Hinch still willing to use Carter, despite diminished role on Astros
A season ago, Chris Carter slugged 37 home runs and drove in 88 runs for the Houston Astros as a formidable middle-of-the-lineup presence.
This season has been an entirely different story, as inconsistency has plagued him to the tune of a .181/.298/.374 line with just 18 homers, 138 strikeouts and a diminished role on A.J. Hinch's club.
However, he hasn't let his lack of playing time in the second half affect his disposition. Rather, as Carter rationalized to the Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz, "We’re trying to win here. A.J’s trying to put the best team on the field that he thinks is going to win, so it’s a manager’s decision.”
Carter explained that he undergoes rigorous batting cage sessions each day and takes extra batting practice to stay fresh, tactics he hopes will pay off once he finds himself back in the lineup.
With the Astros' lead in the AL West reduced to a perilous one-game advantage over the Texas Rangers entering play Wednesday, they can't afford to plug Carter and his .181 average in the lineup on an everyday basis.
Despite his decision to reduce Carter's role, Hinch did admit to Ortiz that he hasn't given up on the power hitter as a potential force on offense: "I still think he can help us win games. Just because he’s not starting and I choose to go with some other guys in most games doesn’t eliminate his responsibility to be ready if his name is called.”
With a few weeks to go and a division lead to maintain, it will be interesting to see just what type of role Carter will have down the stretch.
