Sea Shits @ Astros September 1, 2015

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups for tonight's tilt:

Sea Urchins

SSKetel Marte (S)
3BKyle Seager (L)
RFNelson Cruz (R)
2BRobinson Cano (L)
DHF. Gutierrez (R)
LFSeth Smith (L)
1BMark Trumbo (R)
CFBrad Miller (L)
CJohn Hicks (R)

SEA: Roenis Elias (L)  (4-7, 4.20)

Astros

2B Jose Altuve (R)
1B Marwin Gonzalez (S)
SS Carlos Correa (R)
DH Evan Gattis (R)
CF Carlos Gomez (R)
3B Jed Lowrie (S)
LF Colby Rasmus (L)
C Max Stassi (R)
RF Jake Marisnick (R)

HOU: Scott Feldman (R)  (5-5, 3.75)

[pots]

No Carter against a lefty. 

[NeilT]

That outfield makes me happy every time I see it.

[hostros7]

That outfield makes me happy every time I see it.

I agree, and then I was thinking about how much happier I'll be when Springer returns and the team gains some offense without compromising anything defensively. 

[Jacksonian]

I agree, and then I was thinking about how much happier I'll be when Springer returns and the team gains some offense without compromising anything defensively.

Rasmus/Marisnick, Gomez, Springer left to right.

[hostros7]

No Carter against a lefty.

True, but Carter isn't getting many ABs these days unless the injury situation makes it necessary

By Breakdown   AB   R   H   2B   3B   HR   RBI   BB   HBP   SO   SB   CS   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
vs. Left                 136   17   26   6   0   7   18   22   3   50   0   0   .191   .313   .390   .703
vs. Right                  210   25   37   7   0   11   34   30   3   87   1   2   .176   .285   .367   .652

ETA - sorry for the shit paste-in.  It looks better before I hit send.  In summary, his performance isn't meaningfully different against lefties or righties to a degree to which you would opt for him over almost any other non-pitcher on the roster.

[Jacksonian]

True, but Carter isn't getting many ABs these days unless the injury situation makes it necessary

By Breakdown   AB   R   H   2B   3B   HR   RBI   BB   HBP   SO   SB   CS   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
vs. Left                 136   17   26   6   0   7   18   22   3   50   0   0   .191   .313   .390   .703
vs. Right                  210   25   37   7   0   11   34   30   3   87   1   2   .176   .285   .367   .652

On the flip side, Valbuena had a much improved August: .258 .361 .452

[Reuben]

On the flip side, Valbuena had a much improved August: .258 .361 .452

For the season, Valbuena is hitting .231/.314/.458 vs. RHP (just .159/.254/.318 in his 122 PAs vs. LHP). Platooning him with Marwin at 1B may just give them decent production there.

[HudsonHawk]

T1:

Marte grounds out 1-3
Seager singles to RF
Cruz strikes out swinging, as Seager steals 2B...Stassi's thrown wasn't bad, but had no chance with Feldman on the hill
Cano grounds out 4-3

No score

[MikeyBoy]

Stassi is a little bitty shit.

[NeilT]

Seager is a really fine defensive 3rd baseman.  Dammit.

[NeilT]

Hmmm.

[HudsonHawk]

Feldman laboring here early

[HudsonHawk]

back to back walks loads the bases with 2 out for the M's

[austro]

Feldman laboring here early

Ugly, ugly, ugly. But he can still escape with only 1 run allowed.

[HudsonHawk]

Feldman is all over the place.  Strom out to talk

[austro]

There are a bunch of arms available tonight. I doubt that Feldman gets much rope here.

[HudsonHawk]

Third straight 2-out walk plates another run.

[MikeyBoy]

Fuck Feldman.

[austro]

Fuck,, here comes Cruz.

[Texifornia]

Feldman is all over the place.  Strom out to talk

I hope he brought a map and a lantern.

[NeilT]

Fuck,, here comes Cruz.

You're quoting Feldman?

[austro]

Whew. That could have been a lot worse.

[HudsonHawk]

T2:

Gutierrez homers to LF
Smith triples to RCF
Trumbo pops out F4...Altuve had to run a long way, as the infield was in
Miller...infield still in...strikes out swinging
Hicks walks
Hicks steals 2B, no throw on the bouncer
Marte walks to load the bases
Seager walks, forcing in Smith
Cruz grounds into FC, Marte out 5U

Inning finally ends, but the Mariner's pick up 2 runs on two hits and three walks, lead 2-0

[austro]

That's interesting: does Strom think Stassi was contributing to Feldman's problems? Or is he just telling him things to look out for?

[HudsonHawk]

That's interesting: does Strom think Stassi was contributing to Feldman's problems? Or is he just telling him things to look out for?

Probably a little of both.

[HudsonHawk]

Runners at the corners with 2 out for Stassi...

[HudsonHawk]

Atta boy Max...2-out RBI single cuts the lead in half

[HudsonHawk]

B2:

Gattis walks
Gomez strikes out swinging
Lowrie walks
Rasmus flies out F9, Gattis tags and moves to 3B
Stassi singles to RF, Gattis scores, Lowrie to 2B
Marisnick strikes out swinging at a bouncing slider...2-3 on the put out

After two...M's lead 2-1

[TenThirty]

T2:

Gutierrez homers to LF
Smith triples to RCF
Trumbo pops out F4...Altuve had to run a long way, as the infield was in
Miller...infield still in...strikes out swinging
Hicks walks
Hicks steals 2B, no throw on the bouncer
Marte walks to load the bases
Seager walks, forcing in Smith
Cruz grounds into FC, Marte out 5U

Inning finally ends, but the Mariner's pick up 2 runs on two hits and three walks, lead 2-0

I am watching on a bit of a delay, so forgive me, but i am somewhat impressed at giving up only 2 in an inning you allow 3 walks, a triple and a homer.  I guess the word is relieved, not impressed.  Could tie a record for that line to result in only 2.

[HudsonHawk]

I am watching on a bit of a delay, so forgive me, but i am somewhat impressed at giving up only 2 in an inning you allow 3 walks, a triple and a homer.  I guess the word is relieved, not impressed.  Could tie a record for that line to result in only 2.

Yeah, it could have been a lot worse.  Just frustrating as all three walks came with 2-outs

[NeilT]

Stassi's pitch-framing doesn't bring much to the table.

[austro]

Yeah, it could have been a lot worse.  Just frustrating as all three walks came with 2-outs

Yeah, imagine those events happening in the opposite order.

[austro]

Stassi's pitch-framing doesn't bring much to the table.

Everybody will look bad after you've gotten used to watching Conger.

[HudsonHawk]

Another walk.  If these pitchers don't start mixing in a few strikes, we're gonna be here all fucking night.

[austro]

I wonder if Feldman will get out of this inning under 90 pitches.

[TenThirty]

Anyone else think the HPU and the strikezone box drawer need to take some remedial courses?  That second strike on Marisnick looked halfway between his ankles and knees on the replay but they both say it caught the zone.

[NeilT]

Man there's a lot of green in the crowd.  The number of Mariners fans always surprises me.

77 pitches.

[NeilT]

I'm thinking tonight Feldman's not got it.

[NeilT]

I wonder if Feldman will get out of this inning under 90 pitches.

[/s]

fixed it for you.

[HudsonHawk]

Anyone else think the HPU and the strikezone box drawer need to take some remedial courses?  That second strike on Marisnick looked halfway between his ankles and knees on the replay but they both say it caught the zone.

Ump has been fine.  Feldman has been everywhere. 

[HudsonHawk]

I'm thinking tonight Feldman's not got it.

Curveball is just not working. At.  All. 

[HudsonHawk]

Feldman calls out Hinch and the trainer. 

[HudsonHawk]

That's it for Feldman, leaves the game with an injury.  Velasquez will take the pill

[austro]

Uh oh. An injury would suck, but it looks like his shoulder was really bothering him. I wonder if that's why he's been flying open all night?

[jbm]

Was his injury to his left knee?

[HudsonHawk]

Was his injury to his left knee?

Looked like his shoulder.  Hard to say though.

[austro]

Was his injury to his left knee?

Looked like his right shoulder.

[austro]

How did that guy foul off that breaking pitch? That was vicious.

[HudsonHawk]

T3:

Cano grounds out 5-3...nice throw by Lowrie to get the hobbling runner
Gutierrez walks
Smith walks
Trumbo flies out F8
Miller singles to LCF on an 0-2 pitch, Gutierrez scores, for some inexplicable reason Smith stays at 2B
Hicks strikes out swinging

3-1 Mariners

[NeilT]

VV looks good, but man I hate that for Feldman. 

[jbm]

Looked like his right shoulder.

Oh, I meant his previous injury. He looked a little stiff in that knee walking to the dugout.

[JimR]

Feldman's shoulder was flying open something fierce. I thought the injury was right leg.

[Jacksonian]

Shoulder discomfort announced.

[HudsonHawk]

Astros have bases loaded and one out for Gomez...

[NeilT]

Nice at-bat.

[HudsonHawk]

B3:

Altuve walks on four pitches
Marwin grounds into FC, Altuve out 6-4
Correa doubles off the LCF wall, Marwin to 3B
Gattis draws IBB to load the bases
Gomez with a sac fly, Marwin scores
Lowrie grounds out 1-3

After three...3-2 Mariners

[austro]

Seattle's turn to get screwed: that was a blistered line drive that turned into a double-play.

[HudsonHawk]

That's the second time I've seen Marwin reach down with his glove to tag a base. 

[HudsonHawk]

T4:

Marte walks...the sixth in 3+ innings
Seager lines into 3U double play
Cruz gets carved up...down on strikes

3-2

[JimR]

My phone says right shoulder for Feldman.

[NeilT]

Stassi is a little bitty shit.

Must be the angle of the camera.  He's 6'3", 220.

[NeilT]

Must be the angle of the camera.  He's 6'3", 220.

Or maybe not.

[NeilT]

You know the best chili pie in Houston is at the Avalon Grill.

[HudsonHawk]

Marisnick!!!

[NeilT]

Damn I like Marisnick.

[Jacksonian]

That looming left field platoon is going to be good.

[JimR]

We have a great 4 man OF when Springer returns.

[HudsonHawk]

B4:

Rasmus strikes out looking
Stassi grounds out 6-3
Marisnick homers to LF on 0-2 pitch
Altuve singles up the middle
Marwin flies out F9

But the Astros tie it up...3-3

[NeilT]

We have a great 4 man OF when Springer returns.

And a pretty incredible 3-man OF now.

[chuck]

I wonder what all the Mariners fans visiting Houston are going to do once they find out that Chances is closed.

[NeilT]

I am Carlos Correa, and I ain't gonna smile.

[JimR]

And a pretty incredible 3-man OF now.

Yes. We probably will let Rasmus walk, but I really like him.

[NeilT]

Marisnick would have had that.

[HudsonHawk]

Trumbo with a 2-out, 2-run homer

[HudsonHawk]

T5:

Cano lines one up the middle...diving catch by Correa right behind 2B
Gutierrez with a broken bat flair drops into CF
Smith strikes out swinging
Trumbo hits the train, Gutierrez scores
Miller flies out F8

M's retake the lead 5-3

[HudsonHawk]

Next season is gonna suck donkey balls, when every ball to today's warning track will be a HR.

[austro]

What did we do to make Trumbo so angry? And why is he trying to damage our train?

[austro]

Next season is gonna suck donkey balls, when every ball to today's warning track will be a HR.

Yeah, I'm not happy about that change. That deep center is what makes this a fair park.

[HudsonHawk]

B5:

Correa fouls back ball four then grounds out 4-3 on ball five
Gattis flies out F9 on ball four
Gomez grounds out 3U

through five...5-3 Mariners.

[HudsonHawk]

Someone get those kids real haircuts.

[austro]

Someone get those kids real haircuts.

They look like the Hanson brothers in their youth.

[hostros7]

I hope the hairstyles of the Astros buddy club members aren't being as influenced by Rasmus as those two lads' coifs would indicate. 


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[HudsonHawk]

T6:

HIcks flies out F8
Marte grounds out 3U
Seager flies out F7

5-3 still

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I am really starting to hate these barnacle encrusted bastard pieces of dried whale spunk, who, like the anemone, share the same hole for shitting and eating.

[NeilT]

I am really starting to hate these barnacle encrusted bastard pieces of dried whale spunk, who, like the anemone, share the same hole for shitting and eating.

I just shared that with my wife.  She said it was disgusting.  She laughed.

[HudsonHawk]

Astros with runners at the corners and 2 out

[austro]

Time for Altuve to perform like an MVP.

[NeilT]

Time for Altuve to perform like an MVP.

Done.

[austro]

MVP! MVP!

[hostros7]

What a ball player


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[NeilT]

Altuve is fucking Clapton.

[austro]

Wow! Thank you very much for your awful defense!

[chuck]

Clase de awebason, cha.

[HudsonHawk]

B6:

Lowrie singles up the middle, off of Cano's glove
Rasmus strikes out swinging

That's it for Elias, Guaipe in.  If he's not nicknamed "El Guapo", shame on his teammates

Stassi strikes out swinging
Marisnick singles up the middle, Lowrie to 3B
Altuve singles to RF, Lowrie scores, Marisnick to 3B
Altuve steals 2B, throw goes into CF, Marisnick scores, Altuve to 3B on the TE2
Marwin pops out F7 on the next pitch

But new game...5-5

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'm not sure Clapton can play those chords.

[Jacksonian]

Tonight is another example of the great job Luhnow has done with the pitching depth in the org.

[NeilT]

Glad Stassi's catching.

[NeilT]

Gomez flipping the bat on that bunt sucked.

[austro]

That was a good bunt, but I think that with 2 outs I'd rather that Gomez try to drive something. Maybe he's licking his chops at making Seattle's catcher make another throw.

[chuck]

That was a good bunt, but I think that with 2 outs I'd rather that Gomez try to drive something. Maybe he's licking his chops at making Seattle's catcher make another throw.

I thought it was sort of a weird decision, especially if he wasn't running immediately. 

[NeilT]

That's MVP defense right there.

[austro]

Shit!

[hostros7]

Fuck these 2 out HRs


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[austro]

We may want to reconsider our scouting reports on Morrison.

[HudsonHawk]

T8:

Smith grounds out 4-3
Trumbo pops out F3
Miller singles to CF
Morrison, pinch hitting for Hicks...crushes a homer to RF on a 2-0 meatball
Marte strikes out swinging

M's regain the lead 7-5

[austro]

Well, that's a good reply.

[hostros7]

Seattle's defense seems sub par. 


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[austro]

What's the opposite of a Conger Donger?

[hostros7]

I hope be proved wrong, but these PH moves aren't those that I'd be making in bottom 8 with no outs and a runner on 3rd.


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[NeilT]

What's the opposite of a Conger Donger?

 A Conger Donged.

[Tom Servo]

What's the opposite of a Conger Donger?

Hank Stank?

[NeilT]

Fick.

[chuck]

I cannot believe they burned their catcher for that bullshit.

On the other hand, that was some non-fuckwit baserunning by Rasmussen.

[Tom Servo]

I cannot believe they burned their catcher for that bullshit.

On the other hand, that was some non-fuckwit baserunning by Rasmussen.

Is that just going to be his official name now?

[austro]

I cannot believe they burned their catcher for that bullshit.

On the other hand, that was some non-fuckwit baserunning by Rasmussen.

They didn't just burn the catcher, they burned Marisnick for some spinning-top bullshit from Valbuena.

[HudsonHawk]

B8:

Carson Smith in for the M's

Rasmus doubles to LCF, moves to 3B as the throw misses the cutoff man
Conger, pinch hitting for Stassi...strikes out looking
Valbuena, pinch hitting for Marisnick...strikes out swinging at two bouncing sliders
Altuve strikes out swinging

That was brutal.

7-5 M's

[austro]

Stop me if you've heard this before: man on 3rd base with no outs, followed by a (pinch-hitter) K, followed by  a (pinch-hitter) K, followed by a K.

[OregonStrosFan]

Pinch hitting Conger and Valbuena there was friggin' idiotic... Damn...


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[chuck]

I would have pinch hit Tyler White and kept my best catcher and outfielder in the game.

But then I guess I wouldn't have the mighty Chris Carter on the bench intimidating everyone.

[austro]

That was brutal.

Conger was 0-2 and Smith threw him a spinning slider in the middle of the zone. How do you not pull the trigger on that? And why has Altuve started the leaning in/leaning back stuff again? He was doing that earlier in the year when he wasn't hitting, and it's not a winning strategy.

[HudsonHawk]

T9:

Gregerson in...

Seager strikes out swinging
Cruz grounds out 4-3
Cano singles to RF
Gutierrez flies out F8

Last chance...Astros chasing a pair

[HudsonHawk]

And why has Altuve started the leaning in/leaning back stuff again? He was doing that earlier in the year when he wasn't hitting, and it's not a winning strategy.

He's 2 for 4 tonight, raised his average like 25 points with 40-something hits in the last 28 games.  If everyone had that "not winning strategy", they'd be undefeated.

[austro]

He's 2 for 4 tonight, raised his average like 25 points with 40-something hits in the last 28 games.  If everyone had that "not so winning strategy, they'd be undefeated.

He's done that because he's been going up there ready to pounce on hittable pitches. That last AB looked like he didn't want to swing. It just seemed completely out of (recent) character.

[HudsonHawk]

He's done that because he's been going up there ready to pounce on hittable pitches. That last AB looked like he didn't want to swing. It just seemed completely out of (recent) character.

Shit happens.  I just don't see Altuve's hitting as a particular problem right now.

[NeilT]

Shit happens.  I just don't see Altuve's hitting as a particular problem right now.

That's because you're not paying attention!!!

[HudsonHawk]

B9:

Wilhelmsen in...

Marwin grounds out 3-1
Correa strikes out swinging
Gattis grounds out 5-3

Game over, Astros take it in the shorts 7-5

[austro]

Well, that was disappointing. Let's see if Kazmir can start a new streak for the starters tomorrow.

[chuck]

That was bad.

[HudsonHawk]

That was bad.

Six of their seven runs came with two outs.

[ValpoCory]

They didn't just burn the catcher, they burned Marisnick for some spinning-top bullshit from Valbuena.

Can't believe Hinch removed the red-hot Marisnick for all-or-nothing and usually nothing Valbuena. 

[Jacksonian]

Can't believe Hinch removed the red-hot Marisnick for all-or-nothing and usually nothing Valbuena.

Actually Valbuena had been hitting quite well lately.

[HudsonHawk]

Actually Valbuena had been hitting quite well lately.

Yeah, it's easy to blame Hinch in hindsight, but Conger and/or Valbuena have to make contact there.

[MRaup]

Games like this will be the ones that we'll look back on and cringe if this team doesn't make the playoffs.

[ValpoCory]

Games like this will be the ones that we'll look back on and cringe if this team doesn't make the playoffs.

Or if the team misses out on home field in the ALDS by one game.

[Uncle Charlie]

Actually Valbuena had been hitting quite well lately.

Yes, compared to "normal" Valbuena, but not anything to write home about: 231/412/308 over the last 7 days - 1 XBH.  He had quite a run during the first half of August but has come off that quite a bit.

[JimR]

What did we do to make Trumbo so angry? And why is he trying to damage our train?

VV got fast ball happy.

[Bench]

I wonder what all the Mariners fans visiting Houston are going to do once they find out that Chances is closed.

Gather at the Reality Bites house and argue that Singles was a much better movie. 

[NeilT]

Gather at the Reality Bites house and argue that Singles was a much better movie.

Outstanding.

[MikeyBoy]

Gather at the Reality Bites house and argue that Singles was a much better movie. 

Since there is no longer a process in place, I will go ahead and give you a POTWA. Congrats!