An Exceptional Pitching Staff

[Texifornia]

I've been watching the last few games on the Yahoo Sports quick complete game thing and something that struck me: Every Astro pitcher I saw had wicked breaking stuff; electric even.

I see a roster with six, if not seven legitimate ML starters: Keuchel, Kazmir, McCullers, McHugh, Fiers, Feldman and probably VV. The way all of those guys, including VV are pitching right now, there's not much fall off from #1 to #7 and I can't even try to rank them at this point in the season.

The bully has been every bit as good as the starters. Will Harris has been superb since July; I've never seen Qualls pitch as well as he is currently, and the one-two  punch of Neshak and Gregerson has been solid all year long. VV out of the pen is nasty too and T. Sipp and Perez have been reliable contributors.

The Astros have a very young, but championship caliber pitching staff. I don't know if the line-up can consistently produce against championship caliber pitching, but with this staff they may be able to produce just enough, as they have recently.

Of course, Minute Maid's a pitcher's park... 

[ValpoCory]

For the next few weeks, Lance McCullers is like an NFL team: he only plays on Sundays.

[ValpoCory]

Of course, Minute Maid's a pitcher's park... 

But John Kruk told me MMPUS was a band box and an embarrassment to the game of baseball in which everyone can hit 30 home runs in their sleep. 

Despite the truth.

[juliogotay]

But John Kruk told me MMPUS was a band box and an embarrassment to the game of baseball in which everyone can hit 30 home runs in their sleep. 

Despite the truth.

That was an interesting chart. I was surprised to see Wrigley as low as it was. I suppose the wind blows in more often than not.

[ValpoCory]

That was an interesting chart. I was surprised to see Wrigley as low as it was. I suppose the wind blows in more often than not.

That page also shows that MMP is an extreme Triples park this year.   #ElOsoBlanco

Although to be fair, due to the quirky dimensions, MMP is usually a triples friendly stadium.

[Lefty]

I've never noticed it before, but why do they have a park adjusted figure for walks?

[subnuclear]

I've never noticed it before, but why do they have a park adjusted figure for walks?

Because it varies from park-to-park and it's calculated the same way. I guess you can use it as a bullshit test on park factors or use your imagination on to why it would vary. It might be harder to pick up the ball in certain places or the things that make it hard to pitch in Denver also make it hard to throw strikes.

[JJxvi]

At Dodger stadium you may pipe one in on 3-0 and at Coors you still hope you can throw a pitchers pitch.  The park does affect walks.