Messages

1

Talk Zone / Re: More controversy

« on: November 22, 2019, 01:06:59 pm »

I just feel absolutely sick to my soul about all this shit. Is it accurate to say that there is no evidence of the Astros cheating since 2017? Most all the columns I’ve read are laced with what seem to me pretty blatant rationalizations for the one-sided skewering the Astros are receiving, including that Crane is a war profiteer and Luhnow fucked over Brady Aiken and the Astros are unscrupulous in their zeal for winning—never mind how exactly.

This should be the best time in history to be an Astros fan. I’m pissed at the front office for fumbling the Osuna and then the Taubman issues and sickened and saddened by this whole fucking abysmal shit show that likely wouldn’t have played out this way had they not. What a steaming pile we’ve been forced to watch the best team in Astros history made out to be.

And the silence from Houston is deafening. I imagine they’re under gag orders but Jesus Christ.

OK, here endeth the rant. Sorry. Thanks.

2

Talk Zone / Re: Hinch’s decisions and thinking/G7

« on: November 04, 2019, 03:13:44 pm »

The WS in ‘17 has made everything over the last two seasons far more bearable. I’m still bummed but I’d be losing my shit if it weren’t for ‘17.

This is me exactly. I am telling all my customers, who are well aware of my fandom, that I’m holding my head high. This is what I say: We were a historically good team this year, we won 117 games and the pennant and beat the Yankees and it took the hottest team on the planet seven games and some freaky luck to beat us when we were slumping. Plus we won one two years ago. I’m wearing my shirts with pride.

3

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 7, October 30, 2019

« on: October 30, 2019, 08:32:42 pm »

The team that squanders the most opportunities doesn’t necessarily lose.

4

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 6, October 29, 2019

« on: October 29, 2019, 10:36:10 pm »

Strasburg is their best guy. They got two wins out of him.

5

Talk Zone / Re: WS 2019

« on: October 29, 2019, 08:48:45 am »

I fear the Strasbourg that might show up tonight.


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Good chance he's gonna be nails, but it's the second time they're seeing him in a week and his pitch count is likely to get high fast.

6

Talk Zone / Re: Cole and Game 5

« on: October 28, 2019, 01:31:10 pm »

The thing I keep coming back to with Cole is here's a guy who wanted to play for the Yankees his whole life, who was drafted by them in the first round, and who chose to risk three years at college in expectation of being drafted higher. It worked out for him in every way. Never mind that there are a slew of reasons for a starting pitcher to want to play in Houston, I just don't see that guy walking away from what promises to be a historic payday. 

7

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: October 28, 2019, 01:21:25 pm »

The guy wearing the MAGA hat behind home plate was there the whole night.

That guy and his dad are there for every game. Just unbelievably impassive frog-faced old dudes. That's the first time I'd ever seen him in the MAGA hat. I imagine it wasn't a coincidence.

8

Talk Zone / Re: WS 2019

« on: October 27, 2019, 04:47:23 pm »

Put me in the nervous camp as well

I'm nervous because it's the World Series, but mostly I credit that to a penchant for assuming that what appears to be good fortune will inevitably work out for the other team. No one would choose to face Max Scherzer over Joe Ross.

9

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 4, October 26, 2019

« on: October 26, 2019, 11:50:16 pm »

When Soto does his annoying back and forth dance in front of the box he reminds me of that weird Future Islands guy on Letterman.

Sam Herring. He is the younger brother of a college roommate of mine. He is a great guy and an amazing performer. His Future Islands persona is truly a character. His ex-girlfriend used to date the lead singer of Skinny Puppy.

10

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 3, October 25, 2019

« on: October 25, 2019, 11:43:56 pm »

I don’t know if this or something like it was already mentioned in this thread, as I was fortunate enough to get to watch with my dad tonight—who is visiting for the weekend—and so did not have to constantly retreat here for succor, but tonight really reminded me of how hard it can be to lose when you’ve been on a winning streak—by which I mean that you kind of have to make yourself do it, because opportunities keep befalling you, and that after you’ve gotten over that hump, and lose, why you often lose a couple more right quick.

What an outstanding job by the run-suppressing machine, tonight, and what an interminably-paced thing the first six innings were.

Happy birthday, Juan!

11

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 2, October 23, 2019

« on: October 23, 2019, 07:18:25 pm »

I'm depressed about this shit.

The difference between us and them is they're actually hot and we've been winning in spite of a general team-wide slump.

12

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 23, 2019, 10:34:23 am »

FWIW, Bowden and Duquette said the same thing on the radio. They think Alvarez is tired.

But for a DH?? Don’t know about that.


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I don't see why DHing would make such a big difference. He's waking up and going to work and running the bases (or not). He also did play in the field quite a bit this year.

13

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 11:01:53 pm »

This is the story of the game.

Story of the game is Cole falling to earth. We're worse now, a lot, and it's going to be harder.

14

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 10:38:52 pm »

And I thought I would slowly drink this last beer over the last 2 innings...

Yeah, not. Me too.

15

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 10:37:55 pm »

He’s the DH.


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I wrote a long response to this, but fuck it.

Uncle Mike time.

16

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 10:23:37 pm »

It feeds off of itself, though.  If he wasn't always so behind in the count, he wouldn't have to chase/guess.

FWIW, I think Yordan's big problem is the long season. I think he's tired. People used to talk about that. Maybe it isn't true anymore.

17

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 10:18:17 pm »

Yordan's troubles have been in three areas:

1.  Not swinging at the first pitch -- even if its down the middle
2.  When he has swung at a hittable pitch -- he's not got around on it - he's been late (hands)
3.  When he gets down in the count - he expands his zone and swings at some wild shit

I think you're whole thing is 2.

18

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 10:06:43 pm »

Altuve's heroics the other day aside, the guy I most want to see at the plate in a big situation right now is certainly Yuli.

There is just no question.

19

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 10:00:52 pm »

Time for Breggers to show up.

20

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:54:37 pm »

As disappointing as Cole's outing has been, the offense has had so many opportunities to plate runs this game and has consistently come up empty. I hate that Cole will be the story.

He blew the lead in a pretty big fucking way. But let's hope he isn't the story.

21

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:44:15 pm »

No pitcher off his game is untouchable.

Cole was off his game and untouchable in game 3 against the Yanks. Now he's just touchable.

22

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:38:30 pm »

The most important thing here is that Cole isn't untouchable anymore.

23

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:32:01 pm »

This is an especially good question considering Corbin is the one warming up for the Nats.


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Corbin needs to start for them. The Nats don't have a bullpen.  That's why they're employing their game 3 starter in game 1.

Our world historical offense has but to rouse.

We'll see if it does.

24

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:22:09 pm »

Really, really needed to get to Scherzer when he was struggling.

Also 110 pitches from Max with 2 outs in the 5th is a victory.

25

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:20:35 pm »

Really, really needed to get to Scherzer when he was struggling.

We got to Scherzer. Cole didn't Scherzer.

26

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:07:18 pm »

I sure like the approach against Scherzer though.

Their starting pitchers can beat our starting pitchers any day. We have the advantage in depth.

27

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 09:04:38 pm »

Cole has stepped down from Olympia.

28

Talk Zone / Re: Latest Controversy

« on: October 22, 2019, 06:47:08 pm »

OK, I call for no posts in this thread during the game....got 15 minutes,

Second.

29

Talk Zone / Re: Latest Controversy

« on: October 22, 2019, 03:58:33 pm »

This whole thing is awful.  I just want to get excited for the WS and now every article/tweet/post rehashes a drunken idiot's unprovoked defense of an abuser and the organization's abomination of an apology.  Yuli's actions in 2017 are even being brought up again to highlight how terrible the org is and how shitty their fans (we) are for supporting it.
Just fucking awful all around and it's detracting from one of the most celebratory moments in baseball.
Game 1 can't start soon enough.

All of the above. What really surprises me is Crane in all this.

I am constantly reminded of why I'm happy with the decision to avoid social media, and this kind of dogpile of righteousness and bullshit is exhibit A, over and over again. But I will just be nodding my head in agreement tonight that the Astros are run by a bunch of astonishingly PR-obtuse asshats, while rooting unabashedly for the 9.5 on the field.

30

Talk Zone / Re: WS 2019

« on: October 22, 2019, 01:16:02 pm »

I wish the odds weren't so gigantically in our favor. The Nats have been the BTIB since some point in May, I believe. It does appear we have a real advantage defensively and in the bullpen, especially considering we've seen Doolittle a lot--which they can't say about any of our relief arms. Seems to me our advantages play out primarily at the back end of games and series'.

31

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 21, 2019, 06:52:54 am »

So, how did this prediction turn out?

Yeah, didn't pan out. Pitchers just did too good of a job keeping him off the bases. And then the Bracamonte anecdote, like you said...

32

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 6, October 19, 2019

« on: October 20, 2019, 12:12:52 am »

JV: "We're the Astros and we're here to win."

33

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 6, October 19, 2019

« on: October 19, 2019, 11:36:01 pm »

Not gonna lie, little misty over here.

34

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: October 19, 2019, 01:28:13 pm »

Limey, I thought you'd appreciate this.

Magnificent.

35

Talk Zone / Re: Changes coming to Minor League Baseball

« on: October 19, 2019, 01:25:20 pm »

https://theathletic.com/1306272/2019/10/19/if-we-are-forced-to-defend-ourselves-and-fight-for-our-mere-survival-we-will-milb-president-responds-to-mlb-plan/

All those threatened jobs are shit. Would it be better to have 1400 decent jobs or 2800 shitty ones? I don't know what the budgetary math looks like--maybe they could afford to pay every single one of those guys a living wage--but if MLB is finally getting serious about starting to pay minor leaguers fairly, then that at least is a good thing.

And given what minor leaguers are paid now--plus the coaching staffs--it's hard for me to accept that those payrolls being covered by MLB clubs now is the only thing standing between all these small town teams and oblivion. It isn't surprising, after all, that owners are objecting to having to start paying their workforce.   

36

Talk Zone / Changes coming to Minor League Baseball

« on: October 19, 2019, 11:58:54 am »

This is interesting: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/18/sports/baseball/minor-league-changes.html

37

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 4, October 17, 2019

« on: October 17, 2019, 10:07:07 pm »

So did anybody else read this story: Apparently Yankees announcer Michael Kay was trying to go through airport while carrying a bag of dicks. A TSA agent pulled him aside and said, "Hey, you can't take those here!" Michael Kay, confused, replied, "I can't bring my toothbrush?"

Outstanding.

That guy is one excellent verbatim reader of stats that have put on the screen, a moment after they've been up there, in a completely uninflected tone.

38

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 4, October 17, 2019

« on: October 17, 2019, 09:29:50 pm »

In the olden days (pre internet), the only baseball scores/news I could get were two day old scores in the daily newspaper and most Monday they would show the standings, so if he feed lags a few minutes I try not to let it bother me too much.

I avoid spoilers like the plague for scripted drama but for real drama, actual drama, like sports, I cannot not look at the most current feed. And I remember the old days too.

39

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 4, October 17, 2019

« on: October 17, 2019, 09:27:57 pm »

These "What's even easier than hitting a home run into the Crawford Boxes?" and fucking GEICO "That's even easier than [fill in the blank with remarkably rare, improbable event]" commercials are so aggressively antilogical and offensively stupid. Who the fuck are the people writing this shit?

40

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 4, October 17, 2019

« on: October 17, 2019, 09:21:59 pm »

Nails

41

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 4, October 17, 2019

« on: October 17, 2019, 09:17:26 pm »

With MLB at at, you just pause the radio feed. If it’s the actual radio, I’d just watch on mute.

I meant philosophically.

42

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 4, October 17, 2019

« on: October 17, 2019, 09:04:28 pm »

I cannot bring myself to follow a lagging feed while the truth is out there somewhere. I don't know how people do it. Makes for a kinda discordant collection of media here, but...how do people do it?

43

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 4, October 17, 2019

« on: October 17, 2019, 09:00:08 pm »

Hi guys.
 
Home from dinner with the parents-in-law. Listened to the bottom of the first driving home. House clean af. My radio feed is, I think, three full pitches ahead of the TV.

Go 'Stros.

44

Talk Zone / Re: Tipping pitches

« on: October 16, 2019, 04:30:45 pm »

Sources: Yankees dugout erupts over Astros' alleged sign stealing

Yankees players and coaches became angry with the Astros during Game 1 of the ALCS when they noticed a whistling sound in the Astros' dugout -- which they believed was an over-the-line example of sign stealing, and a violation of the game's unwritten rules.

According to three sources, a Yankees coach noticed a whistling sound in the opposing dugout on certain pitches on Saturday night in Houston. The Yankees started yelling across the field, and people in the dugouts argued back and forth.

I guess this is what it's going to be like for us as long as we're awesome.

When the Yankees won World Series all the time I didn't think they were dirty, I just resented that they would always have things go preposterously right for them. When the would-be wild pitch smacked into Kerwin Danley in yesterday's game I thought: here we go again. Then the next pitch happened, and I immediately and irresponsibly started reading portends into it.

45

Talk Zone / Re: Rotation Games 4.5.6.7

« on: October 16, 2019, 04:27:47 pm »

You never told us you are an umpire.

I think Crash's actual quotation better captures those guys.   

46

Talk Zone / Re: Rotation Games 4.5.6.7

« on: October 16, 2019, 04:07:18 pm »

I'm just happy to be here and hope to help the team in game 4 in any way I can.

Me? I approach each game with fear and ignorance.

47

Talk Zone / Re: Rotation Games 4.5.6.7

« on: October 16, 2019, 01:09:58 pm »

We already have precedent on this from the ALDS. Hinch will do everything in his power to win the game in front of him, and pitching Cole on short rest would be a better proposition than leaving it to the bullpen.

Assuming we're not on the verge of elimination, I disagree.

48

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 3, October 15, 2019

« on: October 16, 2019, 10:20:39 am »

Fantastic photo:

https://twitter.com/rachaelgleason/status/1184444111908212737?s=19

Hah! Glorious.

49

Talk Zone / Re: NLCS

« on: October 16, 2019, 10:04:41 am »

Co-signed. 

A while back, most of my friends were of the insufferable hipster variety and music discussion wasn't much more than a dumb contest over who could dig up and "appreciate" the most inaccessible (they called it "challenging") and hard-to-find music.  Around that time, I started listening to jazz and fell hard for Kind of Blue, with "Time Out" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet coming in a close second.  And for a long while, I kept my opinions on those records to myself, practically ashamed that my favorite albums were literally two of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.   When I finally mentioned that I liked Kind of Blue to a jazz aficionado, I did it timidly, fully expecting him to put a snobby nose in the air and make a sarcastic comment.  But he took it so in stride that I was taken aback:  "of course you like it, it's one of the best records ever made."  Somehow, it hadn't occurred to me before that moment that great music could also be commercially successful and well-loved by lots of people. 

I don't hang out with those hipster friends anymore, but I still listen to Kind of Blue on the regular.  I'm more than happy with that trade-off.

This inspired me to dig it out of the vinyl collection. Listening now, with Mingus and Art Blakey in queue.

50

Talk Zone / Re: NLCS

« on: October 16, 2019, 07:41:09 am »

And I should say that Ellington's catalog is crazy. I know pieces of it, and some small slices I know quite well. But it is a lifetime's commitment to try to understand just what a genius that guy was, and I don't know that I have that kind of time.

But you can pretty much dive in wherever and be immediately rewarded.

Duke was a god.

51

Talk Zone / Re: NLCS

« on: October 15, 2019, 07:27:07 pm »

Braves fans watching this must be feeling a very peculiar form of schaudenfreud right now.

52

Talk Zone / Re: NLCS

« on: October 15, 2019, 07:11:16 pm »

The Cardinals radio PBP guy Mike Shannon might...I repeat MIGHT...give nadir Milo a run for his money in terms of mispronouncy and incoherent commentary.

53

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 3, October 15, 2019

« on: October 15, 2019, 06:54:39 pm »

FUCK YES

54

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 2...October 13, 2019

« on: October 13, 2019, 11:11:50 pm »

Sabathia.

55

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 2...October 13, 2019

« on: October 13, 2019, 11:10:16 pm »

OK. Let's go get 'em.

56

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 2...October 13, 2019

« on: October 13, 2019, 10:19:35 pm »

So if Osuna now, who pitches the 9th?

Osuna.

57

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 10:21:33 pm »

Seems to be like AJ in that respect.

Yep. I think they follow his lead. They know how good they are and they know that baseball is hard, they take it seriously and they keep their eyes on the prize. They'll be back tomorrow. I think we win the next two.

But the Yankees are really fucking good.

58

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 10:14:14 pm »

I don't think the Astros get very high or very low. But that's just me.

59

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 09:32:41 pm »

Forgettable day for the MVP.

60

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 09:30:30 pm »

Tanaka has a reliable capacity to get other teams to not destroy him, but he is not good.

Got it.

61

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 09:19:37 pm »

Not our night. 4 straight 2-out singles. Tanaka is good.

My hunch is we reverse last year's ALCS this year.

62

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 08:38:51 pm »

The rare boneheaded play by Bregman gives Fox an opportunity to slobber all over Judge's knob.

63

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 08:36:22 pm »

A rally!

64

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 08:35:09 pm »

It's hard to believe you screw up a movie on the battle of Midway, but it looks like someone is trying.

I wonder if they're going to talk about how the code-breaking factored in. In the middle of his extraordinary historical novel War and Remembrance, Herman Wouk interrupted the narrative to memorialize the pilots who--he thought at the time--just "happened" on the Japanese fleet after a desperate search.

65

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 08:26:52 pm »

I'm feeling pessimistic about the team's offense tonight. I knew that when the count on Altuve went to 3-2 he'd strike out on a ball off the plate.

Yet for some reason I'm optimistic about Tucker tonight.

This is me too.

66

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 08:21:55 pm »

Upon reflection, I am not surprised Greinke's zone is a bit less consistent than Tanaka's. He changes speed more and throws weirder pitches. Tanaka's kind of a basic bitch.

67

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 07:55:39 pm »

Pretty fucking awful AB by Chirinos.

68

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 07:30:45 pm »

I liked THAT Gardner.

69

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 07:24:20 pm »

Courtney Maybin assured me that his wife seems "safe."

70

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 07:15:58 pm »

Greinke appears very calm out there.

71

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 06:37:49 pm »

Gritty.  Wes Welker type.  Student of the game.  David Eckstein.

A real white man's white man, Gardner.

72

Talk Zone / Re: NLCS

« on: October 12, 2019, 06:35:01 pm »

I am not surprised in the least that they're beating the Cards. Are people surprised? I can't believe the Cards are there.

73

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 1...October 12, 2019

« on: October 12, 2019, 04:43:14 pm »

It doesn't seem possible but I believe by the end of this series I will hate Brett Gardner even more than I already do.

74

Talk Zone / Re: ALCS Rotation

« on: October 11, 2019, 09:51:23 am »

Kaplan predicts Miley and Straw will be replaced with Peacock and Abreu for the ALCS.  I'm not sure that I saw enough from Tucker to value his bat over Straw's legs but I guess if you are expecting a lot of offense in the series then better to favor the slugging potential?

I can't imagine opting for Tucker over Straw after the LDS. At the end of the slugfest of game 5, legs won it.

75

Talk Zone / Re: Frito pie

« on: October 11, 2019, 09:49:39 am »

I love that book. The seven pepper chili, the mexican potatoes, king ranch chicken casserole, and cheese enchiladas are staples in our house.

76

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 5...October 10, 2019

« on: October 10, 2019, 09:53:13 pm »

Point of order. WS Game 7 was 5-1.

Holy crap, I take it back. Wow, just WRONG on that.

77

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 5...October 10, 2019

« on: October 10, 2019, 09:34:23 pm »

I listened to the radio broadcast while watching a much delayed TV broadcast. Our kitchen shelves are organized as fuck.

My sleeveless Correa jersey is now 2-2, both in elimination game 6-1 victories.

78

Talk Zone / Re: Frito pie

« on: October 10, 2019, 05:59:27 pm »

Oh before. Good God man. Before.

79

Talk Zone / Re: Frito pie

« on: October 10, 2019, 05:19:56 pm »

I am wearing my orange Correa jersey. It's a little too big for me so I cut off the sleeves. It's pretty hideous. I've only ever worn it for Game 7 of the 2017 World Series.

80

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 10, 2019, 05:18:30 pm »

If you don't think Jansen can handle that he has no reason to be on the roster.

I'm not sure about this argument anymore. A cousin of mine was saying Why the fuck is Urquidy on the roster if he doesn't start game 4, and I'm saying: He's on the roster because they thought he was the best of their remaining options, which does not necessitate playing a guy in any given situation.

The Astros had Wayne Franklin on the roster but I don't think Dierker was wrong not to pitch him against Bonds.

The Dodgers I imagine would've felt comfortable bringing Jansen in up multiple runs for a save. He's blown 8 this year. I imagine Dave Roberts thought that Kershaw--who'd K'd the last batter of the 7th on three straight--was as good or better an option against Rendon and Soto  than anybody else he had. Which isn't an insane proposition. Increasingly the new paradigm is: in the postseason, in do-or-die games, throw your best arms. This is not controversial. He might also have known something about Jansen nobody else did, and might have been saving Kolarek and Maeda et al for hypothetical match-ups in the 9th.

The Roberts Dodgers have won 393 regular season games over the last four years. If you say he's a shitty manager, then you have to admit they've done a pretty decent job succeeding in spite of him. Maybe you want to make the argument he's a good regular season manager and a lousy postseason manager. My hunch is that he's a system manager, and that he's implementing the will of Andrew Friedman.

81

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 10, 2019, 01:09:08 pm »

As I understand it Kershaw was pretty excellent in the second half. I thought leaving him in to face Soto made sense.

And Jansen really didn't have a very good year, but it is nuts that Kelly stayed in so long.

All these scandalous IBBs make Hinch's policy on them--as someone noted earlier--look especially smart.

82

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 09, 2019, 05:20:38 pm »

Take Flaherty out? Keep him fresh for the NLCS?

83

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: October 09, 2019, 05:04:32 pm »

8 Kurdish civilian deaths recorded this far.  Of course, while civilian deaths are tragic, so will be all the deaths of Kurdish fighters who have been abandoned to be slaughtered by vastly superior forces. 

The news should be nothing but this until it’s resolved.  Even Jesus knew that we had to look out for the Christians in Syria (yes, for you Trumpist lurkers - the Kurds are Christians).

I don't think most people who pulled the lever for Two Corinthians give a shit about that one way or the other.

It's time for everybody in red states to start leaning on their senators and representatives. I'm contacting mine today.

84

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 09, 2019, 04:53:03 pm »

The Cardinals made defensive substitutions in the bottom of the first.

85

Talk Zone / Re: JV on short rest

« on: October 08, 2019, 07:41:03 am »

I'd rather get whatever we get from JV today and Cole on Thursday then to leave one of those bullets in the chamber.

Me too.

86

Talk Zone / Re: ALDS

« on: October 07, 2019, 08:41:47 pm »

The Yankees aren't better than us, but they're better now than they were most of the year and they're better than people have been giving them credit for. If we're lucky enough to face them again this year it's going to be intense.

87

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 3...Octobrr 7, 2019

« on: October 07, 2019, 08:37:05 pm »

Just a guess: 4?

88

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 07, 2019, 07:40:23 pm »

Holy shit. Zimmerman and the Nats. I don't know of any other story in baseball like it.

89

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 3...Octobrr 7, 2019

« on: October 07, 2019, 07:24:00 pm »

If we win the game 5 against TB, of course.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Of course!

90

Talk Zone / Re: ALDS

« on: October 07, 2019, 07:22:47 pm »

I walked 11 miles.

91

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 3...Octobrr 7, 2019

« on: October 07, 2019, 04:46:28 pm »

Cole would be starting on regular rest game 3 in NY and a theoretical game 7 in Houston, also on regular rest. Sounds good to me.

92

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 3...Octobrr 7, 2019

« on: October 07, 2019, 03:57:20 pm »

Shitty fucking game. I was hoping Rondon was going to come in to face Adames in the 4th, but whatever. Springer, Brantley and Correa 0-13. Miley proved himself playoff dispensable. Altuve came to play and there's life in Alvarez. CFM showed up. Go get 'em tomorrow.

93

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 3...Octobrr 7, 2019

« on: October 07, 2019, 03:39:34 pm »

They said Urquidy on the radio.

94

Talk Zone / Re: The bullpen

« on: October 07, 2019, 10:20:46 am »

When they won the World Series in 2017 I decided that I wouldn't let myself get so nervous during October games anymore.  I think I've failed.

Ditto. I'm real Zen about shit when it isn't happening and then I can't stop moving. Texifornia's comment about watching in a reflected window is just too perfect.

95

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 06, 2019, 07:11:28 pm »

Hell of a game. Lot of momentum for the Bravos tomorrow.

96

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 06, 2019, 05:36:16 pm »

And Freeman very undramatically flies out to center on the second pitch.

Love to watch a team try to win a 1-0 game in the postseason.

97

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 06, 2019, 05:33:02 pm »

Exciting moment in this pitchers duel. Bases full of Braves with two outs, they're down one nill. Andrew Miller relieving Wainwright to face Freddie Freeman.

98

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 06, 2019, 03:03:05 pm »

Pedro Martinez resembles a thumb puppet.

99

Talk Zone / Re: The bullpen

« on: October 06, 2019, 01:43:46 pm »

I don't know how worried I am either, but you have to gnaw on something and it's our only theoretical weakness. Plus I've been enduring a quiet panic all year over the Dodgers' penchant for come-from-behind walkiffs.

100

Talk Zone / Re: The bullpen

« on: October 06, 2019, 12:13:06 pm »

So young, those guys. Let's hope Springer and Correa and Alvarez all get going and make it academic. Some blowouts sure would be nice.

101

Talk Zone / The bullpen

« on: October 06, 2019, 11:20:34 am »

Anybody worried?

There doesn't seem to be the McCullers/Morton/Peacock option this year as in '17. Who steps up if the usual reliables fall through?

102

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 06, 2019, 12:28:02 am »

When you say dumb thngs, you deserve to be reminded of it.

103

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 2...Octobrr 5, 2019

« on: October 05, 2019, 10:28:16 pm »

Sparks implying Cole's day is over. I am hoping not slash let's score six runs.

104

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 2...Octobrr 5, 2019

« on: October 05, 2019, 10:14:52 pm »

I thought you were supposed to be walking around the neighborhood.

Day games, I said.

Be reasonable.

105

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 2...Octobrr 5, 2019

« on: October 05, 2019, 10:14:10 pm »

Iron your socks.

Thanks. I was immediately rescued from my dilemma by grabbing a beer and discovering: "The fridge!"

106

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 2...Octobrr 5, 2019

« on: October 05, 2019, 10:11:39 pm »

I am running out of things to clean.

107

Talk Zone / Re: Choose Wisely

« on: October 05, 2019, 09:30:28 am »

Homer prefers a dactylic hexameter.

Here's hoping Cole tonight proves himself the second half of a heroic couplet.

108

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 05, 2019, 07:08:34 am »

This. This right here. The voice of sense against ridiculous thinking.

I love how predictably you enter dead conversations days later to concur with a prevailing opinion. It's amazingly courageous of you.

HH's comment would have been "against ridiculous thinking" had I been proposing that the A's set-up their rotation at the expense of a chance to win the one game they had to win. But I wasn't. Fuck the fuck right off.

109

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 04, 2019, 11:39:30 pm »

Scherzer on in the 8th protecting a 2 run lead. He is to start Sunday.

110

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 1...Octobrr 4, 2019

« on: October 04, 2019, 11:27:10 pm »

I walked 10 miles around the neighborhood while listening to the first 7 innings.

I will keep doing this for day games.

111

Talk Zone / Re: ALDS

« on: October 04, 2019, 08:51:05 am »

As luck would have it, my company is upgrading its IT this weekend, and so we're shut down for the day.  I will be at Johnny McIlroy's watching the game if anyone cares to join me.

Point of order:  wear my WS Game #7 shirt, or save that powerful juju for later?

I vote wear it. Hold nothing back.

112

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 09:10:50 pm »

Corbin and Buehler both around 75 pitches thru 4. Doesn't bode well for the Nats.

113

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 08:46:39 pm »

I went to grad school with an Utz heiress who bears a distinct resemblance to the animated one riding the little bike.

114

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 08:08:28 pm »

Hmm, I'm thinking about going on the record again over here...

115

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 07:57:32 pm »

I'd say, "Hey!"

Nice!

116

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 07:48:50 pm »

Melancon coughing it up.

I want to say I went on record here to Mrs banedoodle that I liked Shildt's move of bringing in his closer in a tie game in the 8th. She had no idea what I was talking about of course but I did go on record.

117

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 07:16:08 pm »

Tie game. Wong was out by a mile.

Yeah. It was a good throw but it was also a pretty lousy send, I think.

118

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 06:23:19 pm »

Cards stepping on their dicks.

119

Talk Zone / Re: NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 06:09:03 pm »

Not sure why Keuchel got pulled. He wasn't getting hit hard.

He gets a lot worse with times thru the order. That plus Goldy plus go-ahead RISP.

120

Talk Zone / NLDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 05:07:48 pm »

I believe Brian Anderson thinks he will die if he stops talking.

121

Talk Zone / Re: ALDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 01:49:25 pm »

I was thinking Cheyenne to go along with Maverick. Or Gunsmoke.

Ryder Blaze is amazing.

122

Talk Zone / Re: ALDS

« on: October 03, 2019, 01:38:20 pm »

Seriously?  You name one of them "Maverick" and the other one something other than "Goose"?

That would've been criminal.

123

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 03, 2019, 10:00:12 am »

They weren't playing the Astros, they were playing the Rays.  And what historic success?  Manaea has been pretty bad in his career against the Astros, and pretty excellent against the Rays.  Certainly it's defensible if they went with Fiers, but it's not like it was clear cut they should have.

I was thinking of who they would rather be set up to possibly pitch twice against the Astros--that they'd rather that be Manaea than Fiers. His record's 2-5 but Manaea's pitched to a 3.48 ERA over 12 games and 64.2 IP against us. Pretty good, considering. But yeah, no doubt I am thinking too far ahead when you have to get past the one-and-done first.

124

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 03, 2019, 08:45:04 am »

Manaea didn't face anybody good, if I recall, and Fiers got his ass handed to him twice by the Astros. I agree they should've started Fiers.

On second thought it was Puk and Luzzardo who hadn't faced tough competition.  Still, given Fiers's struggles against the Astros and excellence otherwise, and given Manaea's historic success against the Astros, I still think they could've defensibly gone the other way.

125

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 02, 2019, 10:07:23 pm »

I'm finding that physically blocking out the scroll bar is immensely improving my enjoyment of the game.

126

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 02, 2019, 09:51:20 pm »

Holy shit. A gazillion thank yous.

127

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 02, 2019, 09:38:20 pm »

The ESPN commentary crew is a joke. After going 3-4 with two dingers,  Yandy Diaz is pinch run for with two outs in the top of the 7th.

They can't offer a single comment on this move. They don't.  Moving on.

128

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 02, 2019, 09:22:03 pm »

I wonder if the front office's calculus re: Morton would've been affected had they known how much homers were going to jump this year. (He led MLB this year in hr per 9.)

129

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 02, 2019, 09:01:21 pm »

Manaea was their best in September...4-0...1.21 ERA...30 K....3 BB....Fiers was pretty bad over that same period.

Manaea didn't face anybody good, if I recall, and Fiers got his ass handed to him twice by the Astros. I agree they should've started Fiers.

130

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season

« on: October 01, 2019, 10:25:01 pm »

There is really nothing to not like about Yelich other than the team he plays for.

He looks like Skeletor.

He isn't an Astro.

...

He looks like Skeletor.

131

Talk Zone / Re: Postseason schedule / info compilation

« on: October 01, 2019, 01:52:31 pm »

Discerning viewers will notice that everything past ALDS game 3 is marked "if necessary".

No I get it. But those games are going to be played on those days and times regardless of whether or not the Astros are in them. It just seems like an unnecessary risk.

132

Talk Zone / Re: Postseason schedule / info compilation

« on: October 01, 2019, 11:27:56 am »

Hmm...your formatting seems a bit dangerous even for an atheist such as myself.

133

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season Awards

« on: September 30, 2019, 04:11:00 pm »

Any chance Verlander and Cole share the Cy Young? That would seem to make the most sense.

I hope so.

134

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season Awards

« on: September 30, 2019, 11:51:55 am »

NYY was helped immensely by Boston’s collapse.

Boston was on a hot streak with NY coming in after the ASB and got swept in four. The collapse continued against the Rays,  if memory serves, but it started hosting the Yanks. At least that's my memory.

135

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season Awards

« on: September 30, 2019, 11:49:01 am »

Two intentionally bad teams and a collapsing Boston. No, it was not.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

"Tough" probably isn't the best word, you're right. Nevertheless. That is the state of the game at the moment. The Sox lingered until NY put them down in August and they have their record against the Rays to thank for winning the division.

My argument is only that it isn't a crazy vote.

136

Talk Zone / Re: Post Season Awards

« on: September 30, 2019, 10:39:54 am »

I get the Boone vote. The Yankees were absurd this year given the injuries they had. It would be one thing if they'd squeaked in, but to have dominated a tough division with something like $75 million on the IL all year...that's not nothing. Baldelli would be my vote, though.

137

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/29/19

« on: September 29, 2019, 04:56:20 pm »

Abreu's got quite the hook. I like.

138

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/29/19

« on: September 29, 2019, 04:35:15 pm »

Not what you wanted to see from Peacock.

139

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/29/19

« on: September 29, 2019, 03:30:02 pm »

Brantley and Bregman come out after their RsBI make it 8-1.

140

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/29/19

« on: September 29, 2019, 03:05:34 pm »

Pitch number 1 by Cole a clear strike. Home plate ump Marquez calls it a ball.

That was happening a lot. It's like the ump is trying to handicap the Stros. He spotted the pitcher two straight strikes against Bregman and he still ended up walking and scoring.

141

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/29/19

« on: September 29, 2019, 01:29:37 pm »

Surprised to see so many starters here. Wonder if lots of them will be taking a seat after the first couple ABs.

142

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/28/19

« on: September 29, 2019, 10:16:22 am »

No fear.   Just this.

Me too. This is going to go down as one of the historically great baseball teams. They've done it all year without drama, just sitting astride the league and dominating. They are a mill efficiently converting opposing payrolls into losses.

143

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/28/19

« on: September 28, 2019, 10:48:54 pm »

Urquidy teaching Miley one of his grips in the dugout. How cool is that?

144

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/27/19

« on: September 27, 2019, 11:22:36 pm »

Because who doesn't want a guy with an .343 OPS in the middle of their lineup in October?

Because he's getting it out of his system.

This whole team is having senioritis right now. They'll be back in October.

145

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Angels - 9/27/19

« on: September 27, 2019, 11:03:22 pm »

Yuli has driven in a total of 5 runs in September.  Bad time for him to be slumping.

It's the perfect time for him to be slumping.

146

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 27, 2019, 03:13:51 pm »

Have you read the platforms from some of the 3rd party candidates?

Guess what I'm trying to say, is that if the Democrats could run a candidate that's closer to the center, myself and many other independents would probably be in.

It will be interesting to see how much the eventual nominee retreats from her (or his) most audacious proposals. Warren doesn't strike me as one to temper herself, but it's certainly a norm that candidates swerve left (or right) for the primaries and reverse course for the general. Perhaps the eventual nominee will put some distance between herself (or himself) and her (or his) more unapologetically socialist proposals.

A quirk of this batty season we find ourselves in is that lefty policies tend to be extremely popular when people are polled about them. I think more and more that polls are active agents of evil, and the first politico to actually run in spite of them will find they're creating their own weather. We are a great malleable shitheap of mostly undoctrinaire types, the plaything of cynical marketing from the right and failed expectations from the dems. And we're ungovernably large. And we're too well off to give enough of a shit about tyranny of the minority. In other words the time's could hardly he riper for something great or horrible to happen.

I forgot what my point was.

147

Talk Zone / Re: Miley's Last Chance

« on: September 26, 2019, 03:22:46 pm »

I think James is damn close to a lock.  Don't ask me why I think that, I just do.

I'd take James and Devo.

148

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 26, 2019, 02:33:39 pm »

I don’t think a person who believes this can be called a “centrist.”

I think the double.negatives confused you.

149

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 26, 2019, 02:10:40 pm »

To be fair, that study finds that only 23% of students surveyed used any student loan money for any non-educational stuff.  It doesn't attempt to itemize which categories students spent their loan money on (about 1/3 of those categories are perfectly defensible), nor does it attempt to ascertain how much money students spent in each of those categories, from their loans or otherwise.

Besides, this doesn't have to be binary.  It can be possible that 1) some students use loan money frivolously, and 2) tuition is too expensive.

What an excellent job abstracting the abstract.

150

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 26, 2019, 01:14:06 pm »

Ok, but in this case 2 is better than 1…How about I pick 2 of my greater objections.

Cancelling student debt & free college. I agree that the price to go to college is a problem.  I do not agree at all that cancelling student debt and free college is a good way to proceed.

1st is the cost. No one has a good plan on how to pay for this. Raising taxes for the top earners I do not believe will be enough to both cancel the existing debt and pay for free college.

2nd is that from some experience. I have 2 family members with a lot of student loan debt. Family member 1 owes +$100,000. Family member 2 owes +$20,000. Family member 1 went on to get his masters in a worthless degree that family member 1 has never worked at. Family member 2 got a 4 year degree. Neither family member has much motivation of paying off the debt…That’s bad enough but here’s where I get really torqued. Family member 1 borrowed and used student loans to pay for “living expenses”.  Some of that living expense debt used from student loans was for the coolest shoes out that everyone was wearing, eating out with friends…other non-tuition stuffs. That’s so foolish of family member 1…but then family member 2 says hold my beer! Family member 2 went and used some of the loaned money to go to the Cracklin Festival in Lafayette that family member 2 REALLY wanted to go to but didn’t have the cash. Way to go family member 2. Inventive!

Some stats I pulled from the web:
What the heck is the other 44% going to?

Would I like them to be debt free? Sure.
Do I want to raise anyone’s taxes (even evil Mr. Burns) to pay for this? Nope

I don't know about this, but when I got college loans for a seemingly worthless grad degree (that eventually proved quite valuable) they were federal Stafford loans and what I could spend them on was very proscribed. I couldn't buy anything that wasn't directly academic. I couldn't use them for rent, even, and we were deeply underwater trying to make ends meet on Long Island.

They are all paid off now, because we were lucky enough to have a small inheritance that enabled us to buy a house for a good price at the right time in a good market. If not for my grandparents'-in-law's foresight and munificence they'd be looming over us for the next lots and lots of years.

And also, just food for thought: people racked up a lot less student debt when college tuitions were more heavily subsidized from higher taxes. It drives me nuts, all these guys who got 100k degrees for cents on the dollar and then got out and cut their own taxes.

151

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 26, 2019, 12:57:36 pm »

I'm not a fence sitter when it comes to Trump, but Socialism is a sticking point for me and many other independent voters out there. Democrats, at least in the debates have shifted towards embracing many socialist platforms that independent voters won't support. Not saying I can support Trumps either though...arg...

Here's what I don't get: if you're convinced you're going to lose either way, what's wrong with a principled vote for a third party or independent candidate? There's bound to be one. 

152

Talk Zone / Re: Stretch run

« on: September 26, 2019, 06:04:29 am »

Astros win
Dodgers win (magic number 2)
Yankees lose (magic number 1)

Hinch is sitting a lot of guys tomorrow so we'll see what happens.

Do these magic numbers account for the Astros holding the tiebreakers?

153

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners, September 25, 2019

« on: September 25, 2019, 09:51:01 pm »

Someone took his vogel.

They should give it bach.

154

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 25, 2019, 08:08:13 pm »

He won because Hillary was a bad candidate who was politically calculating to a fault.  That’s also why she lost to Obama.

"Politically calculating to a fault" seems to nicely encapsulate a hearty chunk of democratic voters.

155

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 25, 2019, 07:44:42 pm »

Trump did not win in 2016 because of his base.  He won because a huge portion of the "on the fencers" voted against Hillary Clinton.  They will do the same if Trump is impeached.

He deserves to be impeached. Grow a pair and do the right thing.

ETA: I am happy the dems seem to be growing a pair. I am not impugning the testicular presence of persons here. Not yet.

156

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 25, 2019, 07:41:16 pm »

I don’t get this fear at all. Being impeached for this isn’t going to help him. Seriously, anyone who is moved toward Trump by this was already a solid Trump voter already.

Democrats need to exercise some muscles and get in the ring once in a while.

Btw, I agree that Warren benefits from this the most, both cause she has balls and because it fits neatly into her anti-corruption themes.

Me too.

157

Talk Zone / Re: Race to the bottom

« on: September 25, 2019, 02:57:27 pm »

A quick google search found this: "The only other season to feature four 100-loss clubs was 2002, when the Tigers, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay each dropped 106 games and Kansas City fell on the final day of the season for its 100th loss."

It's nuts. I am more curious about the bulk of teams finishing with 90 losses. Nearly half the league.

158

Talk Zone / Race to the bottom

« on: September 25, 2019, 01:18:24 pm »

So it looks like there will be four 100-loss teams and maybe as many as nine 90+ loss teams this year. Imagine a 90 loss season only being good for the 13th pick in the draft. Is this historic?

159

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: September 25, 2019, 01:13:16 pm »

And then there's the part where Trump seems to think that Hillary's server is in Ukraine and wants to Ukrainian president to find it. What the fuck.

Here's the document the white house released: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Unclassified09.2019.pdf

Surreal.

160

Talk Zone / Re: Choose Wisely

« on: September 25, 2019, 10:22:38 am »

Springer, hands down.

This has been fun with Cole but, you marry George.

161

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 25, 2019, 08:52:09 am »

Saw that earlier today, like you I had never heard about Elarton cold-cocking the grounds crew guy.

If you're Visger and his friends, the moment you saw that you must have thought: Victory!

162

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 25, 2019, 12:05:55 am »

Great win, gang.

163

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 11:58:07 pm »

I can't link to it but Footer has a wonderful piece on MLB News about the Berley Bowl. This is the 20th anniversary. There's an especially excellent paragraph concerning Elarton and a Milwaukee grounds crewman that was news to me.

164

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 11:41:21 pm »

Whew.

165

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 11:35:54 pm »

Pressly not looking good at all. Harris just now getting up.

166

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 11:21:31 pm »

Half of those Mariners hitters wouldn't even swing.

167

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 11:06:10 pm »

Reddick grounds to 1st, throw home is poor and Diaz scores.

Small ball run secured as requested.

3-0.

Slick slide by Diaz.

168

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:59:00 pm »

They should small ball this run in if possible.

They should Small ball THIS run in if possible.

169

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:56:38 pm »

They should small ball this run in if possible.

170

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:54:29 pm »

To your point, K #9/311 ends the 5th.

He is a beast this year. He has a confidence out there I don't remember seeing last year.

171

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:41:10 pm »

188/250/362

That's the slash line Milone has held the Astros to this year. He's faced us more than any team besides the Rangers. He must wish he could always and only pitch against the best offense ever assembled.

172

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:31:05 pm »

I know he strikes everybody out, but Cole seems especially inclined to collecting the third out of the inning via K. I like that about him.

Also yeah, that's true about the Rays' extra innings streak. They scare me much more than than anyone besides the Yankees.

173

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:11:31 pm »

Choi wins it with walk off homer.

174

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 10:06:21 pm »

Yanks threaten but do not score in the top of the 12th.

175

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:56:24 pm »

Now I'm assuming we'll see Tommy Milone, the slop tossing righty who has done a frustratingly great job against us 4 times or so this year.

For some reason I thought he was left handed

I'm an idiot.  Must have glanced over when he had his glove off.

Watching Milone makes me deeply impressed by how terrible Wayne Franklin was.

176

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:55:10 pm »

And on to the bottom of the 11th we go, still tied.

...to the 12th...

177

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:47:32 pm »

Rays did nothing. Judge,  Torres and Stanton coming up in the 11th.

And on to the bottom of the 11th we go, still tied.

178

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:36:40 pm »

Cole is pretty good.

Good pitcher; could work maybe on his spitting a little bit.

179

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:35:15 pm »

Rays did nothing. Judge,  Torres and Stanton coming up in the 11th.

180

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:26:10 pm »

Yeah, they both went with openers.

And the Yanks down in order.

181

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners - 9/24/19

« on: September 24, 2019, 09:19:14 pm »

I am watching the Yankees at the Rays. Tied at 1 in the 10th so far on the strength of solo shots from Maybin and Keirmaier.

Will update.

182

Talk Zone / Re: Postseason tickets

« on: September 24, 2019, 08:10:11 pm »

We were up there on the top row for game 2 of the 2001 NLDS.  Every fly ball felt like a homer or a pop up.  In that game they were all pop ups.

Was that the Glavine start? *shuddering*

183

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Angels @ Astros - 9/21/19

« on: September 23, 2019, 02:15:37 pm »

Remember Robson’s opener?


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Is that Queen's pawn or King's knight?

184

Game Zone 2019 / Re: 9/22 Angels v. Astros Spring Training in September

« on: September 22, 2019, 02:46:42 pm »

He's gonna get a couple shots at 4.

185

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros - 9/18/19

« on: September 18, 2019, 09:22:35 pm »

Get him outta there. Too many times through the order.

186

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros - 9/18/19

« on: September 18, 2019, 09:01:02 pm »

What was MM thinking? He had no chance.

187

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros - 9/18/19

« on: September 18, 2019, 08:59:56 pm »

Angels just beat the Yanks.

188

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros - 9/18/19

« on: September 18, 2019, 08:56:40 pm »

For those not watching the broadcast, he joins Pedro, Randy, Nolan, and sale as the only pitchers to accomplish that feat since 1980.


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Only AL pitchers, right?

Plus, the .512 slugging percentage is their percentage at home, no?

189

Talk Zone / Re: The Mets

« on: September 18, 2019, 04:38:23 pm »

Braves, Mets, Cardinals...I don't hate any of them anymore, and actively like the Mets. In the NL I hate only the Cubs.

The Dodgers I fear.

Should clarify perhaps that I was 6 in 86. My first Astros' teams natural rivals were the Cards and Braves.

190

Talk Zone / Re: The Mets

« on: September 18, 2019, 03:46:45 pm »

Braves, Mets, Cardinals...I don't hate any of them anymore, and actively like the Mets. In the NL I hate only the Cubs.

The Dodgers I fear.

191

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: September 17, 2019, 12:45:35 pm »

Hinch said that it would be like a Spring Training start for him.

192

Talk Zone / Re: Stretch run

« on: September 16, 2019, 08:01:18 am »

The Cleveland surge seems to be fading a bit.

I would put our top three against them but I have to say Morton and a healthy Snell and Glasnow represent a pretty goddamn fearsome trio.

193

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals, 9/15/19

« on: September 15, 2019, 04:22:02 pm »

Meanwhile, Peen just launched a salami into a bunch of St. Louisans on a full count in the 9th inning with two down to put the Brewers three up.

194

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals, 9/15/19

« on: September 15, 2019, 03:52:35 pm »

Mother Tucker!

Anybody here read the baseball novels of the great John R. Tunis? In them the Dodgers best player is Roy Tucker--"the Kid from Tomkinsville." (Philip Roth borrowed this character for a cameo in The Great American Novel.) Anyway, Tucker's appellation quickly condensed to "the Kid." Given Kyle's age...why not?

195

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals, 9/15/19

« on: September 15, 2019, 03:08:20 pm »

I wish they hadn't chosen that Visible Tongue pic of Alvarez for all his stat stills.

196

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals, 9/15/19

« on: September 15, 2019, 02:57:06 pm »

Aaaaaand Judge Ks looking to end it.

197

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals, 9/15/19

« on: September 15, 2019, 02:51:34 pm »

Giles in to pitch to Urshela, Lemahieu and Judge with a two run lead in the 9th.

198

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Royals, 9/15/19

« on: September 15, 2019, 02:49:31 pm »

Reddick having some great cuts today.

199

Game Zone 2019 / Re: As v. Astros 9/9/19

« on: September 09, 2019, 08:58:58 pm »

I like that Springer led off the 1st, 2nd and 3rd innings. That seems like good strategy.

200

Talk Zone / Re: Stretch run

« on: September 09, 2019, 08:55:15 am »

Fading Boston fired Dave Dombrowski.   When was the last time that team did anything?

I can't believe this.

201

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs Ancient Albatross Wearers, 9/6/2019

« on: September 06, 2019, 10:30:24 pm »

Harris's new facial hair is unusually mirror universey.

202

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs Ancient Albatross Wearers, 9/6/2019

« on: September 06, 2019, 10:24:26 pm »

No shit.  We're talking about Ron Villone.

I remember that game, too. It was pretty fucking awesome, as I recall.

203

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs Ancient Albatross Wearers, 9/6/2019

« on: September 06, 2019, 10:15:24 pm »

B6:

Toro hit by pitch
Maldonado doubles off the CF wall, Toro to 3B

And that chases Milone, Altavilla in

Reddick...infield in...strikes out swinging
Altuve grounds into FC, Toro out 5-2 at the plate, Maldonado to 3B
Brantley singles to CF, Maldonado scores, Altuve to 3B
Bregman...0-2...1-2...fouling off pitches...passed ball on the 13th pitch of the at bat, Altuve scores, Brantley to 2B...finally walks

And Altavilla is out of gas after that...Guilbeau in

Alvarez grounds out 4-3

7-4 Astros

This Bregman AB, as it happens, was glorious.

204

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Brewers - 9/3/19

« on: September 03, 2019, 09:30:49 pm »

Well shoot. Astros go down 4-2. On to the next one.

Looked like a very shit call to end it.

205

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Brewers - 9/3/19

« on: September 03, 2019, 07:57:27 pm »

It meets the articles I have read. The bats have bailed him out to make him 4-0. He certainly has been worse than I thought he would be. For whatever reason, he has not pitched like an ace.

I meant the narrative of pitchers improving upon joining the Astros.

206

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Brewers - 9/3/19

« on: September 03, 2019, 07:39:49 pm »

He has only been dominant in Oakland.

I just looked at his game log and he's been quite a bit worse so far as an Astro. This does not fit the generally accepted narrative.

207

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays, September 1, 2019

« on: September 01, 2019, 02:21:53 pm »

Giles in a non save situation. If we can't score here we're truly fucked.

208

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays, September 1, 2019

« on: September 01, 2019, 02:12:00 pm »

Ugh.

209

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays, September 1, 2019

« on: September 01, 2019, 01:56:21 pm »

This is painful.

210

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 09:57:48 pm »

That's crazy... what if Verlander had to back up a base on that play? Would anything he did have counted? Seriously, what the fuck?

Here's a thing I just found:

Rule 8.01(d) "If an umpire disqualifies a player while a play is in progress, the disqualification shall not take effect until no further action is possible in that play."

211

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 09:49:36 pm »

And then AJ.

The Culpa thing was a greater cocksuckery.

212

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 09:32:44 pm »

Springer walks.

So candidates for ugliest play:

E1
E2
Bases loaded 2 out walk trailing 13-0

Not for nothing, but that ball 4 was Pham's ball 3.

213

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 09:23:21 pm »

That was an amazing read by Jake.

214

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 08:55:27 pm »

Dude got a gift call and thought: I'll go back there again right now!

215

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 08:34:55 pm »

Happy we're doing it, and all, but hard to watch Charlie get his ass kicked like that.

216

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 08:10:26 pm »

CFM clinging to a pair of double plays so far.
 

217

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 07:26:29 pm »

Springer had a sign to run on the full count. Altuve took a pitch too close.

218

Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019

« on: August 27, 2019, 07:19:34 pm »

JV looks excited.

Scoreless after a half.

219

Talk Zone / YouTube broadcast

« on: August 26, 2019, 07:57:25 pm »

There's a number of reasons I might have particularly enjoyed YouTube's broadcast of the Braves at Rockies today (it was an excellent game, the Braves are a lot of fun and ordinarily blacked out for me, no commercials,  and Worrell button engaged) but it was also just a slightly better broadcast than I'm accustomed to seeing. Lots of different angles. I liked it. It seemed as if someone had done some serious thinking about subtle ways to tweak a game's presentation, and for me today it definitely worked.

220

Talk Zone / Re: Cy Sneed

« on: August 26, 2019, 11:29:21 am »

No, I guess it isn't! Looks like I was wrong. From a Boston Globe article I found from 2018:

"Only major league players are unionized, and their collective bargaining agreement sets minimum salaries for players on 40-man rosters: $545,000 for those in the major leagues this season, $88,900 for 40-man roster players in the minors signing at least their second big league contract and $44,500 for 40-man roster players in the minors signing their first big league contract."

https://www.boston.com/sports/mlb/2018/03/23/minor-league-baseball-minimum-wage-protection

221

Talk Zone / Re: Cy Sneed

« on: August 26, 2019, 10:05:41 am »

I was reading this article and thought a bit about Sneeds multiple trips up and down and what a hassle that must be:
https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/cy-sneed-optioned-to-triple-a-by-astros

Then I thought about the articles in the beginning of the thread where he is a substitute teacher in the off-season since the AAA salary is so low ($2,700 per month for 6 months). His prorated salary for his 30+ days of service time in the bigs is over $100K now. What a great boon for him.

These upcoming September callups sure must be financially important for the non bonus babies.

Being on the 40-man is good for the major league minimum salary as well, regardless of where you're playing.

222

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Corpus Christi 2019

« on: August 23, 2019, 10:56:55 am »

To me, even the last K illustrates Whitley: very inconsistent or losing his delivery from pitch to pitch. 

I think I saw peak Whitley last year, where he had almost a full game of repeating his delivery and only a few short stretches where he lost it. I’ve also seen ass Whitley this year where he couldn’t throw two pitches in a row the way he intended.  Now, he seems back to having a bit more good stretches than bad.

My hope, even from last year, is that it is related to body type (lanky with a somewhat uncoordinated lower half) and it will improve with physical maturation and repetition. 

There’s been talk about his immaturity and maybe that’s true and a fatal flaw. Hope that’s not the case, cause when he repeats, he dominates.

I was stunned by his body when I saw him in Spring training couple years. He was all legs and hips.

223

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Tigers v. Astros 8/22 The First Game of The Abraham Toro Era

« on: August 22, 2019, 09:52:00 pm »

Um, Joe?


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A pitching clinic it has not been.

224

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: August 22, 2019, 09:37:25 pm »

Can he hit with runners on base?

He oughta! Name's built around RBI!

225

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: August 22, 2019, 09:34:50 pm »

He's in Houston.

I have, and am watching him now. I just feel like he's the always forgotten guy. Mine was sort of a where's Waldo question,  though why anyone would get that without context spelled out I have no idea.

226

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: August 22, 2019, 06:43:37 pm »

Biagini was not too good in RR

Where is Joe Smith?

227

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: August 21, 2019, 02:32:41 pm »

Correa was, for a second, the best player. It's easy to forget with everything that eventually happened but Carlos Correa, not Jose Altuve, would have been the MVP in 2017 if he had not gotten hurt. He was absolutely demolishing baseballs before(was it the wrist? Thumb? Think it was thumb) the injury. And he still has that ability, if we ever see it for a full 162

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I haven't forgotten anything about Correa's '17. I'm just saying the comparison was off. Over an 8 year span Tulo was good for 5+ WAR six times--and four of those were 6+. Correa's peak thus far was his 4.5 in 2017.

ETA: Make that 6.1, as Doyce pointed out. I mistook his WAA for his WAR.

228

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: August 20, 2019, 11:20:55 pm »

When healthy, A-Rod is still a good comp. When you look at the player A-Rod was through 24 and the player Correa is when healthy, he's not that far behind. Health is obviously huge, I hope we're not looking at a Troy Tulowitzki on our hands but it's looking more and more like it

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Tulowitzki would be great. Tulowitzki was the best player in baseball for a few years.

229

Talk Zone / Re: How Many Astros in 2019 Will Hit 20 or More Homers? Winners get beer

« on: August 20, 2019, 04:10:59 pm »

At work, my Chief of Staff is the consummate professional. Well educated, professional CV to die for, impeccably dressed and a polished and effective communicator. And she replies, in written form, “okie dokies” when I give her a directive. The juxtaposition is jarring. I’ve chosen to view it as endearing but it takes some work.

I have an employee who text responds "Okie" all the time. She is 23 and likely unaware of the Oklahoma connection.

230

Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019

« on: August 20, 2019, 04:09:57 pm »

Like a sitting duck.

Lovely.

231

Talk Zone / Re: Lunch today

« on: August 20, 2019, 12:16:45 pm »

Speaking of meat, restaurants, and cities in Texas: has anybody been to Blood Bros? It made the latest edition of Bon Appetit, and Mrs banedoodle and I are planning a trip to Houston next year.

232

Talk Zone / Re: Lunch today

« on: August 20, 2019, 07:52:39 am »

Don't have enough pluck to be down with that?

Yeah. I try to get my courage up, but I inevitably quail.

233

Talk Zone / Re: Lunch today

« on: August 19, 2019, 10:18:15 pm »

Depends on the chicken.

Honestly I'm too chicken for most of the roulettes.

234

Talk Zone / Re: Lunch today

« on: August 19, 2019, 09:16:11 pm »

Good Popeye's is really good. Something other than Good Popeye's is not. My experience is that Popeye's is wildly inconsistent even in the same store. Any time you visit, you are playing Chicken Roulette.

Which itself is superior to the other kinds of roulette.

235

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Tigers at Astros 08/19/2019

« on: August 19, 2019, 08:01:55 pm »

Well, he's made of glass, so it could be anything.

Every time I see this comment I think of that time he halted a footfirst slide into second by grabbing the base behind his back and someone here noted that what he'd just done "would have broken every bone in my back" or something along those lines and I think, Shit.

236

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019

« on: August 14, 2019, 04:33:10 pm »

Fucking August.

237

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019

« on: August 14, 2019, 03:53:04 pm »

I was thinking after we tied it at 4 that it was looking like an 11-9 kind of game. No bets on who the winner is, though.

238

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019

« on: August 14, 2019, 01:50:26 pm »

What crappy defense. Yuli, Correa, Miley, Chirinos

Bregman too. Couldn't catch the throw behind the runner from Correa.

239

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019

« on: August 14, 2019, 01:48:40 pm »

Working toward the 5th potential out of the inning... And there's 1 out.

Instead of outs, here, here's second base.

240

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019

« on: August 14, 2019, 01:47:13 pm »

Who are these guys?

241

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019

« on: August 14, 2019, 01:46:05 pm »

The guys are fielding like shit and the pitchers are giving up a fuckton of baserunners. Hard to watch.

242

Talk Zone / Re: Today's Loss

« on: August 12, 2019, 07:54:17 am »

Great article, which somewhat confirmed my thinking yesterday about why Ruiz got so many changeups. Osuna’s slider is a great pitch too, and he and the hitters are now 1-26 on changeups. No doubt Hinch has or will make the catchers aware of this too. A conversation with all of them in the room is a good idea which Hinch likely already has done. Maybe this is why Chirinos called so many in a row. Wilkerson ambushed his first pitch yesterday for a double, and this could have made Osuna reluctant to throw it at the end. Closing is tough business. If he gets them out, fans say “that is why he gets paid.” If he blows one like yesterday, all hell breaks out, and scorn and derision rain down.

I was going to meet some folks yesterday so listened to the bottom of the 9th on the radio. I had a vague, uneasy feeling from the beginning because Baltimore fought so hard all day and outplayed the Astros until the top of the 9th. I did not think they would go quietly, and Wilkerson’s charmed life movement  around the bases intensified my uneasiness. He could have been thrown out at third, he maybe WAS thrown out at home, yet the run was on the board. Then there was the HBP. After Sparks praised Osuna for being a pitcher who protects his teammates, I said out loud (to the radio) “Yeah, but that is the tying run.” Then multiple changeups to Ruiz (scouting report?) with the last one in the worst possible location and BOOM.

As I said yesterday, maybe on the GZ, my initial thought was the Astros were supposed to lose that game. Call it karma or the BBGs, but Baltimore deserved to win after their effort against JV taking the lead and driving him to cover after 5. A team does not beat another 23-2, even in the classy way the Astros handled the win, without some consequences somewhere. I hated the loss, which kicked me in the stomach like it did you, but part of me said “Good for you, Orioles, for not rolling over and quitting when the superior team rallied late.” The BBGs reminded me (and everyone?) even last place teams deserve respect.

Getting back on the winning track in Chicago will help hurt feelings a lot.

This made me feel better. Well encapsulated.

243

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, August 11, 2019

« on: August 11, 2019, 04:38:55 pm »

Not that I know of.  I'm not aware of any automatic review.

Maybe I'm thinking of the NFL.

Anyway I'm sure they'd've challenged if they thought they had it. Hinch should've had one to spare and either way he could have asked the crew chief to initiate a review.

244

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, August 11, 2019

« on: August 11, 2019, 04:29:29 pm »

You get the out.  The runner doesn't mean anything, unless they get another runner.  Take the easier out and keep the tying run off base.

Yeah I know, I just thought it was actually a pretty blatant mistake on the part of the runner.

And I agree about the play at the plate. OTOH, does NY not automatically "review" scoring plays in the 9th inning?

245

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, August 11, 2019

« on: August 11, 2019, 04:19:19 pm »

Sparks also believes the HBP was retaliation and complimented Osuna for taking up for Bregman.

That loss likely was karma. Baltimore outplayed us all day.

I thought it was a lame HBP if intentional and was mildly surprised Correa didn't get the lead runner at third on the groundout. Of course I have no understanding of clubhouse dynamics and don't know if Bregman was in a position to take a throw.

246

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, August 11, 2019

« on: August 11, 2019, 04:01:21 pm »

What a lame ass squandering of a comeback.

247

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, August 11, 2019

« on: August 11, 2019, 03:53:50 pm »

Have you ever seen a ballplayer made demonstratively happier by success than Springer? 'Cause I haven't.  He's got to be so much fun to play with.

248

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, August 11, 2019

« on: August 11, 2019, 03:36:04 pm »

Wow.

249

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Orioles, August 11, 2019

« on: August 11, 2019, 03:24:33 pm »

Anyone else get worried on that pop up?

Almost looked like Correa and Brantley were trying to deke the runners.

250

Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019

« on: August 09, 2019, 04:49:35 pm »

Luhnow has said it's "good business" for the traded guys to do well, so I root for all of them.

Was watching the White Sox / A's today and they showed that the top five best ERAs among AL starters since April 26th are Cole, Morton, Fiers, Verlander, Miley.

What's the deal with Fiers? Seems Oakland fixed him as much as we fixed those other guys.

251

Talk Zone / Re: Off day question

« on: August 09, 2019, 01:23:54 pm »

I had one and used it in some class at Austin High. That has been a few years, as y’all remind me frequently.

Some how I didn't know that you were a fellow Maroon.

252

Talk Zone / Re: Playoff Experience

« on: August 09, 2019, 11:34:38 am »

And if memory serves didn't Cleveland win the first two games?

I think the review thing actually went against them, as what should've been called a strike three swinging against Lindor was called a foul and Girardi didn't review it. Then boom home run.

253

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rugged Mountain Range @ Vastness of Space 8/7

« on: August 07, 2019, 04:27:57 pm »

I watched a lot of Bergman back in the day, mostly because I had a crush on Liv Ullmann. I never thought of Bergman having much swing.

Oh no sir, I assure you, that gloomy bastard could cut a rug. Rumor has it he was devastated when a freak editing room fire ruined a massive Busby Berkeley style choreographed piece he'd originally intended to open The Seventh Seal.

254

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rugged Mountain Range @ Vastness of Space 8/7

« on: August 07, 2019, 04:24:41 pm »

Two outs. Why would he do that?

Huh. Don't know. Guess he either fucked up or was showing mercy.

255

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rugged Mountain Range @ Vastness of Space 8/7

« on: August 07, 2019, 04:22:57 pm »

I watched most of it listening to music, then switched on the commentary right as Yuli came to the plate with a chance to set the record. Before I could change it to the radio guys, I heard Berkman say: "Well here we are at the precipice of history," and he sounded just like Butthead.

256

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rugged Mountain Range @ Vastness of Space 8/7

« on: August 07, 2019, 04:17:35 pm »

It was close to being caught. I think he held up

257

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rugged Mountain Range @ Vastness of Space 8/7

« on: August 07, 2019, 03:52:45 pm »

Bergman's swing is back.

258

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rugged Mountain Range @ Vastness of Space 8/7

« on: August 07, 2019, 01:51:32 pm »

Cole is ridiculous right now.

259

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rockheads @ Astros - Place data here

« on: August 06, 2019, 10:11:43 pm »

McHugh in for the 9th.

Walks the leadoff hitter.

Behind 3-1 on the 2nd.  They're talking about it.

He looks terrible.

260

Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019

« on: August 02, 2019, 11:46:27 pm »

WTF?

Some takes on mlbtraderumors.com

Who KNEW they were done w/ Lucroy, probably b/f the collision!  That explains why Stassi was worth a couple kids

Snuff, please do not reproduce internet comments here.

261

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Cleveland

« on: August 01, 2019, 09:09:17 pm »

No drama Joemama.

262

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Cleveland

« on: August 01, 2019, 08:25:17 pm »

No, something medical with his eyes.

Diabetes? I seem to recall Tito has an obsession with popsicles.

263

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Cleveland

« on: August 01, 2019, 08:17:47 pm »

Was Francona ejected too?

264

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Cleveland

« on: August 01, 2019, 08:01:42 pm »

I don't know, but ejecting a guy while he's walking away when he's likely got a legitimate beef strikes me as pretty fucking bush league.

265

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Cleveland

« on: August 01, 2019, 07:45:03 pm »

Other than his time as an Astro, when his ERA was over 6, he has been pretty good.

Yeah,  he's been OK. He's also had pretty bad stretches. And his stuff just always annoys and confuses me when we don't smack it around here and there.

Also he is duck-footed.

266

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Cleveland

« on: August 01, 2019, 07:33:46 pm »

I am always annoyed and confused when we don't fuck up Clippard.

267

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 31, 2019, 06:43:45 pm »

Two big leaguers *and* a minor leaguer for Fisher.

The Blue Jays are weird.

268

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 31, 2019, 06:28:03 pm »

So do I have this right: Luhnow got two big leaguers for Derek Fisher and two minor leaguers for Max Stassi?

269

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 31, 2019, 03:13:43 pm »

Aaron Sanchez and Biagini to Astros.
Who’s going to Blue Jays?

I like this, even not knowing who we're giving up. Sanchez is filthy. Control issues.

270

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 31, 2019, 01:09:27 pm »

It's interesting...I wonder, if the next couple hours do not result in a panicked and exciting flurry of deals, will they consider pushing the trade deadline back to later in the year to increase the number of likely sellers? Or are they happier to increase the number of teams going for it, which may be the effect today?

271

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 31, 2019, 12:26:52 pm »

Well I'll say this: the unified trade deadline is a big win far as I'm concerned. I was never this interested before.

272

Talk Zone / Re: I did not know this about Shane Reynolds

« on: July 31, 2019, 12:26:09 pm »

That's just cool.

273

Talk Zone / Re: Our info source

« on: July 30, 2019, 03:25:57 pm »

Personally I think adding a quality starting pitcher is all they need.  However I believe the other "best" teams in the league are in need of more help than Houston is.

Ditto.

274

Talk Zone / Re: Our info source

« on: July 30, 2019, 03:25:01 pm »

I'm beginning to wonder if there's just a plan A, whatever that is?  If they don't get it, they don't get it and move on.  Could the plan be to fuck the market up enough that none of the contenders make a significant deal?

I think it's just chicken. The sellers are so few and their assets so valuable they have little incentive to budge from their high asking prices before the last minute.

275

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 30, 2019, 10:03:36 am »

New report says Astros are talking to the Orioles about outfielder Trey Mancini. Didn’t see that coming. If we acquire Mancini, who is controllable thru 2022, I wonder if it could mean he is an outfield replacement for Tucker and we are about to move Kyle? Or he could be a replacement for Springer if we don’t sign him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe he's a piece the Mets want for Syndergaard.

276

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Whitley

« on: July 29, 2019, 12:00:02 pm »

Whitley's line in Fayetteville:

3.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 K.  Retired 8 in a row at one point. 

Good to see the walks going down.

Good to see, indeed. He's gotta be kicking himself given the opportunities missed this year.

277

Talk Zone / Re: Tyler White traded to the Dodgers

« on: July 25, 2019, 08:16:01 pm »

Oh, come on. This is baseball, not cloak and dagger.

Chris Correa?

The Dodgers have the combination of money and depth and front office brainpower that would make dealing a Scrubb for what Tyler White has in his noodle conceivable. They also can expect to be clashing with the Astros periodically throughout the next several years--hopefully.

278

Talk Zone / Re: Tyler White traded to the Dodgers

« on: July 25, 2019, 06:46:05 pm »

Maybe signing him for intel.....

I had the same thought.

279

Talk Zone / Re: Tyler White traded to the Dodgers

« on: July 25, 2019, 12:44:27 pm »

Sad about this.

Me too. And surprised they didn't just send Straw back down.

280

Talk Zone / Re: What I hate to hear

« on: July 23, 2019, 05:15:29 pm »

Well, I’ll tell you what two former GM’s said on the radio the other day when discussing the Astros bullpen.

Bowden: “I don’t care what the stats and analytics say about my right handed pitchers getting left handers out, come playoff time, I want a left handed pitcher late in the game facing the Dodgers."

Thanks for your opinion, Talking Head. If only there was some way to determine whether or not the Astros regime cares about what the stats and analytics say...

281

Game Zone 2019 / Re: A’s @ Astros - July 22, 2019

« on: July 22, 2019, 08:26:15 pm »

If I understand correctly what Robert Ford just said, Mets GM Brody Van Waginen (sp?) married Neil Armstrong's step-daughter. And I thought I had it rough with my father-in-law!

282

Game Zone 2019 / Re: A’s @ Astros - July 22, 2019

« on: July 22, 2019, 08:15:51 pm »

Holy shit. Welcome back, Aledmys!

283

Game Zone 2019 / Re: A’s @ Astros - July 22, 2019

« on: July 22, 2019, 08:06:36 pm »

Chapman is a stud. It's also pretty amazing how much Semien has improved defensively. An up the middle defense including he and Profar should by all rights be really, really bad. The A's are a terrific little bunch of ingenious bastards. God help us if they ever move and have money.

284

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rangers, July 14, 2019

« on: July 14, 2019, 04:59:47 pm »

I'm stuck with the Arlington broadcast so Worrell button has been engaged from the outset.

Turned it up after the slam,  heard a few seconds of Raymond pinning about how it was barely a homer, then re-Worrelled it before my ears started to bleed.

Yeah, those runs just barely scored. Don't know about you folks but I'm penciling them in...

285

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rangers, July 14, 2019

« on: July 14, 2019, 04:44:13 pm »

Bird: "Dear God, holy fucking shit, help me the hell out of this mess. Amen."

God: "Done."

286

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rangers, July 14, 2019

« on: July 14, 2019, 04:37:56 pm »

It never once occurred to me that he was not going to catch that.

Me neither. Just another day at the office for Jake.

287

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 14, 2019, 04:26:03 pm »

Just another day at the office for Marisnick...

288

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rangers, July 14, 2019

« on: July 14, 2019, 04:19:37 pm »

So many LOBsters.

289

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 14, 2019, 04:18:31 pm »

Trout got pulled from the game....

Chuck, please tell me it’s happening

There's no place for him.

[ducks]

290

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Major Leauge All-Star Game, July 9, 2019

« on: July 09, 2019, 08:33:17 pm »

I like the caps.

Ditto.

291

Talk Zone / Re: Verlander -- Sleep Guru

« on: July 09, 2019, 08:32:17 pm »

Here's a great recent interview Ben Lindbergh did on Effectively Wild of an astrophysicist, knitting enthusiast and baseball fan who unraveled (intended) the whole business with the ball. Enjoy! (Starts at 49:12)

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-1395-trade-dreams-and-low-seams/

292

Talk Zone / Re: Brett Phillips

« on: July 05, 2019, 08:59:24 am »

Philips was raking but Hader even at the time was the more important loss. I expect the bus ride archives would validate my memory.

This is my memory as well. Luhnow was always particularly excited about Hader.

293

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 04, 2019, 01:46:48 pm »

You know who didn't have a good postseason track record?

David Price.  Worked out for the BoSox though,  didn't he?

162 game regular season,  19 game (max) postseason.

If there's a performance question they have, it's informed by their biggest pile of data,  not the smallest.

I looked it up. Cole's 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 5 postseason starts. Not bad, not great.

Price for sure worked out. But--and maybe this is just me--he strikes me as a calmer presence on the mound than Cole. He's also five years older.

That said, I'm sure you're right. Reddick's history of failure in the clutch certainly didn't stop them inking him, and I'm glad as hell it didn't.

294

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 04, 2019, 01:27:57 pm »

WTF? Seeming disinterest? He is the one, not the club. Crane said he and JV would be extended. Cole put the brakes on that talk. How you could turn that into “the Astros doubt his temperament” is beyond me.

I remember Cole saying that they hadn't been approached and that they would welcome any conversation. I guess that's not your memory.

ETA: https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Gerrit-Cole-says-no-current-contract-talks-with-13709570.php

That's the last I saw of it.

Either way, I take it you aren't concerned with Cole on the bump in the postseason and don't think the Astros are either. Fair 'nuff.

295

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 04, 2019, 12:13:36 pm »

Are you serious? JV did not win in the WS. He lost to Boston in the ALCS. Do they trust him?

Just floating it. Does Cole have any track record of success in the postseason? JV certainly does.

I know it isn't wise to extrapolate from one start--much less one inning--but that Game 2 start of his has had an overlarge presence in my own memory. I can't remember how he handled himself in his consecutive WC matchups against Arietta.

Just throwing it out there as a possible contributing factor to their seeming disinterest in resigning him.

296

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rockies, July 3, 2019

« on: July 03, 2019, 09:23:03 pm »

Who would have thought that would be his line after six after seeing how he struggled in the first inning to even find the plate? Wow.

He's nails.

297

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rockies, July 3, 2019

« on: July 03, 2019, 09:03:44 pm »

Miley.

298

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rockies, July 3, 2019

« on: July 03, 2019, 07:28:32 pm »

The don't let the pitcher catch thing is so foolish.

299

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 03, 2019, 07:14:17 pm »

The Kulpa game to me is less instructive than the ALCS start: wound up + bad luck + unforced error = Houston behind the 8 ball.

I wonder if they trust him in big games yet, is what I meant, and I'm not sure I see a good reason why they would.

300

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk

« on: July 03, 2019, 01:08:09 pm »

I always wonder if they don't have every confidence in Cole's temperament.

301

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Seattle v. Houston; June 29

« on: June 29, 2019, 09:24:27 am »

"There is no trace of last year's hometown blues in the 2019 offense." - Knoxbanedoodle, June 15, 2019

The Astros have been outscored 38-7 in five home game since that comment.

Ah yes, but they also went 1-6 on the road. The swoon is general. Look elsewhere for your next effigy victim, sir!

302

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Pirates @ Astros, June 27, 2019

« on: June 28, 2019, 04:55:22 pm »

Astros have lost:
 9 of last 11 games
their last three series (including their first home series loss)
5 games off their division lead (down to 4 1/2 and everyone in the division seems to be playing well).

Please! Make it stop!

Let's hope this was August.

303

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Pirates @ Astros, June 27, 2019

« on: June 27, 2019, 04:13:10 pm »

Say this for them: they don't lose a lot of nailbiters.

304

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Yankees 6/23

« on: June 23, 2019, 06:31:43 pm »

They're crazy about the AL, but they're not wrong about the team.  He's been shockingly good at the plate and in CF this year.  7th in the AL in WAR.  No idea what got into him.

And third in OPS. Mazara isn't close.

305

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Yankees 6/23

« on: June 23, 2019, 02:29:20 pm »

It's easy to get a little bored of the homers these days, but that Alvarez shot...good Lord.

306

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Yankees, June 20, 2019

« on: June 20, 2019, 06:31:28 pm »

Fuck that fucking cheesedick Yankee strikeout whistle.

307

Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019

« on: June 19, 2019, 10:29:28 pm »

Cam Maybin has homered in 4 consecutive games.

Mrs Maybin told me the other day that he is really impressed by the Yankee esprit de corps. Said with a lot of teams there is a sense of resentment or competition directed to the guy brought in to fill the slot of an injured player; not so in the Bronx, she said. They just want to win.

308

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Pimply-misshapen asses 6/18

« on: June 18, 2019, 07:36:53 pm »

I have it in my mind that Dietrich was one of the guys Purpura drafted that Drayton didn't bother signing.

309

Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez

« on: June 17, 2019, 11:53:29 am »

Or a lefty Vlad Sr.

He's already got so much more plate discipline than Vlad had (or needed). He reminds me of Ortiz/lefty Pujols/Bonds. I can't believe he's, what, 21?

310

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Jays @ Astros 6/15

« on: June 15, 2019, 05:40:13 pm »

2 hour and 20 minute whoopin'.

311

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Jays @ Astros 6/15

« on: June 15, 2019, 05:34:43 pm »

There is no trace of last year's hometown blues in the 2019 offense.

312

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Jays @ Astros 6/15

« on: June 15, 2019, 04:56:02 pm »

This team is great. The thing about them is, while you are busy plotting your comeback, they're scoring again.

313

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Jays @ Astros 6/15

« on: June 15, 2019, 04:17:45 pm »

Framber is dealing.

314

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Jays @ Astros 6/15

« on: June 15, 2019, 04:09:39 pm »

Houston, we have a slugger.

315

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Jays @ Astros 6/15

« on: June 15, 2019, 03:39:26 pm »

Why does Biggio's retired number have a yellow pinwheel on it?

White hits.

316

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Orioles at Astros June 9, 2019

« on: June 09, 2019, 03:28:01 pm »

Kemp on 1B, Mayfield hits a pop-up near 1B, Kemp runs into the first baseman. Kemp out on interference, dead ball, Mayfield to 1B.

Gotcha, thanks.

317

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Orioles at Astros June 9, 2019

« on: June 09, 2019, 03:14:33 pm »

I am watching sans commentary. Can someone explain what just happened? Infield fly, interference called on Kemp, Mayfield to first?

318

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Orioles at Astros- June 8, 2019

« on: June 08, 2019, 05:32:23 pm »

Fuuuuuuck

319

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners - 6 Jun 2019

« on: June 06, 2019, 05:21:07 pm »

Home plate ump: Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.

320

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at FishTossers 06/05/2019

« on: June 05, 2019, 10:06:34 pm »

Short has nothing to do with it.  Stubbs is just a bad receiver who costs his pitchers strikes with his constant inability to keep his body still.

Right, because the Astros would draft, nurture, retain and promote just such a catcher to the big leagues. The Astros of Mike Fast and catcher framing.

Short has everything to do with it. Your complaints are almost invariably on low pitches that aren't called strikes. He sets up like any other catcher but his target is substantially lower.

I'm not saying it isn't a problem that he needs to correct for, just that that looks to me like the primary issue.

321

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at FishTossers 06/05/2019

« on: June 05, 2019, 09:54:01 pm »

That's strike three with Max Stassi back there.

Mariners catcher is on his knees constantly. Stubbs is just short.

322

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at FishTossers 06/05/2019

« on: June 05, 2019, 09:48:35 pm »

Also, Jesus, is Stropoll retarded.

323

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at FishTossers 06/05/2019

« on: June 05, 2019, 09:46:25 pm »

Man I wish Stubbs would stop dropping to his knees to catch a pitch.  He just cost a strikeout on Seager, who eventually singles.

Maybe he did. It was an 0-2 zone.

324

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at FishTossers 06/05/2019

« on: June 05, 2019, 09:15:00 pm »

Kimbrel to the Cubs.

325

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs SeaHags 06-03-2019

« on: June 05, 2019, 01:02:44 pm »

or go back and listen to Alan Ashby again.

To who? [Running away / fingers in ears / crying]

326

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs SeaHags 06-03-2019

« on: June 04, 2019, 06:19:58 pm »

TV broadcasting is much different than radio. They can have lengthy conversations and tell stories because the audience is watching and does not need to hear about every pitch. Radio broadcasters assume their listeners are not watching, and the play by play guy must stay on each pitch. There is very little time for extended discussions unless they are willing to have them interrupted for each pitch. I think both Astros broadcast crews perform their jobs well.

I do too. I especially regret not hearing Blum more often (and Julia). But as someone who listens to tons of radio broadcasts--not just of the Astros--i find that the FM/AM spectrum actually tends to be a little looser or more relaxed than the TV. You tend to run into large tracts of silence on TV broadcasts, or sequences of commentators reading verbatim the graphic on the screen (looking at you, Michael Kay!), while something much more convivial and casual unfolds in the more hidden realm of radio. Also, for whatever reason, the jockocracy seems to hold a little less sway on radio.

327

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs SeaHags 06-03-2019

« on: June 04, 2019, 12:04:52 pm »

That’s not a ground rule double, Kalas, it’s spectator interference. He can kinda be a dumbass sometimes.

I get the impression that he doesn't keep score. He makes lots of mistakes.

Which is one of the reasons I pretty much exclusively listen to the radio guys. Robert Ford is constantly off on pitch location, but otherwise those guys are a joy to listen to.

328

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 07:55:18 pm »

Big time Astros sweep. Sheesh. Proud of those guys. In awe of the Nerd Cave.

329

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 07:18:43 pm »

This inning has been awesome.

330

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 07:17:58 pm »

He's been fickle on the low stuff.

On the high stuff, too. That strike one to Reddick in the tenth was hurtful. But I agree he's been better than average.

331

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 07:13:23 pm »

I think he's been consistent.  It's been a wide zone, but he's been consistent.  Strike three to Fisher was a strike every day of the week.

He's been fickle on the low stuff.

332

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 06:14:11 pm »

Stubbs has cost at least a half dozen strikes today. 

GET THE FUCK OFF YOUR KNEES!!!!!

Is it just that he's short for a catcher?

333

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 05:26:38 pm »

Man, what a tag by Profar.

I am afraid to look up our success rate.

334

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 04:37:37 pm »

It was a nice throw, good footwork, quick release.  Although, let's not get crazy about being the best throw of all time.

He looks calm-er.  He still irks me the way he receives the ball, and has cost Cole some strikes in a very wide zone.  But he's calmed down some from his first start.

Not saying "the best", but hard to imagine it could have been better.

335

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 04:36:43 pm »

Great ABs from Kemp and Straw to set the top of the order up with men on first--now second--and third.

336

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 04:26:39 pm »

Jesus. Not sure I've seen a better throw to second.

337

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ A's June 2

« on: June 02, 2019, 04:24:50 pm »

Stubbs looks calm behind the plate today.

338

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at A's- May 31, 2019

« on: May 31, 2019, 09:38:00 pm »

White battles from 0-2 to a full count.  Fouled off several but eventually flies out to center.  That's the inning.

"Cripple fight!"

339

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: May 30, 2019, 02:06:41 pm »

Kevin Mitchell breaking a tooth on a frozen donut.

Kevin Mitchell sneezing, breaking rib.

340

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Cubs at Astros May 29th 2019 version.

« on: May 29, 2019, 07:55:30 pm »

Gotdamn helium!

341

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Cubs at Astros May 29th 2019 version.

« on: May 29, 2019, 07:13:24 pm »

Well that didn’t take long

It's the damn helium!

342

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: May 28, 2019, 06:19:57 pm »

AJ said rib soreness is the cause for him not being in the lineup and he's be evaluated

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I'm guessing Sphinx was on target in calling out Daniella. We need her to be Glenn Close, not Kim Basinger.

343

Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019

« on: May 28, 2019, 05:39:58 pm »

Heard on a recent Effectively Wild that Chris Carter is the king of the Mexican League right now. Mashing insanely and not in a particularly hitter-friendly stadium. Goes to show how great Big Leaguers are.

I was happy to hear it. I always liked Gentle Bear--especially when he was DHing. I will long remember the ripping singles he'd smash through the gap on clotheslines that got to the wall too fast for him to advance.

Anyway, he even became a Mexican citizen! How easy is that, by the way? (Asking for a friend.)

344

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Cubs @ Astros, May 27, 2019

« on: May 27, 2019, 07:49:47 pm »

Combined with Saturday, he’s been hit awfully hard.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I don't know about the Cubs, but, FWIW, IIRC, Osuna has pretty lousy career numbers against the Red Sox.

345

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Cubs @ Astros, May 27, 2019

« on: May 27, 2019, 01:32:06 pm »

Correa just getting the day off?

346

Talk Zone / Re: Trivia Question: the last Astros rookie battery to start a game

« on: May 27, 2019, 10:10:08 am »

It would appear Bud Norris and Castro were both rookies in 2009. I don't know if they formed a battery.

347

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, May 17th*, 2019

« on: May 25, 2019, 10:29:44 am »

Gotta love Sam Miller. He's an odd bird sometimes but he is a fun writer

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Sam is my spirit animal.

348

Talk Zone / Re: Jose Urquidy

« on: May 23, 2019, 03:07:44 pm »

I believe I recall Oswalt striking out 15 in his Express debut.

Me too.

349

Talk Zone / Re: Jose Urquidy

« on: May 23, 2019, 11:50:54 am »

Urquidy's 12 Ks is reportedly a RR franchise record.

I would wager that's as a AAA team. Pretty sure Oswalt and or Carlos Hernandez tossed off a few superior games in its AA days.

350

Beer and Queso / Re: Montgomery, Al.

« on: May 22, 2019, 07:39:43 pm »

We're going over the weekend for no particular reason. Anybody been? Any recommendations?

We had cause to stop there once en route to New Orleans. Engaged with some car salesmen.

Since you asked for recommendations: it is probably a pretty good place to buy a Honda. Particularly one with especially good gas mileage, as they have a hard time selling them there.

351

Game Zone 2019 / Re: White Sox at Astros- May 21, 2019

« on: May 21, 2019, 08:56:19 pm »

4 mound visits without an out this inning?

352

Beer and Queso / Re: Game of Thrones Season 8

« on: May 21, 2019, 04:35:26 pm »

An interesting look in to WHY Season 8 sucked on ice (and fire): https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-real-reason-fans-hate-the-last-season-of-game-of-thrones/?redirect=1

Very cool. Thanks for the share.

353

Beer and Queso / Re: Game of Thrones Season 8

« on: May 21, 2019, 03:15:57 pm »

She never sat in it.

No, but she owned it. It was hers.

354

Beer and Queso / Re: Game of Thrones Season 8

« on: May 21, 2019, 12:40:43 pm »

I would argue that Dany won it and was the last to occupy it. The next king was king of a different thing.

355

Game Zone 2019 / Re: White Sox at Astros- May 20, 2019

« on: May 20, 2019, 08:16:55 pm »

Peacock is DEALING.

356

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, May, 18th*, 2019

« on: May 19, 2019, 01:49:00 pm »

Correa's opposite field stroke is ridiculous right now.

357

Talk Zone / Re: MadBum

« on: May 16, 2019, 06:24:04 pm »

I'd like to see what the Astros and Strom do do with Stroman

Geez, when you put it that way, it really seems inevitable.

358

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Tiggers, 5/13/19

« on: May 14, 2019, 06:21:23 pm »

It's the 14th, by the way. Though the way things are going, we might be best served doing like HH and groundhogging Mother's Day.

359

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Tiggers, 5/13/19

« on: May 14, 2019, 06:19:47 pm »

Correa's back seems better.

360

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Tigers, May 12, 2019

« on: May 13, 2019, 08:56:36 pm »

You’re right - for some reason, MLB app only shows 5 guys when sorted by slugging.

For the record, I’m not concerned about losing Tyler. My point is that a really shitty team might claim him. This isn’t a hot take. One of the best clubs in the majors continues to give him at bats for some reason. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

White has typically rewarded their patience.

Sure looks at this point however like the dude pressed the off button over the winter.

361

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Tigers, May 12, 2019

« on: May 13, 2019, 08:26:34 pm »

Yesterday's performance notwithstanding, and his overall numbers notwithstanding, and with nothing else at all standing, Bregman's swing still looks a little funny to me. Getting under all these hittable lower pitches and flipping them up.

362

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Tigers, May 12, 2019

« on: May 13, 2019, 07:44:47 pm »

This HPU is very confusing.

Peacock not making it easy for him, but yeah, that was five strikes to Goodrum.

363

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Tigers, May 12, 2019

« on: May 13, 2019, 07:43:42 pm »

Strom with the assist.

364

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, May 12, 2019 Mother's Day Edition

« on: May 12, 2019, 02:42:18 pm »

Good grief, I know it's not over.  I know Corbin has done well so far. 

Hell, I'm surprised the Rangers are only 3 games below .500.  Their defense has been bad.  Really bad.

Hell, it's been dangerous.

365

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, May 12, 2019 Mother's Day Edition

« on: May 12, 2019, 02:30:04 pm »

I suspect my favorite thing about this Astros era is going to be watching them run the bases.

366

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, May 12, 2019 Mother's Day Edition

« on: May 12, 2019, 01:53:23 pm »

This is a lot of fun so far.

367

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: May 02, 2019, 12:09:39 pm »

Why would anyone trade a good pitcher at this point in the season?

Wouldn't you give up more for five months of a Stroganoff or MadBum than for two?

368

Talk Zone / Re: Red Ass

« on: April 30, 2019, 06:44:27 pm »

Brocail and Kent.  Thought Kent was Bluebonnet?

Danny Darwin is the ultimate redass.

I imagine this was referenced in the piece, but I think I first heard the term applied to Lou Pinella by Jim Bouton in Ball Four.

369

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Indians at Astros, April 27, 2019

« on: April 27, 2019, 04:59:03 pm »

It's been less than 24 hours since they've last worn them.

What timing I have with my questions.

370

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Indians at Astros, April 27, 2019

« on: April 27, 2019, 03:53:08 pm »

Yes George,  that was a strike.

Swing the bat.

I haven't seen the orange-top unis all year. What gives? Did I miss them?

371

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: April 26, 2019, 01:49:01 pm »

My sister and bro n law are both self employed. They had expensive crap coverage before and expensive crap coverage now. Only positive I see coming out of the ACA is preexisting illness coverage.

Thanks for the greater context. First I've seen it.

 Yes, agreed

Mrs banedoodle and I are self-employed in NC and are super happy with the ACA right now. It is immeasurably better than the private market right now for people in our bracket.

372

Talk Zone / Strange rulings

« on: April 21, 2019, 04:08:42 pm »

Mets @ Cardinals, top 7, Cano on a count of 0 and 1 is struck on the wrist by an Andrew Miller fastball, reels backwards several yards and goes down in a heap. Several minutes later, after Mickey Calloway has been ejected, Juan Lagares pinch hits with an 0-2 count. Announcers befuddled. Resolution comes after the inning break: though he was never publicly asked for a ruling, the third base umpire told the home plate umpire that Cano had offered at the pitch.

Subsequent replays indicated that perhaps Molina exchanged a word with the home plate umpire. Maybe asking him to ask for help from the third base umpire.

373

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Rangers - April 19, 2019

« on: April 20, 2019, 04:36:01 pm »

Umpire bullshit.

What was that abomination of a sandwich on the right field wall?

Next question?

374

Talk Zone / Re: Beltran told Paxton

« on: April 17, 2019, 06:34:03 pm »

This is the kind of stuff I did at UT from the first base coach’s box. When I had the pitches, I would give them to Falk (closed fist fastball, open hand curve)),and he would give them to the hitters who wanted them (first name fastball, last name curve). Bob Snoddy, our first baseman, won the SWC batting title, and he gave me credit in an interview for giving him pitches all year. Falk was apoplectic.

This is awesome.

375

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @A’s, April16, 2019

« on: April 16, 2019, 11:09:14 pm »

Colin Fucking McHugh. This man has been a rock in the Astro pitching staff. Never a complaint on his role and has been a badass motherfucker the whole time.

CFM

376

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @A’s, April16, 2019

« on: April 16, 2019, 10:55:11 pm »

You gotta love taxing the opponent's bullpen this much in the first game of a series.

377

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @A’s, April16, 2019

« on: April 16, 2019, 10:38:15 pm »

Ford just mentioned this is the 5th anniversary of Springer's debut.

I remember that game. That was a big deal.

378

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @A’s, April16, 2019

« on: April 16, 2019, 10:22:48 pm »

True or false: McHugh is a better starter for having spent a year in the pen.

379

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @A’s, April16, 2019

« on: April 16, 2019, 10:11:08 pm »

White might could shed some pounds stressing over Yordany Alvarez at this point.

380

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @A’s, April16, 2019

« on: April 16, 2019, 09:45:23 pm »

That McHugh thing...

381

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @A’s, April16, 2019

« on: April 16, 2019, 09:38:28 pm »

Springer's shibby got out in one and a half seconds, no?

382

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Mariners, April 14, 2019

« on: April 14, 2019, 04:31:50 pm »

Marquez has needed only 55 pitches to retire the first 15 Giants, in case anyone is interested...

383

Talk Zone / Tom Hamilton

« on: April 10, 2019, 02:57:58 pm »

The Indians' famously affable radio PBP guy just said that 29 teams enjoyed a champagne toast when the Red Sox eliminated the Astros last year. Prior to this he'd called the Houston front office "corrupt" and "paranoid." He and his partner chuckled at the excuse given by the Astros for the dugout photography incident during the ALCS and said that a fellow announcer or producer figure nearly came to blows with the Astros official who took issue with a Cleveland camera during the later stages of an ALDS game. Completely ruined my attempted nap.

How much of this is sour grapes? Is their reputation really so bad? Fucking champagne toast for Boston?

384

Game Zone 2019 / Re: Yankees vs Astros April 8th 2019

« on: April 10, 2019, 09:47:52 am »

Or anyone else for that matter.  What did people expect him to say "boy, I suck...I'm really worried that I no long have the skills to play at this level"?  I'm not sure I'd want the guy who doesn't say "I'm confident I'll pitch better next time out".

We all wanted him. He's in Tampa now.

385

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Round Rock 2019

« on: April 08, 2019, 01:04:17 pm »

A few years ago, they tried someone at short who made no sense (not an opinion on Straw at SS).  A Reed-type body, IIRC (well, maybe not that bad).  Who was it?

Tyler White?

386

Game Zone 2019 / Re: A's @ Astros...HOME OPENER 2019

« on: April 06, 2019, 04:29:56 pm »

How long is it going to take for the A's to figure out that Laureano should be hitting lead off.

He led off in Japan and stuck up the joint and they dropped him. They'll figure it out before too long, no doubt.

387

Beer and Queso / Re: VPNs

« on: April 04, 2019, 12:26:18 pm »

Thanks, all!

388

Beer and Queso / VPNs

« on: April 03, 2019, 07:24:18 pm »

Anybody got any advice concerning virtual private networks? Or know of other ways to bedevil MLBTV into not blacking out any teams?

389

Talk Zone / Re: Race For the Lid XXI

« on: March 29, 2019, 03:18:33 pm »

Not going to lie -- I'm pretty impressed with the 2:00:00 time stamp on this entry. It's the OWA version of the perfect pump!

Oh wow, yeah, I didn't even notice that!

(Lying)

390

Talk Zone / Re: Another good twitter feed to read

« on: March 29, 2019, 03:15:11 pm »

Excellent. Thanks!

391

Talk Zone / Re: Another good twitter feed to read

« on: March 29, 2019, 01:20:59 pm »

Very cool! I didn't understand the positioning one, though.

392

Talk Zone / Re: Race For the Lid XXI

« on: March 28, 2019, 02:00:00 pm »

98

393

Talk Zone / Re: It’s Opening Day!!!!

« on: March 28, 2019, 08:05:13 am »

I'll be listening to deGrom v Scherzer while mowing the lawn for the first time of the year--which I think has become a tradition. Then snoozing and flipping between games and the NCAA tournament all day.

394

Talk Zone / Dece piece on Bregs

« on: March 25, 2019, 08:22:32 am »

Hadn't seen this linked-to anywhere yet. Adds some interesting (if not exactly satisfying) background to Alex's dubious decision last year to post the Eovaldi smack in the postseason. And paints a very colorful picture, in general, of the insane life of a millionaire millennial jock.

https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/03/20/alex-bregman-houston-astros

395

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 17, 2019, 09:07:18 am »

What channel showed this?  I see it’s scheduled on MLBN on tape delay, but didn’t see it listed live.

MLBtv, Phillies broadcast.

396

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 06:12:02 pm »

Bukauskas with 3 more good IP today.

This game today was a pleasure to watch from start to finish. Peacock, Brantley, Correa, Kemp, the kids, Bukauskas, James... It's absurd how much talent this organization has hoarded. Didn't hurt either to see the Phillies broadcast focusing again and again on Houston: I especially enjoyed the bar graph of team wins going back to, I believe, 2012. Somehow I hadn't realized that Peacock was a 41st round pick.

Alvarez looms over the plate. His size and quiet makes every at bat an event. I suspect (knock on wood) we're in for some fun.

Jesus, remember 2012? Remember '13? 

397

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 02:40:09 pm »

His swing is stiff and unconventional, but far be it from me to criticize. It certainly has worked for him thus far.

Ditto his big brother's.

398

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 02:39:38 pm »

He made a nice running catch for the 1st out in the bottom of the 5th. 
At least the Phillie announcers were impressed.

Yeah, it was good. Came in hard and had to run a long way to catch a sinking liner. Not sure if he has any arm at all, though.

399

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 02:32:13 pm »

Correa tries to oblige by rolling into a 6-4-3. Then Brantley walks and an E6 extends it. Here comes the fourth pitcher of the now 9-run inning.

I remember a laugher back in the Dome against the Mets--the Edgardo Alfonzo Mets--with an inning like this. Nice to be on the other side.

Not to be morbid or anything but I found the box score. It was August 30, 1999. No wonder I emphasized Alfonzo: he went 6-6 with 3 yacks and 5 RBI. 17-1. Not Shaner's best day.

400

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 02:16:46 pm »

Correa tries to oblige by rolling into a 6-4-3. Then Brantley walks and an E6 extends it. Here comes the fourth pitcher of the now 9-run inning.

I remember a laugher back in the Dome against the Mets--the Edgardo Alfonzo Mets--with an inning like this. Nice to be on the other side.

401

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 02:06:59 pm »

Just to be sure we're all on the same page...

1B is where he played in Cuba. He's played about 75% of the time in LF and the rest at 1B since joining the Astros (not counting time at DH which is considerable but not surprising given the other folks vying for playing time at LF/1B).

Projecting forward, most of the reports I've read (and based on my own limited looks at the guy this spring) says he ends up at either 1B of DH. The Astros hope given enough time and repetition he'll be able to play LF. I have my doubts but let's hope that works out.

I stand corrected.

Not sure I've ever seen this before: Astros have now batted around without making an out. Seven runs in and Kemp just got his second hit of the inning. 8 runs in, two aboard.

402

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 01:05:13 pm »

Hasn’t Alvarez played some first base? If so, has it been decided that isn’t the place for him?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Could be wrong but I've only heard of him as LF or DH.

403

Talk Zone / Re: Spring Training 2019

« on: March 16, 2019, 12:26:49 pm »

Alvarez looks like a beast at the plate. Reminds me of a young David Ortiz. His leftfielding is graceless but not the shit show I've heard it made out to be. Berkmanesque--though I'm sure he'll never play center...

404

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: March 14, 2019, 07:18:15 pm »

Hmmm...tough to guess who this could be

"Spare me your appeals to traditionalism: one-batter relievers were invented by a surly, self-proclaimed genius we all tend to dislike a great deal in the late 80s and weren’t widespread until well into the 90s."

I read this. I'm still sad as hell.

"Spare me your appeals to traditionalism" is a dumbass rhetorical device. LaRussa was able to innovate and make baseball more competitive because he wasn't managing in a straitjacket. If lots of pitching changes annoys you, find a better way to incentivize what you want, find a way that does not fundamentally alter the relationship between a team and its assets.

Most of the points he addresses are paper tigers. I could give a fuck about faked injuries or LOOGYs. The focus should be on (as someone in the last presidential contest said) Don't use a garbage truck to take out the kitchen trash.

Oh well. I hope firestorms greet Manfred on this score, and the thing is stillborn or aborted after 2020. Alternatively I hope it's not as big of a deal as I think.

I'll shut up now.

405

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: March 14, 2019, 04:43:49 pm »

Then I’ll be mad Pressly didn’t make his pitch, not that Osuna couldn’t come in.

I just made the mistake of reading the comments on the MLB Trade Rumors announcement of the agreed-to rule changes. (Why did I do that? Never do that. They add nothing to your life.) There were no nuanced defenses of the three-batter policy; I've yet to see any nuanced defenses of it anywhere. People just say: I don't like pitching changes. But it seems to me that if you want to take away a tool baseball managers have had since the beginning you should probably have a steeper hill to climb than just saying: Well, I don't like pitching changes. Especially when there are undoubtedly less intrusive ways to finesse the issue. You should have to do better if you want to take decisions out of managers' hands. 

I find this weird rush to suddenly fuck with the game extremely depressing.

406

Talk Zone / Re: Team Payroll 2019

« on: March 13, 2019, 02:54:41 pm »

It's definitely not new.  It just irks me when people refer to free agency as a free market.

It seems to me that "free market" is most always a misnomer.

407

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)

« on: March 12, 2019, 05:17:17 pm »

Yeah, just saw the report. What a freaking joke.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What's the joke?

408

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: March 11, 2019, 05:10:14 pm »

Seems like an even trade to me.

Yeah. If anything probably a slight edge to the pitcher, as the low strike is hard to hit in the air and the high strike is hard to hit at all.

409

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: March 11, 2019, 01:06:22 pm »

If the computerized strike zone adheres strictly to the width of home plate, pitchers are in for a rude awakening.

Conversely, if it adheres to the top and bottom, hitters will.

410

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: March 09, 2019, 11:32:02 am »

6. Each pitcher must face at least three batters or complete the half-inning, unless injured.  YES

I know I'm repeating myself, but I just don't understand why any fan of the game would support this. It is the equivalent to me of forcing football teams to run the ball as many times as they pass, or making NBA teams use a certain number of bench minutes every game. It's an artificial restraint that can only result in an inferior competition.

This all seems like so much silliness. Do the pitch clock and be done with it.

411

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: March 08, 2019, 02:27:26 pm »

Fuck banning the shifts.

Fuck banning the shifts and fuck the three-batter rule.

Pushing the mound back doesn't sound crazy to me, the more I think about it. Doing that could actually end up saving lives.

412

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: March 06, 2019, 02:26:33 pm »

Morton looked pretty good today in his second Spring start. Meanwhile Bregman apparently came out after making an early throw across to first and Chirinos came out after getting plunked.

413

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: March 05, 2019, 11:35:53 am »

Rosenthal just tweeted that the league and players union look to be a day or two from an agreement on rules changes.

Manfred proposed postponing the pitch clock but instituting the 3-batter minimum for relievers, as well as a raft of changes re: the trade deadline, September roster size, length of IL stays and length of minor league assignments.

When I listen to him talk I think, This sounds like a reasonable guy. I can't imagine any reasonable baseball fan actually gunning for the 3-batter minimum, so I figure he must be playing chess with it. IDK, the pitch clock seems so eminently doable and helpful to me. Does it actually piss the players off that much? I wonder what percentage of Big Leaguers came up with it in the minors already.

414

Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)

« on: March 03, 2019, 10:37:25 am »

ST trade for a pitcher?

I wonder how far apart they and DK are. I don't know about all you guys, but I am worried about the starting rotation after Verlander and Cole.

415

Talk Zone / Re: Ex-Astros News 2019

« on: March 01, 2019, 04:04:21 pm »

Will he be the new Mr. Met? It's a perfect job for him.

I guess that's a question for Mrs. Met.

416

Talk Zone / Re: Preseason Panic

« on: March 01, 2019, 03:00:19 pm »

Or "hysteric" and "hysterical".

Or "hysterical" and "hilarious".

417

Talk Zone / Re: Preseason Panic

« on: February 28, 2019, 02:03:56 pm »

The use of the word "impact" instead of "effect" drives the engineer in me crazy. An impact is the collision of two or more bodies in space, like a crash.

"The new paint had quite a crash on the house's appearance." is just as stupid as "the new paint had quite an impact on the house's appearance".

That's cool, but describing something as "impactful" still makes sense even with that definition, especially considering Newtonian ideas of bodies acted upon.

I found the new paint job impactful, as it quite changed the course of my thinking on the house in general, like.

418

Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper

« on: February 25, 2019, 09:56:45 am »

Well, I think there is also factors marketing where Bryce will easily edge out Manny.  Jersey sales, billboards, ticket sales (not that this is as big in LA) both at public and corporate levels.  Maybe they can even negotiate a larger TV deal when if the current runs out (I'm not Nate so don't have this information at my fingertips).  Btw, Nate, you are the man!

Good points, all. I was looking up some Nats stuff this morning for fantasy purposes and came across a WaPo columnist who seemed downright relieved to be done with him. To paraphrase: if at least once every ten games your most visible player overthrows the cutoff man by 15-feet, throws to the wrong cutoff man, fails to run out a ground ball, or gets thrown out running the bases foolishly, it's hard to ask the rest of your team for maximal effort. Now, a lot of that may just be grouchy old man-ism, but where there's smoke... Anyhow, Machado hates losing so much he regularly brutalizes his opponents.

419

Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper

« on: February 25, 2019, 07:56:17 am »

According to MLB.com, the Dodgers have leapt back into the field. (https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/02/bryce-harper-rumors-dodgers-meeting.html)

Harper is such a hype machine. I guess I won't be shocked if he ends up netting more than Machado, but it seems indisputable that pound for pound Machado has outclassed him in virtually every respect (except perhaps in "class", which might be a close call). He's still reaping the benefits of the SI cover at age 15.   

420

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)

« on: February 21, 2019, 12:27:56 pm »

One of the things in the Athletic article is that our April schedule is "easy" from a days-off perspective.  They don't have to play 7 consecutive games w/o a day off until late April/early May.  So the rotation will get lots of rest early on.

Makes sense, thanks.

421

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster (New & Improved)

« on: February 21, 2019, 09:50:32 am »

 “In fact, (a roster with 13 position players is) probably more likely this year than it would have been last year.”

https://theathletic.com/824514/2019/02/18/houston-astros-spring-training-roster-tony-kemp-jake-marisnick/

Without having put a lot of thought into it, this seems counter-intuitive to me, what with more question marks in the rotation this year than last. All for it, though.

422

Beer and Queso / Re: Dating App

« on: February 13, 2019, 04:20:46 pm »

Into Leather?

423

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: February 13, 2019, 03:49:21 pm »

There is nothing wrong with sign stealing with the naked eye. There also is no way to prevent it. What was wrong then and is now is using technology, from binoculars to fancy cameras, to steal signs.

Yeah, that's how I feel about it too. And if a chief reason for the delay between pitches is ever more abstruse signaling in order to vex high-tech theft, the earpiece seems a good fix. Put the manager, catcher and pitcher all on a party line and go from there. Try it for a year alongside the enforcement of existing batters box rules and see what you have.

424

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: February 13, 2019, 09:51:44 am »

Knox, I’m not sure about 35 seconds, but I have heard that yes, there is a current time limit on the books that umpires never enforce.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So I looked this up. Not sure at all where I was getting the 35-second number. Here's the rule:

When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within
12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this
rule, the umpire shall call “Ball.”

Rule 8.04 to 8.05
79

The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the
batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball.

The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that
the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on
the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the
umpire.

I looked to see if there was similarly a set amount of time a batter had to get in the box and there isn't, they just say "promptly". They also say that, except for a list of several exceptions, batters are to keep one foot in the box the entire AB.

It seems clear to me at least that these rules are casualties of gentlemanly, collegial neglect among umpires in tandem with bloat from increased sophistication (of pitch type, sign-stealing technology, money on the line, etc.).

The Grant Brisbee piece I believe someone already linked to (https://www.sbnation.com/a/mlb-2017-season-preview/game-length) summarizes the issue brilliantly and hilariously and is well worth the full read.

So why not just give these rules some teeth? Make the batter stay in the box again and change the rule to give the pitcher fifteen or twenty seconds to deliver the pitch.

I also don't understand why the batters box initiative of 2015 was dropped so unceremoniously. It was working! It made games faster and more fun! (http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12793744/mlb-making-good-fines-pace-game-violations) Why doesn't anyone talk about rehabilitating this?

If you need to let the pitcher and catcher communicate wirelessly in order to facilitate this hastening, so be it. Sign-stealing may be historic but needn't be preserved. This would most likely also obviate the increasing proclivity of catchers to constantly visit the mount during single ABs.

425

Talk Zone / Re: Changes to the game coming this year??

« on: February 11, 2019, 12:08:24 pm »

Isn't it true that a pitcher already is only allowed 35 seconds to pitch, and that beyond that it can be automatically declared a ball? I understand that this is one of those blue laws that is never enforced, but the idea is sound and there's a basis for a pitch clock. All the other ideas strike me as insane.

426

Talk Zone / Tacos Across America

« on: February 05, 2019, 03:05:05 pm »

Customer comes into my shop today for a triple mocha and a blueberry muffin, pays with a Visa card. I check the name because I always check the name, say, "Any relation to Cameron?" She smiles brightly, "He's my husband."

I explain how cool this is, being that I had made Cameron a sandwich when working at a different coffee shop the year he was drafted out of high school, and that I am most likely Asheville's biggest Astros fan, and that he in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series had one of the most consequential base hits in the franchise's history. I am basically geeking out.

She says she told him before the game started that he needed to steal a base so that everybody could get free Doritos Locos Tacos. I thanked her.

Later, leaving the gym, I got to tell the cute girl at the front desk who calls herself "the future Mrs. Bregman" that I met someone who knows him, and have thus become a very important person in her life.

Cameron is still a free agent. His wife, Courtney, who is a lovely person who attended North Henderson High School here in WNC, and who drives a flashy little thing with preposterous rims, told me they don't really care where he winds up as long as it's not the West Coast. She lives here in Asheville year-round with the kids regardless.

427

Talk Zone / Re: Wade Miley

« on: February 05, 2019, 02:52:16 pm »

Here's to liking him as much as I did the last Astros pitcher whose name started Wade Mil.

428

Talk Zone / Re: Grass 27, Artificial Turf 3

« on: February 01, 2019, 08:57:00 am »

Grass 26, Artificial Turf 4.

Rainjizz go with the fake stuff.

This is really shocking to me. Is there a common perception that clubs are doing this to enable them to rent out the stadium during the offseason to events that would otherwise destroy the grass? Whatever the case, it makes me proud of the home nine for bucking the trend, and nervous that they won't always!

429

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: January 30, 2019, 10:37:00 am »

I can imagine a scenario where he draws votes away from Trump for people who think the Democratic candidate is too liberal and would otherwise begrudgingly vote for Trump. But the fact is that a billionaire running a hopeless independent campaign is purely a vanity project.

This.

430

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: January 27, 2019, 06:21:23 pm »

I understand that you think I'm some kind of a goon, though that's never been my intention. I think you are naïve but I'm sure that was not your intention. We really don't know each other at all, though someday if we meet I'm sure we'll get along fine.

I don't think you're a goon. I'm a partisan: I have a harder time processing intelligent people who stand on the sidelines and think both sides are equally shit than people who just flat see things differently. My mother- and father-in-law are good Dems who always only ever blame non-voters for all the bad outcomes, never the people who voted (however mysteriously) for the other side. I'm always annoyed by their attitude but at bottom I get it--I feel it, even. Anyone who'd vote for Trump is, to me, politically unknowable and probably irredeemable, while a Colonel Drummond lobbing equivalence grenades, preaching love and hating on Hilary poses a more morally vexing dilemma.

And I understand why smart people would conclude that I'm naive. I have a complicated relationship with the concept, influenced in the main by my suspicion that cynicism is the chief ailment of our age. Once innocence is lost, it seems in my view a defensible position that it should be reasserted a bit. I tend to think that we become what we think we are, thus that thinking we might be (or could be) better than evidence might suggest is actually not just a good idea, but a necessary one.

I could go on and on and on about this stuff, and I'm sure that if we do ever meet we'd have a good time talking about it, and I have no doubt whatsoever that we'd get along very well. 

431

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: January 22, 2019, 05:49:30 pm »

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.

That's a really lovely sentence and a nice sentiment. The problem with your policy of enforced-equivalence and nonengagement is that while you're lying in the field the billionaires are helping themselves to the rest of the money, the world is melting and the poor are caught in the outflow, the workers can't unionize for a better shot, they're drilling for mass shootings between Algebra-I and Not-the-Arts Class that Meant So Much to You because They Don't Offer that Class Anymore in Part Because Assholes who Benefited from Extraordinarily Well-Subsidized Educations Decided They Wanted Tax Cuts, rampant cynicism about public service and civic duty is causing millions to self-disenfranchise, and on every single one of these issues Republicans actively court Drift and Inaction while Democrats are left in the increasingly tenuous position of being the only adults in the room trying to make things work. Honestly, the energy you must spend forcing all the actors into the same cast...

It strikes me that your entire politics is amazingly decadent. Your grandparents knew the difference between Hoover and Roosevelt. I hope someday I'm as safe from the world as you apparently are. And I hope if I get there I'll remember that there's one group out there actively trying to keep people from voting, and I won't pretend that they're politically, ethically and actionably the equal of the group that's trying to empower those same folks. 

432

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: January 22, 2019, 03:48:28 pm »

I don't exactly get your point.  What does porn have to do with anything?  Are you on a crusade against porn?  What's wrong with porn? 

There's no arguing with him. You must only submit to the education he condescends to give. If you are meek enough and lucky, you may even get a ding ding ding in return.

433

Talk Zone / Re: Bryce Harper

« on: January 19, 2019, 03:51:23 pm »

Philadelphia
Chicago WS
Washington

vs.

Houston

No choice really, even if it is less years --- and an opt out clause for each side.  Better than being locked into one of the above teams for a decade.

Sign the Harper!

Are those the other teams known to be in contention? The freaking White Sox? What about the usual suspects?

434

Beer and Queso / Re: The Last Jedi [spoiler alert]

« on: January 16, 2019, 01:18:22 pm »

Exactly.  Disney bought the franchise and expected LucasFilm to be able to crank out a great Star Wars movie every year for twenty years, when they hadn't even made a good one for longer than that.

I enjoyed Solo and definitely liked Last Jedi much better on second viewing, but the principle of scarcity has really kicked in for me re: Star Wars. I am about as bored with them now as I am with superheroes.

435

Talk Zone / Re: Collin McHugh podcast

« on: January 07, 2019, 09:56:02 am »

I'm about halfway through, and it's really good so far.  Colin asks good questions, Lance is an engaging guest, and it's a lot more casual and free-flowing than the usual athlete interview.

Also, they mention that Verlander only drinks Keurig coffee, which makes perfect sense somehow.  No mamby-pamby latte art, just give me my damn coffee as fast as possible.

Latte art is fucking hard, man.

436

Beer and Queso / Re: Books (2018)

« on: January 01, 2019, 10:12:03 am »

A few years ago I read that Wright was part of a semi-regular breakfast group in Austin which included Stephen Harrigan, S.C. Gwynne and the U.T. History professor/author H.W. Brands. Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

Wright is a family friend of ours. College roommate of my uncle. I haven't met him but he's allegedly just as great as you'd think. And my dad took Brands out to lunch several years ago, not long after his TR biography. My dad said, "it's easy to forget how professorial professors can be."

437

Beer and Queso / Re: Books (2018)

« on: December 28, 2018, 02:48:54 pm »

Wrapping up the year in reading:

Listened to Franzen's Freedom--very good, not great; started listening to Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver (the first in his Baroque trilogy and a book I'd picked up with enthusiasm after the nonpareil Cryptonomicon but put down with what is to me today inexplicable disappointment way back in 2003 or something...it's really good); listened to several more Tana French Dublin Murder Squad novels (Faithful Place was wonderful, Broken Harbor not my cuppa), bought the sequel to the Three Body Problem, listened to Kim Stanley Robinson's New York 2140 and cracked open his Aurora, also John Powys's medieval epic Porius, Franzen's Purity, a non-fiction book about the historical Merlin, started and put-down Richard Powers's Galatea 2.2 (cool but too frequently impenetrable), listened to Joe Hill's pretty fucking excellent horror novel NOS4A2 ("Nosferatu", enthusiastically narrated by Kate Mulgrew, who Limey's got a probable crush on--Joe Hill is Stephen King's son), and started The World As It Is, by the former Obama foreign policy staffer, which promises to be incredible and depressing beyond belief. 

Good year in reading!

438

Beer and Queso / Re: 2018 Music Thread

« on: December 28, 2018, 02:32:29 pm »

Very fond of the Nude Party this year. What else? A coffeeshop employee of mine has introduced me to Ritt Momney, who has one or two awfully decent songs. I have mostly been waking up to jazz and classical this year. Rather a lot of Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Bill Evans and Ludwig Van in the banedoodle residence, 2018. The new Nathaniel Rateliff was excellent and underappreciated, IMO. Molly Birch continued to impress.

439

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster

« on: December 28, 2018, 02:27:36 pm »

Update on Keuchel:

He's seeking a five year deal which naturally isn't getting much traction. Phillies, Nationals and Reds are pursuing him, though the Reds may have filled that spot with Alex Wood. The Angels, Rangers, Brewers and Padres are also in the hunt.

Anyone but the Rangers.

440

Beer and Queso / Re: Star Trek: Discovery (Spoilers)

« on: December 21, 2018, 04:50:19 am »

Yes, but if everyone did it they might cancel the show.

441

Beer and Queso / Re: Star Trek: Discovery (Spoilers)

« on: December 20, 2018, 08:51:30 pm »

With the new season coming up, is there any reason - other than potential for spoilers - not to wait until near the end, order the CBS subscription for one month, and binge the fuck out of it?

That's what I've been planning on, but since you're asking, I do believe the categorical imperative would dictate otherwise.

442

Beer and Queso / Re: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

« on: December 19, 2018, 10:35:03 pm »

That one still gets to me.

And I'm glad they didn't force us to see the actor get tossed into the river.

Who was "Dudders" from Harry Potter, BTW.

443

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster

« on: December 18, 2018, 06:56:15 pm »

Marisnick has one quality that sets him apart: He plays CF and at MMPUS, that is huge.

Not so much anymore.

444

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: December 18, 2018, 06:52:42 pm »

but you know who elevated him into a position where he had access to the most closely held secrets.

And this after the outgoing president explicitly warned him off employing Flynn.

445

Beer and Queso / Re: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

« on: December 17, 2018, 10:20:11 am »

HH's characterization makes me laugh, as the movie was highly overrated.  If DDL wasn't in it, it would reside in an even deeper obscurity.  It was the same year as No Country for Old Man and some people seriously debated which was better.

I was in the TWBB camp hands down. I'm not an uncritical PTA person--I found Magnolia exhausting, The Master a dud, and Inherent Vice a noble attempt at the virtually impossible (converting a Pynchon title to film), didn't see Punchdrunk Love (because Sandler) or finish Hard Eight, but his pairings with DDL are both terrific. I can certainly understand why he wouldn't be somebody's bag--de gustibus non est disputandum and all--but even speaking hyperbolically, putting There Will Be Blood in the same sentence as "worst film of all time" is objectively ludicrous.

446

Beer and Queso / Re: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

« on: December 17, 2018, 05:36:52 am »

Apropos to nothing, but There Wil Be Blood may be the single worst film ever made.

You're insane. The score alone is better than almost any movie I've ever seen.

447

Talk Zone / Re: Talk me off the ledge

« on: December 14, 2018, 02:44:41 pm »

I wonder what if anything they plan to do about the home hitting.

448

Talk Zone / Re: Car accident claims lives of Valbueana, Castillo

« on: December 07, 2018, 12:03:15 pm »

My favorite Valbuena memory was a 9th inning save-spoiling go-ahead blast off Diaz a few years back.  Might've been one of his last abs as an Astro, come to think of it. Valbuena had style.

449

Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Roster

« on: December 05, 2018, 09:26:49 am »

Berman has a Bannister quote praising Chirinos's leadership and saying he "was the unsung glue that held everything together."

That last bit seems like damning with faint praise given the Rangers' fate the last few years.

As opposed I suppose to the sung glue.

450

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: November 15, 2018, 02:43:37 pm »

There were a number of ballot measures promoting voting rights around the country.  In addition to Florida's "Amendment 4",  Maryland, Michigan and Nevada voted to allow same-day registration.  At the same time, though, Arkansas and North Carolina voted in favor of voter ID laws and North Dakota tied a set of braces to that belt by approving a measure that says only US citizens can vote.  North Dakota has 750,000 people, two Senators, one House Rep. and time to waste, it seems.

NC also approved a measure to guarantee a constitutional right to hunt and fish. It's government by twelve-year-olds over here.

451

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: November 12, 2018, 03:15:37 pm »

Continuing to reach out to people even when you know they won't vote for you also shows authenticity. It shows you don't turn your back on people. That plays well everywhere, so things like the rural county tour can help you in the cities & suburbs as well.

I agree.

It often irks me that only in the media outlets most associated with the left do you find column after column exhorting people to get out of their echo chambers and engage the other side honestly, but not doing so only exacerbates and reinforces the divide.  The 254 strategy didn't win the whole enchilada this round but keep going back to that well each time and maybe some entrenched Republican's sons or daughters vote for you some day.

There's no religious diversity in one-church towns.

452

Beer and Queso / Re: Since we're talking men's fashion...

« on: October 30, 2018, 10:43:18 am »

The other rationale for seppo, as was happily explained to me by multiple Australian friends, is that like a septic tank we Yanks are often full of shit.

This is a much more elegant and satisfying explanation than the "sounds-like" chain.

453

Talk Zone / Re: WS: Dojers vs Blosox

« on: October 27, 2018, 08:58:03 am »

Games last too long.

I read that that game was longer than the 1939 World Series.

454

Beer and Queso / Re: Since we're talking men's fashion...

« on: October 26, 2018, 09:44:21 pm »

Seppie would be a new one for me but I firmly believe there are no rules when it comes to name calling.

You and the asshole president of America! Yahoo!

455

Beer and Queso / Re: Since we're talking men's fashion...

« on: October 26, 2018, 05:56:58 pm »

It was tongue firmly planted in cheek.  So long as you don't calling  me a seppo...

Wait, I know this one. Seppo sounds like Septic because Tank rhymes with Yank, right? Only I thought it was seppie...

456

Talk Zone / Re: ALCS

« on: October 22, 2018, 07:19:27 am »

I've seen Scioscia give signs to the catcher with no men on base.  I assumed he was calling pitches but it could have been some other instruction.

Yeah, my understanding (not sure where it came from) is that this is fairly common.

457

Talk Zone / Re: ALCS

« on: October 18, 2018, 04:32:29 pm »

New lineup.  Bregman still leading off, Correa has moved to cleanup. Marwin down to 6, Kemp up to 7, and Marisnik batting 9th.

Uncharacteristically protean behavior from Hinch.

458

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game 3: Red Sox @ Astros October 16, 2018

« on: October 16, 2018, 08:15:39 pm »

It's time to build a new park.

Or rebuild the old one they hit in.

459

Talk Zone / Re: NLCS

« on: October 15, 2018, 10:05:47 pm »

Little Cody B and Jasmine Grand really modeling how to abuse a bat after screwing the pooch.

460

Talk Zone / Re: NLCS

« on: October 15, 2018, 09:46:45 pm »

Brewers appear to be going all in for early series wins. Which, in a best of seven against a juggernaut, maybe makes perfect sense.

461

Talk Zone / Re: Frito Pie

« on: October 15, 2018, 07:16:27 pm »

Actually, it would be more like...

"Computer: chili.  Wolf Brand.  Hot, no beans."

*Slow clap*

462

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018

« on: October 14, 2018, 10:08:14 pm »

He was far from sharp, but with just a little luck he gets out of that inning with the 4-2 lead intact. Instead, Bradley slaps a two-out excuse-me double that does goofy things along the wall. That's unfortunate, but I don't think that's a meltdown.

I agree. All the breaks went to Beantown today. That is hopefully what it takes for them to win.

463

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018

« on: October 14, 2018, 09:36:00 pm »

Mitch Moreland is such a pain the ass

IDK what the numbers say but he always seems to own us.

464

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018

« on: October 14, 2018, 09:25:29 pm »

If we end up losing by this score or a score close to it, the Cole throwing error, the Machete collapse and the magic rolling on the shelf ball that allowed Devers to score will be the things that haunt.

465

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018

« on: October 14, 2018, 06:03:31 pm »

Devers is a career 4 for 33 against the Astros, but all four of those hits were RBI doubles.

Not to mention his inside the park homer in the ALDS.

466

Talk Zone / Re: Frito Pie

« on: October 14, 2018, 10:24:11 am »

You and your friends were nerds.

Hah. We were the ones who made being nerds cool.

467

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 11:29:53 pm »

I think your feed is a little behind....

Says the guy who forgot about the DH.

It was not. My post was about emphasizing the biggest moment from the Astros offense of the evening.

468

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 11:18:10 pm »

Yuli.

469

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 11:07:13 pm »

Ford indicated that Kemp's advance to third would be credited as a fielder's choice. Is that right? I'd always thought the safe one got a stolen base, tho I see now how that makes sense.

Edit:  Sorry, I hit edit instead of reply

470

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 10:55:03 pm »

McCullers coming back for the 9th now?   I would. 


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Me too, but Osuna warming. Don't get it, especially given his career numbers v. Sox.

471

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 09:52:43 pm »

He's in his traditional fallback postseason mode. Brilliance possible but rare.

472

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 09:36:57 pm »

I was starting to wonder why they wouldn’t try to nurse Kelly through the inning with Maldonado hitting, them I remembered it’s the AL.

Welcome back.

473

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 09:26:19 pm »

Sparks and Ford must have a bad angle.  Every pitch is "inside"

I have found Ford's pitch location descriptions to be widely and consistently off-base forever.

474

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 08:40:34 pm »

Hoye is calling a good game so far.

And JV doesn't have his curve ball yet. That might end up being a blessing in disguise.

475

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 08:31:30 pm »

Sale locked in now but how much longer will Cora keep him out there?

He hasn't retired George yet, and George is due up second in the next AB. Might depend on if it's still a two-run deficit or not.

476

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 08:24:43 pm »

Huh... I thought it hit the ground first.

The umpire didn't,  as he turned and based his call on where it landed, as opposed to calling it as it flew over the bag.

477

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 08:21:05 pm »

It bounced right in front of the plate.

No shit? Weird.

478

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 08:16:05 pm »

Definitely.

How so? Didn't touch ground before third base and landed foul.

479

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 08:14:24 pm »

Worst rule in baseball though. The league needs to amend the rules so a belly momentarily not contacting the bag when the entire body is over it isn’t an out. It’s a bad application of the replay rule.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's absurd that they didn't fix it over the off season. The rule is ludicrous.

480

Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #1: Astros @ Red Sox, October 13, 2018

« on: October 13, 2018, 08:13:00 pm »

White with two backwards Ks so far on pitches he had no business taking. I hope this presages later redemption.

481

Talk Zone / Re: Frito Pie

« on: October 13, 2018, 06:21:20 pm »

For some reason I always loved the Wolf Brand Chili ads.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1GG780-Dw

ETA: for those of you who didn't grow up in Texas in the 60s, this is an important part of your education. Along with the Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner Breeze Detergent ads, they were regional tv at its best.

ETAA: Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUSFYBfmOiQ

My friends and I used to get a kick out of imitating Captain Picard ordering it from the replicator: "Computer, Wolf Brand Chili."

482

Talk Zone / Re: Team Milestones 2018

« on: October 09, 2018, 03:07:23 pm »

I have been completely out of the loop, driving to southern Illinois for a wedding and then to Minneapolis on a scouting mission. Also just changed to T-Mobile, which doesn't, it turns out, have near the interstate coverage that Verizon does. Sooooooo excited to go back and watch the whole series in a few days upon getting back home...

...or perhaps you folks would just assume I stay away...

483

Talk Zone / Re: AL Wild Card

« on: October 03, 2018, 10:15:04 pm »

Clubbed.

484

Talk Zone / Re: AL Wild Card

« on: October 03, 2018, 09:36:38 pm »

Will be surprised if the A's don't make a game of this.

485

Talk Zone / Re: AL Wild Card

« on: October 03, 2018, 09:19:25 pm »

Maybe there's something to be said for getting the shitgasm of BOS/NYY out of the way in the ALDS.

486

Talk Zone / Re: AL Wild Card

« on: October 03, 2018, 08:39:36 pm »

My friend in NC says this game is blacked out for him. WTF?

That's bizarre. I'm in NC but am watching on Roku's TBS app. Your friend is saying it's blacked out on cable?

487

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 03, 2018, 09:47:03 am »

Homer said it’s impious to exult over the slain. Unless it’s the Cubs or the Rangers. Fuck em.

Meh...they're not slain...

488

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: October 03, 2018, 09:15:25 am »

And yet many will not believe it.

I think even more will say Good for them.

489

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 11:50:58 pm »

Unbelievable!

490

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 11:31:56 pm »

Anybody know if SlingTV carries MLB Network?

491

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 11:11:59 pm »

So they’re high school boys?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

"Rockies: We Peak Too Soon"

492

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 11:01:29 pm »

Say this for the Rockies: they don't make you wait long for the anticlimax.

493

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 10:33:35 pm »

There's the super excited walk again.

Protreras

494

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 10:04:29 pm »

That strikeout to Story with a runner on 3rd and 1 out in the 1st is huge.

Yeah, that one where Guccione finally started calling balls strikes for Lester? It really was.

495

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 09:09:12 pm »

Defense matters.

eta: Heh.  Drop a fly ball in the OF, no worries, just turn a great DP on the next pitch.

Rock Rockies Rock.

That was so unexpected and wonderful.

496

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 08:43:14 pm »

Also: just tune it to ESPN2. It isn't close.

497

Talk Zone / Re: The National League

« on: October 02, 2018, 08:38:43 pm »

Every year I forget about what a misanthrope I apparently am, then the MLB postseason starts and I am subjected to commercials again.

498

Talk Zone / Re: ALDS

« on: October 02, 2018, 07:06:40 pm »

Reasons not to subscribe?

5 of 8 The Athletic writers picking Indians over the Astros in the ALDS (including Ken Rosenthal, Eno Sarris and Joe Posnanski).

Of the other 3, Jayson Stark has the Astros winning over the Red Sox in the ALCS (and then losing to the Brewers in the WS) while Jim Bowden picks the Sox over the Astros. Only Peter Gammons has the club going all the way for its 2nd consecutive WS title.

AKA, the kind of shit defending champs with the second best record in baseball post next to their lockers.

499

Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime

« on: October 02, 2018, 08:58:18 am »

It's nuts to me (and it also makes sense, given the carrot demon's teetotaling) that they're getting friends of his to testify that they've never seen him blackout drunk. As if you know when someone else has blacked out.

500

Talk Zone / Re: Team Milestones 2018

« on: October 01, 2018, 05:50:13 pm »

Kluber and Carrasco can hang with anybody. Bauer has always been good against Astros. You can be down 0-2 without knowing what hit you.
Of course, it can work the other way with JV and Cole.

Bauer has never lost to the Astros. I'm terrified of being down 0-2 headed to Bauer.