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Houston Astros: Time to Rethink Carlos Beltran at DH?

By James Zeankowski

Apr 22, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Appearances Can Be Deceiving!

Carlos Beltran already has a total of 146 plate appearances in 2017. In that span, he is slashing .248/.288/.380/.668 with only 3 home runs and 12 RBI. This is significantly less than the league average slash of .250/.320/.405/.725 that most players can and have achieved.

Slow start? Perhaps, but even veterans know how to adjust to things at the plate. Or at least, they are supposed to.

Additionally, Beltran is also in a tie with George Springer for strikeouts on the team at 35 of them. This all comes with Springer having 15 more plate appearances. However, Beltran also has the highest strikeout rate on the team at 24%.

This is not the only area where Beltran is below average in. Just check out some of these other stats:

  1. Walk%: 4.1; MLB Average; 10%
  2. .131 ISO (Isolated Power); MLB average: .150
  3. wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) 83; MLB average: 100
  4. WAR (wins above replacement) -0.4; MLB average: 1.0

Granted, we are only in week 7. Even with that, there should still be no excuses for any player. Much less, the one that you spent $16 million on to sign to only a one year deal. Perhaps, there are other ways that the Houston Astros can utilize the DH spot.

Let’s assess what can, and probably should, happen going forward!

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