Mike Scott • 1987.................233
10.   Larry Dierker • 1969..........232


Top 10 K/9 seasons in Astros history...

1.   Octavio Dotel • 2001..............12.429
2.   Gerrit Cole • 2018................12.399
3.   Justin Verlander • 2018.......12.196
4.   Nolan Ryan • 1987..................11.480
5.   Brad Peacock • 2017...............10.977
6.   Charlie Morton • 2018............10.811
7.   Octavio Dotel • 2000...............10.224
8.   Lance McCullers Jr. • 2017......10.011
9.   Charlie Morton • 2017............10.002
9.   Mike Scott • 1986....................10.002

Minimum: 100 innings


Top 10 WHIP seasons in Astros history...

1.   Justin Verlander • 2018.......0.902
2.   Chris Devenski • 2016............0.914
3.   Mike Scott • 1986...................0.923
4.   J.R. Richard • 1980..................0.924
5.   Turk Farrell • 1963..................0.969
6.   Mike Scott • 1988....................0.983
7.   Roger Clemens • 2005...........1.008
8.   Doug Jones • 1992..................1.012
9.   Don Sutton • 1981..................1.015
10. Dallas Keuchel • 2015............1.017

Minimum: 100 innings


Top 10 K/BB seasons in Astros history (entering today)...

1.   Hal Brown • 1963....................8.500
2.   Justin Verlander • 2018.......7.838
3.   Roy Oswalt • 2001...................6.000
4.   Doug Jones • 1992...................5.471
5.   Shane Reynolds • 1999...........5.324
6.   Jose Lima • 1998......................5.281
7.   Shane Reynolds • 1994...........5.238
8.   Chris Devenski • 2016.............5.200
9.   Shane Reynolds • 1995...........4.730
10. Shane Reynolds • 1996...........4.636

Minimum: 100 innings

[Nate Colbert]

Fewest errors in a season in franchise history:

2018 Astros.......62*
2008 Astros........67
1994 Astros........76
2016 Astros........77
2009 Astros........78
2006 Astros........80
2002 Astros........83
2015 Astros........85
1981 Astros........87
2005 Astros........89
2003 Astros........95

*down from 99 errors last year

[austro]

Fewest errors in a season in franchise history:

2018 Astros.......62*
2008 Astros........67
1994 Astros........76
2016 Astros........77
2009 Astros........78
2006 Astros........80
2002 Astros........83
2015 Astros........85
1981 Astros........87
2005 Astros........89
2003 Astros........95

*down from 99 errors last year

That's a huge drop in errors, and last year's team was pretty good. Were the decreases across the board, or were they concentrated in a couple of positions?

[Ty in Tampa]

Fewest errors in a season in franchise history:

2018 Astros.......62
2008 Astros........67

*Braces for 6-error game.*

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Fewest errors in a season in franchise history:

2018 Astros.......62*
2008 Astros........67
1994 Astros........76
2016 Astros........77
2009 Astros........78
2006 Astros........80
2002 Astros........83
2015 Astros........85
1981 Astros........87
2005 Astros........89
2003 Astros........95

*down from 99 errors last year

It felt like all of those error in 2017 happened in August.

[Nate Colbert]

That's a huge drop in errors, and last year's team was pretty good. Were the decreases across the board, or were they concentrated in a couple of positions?

Errors down at catcher: 17 vs 5*
Errors down at first base: 14 vs 4**
Errors down in right field: 4 vs 0
Errors down at pitcher: 19 vs 7***

*Gattis (9 errors) removed from equation
**More experience for Yuli, et al
***Keuchel (5)/Morton (4)/McCullers (3) combined for 12 errors in 2017 but had just 1 error in 2018 (McCullers)

[austro]

Errors down at catcher: 17 vs 5
Errors down at first base: 14 vs 4
Errors down in right field: 4 vs 0
Errors down at pitcher: 19 vs 7

I guess the catcher numbers are due to not having Gattis back there, and the first base numbers are just the year of experience at a new position for Yuli. I don't have a ready explanation for the drop at pitcher.

I was over at b-r.com looking at league leaders, and Keuchel is #1 in batters faced for the season (and tied for #1 with Verlander in starts).

[Nate Colbert]

Robert Ford  @raford3 36m ago
Going into the season finale, the Astros have allowed 530 runs & are poised to shatter the AL record for fewest runs allowed in a non-strike year in the DH era. 1974 A’s allowed 551 runs. Only 2 NL teams have allowed fewer runs in that time (2015 STL 525, 2011 PHI 529).

[subnuclear]

Robert Ford  @raford3 36m ago
Going into the season finale, the Astros have allowed 530 runs & are poised to shatter the AL record for fewest runs allowed in a non-strike year in the DH era. 1974 A’s allowed 551 runs. Only 2 NL teams have allowed fewer runs in that time (2015 STL 525, 2011 PHI 529).

Totally amazing.

[Nate Colbert]

The only other Astros' team to match this year's with three 200+ K pitchers was the 1969 club with Dierker (232), Don Wilson (235) and Tom Griffin (200).

So 2 of the 5 staffs to reach that milestone are Houston's.

[VirtualBob]

*Braces for 6-error game.*

I really wish you had not said that.

[Nate Colbert]

Fewest errors in a season in franchise history (final):

2018 Astros.......63*
2008 Astros........67
1994 Astros........76
2016 Astros........77
2009 Astros........78
2006 Astros........80
2002 Astros........83
2015 Astros........85
1981 Astros........87
2005 Astros........89
2003 Astros........95

*down from 99 errors last year

[moriartp]

That's the fewest errors by any team in MLB since 2013. Sure helps that the pitching staff only allowed 2-3 balls in play per game.

[Aussie Astro]

That's the fewest errors by any team in MLB since 2013. Sure helps that the pitching staff only allowed 2-3 balls in play per game.

I wonder if scorers have always been as generous to the fielders as they are now?  I have seen a number of times I would have marked and error against the fielder, but the scorer saw it differently.

[Nate Colbert]

Updated for final numbers.

Strikeout Era, ad nauseum...

At least until next year, the Astros' pitching staff now holds the record for most strikeouts in a season with 1,687. The top 15 team Ks in all MLB history are all from the past 3 seasons:

1. Astros, 2018........1,687
2. Yankees, 2018.....1,634
3. Indians, 2017........1,614
4. Astros, 2017..........1,593
5. Red Sox, 2017.......1,580
6. Yankees, 2017.......1,560
7. Dodgers, 2018.....1,559
8. Red Sox, 2018......1,558
9. Dodgers, 2017.......1,549
10. Indians, 2018.....1,544
11. Dodgers, 2016......1,510
12. D-Backs, 2017......1,482
13. Nats, 2016............1,476
14. Phillies, 2018......1,465
15. Nats, 2017............1,457

And with the exception of the Phillies, every single team on the list went to the playoffs.

[BudGirl]

I thought it was interesting that there were more strikeouts than hits this season.

Good news is the Astros were on the lower end of the strike outs as a team (which did not feel that way this season). 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2018.shtml

You may not want to see the GDP column, it's not as friendly to the good guys.

[Nate Colbert]

You may not want to see the GDP column, it's not as friendly to the good guys.

Another "milestone" in franchise history.

[juliogotay]

Another "milestone" in franchise history.

DPs aren't a problem without men on base.

[BudGirl]

You know, comparing the offensive stats between the Astros and Indians, this is a pretty even match up.

[JimR]

You know, comparing the offensive stats between the Astros and Indians, this is a pretty even match up.

Yup. I am worried.

[juliogotay]

Yup. I am worried.

Most definitely.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Short series,  very good starters,  very good offense.

And they won the pennant 2 years ago.

If you aren't nervous you're not paying attention.

[Jacksonian]

Short series,  very good starters,  very good offense.

And they won the pennant 2 years ago.

If you aren't nervous you're not paying attention.

I am not nervous because of the Indians.   I am nervous because of the Astros.

[BudGirl]

I'm more worried because they were knocked out last year.  I think both are good teams but one is "madder" than the other and that may give them the edge.  I just need my guys to win. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

The Astros advantage in pitching is slightly greater than the Indians advantage in hitting.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'm more worried because they were knocked out last year.  I think both are good teams but one is "madder" than the other and that may give them the edge.  I just need my guys to win.

They have the longest gap without winning a championship. something like 70 years.

[subnuclear]

The Astros advantage in pitching is slightly greater than the Indians advantage in hitting.

The Astros bullpen is a strength against the Indians, but this is going to be an intense series.

[juliogotay]

The Astros advantage in pitching is slightly greater than the Indians advantage in hitting.

Kluber and Carrasco can hang with anybody. Bauer has always been good against Astros. You can be down 0-2 without knowing what hit you.
Of course, it can work the other way with JV and Cole.

[BudGirl]

I've decided I want the Astros to beat the Brewers in the world series.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Kluber and Carrasco can hang with anybody. Bauer has always been good against Astros. You can be down 0-2 without knowing what hit you.
Of course, it can work the other way with JV and Cole.

Bauer has never lost to the Astros. I'm terrified of being down 0-2 headed to Bauer.

[Mr. Appropriate]

I've decided I want the Astros to beat the Brewers in the world series.

Me too. We're on a roll.

[Mr. Appropriate]

In 98 I was so glad the Astros faced the Padres in the division series instead of the braves. Thought i would finally get to see the astros win a postseason series. Kevin brown, dark lord of evil, taught me patience.

Twenty years later I know that short series are cruel, and more than any other AL team i would rather the astros face the Indians in 7 than 5 games. This is going to be a fight. If the astros don't advance it will not be because they were complacent, entitled, or underestimated their opponent. Love this team and can't wait to watch an incredible series.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I just hope the Astros give it their best shot,  and the Good Lord willing things will work out.

[JimR]

I am not nervous because of the Indians.   I am nervous because of the Astros.

I am worried because of both, especially their pitching against our inconsistent hitting. If our pitching falters, uh oh.

[Bench]

They have the longest gap without winning a championship. something like 70 years.

Someone, probably Buster Olney, had a twitter poll the last couple weeks about which playoff team has the "most pressure" going into the postseason.  As stupid as that question is, it seemed obvious to me that the Indians with 65 or so years of history hanging over their head culminating in an ill-timed WSG7 rain delay to lose to the fucking cubs two years ago, and then getting unceremoniously bounced in the first round due to a managerial brain fart last year, could be the only answer. 

Of course the Red Sox and Yankees dominated the poll. 

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Someone, probably Buster Olney, had a twitter poll the last couple weeks about which playoff team has the "most pressure" going into the postseason.  As stupid as that question is, it seemed obvious to me that the Indians with 65 or so years of history hanging over their head culminating in an ill-timed WSG7 rain delay to lose to the fucking cubs two years ago, and then getting unceremoniously bounced in the first round due to a managerial brain fart last year, could be the only answer. 

Of course the Red Sox and Yankees dominated the poll.

Brain fart with a 2-0 series lead in a best of 5.

There's some angst along the Cayahoga.

[Lefty]

Someone, probably Buster Olney, had a twitter poll the last couple weeks about which playoff team has the "most pressure" going into the postseason.  As stupid as that question is, it seemed obvious to me that the Indians with 65 or so years of history hanging over their head culminating in an ill-timed WSG7 rain delay to lose to the fucking cubs two years ago, and then getting unceremoniously bounced in the first round due to a managerial brain fart last year, could be the only answer. 

Blew 3-1 WS lead to the FTC, no less.

[Lefty]

Stros ALDS line of  .327/.421/.614/1.036 is the highest OPS put up in a postseason series in MLB history.  The .421 OBP ties the '32 Yankees for highest.

[juliogotay]

Stros ALDS line of  .327/.421/.614/1.036 is the highest OPS put up in a postseason series in MLB history.  The .421 OBP ties the '32 Yankees for highest.

All against the vaunted Cleveland staff.

[MusicMan]

All against the vaunted Cleveland staff.

The first half Indians bullpen returned.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jacksonian]

The first half Indians bullpen returned.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That and Kluber tried to repeat his previous ALDS performance.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

I have been completely out of the loop, driving to southern Illinois for a wedding and then to Minneapolis on a scouting mission. Also just changed to T-Mobile, which doesn't, it turns out, have near the interstate coverage that Verizon does. Sooooooo excited to go back and watch the whole series in a few days upon getting back home...

...or perhaps you folks would just assume I stay away...