Seaturds @ Astros September 2, 2015

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups for tonight's tilt:

Seaturds

SSKetel Marte (S)
3BKyle Seager (L)
DHNelson Cruz (R)
2BRobinson Cano (L)
LFF. Gutierrez (R)
1BMark Trumbo (R)
RFStefen Romero (R)
CJesus Sucre (R)
CFShawn O'Malley (R)

SEA: Taijuan Walker (R)  (10-7, 4.53)

Astros

2B Jose Altuve (R)
3B Jed Lowrie (S)
SS Carlos Correa (R)
DH Evan Gattis (R)
RF Colby Rasmus (L)
CF Carlos Gomez (R)
LF Preston Tucker (L)
1B Luis Valbuena (L)
C Hank Conger (S)

HOU: Scott Kazmir (L)  (7-9, 2.45)

[BudGirl]

SSKetel Marte (S) double
3BKyle Seager (L) flied out to cf
DHNelson Cruz (R) K
2BRobinson Cano (L) ground out 4+3

no score 1 lob

[BudGirl]

2B Jose Altuve (R)  5-3
3B Jed Lowrie (S) flied out to lf
SS Carlos Correa (R) bb
DH Evan Gattis (R)  flied out to rf

no score, 1 lob

[hostros7]

Sorry if I've missed this, but has there been any explanation for the Ashby absence?  I mean, I hope all is well but that the powers that be are "exploring different options."

[NeilT]

Sorry if I've missed this, but has there been any explanation for the Ashby absence?  I mean, I hope all is well but that the powers that be are "exploring different options."

Vacation 

[BudGirl]

top 2
LFF. Gutierrez (R) lined out to 5
1BMark Trumbo (R)  k looking
RFStefen Romero (R)  basehit past correa
CJesus Sucre (R)   bb
CFShawn O'Malley (R)  single, rbi
SSKetel Marte (S)  4-3

1-0  2 lob

[BudGirl]

Sorry if I've missed this, but has there been any explanation for the Ashby absence?  I mean, I hope all is well but that the powers that be are "exploring different options."

who cares, i've been loving it.

[NeilT]

Nice to have Tucker back.

[BudGirl]

rasmus  single
gomez  hbp
tucker  single, rbi
valbuena  8, rbi
conger 4-6-3

end of 2
1-2 astros

[MikeyBoy]

Jeez. This chick doesn't shut the fuck up.

[BudGirl]

top 3
Kyle Seager (L)  single
Nelson Cruz (R)  K
Robinson Cano (L)  flied out to 5
F. Gutierrez (R)  ground rule double, rbi
Mark Trumbo (R)  k  looking

mid 3, 2-2 1 lob

[BudGirl]

bot 3
altuve  6-3
lowrie  double
correa  6-3
gattis  single, rbi
rasmus  k

2-3, 1 lob
end 3

[MikeyBoy]

Terrible casting for that NRG commercial. The Dad looks 30 and has a 16 year old daughter.

[hostros7]

Terrible casting for that NRG commercial. The Dad looks 30 and has a 16 year old daughter.

Concur, and she may look older than 16. Either way, the scene doesn't look right.

[Reuben]

That Lowrie double last inning was odd. Did he not see that the throw was about to possibly beat him? Almost paid for not sliding.

[BudGirl]

top 4
romero  9
sucre  9 but altuve wanted it
o'malley  bb
marte  9

2-3, 1 lob

[BudGirl]

bot 4

gomez  bb, picked off
tucker  6-3
valbuena  k

2-3 end of 4

[BudGirl]

top 5
seager 2b
cruz  k
cano  single, rbi
kazmir out, qualls in
gutierrez  k
trumbo  5-3


3-3, 1 lob

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Why replace Kazmir at this point?  He wasn't even to 100 pitches.  I'd trust him a helluva lot more than Qualls to get out of this inning.

[BudGirl]

Why replace Kazmir at this point?  He wasn't even to 100 pitches.  I'd trust him a helluva lot more than Qualls to get out of this inning.

qualls did a pretty good job getting out the inning.  i trust qualls quite a bit since he came back from injury.

[BudGirl]

bot 5
conger  (shift to the right)  k (no need for the shift)
altuve  3u (check swing)
perez getting loose for the astros
lowrie  7

3-3 end of 5

[hostros7]

That's not how I pictured RebelJew aka Joey Trum

[HudsonHawk]

Why replace Kazmir at this point?  He wasn't even to 100 pitches.  I'd trust him a helluva lot more than Qualls to get out of this inning.

Qualls has been nails for the last month.

[MikeyBoy]

Conger is so bad at blocking pitches, matter of fact I don't think he is good any aspect of catching.

[BudGirl]

That's not how I pictured RebelJew aka Joey Trum

why would you think that was him?  he lives in San Fran.

[BudGirl]

top 6
qualls still in
romero  k swinging
harris getting loose for houston
sucre  6-3
o'malley  single, steals but the ball went between congers wickets
qualls out, harris in
marte  4-3

1-34 have been thrown out by conger. 
3-3, mid 6, 1 lob

3-3

[hostros7]

why would you think that was him?  he lives in San Fran.

I don't know him outside of his presence on this board, but my recollection was that he moved to Korea.  Inaccurate?

[BudGirl]

I don't know him outside of his presence on this board, but my recollection was that he moved to Korea.  Inaccurate?

unless he did and I didn't realize it.  Plus, I have met him on a number of occassions.

i thought there was a poster in korea but i don't remember who.

[HudsonHawk]

I don't know him outside of his presence on this board, but my recollection was that he moved to Korea.  Inaccurate?

I've met Trum.  That's not him. 

[NeilT]

I surely miss Castro.

ETA:  I think Conger is so freaked out about not throwing anyone out on steals that he passed a ball he otherwise would have stopped.

[HudsonHawk]

Conger is so bad at blocking pitches, matter of fact I don't think he is good any aspect of catching.

He's exceptionally poor at pretty much everything.

[hostros7]

I've met Trum.  That's not him.

Even though I've never met him, I knew it wasn't him.  Was just joking about the Korea angle.  I'm thinking maybe I confused Joey moving to Korea with Matt something who had the Old Boy movie avatar. . .

[Ebby Calvin]

Conger is so bad at blocking pitches, matter of fact I don't think he is good any aspect of catching.

nice 5-hole block there, too.

[BudGirl]

I surely miss Castro.

at least with the ball getting past conger you don't have to see the attempted throw to second.

i feel bad that he sucks so much at throwing out runners.  that has to bother him.

[jbm]

He's exceptionally poor at pretty much everything.

I'm not sure if his contract extends into the future, or what they will have to pay if it does, but if it does, they should just eat it, IMO.

[BudGirl]

bot 6
correa  8
gattis  8
rasmus  (shift towards right) 9

5 pitches.

3-3, end 6 

[HudsonHawk]

at least with the ball getting past conger you don't have to see the attempted throw to second.

i feel bad that he sucks so much at throwing out runners.  that has to bother him.

Not to mention how much it bothers the pitchers.

[BudGirl]

Not to mention how much it bothers the pitchers.

you know i end up feeling bad for the players that suck.  hell, i'm even feeling bad for carter.

[BudGirl]

so Texas plays Anaheim this weekend, who to root for???  I'm thinking the Angels and hope the Astros win.

[BudGirl]

top 7
harris pitching
seager  bb
cruz  single (seager moves to 3rd)
the ball beat seager but was offline and hinch is challenging.- call upheld - brownie and blum disagree
cano  fielders choice, reaches second, seager out, cruz to third
gutierrez  ibb
trumbo (11 game hit streak)  8 cruz out at home.

3-3, 2 lob


18,669 paid attendance

[hostros7]

so Texas plays Anaheim this weekend, who to root for???  I'm thinking the Angels and hope the Astros win.

When choosing between two evils, I generally advocate for the lesser. 


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[NeilT]

so Texas plays Anaheim this weekend, who to root for???  I'm thinking the Angels and hope the Astros win.

Absolutely Angels.

[hostros7]

I dislike the "always keep the tag on" challenges unless the player fully clears the bag.


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[homer]

What game are they watching?

[BudGirl]

i'm always amazed altuve has any fingers

[hostros7]

I dislike the "always keep the tag on" challenges unless the player fully clears the bag.


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But not, of course, in this instance. 


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[austro]

I dislike the "always keep the tag on" challenges unless the player fully clears the bag.

My suspicion is that the replay guys have been given instructions that nobody is to be called out just because you might be able to slip a piece of paper between the runner's foot and the bag. If somebody bounces off the bag so that there's a foot of air there, sure, they're out. But there has to be some acknowledgement of the physical forces involved here.

[austro]

Maybe we can add a "how not to execute a rundown" addendum on the "how not to run the bases" video.

[HudsonHawk]

For a second, I wondered if Conger actually tagged the runner with the ball on that rundown.  But on replay he did.

[hostros7]

My suspicion is that the replay guys have been given instructions that nobody is to be called out just because you might be able to slip a piece of paper between the runner's foot and the bag. If somebody bounces off the bag so that there's a foot of air there, sure, they're out. But there has to be some acknowledgement of the physical forces involved here.

They called out an Astro stealing second during a review exactly for this "scrap of paper" corollary earlier this year. I haven't seen it reviewed enough under those particular circumstances to have a view on how it's actually been called


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[homer]

Wow

[Ebby Calvin]

Beautiful

[MikeyBoy]

Fuck yea!

[austro]

They called out an Astro stealing second during a review exactly for this "scrap of paper" corollary earlier this year. I haven't seen it reviewed enough under those particular circumstances to have a view on how it's actually been called

And the Astros benefited from it earlier this year, too (Pujols, I think). But I don't recall seeing such a call in the second half of the season.

[BudGirl]

good thing that hit went to RF.

[hostros7]

YES - great play to end the inning!  9-2 DP


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[Tom Servo]

Colby!  He played that beautifully!

[austro]

Great throw by Rasmus. And there is one thing that Conger does well: he has proven adept at catching those bouncing throws at the plate and tagging out baserunners.

[HudsonHawk]

Maybe we can add a "how not to execute a rundown" addendum on the "how not to run the bases" video.

You can add "how to field a fly ball, get behind it and put one right on the money" video

[OregonStrosFan]

Holy shit that was awesome!


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[NeilT]

Great throw by Rasmus. And there is one thing that Conger does well: he has proven adept at catching those bouncing throws at the plate and tagging out baserunners.

And with most of this outfield that's a useful skill.

[Tom Servo]

You can add "how to field a fly ball, get behind it and put one right on the money" video

That was key.  He positioned himself perfectly to get the forward momentum.  Nice!

[hostros7]

The outfield to home plate put out on the tag DP is simply one of the best plays to watch in baseball.  I'll never forget the Erstad game-ender, even if it wasn't particularly notable otherwise. 


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[HudsonHawk]

The outfield to home plate put out on the tag DP is simply one of the best plays to watch in baseball.  I'll never forget the Erstad game-ender, even if it wasn't particularly notable otherwise. 


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A play at the plate is always the best play in baseball.

[BudGirl]

bot 7
gomez  5-3
walker still pitching for the m's
tucker  popped out to 6
valbuena  bb
conger  double down the rf line
walker out, smith in
altuve  k

only 4 astro k's on the night.

3-3, 2 lob end 7

[NeilT]

A play at the plate is always the best play in baseball.

I'd argue that that best play in baseball is a bases loaded walk by the opposing pitcher, but does that count as a play at the plate?

[Tom Servo]

I know I'm asking this after the fact, but with Villar on the bench, why would he not be pinch running there for Valbuena?

[BudGirl]

I know I'm asking this after the fact, but with Villar on the bench, why would he not be pinch running there for Valbuena?

because valbuena is playing first would be my guess.

[Tom Servo]

because valbuena is playing first would be my guess.

Marwin is available, right?

[BudGirl]

Marwin is available, right?

so's carter

[NeilT]

Altus seems to be having wardrobe failures.

[Tom Servo]

so's carter

I guess that's what I'm saying... with the expanded rosters, it doesn't necessarily have to be position for position substitutions.  If Villar isn't up for pinch running ability, what is he here for? 

But again, I realize it's only after the double that I even thought about it.  I'm no manager. 

[BudGirl]

I guess that's what I'm saying... with the expanded rosters, it doesn't necessarily have to be position for position substitutions.  If Villar isn't up for pinch running ability, what is he here for? 

But again, I realize it's only after the double that I even thought about it.  I'm no manager. 

i don't know.  maybe hinch just wants to keep valbuena's bat in the lineup.

[HudsonHawk]

I guess that's what I'm saying... with the expanded rosters, it doesn't necessarily have to be position for position substitutions.  If Villar isn't up for pinch running ability, what is he here for? 

But again, I realize it's only after the double that I even thought about it.  I'm no manager.

What good would Villar have done?  He doesn't score on that, and then you've taken Valbuena out of the lineup.

[Tom Servo]

What good would Villar have done?  He doesn't score on that, and then you've taken Valbuena out of the lineup.

Really?  I thought he could have scored on that.  Bare minimum, with Pettis' usual aggressiveness, he would have sent him.  And the throw was way off, if I remember correctly. 

[austro]

I don't think I like this Neshek-Morrison matchup.

[HudsonHawk]

Really?  I thought he could have scored on that.  Bare minimum, with Pettis' usual aggressiveness, he would have sent him.  And the throw was way off, if I remember correctly.

I don't think so.  With Altuve due up?  No way.

[Tom Servo]

I don't think I like this Neshek-Morrison matchup.

Debbie Downer.

[Tom Servo]

I don't think so.  With Altuve due up?  No way.

That's true.

[HudsonHawk]

I don't think I like this Neshek-Morrison matchup.

Neither did Neshek.  He wanted no part of Morrison.

[MusicMan]

GODDAMNIT, NESHEK.

[HudsonHawk]

Well shit.

[austro]

What the fuck?

[Tom Servo]

What the fuck?

It's bad when they TRY to give you an out and you don't take it.

[HudsonHawk]

In case you're not watching...

Neshek walks Morrison.  Sucre bunts, Neshek fields it then throws it into RF.  Runners at 2B and 3B and no outs.

Next batter singles, Morrison scores, now runner at 3B and nobody out.

[Tom Servo]

Damn, this looks familiar.

[BudGirl]

top 8
neshek pitching
morrison  (ph for romero)  bb
sucre  bunt, neshek throws it over Altuve's head, runners at 2, 3
o'malley  single, rbi (runners at 1,3)
marte  4, 5, 2, runners at 2,3
seager, ibb
neshek out, perez in
cruz out of the game with a quad problem
smith (ph for cruz)  5-3, rbi, runners 1, 3
cano  3u

5-3, 2 lob mid 8

[roadrunner]

It would be nice to have Fields as an option out of the pen.

Oh well at least we still have Carter.

[austro]

How the hell did he even hit that pitch, much less pull it? And why doesn't that happen for our guys?

[BudGirl]

It would be nice to have Fields as an option out of the pen.

Oh well at least we still have Carter.

are you trying to make a point because fields is in the pen?

[MusicMan]

It would be nice to have Fields as an option out of the pen.

Oh well at least we still have Carter.

It's the rare post that can simultaneously second-guess the manager, the general manager, and reality.

[austro]

Ok, it's time. It's time to pull out the can of Orange WhoopAss and open that fucker up.

[hostros7]

are you trying to make a point because fields is in the pen?

His tagline should be Talk Radio Hottt Takes on the Webz


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[Tom Servo]

Jed's getting that hitting stroke back.  Nice to see.

[BudGirl]

bot 8
kensing (from San Antonio [Boerne HS]) now pitching
lowrie  double, rf kicked off the corner - advanced on wild pitch
correa  popped out
kensing out, wilhelms in
gattis  popped out to rf
rasmus  k

5-3, end of 8

[NeilT]

bot 8
kensing (from San Antonio [Boerne HS]) now ptiching
lowrie  double, rf kicked off the corner
correa  batting
gattis  on deck

5-3

 


Too bad we can't bring in Fields to bat for Correa.

[austro]

I fear that our chances of scoring just went down.

[NeilT]

I hate seeing Lowrie at 3rd.

[BudGirl]

I hate seeing Lowrie at 3rd.

why,he's done a good job of playing there?

[austro]

Correa had two good pitches to hit in that AB and missed both of them.

[Jacksonian]

C'mon Captain

[MusicMan]

Correa had two good pitches to hit in that AB and missed both of them.

Carter wouldn't have missed them.

Oh well, at least we still have Fields.

[HudsonHawk]

Wow what an awful at bat by Gattis.

[NeilT]

why,he's done a good job of playing there?

As a baserunner.

[MusicMan]

I am one batter from throwing things.

[BudGirl]

As a baserunner.

i was trying to get rid of your negative attitude.

[austro]

Our #3 and #4 hitters hit the ball a combined 250 feet, max. And this umpire's strikezone is another mystery.

[NeilT]

i was trying to get rid of your negative attitude.

Well there you go.  I thought sure Rasmus would end up on first before the final out.

[HudsonHawk]

Wow what a horrible at bat by the home plate umpire.  He took the bat right out of Colby's hands.

[Tom Servo]

Wow what a horrible at bat by the home plate umpire.  He took the bat right out of Colby's hands.

I know the 3-0 pitch was a horrible call.  Was the 3-1 outside?  looked like it to me.

[roadrunner]

It's the rare post that can simultaneously second-guess the manager, the general manager, and reality.

This one is on me, guys.  Just wanted to bitch about something.

[MusicMan]

Fuck this.  3 and a half hours for a 5-3 game.

[Tom Servo]

This one is on me, guys.  Just wanted to bitch about something.

You could try bitching about our inability to score runners from 3rd with less than 2 outs. 

[HudsonHawk]

I know the 3-0 pitch was a horrible call.  Was the 3-1 outside?  looked like it to me.

By about two feet.

[BudGirl]

top 9
fields pitching
gutierrez  hit in front of gomez, broken bat
trumbo single to lf
morrison hr
sucre k
o'malley k
marte  4-3

8-3

[MusicMan]

Double fuck this.  Night, all.

[HudsonHawk]

If only Fields was avaible

8-3 with nobody out in the 9th.

[The Spleen]

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...

[Tom Servo]

Fuck! 

[austro]

Good thing we got Fields into the game.

[homer]

Great job

[Tom Servo]

Good thing we got Fields into the game.

Carter on to relieve?

[NeilT]

If only Fields was avaible

8-3 with nobody out in the 9th.

Maybe Carter should be pitching.

[austro]

If the bullpen goes south we're going to be in a world of hurt.

[The Spleen]

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...

[HudsonHawk]

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 you're overthinking it.

[NeilT]

I'm blaming Bench.

[BudGirl]

I'm blaming Mark Raup for not here to scream about the lack of hitting with RISP and the umpire.

[Tom Servo]

I'm blaming Mark Raup for not here to scream about the lack of hitting with RISP and the umpire.

He would have been on fire tonight.

[The Spleen]

I'm wondering if you're overthinking it.

I sure fucking hope so. If not, this is going to turn into Angels 2.0.

[BudGirl]

bottom 9
gomez  triple because gutierrez plays really lazy in lf
tucker  k
valbuena  popped out to lf, caught by ss
conger  k

8-3 astros lose

blummer will not be on the air until the boys go on the road.
altuve's on base streak is over

[BudGirl]

hasn't this team already surpassed expectations already?  regardless of how this season ends its's been a lot of fun.

[Tom Servo]

hasn't this team already surpassed expectations already?  regardless of how this season ends its's been a lot of fun.

Absolutely.

[Tom Servo]

Oh well, that sucked.  Good news is the Pads just took the lead against the Rangers.  3-2 after 6.

[Bench]

I'm blaming Bench.

That's fair.

[BudGirl]

Shpinx discusses incontinent problems.

[roadrunner]

I blame it on Fields and Carter.

[Mr. Happy]

hasn't this team already surpassed expectations already?  regardless of how this season ends its's been a lot of fun.

This. This right here. Amen.