A Quick Comparison

[barzilla]

Now that Richard Hidalgo is gone it comes time to ask what should happen next. Clearly, it is the Astros offense that is in serious trouble. Let's compare them to the Cards and the Cubs regulars position by position to see where an improvement can take place. After each I will include my own comments:

Catcher (players at all positions will be ranked in order of performance)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OBP. . . . . .SLG. . . . . OBIP
1. Michael Barrett. . . . . . . .362. . . . . .522. . . . . .572
2. Mike Matheny. . . . . . . . .291. . . . . .381. . . . . .426
3. Brad Ausmus. . . . . . . . . .314. . . . . .324. . . . . .383

Comments: When we add the fact that Ausmus is signed through 2005, the pitchers love him, and the fact that John Buck is waiting in the wings I would not expect this to be a position the Astros want to upgrade.

First Base

1. Albert Pujols .401 .603 .696
2. Derrek Lee .365 .498 .579
3. Jeff Bagwell .394 .450 .567

Comments: Bagwell could very well pass Lee before the end of the season if he starts getting his power stroke back. He is signed for another two seasons after 2004 so don't look for the Astros to look for a first baseman.

Second Base

1. Todd Walker .366 .493 .579
2. Jeff Kent .343 .514 .563
3. Tony Womack .335 .405 .445

Comments: Jeff Kent will likely end up as the best second basemen on this list and is one of only two Astros to have .500 slugging percentages. He might be trade bait if the season continues to go awry.

Third Base

1. Scott Rolen .419 .647 .717
2. Aramis Ramirez .375 .562 .610
3. Morgan Ensberg .328 .335 .392

Comments: Now is when things get a little hairy. We know the Royals want a catcher and third baseman in exchange for Beltran. Do you want to trade Ensberg and Buck for Beltran? Otherwise, I don't see the team actually trading for a third baseman.

Shortstop

1. Edgar Renteria .322 .383 .433
2. Adam Everett .316 .370 .404
3. Ramon Martinez .314 .354 .404

Comments: Everett represents a huge fear of mine. Odds are pretty good that he might get voted in as the All-star game shortstop. My fear is that the Astros will sign him to an extension based on the all-star appearance ignoring the fact that he is still a below average offensive shortstop.

Left Field

1. Lance Berkman .479 .654 .801
2. Moises Alou .337 .542 .581
3. Ray Lankford .361 .434 .536

Comments: Let's ink Berkman to an extension now. He has been the best offensive player on this team the last four years (yes that includes last season when Hidalgo was team MVP)

Centerfielder

1. Jim Edmonds .381 .555 .663
2. Craig Biggio .367 .471 .534
3. Corey Patterson .335 .445 .507

Comments: Biggio is having his best season since 2001, but what we don't see here is that he is performing horribly again in centerfield (especially lately). If I see him misplay another deep fly to Tal's Hill I'm going to hurl something at the TV. This would be a key area to upgrade more for defensive purposes. Biggio needs to be in the lineup somewhere though.

Right Field

1. Sammy Sosa .385 .590 .684
2. Reggie Sanders .294 .502 .537
3. Richard Hidalgo .309 .412 .465

Comments: No wonder Hidalgo was traded. However, I can't help but think what could have been. Sanders isn't terrific (.294 OBP is horrible) but wouldn't he look good as a fourth outfielder. Oh well, we have Orlando Palmeiro though don't we? This is a position of flux. Lane hit his first HR of the season tonight so he will be a key player to watch.

Key Totals

First Place Finishes: Cards 4, Cubs 3, Astros 1
Second Place Finishes: Cubs 3, Astros 3, Cards 2
Last Place Finishes: Astros 4, Cards 2, Cubs 2

Comments: In other words, the Astros are either second or third in seven out of eight positions. This is not good. They have the worst player at four positions. Not good.

.350 OBPs: Cubs 5, Cards 4, Astros 3
.500 SLGs: Cards 4, Cubs 4, Astros 2
.500 OBIPs: Cubs 7, Cards 5, Astros 4
.600 OBIPs: Cards 3, Cubs 2, Astros 1

Comments: Wow, that puts it in perspective. For those that are wondering, OBIP is on base percentage plus isolated power. It essentially counts the same thing as OPS, but it includes batting average only once (versus twice for OPS) so it is more accurate. Either way, it is clear that the Astros are missing something. However, if they could add one player who encompassed all of those things they would be in a tie for second in OBP, a closer third in SLG, a tie for second in .500 OBIP, and a tie for second in .600 OBIP. With the pitching staff they have this would give them a fighting chance.

[Sandy]

Great analysis, Barz --

Of course, the horribly scary thought is that this analysis doesn't include the bench contributions. No wonder the Astros trail the Cards and Cubs in runs scored (351-Cards; 323-Cubs; 307-Astros).

[PissedPrincess]

OBIP? Isolated Power? Can you explain in simpler terms for me? :(

[rockin500]

Isolated Power is pretty much taking out the singles. just counts the homers, doubles and triples.

[Sandy]

OBIP - On base percentage, plus isolated power.

The basic problem with OPS is that batting average is self-contained in BOTH of the factors (OBP and Slugging). The advantage of OBIP is that it only counts batting average ONCE - since isolated power is measuring JUST the extra base hits.

I'm pretty sure that you can get OBIP by just subtracing batting average from OPS.

[PissedPrincess]

:( So confused. :(

How does one measure just Xtra base hits? Are they not also included in OBP? :confused:

[H Town Fanatic]

This is some great analysis, I found the part asking if it would be smart to trade Ensberg and Buck for Beltran. I dont think it would. Ensberg and Buck are both young and can still improve. Beltran is good, but for some odd reason I think he would not fare at all with the Astros. Just a weird hunch I get from him.

[barzilla]

PP,

Sorry to confuse you. Let me address the situation as simply as I can.

1. Batting average is the number of hits per at bat.
2. Slugging percentage is the number of total bases per at bat.
3. Isolated power simply takes slugging percentage and subtracts batting average.

For instance, if a hitter has a .500 slugging percentage and .300 batting average then they have a .200 isolated power (or ISO)

OBIP is on base percentage plus isolated power.

Sandy said you could subtract batting average from OPS but I have never tried that myself. I always calculate things the old-fashioned but I think that should work. The advantage is that is isolates the two most important things a hitter does and adds them together.

[PissedPrincess]

So, lemmee see if I got this.

OBIP is, essentially how often you get on base, plus, how many times you get an Xtra base hit.

Yes?

[barzilla]

PP,

That's not a bad way to look at it. I simply look at it as a way to remove the bias that batting average brings into the equation. Understand that when you have someone with a .350 batting average that they automatically have a .700 OPS so how impressive is it when they have an .800 OPS? The practical application is that it is a way to highlight people on the extreme and the problems that using their batting average. For example, on the Astros, people look at Brad Ausmus with a .260 average and Adam Everett with a .280 average and say they are having a good season. Well.....when you add the fact that they draw very few walks with the fact that they have little power then you see that the batting average is nothing but a mirage.