The Houston Astros have benched struggling outfielder Cam Smith more than once in an attempt to bring life back to what was once one of the team's best offensive producers. Turning the clock back to the month of June, Smith hit .303 after putting together a strong May performance as well. While regression was expected, the next two months have been far rougher than expected.
Throughout August, there have been several reasons for concern with the young Astros outfielder. It isn't just a matter of a rough week or a poor approach for a handful of games. Smith appears to have lost confidence overnight and isn't putting together at-bats that a postseason team should be allowing in a starting lineup.
He's completely imploded this month, slashing .145/.203/.182 with three stolen bases, four walks, and an RBI in 18 games (55 at-bats). That just won't cut it on a team that's expected to challenge for the World Series this fall.
While Houston's replacement options are limited, either of the current outfield options replacing Smith is superior. The Astros owe it to the team and fan base to continue to make needed changes and to ponder what the future might hold for the young outfielder.
At this point, the sample size is split between two months of great production and two of struggling to be a Major League option.
Astros OF Cam Smith Continues to Struggle in August
A big piece of what makes this so alarming is the inability to nail down exactly what the outfielder can bring to the roster moving forward. It isn't as if Smith has been consistently up-and-down. It has gone from incredible production to being one of the league's best hitters. Both are large sample sizes, making it impossible to decipher the true value going forward.
However, the Astros are in the middle of a heated postseason race without the time for patience. Until Smith shows signs of life, putting the young hitter on the bench is the best move. You simply cannot afford to give away the at-bats that Smith has offered over the last month. Making it a bit more concerning is the fact that July showed a bit of regression as well.
While the numbers didn't quite crater to the extent they have in August, alarm bells have long been going off when it comes to the young Houston starter. It is time to change the lineup, making Smith earn his way back before considering starting the struggling hitter again in September or beyond.