Astros are for real

[Sherlock31]

Nothing is real in April................

[Oz27]

They are clearly big improvers and I think there's a real chance they finish above .500. For them to win the division though the Angels, A's and M's would all have to really stink and that won't happen.

 

Having said that, it's hard not to fear them for 2016 and beyond.

[Inside Pitch]

Less admirable than having one of the highest payrolls in baseball and the best player and making the postseason once in the past 5 seasons?

 

Cute, a guy points out they spent 8 years rebuilding and you respond by bringing up one postseason in 5 years.   Guess you had to slant the numbers to avoid pointing out the Angels made the postseason 4 times over those 8 years, I mean why be honest about a situation when trying to bag on the home team, right?

 

The Angels averaged 86 wins the previous 5 years.  In one of the seasons they failed to make the postseason they won more games than an AL Division winner and the NL Wild Card participant.   The admirable Astros, a team that told it's fan base it was going to slash payroll and tank entire seasons to try to get the first overall pick averaged 61 wins over that time, or 100 losses if you would rather look at it like that.

 

No doubt you would welcome Arte telling you that in an effort to be a winning organization in 2024 (maybe), the Angels would be trading off the best player in MLB and reducing the payroll to the bare minimum.  I mean, that would be truly admirable.

[Inside Pitch]

 

I admire the way they built their team, mostly through the draft and signing mid-tier type FA players instead of going for the big splash with duds like Hamilton and to a certain extent Pujols.  In fact, they got Altuve as a undrafted free agent signing.  I'm glad that the Halos took more of a similar approach this past off-season minus the signing of Matt Joyce.  But, I think most of that was due to the budget rather than a lack of desire to make a splash.  

 

The Angels have a grand total of three players on the 25 man roster obtained via FA.   Albert Pujols, CJ Wilson, and Smith.   Throw in Hamilton and that's 4 total.

 

For all the hoopla about FA signings, the Angels have for the the most part developed and traded their own players while building teams.

[Troll Daddy]

I believe we can safely say that the Astros will contend this season.

[nando714]

If we win today it's an 11-11 April

I'll take it after a no show from the offense for the month

[Hollyw00d]

<p>Carlos Correa is blowing up AA right now. Granted only 70+ at bats, but still. the Astros infield could be really good

Edited April 30, 2015 by Hollyw00d

[fan_since79]

Astros are tied for the best record in the AL at 15-7. They lead the league in home runs (tied with Balt and NY) and stolen bases. Pitching is tops in ERA and WHIP.

 

Altuve has eight straight multi-hit games and is 20-48 in his last ten games.

[Blarg]

I like the Angels.

[Hollyw00d]

Altuve's quickly becoming one of my favorite players. Looks like a damn midget out there on the field, but he just tears it up

[QuinlansMinion]

Theyll come back down to earth. I just analyzed their lineup. They are crap.

[CAAngelsLifer]

I must have stumbled on AstrosWin.com 

[floplag]

Little early to say that but a nice start always help confidence too.. perhaps this years Royals.

Noone was picking them for a reason.. though i also find it interesting how slow the favorite Mariners are started and how fast that bandwagon went to Houston

[Mark68]

If "for real" you mean that they're a .500 team, then maybe?

 

You can't tell now where they'll be at the end of the season. Sure, they're a good story now, but will they still be that good a story in August?

[TroutCron]

It is much easier to build a team when you are drafting in the top 3 for the last 10+ years. They are still loaded with arms in the minors too.

[Hollyw00d]

still have to draft the right players and develop them. Its not as easy as you think

[Hollyw00d]

by the way, altuve was an undrafted player. Not a top pick

[ABC]

by the way, altuve was an undrafted player. Not a top pick

 

How about Shoemaker?

[ABC]

still have to draft the right players and develop them. Its not as easy as you think

 

which team drafted Richards, Trout, Calhoun, etc?

[Hollyw00d]

shoemaker is not even close to altuve's level.

moving along

[ABC]

shoemaker is not even close to altuve's level.

moving along

 

you're getting schooled in this thread.

[Hollyw00d]

<p>I find it much more impressive when a team develops and builds a successful team from within and with their farm system, screw how high their draft picks are. Teams lose and go through low points, it happens. Funny how many here are on their high horse considering the angels aren't some legendary franchise.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>its much more impressive then trying to buy a championship (and failing) like Moreno.</p>

[Hollyw00d]

actually I'm not.

 

however, the angels are getting schooled on the field. By a loser franchise with less than half the payroll

[fan_since79]

They win again. Altuve now has nine straight multi-hit games.

 

The Angels should request some video of him hitting so they can learn how it's done.

[zizi]

Surprised they are in 1st looking at some of these batting averages

 

RF Springer .205

DH Gattis .182

1b Carter .152

3b Valbuena .220

C Castro .210

SS Villar  .167

LF Rasmus .242

LF Grossman .143

C Conger .133