Tribe @ Astros September 15, 2014

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups for tonight's tilt in the Happy War Series:

Indians

CFMichael Bourn (L)
SSJose Ramirez (S)
LFM. Brantley (L)
1BCarlos Santana (S)
DHJason Kipnis (L)
CYan Gomes (R)
RFDavid Murphy (L)
3BL. Chisenhall (L)
2BZach Walters (S)
Zach McAllister (R)  (3-6, 5.97)

Astros

LF Robbie Grossman (S)
2B Jose Altuve (R)
CF Dexter Fowler (S)
DH Chris Carter (R)
1B Marc Krauss (L)
C Jason Castro (L)
RF Jake Marisnick (R)
3B Matt Dominguez (R)
SS Gregorio Petit (R)
HOU: Collin McHugh (R)  (9-9, 2.79)

[subnuclear]

As many hits as Altuve has this year, he'll still need 50 more to catch Ichiro in 2004.

[subnuclear]

McAllister has got a live arm.

[NeilT]

From here it looks like he's getting some marginal calls.

[subnuclear]

I thought you would be too busy hanging out with Howard Chen to notice.

[subnuclear]

Altuve singles up the middle scoring Petit and Grossman. Astros 2-1. 1 out. Bottom of 3rd inning.

[subnuclear]

Hey there's Brad Mills.

[NeilT]

Dominguez is

[subnuclear]

Dominguez almost gets an RBI on an infield hit but he is too slow.

[NeilT]

so

[NeilT]

fucking

[NeilT]

slow.

[NeilT]

Altuve with his 2nd base hit. He's incredible.

[BudGirl]

Altuve with his 2nd base hit. He's incredible.

If only he were taller he could have made that catch in the first.

[subnuclear]

Why did they pull McHugh? I have the sound off.

[jbm]

Line drive off the left, upper wrist. Crying shame, as he was dealing. 

[NeilT]

Why did they pull McHugh? I have the sound off.

Hit by a come backer. I was watching orbit, so I don't know how bad it was.

I'm an idiot. 

[BudGirl]

I blame Neil T.

[jbm]

Krauss getting the tough throws. Nice rebound after that terrible first inning error.

[ValpoCory]

Line drive off the left, upper wrist. Crying shame, as he was dealing.  

Damn.  He could have made a big dent into the 20 IP he needed for ERA leaderboard qualification.  6.2 IP is still ok, but 8 IP would have made it almost certain.  He needs 13.1 IP in his presumed 2 last starts to get there.

[ValpoCory]

As many hits as Altuve has this year, he'll still need 50 more to catch Ichiro in 2004.

I couldn't believe it when I looked, but Altuve's actually projected to get to 225 hits this year (17 hits in his last 12 games).  Still, that would put him 37 behind Ichiro's 2004 season.

[NeilT]

I couldn't believe it when I looked, but Altuve's actually projected to get to 225 hits this year (17 hits in his last 12 games).  Still, that would put him 37 behind Ichiro's 2004 season.

That's nothin' for a stepper.

[ValpoCory]

Altuve singles up the middle scoring Petit and Grossman. Astros 2-1. 1 out. Bottom of 3rd inning.

It's always nice when a .520 batter actually ups his average.  Altuve came into tonight 13-for-25 (.520) with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs.  Make that 14-for-26 (.538).  His 1.229 OPS went up to 1.254 in such situations.

[juliogotay]

It's always nice when a .520 batter actually ups his average.  Altuve came into tonight 13-for-25 (.520) with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs.  Make that 14-for-26 (.538).  His 1.229 OPS went up to 1.254 in such situations.

Should Altuve hit 3rd?

[subnuclear]

I like him hitting 2nd, but Grossman needs to hit more triples.

[ValpoCory]

Should Altuve hit 3rd?

Altuve OPS by batting order position
---------------------------------------
1st -- .807 in 358 PA
2nd -- .911 in 233 PA entering tonight
3rd -- .866 in 16 PA
4th -- .529 in 44 PA

[ValpoCory]

Al Fucking Tuve.

Go get your batting title.

[jbm]

He's pretty good.

[jbm]

Said McHugh just has a contusion.

[ValpoCory]

Brian McTaggart ‏@brianmctaggart

Collin McHugh left the game with a contusion on his left forearm.


ETA.  Freaking Cabrera'd.  My bad.

[subnuclear]

Another good game by the good guys.