Astros @ Athletics, August 15, 2019

[HudsonHawk]

Fuck yesterday

[HudsonHawk]

T1:

Springer walks
Altuve grounds into 6-4-3 double play on the first pitch
Brantley...0-2...grounds out 6-3

Quick 9-pitch inning for Fiers. No score.

[austro]

I guess Altuve was figuring that Fiers would groove a pitch to get ahead after walking Springer on 5 pitches, but it sure didn't work out very well.

[HudsonHawk]

B1:

Semien flies out F8
Grossman lines out to RF on a nice diving grab by Reddick coming straight in. Put a blue star next to that one
Chapman singles to RF
Olson lines up the middle, Correa with a diving stop behind 2B, gets up and throws him out

Two spectacular plays on defense to rob the A’s of a potential big inning.

No score.

[astrojo]

I guess Altuve was figuring that Fiers would groove a pitch to get ahead after walking Springer on 5 pitches, but it sure didn't work out very well.

I was screaming at him for first pitch swinging after a 5 pitch walk.

[HudsonHawk]

T2:

Bregman grounds out 5-3
Alvarez pops out F5
Correa...0-2...flies out softly to RF

Another very quick inning for Fiers.

No score.

[HudsonHawk]

B2:

Davis grounds out 6-3 on the first pitch
Piscotty lines out to RF
Joseph check swing roller to 3B

5-pitch inning. Still no score.

[HudsonHawk]

T3:

Gurriel flies out F8
Chirinos...0-2...loops one to CF, Pinder with a diving stop to take away a hit
Reddick grounds out 6-3

Fiers with 26 pitches through three innings. No score.

[HudsonHawk]

B3:

Pinder...0-2...1-2...strikes out swinging
Herrmann...0-2...1-2...2-2...strikes out swinging
Semien lines out o 3B

No score.

[HudsonHawk]

Man, both teams flashing the leather tonight.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

What was that thing Altuve carried up to the plate?

[HudsonHawk]

Brexit!

2-0 Astros

[Tom Servo]

Bregman!  We needed that.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

2 out Bregxit!!

[HudsonHawk]

T4:

Springer...0-2...1-2...2-2...grounds out 5-3
Altuve strikes out looking
Brantley...works the count full...singles to LCF...Astros first hit
Bregman homers to LF, Brantley scores
Alvarez grounds out 6-3 in RF

2-0 Astros

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Love to see Bregman hit line drives.

Especially when they clear the outfield wall.

[HudsonHawk]

Boneheaded play by Sanchez

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Boneheaded play by Sanchez

Yep. Greed is not good.

[MusicMan]

Boneheaded play by Sanchez

That was the play of a man not accustomed to his team helping him out.


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[MusicMan]

And that’s why you always take the out.


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[HudsonHawk]

Well fuck. 3-2 A’s

[Astros Fan in Big D]

And that’s why you always take the out.


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No kidding.

I thought that was a pop up off the bat.

[Jacksonian]

No kidding.

I thought that was a pop up off the bat.

The ball is not juiced.

[das]

No kidding.

I thought that was a pop up off the bat.

Me too. I hate this new ball. I hate what it’s doing to the game. That was not a bad pitch by Sanchez. Down and on the outer third.

I wonder if Olsen was getting signs from the dude on second base.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

The A's have hit a mile's worth of balls this inning.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Good grief.

[HudsonHawk]

Joseph’s first career home run makes it 4-2

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Center cut.

[HudsonHawk]

B4:

Grossman doubles off the CF wall...2-0 “fastball” right down the pipe
Chapman taps back to the mound, Sanchez tries to get Grossman diving back to the bag at 2B and doesn’t get him. Chapman to 1B on a FC
Olson...full count...homers to LCF, Grossman scores, Chapman scores
Davis...full up...flies out F8 at the track
Piscotty grounds out 5-3
Joseph homers to RCF on the first pitch...his first career home run
Pinder grounds out 4-3

But Sanchez steps on his dick. 4-2 A’s

[HudsonHawk]

If Sanchez continues to challenge guys with 89 mph fastballs right down the center square, it’s gonna get fucking ugly.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

They hit the shit out of the ball that inning.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

If Sanchez continues to challenge guys with 89 mph fastballs right down the center square, it’s gonna get fucking ugly.

Gave up a homer to a guy 1) with no prior dingers 2) wearing a linebacker's number.

[HudsonHawk]

Correa!

Gets one back

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Holy smokes.

[Snuffy]

That was the play of a man not accustomed to his team helping him out.

Wow!

[HudsonHawk]

Kalas having trouble with fractions

[HudsonHawk]

T5:

Correa hammers a home run to CF
Gurriel...0-2...1-2...2-2...3-2...singles up the middle
Chirinos strikes out swinging...can’t lay off the pitches in his eyes
Reddick lines out to CF
Springer flies out F9

4-3 A’s

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Kalas having trouble with fractions

3 out of 2 people have trouble with fractions.

[Tom Servo]

Kalas having trouble with fractions

Alright, let's say that this boxcar is sixty feet long, OK?, and one third of it is across this switch here, alright... And now another train is coming... Now, how far do you have to move this boxcar so that the other train doesn't smash it? Quickly Brad, there are thousands of lives at stake... Brad any answer...

[HudsonHawk]

Sanchez walks the 9 hitter to lead off the 5th

[Tom Servo]

That was a terrible call.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Nice turn of the 5-4-3.

[HudsonHawk]

That play at 1B wasn’t even close. How does a Major League umpire miss that?

[HudsonHawk]

B5:

Herrmann...full count...fouling off pitches...walks
Semien grounds into FC on the first pitch, Herrmann out 5-4...Astros challenging as Semien was out by a whole step, not even close...yep 5-4-3 double play
Grossman strikes out looking

4-3 still

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That play at 1B wasn’t even close. How does a Major League umpire miss that?

He fell asleep waiting on Altuve's throw to reach Yuli?

[das]

That play at 1B wasn’t even close. How does a Major League umpire miss that?

Maybe thought Yuli’s foot was off the bag?  I dunno. Defies the reality right in front of him.

[Tom Servo]

Change that tire, Uncle Mike.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Uncle Mike!

[HudsonHawk]

T6:

Altuve...0-2...hacking at everything...1-2...taps back to the mound
Brantley homers to RCF
Bregman chops out to 3B on the first pitch
Alvarez strikes out swinging.

New ball game...4-4

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Alvarez let blue talk him into expanding the zone by 300%.

[HudsonHawk]

Fuck

[astrojo]

Really Sanchez?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Hanger.

So much for being tied.

[MRaup]

Sure would be nice if Sanchez would stop grooving meat to their good hitters.

Fucking horrible.

[Tom Servo]

Good lord

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Really Sanchez?

Once again.

[Jacksonian]

So remember Greinke's first game and Bregman was charged with an error that was changed to a hit?  Well the scorer has changed it back to an error tonight.

[astrojo]

Unbelievable

[MusicMan]

Hey AJ, do you maybe wanna go get him now?


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[MRaup]

So remember Greinke's first game and Bregman was charged with an error that was changed to a hit?  Well the scorer has changed it back to an error tonight.

That is both unbelievable and completely unsurprising.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Every time the bats do something this week,  the guy on the bump undoes it.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I can't believe I want Rondon in the game.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Please,  AJ.

[astrojo]

Overworked bullpen gets the call

[HudsonHawk]

Sanchez out, trailing 6-4, two on, one out in the 6th...

[MRaup]

Sanchez out, trailing 6-4, two on, one out in the 6th...

Sanchez is lucky AJ Hinch came out to get him and not me.

Because if I was coming out to get him, I'd have brought a folding chair and beaten him all about the head instead of patting his butt and pointing to the bullpen.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That was efficient.

[HudsonHawk]

B6:

Chapman crushes a monster home run to CF. Springer never even moved.  Hanging curve right down the center
Olson...0-2...crushes a monster home run to RF...hanging curve right down the center
Davis flies out F8
Piscotty...3-0...walks
Joseph grounds to SS, no one there...shiftfuck single, Piscotty to 2B

That’s it for Sanchez, Rondon in

Pinder lines into 5-6 double play as Piscotty is doubled off of 2B on the soft liner.

But Sanchez stomps his dick again...6-4 A’s

[MRaup]

Correa says "Fuck you Jobu, I do it myself."

[HudsonHawk]

Correa part deux!

6-5

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Correa Correa!!

[MRaup]

Correa part deux!

6-5

Correa hit that ball so hard that the fans out there all scattered as to not be destroyed by that missile.

[HudsonHawk]

Correa end Fiers’s night.

[MRaup]

Who is that guy wearing number 10?

Clearly not Yuli, with that walk.

[MRaup]

Yuli is slugging 851 over his last 40 games, and hitting .390+.

And why would you ever throw Chirinos a pitch that isn't a high fastball? He is absolute garbage at the plate currently.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Yuli is slugging 851 over his last 40 games, and hitting .390+.

And why would you ever throw Chirinos a pitch that isn't a high fastball? He is absolute garbage at the plate currently.

Was just about to say the same thing about Chirinos.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Those were some awkward cuts from Josh.

[HudsonHawk]

T7:

Correa homers to LCF...no doubter off the bat

That chases Fiers...Petit in

Gurriel...full up...walks
Chirinos pops out F6
Reddick ...0-2...1-2...pops out F5 in foul territory
Springer grounds into FC, Gurriel our 6-3

6-5 A’s at the stretch

[HudsonHawk]

B7:

Herrmann grounds out 6-3
Semien...full count...grounds out 6-3
Grossman flies out F8 at the track

6-5 A’s

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Let's go,  offense.

[HudsonHawk]

Ok, I’m done. Way past my bed time. Someone get some runs and take us home

[MRaup]

Apropos of nothing, I was talking about the Polo Grounds with some of my coworkers at work today during a lull. I knew it was really short to right and deep to center, but did you know it was 483 feet to dead center, and that were office windows beyond the 483 foot marked wall.

And if you hit it in/through a window that far out, it was a ground rule double, and not a homer?

[MRaup]

Ok, I’m done. Way past my bed time. Someone get some runs and take us home

Well, fuck.

I'll take the tag in.

I'm two crowlers deep and wide awake, so brace yourselves.

[MRaup]

Top 8
6-5 A's

Altuve faces Treinen to lead it off and swings at a curve and pops it to shallow center.

Altuve has been fucking awful this whole game.

1 out.

[MRaup]

Top 8
6-5 A's

Altuve faces Treinen to lead it off and swings at a curve and pops it to shallow center.

Altuve has been fucking awful this whole game.

1 out.

Treinen has been hot garbage this whole season. Hasn't gotten a chance to save a game since April. His ERA is close to 5.

Brantley swings at a pitch that almost bounces and fouls it off. Takes a ball.  Grounds a breaking ball on the inside corner foul, 0-2. Devo whipping it in the Astros pen. HPU calls time as a ball was out on the field in left field. not sure where it came from. Takes another ball, 2-2. Fouls off a high fast ball. Slashes one down the left field line JUST foul. That 6 inches away from being a double/Brantley's 3rd hit. Fouled off again.  DRILLED DEEP TO RIGHT! GONE!

UNCLE FUCKIN MIKE!

Tied at 6!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Uncle Mike!!!!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Fought off those heaters then cranked that slider.

Professional fucking hitter.

[subnuclear]

Uncle Mike is perfect nickname, but I don’t know why people call him that.

[MRaup]

Treinen has been hot garbage this whole season. Hasn't gotten a chance to save a game since April. His ERA is close to 5.

Brantley swings at a pitch that almost bounces and fouls it off. Takes a ball.  Grounds a breaking ball on the inside corner foul, 0-2. Devo whipping it in the Astros pen. HPU calls time as a ball was out on the field in left field. not sure where it came from. Takes another ball, 2-2. Fouls off a high fast ball. Slashes one down the left field line JUST foul. That 6 inches away from being a double/Brantley's 3rd hit. Fouled off again.  DRILLED DEEP TO RIGHT! GONE!

UNCLE FUCKIN MIKE!

Tied at 6!

That was a low slider down and in and Uncle Mike golfed it. Great fucking at bat!

Bregman takes a fastball for strike 1. Swings over a fastball, 0-2. And Kalas just said Brantley played with the Rangers for 10 years. Pops a ball behind first , Olsen out and makes a pretty slick play pretty casually  down the right field line over his shoulder.

2 outs.

[MRaup]

That was a low slider down and in and Uncle Mike golfed it. Great fucking at bat!

Bregman takes a fastball for strike 1. Swings over a fastball, 0-2. And Kalas just said Brantley played with the Rangers for 10 years. Pops a ball behind first , Olsen out and makes a pretty slick play pretty casually  down the right field line over his shoulder.

2 outs.

Treinen out, A's going to the bullpen for Yordan.

[Tom Servo]

Uncle Mike is perfect nickname, but I don’t know why people call him that.

Didn't Springer start calling him that?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

He did say Rangers,  didn't he?

[MRaup]

Didn't Springer start calling him that?

Yes he dids, Squirrely Tom.

[MRaup]

Treinen out, A's going to the bullpen for Yordan.

LOOGY Diekman in to face Yordan. First pitch grounded right at Olsen. Easy 3U to end the 8th, but tie game again.

Hey bullpen, please don't fuck this up.

Mid 8

6-6

[subnuclear]

Yes he dids, Squirrely Tom.

Ahh, cool.

[Tom Servo]

Yes he dids, Squirrely Tom.

Squirrely.  ha


And Yordan needs to stop grounding balls into the shift.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Didn't Springer start calling him that?

From an ESPN article:

"I call him Uncle Mike. He's always on me, doesn't ever let me get down," Springer said. "Doesn't ever let me get too high. Just wants to make sure I consistently do the right thing every day, that I prepare to play the same way every day, which is something I didn't really do before, just get to the park and do what I needed to do. Obviously, I respect the amount of time he has in this game and I respect him as a person. When he speaks, I listen."

[Tom Servo]

Tie the game, give up the lead. 

Rinse and repeat.

[MRaup]

LOOGY Diekman in to face Yordan. First pitch grounded right at Olsen. Easy 3U to end the 8th, but tie game again.

Hey bullpen, please don't fuck this up.

Mid 8

6-6

Bottom 8

Devo in to hopefully protect the lead.

Chapman takes a breaking ball up and in, strike 1. Low, ball 1. Meatball change up right down the pipe hammered to left, gone.

Fuck the bullpen. Just a home run dispenser currently.

7-6 A's.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Fuck,  Devo.

[MusicMan]

Ok, this edition of Home Run Derby leaves a lot to be desired.


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[astrojo]

No way we win this game.  Infuriating.

[MRaup]

Bottom 8

Devo in to hopefully protect the lead.

Chapman takes a breaking ball up and in, strike 1. Low, ball 1. Meatball change up right down the pipe hammered to left, gone.

Fuck the bullpen. Just a home run dispenser currently.

7-6 A's.

Olsen fouls off strike 1. Bounced, ball 1. Did he go? Yes. 1-2. Blummer points out that the Astros haven't seen many shut down innings lately, which is putting it kindly. The bullpen has sucked horse cock lately. Ponche looking on a bottom of the zone change.

[MusicMan]

No way we win this game.  Infuriating.

That run Sanchez gave away with his brain fart sure would be nice right now.


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[MRaup]

Olsen fouls off strike 1. Bounced, ball 1. Did he go? Yes. 1-2. Blummer points out that the Astros haven't seen many shut down innings lately, which is putting it kindly. The bullpen has sucked horse cock lately. Ponche looking on a bottom of the zone change.

Missed a few pitches, Davis down 1-2, Swings under a 96 MPH fastball, ponche!

2 outs.

[Tom Servo]

That run Sanchez gave away with his brain fart sure would be nice right now.


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The runs he gave up on shitty pitches would be even better right now.

[chuck]

Every run in this game has been scored on a home run. Thirteen runs and counting. Ten home runs.

I sound like my grandfather but this isn't baseball, this is bullshit.

[MRaup]

Missed a few pitches, Davis down 1-2, Swings under a 96 MPH fastball, ponche!

2 outs.

Piscotty takes strike 1. Checks his swing, ball 1. Misses an inside fastball, 1-2. Lays off a low and out slider, 2-2.

The bullpen has sucked tonight, but man, Sanchez was hot fucking garbage from the 5th inning on. Piscotty swings behind a fastball, PONCHE!

End 8

7-6 A's.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Just a pathetic center cut pitch and we're down 1 with 3 outs left.

[Tom Servo]

I'm almost hoping the Astros don't score, so I won't get so pissed off in the bottom of the 9th.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Every run in this game has been scored on a home run. Thirteen runs and counting. Ten home runs.

I sound like my grandfather but this isn't baseball, this is bullshit.

The 3 run shot was a pop up.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Oh God.

The plate is wider in the 9th.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Damn.

Foul by an inch.

Maybe.

[chuck]

The 3 run shot was a pop up.

When he hit it I said out loud, Oh, he got him.

[MRaup]

Piscotty takes strike 1. Checks his swing, ball 1. Misses an inside fastball, 1-2. Lays off a low and out slider, 2-2.

The bullpen has sucked tonight, but man, Sanchez was hot fucking garbage from the 5th inning on. Piscotty swings behind a fastball, PONCHE!

End 8

7-6 A's.

Top 9

Hendricks on to close it. 1.56 ERA. Throws a fastball 3 inches outside, strike 1. Fouls off a fastball, strike 2. Correa punches one JUST foul down the RF line on a ball that destroyed Carlos's bat. Foul by about an inch. It's almost like suddenly all the breaks AREN'T going the Astros way. Outside at 99, ball 1. Spikes ball 2. Blum is talking about how frustrating it is to know that the offense is playing great but the pitching sucks. Correa flies to RF, easily playable by Piscotty, F9.

1 out.

[MRaup]

Top 9

Hendricks on to close it. 1.56 ERA. Throws a fastball 3 inches outside, strike 1. Fouls off a fastball, strike 2. Correa punches one JUST foul down the RF line on a ball that destroyed Carlos's bat. Foul by about an inch. It's almost like suddenly all the breaks AREN'T going the Astros way. Outside at 99, ball 1. Spikes ball 2. Blum is talking about how frustrating it is to know that the offense is playing great but the pitching sucks. Correa flies to RF, easily playable by Piscotty, F9.

1 out.

Yuli 98 on the outside corner, fouled off. Bounced, ball 1. Roped to left, but right at Grossman, 2 outs.

The Astros are going to lose this game despite having an absolutely great offensive night.

Sanchez and the bullpen have been fucking PUTRID.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Damn.  Yuli drilled that.

[Tom Servo]

Damn.  Yuli drilled that.

Yeah, that was tough luck.

[MRaup]

Yuli 98 on the outside corner, fouled off. Bounced, ball 1. Roped to left, but right at Grossman, 2 outs.

The Astros are going to lose this game despite having an absolutely great offensive night.

Sanchez and the bullpen have been fucking PUTRID.

Chirinos (who will strike out on a high fastball) checks his swing on a high fastball. Takes strike one on the outside corner. Up, ball 2. Grounds a very hittable fastball to 3rd, 5-3. Ballgame.

Astros reeling, lost 3 in a row, and the starting pitching and bullpen both where absolute fucking garbage.

Final

7-6 A's

[MRaup]

Fear not. Our terrible post-game team is blaming juiced baseballs for all the home runs tonight, and not the fat fucking pitches that led to them.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Just pathetic pitching.

Center cut fastballs.

Hanging breakers.

Most often right after the offense puts runs on the board.

When does Strom return to the team?

[Lefty]

I love Josh Reddick and am anxiously awaiting his return to resembling a major league hitter.  Chirinos too

What a shit game by Sanchez and Devo.

[astrojo]

I know it was just tied, but I thought maybe we would see Osuna for the 9th as the only rested arm in the bullpen.

[JimR]

Cole’s scratch has caused most of this mess. Strom’s absence has not helped. Neither did 3 games in 24 hours.

Yesterday was a big test for Sanchez. He needed Strom there. Still a work in progress. Still need to win two in Oakland.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Glass half full side of me likes the way the bats have been going.

Weather the storm.

[JimR]

Glass half full side of me likes the way the bats have been going.

Weather the storm.

The bullpen is exhausted thanks to Cole’s hamstring, the schedule, and the rain. No way should Devo have been in there in the 8th, but he had to. Win two of the next three, and we are fine. Luck is not shining on us lately.

[HudsonHawk]

I love Josh Reddick and am anxiously awaiting his return to resembling a major league hitter.  Chirinos too

What a shit game by Sanchez and Devo.

Chirinos is what he is.  If you were expecting more than this from him, you set yourself up for failure.

[JimR]

Chirinos is what he is.  If you were expecting more than this from him, you set yourself up for failure.

Yep. He fooled us the first half.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Also credit Rondon.  Got the double play and pitched a clean 7th.

Much needed.

[MRaup]

Yep. He fooled us the first half.

If he'd just stop fucking chasing above the strike zone fastballs, I'd be happy.

[astrojo]

I know it was just tied, but I thought maybe we would see Osuna for the 9th as the only rested arm in the bullpen.

This was supposed to say 8th, not 9th

[JimR]

If he'd just stop fucking chasing above the strike zone fastballs, I'd be happy.

Agreed, and they have been preaching this to him all year.

[Lefty]

If he'd just stop fucking chasing above the strike zone fastballs, I'd be happy.

This was my point, you'd think at some point an adjustment would be made.  I realize he is who he is.  Post was more about Josh.