Houston Astros: It’s time for the mid-season awards

The Astros have a lineup, top to bottom, filled with All-Stars and award winners. With All-Star Week approaching, let’s dive into the mid-season awards.

You have a list of eligible candidates, and I am only going to pick one winner and then the honorable mentions. As a lifelong Astros fan and now sports contributor, I believe that there are multiple people all over this lineup that deserve recognition. Since this isn’t an FFPS league, not everyone is going to take home an award, however, that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve an award.

This topic is subjective, although, many of my picks can be backed by statistics and overall impact, there will always be those who see things differently. When you are done reading the article, let me know in the comment section which Astro player you would choose.

Offensive MVP Nominees: Michael Brantley, George Springer, and Alex Bregman Starting Pitcher MVP Nominees: Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Wade Miley Top Rookie Nominees: Myles Straw and Yordan Alvarez

(All awards will imply pre-all star break)

OFFENSIVE MVP

Alex Bregman: 3B  (ALL-STAR STARTER)

Avg. 268, 23 HR, 13 2B, 55 RBI, 58 R, 82 H, OPS .933, SLG% .541

Offensive MVP doesn’t just take into account BA or one category over the other. In my calculations, I took into account the stat line and placed it higher than others. While Alex Bregman may not have the highest BA on the team, and there are others who have certainly performed at a high level all season long. Alex Bregman took the league by storm tying a club record for home runs in a single month back in May and hasn’t looked back.

He did go through an adjustment period but has come out of that, and has lifted his doubles number and is flirting with a 1.000 OPS. He said in a recent interview with Fox Sports his goal was to achieve an OPS of 1.200 somewhere around Barry Bonds type levels.

His ambition and drive for the game are seen at every at-bat, and even with 23 HRs, he still knows there’s more he can do to improve his plate appearances.

Alex Bregman was clearing the fence and trying to spark this offense even when the team was down. The leadership approach he takes at the plate and running the bases are the things that push him to the mid-season Offensive MVP.

OFFENSIVE MVP  – Honorable Mention

Michael Brantley: LF (ALL-STAR STARTER)

Avg. 310, 11 HR, 22 2B, 45 RBI, 42 R, 100 H, OPS .857,  SLG% .486

In the offseason when the Houston Astros signed Michael Brantley, they knew exactly what they got when they acquired him. But there really wasn’t a ton of press in the way of excitement over this offseason signing. Astros fans, however, knew that this was a great thing for this clubhouse to inherit such a consistent bat.

Michael Brantley has the second most multi-hit games this season and looks to be chasing a 200 hit season. He is mentioned because of the contributions he is making at the dish. He may very well be the first Astros player, not named Jose Altuve, to lead this club in hits in over the last four seasons.

George Springer: RF/CF (ALL-STAR STARTER)

Avg. 307, 18 HR, 10 2B, 45 RBI, 46 R, 67 H, OPS .995, SLG% .610

The only reason I didn’t give George Springer the offensive MVP is because of the injury and the time he has lost. He could easily be staring at 30 home runs under his belt right now, as well as 90-100 hits, and over 60 RBIs. I am sure many have noticed, but Springer has left off right where he started the season, on fire, hitting lead-off home runs and getting extra-base hits. Keep an eye out, George Springer might just edge out the others at the end of the season for the MVP title.

TOP STARTING PITCHER

Gerrit Cole:  IP 109.2, W-L 8-5, ERA 3.28, 161 SO, 28 BB, 3.11 FIP, 13.2 S/O9

Gerrit Cole started out the year in March and April with a won-loss record of 2-4 in his seven starts. He did manage 65 strikeouts despite the losing record. The “Cole Train” would start gaining momentum as he made his way sowing the tracks in May and June, going 6-1 in his next 11 starts, a vast improvement.  Gerrit Cole has nine starts where he has struck out ten or more batters and went 6-3 in those nine starts.

This award was tough to hand out as you will see with the other two nominees. One thing you can’t help but notice is the fire in which Gerrit Cole competes. On several occasions when Cole was either nearing the end of his start or behind in the count, you would see him fire off a couple high fastballs at 100 MPH+, and that fire grew as innings passed.

He threw 100 or more pitches in 12 of his starts this year. The young 28-year-old seems to have a lot of durability, much like his more senior teammate Justin Verlander.

When Cole arrived in Houston, he relied more on his two-seam fastball than his four-seam fastball. Cole spoke about this in a 2018 article (Q and A with Gerrit Cole) on ESPN.com by Marly Rivera.

Cole said, “I used to throw a four-seam and the two-seam, and I used to probably lean on the two-seam almost 50 percent of the time or more. When I’d go into the room and have a meeting with them [the Astros coaching staff], they’d show me the data on my four-seam, and then they would show me what my best four-seams looked like. Like, they have video of it, and then they have statistics on it.”

This has carried over into 2019, as Gerrit Cole looks to continue dominating opponents deep into the playoffs.

TOP ROOKIE 

Yordan Alvarez: Avg. 317, 7 HR, 4 2B, 21 RBI, 9 BB,19 R, 12 H, OPS 1.139, SLG% .733

“Air” Yordan, The Colossal from Cuba, no matter what your nickname is for him as a fan, you can’t deny the instant impact he’s had on this team. Usually, I wouldn’t pick a player with only 16 games into a Major League career, but I think this is one of those rare situations where there’s a very good case for his selection.

The lone factor in him getting the 1st half award was not his insane home run totals. Alvarez recently turned 22 and is showing incredible disciple at the plate. He has walked nine times while collecting four doubles, meaning that 11 of his 12 hits have been for extra bases.

He has been embraced in the clubhouse by everyone, and they are taking notice. Just where you thought all he had was a big bat, Yordan Alvarez was able to throw out an advancing runner to 2B at Minute Maid Park. The ease of the throw coupled with the accuracy, let everyone know he’s not just here to hit, he’s here to contribute on the field as well.

When this young phenom was called up, he had already clubbed 23 home runs, meaning he is sitting at 29 home runs this year between AAA Round Rock and Houston. When he was with the Round Rock Express, he walked up to the plate without his bat, the bases were loaded and the crowd was bewildered.

He knew that even with bases loaded, the opposing team wasn’t going to pitch to him, so he went from the batter’s box to first. There aren’t many young players that garner this type of respect. His short swing and ability to bring the barrel to the ball makes him a threat. Whether it’s a pull shot to right field or an OPPO TACO, he’s sending them out at an alarming rate.

TOP ROOKIE HONORABLE MENTION

Myles Straw: Avg. 300, 3 RBI, 9 BB, 4 SB, 11 R, 15 H, 4 2B, 2 3B,  OPS .787, SLG% .380

The Flash isn’t just a comic book character, he’s an up and coming rookie for the Houston Astros. He goes by the name of Myles Straw a 24-year-old out of St. Johns River Community College. Myles Straw has been a part of some big runs and really is neck-and-neck in deserving this honor. He has done everything the Astros Skipper has asked of him in 2019.

Myles Straw came up and his primary position was in the outfield. With recent injury issues, he has been turned into a platooning SS and has done quite well. Shortstop isn’t a position you just throw players into, especially a rookie, but a combination of his quick feet and glove to hand skills, it seemed like the transition wouldn’t be that difficult.

His speed has been astounding. In one game, it took him only 11 seconds to go from first to home. His speed actually got him in trouble a little bit, when in his gazelle-like scamper he missed third. Some would say its a rookie mistake, but I think it’s his raw speed that got the best of him.

That is a rare feat, but his feet for sure have given this young speedster an advantage. When all of the players come back from injury, Myles Straw is making it very hard for the club to option him back to the minors. Look for Myles Straw to contribute with this club all season long.