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Houston Astros need to call Chris Carter experiment to a close

By Josh Sippie

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Chris Carter has a lot of power. When he hits the ball, it makes like its late for work and gets out of the park. But that is just about all Carter can do, and he does not do it every often.

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You see, Chris Carter has a whiffing problem, and there does not seem to be a cure. Through his first three years playing for the Houston Astros, Carter has 528 strikeouts in 1,352 at-bats. That is 4 strikeouts every 10 at bats. This year has been the exact same, believe it or not, as he has 134 strikeouts in 339 at bats.

Obviously the Houston Astros have decided to sacrifice strikeouts for power and few can argue with the results, as they lead the American League West, look to be playoff bound and have power numbers that invoke fear in just about any opposing pitcher.

So it would appear that Chris Carter has found his home, as he brings significant power with significant strikeouts.

That assessment is incorrect, however. The rest of the Houston Astros’ power crew may have strikeout bouts as well, but nothing like what Chris Carter has.

The nearest to Carter in strikeouts is Colby Rasmus with 118 in 332 at-bats (via Astros.com). Strangely enough, Rasmus’s power numbers are very similar to Carter’s, as he has 17 home runs and 46 RBIs compared to Carter’s 17 home runs and 49 RBIs. But Rasmus brings more than just power and strikeouts. He is hitting .229, which is not great, but it is not Carter’s .180.

Plus, Colby Rasmus is a superb fielder whereas Chris Carter is a liability.

The next nearest guy that the Houston Astros have to Chris Carter is Luis Valbuena, who I refer to as the left handed Chris Carter. But as his stats will tell you, while he is slumping with a .210 average, he only has 93 strikeouts in 372 at-bats. Plus, Valbuena leads the Houston Astros in home runs with 22.

Chris Carter has all that the Houston Astros seem to typify, but typifying massive amounts of strikeouts and good power is nothing to be proud of and when you really dissect the Houston Astros roster, nobody on the team does the strikeouts to home runs bit quite like Carter. Everyone else brings something more to the table.

Carter is simply not a player for a playoff contending team. Not even as a pinch hitter. Sure he has the potential to hit one out of the stadium, but so does everyone else that the Houston Astros could use to pinch hit. The risk reward factor is no longer there with Carter seeing as how everyone around him hits home runs just as effectively as him and strikes out out less, while providing more upside in other facets of the game.

Obviously the Houston Astros are not going to just cut him, but they need to stop using him in games that they need to win (all of them) and let him go when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Next: Astros need George Springer

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