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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 24, 2019, 03:54:34 pm »
Did Backe ever work for the Astros after his playing career was over?
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2
Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 23, 2019, 12:13:43 am »MLB knew about it. They didn’t act because they didn’t want to open that can of worms. It was opened for them.
My guess is MLB was tipped off by another team shortly before the end of the regular season (it's amazing this scheme lasted three and a half months, as crude and obvious as it was). They probably looked at the video and confirmed that something was off but didn't have what the Athletic did... sources to confirm the specifics. With the postseason coming up they had to do something, so they warned the Astros off the record. Luhnow or whoever can't claim that this had already been settled because there is no documentation.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 23, 2019, 12:03:55 am »Except this all happened *before* the Red Sox Apple Watch stuff.
This is a pretty interesting and balanced article by the Ringer. They did a deep dive on game video from 2017. They say the drum signals first appeared on May 28 and continued intermittently until mid September (the time of the White Sox series described in the Athletic article). Those games were played 5-6 days after the formal announcement and warning by MLB about the Red Sox spying case.
My guess is that whatever happened started with the players (as the Athletic article suggested) and was improvised with found items... existing cameras, the replay monitor and the trash can. This doesn't seem like something mandated by the front office, especially as primitive as it was. And why would they start this on a random date mid-season? I'm really starting to doubt all the rumors about James Bond style-high tech espionage. That doesn't mean this wasn't serious. If they were using a camera to spy in real time, multiple players knew. It's hard to imagine Hinch and the coaches wouldn't have figured it out, even if they weren't participants. Did the front office ignore this, or did they try to police it themselves? Even if they somehow didn't know, it happened on their watch.
But there's one group that definitely knew... MLB. The warning about drum signals to the monitors in 2019 is pretty obvious. If MLB had reports or rumors about this, all they had to do was spend a couple of hours watching game film (like Jomboy and friends) to understand what was going on. So why didn't they act, even after they publicly reprimanded the Red Sox and Yankees?
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 19, 2019, 04:48:42 pm »I’m starting to here speculation that Luhnow could be looking at a lifetime ban similar to Coppawhatever his name was with the Braves, if it can be shown he knew about and approved of this tactic.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He won't be going under the bus alone if that happens.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 18, 2019, 05:02:03 pm »Were the title to be vacated...
If the Astros are guilty, MLB has to show restraint. Existential penalties... ending somebody's career or threatening the survival of a franchise (which wiping out the most important part of its history would likely do)... is the surest and fastest way to a cascading failure that brings down multiple teams and gravely damages MLB. Everyone targeted would be telling all about what the teams they were with before and after the Astros were doing, dragging whoever they could under the bus with them. MLB would lose a major market. Crane, after seeing an investment worth hundreds of millions turned to ash, would likely make it his mission to dig up dirt on anyone else who was cheating. If they just tell the Astros to take their medicine, pony up some cash and a draft pick and publicly eat crow, they might be able to contain this crisis. Of course the press is likely following up a bunch of branching leads from the original story, involving other teams. And Manfred might just want to Manfred and fuck it all up...
The only way this calculus doesn't apply is if whatever the Astros allegedly did was a one-off, and the odds of that are damn near zero.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 18, 2019, 10:40:09 am »Advancement in wireless connectivity and camera technology is such that It would be pretty easy to be able to set up a tiny discretely concealed spy cam that could be monitored on a tablet or phone. That is how any savvy up-to-date tech would set it up. And it would be virtually non-detectable and fool proof. Hell, you could signal the batter with a mild electric shock or vibration of a bracelet or neck chain or behind some tape or in a sock. No need to fuck with an audible signal. It is silly that such a forward thinking team would choose to tap into the network feed from the CF cam and watch it in the tunnel while sitting two feet from a 36 inch monitor. In fact the same monitor they used to watch replays on.
"Mission Control" for such a scheme didn't even have to be in the ballpark. It could have been run out of a hotel room.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 18, 2019, 10:29:28 am »
I still can't get a grip on the whole drumming thing. Mysterious loud bangs every time your pitcher comes set? A different sequence for each kind of pitch? That can be clearly heard by everyone on the infield, including the umpires? Opponents should have caught on to this almost instantly, and there were any number of ways it could have been dealt with. Point it out to the umpires (who somehow didn't notice). Use complex signs at all times, even with the bases empty. Arrange to have the catcher set up outside with a changeup sign down while the pitcher aims a fastball at the batter's ribs. Tip off MLB or the press and tell them to review the game film. As described in the article, this wasn't a plan to cheat. It was a plan to cheat and get caught. But there is pretty clear video evidence that something happened. Absolutely none of this makes sense, no matter whether you're starting with the assumption that the Astros are saints or the assumption that Luhnow is literally Hitler.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 18, 2019, 08:54:25 am »Every club has a monitor like that with two people sitting at it (one a MLB rep) to watch replays to help decide if a review request is needed. It's not suspicious, it's normal. Notice the two chairs?Is that setup just used in the postseason? That is near where the drummer was supposedly sending signals in the regular season games, which would have been... awkward.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 17, 2019, 09:58:02 pm »That is plenty plausible.
That setup looks pretty ghetto for official MLB business or a sinister high-tech cheating syndicate.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 17, 2019, 08:13:06 pm »Hell no, Sherlock. You are on a roll.
I'm not going to commit to any of those answers. At this point I have no idea. So much of this makes no fucking sense, even if you're assuming the worst.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 17, 2019, 06:44:47 pm »
This twitter thread has pictures of the video station, taken from the World Series documentary. Some of the pictures show two chairs, food and drink containers and a bunch of sunflower shells, suggesting that people were working there during the game. I'm trying to figure out why somebody would be watching game video from that spot:
-Watching and taking notes for review and study after the game? That could be done from the clubhouse.
-Using a phone or radio to relay signs to somebody in the dugout or bullpen who alerts hitters with hand signals? That also could be done from the clubhouse. Phones in the dugout/bullpen would also be a problem after Boston was caught spying.
-Using the trashcan drum to relay signs to hitters, as was allegedly done in regular season games? Postseason crowd noise would make that very hard if not impossible. The Baseball Prospectus article where they studied postseason audio and could not find the same pattern from the regular season seems to confirm this.
So what does that leave?
-Did somebody watching video relay voice or hand signals to somebody at the tunnel entrance who passed on voice or hand signals to the batters? Very bad.
-Did they watch the video, take notes about the opposition and share their observations with the dugout between innings? (They'd want to be closer than the clubhouse to do this and phones would be a problem.) Not as bad as relaying a live spy feed to the hitters, but probably still over the line.
-Did they watch their own players for mechanical issues, pitch tipping and poorly concealed signs and give the dugout updates between innings?
Anyone have some other ideas?
-Watching and taking notes for review and study after the game? That could be done from the clubhouse.
-Using a phone or radio to relay signs to somebody in the dugout or bullpen who alerts hitters with hand signals? That also could be done from the clubhouse. Phones in the dugout/bullpen would also be a problem after Boston was caught spying.
-Using the trashcan drum to relay signs to hitters, as was allegedly done in regular season games? Postseason crowd noise would make that very hard if not impossible. The Baseball Prospectus article where they studied postseason audio and could not find the same pattern from the regular season seems to confirm this.
So what does that leave?
-Did somebody watching video relay voice or hand signals to somebody at the tunnel entrance who passed on voice or hand signals to the batters? Very bad.
-Did they watch the video, take notes about the opposition and share their observations with the dugout between innings? (They'd want to be closer than the clubhouse to do this and phones would be a problem.) Not as bad as relaying a live spy feed to the hitters, but probably still over the line.
-Did they watch their own players for mechanical issues, pitch tipping and poorly concealed signs and give the dugout updates between innings?
Anyone have some other ideas?
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 17, 2019, 11:23:00 am »Oh, please. WTF do you think scouts do if they only scout major league teams?
The orders to the scouts are definitely not the problem. None of what they were asked to do was technically illegal, although they thought cameras broke 'unwritten rules' (and being asked to use them was likely taken as an insult to their ability/skills). Stealing signs, whether they're given on the field or in the dugout, is most definitely part of a scout's job.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 17, 2019, 11:06:53 am »
If all of these reports are true, it sounds like the Astros were gearing up for war late in the season. All of these events... experimenting with electronic spying, ordering hyper-vigilance from the scouts... were in August and September. This was after the Red Sox and Yankees... two likely postseason opponents... were caught spying. Were they acting on the assumption that they'd be spied on in the playoffs and had to retaliate? Or had they been running a phone-based scheme similar to that of the Red Sox (now impossible) and were trying to figure out other ways to gain advantage? It's noteworthy that the Yankees caught the Red Sox by photographing their dugout, and the Astros front office was asking for something similar in those e-mails.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 16, 2019, 10:06:24 pm »
The messages described violations of norms. From what I can tell, nothing asked from the scouts was technically illegal. But the messages could be explained as indication of intent, that they showed the Astros were willing to push the envelope too far...
If the story told so far is true, it's really odd that the scouts pushed back against behavior that was an order of magnitude less severe than real time electronic spying, but the players didn't complain about what they were asked to do (or accept).
If the story told so far is true, it's really odd that the scouts pushed back against behavior that was an order of magnitude less severe than real time electronic spying, but the players didn't complain about what they were asked to do (or accept).
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 16, 2019, 07:28:51 pm »Dreilich and Rosenthal piling on:
https://theathletic.com/1374774/2019/11/16/astros-executive-asked-scouts-for-help-stealing-signs-and-suggested-using-cameras-email-shows/
The tag of the story carries more weight than the substance of the story. Hatchets flying.
I'm pretty pessimistic about the Astros' (total) innocence in all of this, but I'm going to call bullshit here. Advance scouts watching the opposition and trying to get a database of signs is totally normal. Binoculars and cameras are perfectly legal for any spectator. The only real problem is if the scouts are at an Astros game and relaying stolen signs in real time by phone or hand/voice signals.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 15, 2019, 10:10:11 am »One article today is quoting unidentified GMs as wanting the 2017 WS title vacated.
1. That would effectively be the end of the Astros as a franchise.
2. If even a fraction of the rumors about spying are true, it would be the start of a catastrophic cascading failure as journalists continue to do deep dives into the topic and anyone connected to the Astros with any knowledge throws other teams under the bus.
Even half seriously talking about that is insane...
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 14, 2019, 05:01:06 pm »WTF do Trevor Plouffe and Carson Smith know about the Astros sign-stealing operation? Neither played for the Astros. How could they possibly know about the "live feed" or the "relay technology." Seems like the "unnamed source" is doing a lot of the work here (and elsewhere).
They're probably going on what they heard from players who were current or former Astros. Of course those guys could have been lying, especially if they were still on the team. They might have exaggerated the extent or effectiveness of the spying to mess with other players' heads, or they might have lied about the methods so it would be harder for opponents to counter.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 14, 2019, 03:15:27 pm »
The bullpen catcher is also going to be busy doing other things for much of the game.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 12, 2019, 09:24:35 pm »
This story appears to be going big nationally. Trending on twitter and it's basically the entire MLB tab on ESPN right now...
In other news, there was no way they were not going to get caught. Players leave the team all the time through trade, free agency and release... and they'll all tell their new teams about what's going on right away. Even players still on the team will talk to their friends. Opposing players were apparently figuring out parts of the scheme in real time. How casual they were about the whole thing lends credence to the 'everybody was doing it' argument.
In other news, there was no way they were not going to get caught. Players leave the team all the time through trade, free agency and release... and they'll all tell their new teams about what's going on right away. Even players still on the team will talk to their friends. Opposing players were apparently figuring out parts of the scheme in real time. How casual they were about the whole thing lends credence to the 'everybody was doing it' argument.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 12, 2019, 06:40:10 pm »Rosenthal had an offseason overview piece last week that he ended with a paragraph about his hopes MLB would keep probing the Taubman/SI story.
I'm not sure what there is to investigate. This isn't exactly a whodunit. Taubman's actions and motivation were pretty clear. The team has already given him the maximum punishment, and being really bad at PR isn't technically a violation of MLB rules. The only real mystery is the infamous press release. No sane PR person would have composed that thing. The ranting tone of it makes me suspect that Taubman or an ally dictated it or tampered with it before release. But that would be insubordination and a violation of team policy, not an MLB rule violation. The only obvious thing left for MLB to figure out is whether Taubman deserves punishment beyond what the team imposed.
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Talk Zone / Re: More controversy
« on: November 12, 2019, 01:49:23 pm »The first sentence at the end of the first paragraph: That illegal sign stealing, particularly through advanced technology, is everywhere.
'Bounty' schemes were all over the NFL. But the team chosen as the scapegoat was the one that played in a media desert, had no real national fanbase and whose sudden run of success was stealing oxygen from bigger market teams...
22
Talk Zone / Re: Cole and Game 5
« on: October 31, 2019, 10:10:57 am »
That was absolutely bizarre. Cole looked like he was in a hostage video.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 7, October 30, 2019
« on: October 31, 2019, 08:57:45 am »Hit the ball hard right at them. Greinke was magnificent. Disappointed that Harris has a season end off the foul pole.
Harris was genuinely bad in Game 6, but last night was a brutal break. I'm not even sure the HR pitch was a strike...
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 7, October 30, 2019
« on: October 30, 2019, 11:09:25 pm »
Well, the Rockets beat the Wizards... so fuck off Washington.
By the score, they were playing Quidditch.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 7, October 30, 2019
« on: October 30, 2019, 11:06:12 pm »
And absent some off-season sorcery by Luhnow, they're going to have to try to get back here next year with a team weaker than this one.
Probably no Cole. Possibly no Harris. Gurriel and Reddick a year older at ages where that really starts to matter. Springer and Altuve entering their 30's. Correa a question mark.
They will have Alvarez for a full year. And whatever Tucker turns out to be. Not sure Whitley will be ready after a lost season this year...
They're going to be a good team for quite a while longer. One that consistently contends, frequently makes the playoffs and can make a deep run if they get or make a few breaks. But this may be the end of them as a 'superteam.'
Probably no Cole. Possibly no Harris. Gurriel and Reddick a year older at ages where that really starts to matter. Springer and Altuve entering their 30's. Correa a question mark.
They will have Alvarez for a full year. And whatever Tucker turns out to be. Not sure Whitley will be ready after a lost season this year...
They're going to be a good team for quite a while longer. One that consistently contends, frequently makes the playoffs and can make a deep run if they get or make a few breaks. But this may be the end of them as a 'superteam.'
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 6, October 29, 2019
« on: October 29, 2019, 11:03:12 pm »As much as tonight sucked, I remember another time that the Astros lost a game 6 with Verlander on the mound and that turned out ok. Hope the bats show up tomorrow against the best pitcher of this decade
That Game 6 loss to the Dodgers wasn't remotely as ugly as this.
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Talk Zone / Re: Latest Controversy
« on: October 28, 2019, 12:52:50 pm »
Well, we can't say our President has never done anything for us, as it looks like this is going to be remembered nationally as the Donald Trump Series instead of the Brandon Taubman Series...
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Talk Zone / Re: Latest Controversy
« on: October 25, 2019, 02:10:00 pm »
My take on this debacle, via Twitter.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 2, October 23, 2019
« on: October 23, 2019, 10:33:29 pm »Greinke and ? are our bulwark against a sweep.
They pitched a very impressive bullpen game against the Yankees, but I'm not sure anything short of a shutout will suffice.
Greinke needs to go nuts like he did in Seattle, or we're probably fucked.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 2, October 23, 2019
« on: October 23, 2019, 10:30:35 pm »Our hitters have had a good approach with both MS/SS but have not come through in the clutch.
The Astro offensive philosophy is:
1. Wait for mistakes
2. Force mistakes
3. Crush mistakes
It's served them well for the last several years, but there's no Plan B when the opposition... stops making mistakes. I suspect, relative to other teams, they may not be quite as good against truly elite pitching or just pitchers who are able to execute well in a given moment. There was an article published right before the postseason that rated the playoff teams on their performance against 'playoff caliber' pitching (I think they mainly used fastball velocity as an indicator of that). The author had the Astros near the bottom. I forget who published it, off the top of my head... will have to Google later.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series, Game 2, October 23, 2019
« on: October 23, 2019, 10:14:52 pm »
This sounds absolutely insane after the events of the last two years... but they're acting like this stage is too big for them.
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Talk Zone / Re: Latest Controversy
« on: October 23, 2019, 06:21:16 pm »
This might distract people from the Taubman story for a little while... yikes.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019
« on: October 23, 2019, 08:27:25 am »If he runs hard out of the box instead of skip-to-my-looing, does he have a triple and score on Altuve's fly out to right?
The ball kicked right to the center fielder, so probably not. Still no excuse for not running all out...
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 World Series Game 1; October 22, 2019
« on: October 22, 2019, 11:26:52 pm »If Springer’s double is a foot higher, we’re still playing.
If Brantley didn't hit the outfielder on the numbers with that line drive...
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Talk Zone / Re: Fuck the Nationals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
« on: October 21, 2019, 11:36:17 pm »
I was fantasizing about Brett Kavanaugh sitting right behind the first base dugout with a party of Russian oligarchs and Opus Dei witch hunters in $10,000 seats bought off his Amex Plutonium Card when Jordan Alvarez is really early on a changeup and sends a 120-mph liner screaming toward his swollen-- why did they have to put up all those nets again?
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Championship Series, Game 6, October 19, 2019
« on: October 19, 2019, 11:22:41 pm »
That. Just. Happened.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 5...October 10, 2019
« on: October 10, 2019, 10:14:01 pm »
The Rays are fucking nasty.
And I did not have enough alcohol for tonight.
And I did not have enough alcohol for tonight.
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Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: October 09, 2019, 02:13:29 pm »The Kurds are Christians.
Some are, but most are Muslim (you may be confusing them with Armenians).
This is still abhorrent, and the reality that how much Republicans will care about these events depends in large part on the religion (and race) of the victims is sickening.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: 2019 American League Division Series, Game 4...October 8, 2019
« on: October 08, 2019, 10:07:53 pm »Brantley...Gurriel...Correa...Reddick...time to reach down and find a pair before Thursday because you're getting another dose of what you got tonight from the Rays.
Brantley at least hit two balls hard.
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Talk Zone / Re: Stretch run
« on: September 29, 2019, 01:18:11 pm »
Cole needs to go out and get me that lid today.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: stRangers at Astros 9/17/2019
« on: September 17, 2019, 09:28:28 pm »
There's your 2 out Springer hit.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: A's at Astros, September 11, 2019
« on: September 11, 2019, 09:10:54 pm »They’ve been worked to death. And Miley has gone a grand total of 5 innings combined in his last three starts.
Resting the bullpen should take priority over beating the Yankees for best record.
But that requires getting rid of this damned division race.
We need a clutch game from Verlander to save a bunch of innings for guys in the bullpen, not just tomorrow but in the next two weeks. Having the Colonel and friends eat a lot of innings without having to worry about how pretty it looks would be a huge benefit.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: A’s @ Astros, September 10, 2019
« on: September 10, 2019, 09:17:27 pm »Framber in. So much for him starting tomorrow.
Urquidy?
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros vs The Dry Dockers Sept 5 2019
« on: September 05, 2019, 10:11:49 pm »
Even if they don't pull this out, seeing some actual offense is nice.
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Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 04, 2019, 04:38:43 pm »Voters will just accept the sharpie-doctored map as real and continue on without a curious synapse ever firing.
You misspelled 'elites.'
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Beer and Queso / Re: Texans 2019
« on: September 03, 2019, 09:37:39 pm »What did you expect?
Not a win against a truly elite team, but also not that.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Brewers - 9/3/19
« on: September 03, 2019, 09:36:20 pm »Well shoot. Astros go down 4-2. On to the next one.
Some things happened, the final score was 4-2 and... oh god, how's Springer?
50
Beer and Queso / Re: Texans 2019
« on: September 03, 2019, 10:47:28 am »
...and for those of you who might have hoped there would be at least one watchable football team in Houston this year... Sunday night was not a good sign.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays, September 1, 2019
« on: September 01, 2019, 02:57:52 pm »You were ready to be pissed off about the slump.
That can wait.
And they'll probably drop 30 on somebody in a 3-game series next week because, why not?
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays, September 1, 2019
« on: September 01, 2019, 02:39:45 pm »
I've got the Game 7 shakes right now...
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays, September 1, 2019
« on: September 01, 2019, 02:38:26 pm »
Wow.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays, September 1, 2019
« on: September 01, 2019, 02:22:01 pm »Particularly since it has probably cost him a win or two.
It would be 3 wins lost in the last couple of weeks, if he doesn't get the win today.
Win-loss record isn't weighed as heavily in the voting as it used to be, but this run of strong starts without results might still hurt his Cy Young chances.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Blue Jays, 8/31/19
« on: August 31, 2019, 08:51:26 pm »The last week theyve scored 11,15, 8, 8, 7, and 4. Anyone who thinks this offense is slumping simply hasn't been paying attention.
Talking about the last 2-3 days, not a whole week. They should have scored much more with the 3,876 walks they've gotten, including multiple runs walked in. They also fell very quickly into a slump from a hot streak after Baltimore. But it's just a stretch of shitty baseball (that I'm venting about), and it will pass. The bullpen and injuries are still the real concern.
Yes, I used to be 'Roger Cedeno's Spleen.'
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Blue Jays, 8/31/19
« on: August 31, 2019, 04:59:14 pm »Jeez, I forgot about the HBP. So they have flat-out *given* us 10 baserunners.
Just like that they've flipped back into a raging team slump like during the White Sox and A's series.
Their entire offense at the moment is the other team stepping on its dick.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at Blue Jays, 8/31/19
« on: August 31, 2019, 04:57:17 pm »
If Michael Fucking Brantley has the yips now, this is going to be a long week.
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Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: August 31, 2019, 12:11:32 pm »Rosters expand tomorrow. Urquidy could have been called up then without an IL trip for McHugh.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Unless McHugh is really busted up and would be going to the IL no matter what.
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Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: August 31, 2019, 11:41:07 am »
Getting the bullpen rested and healthy should take priority over going for best record. Ideally they would call up a bunch of AAA arms to eat innings for several weeks and not be too picky about the details... but then there's that damned division race, which won't quite go away. 9 games up with less than a month to play is very nice... except for the small matter of those 4 remaining head to head games with the A's. Hopefully a good outcome in those games will leave the team two weeks for bullpen R&R.
The A's scare the hell out of me right now. Not because they're going to win the division (still only a very slight chance) but because they can still do terrible damage to the Astros without ever catching them or facing them in the playoffs. If the A's can keep the division race alive until almost the end, that means all these tired and less than completely healthy bullpen pitchers will have to keep grinding away instead of getting a break. That would put the team in a bad place entering the postseason.
The A's scare the hell out of me right now. Not because they're going to win the division (still only a very slight chance) but because they can still do terrible damage to the Astros without ever catching them or facing them in the playoffs. If the A's can keep the division race alive until almost the end, that means all these tired and less than completely healthy bullpen pitchers will have to keep grinding away instead of getting a break. That would put the team in a bad place entering the postseason.
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Game Zone 2019 / Re: Rays at Astros- August 28, 2019
« on: August 28, 2019, 10:08:42 pm »
What a weird game this has been...
61
Game Zone 2019 / Re: TB v. Astros, August 27, 2019
« on: August 27, 2019, 09:12:28 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?
62
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: August 26, 2019, 06:26:52 pm »McGwire in BP in the Dome right after he got traded to the CoArds.
Piazza into dead center off of Wagner, well into the loge. I believe it was a DH day, because I was sitting in the LF seats with nobody around waiting for game 2 to move to the boxes.
One I remember from 1989 against the Cubs... Glenn Davis, facing Greg Maddux, hits a low line drive that ends up hitting the football 40 second clock at the back of the tunnel in dead center...
63
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Tigers v. Astros 8/22 The First Game of The Abraham Toro Era
« on: August 22, 2019, 09:22:39 pm »
Sometimes I dream
That he is me
You've got to see that's how I dream to be
I dream I move, I dream I groove
Like Mike
If I could Be Like Mike
That he is me
You've got to see that's how I dream to be
I dream I move, I dream I groove
Like Mike
If I could Be Like Mike
64
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Tigers at Astros- August 21, 2019
« on: August 21, 2019, 09:50:19 pm »Quote from: JimR link=topic=121071.msg663610#msg663610 date=1566441983
Yordan taking strike three is inexplicable.
[/quote
Yordan taking strike three is inexplicable.
[/quote
He suddenly seems oddly passive. I wonder if the coaches got onto him about the bad pitches he chased last week and now he's overcompensating.
65
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Tigers at Astros- August 21, 2019
« on: August 21, 2019, 09:28:26 pm »If that was in his head then fuck him.
Why else did he absolutely have to be at third with two outs? Because he might have trouble scoring from second on a single? They were going to run for him anyway...
ETA: Then I remember who they had to scrape up just to fill a lineup tonight. If Correa is gone for a while, this offense might end up being a worse problem than the bullpen.
66
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: August 21, 2019, 01:51:00 pm »
The President of the United States is decompensating right in front of us, but THIS IS FINE.
67
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Tigers at Astros- August 20, 2019
« on: August 20, 2019, 09:56:52 pm »
Since "discomfort" is the what all the cool kids are doing now, I'm wondering if Josh is trying to play through some of it...
68
Game Zone 2019 / Re: ASTROS @ ATHLETICS, AUGUST 16, 2019
« on: August 17, 2019, 02:24:11 pm »It is the ebb and flow that every team (even those with exceptional talent) experiences in every season.
It happened to the Astros in 2017 and 2018 and the 2017 Dodgers had an even worse meltdown.
The problem is that none of those teams had a team in their division as good as this year's A's.
It's also concerning that the August funk is happening this year when the team is mostly healthy (injuries were a big part of the problem in the two previous years).
69
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019
« on: August 14, 2019, 05:34:21 pm »I'm definitely concerned. I don't think they're going to lose a 10-game lead, but they're going to have to play a lot better than this if they want to play more than a handful of games in October.
The bullpen is the biggest problem. It's not fully recovered from the beating it took midseason when 1. All the injuries to the offense led to a long string of low-scoring, close games with the pen having to grind out multiple high leverage innings almost every night. 2. A fluky run of extra-inning games. 3. Then the issues with the starting rotation forcing them to pitch lots of bullpen innings 2 out of every 5 games. If Cole is out for a while (and I'm guessing they'll be conservative with him because a hamstring on a pitcher is major bad mojo) that means more hard work for the pen at least once every 5 games.
Ideally they could bring up extra pitchers to eat lots of innings in September, rest the bullpen regulars and not worry too much about the details... but that would assume they could coast through the last month. Messing up these next couple of weeks would mean not being able to finish off the A's and not getting a chance to rest people.
70
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019
« on: August 14, 2019, 05:13:34 pm »Stop
Sorry. It's how I vent instead of breaking things...
71
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019
« on: August 14, 2019, 04:46:28 pm »
It's like a tin lining in an EF-5, but at least this thing didn't go to extra innings...
72
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019
« on: August 14, 2019, 04:42:02 pm »Hardly. No reason for you to post if this is all you have.
The Astros are still overwhelming favorites, but another week of this and it will be an actual race.
73
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019
« on: August 14, 2019, 04:34:41 pm »
The AL West is open for business...
74
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros at White Sox 08/14/2019
« on: August 14, 2019, 03:46:42 pm »
That loss on Sunday broke their brains.
75
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ O's 8/10
« on: August 10, 2019, 09:04:29 pm »
Brutal. Savage. Rekt.
76
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ O's 8/10
« on: August 10, 2019, 08:34:57 pm »
Second 20+ run game in Astros history.
77
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ O's 8/10
« on: August 10, 2019, 07:24:20 pm »Anybody here been to Camden?
I've been there for a tour but unfortunately never for a game.
78
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Seatwats @ Astros 8/2
« on: August 02, 2019, 10:06:44 pm »
Somebody scored on a Not-Homerun... HERESY.
79
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 31, 2019, 02:55:28 pm »Well, we know Tucker for a couple of them, but he apparently is The Golden Boy.
Their thought process on Tucker is pure cognitive dissonance:
"Holy shit he was a total disaster in that 2018 call-up! That was so bad that we didn't dare let him anywhere near the major league roster this year... not even when half the team was on the IL. Who knows when he'll be ready..."
"He's so awesome that we're willing to accept a significantly lower chance of playoff success this year to keep this stone-cold lock can't miss future star."
80
Talk Zone / Re: 2019 Trade Deadline Talk
« on: July 28, 2019, 05:05:41 pm »I guess the good news is, we won’t have to face him in the playoffs now.
I'd be thrilled if we do.
81
Game Zone 2019 / Re: July 24 v. As
« on: July 24, 2019, 03:58:03 pm »
Huge win. That's why Verlander makes the big bucks.
82
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros Without Pitchers at Angels, 7/16/19
« on: July 16, 2019, 11:08:40 pm »
The biggest problem with the deadline is that with almost all of the pitching in the upper levels of the farm system being wiped out by injuries and/or regression, a lot of their potential trade stockpile has lost value. That makes it hard when they need two starters, two bullpen arms and maybe a bat (depending on how confident they are about people staying healthy going forward).
83
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros Without Pitchers at Angels, 7/16/19
« on: July 16, 2019, 10:06:28 pm »
Can this mess even be fixed at the deadline?
84
Talk Zone / Re: Alvarez
« on: June 17, 2019, 12:40:57 am »
He looks like a left-handed Moises Alou.
86
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains (2019)
« on: May 28, 2019, 05:56:54 pm »
This is going to (continue to) chew the hell out of their bullpen. They basically have no other way to win right now but to get good starting pitching and squeeze out a few dinks and dunks and maybe a solo homer or two from what's left of their offense. That's save situations and other high leverage innings for their bullpen, night after night. Pressley and Osuna are already feeling the strain...
87
Game Zone 2019 / Re: White Sox @ Astros, May 22, 2019
« on: May 22, 2019, 09:16:14 pm »
Somebody wants to send a message, They're not making calls. They're making plays.
88
Beer and Queso / Re: Rockets 2019 Playoffs
« on: May 09, 2019, 12:15:55 am »
...and there's the whole problem of Chris Paul aging faster than the vampire in the last five minutes of a Hammer horror film.
89
Game Zone 2019 / Re: Astros @ Twins - May 2, 2019
« on: May 02, 2019, 03:43:41 pm »
The scary thing is that this is what the team looks like when it's almost completely healthy...
90
Beer and Queso / Re: Infinity War (Spoilers)
« on: May 02, 2019, 09:22:47 am »At this point, Captain Marvel is completely indestructible and irresistible (i.e. she can just trash entire spaceships by flying through them a la Holdo - must be a Disney thing) so it's hard to see how they can create any suspense. For example, it was kind of silly and pander-y when they lined up all the women on the battlefield to help Danvers get the glove across some real estate when we'd just seen her go binary through Thanos' spaceship. That's what they're going to have to deal with going forward. Maybe they can use the OG Superman and Dark Knight dilemma plot device whereby she can save one but not the other of two interests in peril, but that's only good for one movie. Oh, and then there's Evil Danvers from another universe, so that's two movies. I really hope I'm wrong about both of these.
The MCU now has its own Superman, with all the good and bad that comes from that...
93
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: February 21, 2019, 12:08:17 am »
Speaking of wealth and taxes and douchebags, Bregman squares one up.
Well, I guess that's the other Bregman...
Well, I guess that's the other Bregman...
94
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: November 27, 2018, 09:47:56 pm »
In other news, fuck Mississippi.
95
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ACLS Game 5: Red Sox at Astros, October 18 2018
« on: October 18, 2018, 11:12:58 pm »Roster/rotation questions should make you nervous.
But I expect the Astros to be competing for the division again.
They'll have Cole, Verlander, Altuve, Bregman and Springer. A great foundation, but everything past that is a giant question mark.
You can't count on Correa. No knock on him. It would be the same for any athlete coming off a serious back injury.
Will Gurriel be better next year with his wrist fully healed? But he... and Reddick... is at an age where, as a very good but not great player, bad things start to happen.
Catcher? Machete is a solid backup, but McCann may be at the end of the trail.
White will likely be a nice bench player, but is he a starting DH? What does Gattis have left?
McCullers and Morton are very good, but will they be healthy?
And the bullpen is still a raging tire fire, even after all the tinkering. There are enough live arms in the system that they could probably spend the first half of next year auditioning for bullpen spots (and 5th starter) and work something out. Well, if the division was as weak as it was in 2017. But the A's aren't going to let that happen...
If everything breaks right, or if they go out and have a big offseason they could win 100 again. If not they may be struggling for a wildcard spot.
96
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ACLS Game 5: Red Sox at Astros, October 18 2018
« on: October 18, 2018, 10:53:03 pm »Made the Astros their bitch.
God how I hate the fucking trolling and bragging before you’ve accomplished shit.
This makes me more than disappointed about this year (like I would be if they'd lost a tough Game 7 in Boston).
This makes me very nervous about next year.
97
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ACLS Game 5: Red Sox at Astros, October 18 2018
« on: October 18, 2018, 10:51:28 pm »
Osuna turning into Walter Johnson after the game was effectively decided made me want to break things...
98
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ACLS Game 5: Red Sox at Astros, October 18 2018
« on: October 18, 2018, 10:47:10 pm »
I knew that the Red Sox were a very good team, and very capable of beating the Astros.
I had no idea that they could break the Astros.
I had no idea that they could break the Astros.
99
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game 3: Red Sox @ Astros October 16, 2018
« on: October 16, 2018, 08:32:53 pm »
Remember how awful those three games in New York were last year? And they cam back from th--
No. I can't make myself do it.
No. I can't make myself do it.
100
Game Zone 2018 / Re: ALCS Game #2: Astros @ Red Sox, October 14, 2018
« on: October 14, 2018, 10:25:26 pm »
Time to nut up, Dallas.
101
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 27, 2018, 01:29:13 pm »102
Talk Zone / Re: 2018 AL West Division Champs
« on: September 26, 2018, 11:00:13 am »
If they win out and win the World Series they'll even be close to one win for every year...
103
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 26, 2018, 10:08:15 am »104
Game Zone 2018 / Re: D-backs @ Astros, September 15, 2018
« on: September 15, 2018, 09:10:47 pm »
Go an inning without giving up a homer, then think about strutting.
106
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 03, 2018, 08:45:47 pm »You have no idea about how truly cruel the Nazis were.
Neither do you. It might come as a surprise, but most Nazis didn't spend their time sawing puppies in half and jacking off to livestreams from Auschwitz. They just supported the state and the regime by showing up for their perfectly ordinary and boring jobs every day, coming home to their families every night and then telling them that the "truly cruel" people were doing all that nightmare shit because that's what it took to make Germany Great Again. And they didn't go from zero to Holocaust in 3.7 seconds. They started smaller. Smaller things, kind of like putting babies in cages, stealing people's citizenship and turning a hurricane into a weapon. Waiting for gas chambers before you're scared enough to do something is like not hitting the brakes or turning the wheel until the other car's grille is coming through your dashboard...
107
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Twins @ Astros, Labor Day 2018
« on: September 03, 2018, 04:28:29 pm »
And now... LET'S GO YANKEES!
I'm going to have to take a shower after that...
I'm going to have to take a shower after that...
108
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: September 01, 2018, 11:10:27 pm »So is Happy a Qnon weirdo?
No need to be cute.
He's a fucking Nazi.
109
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: August 30, 2018, 11:20:42 am »Would it even move the needle?
The needle was put in the mixer and poured with the concrete for the bunker that they buried the bar under, so no, it won't be moving anytime soon...
110
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A's @ Astros August 28, 2018
« on: August 28, 2018, 10:54:11 pm »I do not doubt the mental toughness. I do not know how anyone could.
Mental toughness is relative in this case, as you need to be tough to get to this level at all.
But they're just doing so many weird/erratic/nonsensical things this year. Maybe all the injuries have something to do with it, as trying to play through pain could cause hesitance, overthinking and bad technique/habits...
111
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A's @ Astros August 28, 2018
« on: August 28, 2018, 10:36:11 pm »
After the wars they went through last year, I though this team's mental toughness would never again be in doubt.
But this year they keep showing up and acting like, as my military/veteran friends would say, "total fucking boots."
But this year they keep showing up and acting like, as my military/veteran friends would say, "total fucking boots."
112
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A's @ Astros August 28, 2018
« on: August 28, 2018, 10:19:15 pm »WTF Correa?
He's acting like a guy who hasn't been able to swing a bat without pain most of the season.
At this point I don't know if it's lingering bad habits or he's still not all there physically...
113
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A's @ Astros August 27, 2018
« on: August 27, 2018, 10:14:41 pm »
Vaunted and 1.
114
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros @ Angels, August 24, 2018
« on: August 25, 2018, 07:05:52 am »I like them too. Way better than last year.
They look more like Giants unis than Astros unis...
115
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: August 22, 2018, 10:52:49 am »Total insanity.
He needs to find his happy place after yesterday's news.
116
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Houston Astros @ Oakland Athletics - 18 Aug 2018
« on: August 18, 2018, 05:06:05 pm »This team has issues.
More issues than National Geographic.
117
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros VS Oakland 08/17/2018
« on: August 18, 2018, 12:44:38 am »
We were thinking 2017 could be the start of a dynasty, or more realistically, (given the top heavy American League) a run of sustained excellence like the Bagwell/Biggio Astros.
Right now it looks like an outlier. Just a thing that happened, like the 1988 Dodgers or the 2013 Red Sox...
Right now it looks like an outlier. Just a thing that happened, like the 1988 Dodgers or the 2013 Red Sox...
118
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros VS Oakland 08/17/2018
« on: August 18, 2018, 12:41:06 am »I hope good Keuchel shows up tomorrow.
Good Keuchel's been showing up for 2 months. Doesn't matter if you can't score.
119
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros VS Oakland 08/17/2018
« on: August 18, 2018, 12:37:29 am »I see a trend.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Welcome back to 2016.
120
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros VS Oakland 08/17/2018
« on: August 18, 2018, 12:31:12 am »They wilt in one run games. It's not a good development.
There's a clear inverse relationship between the importance of a job (getting a hit, getting a batter out, making a play) and their chances of getting it done.
122
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rockies at Houston 08-14-2018
« on: August 14, 2018, 09:22:04 pm »Tony fucking Wolters. Where’s the bottom?
October tee times.
123
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: August 14, 2018, 12:02:22 pm »
On a related note, if you ever come to Lafayette, stay the fuck away from Prejean's. You can't listen to the radio here for half an hour without hearing one of their ads with Rush Limbaugh telling everybody it's where conservatives go to eat...
124
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Mariners @ Astros, August 11, 2018
« on: August 11, 2018, 09:20:49 pm »You got Correa back. Be happy.
When he finishes his major league rehab assignment we'll be in good shape.
125
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros @ Dodgers, August 5, 2018
« on: August 05, 2018, 05:58:44 pm »i can't believe white didn't swing at that.
He's a vegan Great White. Good luck with that...
126
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros @ Dodgers, August 5, 2018
« on: August 05, 2018, 05:54:18 pm »
When exactly did the Astros start with the super secretive Sean Payton style injury reports?
127
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros @ Dodgers, August 5, 2018
« on: August 05, 2018, 05:13:57 pm »White and Davis are a black hole today.
It ends in 'Y?' Black hole it is...
128
Talk Zone / Re: Astros just acquired Osuna
« on: July 30, 2018, 06:35:26 pm »
I'm wondering how effective he'll be after the long layoff.
In 2017 it would have been "just let him shake the rust off... as long as he's ready for the postseason." This year he needs to be ready and effective from day one.
In 2017 it would have been "just let him shake the rust off... as long as he's ready for the postseason." This year he needs to be ready and effective from day one.
129
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, July 29, 2018
« on: July 29, 2018, 04:32:38 pm »The worst team in the division, who'd been on the skids, come in and run you out of your own fucking yard. I hope these guys are embarrassed as fuck.
I'm sure they will be. So they'll just press even harder...
130
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, July 29, 2018
« on: July 29, 2018, 04:31:59 pm »
It's shocking how shallow the offensive talent is in this organization.
There were more injuries last year, but most of them were to pitchers. (Position players got hurt, but those were spaced out, with never more than 1 or 2 out at a time.) The Astros just kept finding more pitchers to fill in, even with most of their original starting rotation missing.
Losing three starting position players this year to the DL (and two others to regression and/or hidden injuries) has completely crippled them and may end their season, if the injuries to Correa and Altuve are serious enough. And they have no clear solution. They're running out of major league hitters. I was bitching about trading for a bat earlier, but I'm not sure there's any plausible deal that will fix this.
There were more injuries last year, but most of them were to pitchers. (Position players got hurt, but those were spaced out, with never more than 1 or 2 out at a time.) The Astros just kept finding more pitchers to fill in, even with most of their original starting rotation missing.
Losing three starting position players this year to the DL (and two others to regression and/or hidden injuries) has completely crippled them and may end their season, if the injuries to Correa and Altuve are serious enough. And they have no clear solution. They're running out of major league hitters. I was bitching about trading for a bat earlier, but I'm not sure there's any plausible deal that will fix this.
131
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, July 27, 2018
« on: July 27, 2018, 10:09:11 pm »Right handed reliever, 3.4 ERA 1.36 WHIP, 69 Ks in 47.2 IP, 0.9 HR9
Solid pickup. But it's getting clearer by the inning that they need a bat.
132
Talk Zone / Re: Aches and Pains 2018
« on: July 21, 2018, 11:34:29 am »I hate to tell you this, but his issue has already lingered. I had two disc surgeries and am afraid he is headed in that direction.
To quote the great Bill James, "Back injuries are inherently serious."
134
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Tiger @ Astros 7/14/2018
« on: July 14, 2018, 05:53:25 pm »
Finger licking good...
135
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A’s at Astros, 7/12/18
« on: July 12, 2018, 04:24:47 pm »
If they keep getting god-tier starting pitching they'll be just fine.
If they don't, it's going to be tough.
If they don't, it's going to be tough.
136
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A’s at Astros, 7/12/18
« on: July 12, 2018, 04:09:51 pm »Me too. It’s one of those where you’re like, Well they’re ahead, but I sure don’t see them winning it!
This right here. It's 2016 all over again. They have to blow out the other team to win (or get stupid lucky like this Tuesday). The one thing they've done better than 2016 is starting pitching. Verlander or Cole or whoever goes nuts and they can blow somebody out 2 - 0. But it looks like the rotation has now been downgraded from "superhuman" to merely "excellent." I'm not sure that will be enough when nothing else on the team is working right.
137
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: June 30, 2018, 09:47:22 am »The investigation has backfired and revealed willful intent on the part of scumbags like Rod Rosenstein, Andrew McCabe and James Comey to adversely affect a candidate for president of the United States. This isn't a coup d'etat, but it's getting damn close. When Strzok said that he'd personally prevent Mr. Trump from becoming president and then acted on it, in my opinion, he crossed the line of criminality.
WFW.
138
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: June 27, 2018, 07:29:23 pm »I can’t neither. But she’s 85 years old. I don’t see her lasting another 6+ years.
And people who have no problems with locking babies in cages will have no problem with pushing an old lady down the stairs.
139
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Royals @ Astros, June 22, 2018
« on: June 22, 2018, 10:40:09 pm »
In the last four days the Astros have played their worst two games of the season.
We may be in for a rough week or two.
We may be in for a rough week or two.
140
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros at KC, June 15, 2018
« on: June 15, 2018, 10:18:42 pm »Boston just took the lead on the Fishslingers. Now 6-3
Now they get to find out how much fun it is playing elite teams...
141
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Mariners @ Astros, June 6, 2018
« on: June 06, 2018, 09:59:51 pm »
A ribcage injury would explain Correa's recent reluctance to swing.
142
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros @ Indians - Sunday, May 27th
« on: May 27, 2018, 05:19:24 pm »
I'm just gobsmacked by how much this team has regressed mentally. It's 2016 again.
Expecting another title is silly. It's hard every year, but especially tough this year with a league this top heavy. There are so many things that can go wrong:
1. Injuries.
2. A few bad breaks in a short postseason series.
3. A better team showing up and beating you.
But there was one thing, after what they did last year, I thought was absolutely, positively off the table:
4. Failing because the stage is too big for you.
And suddenly we're seeing signs of that, and it's still the regular season. Close games, and clutch situations late in those games, are a total mystery to these guys. Yeah, they won some that are technically, mathematically close, but that's mostly games when Verlander or Cole or whoever goes nuclear and they blow out the other team 2 - 0.
Expecting another title is silly. It's hard every year, but especially tough this year with a league this top heavy. There are so many things that can go wrong:
1. Injuries.
2. A few bad breaks in a short postseason series.
3. A better team showing up and beating you.
But there was one thing, after what they did last year, I thought was absolutely, positively off the table:
4. Failing because the stage is too big for you.
And suddenly we're seeing signs of that, and it's still the regular season. Close games, and clutch situations late in those games, are a total mystery to these guys. Yeah, they won some that are technically, mathematically close, but that's mostly games when Verlander or Cole or whoever goes nuclear and they blow out the other team 2 - 0.
143
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Indians at Astros May 20, 2018
« on: May 20, 2018, 09:37:48 pm »Rough night.
It still blows my mind that almost every position player on the team has taken a step backward this year, while at/near their primes and healthy.
144
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Indians @ Astros, May 19, 2018
« on: May 19, 2018, 07:18:03 pm »
I still don't understand the Altuve call.
145
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros at D-Backs May 6, 2018
« on: May 06, 2018, 06:17:20 pm »
They built up a strong record against bad teams.
Against good to very good teams they're out of their depth.
To repeat, the defending World Champions against a quality staff look like rookies getting their first look at big league pitching.
Some of this could have been foreseen, perhaps. Career bench players who had stepped up not being able to sustain that kind of performance. Gattis, a good but not great player reaching an age at which good but not great players often decline rapidly. But watching five All-Star caliber players, all healthy and at or near their prime years regress drastically all at once is Just. Fucking. Insane. If nothing changes, this is a .500 ballclub.
Against good to very good teams they're out of their depth.
To repeat, the defending World Champions against a quality staff look like rookies getting their first look at big league pitching.
Some of this could have been foreseen, perhaps. Career bench players who had stepped up not being able to sustain that kind of performance. Gattis, a good but not great player reaching an age at which good but not great players often decline rapidly. But watching five All-Star caliber players, all healthy and at or near their prime years regress drastically all at once is Just. Fucking. Insane. If nothing changes, this is a .500 ballclub.
146
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Los Astros @ Las Serpientes, Cinco de Mayo, 2018
« on: May 05, 2018, 10:45:58 pm »
This team has more issues than National Geographic.
147
Game Zone 2018 / Re: May 3, Yanks v Astros
« on: May 03, 2018, 07:16:32 pm »No, no everyone. I have been hollering since ST we needed a LF, another hitter, and a LHP in the pen. We still do. My mistake was thinking Giles would bounce back.
To be fair, 'everyone' included most of the national media. And me.
148
Talk Zone / Re: Sad day for the Raups
« on: May 03, 2018, 05:27:55 pm »
Could he be any worse than Harris or Sipp?
149
Game Zone 2018 / Re: May 3, Yanks v Astros
« on: May 03, 2018, 05:25:15 pm »
Everyone was bragging about how complete this team/organization was in March.
And now it's a great starting rotation, two thirds of a good lineup, maybe three reliable relievers. No bench to speak of.
The upper levels of the vaunted system are mostly a slush pile of AAAA sluggers. Maybe some arms who can patch up the bullpen. And, of course, Tucker... who might not be ready for a good while.
The rotation can carry them until the deadline, but there is zero point zero margin for error. They have to be completely healthy or they're done. If they get hurt at the same pace as last year, they'll lose 90.
And now it's a great starting rotation, two thirds of a good lineup, maybe three reliable relievers. No bench to speak of.
The upper levels of the vaunted system are mostly a slush pile of AAAA sluggers. Maybe some arms who can patch up the bullpen. And, of course, Tucker... who might not be ready for a good while.
The rotation can carry them until the deadline, but there is zero point zero margin for error. They have to be completely healthy or they're done. If they get hurt at the same pace as last year, they'll lose 90.
150
Talk Zone / Re: DH and LF
« on: May 02, 2018, 12:22:49 pm »
This is looking a lot like a return to the 2015-2016 Astros... extreme stars and scrubs lineup, bi-polar offense, shaky bullpen, gotta blow 'em out to win. The one difference is much superior starting pitching. Hopefully the rotation can hold things mostly together for several months. Because that's likely what it will take to get a start on fixing this, with Tucker's slow progress and the baked-in trade cycle based on the July/August deadlines. And if they have any real injury problems, they're fucked.
151
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Yankees at Astros, May 1 2018
« on: May 01, 2018, 10:26:41 pm »Hope this one sticks in their craw.
...and then they'll just press even harder.
152
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A’s @ Astros - April 29, 2018
« on: April 29, 2018, 08:50:53 pm »
Stassi hit a mile high fly ball to deep right. The A's right fielder was waiting for it at the fence, but a fan in the front row made a basket catch. His hands may have been a foot or two inside the top of the fence (hard to tell from the video). The fielder immediately called for interference and the umpire gave it to him. HR waved off, out.
If somebody in the front row, reacting naturally to a ball that appears to be coming right at him, can interfere without leaning in or even fully extending his arms, those seats are too close to the field.
EDIT: The second angle in the video below shows his hands a foot or more over the top of the fence. But he could literally touch the top of the fence from his seat, which seems silly.
If somebody in the front row, reacting naturally to a ball that appears to be coming right at him, can interfere without leaning in or even fully extending his arms, those seats are too close to the field.
EDIT: The second angle in the video below shows his hands a foot or more over the top of the fence. But he could literally touch the top of the fence from his seat, which seems silly.
153
Game Zone 2018 / Re: A’s @ Astros - April 29, 2018
« on: April 29, 2018, 08:29:39 pm »They let the fan back in a couple of innings later.
He stood up straight, didn't lean forward and caught the ball against his chest. I suppose the "legal" action for him was to keep his hands at his sides and hope the outfielder saves him from getting hit in the nuts. If a play like that is fan interference, it means the seating area is poorly designed.
154
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Astros host the Athletics 04/28/2018
« on: April 28, 2018, 08:30:29 pm »
More of this, please.
155
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Angels @ Astros, 4/24
« on: April 24, 2018, 10:47:19 pm »
True. It is one hell of a starting rotation. But they're going to be very vulnerable in the postseason if nothing changes.
156
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Angels @ Astros, 4/24
« on: April 24, 2018, 10:43:11 pm »
So we have the 2016 Astros with better starting pitching. What does that get us?
157
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Angels @ Astros, 4/24
« on: April 24, 2018, 10:33:34 pm »
I thought the 2015-2016 Astros were deader than Hitler, terminated with extreme prejudice during the 2017 postseason. I never expected to see them again. But here we are...
159
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Angels at Astros, April 23 2018
« on: April 23, 2018, 09:29:10 pm »They're gonna squeak it out, Don Corleone.
That 19 point squeaker.... whew.
160
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: April 20, 2018, 10:58:12 am »161
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, Jackie Robinson Day
« on: April 15, 2018, 10:30:49 pm »
When your starting pitchers strike out 38 in three games but you lose two out of three and avoid getting swept only by dumb luck...
162
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, Jackie Robinson Day
« on: April 15, 2018, 10:11:51 pm »Marwin flies out on a 5-0 count.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
When the umpires are quitting on you, you know you're sucking hard.
163
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, Jackie Robinson Day
« on: April 15, 2018, 10:09:40 pm »These guys might be worse right now than they were late July - early August last year. Let's hope they're getting it out of their systems early this year.
Much worse. And with a healthy roster, not one ripped apart by injuries.
164
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, Jackie Robinson Day
« on: April 15, 2018, 10:07:20 pm »Yesterday Correa taps out 1-3 with tie/go ahead runs on base, tonight, that can of corn on a 2-0 pitch.
He's been the most productive SS since he ended the league, but he's brutal right now.
Right now I'd be relieved if we found out he was hiding an injury.
He's starting to scare me.
Overall we're right back to the 2015-2016 offense. Keep them in the ballpark, catch the ball and they're done.
They've pretty much gone an entire week scoring on nothing but home runs and errors.
165
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, Jackie Robinson Day
« on: April 15, 2018, 09:55:46 pm »
Two thirds of a lineup, three fifths of a starting rotation and half a bullpen isn't going to get it done.
166
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Rangers @ Astros, April 14, 2018
« on: April 14, 2018, 06:34:50 pm »Times like this are when I wish they didn't carry so many pitchers. Would be nice to have a decent pinch hit option here.
The problem is that at the moment they're having trouble filling lineup spots 1 -9, much less 10, 11 , 12, etc.
168
Game Zone 2018 / Re: Baltimore Orioles @ Houston Astros - April 3rd 2018
« on: April 03, 2018, 10:05:12 pm »
That escalated quickly.
169
Talk Zone / Re: OWA Opening Day Schedule
« on: April 02, 2018, 10:29:42 pm »
To quote the great philosopher Brad Lidge... FUCKING HUGE.
171
Talk Zone / Re: OWA Opening Day Schedule
« on: April 01, 2018, 10:59:45 am »
I didn't realize how far the first two stops are from downtown (I thought it was going to a traditional bar crawl on foot because the Flying Saucer, the only place on the list I'm familiar with, is downtown). Is going up N. Main from downtown a quick way to get up there or is I-10 to Studewood faster?
(My apologies, have not lived in Houston since 2003)
(My apologies, have not lived in Houston since 2003)
172
Talk Zone / Re: OWA Opening Day Schedule
« on: March 29, 2018, 10:13:37 pm »
Wait, the game doesn't start until 6? This is going to be savage...
I can't wait.
I can't wait.
173
Talk Zone / Re: Opening Day Tickets
« on: March 29, 2018, 06:36:11 pm »
Yeah, I viewed it with no issues the day I accepted it, and did not need an additional login.
Their website appears to be borked right now, I was getting lots of error spam and requests for nonsensical stuff.
Luckily the mobile app is working fine.
Their website appears to be borked right now, I was getting lots of error spam and requests for nonsensical stuff.
Luckily the mobile app is working fine.
174
Talk Zone / Re: Opening Day Tickets
« on: March 29, 2018, 02:55:13 pm »
..and now I can't download my ticket. I'm logged into my mlb.com account, using the password sent to me when I accepted the ticket, but I'm stopped at the "my tickets" page by what appears to be a completely separate log-in. It refuses my e-mail and password and tells me to log in with a "patron id." No idea what that is...
EDIT: I was able to download it with the mobile app. Their desktop site is completely broken atm.
EDIT: I was able to download it with the mobile app. Their desktop site is completely broken atm.
177
Talk Zone / Re: Opening Day Tickets
« on: February 14, 2018, 09:32:19 am »
Should I be expecting an e-mail (or should I already have gotten one)?
178
Talk Zone / Re: Free Agents
« on: February 08, 2018, 10:14:13 am »I saw where the Rangers signed Bartolo Colon to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. They now have a Colon, a Bush, a Fister, and an Odor.
Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.
179
Talk Zone / Re: 6 Pitches
« on: February 02, 2018, 09:32:34 am »
I'm laughing at the replay of the Correa HR... he mouths "fuck" right after the swing because he thinks he just missed it.
180
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: January 25, 2018, 06:32:54 pm »Melania knows she should have negotiated a better prenup.
The book and movie deals will leave her and Barron set for life...
181
Talk Zone / Re: Your favorite moment
« on: December 03, 2017, 12:44:12 am »
Game 5, all of it. The World Series on peyote and mescaline.
Of course if they had lost that would have been the worst moment ever...
Of course if they had lost that would have been the worst moment ever...
182
Talk Zone / Re: Perth Heat @ Melbourne Aces
« on: November 18, 2017, 10:33:42 pm »Perth melting down, 7-4 now.
God damn it, Gregerson...
183
Talk Zone / Re: I cannot get enough of this stuff
« on: November 15, 2017, 08:49:52 am »Speaking of the tank commander, remember the gif of him flipping out in exasperation in the 2011 WS?
I thought of that when I first saw Roberts reaction to the Correa moon shot in the 7th inning of Game 5. Roberts is a cool customer, but this one got to him.
Around the 1:47 mark:
https://youtu.be/9GRNCez-Z9M
That reminded me of Garner throwing the chair in 2005...
184
Talk Zone / Re: I cannot get enough of this stuff
« on: November 10, 2017, 08:39:17 pm »Don't think this shit has much to do with the Astros, but you make a good point. Hope your master finds work soon.
Roy Moore is posting in the TZ now?
Fuck off.
186
Talk Zone / Re: world series stuff
« on: November 07, 2017, 10:46:54 am »
The only store that carried Astros WS gear in Lafayette was Lids, of all people. So only a hat for the moment. I'll probably order a couple of shirts this week.
And, in other news, the Dodgers, uh, dodged a bullet. If they had won they would be wearing championship caps in Giants colors.
And, in other news, the Dodgers, uh, dodged a bullet. If they had won they would be wearing championship caps in Giants colors.
187
Talk Zone / Re: Thank You
« on: November 03, 2017, 11:21:10 pm »1986 still is my biggest disappointment followed closely by 1998 and1980. Losing Game Seven this year would have eclipsed them.
The terror I felt before Game 7 was like nothing I'd ever felt as a fan.
188
Talk Zone / Re: Opening Day Tickets
« on: November 03, 2017, 06:33:24 pm »
What's the procedure for paying?
189
Talk Zone / Re: Thank You
« on: November 02, 2017, 10:37:23 pm »
I'm still waiting for an Alkie sighting...
190
Talk Zone / Re: Charlie Morton Statue: Bronze or Marble?
« on: November 02, 2017, 01:07:14 am »
Platinum.
191
Talk Zone / Re: Thank You
« on: November 02, 2017, 12:39:57 am »
Astros fan since 1979. In this hive of scum and villainy since 1998.
I'd pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the Astros had been losing since before I was born and would be losing long after I was dead.
Well fuck that.
Thanks, everybody.
I'd pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the Astros had been losing since before I was born and would be losing long after I was dead.
Well fuck that.
Thanks, everybody.
192
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 7 - For All the Marbles 11-1-2017
« on: November 01, 2017, 11:28:04 pm »
It was nothing but creeping dread all day... then the game started and I was terrified. It only got worse when they went up 5 - 0... WHAT IF THEY BLOW IT?
And now I never have to think that way ever again.
And now I never have to think that way ever again.
193
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 7 - For All the Marbles 11-1-2017
« on: November 01, 2017, 11:22:46 pm »
This really happened.
194
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 7 - For All the Marbles 11-1-2017
« on: November 01, 2017, 11:13:19 pm »
Still shaking.
195
Talk Zone / Re: Rich Hill
« on: November 01, 2017, 01:30:57 pm »
If I threw a paperweight at a student's head because he was "showing me up" and not "taking the class the right way" I'm sure my bosses would understand...
196
Talk Zone / Re: Game 6
« on: October 31, 2017, 10:46:50 am »
This day is going to be endless.
Fuck... it's not even 11 yet...
Fuck... it's not even 11 yet...
199
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 30, 2017, 01:06:00 am »Maybin was already in the game after running for Yuli.
Doh.
To be fair, I pretty much spaced out that half inning after they blew the lead.
200
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 30, 2017, 12:58:13 am »Fisher is one fast dude. I was expecting a play, but he easily beat it.
When they put him in I thought "is he really faster than Maybin?"
There's my answer.
201
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 30, 2017, 12:54:06 am »
This whole run has been nothing but ye olde classic punch in the dick Astros playoff losses replayed with the good guys winning...
202
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 30, 2017, 12:40:25 am »
FUCK. YES.
203
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 30, 2017, 12:10:41 am »204
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 29, 2017, 10:54:04 pm »
[HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER]
205
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 29, 2017, 09:53:47 pm »
ARE. YOU. SHITTING. ME.
206
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series - Game 5 - 29 Oct 2017
« on: October 29, 2017, 09:30:35 pm »We all know this team can get at least 3 more runs.
Easily. But who's going to stop the other guys from scoring?
207
Beer and Queso / Re: College football
« on: October 28, 2017, 06:22:48 pm »
Just what I needed to take my mind off of Eyegate... Game Two: The Football Remix.
208
Talk Zone / Re: Yuli Suspension?
« on: October 28, 2017, 05:02:37 pm »Where’s the justice? https://m.imgur.com/2640cNh
That picture is also all over Twitter. Anyone know the date and context?
209
Talk Zone / Re: Yuli Suspension?
« on: October 28, 2017, 04:49:13 pm »
5. Are there mechanisms in place for expediting an appeal in 2-4 days (without getting sued by the union)?
210
Talk Zone / Re: Yuli Suspension?
« on: October 28, 2017, 04:02:34 pm »
From the way Twitter is boiling over, the quick suspension announcement might have deepened the crisis instead of defusing it.
Lots of people are furious that he won't be missing time during the Series.
Lots of people are furious that he won't be missing time during the Series.
211
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 3 - Dojers @ Astros- Oct. 27. 2017
« on: October 28, 2017, 08:58:20 am »
Coming back to the dugout and yelling "I got that son of a bitch!" means you're caught up in the heat of competition.
Coming back to the dugout and doing... that... means you're a dick.
I hate to find that out about a player I've enjoyed watching so much. But I rooted for a team with Roger fucking Clemens on it, so I guess I'll live...
Coming back to the dugout and doing... that... means you're a dick.
I hate to find that out about a player I've enjoyed watching so much. But I rooted for a team with Roger fucking Clemens on it, so I guess I'll live...
212
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 3 - Dojers @ Astros- Oct. 27. 2017
« on: October 28, 2017, 12:44:15 am »
Do Gurriel and Darvish have any history?
213
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 2, Astros @ Dodgers, Oct. 25, 2017
« on: October 26, 2017, 08:51:21 pm »
It was an ordinary World Series game... and then the murders began.
214
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 2, Astros @ Dodgers, Oct. 25, 2017
« on: October 25, 2017, 11:43:02 pm »Instant classic --- but seriously Giles --- someone needs to get to him and have him respond from this --- forget and forgive until then end.
No more two-inning appearances. Inning Two Giles is shit.
215
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: World Series Game 2, Astros @ Dodgers, Oct. 25, 2017
« on: October 25, 2017, 11:37:55 pm »
My mouth is so dry I can't even swallow.
Holy shit.
Holy shit.
216
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: October 25, 2017, 01:00:37 pm »Quote
still has not said jack-shit about the combat deaths in Niger
Niger was a golden opportunity for Trump to change the subject from all his other problems: "Fuck your hurricane... WHAT ABOUT THE TROOPS?" "Radical Islamic Terror!" "WARTIME PRESIDENT!" But he stayed dead silent. The only reason I can think of is that the truth about how and why it happened is truly horrific.
217
Talk Zone / Re: Springer's At-Bats
« on: October 25, 2017, 10:48:36 am »
4. He hasn't been the same player since coming back from the injury.
218
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALCS Game 7. Enough will be enough.
« on: October 22, 2017, 11:19:04 am »
I woke up this morning and my first thought was THAT REALLY HAPPENED.
220
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALCS Game 7. Enough will be enough.
« on: October 22, 2017, 12:36:40 am »
Not sure how I'm getting to sleep tonight...
221
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALCS Game 7. Enough will be enough.
« on: October 21, 2017, 11:36:18 pm »
So this is what having a clutch team is like.
222
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALCS Game 7. Enough will be enough.
« on: October 21, 2017, 11:21:37 pm »
I love this team.
223
Talk Zone / Re: ALCS Game 7
« on: October 21, 2017, 03:15:09 pm »
This day is just crawling by...
224
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALCS Game 5: Astros @ Yankees, Oct 18, 2017
« on: October 18, 2017, 08:18:35 pm »Is Keuchel SURE Verlander won't regret his decision???
He's got to be wondering what the fuck he got himself into at this point.
Unless something changes in Game 6/7, this has to be one of the worst offensive performances in postseason history. Adjusted for context it might be the very worst, as the only comparable events I can think of happened in the dead ball era or 1960's (Dodgers in 1966 World Series, etc.).
225
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALCS Game 4: Astros @ Yankees, Oct 17, 2017
« on: October 17, 2017, 09:27:32 pm »
I don't think the bullpen ever fully recovered from that mid-season siege of injuries with pretty much the whole starting rotation on the DL...
226
Talk Zone / Re: NLDS Game 5
« on: October 12, 2017, 11:49:58 pm »Now that video replay is so prevalent, MLB needs a rule change that makes the area over the bag safe territory - kinda like "breaking the plane" in football.
That, or somebody tears his hamstring trying to keep his leg glued on the bag for the entire slide to please the replay booth.
227
Talk Zone / Re: NLDS Game 5
« on: October 12, 2017, 09:51:36 pm »
He lost it in the lights, or he's in very, very deep to the Russian Mob.
228
Talk Zone / Re: NLDS Game 5
« on: October 12, 2017, 09:45:50 pm »
Watching this makes me cringe because the Nationals remind me so much of the turn of the century Astros and their utter futility in the Division Series.
229
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALDS Game 4: Astros vs. Red Sox
« on: October 09, 2017, 04:54:41 pm »I fucking love this team. That is all.
230
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALDS Game 4: Astros vs. Red Sox
« on: October 09, 2017, 04:37:48 pm »My house is fucking SPOTLESS right now.
Mine is... not spotless, but a lot closer than it was.
231
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: ALDS Game 4: Astros vs. Red Sox
« on: October 09, 2017, 04:21:21 pm »
Wow. My heart is still racing.
232
Talk Zone / Re: McCullers
« on: October 01, 2017, 05:22:28 pm »
They should leave him off the roster for the first series and work him in simulated games to prepare for pitching in relief. If the Astros advance they might be able to use him. with the longer series and possible injuries.
233
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox - September 30, 2017
« on: September 30, 2017, 01:58:54 pm »
In other news, I wonder how much bitching there will be from the Yankees and the media about the Astros using this game as a rehab start for an injured pitcher...
234
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Red Sox - September 30, 2017
« on: September 30, 2017, 01:54:17 pm »
It's stunning how fast this offense can flip the switch from godlike to pathetic and back.
Hopefully the four day break (five counting the likely spring training B game tomorrow) before the playoffs will let them reset.
Hopefully the four day break (five counting the likely spring training B game tomorrow) before the playoffs will let them reset.
235
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Angels @ Astros..September 22, 2017
« on: September 22, 2017, 10:17:52 pm »
Any news on Reddick?
236
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Angels @ Astros..September 22, 2017
« on: September 22, 2017, 10:14:33 pm »
Was the home plate umpire a Russian plant? That was ridiculous...
237
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Angels @ Astros..September 22, 2017
« on: September 22, 2017, 09:28:24 pm »A runner in scoring position!!!!
A fan will walk back to his front row seat from the gift shop with a souvenir baseball, and an Astro will swing at it and pop it up.
238
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Mariners @ Astros - September 17, 2017
« on: September 17, 2017, 04:07:33 pm »
Very nice.
The most encouraging thing about this series was Correa and Springer consistently barreling up balls.
The most encouraging thing about this series was Correa and Springer consistently barreling up balls.
239
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Sea Turds @ Houston 09-16-2017
« on: September 16, 2017, 03:11:26 pm »I would assume that Giles for the 9th, but I can't remember how much he's been used recently.
This would be his third straight game.
240
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Sea Turds @ Houston 09-16-2017
« on: September 16, 2017, 03:10:43 pm »Sipp entering the game to "Sabotage" is a little too on the nose.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Better than Fiers entering the game to "Suicide is Painless."
241
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Sea Turds @ Houston 09-16-2017
« on: September 16, 2017, 03:07:48 pm »
Who or what pitches the 9th?
242
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Sea Turds @ Houston 09-16-2017
« on: September 16, 2017, 03:01:51 pm »
If he wants to run Spring Training in September, can he at least wait until the division is clinched?
243
Talk Zone / Re: September
« on: September 14, 2017, 01:50:28 pm »Point of order, Spleen, Reddick is hitting .403 with a .965 OPS over his last 20 starts.
Yeah, I'm probably still thinking about that horrible funk he went through in August.
244
Talk Zone / Re: September
« on: September 14, 2017, 12:31:44 pm »
A lot of the pitching problems are being caused by people who probably won't be a factor in the postseason (Fiers, a bunch of second and third tier bullpen arms). This is of course aggravated by Hinch managing this week's games like it's spring training. The really scary thing is that the offense has collapsed. Correa and Springer are not the same players after returning from injury. There have also been regressions to the mean. Marwin, obviously. Reddick, to a lesser degree. Even Altuve has been downgraded from "minor deity" in June/July to merely "pretty good." Gattis can't stay healthy. Gurriel is struggling to play through nagging injuries. The bench players and minor leaguers called on to fill the gaps have not gotten it done. I'm not sure how this gets fixed by October. We won't have to watch a lot of these pitchers who've been just eating innings and doing it badly. But there's only one starting lineup, and sending it out in this state against the Corey Klubers of the world is not going to end well.
245
Talk Zone / Re: Indians...
« on: September 12, 2017, 11:37:46 am »
The Indians really are the superteam that the Dodgers thought they were...
246
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ A's, 9/10/17
« on: September 10, 2017, 07:08:58 pm »Kalas, talking about sweeps.
Sweep? The Angels came from behind to win today and are going to be pumped for this series, knowing that a sweep restarts the division race.
The Astros will be coming into this series longing for the sweet embrace of death.
247
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ A's, 9/10/17
« on: September 10, 2017, 06:46:51 pm »I kept waiting, and I understand what he brings to the clubhouse, but are we supposed to wait until his magical playoff run?
The problem is that the veteran leadership part isn't working either.
248
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ A's, 9/10/17
« on: September 10, 2017, 06:42:00 pm »
An injury scare and one tough late inning loss was enough to completely break this team's composure.
How would they deal with postseason pressure?
How would they deal with postseason pressure?
249
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Game 2
« on: September 09, 2017, 10:13:57 pm »
More seriously, they've been deer in the headlights since the seventh inning of the first game... probably about the time they heard that the McHugh injury was serious.
250
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Game 2
« on: September 09, 2017, 10:07:47 pm »At least the Astros can still say they've won 7 of their last 10!
Those might be the last they win.
I'm only mostly joking.
251
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ A's September 8, 2017
« on: September 09, 2017, 12:16:26 am »
This team's got more issues than National Geographic.
252
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: steM @ Astros September 3, 2017
« on: September 03, 2017, 01:49:35 pm »It's sad that you get Keuchel back, you get McHugh back, you acquire Verlander...yet you still run Mike Fiers out there.
I assume this is his last start of the year, unless they're resting somebody else at the end of the season,
253
Talk Zone / Re: Now that we have Verlander...
« on: September 01, 2017, 07:39:18 am »ETA: "The Astros gave up more than I would have" stuff has started in some of the blogging. Fuck them. I understand Perez and Rogers are great prospects, and who knows about Cameron, but these same people vilified Luhnow at the deadline for being in love with his prospect. The message is: no matter what you do, the Internet experts will come down hard.
Getting Verlander and part of his salary for those three players is a great deal.
254
Talk Zone / Re: August 31
« on: August 31, 2017, 10:40:45 pm »
They didn't ask Verlander about his willingness to waive no-trade rights for the teams involved while negotiations were underway? It's not like they had a whole month or anything...
Or did Harvey change his mind?
Or did Harvey change his mind?
255
Talk Zone / Re: August 31
« on: August 31, 2017, 10:05:33 pm »I'm so glad we have a GM looking to position us for the WS in 2019. We obviously have no shot this year.
Sheesh.....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Luhnow's probably influenced by two things:
His experience with the Cardinals, which taught him that if you just stay in contention every year, good things will eventually happen. Of course most teams in that situation won't have the same luck in the postseason as his Cardinals.
His boss, who's been crying poor like he's auditioning for the lead in Oliver Twist. Luhnow may be hoarding prospects to hedge against a possible teardown in a few years. This is especially true after Harvey. Nobody knows yet what that will do to attendance and other revenue.
256
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: stRangizz @ Astros-Florida Style August 29, 2017
« on: August 29, 2017, 08:42:14 pm »If this is the level of effort the Astros are gonna give the next few weeks, they'll be in fourth place before they return home.
This is kind of scary.
The 2008 team was not as talented as this one, but it had a bunch of postseason-tested veterans. Ike still broke them.
This team is flighty as fuck on a good day, and they're dealing with something even worse. The sheer scope of Harvey and simple probability dictate that the impact on their families, friends and homes is worse than what the 2008 team faced. And this is after being exhausted and worn down by the siege of injuries...
The one blessing is the big lead. They may need all of it.
257
Talk Zone / Re: Games this week
« on: August 28, 2017, 09:19:43 pm »
Did those fuckers promote Odor to GM or something?
258
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Athletics @ Astros August 20, 2017
« on: August 20, 2017, 05:17:30 pm »Who is this "Gattis" of which you speak?
Has there been more bad news about him?
259
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Athletics @ Astros August 20, 2017
« on: August 20, 2017, 05:05:44 pm »
Just when the team has weathered the worst of the pitching crisis... the offense is broken. They're back to the extreme stars and scrubs lineups from 2015 and 2016. And, like back then, the stars are starting to press and try to carry the team by themselves. Correa, Gattis and McCann coming back will fix a lot of the problem, but the guy who scares me is Marisnick. Regression to the mean can't be healed. Suddenly a totally average player like Aoki seems like impossibly precious commodity...
260
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Athletics @ Astros August 18, 2017
« on: August 18, 2017, 10:02:18 pm »Dude, it was one game.
Two strong starts in a row.
261
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Athletics @ Astros August 18, 2017
« on: August 18, 2017, 10:00:45 pm »
My Keuchel's back and you're gonna be in trouble
Hey-la-day-la my Keuchel's back
Hey-la-day-la my Keuchel's back
262
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Snakes @ Astros August 16, 2017
« on: August 16, 2017, 10:40:19 pm »
We should be at or very close to expanded rosters when McCullers is back.
263
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Snakes @ Astros August 16, 2017
« on: August 16, 2017, 10:31:31 pm »
2 in a row? 3 out of 4? I'm feeling faint...
264
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Diamondbacks August 14, 2017
« on: August 14, 2017, 11:21:16 pm »McHugh pitched well too.
The pitching staff is finally showing signs of life, and the offense has flatlined.
265
Talk Zone / Re: Altuve
« on: August 12, 2017, 09:11:35 am »
Two things in his favor:
Hitting .500 for a month helped postpone this collapse.
He has a key skill the other stars on this team lack... staying in the lineup every day.
I still remember "Bagwell and Biggio are so gifted but they choke under pressure."
I do agree that this team has issues with mental toughness and tends to panic when faced with adversity, but that's the result of a complex group dynamic and I'm not sure it's fair to blame individual players,
Hitting .500 for a month helped postpone this collapse.
He has a key skill the other stars on this team lack... staying in the lineup every day.
I still remember "Bagwell and Biggio are so gifted but they choke under pressure."
I do agree that this team has issues with mental toughness and tends to panic when faced with adversity, but that's the result of a complex group dynamic and I'm not sure it's fair to blame individual players,
266
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ stRangizz August 11, 2017
« on: August 11, 2017, 09:23:34 pm »
I wonder how the Rangers are feeling about the Darvish trade right now...
267
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ White Sox August 10, 2017
« on: August 10, 2017, 09:31:32 pm »
They look like they're pressing on both sides of the ball.
268
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ White Sox August 8, 2017
« on: August 08, 2017, 10:41:27 pm »I sent you a couple PM, we should meet sometime snowflake!
The only meeting that will get you is with Spack.
269
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Rays @ Astros August 3, 2017
« on: August 03, 2017, 10:40:34 pm »
The AL West is officially open for business.
270
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Rays @ Astros August 3, 2017
« on: August 03, 2017, 10:03:31 pm »Currently configured, this team will not reach 90 wins.
With all the players absent due to injury or limited by injury or overwork, this is basically a 90 loss roster.
A rotation of 5 fifth starters. A bullpen down to one reliable guy, the closer, who will be irrelevant most nights. A lineup that has to carry two AAAA bodies most of the time, so basically an AL team that somehow has two pitchers hitting. The lineup obviously still has a few potent bats, but now they can increasingly be pitched around. (Altuve's insane July covered a lot of problems. Now that's over...)
It's still a big lead, but it's being protected by a roster that can't consistently win without breaks or help from the other team.
271
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Rays @ Astros August 3, 2017
« on: August 03, 2017, 09:48:00 pm »This team is a mess. A healthy Correa, Springer, Keuchel, Harris, and McCullers can fix it. Let's hope we get it by October.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It doesn't matter if they finally get the band back together in mid September and they're five games out.
272
Talk Zone / Re: Aches, Pains and Muscle Strains (2017 Version)
« on: August 02, 2017, 01:57:43 pm »I hate this thread.
This would be a tough injury season for an NFL team...
273
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Rays @ Astros August 1, 2017
« on: August 01, 2017, 09:49:48 pm »Hope that run doesn't come back to haunt us. It looked like Fisher played it safe and pulled up to field it on a hop instead of charging and diving.
I wonder if they're being coached that way after all the crazy injuries...
274
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Rays @ Astros July 31, 2017
« on: July 31, 2017, 10:41:22 pm »Apparently, Josh Beckett is doing the post game with Hockey Bart. He’s probably a better option...right now.
I'd also be willing to take a chance on that Hockey Bart guy.
August is going to hurt.
275
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Rays @ Astros July 31, 2017
« on: July 31, 2017, 10:31:13 pm »
Why did they tap out when only down 5?
276
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 30, 2017
« on: July 30, 2017, 05:44:36 pm »
Fiers, Peacock, Devinski, Giles... maybe Martes... and?
They're pretty screwed.
They're pretty screwed.
277
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 30, 2017
« on: July 30, 2017, 01:14:32 pm »He is flying open.
His mechanics could be messed up because he's favoring something and/or throwing properly hurts.
278
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 29, 2017
« on: July 29, 2017, 07:52:41 pm »This bullpen showed a lot of promise early in the season, but it's a dumpster fire now.
August is going to hurt.
Hopefully by September most/all of the injured people will be healthy and fully up to speed, and they can abuse the expanded roster to eat innings and rest the pen.
But that latter part only works if they still have a sizeable lead.
279
Beer and Queso / Ranger or not...
« on: July 26, 2017, 11:16:30 pm »
...you can't hate Adrian Beltre.
280
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline 2017
« on: July 26, 2017, 05:54:53 pm »Luhnow on 790 this morning covered several topics. McCullers and his command was discussed-Luhnow felt it is due to his long layoff-just needs some more innings.
Re trade deadline, Luhnow really addressed the crux of the matter. He said they would make a trade if it made sense to do so, but he is equally looking at the next few years when a number of contracts will need to be sorted out. They are hamstrung with the media contract for the next decade or so, so he is not willing to make a big splash for the short term. The Cardinals were mentioned as a model which he believes in-not many big trades but a solid product every year.
Very lucid plan. Love it.
It sounds like a lot of this is Crane talking through Luhnow. But this is not "the short term." This is a guy who's supposedly waited his whole life to own a major league team, who's looking at a historic opportunity, one that few owners will ever get... and he's crying poor.
This roster as constructed could certainly win a World Series... if it was healthy and rested (by late season standards) going into October. But it's now almost certain they will be neither. The team has done an absolutely heroic job playing through terrible luck, but they're going to need help making it to the end.
281
Beer and Queso / Re: Roger Angell on "Most Important" Vote of His Lifetime
« on: July 26, 2017, 12:38:17 pm »Miller, I suspect, would have to Google "Truman".
...and then rant for hours about what a cuck Jim Carrey is.
282
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Philadelphia 07/24/2017
« on: July 24, 2017, 10:57:50 pm »Would Guduan really be any worse against left-handers than Sipp at this point?
Hitler wouldn't be any worse against left-handers at this point...
283
Talk Zone / Re: McCullers
« on: July 23, 2017, 10:35:41 pm »
The scary possibility is that he's hurt again.
The scarier possibility is that he's not hurt again.
The scarier possibility is that he's not hurt again.
284
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Houston @ Baltimore 7/22 ???
« on: July 22, 2017, 10:34:38 pm »
Any news on Moran?
285
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Houston @ Baltimore 7/21
« on: July 21, 2017, 09:16:53 pm »Hoyt in
Joseph F-8
Tejada BB ridiculous
Kim hitting for Rickard 2B
Jones 2B hanging slider
8-4
Machado 1B
Hoyt is done, Devo in tying run on deck
Schoop HR 8-7 get ahead fastball Devo homers inlast two games
Davis BUNT 1-3 he should be fined
Giles on
Trumbo K hanger
Astros win 8-7 terrible job by pen
Luhnow, are you watching?
He's made a lot of noise about doing the thing that rhymes with "hand flat," but that would be insane at this point.
He needs at least two bullpen arms. They don't all have to be stars, but he needs bodies, plural. Keuchel and McHugh will not be the solution right away... they're going to be on hard pitch counts for quite a while. Maybe McCullers too, if he's not 100% yet.
286
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Scurvy Pervies @ Astros, 7/19
« on: July 19, 2017, 03:56:45 pm »Not his fault. Lucking fucking carom right to LF.
ETA on sober reflection: yes, it was his fault down 3.
Yeah, the difference between 2nd and 3rd is nearly meaningless in that situation.
287
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Scurvy Pervies @ Astros, 7/19
« on: July 19, 2017, 03:50:25 pm »I'm usually tracking with you 95%, but this leaves me scratching my head.
He has a pattern of dominating for 3-5 innings and then flatlining.
He might do better in long relief. I also wonder just how hard he could throw as a reliever...
288
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Scurvy Pervies @ Astros, 7/19
« on: July 19, 2017, 03:48:56 pm »
This team is suddenly playing tight as fuck. Everyone tells me not to get too nervous, with that 16 game lead and all. I think I'll start taking that advice when this team does.
289
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Scurvy Pervies @ Astros, 7/19
« on: July 19, 2017, 03:35:54 pm »
I wouldn't be heartbroken if Morton is demoted to the bullpen if/when Keuchel and McHugh return.
In other news, if one or both of those two don't make it back and McCullers doesn't get back to 100%, this is going to get very unpleasant, very quickly.
In other news, if one or both of those two don't make it back and McCullers doesn't get back to 100%, this is going to get very unpleasant, very quickly.
290
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Scurvy Pervies @ Astros, 7/19
« on: July 19, 2017, 03:09:07 pm »The Astros look absolutely uninteresting in winning this game today.
They've looked like junk since the break. They're lucky to end up splitting those six games...
291
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Fish-Slingers at Astros July 17, 2017
« on: July 17, 2017, 11:15:09 pm »
If Luhnow picks up a quality starter and a quality bullpen arm at the deadline it will be quite the coup... and I'm not sure it will be enough.
All the people who are currently nicked up and/or rehabbing will have to be healthy.
All the people who are currently nicked up and/or rehabbing will have to be healthy.
292
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Fish-Slingers at Astros July 17, 2017
« on: July 17, 2017, 11:07:52 pm »I know we are going to lose some, but this one bothers me.
They've been on tilt since the fourth inning of the first Twins game. The Sunday win was a gift.
I just hope tonight's performance by McCullers was a result of the extra long rest throwing him off and not a sign that he's still not right physically.
293
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Fish-Slingers at Astros July 17, 2017
« on: July 17, 2017, 11:04:19 pm »Well, the bullpen will be walking around with their arms duct taped to the shoulders
I'm as concerned as it's possible to be about a 62 and 31 team.
294
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Fish-Slingers at Astros July 17, 2017
« on: July 17, 2017, 11:02:01 pm »The pitching staff really shit the bed tonight, top to bottom.
I'm trying to imagine what August is going to look like at this rate...
295
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Blue Jays July 8, 2017
« on: July 08, 2017, 02:43:40 pm »
This bullpen is completely gassed. Really disturbing pattern last two weeks, with a starter struggling in mid/late innings and bullpen letting other team blow it open. Fortunately they've managed to slug their way out of trouble in most of those games. All Star break can't come soon enough...
296
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Braves July 5, 2017
« on: July 05, 2017, 10:35:18 pm »
My bitching from however many game threads ago was wrong.
This is an elite offense.
This is an elite offense.
297
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Braves July 4, 2017
« on: July 04, 2017, 08:45:53 pm »
*Springer looks back, sees the ball go over CF'ers head* "Yeah, I can score on that, no problem." *Looks ahead of him* "Oh SHIT!"
298
Talk Zone / Re: MMP Gameday Experience
« on: July 02, 2017, 08:09:22 pm »
My only game this year was also the most boring game of the year (the 3-0 loss to the Indians) and the atmosphere at MMP was still incredible.
299
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline 2017
« on: June 26, 2017, 03:05:11 pm »You cannot count on Kuechel or assume health where there is none.
I don't like how his return date keeps creeping back.
Nerve injuries are no joke. Ask Glenn Davis about that...
300
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Athletics June 22, 2017
« on: June 22, 2017, 05:17:27 pm »
Reddick: "You think you gonna Pipp me you bish?!"
301
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Athletics June 21, 2017
« on: June 22, 2017, 12:15:31 am »
A series win! I remember those!
302
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Athletics June 21, 2017
« on: June 21, 2017, 11:25:36 pm »A little Evan Williams and an Astro's win will help the of the loss of my mother today.
Sorry to hear that.
Bully better not fuck this up...
303
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 18, 2017
« on: June 18, 2017, 11:50:37 pm »
This team often has trouble scoring runs when the ball stays inside the park, and a lot of that appears to come from bad results on well-hit balls.
I'd really like to know what's going on. Is this just an extended run of bad luck, or is there something that makes the Astros easier to defend against? There's nothing obvious. We don't have many dead pull hitters, most people in the lineup do a reasonably good job of hitting to all fields...
I'd really like to know what's going on. Is this just an extended run of bad luck, or is there something that makes the Astros easier to defend against? There's nothing obvious. We don't have many dead pull hitters, most people in the lineup do a reasonably good job of hitting to all fields...
304
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 18, 2017
« on: June 18, 2017, 11:27:49 pm »
14 hits and nearly that many line drive outs.
305
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 18, 2017
« on: June 18, 2017, 11:21:10 pm »
This team loses an incredible number of runners on the basepaths.
To be fair, they also seem to hit an awful lot of balls on the screws and get bad results...
To be fair, they also seem to hit an awful lot of balls on the screws and get bad results...
306
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 16, 2017
« on: June 17, 2017, 12:05:38 am »I would take to Twitter.
I save Twitter for ranting about Trump.
307
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 16, 2017
« on: June 16, 2017, 10:31:04 pm »They struggled for the first week and this last week but the 2 months in between they have been a pretty consistently very good offense
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Also a bad stretch around the time of the Cleveland sweep, although the pitching staff saved some of those games for them.
308
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 16, 2017
« on: June 16, 2017, 10:29:11 pm »
It's good, but it's not as awesome (vaunted?) as the stats appear.
And it's not good enough to carry a beaten up pitching staff.
Wasting a well pitched game, when the injury situation guarantees that those will be in short supply, is criminal.
And it's not good enough to carry a beaten up pitching staff.
Wasting a well pitched game, when the injury situation guarantees that those will be in short supply, is criminal.
309
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 16, 2017
« on: June 16, 2017, 10:22:07 pm »This is the most unprepared to hit the Astros have been all season. It's almost like they were shocked they had a game today, and figured they'd just mail it in.
They'll post elite stats by the end of the year, but this is not an elite offense.
Dropping 40 runs on somebody in a three game series does not make up for all the times they've checked out for days and weeks at a time.
It's as if there are no other outcomes beside scoring double digits and struggling to avoid a shutout.
310
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Red Sox @ Astros June 16, 2017
« on: June 16, 2017, 09:06:33 pm »Is Pettis drunk?
He's pressing just as hard as the hitters right now...
311
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Rangers at Astros, 6/12/17
« on: June 12, 2017, 09:21:48 pm »The vaunted offense has sucked donkey balls tonight.
This offense is not good enough to carry a pitching staff of raw callups and waiver wire warm bodies, so we may be in for some interesting times...
312
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Angels at Astros, Sunday June 11, 2017
« on: June 11, 2017, 04:51:30 pm »
We've officially run out of pitchers.
And if all the hurt pitchers stay hurt, trying to fix this at the trading deadline will cost us all the prospects, including the ones that haven't been born yet.
And if all the hurt pitchers stay hurt, trying to fix this at the trading deadline will cost us all the prospects, including the ones that haven't been born yet.
313
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Twins, May 29, 2017
« on: May 29, 2017, 04:27:59 pm »
YOU HAVE TO BE SHITTING ME.
314
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Twins, May 29, 2017
« on: May 29, 2017, 03:23:29 pm »
He had to go to/stay with his sixth best option because the rest of the bullpen has been worked so hard.
"Keuchel, McCullers and pray for a hurricane" is already starting to catch up to them. I hope they can make it another two months to the deadline without the bullpen blowing up on them.
"Keuchel, McCullers and pray for a hurricane" is already starting to catch up to them. I hope they can make it another two months to the deadline without the bullpen blowing up on them.
315
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Orioles @ Astros May 27, 2017
« on: May 27, 2017, 09:15:32 pm »Dammit. The Rangers lost. I hate that.
I'm dying inside,
316
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Tigers @ Astros May 25, 2017
« on: May 25, 2017, 10:28:24 pm »In what other rotation in baseball would Mike Fiers be a starter? Seriously.
He'd be in the long man/swing man/6th starter group.
317
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Tigers @ Astros May 25, 2017
« on: May 25, 2017, 10:23:45 pm »
We have excellent 1 and 2 starters and after that it's just a flock of random 5/6/swingman types.
We're down to maybe 2 and a half reliable arms in the bullpen.
The offense is showing the same danger signs from 2016.
Aside from that... Mrs. Lincoln is kind of relieved that this division is really bad.
We're down to maybe 2 and a half reliable arms in the bullpen.
The offense is showing the same danger signs from 2016.
Aside from that... Mrs. Lincoln is kind of relieved that this division is really bad.
318
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Tigers at Astros, 05/23/2017
« on: May 23, 2017, 10:16:32 pm »
...and the Red Sox did us a solid.
319
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Tigers @ Astros May 22, 2017
« on: May 22, 2017, 09:53:42 pm »
Some time next month they'll probably drop 40 runs in a 3 game series on some poor fools... and at the end of the year they be in the top half, if not the top quarter, of the league in runs scored. But it looks like they're going to be doing the same thing they did last year... checking out for weeks at a time between the big outbursts. Terrible approach, terrible AB's, especially in important situations and way too many outs on the bases.
I know there's concern about the rotation, and there's good reason for that, but it may be this offense that kills us in the end.
I know there's concern about the rotation, and there's good reason for that, but it may be this offense that kills us in the end.
320
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Tribe @ Astros May 21, 2017
« on: May 21, 2017, 04:08:58 pm »
This team is facing its first real adversity of the season and, once again, it's their offense that's gotten them into trouble.
The more things change...
The more things change...
321
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Astros @ Yankees May 14, 2017 Game 2
« on: May 14, 2017, 10:32:04 pm »
Our bullpen is... not very good.
This feels strangely alarming for a weekend where our team took 3 of 4 from a good team on the road...
This feels strangely alarming for a weekend where our team took 3 of 4 from a good team on the road...
322
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Braves @ Astros May 9, 2017
« on: May 09, 2017, 09:53:32 pm »
Harden drinking from the firehose for 40+ minutes every night as he carries 11 Joes will win you some regular season games but it's a shit plan in the playoffs.
323
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: stRangers @ Astros May 2, 2017
« on: May 02, 2017, 10:33:54 pm »
I did enjoy how Kela, the guy who was bitching the most about Bregman's poor Twitter hygiene, got his face ripped off and used as a handkerchief...
324
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: stRangers @ Astros May 2, 2017
« on: May 02, 2017, 10:31:35 pm »
October in May. Goddamn...
325
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Athletics @ Astros April 29,2017
« on: April 29, 2017, 10:12:00 pm »I forgot to mention... I personally saw yips/FD in Morgan Ensberg myself. But I could be wrong.
Interesting. Thanks.
326
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Athletics @ Astros April 29,2017
« on: April 29, 2017, 09:28:26 pm »I'd have to put a vote in for 2007 Morgan Ensberg. Although that may have been more of a "yips" thing.
This could be a "yips' thing too. And that's scary as hell. If that's what it is, he'd have a better chance of coming back from both ACL's torn at the same time.
327
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Athletics @ Astros April 29,2017
« on: April 29, 2017, 07:30:47 pm »Ugh. I absolutely dread Correa coming to the plate.
He was supposed to be this generation's A-Rod.
I worry sometimes that he'll be this generation's Joe Charboneau.
328
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Royals @ Astros April 7, 2017
« on: April 07, 2017, 10:29:59 pm »If you found the water, you're doing better than Altuve
If he didn't have a stroke, fall into the water, get run over by speedboat and then get eaten by an alligator... he's doing better than Altuve.
329
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Royals @ Astros April 7, 2017
« on: April 07, 2017, 10:25:34 pm »
Scariest 3-2 start ever.
330
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Mariners at Astros, April 6, 2017
« on: April 06, 2017, 10:14:53 pm »
It's hard to feel down about starting the season by taking 3 of 4 from a division rival... but jesus fuck, this offense.
I wouldn't be so worried about a random sample of 4 games if we hadn't seen this exact same shit for months at a time last year.
Or maybe it's just that the Mariners' staff is going to be stupid good this season, which would be a whole different problem...
I wouldn't be so worried about a random sample of 4 games if we hadn't seen this exact same shit for months at a time last year.
Or maybe it's just that the Mariners' staff is going to be stupid good this season, which would be a whole different problem...
331
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Re: Mariners at Astros, April 5, 2017
« on: April 05, 2017, 11:14:54 pm »
This offense already has my 2016 Spider Sense tingling. They still appear to be at a loss about what to do if the ball stays in the ballpark...
333
Talk Zone / Re: Offseason
« on: September 30, 2016, 04:21:29 pm »
They need, in no particular order:
-At least one more quality bat, at 1b/DH/OF, depending on where Bregman and Gurriel finally settle. Better yet if it's not another TTO type. The basic similarity of most of the lineup in approach/strengths/weaknesses made them prone to extended hot and cold streaks. No obvious help from within here... at this point it would be an unexpected bonus if Reed adds anything.
-At least two starting pitchers, especially ones who can credibly hold down the #3 or higher spot in the rotation. Right now the Astros have plenty of starting pitchers... the problem is they're all 4's and 5's. That includes McCullers and Keuchel, at least until we know the full extent of their health problems and any lasting effects. Fiers and Fister are perfectly fine... at #5. When they're at the top of your rotation is when they really suck. There are several people in the system who might end up as top of the rotation starters, but the problem is whether or not they are ready to do that next year.
- A left handed reliever and a closer. It remains to be seen if the future closer is already on the team or will have to come from somewhere else. Nobody seemed to want the job this year...
-Leadership, whether it comes from veteran players and/or the coaching staff. This was a team that seemed to be lost inside its own head much of the year. However 'unclutch' this team was, it was probably a matter of group dynamics rather than the fault of an individual(s)... so the problem will be very hard to diagnose and deal with effectively.
That's a hell of a lot to take care of in one offseason.
-At least one more quality bat, at 1b/DH/OF, depending on where Bregman and Gurriel finally settle. Better yet if it's not another TTO type. The basic similarity of most of the lineup in approach/strengths/weaknesses made them prone to extended hot and cold streaks. No obvious help from within here... at this point it would be an unexpected bonus if Reed adds anything.
-At least two starting pitchers, especially ones who can credibly hold down the #3 or higher spot in the rotation. Right now the Astros have plenty of starting pitchers... the problem is they're all 4's and 5's. That includes McCullers and Keuchel, at least until we know the full extent of their health problems and any lasting effects. Fiers and Fister are perfectly fine... at #5. When they're at the top of your rotation is when they really suck. There are several people in the system who might end up as top of the rotation starters, but the problem is whether or not they are ready to do that next year.
- A left handed reliever and a closer. It remains to be seen if the future closer is already on the team or will have to come from somewhere else. Nobody seemed to want the job this year...
-Leadership, whether it comes from veteran players and/or the coaching staff. This was a team that seemed to be lost inside its own head much of the year. However 'unclutch' this team was, it was probably a matter of group dynamics rather than the fault of an individual(s)... so the problem will be very hard to diagnose and deal with effectively.
That's a hell of a lot to take care of in one offseason.
334
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Mariners @ Astros September 26, 2016
« on: September 26, 2016, 11:10:18 pm »Another putrid loss.
And this is a lot more putrid than can be fixed in one offseason...
335
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Mariners @ Astros September 26, 2016
« on: September 26, 2016, 11:09:18 pm »
Just what is this team supposed to be good at, exactly?
336
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics September 20, 2016
« on: September 21, 2016, 12:02:40 am »
In the end it;s this offense that's killing us. There's no reason they should even be in this situation.
337
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: stRangizz @ Astros September 14, 2016
« on: September 14, 2016, 09:15:49 pm »Oblique strain.
That's one of those obscure injuries that I used to question. 'He's out that long with what?!'
Until it happened to me. Weeks of misery...
338
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: stRangizz @ Astros September 14, 2016
« on: September 14, 2016, 09:13:47 pm »The wide end, yes?
Both ends at once. Then stab it in the neck with the jagged broken off handle until it stops moving...
339
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: stRangizz @ Astros September 13, 2016
« on: September 13, 2016, 10:11:43 pm »
This team is just mentally screwed up. The weird unbalanced lineup they had most of the year messed with their 'clutch' hitting stats... but they've been so damned undisciplined and 'unclutch' in so many other important areas. The more important the job, the less likely it gets done, even if the player involved has the talent to pull it off. Closer, anyone?
I'm not going to call out anyone by name, because that would not be fair. It's most likely a group dynamic and not the fault of an individual player or players. Any players who could be considered guilty of 'choking' might have had no issues in a different setting.
This is going to make Luhnow's already very difficult job this offseason even harder. Not only will he have to plan moves to make up for deficits in talent (i.e. starting pitching), he's going to have consider making moves based on chemistry. With no guarantee that he guesses right. And if those moves come in the form of trades, the other GM's are going to bend him over the table if they get the slightest hint of what he's trying to do...
I'm not going to call out anyone by name, because that would not be fair. It's most likely a group dynamic and not the fault of an individual player or players. Any players who could be considered guilty of 'choking' might have had no issues in a different setting.
This is going to make Luhnow's already very difficult job this offseason even harder. Not only will he have to plan moves to make up for deficits in talent (i.e. starting pitching), he's going to have consider making moves based on chemistry. With no guarantee that he guesses right. And if those moves come in the form of trades, the other GM's are going to bend him over the table if they get the slightest hint of what he's trying to do...
340
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: StRangizz @ Astros September 12, 2016
« on: September 13, 2016, 12:42:18 pm »I don't know about "annual". Last year in Sept/Oct he hit .302 and slugged .566. In 2014, he hit .367 and .520. In 2013, it was .357 and .461.
Whatever it is, it's fucking scary.
If Altuve's September was a boxing match, the ref would have stopped it by now.
It's getting to the point where I'm starting to worry how this is going to affect him next season.
If we finally hear that he's been trying to play hurt all this time, I'll take that as good news. Because physical injuries are much easier to heal than mental ones...
341
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: StRangizz @ Astros September 12, 2016
« on: September 12, 2016, 09:50:16 pm »
BLAAAANCOOOOOO!!!
342
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Orioles August 20, 2016
« on: August 20, 2016, 06:40:35 pm »
Score faster! We're in Fiers country!
343
Talk Zone / Re: Not clutch
« on: August 19, 2016, 04:55:58 pm »
Several possible reasons for this (in order of importance):
1. An extremely unbalanced lineup. The stars at the top of the lineup are constantly getting on base and creating 'clutch' situations that the mediocre to bad players at the bottom can't take advantage of.
2. Lots of similarity in the lineup. Aside from Altuve, most of the Astros' hitters are 'three true outcome' types (some are just better at it than others). They have the same basic strengths and weaknesses and will all perform well or poorly in certain circumstances (opposing pitcher, pitch selection, ballpark and conditions, etc.). This leads to a boom and bust cycle where they're almost always either blowing out the other team and 'wasting' lots of runs or struggling to score at all. When the pitching staff is doing well, as it did for most of last year and part of this year, the latter situation leads to close and low-scoring games with lots of 'close and late' situations that the Astros have little chance of converting to runs and wins.
3. Lots of young players who don't (yet) perform well under pressure.
1. An extremely unbalanced lineup. The stars at the top of the lineup are constantly getting on base and creating 'clutch' situations that the mediocre to bad players at the bottom can't take advantage of.
2. Lots of similarity in the lineup. Aside from Altuve, most of the Astros' hitters are 'three true outcome' types (some are just better at it than others). They have the same basic strengths and weaknesses and will all perform well or poorly in certain circumstances (opposing pitcher, pitch selection, ballpark and conditions, etc.). This leads to a boom and bust cycle where they're almost always either blowing out the other team and 'wasting' lots of runs or struggling to score at all. When the pitching staff is doing well, as it did for most of last year and part of this year, the latter situation leads to close and low-scoring games with lots of 'close and late' situations that the Astros have little chance of converting to runs and wins.
3. Lots of young players who don't (yet) perform well under pressure.
344
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Cardinals @ Astros August 17, 2016
« on: August 17, 2016, 04:27:11 pm »Any optimism for September?
Everybody on the Astros 40-man roster will probably still be alive at the end of September. Probably.
Aside from that, I can't think of much...
345
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Cardinals @ Astros August 17, 2016
« on: August 17, 2016, 03:17:47 pm »I'm afraid the fat lady is starting to sing.
Starting? She's already going hoarse, and now she's smashing her guitar over an amp Pete Townshend style...
346
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Twins August 11, 2016 Game Two
« on: August 11, 2016, 08:42:31 pm »
Bad news...heading back here in a couple of weeks.
This time, leave the damned tiki doll alone,
347
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 4, 2016
« on: August 04, 2016, 09:30:56 pm »
If this offseason breaks the wrong way they could end up with only four major league starting position players... Altuve, Correa, Springer and Guriel.
Then the rest of their offense would be Marwin and assorted chunks of waiver wire gristle.
Help coming from inside the organization can't be assumed at this point...
Then the rest of their offense would be Marwin and assorted chunks of waiver wire gristle.
Help coming from inside the organization can't be assumed at this point...
348
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 4, 2016
« on: August 04, 2016, 09:25:05 pm »
At this point I'm just happy that they'll have enough pitching to avoid 100 losses next year.
Right?
Right?
349
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 3, 2016
« on: August 03, 2016, 09:48:29 pm »
This isn't just some fluke slump. With all the injuries we're getting a preview of next year's offense.
Rasmus will be gone. Valbuena may be gone. Bregman and Reed are not ready and may not be ready next spring. The free agent class is weak (which will drive Valbuena's price up).
They're just a few bad breaks from starting next season with only four legitimate starting position players on their whole roster (Altuve, Castro, Correa and Springer).
They really need to reassess how they're drafting and developing hitters... and how they're coaching hitting at both the minor and major league levels.
This just isn't working. At least they've got the pitching part down...
Rasmus will be gone. Valbuena may be gone. Bregman and Reed are not ready and may not be ready next spring. The free agent class is weak (which will drive Valbuena's price up).
They're just a few bad breaks from starting next season with only four legitimate starting position players on their whole roster (Altuve, Castro, Correa and Springer).
They really need to reassess how they're drafting and developing hitters... and how they're coaching hitting at both the minor and major league levels.
This just isn't working. At least they've got the pitching part down...
350
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 2, 2016
« on: August 02, 2016, 09:58:25 pm »What happens in Fresno stays in Fresno
They seem to be running a finishing school for AAAA sluggers.
351
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 2, 2016
« on: August 02, 2016, 09:48:53 pm »
There at the point in the development process where they're supposed to wean themselves off of placeholders like Gattis, Rasmus, Valbuena, etc and start bringing up the elite offensive prospects from their system. The problem is that none of those guys are ready yet. Not this year, maybe not even next year. And the placeholders are going to get more expensive than they are worth. They will be going into next season with an offense of Altuve, Correa, Springer, Castro (his defense is worth it) and Fuckifiknow...
352
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 2, 2016
« on: August 02, 2016, 08:51:09 pm »
Bregman is getting to Ali vs. Holmes levels of "For the love of God, make it stop!"
353
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 2, 2016
« on: August 02, 2016, 08:47:53 pm »
This is the most fucked up week of Astros baseball since Ike.
354
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 2, 2016
« on: August 02, 2016, 08:45:04 pm »
They're going to get blown out 2 - 0.
355
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 1, 2016
« on: August 01, 2016, 11:33:28 pm »
Big, big win. I just hope they haven't broken Bregman.
356
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 1, 2016
« on: August 01, 2016, 11:06:48 pm »Bregman didn't even see a strike and struck out on 4 pitches.
This is starting to get brutal, like watching a fight that should have been stopped two rounds ago...
357
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Blue Jays @ Astros August 1, 2016
« on: August 01, 2016, 10:58:38 pm »
For submitting us to this torture, the team should have to shower in apple bourbon tonight...
358
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline Rumors
« on: August 01, 2016, 05:20:17 pm »Luhnow statement part 1
Luhnow statement part 2
So the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage?
359
Talk Zone / Re: Trade Deadline Rumors
« on: August 01, 2016, 03:43:19 pm »How could Luhnow have allowed the stRangers to improve themselves so much while twittling his thumbs on our end? Thanks a lot.
Probably because there's more wrong with this team than could be fixed at the trade deadline.
He's going to have his hands full fixing this team even with a full offseason to work with.
360
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 30, 2016
« on: July 30, 2016, 09:28:05 pm »
The Bregman error was brutal not just because of how it impacted the game but because he's the absolute last guy who needs another punch in the confidence right now...
361
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 30, 2016
« on: July 30, 2016, 09:15:37 pm »
Absolutely savage loss.
If Luhnow is still in the trade hunt, I don't envy his job tomorrow.
He needs help in the lineup, the bullpen and the rotation.
This team has been doing it with mirrors for a while and now it's starting to catch up to them...
Props to Fiers though. I was cringing at the thought of him as the "stopper," but he nearly pulled it off.
If Luhnow is still in the trade hunt, I don't envy his job tomorrow.
He needs help in the lineup, the bullpen and the rotation.
This team has been doing it with mirrors for a while and now it's starting to catch up to them...
Props to Fiers though. I was cringing at the thought of him as the "stopper," but he nearly pulled it off.
362
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 29, 2016
« on: July 29, 2016, 09:09:27 pm »
Springer was one of the last players drafted and trained (mostly) by the old regime.
Making the transition is not automatic or easy... but this is not a matter of guys scuffling along hitting .220 for a while until they figure things out. This is player after player completely flatlining when called up. This years crop... and before them people like Singleton and Santana.
Then there's the problem of the players who struggled here and then pulled it together after changing teams...
Edit:
White is the one guy who showed a more typical pattern of someone who was in a bit over his head but still had his moments, kept competing and showed a few flashes.
Everyone else pretty much hit like a pitcher from Day One.
I will say this for Bregman... his defense at a brand new position has been impressive.
Making the transition is not automatic or easy... but this is not a matter of guys scuffling along hitting .220 for a while until they figure things out. This is player after player completely flatlining when called up. This years crop... and before them people like Singleton and Santana.
Then there's the problem of the players who struggled here and then pulled it together after changing teams...
Edit:
White is the one guy who showed a more typical pattern of someone who was in a bit over his head but still had his moments, kept competing and showed a few flashes.
Everyone else pretty much hit like a pitcher from Day One.
I will say this for Bregman... his defense at a brand new position has been impressive.
363
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 29, 2016
« on: July 29, 2016, 08:46:47 pm »Uh, what?
Offensive prospects having all kinds of problems making the transition to the majors.
Correa has been the one exception to that rule the last several years.
364
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 29, 2016
« on: July 29, 2016, 08:40:44 pm »
Priority one this offseason is Luhnow having a come to Jesus talk with his scouts and minor league coaches about just how they're identifying and developing offensive talent.
This shit is getting OLD.
This shit is getting OLD.
365
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Tigers July 29, 2016
« on: July 29, 2016, 07:45:17 pm »Bregman mired in a 0 for 21 slump (between AAA and the majors)
He's got to be pressing harder than Gutenberg right now...
366
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Yankees @ Astros July 26, 2016
« on: July 26, 2016, 09:43:56 pm »
If Valbuena is really down for a while and Bregman isn't ready yet, this offense is going to implode like a dying star...
367
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics July 19, 2016
« on: July 20, 2016, 01:09:26 am »
This team looks like it's a heartbeat away from starting to lose games in bunches...
368
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics July 18, 2016
« on: July 19, 2016, 12:26:01 am »Graveman beat the Astros AGAIN.
That guy is fucking trash. FUCKING TRASH.
Throwing pus is the way to beat these guys. I'm sure that's been pretty well scouted by now.
There seem to be problems across the organization in preparing hitters to deal with off speed stuff. It's getting old watching supposed hot prospects come up and, when seeing major league breaking balls, react like Stone Age savages facing repeating rifles (see also; Reed, AJ).
It just reminds us what a talent Correa is, being the one guy who broke that pattern.
369
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics July 18, 2016
« on: July 19, 2016, 12:13:08 am »This was a train-wreck, but it was still 50x better than the Republican convention.
PUPPET SHOW AND RNC
370
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics July 18, 2016
« on: July 19, 2016, 12:11:07 am »
How did we waste 8 pages on this pail of garbage can soup?
371
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Athletics @ Astros July 8, 2016
« on: July 09, 2016, 12:26:21 am »We may be at the end of Harris' magic. If he cannot get his curve over, his fastball is meat.
Yeah, I'm starting to worry if the inability of the starting staff to consistently go deep in games and that fluky run of extra-inning games is wearing down the bullpen...
372
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: White Sox @ Astros July 2, 2016
« on: July 02, 2016, 06:27:51 pm »
Well that was an artisanal shitburger in the traditional style. Haven't seen many of those lately...
373
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: White Sox @ Astros July 2, 2016
« on: July 02, 2016, 05:52:18 pm »I don't understand how it's possible to blow a review.
It's the same thing that made NFL replay review so sketchy during the first few years it was used... referees/umpires don't want to show up their bros...
374
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Rays June 12, 2016
« on: June 12, 2016, 04:38:36 pm »
Season un-saved.
375
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Snakes @ Astros June 1, 2016
« on: June 01, 2016, 10:54:45 pm »George Springer is the best player in baseball right now. Discuss.
Penis.
376
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, Sunday 5/15
« on: May 15, 2016, 05:57:03 pm »
It's amazing how little talent there is in this organization at the major league (and even the AAA) level all of a sudden...
You have three All-Stars in Altuve, Correa and Springer, a couple of promising young starting pitchers, a handful of decent bullpen arms... then it's this generation's version of Jose Lima and a pile of near-replacement level bodies. To the point where the corpse of Carlos Gomez may be your least worst option in center field.
Bregman, Reed, Musgrove and friends are out there but probably still a couple of years from making a difference. They may be in the majors sooner than that, but it's very unlikely that they'll be instant stars like Correa. Even the early 90's teams with Bagwell, Biggio, Caminiti, Finley, Gonzalez, etc. took several years to get their act together.
We're going to need a multi-year rebuilding program to fix the multi-year rebuilding program that failed.
You have three All-Stars in Altuve, Correa and Springer, a couple of promising young starting pitchers, a handful of decent bullpen arms... then it's this generation's version of Jose Lima and a pile of near-replacement level bodies. To the point where the corpse of Carlos Gomez may be your least worst option in center field.
Bregman, Reed, Musgrove and friends are out there but probably still a couple of years from making a difference. They may be in the majors sooner than that, but it's very unlikely that they'll be instant stars like Correa. Even the early 90's teams with Bagwell, Biggio, Caminiti, Finley, Gonzalez, etc. took several years to get their act together.
We're going to need a multi-year rebuilding program to fix the multi-year rebuilding program that failed.
377
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Astros @ Red Sox, Sunday 5/15
« on: May 15, 2016, 05:24:45 pm »All joking aside I haven't seen anyone this tied up mentally on an mlb field that I can remember. He's questioning everything he's doing while he's doing it. I'm sure the guy "cares" and works... But he's way too aware of how shitty he's been. it's starting to look like the "yips" but not on a single facet of the game but all of it.
He's turned into the position player version of Steve Blass.
378
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Twins @ Astros May 2, 2016
« on: May 02, 2016, 09:26:02 pm »
So last year was basically the 2003 Royals, just with a second wildcard spot on the table.
Watching Springer get traded to the National League and hit 578 homers in the playoffs next year is going to suck, but I'm sure I'll forget all about it after the World Series championship in 2027...
Watching Springer get traded to the National League and hit 578 homers in the playoffs next year is going to suck, but I'm sure I'll forget all about it after the World Series championship in 2027...
379
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: L'Astros vs. Mathletics, 4/30/16
« on: April 30, 2016, 05:48:36 pm »
This is still a bad baseball team.
This has been a bad baseball team since Ike, and it will remain a bad baseball team for the foreseeable future.
They're likely still two or three years away from (sustainable/non-fluke) contention, even if Luhnow makes nothing but good choices going forward.
They started the year with Altuve, Correa, Springer, Rasmus, Keuchel, McCullers, a handful of capable relievers.... and the other two thirds of this roster is going to have to be completely turned over before the team is really ready for prime time.
This has been a bad baseball team since Ike, and it will remain a bad baseball team for the foreseeable future.
They're likely still two or three years away from (sustainable/non-fluke) contention, even if Luhnow makes nothing but good choices going forward.
They started the year with Altuve, Correa, Springer, Rasmus, Keuchel, McCullers, a handful of capable relievers.... and the other two thirds of this roster is going to have to be completely turned over before the team is really ready for prime time.
380
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: L'Astros vs. Mathletics, 4/30/16
« on: April 30, 2016, 04:53:35 pm »It's time for the Astros to quit fucking around.
You're a time traveler from 2019?
381
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: BoSox @ Astros April 23, 2016
« on: April 23, 2016, 06:29:50 pm »
Just got back from Festival in Lafayette.
Day drinking means not getting off the horse until you go to bed. Hangovers at 9 PM suck.
The Astros make you want to drink all day and all night.
So I'm good. Time for more rum...
Day drinking means not getting off the horse until you go to bed. Hangovers at 9 PM suck.
The Astros make you want to drink all day and all night.
So I'm good. Time for more rum...
382
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: April 22, 2016 vs Red Sox...Fuck it, I'm drinking bourbon tonight...
« on: April 22, 2016, 09:21:00 pm »
Have you ever seen Bruce Wayne and Batman in the same place?
Have you ever seen the 2016 Astros and the 2016 Rockets in the same place?
/Springer looks stupid in that fake beard
Have you ever seen the 2016 Astros and the 2016 Rockets in the same place?
/Springer looks stupid in that fake beard
383
Game Zone 2016 Archive / Re: Royals @ Astros April 13, 2016
« on: April 13, 2016, 10:20:34 pm »Some good things though.
1, Carlos Correa is really good at baseball.
2.¡El Tiburón!
3, Devenski? I want to know more...
And aside from that, not very much. During this series it was painfully apparent who the grownups in the room were.
384
Talk Zone / Re: Let the Stove be Heated
« on: January 28, 2016, 10:42:40 pm »
Fister? Damned near killed her...
385
Talk Zone / Re: 2016 HOF Class
« on: January 06, 2016, 05:16:18 pm »Not sure I understand how Piazza gets a pass and Bagwell does not (for the against crowd)...
Most everyone I know believes Bags is HoF'er
I don't think it's steroids or rumors of steroids. There's just a lot of writers out there who don't think he was all that good.
I still remember all of the post-mortems that were published on Bagwell after he went down with the serious injury in 2005 and finally retired in 2006. On the negative side there was lots of talk about "career too short," "no milestones" and "playoff choker and headcase" and very little mention of doping...
386
Talk Zone / Re: 2016 HOF Class
« on: January 06, 2016, 05:11:24 pm »
Wow that's a pretty big miss, especially compared to some of the projected vote totals.
He may be in real trouble...
He may be in real trouble...
387
Talk Zone / Re: Rumors
« on: November 14, 2015, 12:37:21 pm »If he's trying to get Chapman I'd look to Cincy for rumors.
I'd look to St. Louis.
388
Beer and Queso / Re: Texans 2015
« on: October 26, 2015, 12:51:28 pm »
O'Brien is trying to build his team as if he was still at Penn State and the objective was to finish a strong second in the Big 10 to Ohio State and make it to a bowl game that's not named after a garden tool. But the NFL doesn't quite work that way. First of all, you need a real quarterback...
389
Talk Zone / Re: What a ride!
« on: October 15, 2015, 01:59:12 pm »way, way too pessimistic.
You're probably right.
Barring major catastrophe, this is going to be a good team for a long time, one that is consistently contending for or in the playoffs.
But a lot is going to have to go right if they're going to do more than that.
On the bright side, they're no longer in the NL Central.
That would have been the most insane division ever and would have made for some amazing baseball, but winning 93 games and maybe hoping to limp into the second wildcard would get old real fast...
390
Talk Zone / Re: What a ride!
« on: October 15, 2015, 01:28:05 pm »We hope.
Let's not forget the 1986 Rockets.
Right now this feels like a failure. Hopefully that will change after it has a few weeks or months to sink in. It would probably feel different even if Game 4 had just been a routine 4-1 Royals win. But the real problem is that you can never really know when the next chance will come, if ever.
Right now we're hearing the usual cliches:
"This is a learning experience." The Bagwell/Biggio Astros in the late 90's had all kinds of learning experiences. What they mostly learned was that the postseason was this odd time after the 162nd game where random and horrible things would happen to you for a week or so until you finally got to go home and play golf and watch the World Series on TV. It took them most of a decade and a complete turnover of the supporting players before they (kind of) figured it out.
"The best is yet to come." Ask a Nationals fan how that worked out. And again, Bagwell and Biggio are still waiting for their first ring.
Obviously the Astros greatly exceeded expectations, and getting as far as they did was a real accomplishment.
I'm just struggling with the idea that this success will inevitably lead to greater success. Admittedly, my thinking is influenced more by the history of the Astros than anything specific to this year's team. If I were a Red Sox or Yankee fan and had just seen my team play to the same result, I would have been disappointed at the moment but more optimistic about the future. I'd be pretty sure that good things would lead to better things, because that's what had happened in the past. But for the Astros it's rarely been that easy...
391
Talk Zone / Re: Rangers Blue Jays
« on: October 14, 2015, 06:52:01 pm »
That was some professional grade dickstomping...
392
The ultimate in misery would be a Cubs - Rangers World Series.
Who would I root for?
Al Qaeda.
393
Beer and Queso / Re: Texans 2015
« on: October 09, 2015, 09:28:58 pm »
This whole "a real quarterback is a crutch" thing has worked out just how you'd expect it to.
Bill O'Brien needs to be fired. Preferably out of a cannon, but a trebuchet will do in a pinch...
Bill O'Brien needs to be fired. Preferably out of a cannon, but a trebuchet will do in a pinch...
394
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Yankmees October 6, 2015
« on: October 06, 2015, 11:23:06 pm »
Life is good.
395
Talk Zone / Re: Tomorrow's game
« on: October 06, 2015, 05:36:51 pm »
Borden's Ice Cream Shop in Lafayette.
A paper plate full of Fritos covered in hot dog chili and Velveeta. Plus a bonus chili dog.
For the Motherland!
A paper plate full of Fritos covered in hot dog chili and Velveeta. Plus a bonus chili dog.
For the Motherland!
396
Talk Zone / Re: Hinch to team on video
« on: October 05, 2015, 02:25:53 pm »They're willing to do whatever it takes.
That explains the turnaround at the end of the season.
Next level slumpbusting.
397
Talk Zone / Re: Seriously, folks
« on: October 01, 2015, 09:30:52 pm »How long since there were meaningful Astro games in October? A decade?
I don't know... there was something about a hurricane?
398
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: October 01, 2015, 12:42:08 am »
That just happened.
399
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 11:18:10 pm »
Good thing I started drinking early tonight.
400
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 10:31:35 pm »
It looked like Carter was shot by a sniper right as he approached the base...
401
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 10:26:42 pm »
Don't worry, Castro's got this.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHA
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHA
402
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 10:19:53 pm »
Kazmir's actually pitching a pretty good game. And it's not going to matter.
403
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 10:13:24 pm »
These guys are playing like they were herded to the ballpark at gunpoint...
404
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 10:00:54 pm »
They're getting shut out by Johnny Wholestaff tonight, aren't they...
405
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 09:56:34 pm »Fortunately, Seattle is playing sloppy too. Let's see if they can actually plate a runner on second with two outs.
Surely you jest.
406
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros v. Mariners, September 30, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 09:54:10 pm »
Apparently if the Astros don't make the playoffs the Yakuza will kill their families... otherwise I can't explain why they're playing so tight and miserable.
407
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Sea Hags September 29, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 12:42:59 am »
I can see sweeping in Arizona (Keuchel, McHugh, etc.). I just don't know how they get past tomorrow. Kazmir? Straily? Either way they're likely going to have to run out Johnny Wholestaff, and that's not going to end well with this bullpen... unless they score 453562898 runs.
408
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Sea Hags September 29, 2015
« on: September 30, 2015, 12:23:05 am »
Extra brutal because we have no idea who or what is pitching for the Astros next game.
This series is likely lost unless they score a bunch of runs tomorrow...
This series is likely lost unless they score a bunch of runs tomorrow...
409
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rangers @ Astros September 27, 2015
« on: September 27, 2015, 04:18:20 pm »Papelbon is now my second favorite player.
...and Williams let Papelbon stay in the game after the fight.
Harper reportedly told Williams "I'm fucking done!"
Yeah, if a co-worker assaulted me and my boss ignored it, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be showing up the next day...
410
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rangers @ Astros September 26, 2015
« on: September 26, 2015, 02:41:39 pm »
It's like somebody lost count of the outs?
411
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rangers @ Astros, September 25, 2015
« on: September 25, 2015, 10:47:41 pm »
Heard a rumor online that Correa is sick and trying to play through it.
If so, that may not have been the best idea ever...
If so, that may not have been the best idea ever...
412
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rangers @ Astros, September 25, 2015
« on: September 25, 2015, 10:33:30 pm »
They're literally playing like they're on drugs.
That's how tight they are.
That's how tight they are.
413
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rangers @ Astros, September 25, 2015
« on: September 25, 2015, 09:16:13 pm »On top of everything else that sucks about the end of this season, Price is going to win the CY over Keuchel, and Lindor is going edge past Correa for ROY.
Awards voters are going to want nothing to do with anyone involved in this fiasco, no matter what the numbers say.
414
Talk Zone / The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, brought to you by Hammurabi and DraftKings.com
« on: September 25, 2015, 04:11:36 pm »
Our new center field playground.
(from Brian McTaggart's Twitter)
First thoughts:
Because MMPUS didn't have enough theme park gimmicks, apparently.
That batter's eye looks awfully small.
As I suspected, there's no way to make up for the shorter dimensions, as a higher center field wall would block the view of people in the patio area and the right-centerfield bleachers.
(from Brian McTaggart's Twitter)
First thoughts:
Because MMPUS didn't have enough theme park gimmicks, apparently.
That batter's eye looks awfully small.
As I suspected, there's no way to make up for the shorter dimensions, as a higher center field wall would block the view of people in the patio area and the right-centerfield bleachers.
415
Talk Zone / Re: Tonight's Game
« on: September 25, 2015, 04:02:14 pm »
I'm busy popping pills and slamming my head into a locker...
416
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Halos/Astros 9/23/15
« on: September 23, 2015, 05:29:12 pm »
This is the September Astros game script. With a few rare exceptions (when the Astros blow somebody out or get blown out) this is how it happens every day:
1. Opponent takes an early lead
2. Astros counter and tie it or make the game close.
3. Both teams trade zeroes in the middle innings as the Astros starter settles down while the hitters threaten again and again but can never get a big hit.
4. The Astros bullpen makes a critical mistake in the late innings that allows the opponent to take/extend a lead.
5. One final threat by the Astros offense falters (often just after scoring what would have been the tying run had the bullpen not intervened).
(I actually posted this on another forum after last night's game, but it happened again today, pretty much to the letter.)
1. Opponent takes an early lead
2. Astros counter and tie it or make the game close.
3. Both teams trade zeroes in the middle innings as the Astros starter settles down while the hitters threaten again and again but can never get a big hit.
4. The Astros bullpen makes a critical mistake in the late innings that allows the opponent to take/extend a lead.
5. One final threat by the Astros offense falters (often just after scoring what would have been the tying run had the bullpen not intervened).
(I actually posted this on another forum after last night's game, but it happened again today, pretty much to the letter.)
417
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Halos @ Astros September 22, 2015
« on: September 22, 2015, 10:50:08 pm »
It just amazes me that this team can never relax. Even when something awesome happens for a game or two they'll get the yips again the next day.
Every big comeback or walkoff win gets forgotten overnight, but it seems as if the all the ugly losses stick with them for weeks.
Even if Correa's ball gets out... extra innings is pretty much a death sentence with the bullpen in its current state.
Every big comeback or walkoff win gets forgotten overnight, but it seems as if the all the ugly losses stick with them for weeks.
Even if Correa's ball gets out... extra innings is pretty much a death sentence with the bullpen in its current state.
418
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Halos @ Astros September 22, 2015
« on: September 22, 2015, 10:11:47 pm »
Managers can press too.
419
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Halos @ Astros September 22, 2015
« on: September 22, 2015, 09:51:31 pm »Crisis averted.
Nice job by Neshek.
The problem is they're still getting blown out 4 - 2.
420
Talk Zone / Re: Between 7 and 14 games over since when?
« on: September 20, 2015, 07:27:17 pm »
Borden's Ice Cream Shop in Lafayette serves a mean nasty Frito pie.
My duty is clear...
My duty is clear...
421
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: A's @ Astros, September 19, 2015
« on: September 19, 2015, 09:57:44 pm »
So the 19-game season-ending losing streak isn't going to happen... we've got that going for us.
422
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Athletics @ Astros September 18, 2015
« on: September 19, 2015, 01:00:11 pm »423
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Athletics @ Astros September 18, 2015
« on: September 18, 2015, 10:37:02 pm »
With most of the five losses coming in the last week...
424
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Athletics @ Astros September 18, 2015
« on: September 18, 2015, 10:34:19 pm »
They're going to miss the playoffs and it's not even going to be close. They're going to be playing that last series in Arizona Grapefruit League split squad style, with whole lineups of September call-ups.
425
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Athletics @ Astros September 18, 2015
« on: September 18, 2015, 10:30:49 pm »
If you think about it, it's absolutely amazing how badly this team is playing.
The Rangers weren't on some crazy hot streak coming into that series... they were struggling, including getting shut out back to back in Seattle.
The Angels were playing badly. The A's have been horrible all year. And all of them have had little problem pushing the Astros around.
The Rangers weren't on some crazy hot streak coming into that series... they were struggling, including getting shut out back to back in Seattle.
The Angels were playing badly. The A's have been horrible all year. And all of them have had little problem pushing the Astros around.
426
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Athletics @ Astros September 18, 2015
« on: September 18, 2015, 10:27:26 pm »Rangers lose 3-1
The Rangers could probably lose every non-Astros game left on their schedule and still take the division.
427
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Avoiding the Broom! Astros @ stRangers September 17, 2015
« on: September 17, 2015, 10:28:37 pm »It's different, following without eyes.
Where we're going we don't need eyes to see.
Maybe that will be our marketing slogan for 2016...
428
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Avoiding the Broom! Astros @ stRangers September 17, 2015
« on: September 17, 2015, 10:13:32 pm »Sparks says he hopes this makes the team think as they head home, and get mad.
Maybe it's time for a table-flipping rampage... what is there to lose? Screaming at a team that's already tight usually just makes them tighter, but at this point I don't think there's anything Hinch could do to make this worse short of going nuts and stabbing somebody...
429
Talk Zone / Re: Milo Hamilton has passed
« on: September 17, 2015, 01:51:43 pm »
Wow, this fucking month... Milo, Gene, Joaquin and the worst thing to happen to a pennant race since Ike...
Whichever one of you took that damned tiki doll... PUT IT BACK.
Whichever one of you took that damned tiki doll... PUT IT BACK.
430
Talk Zone / Re: Most important game of the year tonight, and...
« on: September 17, 2015, 01:06:27 pm »so, what is the futile gesture?
We're all buying German war bonds...
431
Beer and Queso / Re: Texans 2015
« on: September 17, 2015, 01:02:11 pm »Savage is far worse than the other 2. Hard as it may be to believe.
Worse than cancer. More final than death. Tom Savage.
432
Talk Zone / Re: Most important game of the year tonight, and...
« on: September 17, 2015, 11:41:42 am »
I suspect that McCullers will pitch well tonight. The problem is that he's going to have to do a lot more than just pitch well to win...
433
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ stRangers September 16, 2015
« on: September 16, 2015, 09:51:45 pm »
And now DeShields is going to complain because they won't get to hit in the bottom of the 9th...
434
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ stRangers September 16, 2015
« on: September 16, 2015, 09:27:46 pm »
Strom chewing Feliz out
Way to go, Einstein...
Because clearly this team's problem is its total lackadaisical attitude and not the fact that they're pressing so hard that their fucking eyeballs are about to burst.
Throwing a tantrum and showing up your player in public ought to clear that right up...
435
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ stRangers September 16, 2015
« on: September 16, 2015, 09:18:36 pm »
So Keuchel has the worst start of his career in the biggest game of his career so far...
436
Beer and Queso / Re: Texans 2015
« on: September 16, 2015, 04:04:24 pm »
"Quarterbacks are a crutch!"
-Bill O'Brien
-Bill O'Brien
437
Talk Zone / Re: Loss column/win column
« on: September 16, 2015, 02:14:49 pm »
Your opinion on the importance of the win column or the loss column may depend on your expectation for the team or teams involved. Will those unplayed games be mostly wins or losses?
Right now it appears that extra unplayed games would be more of an asset for the Rangers than the Astros.
Right now it appears that extra unplayed games would be more of an asset for the Rangers than the Astros.
438
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ stRangers September 15, 2015
« on: September 16, 2015, 12:20:13 pm »
"May you live in intriguing times."
-Ancient Chinese curse
-Ancient Chinese curse
439
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ stRangers September 15, 2015
« on: September 15, 2015, 11:06:47 pm »
Stolen from another forum:
Something something clutch something... Yuck.
And in other news, this bullpen is totally gassed.
Quote
Since July 3rd, the Astros are 29-33....but with a +40 run differential, one that would expect them to have gone 36-26.
Houston's first 72 games: 317 runs scored and 279 runs allowed. PYTHAG RECORD: 41-31. ACTUAL RECORD: 41-31.
Houston's NEXT 72 games: 311 runs scored and 246 runs allowed. PYTHAG RECORD: 44-28. ACTUAL RECORD: 36-36.
Something something clutch something... Yuck.
And in other news, this bullpen is totally gassed.
440
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ stRangers September 15, 2015
« on: September 15, 2015, 11:00:52 pm »
Keuchel and or McCullers will have to go absolutely thermonuclear to avoid the sweep at this point...
441
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Rangers, September 14, 2015
« on: September 14, 2015, 10:51:21 pm »
This season may... may... be a writeoff.
If the worst happens I just hope there won't be lasting consequences.
If the worst happens I just hope there won't be lasting consequences.
442
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Rangers, September 14, 2015
« on: September 14, 2015, 10:36:24 pm »
I'm still waiting for the turning point and starting to realize it will probably never come.
Every couple of weeks they pull off some crazy last-second win and I hope that will finally be the game that gets them to relax and go on a real hot streak. But they always go right back to panic mode. I really thought for a moment that yesterday would be it... that finish was straight out of Hoosiers. But no. They played and acted tonight like yesterday never happened. Tight and miserable.
I'm starting to worry about next season now. How will this team react if they're in contention this time next year?
Every couple of weeks they pull off some crazy last-second win and I hope that will finally be the game that gets them to relax and go on a real hot streak. But they always go right back to panic mode. I really thought for a moment that yesterday would be it... that finish was straight out of Hoosiers. But no. They played and acted tonight like yesterday never happened. Tight and miserable.
I'm starting to worry about next season now. How will this team react if they're in contention this time next year?
443
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Good Guys @ Fucking Angels September 13, 2015
« on: September 13, 2015, 08:47:25 pm »
I watched the replay of the Lowrie HR several times... it looks like Calhoun got his foot caught under the padding on the wall as he tried to jump. Wow.
444
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Good Guys @ Fucking Angels September 13, 2015
« on: September 13, 2015, 06:36:25 pm »FanGraphs had the Angels with a 99.7% chance to win after the first two Astros in the 9th made outs. 99.7. BBGs were all like ... never tell us the odds.
With two strikes on Tucker that must have been more like 99.997...
I gave up and watched the Saints game. As maddening as that turned out to be, I thought it couldn't be any worse than what the Astros have been doing this weekend. Little did I know...
445
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics September 9, 2015
« on: September 09, 2015, 11:16:54 pm »
It's become a pattern now... the Astros starter cruises through 5 or 6 innings and then suddenly bursts into flame.
446
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics September 8, 2015
« on: September 09, 2015, 12:03:45 am »
Sonny Gray is legit.
The scary thing is this pitching staff suddenly giving up runs in bunches.
The scary thing is this pitching staff suddenly giving up runs in bunches.
447
Talk Zone / Re: September callups
« on: September 03, 2015, 01:27:18 pm »
So the consensus is that White is staying down because (at least in the opinion of Luhnow and company) he's just not that good.
This is an interesting story and one I'd like to learn more about. There's certainly no guarantee we'll ever know more, as management has no reason to share their player evaluation discussion with the public. But I still have to wonder:
What exactly is wrong with White that makes him not as good as his crazy minor league numbers would suggest?
Did Luhnow try to use him as a chip in one of the deadline trades?
Did other teams pass on him because they saw the same flaws the Astros did?
This is an interesting story and one I'd like to learn more about. There's certainly no guarantee we'll ever know more, as management has no reason to share their player evaluation discussion with the public. But I still have to wonder:
What exactly is wrong with White that makes him not as good as his crazy minor league numbers would suggest?
Did Luhnow try to use him as a chip in one of the deadline trades?
Did other teams pass on him because they saw the same flaws the Astros did?
448
Talk Zone / Re: September callups
« on: September 03, 2015, 01:10:30 pm »Why on earth would they hold back a player who they think can help them win a pennant?
That's just my best guess. I'm not sure what other reason makes sense other than "they just don't think he's very good."
Yes, it would be dumb to just hand White the first base job for the last month, but I can't see why adding an extra bat to a struggling offense, at a position that's been especially problematic, should be a problem.
449
Talk Zone / Re: September callups
« on: September 03, 2015, 12:56:32 pm »
Fresno just won its division, so front line (in AAA at least) players like White might be held back until the playoffs are over.
450
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Seaturds @ Astros September 2, 2015
« on: September 02, 2015, 10:45:47 pm »I'm wondering if you're overthinking it.
I sure fucking hope so. If not, this is going to turn into Angels 2.0.
451
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Seaturds @ Astros September 2, 2015
« on: September 02, 2015, 10:42:23 pm »
Everybody's pressing, including Hinch.
I'm wondering if this pitching staff is starting to show the effects of having to white knuckle it through every inning and every game, knowing they can lose on literally any pitch. They may be more tired as a group than their innings pitched would otherwise indicate...
I'm wondering if this pitching staff is starting to show the effects of having to white knuckle it through every inning and every game, knowing they can lose on literally any pitch. They may be more tired as a group than their innings pitched would otherwise indicate...
452
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Seaturds @ Astros September 2, 2015
« on: September 02, 2015, 10:38:56 pm »
This team looks like it's scared of it's own shadow right now.
I can't help but notice that the only big innings they've had recently were in games that at least appeared to be decided already... the dominant starts by Keuchel, down 7 - 0 in Minnesota, etc...
I can't help but notice that the only big innings they've had recently were in games that at least appeared to be decided already... the dominant starts by Keuchel, down 7 - 0 in Minnesota, etc...
453
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Twins August 28, 2015
« on: August 28, 2015, 04:59:53 pm »
ESPN's reporting it's a sore left hamstring.
454
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Yankmees August 25, 2015
« on: August 25, 2015, 08:53:19 pm »Wow you folks just can't accept an easy one. fine. Man i hope hey can find a way to lock this one down
7 or 8 runs in the top of the 9th ought to do it.
To be extra safe, Gomez can hit one into Monument Park and then circle the bases on a unicycle...
455
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Yankmees August 25, 2015
« on: August 25, 2015, 08:44:19 pm »
Tools like McCann are a part of the problem, not a part of the solution.
White good ole boys have their own special ways of showboating and attention whoring.
But they do it "for the good of the game" so that makes it OK...
White good ole boys have their own special ways of showboating and attention whoring.
But they do it "for the good of the game" so that makes it OK...
456
Beer and Queso / Re: Baseball and Weather
« on: August 22, 2015, 12:38:26 am »What's going on at the less-credible weather forums?
Bushneck Lackeying, Heterodoxying and gorveling, mainly...
457
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros VS Dodgers 08/21/2015
« on: August 22, 2015, 12:17:05 am »Turley, I hope.
Boone's Farm.
Drink that Boone's, baby!
458
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros VS Dodgers 08/21/2015
« on: August 21, 2015, 09:52:08 pm »
And Aaron Fucking Boone with the buzzkill on Twitter:
"Fiers just fired his glove a la Jesse Orosco in the '86 NLCS. Congrats on the no no!"
FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
"Fiers just fired his glove a la Jesse Orosco in the '86 NLCS. Congrats on the no no!"
FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
459
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros VS Dodgers 08/21/2015
« on: August 21, 2015, 09:49:33 pm »
I had my suspicions about a no-hitter this series, but that wasn't how I expected it to work out.
NOT that I'm complaining...
/still shaking
NOT that I'm complaining...
/still shaking
460
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 19, 2015
« on: August 19, 2015, 11:19:29 pm »Ford and Sparks were both incredulous that Correa wasn't intentionally walked.
Especially since the book on him the last month has been "pitch around him... there's nobody who can make you pay for it."
461
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 19, 2015
« on: August 19, 2015, 11:17:25 pm »
I. Can't. Believe. They. Pitched. To. Him.
462
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 19, 2015
« on: August 19, 2015, 11:04:30 pm »Conger with the rare Platinum Sombrero.
A couple of more innings and he can go for Plutonium...
463
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 19, 2015
« on: August 19, 2015, 10:55:46 pm »
This is more like an absinthe kind of game.
Absinthe and kerosene...
Absinthe and kerosene...
464
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 19, 2015
« on: August 19, 2015, 10:53:51 pm »I can't believe they're still in first place.
Give them time...
465
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 19, 2015
« on: August 19, 2015, 10:50:24 pm »
Press harder, you idjits...
467
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 19, 2015
« on: August 19, 2015, 09:46:21 pm »
It's too bad. This pitching staff is awesome. A legit World Series staff.
But watching these pitchers try to carry this offense is like watching some idiot use his Ferrari to tow his bass boat to the lake. And then not catch a single fish.
But watching these pitchers try to carry this offense is like watching some idiot use his Ferrari to tow his bass boat to the lake. And then not catch a single fish.
468
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 18, 2015
« on: August 18, 2015, 10:29:55 pm »
And I was even in the middle of an epic rage post...
469
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Rays @ Astros August 18, 2015
« on: August 18, 2015, 10:02:53 pm »
This team is tighter than Superman's underpants...
Lots of young players.. and even the veterans have little pennant race/playoff experience.
Lots of young players.. and even the veterans have little pennant race/playoff experience.
470
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics August 9, 2015
« on: August 09, 2015, 08:06:34 pm »
And in other news, it's more than a little discouraging that even with the additions of Lowrie and Gomez this offense is still a tire fire...
471
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics August 9, 2015
« on: August 09, 2015, 08:03:06 pm »
Correa's starting to slip a bit at the plate as well. That was covered up for a little while during that stretch when almost every hit that he managed to get ended up leaving the park...
472
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics August 9, 2015
« on: August 09, 2015, 07:06:00 pm »
20 - 29 to stay over .500... and that might be too much to ask?
Holy fuck that would a lot of damage to the farm with only October tee times as a reward.
Kazmir still might make sense as a move for the future (as with Hamels to Texas), but that assumes the Astros have the inside track on signing him. If things go the way Hawk and others fear they will, their money may be no good to him...
Holy fuck that would a lot of damage to the farm with only October tee times as a reward.
Kazmir still might make sense as a move for the future (as with Hamels to Texas), but that assumes the Astros have the inside track on signing him. If things go the way Hawk and others fear they will, their money may be no good to him...
473
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics August 9, 2015
« on: August 09, 2015, 06:51:04 pm »
They're in the same kind of trance they were in right before the All Star Break... but there's not another break coming to bail them out this time.
474
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Athletics August 9, 2015
« on: August 09, 2015, 06:47:06 pm »
Is it my imagination, or does this team look tighter than hell?
475
Talk Zone / Re: Bullpen
« on: July 07, 2015, 06:37:18 pm »
The shakiness at the bottom of the rotation may be putting too much pressure/workload on the pen. I wonder how that's going to work out later in the season...
I've been bitching about the offense a lot, and I still think there are going to be problems there, especially with Springer out. But getting more pitching may have to be a priority. If the offense struggles that leads to... the offense struggling. But lack of pitching depth is a cancer that spreads.
I've been bitching about the offense a lot, and I still think there are going to be problems there, especially with Springer out. But getting more pitching may have to be a priority. If the offense struggles that leads to... the offense struggling. But lack of pitching depth is a cancer that spreads.
476
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Astros @ Red Sox July 3, 2015
« on: July 03, 2015, 10:31:49 pm »
<Spock eyebrow> Fascinating </Spock eyebrow>
477
Talk Zone / Re: Aches, Pains & Muscle Strains
« on: July 03, 2015, 05:24:44 pm »
I'm sure Joe Morgan can fake center field pretty well...
478
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Royals @ Astros July 1, 2015
« on: July 01, 2015, 10:38:50 pm »
Now to sweat out the Springer dinger...
479
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Yankmees @ Astros June 26, 2015
« on: June 26, 2015, 10:50:13 pm »Exactly how much more?
If we watch that, will we actually see somebody get past second base?
480
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Yankmees @ Astros June 26, 2015
« on: June 26, 2015, 10:29:13 pm »
They're on the right track and they're much, much better than they were even a year ago... but I don't think they're quite ready for prime time. If Luhnow does decide to roll the dice at the deadline, his priority should be upgrading the offense...
481
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Re: Yankmees @ Astros June 26, 2015
« on: June 26, 2015, 10:23:34 pm »
They're not going to the postseason this year. This offense just isn't good enough.
482
Talk Zone / Re: Club Astros
« on: June 04, 2015, 04:41:46 pm »
Qualls is behind the bar serving up shot after shot...
483
Talk Zone / Re: Club Astros
« on: June 04, 2015, 04:10:58 pm »
Dickie Thon is already blind drunk...
484
Talk Zone / Re: Club Astros
« on: June 04, 2015, 10:01:35 am »
The Big Unit is enjoying a Sex on the Beach...
485
Talk Zone / Re: 2004 NLCS
« on: October 19, 2014, 06:48:32 pm »
...and let's not forget the Plumber.
Are we all miserable enough now?
Are we all miserable enough now?
486
Talk Zone / Re: 2004 NLCS
« on: October 17, 2014, 07:33:33 pm »Ishikawa put one of the greatest swings on that ball I have ever seen.
Many Jakes were harmed in the making of this picture.
487
Talk Zone / Re: Amazing footage of 1924 World Series
« on: October 09, 2014, 02:06:46 pm »Does one ever get too old for the idea of being with a beautiful woman?
Just asking the question, since I have you here.
I'm pretty sure the technical term for that is "dead."
488
Talk Zone / Re: Amazing footage of 1924 World Series
« on: October 03, 2014, 11:50:58 pm »
I'm pretty sure he would have been wearing a toga in his 40's...
489
Game Zone 2014 Archive / Re: 28 Sep 2014 - Houston Astros at New York Mets
« on: September 28, 2014, 01:23:40 pm »
VMart is currently 0 for 2. Of course now he'll end up in a one game playoff tomorrow and go 5 for 5.
490
Talk Zone / Re: Porter Fired
« on: September 01, 2014, 04:34:46 pm »
What the interviews for Porter's replacement will look like...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTv0Gywb5gM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTv0Gywb5gM
491
Game Zone 2014 Archive / Re: Astros @ Yankmees August 19, 2014
« on: August 19, 2014, 10:19:11 pm »Gonzalez singles to RF, Ichiro baubles the ball. Singleton and Dominguez score, Gonzalez to 2nd. Astros 4-2. 2 outs.
"Goddamnit! Stop gluing rhinestones to that thing and throw it already!"
493
Talk Zone / Re: Tracy McGrady the pitcher, maybe
« on: February 04, 2014, 09:21:15 pm »
No, they don't.
494
Talk Zone / Re: Tracy McGrady the pitcher, maybe
« on: February 03, 2014, 04:06:53 pm »FWIW, McGrady is still only 34. Seems like he should be 40.
But his knees are older than JimR...
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Talk Zone / Re: Astros make another BP hire
« on: November 03, 2013, 06:40:15 pm »What do you want to know about the structure of the front office?
Is it bigger than a breadbox?
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Talk Zone / Re: The Void
« on: November 03, 2013, 12:14:17 pm »
The whole problem with all of these proposed free agent signings is that the discussion will go something like this:
PLAYER: You really want me in Houston? For what, exactly?
LUHNOW: We have a very important job for you. With your talent and ambition on our side, we can go from 105 losses to 95 losses and show the Average Fan that we are Really Trying. It will be epic... OK, not quite epic. But mildly exciting... or at least slightly stimulating. I think we can do that.
PLAYER: ......
LUHNOW: I can't believe you're not more enthusiastic about my offer. You look nervous. Is it that guy behind me? Don't worry, Jim is not nearly as creepy as he looks on TV. Well, not quite as creepy. But he's genuinely loveable once you get to know him, in a completely non-obsessive and un-stalky way. Honest!
PLAYER: You're serious. Really? Well then.... Show me the money, motherfucker!
tl;dr... They're going to have to grossly overpay for anything vaguely resembling a big name free agent.
PLAYER: You really want me in Houston? For what, exactly?
LUHNOW: We have a very important job for you. With your talent and ambition on our side, we can go from 105 losses to 95 losses and show the Average Fan that we are Really Trying. It will be epic... OK, not quite epic. But mildly exciting... or at least slightly stimulating. I think we can do that.
PLAYER: ......
LUHNOW: I can't believe you're not more enthusiastic about my offer. You look nervous. Is it that guy behind me? Don't worry, Jim is not nearly as creepy as he looks on TV. Well, not quite as creepy. But he's genuinely loveable once you get to know him, in a completely non-obsessive and un-stalky way. Honest!
PLAYER: You're serious. Really? Well then.... Show me the money, motherfucker!
tl;dr... They're going to have to grossly overpay for anything vaguely resembling a big name free agent.
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Beer and Queso / Re: Texans-Chiefs
« on: October 20, 2013, 05:55:43 pm »Keenum see things Schaub doesn't see.
He sees dead coaches?
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Beer and Queso / Re: Why Texans?
« on: October 06, 2013, 11:48:43 pm »Tonight my wife said "you know, say what you will about Bud Adams, but he wouldn't put up with this shit".
Say what you like about the tenets of being a total asshole, dude, at least it's an ethos.
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Talk Zone / Re: An Open Letter to Astros Ownership
« on: October 01, 2013, 01:16:19 pm »I don't think they've been poor-mouthing. They'll spend when the time is right. WFW.
Before the collapse of the TV deal I would have agreed with you. I don't think Crane started out with the intention of becoming another Loria, but that rainbows and unicorns TV deal was a big part of his business plan. Without it, all bets may be off. And it may not just be a matter of having to give up on a "New York" deal and accept a "Houston" deal. If Crane can't salvage the Comcast network and he has to go to Fox or whoever, hat in hand... the knives will come out. They're going to know just how hard up and desperate he is... and negotiate accordingly. Crane might not have the option of settling for Houston money. He may have to settle for Milwaukee money instead...
John McMullen... and Drayton McLane, in his pissier moods... loved to whine about how hard it is to run a ballclub in a small market town like Houston. Of course they were full of shit. Houston might not be NYC or LA, but it is by no means a small market. At least it wasn't. But if the TV crisis ends up in the worst case scenario, then Houston will become a small market in fact, not just in ownerspeak bullshit. That scares me a lot more than anything I've seen happen (or not happen) on the field this season...
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Game Zone 2013 Archive / Re: Astros @ Rangers September 24, 2013
« on: September 24, 2013, 09:57:39 pm »You can actually FLY into Abilene?
On a broom, yes...