Astros @ stRangers July 9, 2014

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups for tonight's tilt, as the Good Guys fight an uphill battle to sweep on the road:

Astros

2BJose Altuve (R)
RFRobbie Grossman (S)
CFGeorge Springer (R)
1BJ. Singleton (L)
3BMatt Dominguez (R)
DHChris Carter (R)
CCarlos Corporan (S)
LFE. Hernandez (R)
SSMarwin Gonzalez (S)
Dallas Keuchel (L)  (8-5, 3.06)

stRangers

LF Shin-Soo Choo (L)
SS Elvis Andrus (R)
DH Alex Rios (R)
3B Adrian Beltre (R)
RF Jake Smolinski (R)
C Chris Gimenez (R)
2B Rougned Odor (L)
1B Adam Rosales (R)
CF Dan Robertson (R)
TEX: Yu Darvish (R)  (8-4, 2.63)

[geezerdonk]

Near miss on perfecto. Grossman breaks it up.

[NeilT]

I think he took care of the break up early.

[Reuben]

Keuchel is not helping his All-Star case. 4-2 Arlington, bottom 2.

[Aussie Astro]

Who's aping who?

[chuck]

I don't know what the hell's going on around here. With two strikes Springer chokes up, pokes one the other way and beats out an infield hit. Brownie and Ash are as confused as I am.

[austro]

Fuck you, Beltre: you can't just walk out of the box when the pitcher is already in his motion.

Fantastic play by Springer to take away an extra-base hit.

[Aussie Astro]

Beltre is a bigger dick than I thought, is that even possible?

[Aussie Astro]

Fuck you, Beltre: you can't just walk out of the box when the pitcher is already in his motion.

Fantastic play by Springer to take away an extra-base hit.

Gutsy catch, running into the wall like that...

[Aussie Astro]

I would die a happy man if I never have to see that Prince Fielder photo again.

[austro]

I would die a happy man if I never have to see that Prince Fielder photo again.

The SI "Body Issue" photo? I haven't seen it, but I imagine it required two pages.

[Aussie Astro]

The SI "Body Issue" photo? I haven't seen it, but I imagine it required two pages.

I thought it must have been an advertisement for a new photo shop program?

[Reuben]

The SI "Body Issue" photo? I haven't seen it, but I imagine it required two pages.

You and Sparks think alike.

[austro]

Grossman!! Hooks it just around the RF foul pole for the tying run!

[austro]

You and Sparks think alike.

That one didn't take a lot of deep thought.

[MikeyBoy]

Grossman ties the game with a dinger to RF. 3 hits off Darvish. Triple short of cycle for Robbie!

[Aussie Astro]

Singleton nails a rangers fan with foul ball to the ribs, nice bruise...

Good for Jon!

[MikeyBoy]

Double by Corp scores 2, 6-4 Stros.

[austro]

Oh please, please, please bring in Poreda!

[austro]

Singleton nails a rangers fan with foul ball to the ribs, nice bruise...

That guy really got doinked. That's going to be sore tomorrow.

[MikeyBoy]

Oh please, please, please bring in Poreda!

Darvish is done. Get him out of there!

[austro]

Beltre acting like he's more important than everybody else again.

[Aussie Astro]

Beltre acting like he's more important than everybody else again.

I think he is a slow learner, Keuchel should have put it in his ear.

[MikeyBoy]

Kuechel should have thrown the pitch, Beltre didn't get time granted.

[austro]

Kuechel should have thrown the pitch, Beltre didn't get time granted.

That's what happened the first time (just in case you weren't watching then). Even better, it went for strike 3.

[Aussie Astro]

Grossman 4 for 4?  Huh?

[austro]

Followed by a Springer Dinger! Give us The Boot!!!!

[jbm]

This Grossman guy is good. Gotta be a nice jolt of confidence.

Nice to see Springer getting credit on the Rangers network.  He doesn't even need to swing hard to hit it out.

[Aussie Astro]

Followed by a Springer Dinger! Give us The Boot!!!!

I didn't think it was getting out at first.

[jbm]

Fine play be by both Keuchel and Singleton.

[BizidyDizidy]

Springer is hitting 238? Does he have any hits that aren't home runs?

[austro]

Springer is hitting 238? Dies he gave any hits that aren't home runs?

At least two in the last two games.

[NeilT]

I hadn't realized Springer was leading the AL in strikeouts.

[austro]

I hadn't realized Springer was leading the AL in strikeouts.

Especially impressive considering that he gave everybody a 1-month headstart.

C'mon, Dominguez. You've got to make *one* of those plays.

[jbm]

Veras with a good job bailing out Dominguez.  I expected something bad after those two plays.

[NeilT]

Veras with a good job bailing out Dominguez.  I expected something bad worse after those two plays.

That's better.

[MikeyBoy]

Robbie Baseball only goes 4-5.

[NeilT]

Especially impressive considering that he gave everybody a 1-month headstart.

C'mon, Dominguez. You've got to make *one* of those plays.

Altuve's OPS is .815, Springer's is .815.  They're almost exactly the same player!

[Aussie Astro]

Altuve's OPS is .815, Springer's is .815.  They're almost exactly the same player!

Other than height.

[jbm]

Swept those chumps. Next time I'm in Academy, I'm expecting to see some Astros gear.

[Reuben]

Other than height.

No, OPS clearly shows us that they are virtual clones of each other.

[NeilT]

On MLB, the Astros are now ahead of the Rangers. 

[Bench]

Robbie Baseball only goes 4-5.

Apparently is real name is "Mike" Grossman.

[chuck]

The fact that the Astros win so few of their other games makes it that much better to dickstomp the Rangers, particularly in front of their bandwagon ass fans.

[Mr. Happy]

The fact that the Astros win so few of their other games makes it that much better to dickstomp the Rangers, particularly in front of their bandwagon ass fans.

It actually was bigger than you say. The Good Guys finally got to a pitcher who had dominated them.

[geezerdonk]

I'll bet Nolan is grinning like a possum. I wonder if he made the trip.

[MikeyBoy]

Apparently is real name is "Mike" Grossman.

In the post game interview, Springer called him RG3.

[Mr. Happy]

I'll bet Nolan is grinning like a possum. I wonder if he made the trip.

It's probably a shit eating grin from ear to ear.

[believin]

On MLB, the Astros are now ahead of the Rangers. 

I just saw this, and was actually caught off guard by it:


STANDINGS

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
            W   L   PCT   GB
Oakland   57   34   .626   -
LA Angels   53   37   .589   3.5
Seattle   49   42   .538   8.0
Houston   39   54   .419   19.0
Texas   38   53   .418   19.0

[Fynn]

Morning radio on "The Ticket" in Dallas---"in fifteen minutes we'll talk about the Rangers who have now reached the bottom of the barrel". 

LOVE IT.

[jbm]

The way they are playing, there's more bottom to the barrel. 

[geezerdonk]

The Rangers played very poorly in the field throughout the series - lots of mental mistakes.

[juliogotay]

The Rangers played very poorly in the field throughout the series - lots of mental mistakes.

I expect this will be Wash's last season unless there is a dramatic turnaround.

[Mr. Happy]

I expect this will be Wash's last season unless there is a dramatic turnaround.

That's what I'm afraid of. He's a terrible manager in my opinion. I'm also fearful that the owner will run Daniels off too.

[jbm]

Damn, I like Wash.  He's kept that crumbling ship afloat for a long time this year, but it's sinking quickly now. 

Just look at that lineup and pitching staff, it's awful.  He's got less talent than Porter, but he does have more veteran leadership. 

[juliogotay]

That's what I'm afraid of. He's a terrible manager in my opinion. I'm also fearful that the owner will run Daniels off too.

So you want Daniels and Wash to stay because you want the Rangers to suck, right?
My gut is that Daniels is ok but Wash will be the scapegoat. The word around the Dallas area where I reside is that Ryan protected Wash and he wasn't Daniels guy.
Ryan supported him during that cocaine issue a couple of years back.

[Mr. Happy]

Damn, I like Wash.  He's kept that crumbling ship afloat for a long time this year, but it's sinking quickly now. 

Just look at that lineup and pitching staff, it's awful.  He's got less talent than Porter, but he does have more veteran leadership. 

I'm curious. What do you like about him? However, I've seen some huge in-game blunders in the playoffs. Maybe it's on his bench coach?

[Mr. Happy]

So you want Daniels and Wash to stay because you want the Rangers to suck, right?
My gut is that Daniels is ok but Wash will be the scapegoat. The word around the Dallas area where I reside is that Ryan protected Wash and he wasn't Daniels guy.
Ryan supported him during that cocaine issue a couple of years back.

Yes. I think that you're right.

[jbm]

I'm curious. What do you like about him? However, I've seen some huge in-game blunders in the playoffs. Maybe it's on his bench coach?

Basically, it seems a core component of a manager's job is to get the most out of his players.  Over the Wash years, I feel that he has done that in spades.  There aren't too many below career average years for his players.  Just my sense; I hardly did a rigorous analysis.

[Mr. Happy]

Basically, it seems a core component of a manager's job is to get the most out of his players.  Over the Wash years, I feel that he has done that in spades.  There aren't too many below career average years for his players.  Just my sense; I hardly did a rigorous analysis.

That's a good point, but that's as much about the luck of player health as anything else. Look at the significant number of Rangers players that are on the DL right now. I think that Leyland outmanaged him in the playoffs.

[Duman]

Grossman ties the game with a dinger to RF. 3 hits off Darvish. Triple short of cycle for Robbie!

This was Evan Grant's hashtag on his tweet about the HR.  #needshitforcycle

Which could be interpreted as
1. Needs hit for cycle or
2. Need Shit for cycle.

While both were wrong, he needed a triple for the cycle.  I like the second interpretation better. 

[chuck]

I know the Rangers have had a lot of injuries but what's left of their defense is ridiculously terrible. This series they were dickstepping a Carolina Shag.

[Mr. Happy]

I know the Rangers have had a lot of injuries but what's left of their defense is ridiculously terrible. This series they were dickstepping a Carolina Shag.

I'm a huge Carolina beach music fan! Shagging ability is part and parcel of a true Southern gentleman's repertoire.

[MRaup]

I'm a huge Carolina beach music fan! Shagging ability is part and parcel of a true Southern gentleman's repertoire.

I can imagine only Limey is more confused about this than I am.

What the HELL are you guys talking about?

[Bench]

I can imagine only Limey is more confused about this than I am.

What the HELL are you guys talking about?

You've met Mr. Happy.  Now imagine him doing THIS.

[Mr. Happy]

I can imagine only Limey is more confused about this than I am.

What the HELL are you guys talking about?

Carolina beach music is a genre of R&B that is popular in the southeast. Music by groups like the Drifters, Chairmen of the Board, the Clovers, the Tams, etc. There are a bunch of regional acts. If you've ever paid attention to any of the music that I've posted on Facebook, quite often it is all Carolina beach music.

[austro]

Rangers picking up where they left off last night. First run scores when a throw to third bounces in the stands. Somebody dropped something, then Rios dropped a ball at the fence in RF, and shit just keeps happening. Colby Lewis is at 40 pitches and doesn't have anybody out yet in the second, and he's given up 10 hits and 9 runs. Washington is sitting in the dugout desperately hoping to change pitchers, but his bullpen is all worn out.

They just got a double-play, but it scored a run, and now they just got the third out. So they're only down 10-2 in the middle of the 2nd.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Rangers picking up where they left off last night. First run scores when a throw to third bounces in the stands. Somebody dropped something, then Rios dropped a ball at the fence in RF, and shit just keeps happening. Colby Lewis is at 40 pitches and doesn't have anybody out yet in the second, and he's given up 10 hits and 9 runs. Washington is sitting in the dugout desperately hoping to change pitchers, but his bullpen is all worn out.

They just got a double-play, but it scored a run, and now they just got the third out. So they're only down 10-2 in the middle of the 2nd.

Wow.

[austro]

Wow.

2 innings into a 4-game stand against a hot Angels team, and his bullpen is already shot. This could be an ugly, ugly weekend for these guys. I love it!

[austro]

Trout with a 3-run jack to dead center. Lewis leaving after 2 1/3, giving up 13 runs on 13 hits. Poor, poor Rangers.

[jbm]

The Astros might have been this bad at some point, but thankfully, I've forgotten it.

Not many hitters can do what Trout did with his homer.

[Mr. Happy]

Trout with a 3-run jack to dead center. Lewis leaving after 2 1/3, giving up 13 runs on 13 hits. Poor, poor Rangers.

Lewis is a pinball machine.

[juliogotay]

Lewis is a pinball machine.

He was pretty solid before he had a serious surgery a couple of years back. This team is falling apart all at once. Up here in the DFW area it's referred to as the Ryan curse.

[Mr. Happy]

He was pretty solid before he had a serious surgery a couple of years back. This team is falling apart all at once. Up here in the DFW area it's referred to as the Ryan curse.

How's Daniels not taking grief for the Prince Fielder trade?

[juliogotay]

How's Daniels not taking grief for the Prince Fielder trade?

I think he is.

[Ron Brand]

Sphinx breaks out the broom.