Good Guys @ Fucking Angels September 13, 2015

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups for today's matinee:

Astros

FGeorge Springer (R)
2BJose Altuve (R)
SSCarlos Correa (R)
CFCarlos Gomez (R)
DHEvan Gattis (R)
1BMarwin Gonzalez (S)
LFColby Rasmus (L)
CHank Conger (S)
3BJonathan Villar (S)

HOU: Mike Fiers (R)  (7-10, 3.66)

Halos

RF Kole Calhoun (L)
CF Mike Trout (R)
DH Albert Pujols (R)
LF David Murphy (L)
1B C.J. Cron (R)
SS Erick Aybar (S)
3B David Freese (R)
C Carlos Perez (R)
2B T. Featherston (R)

LAA: Andrew Heaney (L)  (6-3, 3.52)

[moriartp]

Gomez scratched (intercostal bugging him), Marisnick in.

[subnuclear]

I believe in  Evan Gattis.

[subnuclear]

Springer - K swinging
Altuve - BB
Correa - BB
Gattis - Umps call infield fly rule on a fly to shallow CF that Aybar misses, runners hold
Gonzales - Lines out

Middle of the 1st. No Score.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Infield fly rule is a misnomer. It can be called on a shallow popup in the outfield.

[subnuclear]

"Catchable by an infielder" is maybe a better phrase, but that's what they said on the broadcast.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

"Catchable by an infielder" is maybe a better phrase, but that's what they said on the broadcast.

Or infielder fly rule. Damn Trout.

[subnuclear]

Mike Trout hits a solo, first pitch HR to LF. Angels 1-0. 1 out.

[subnuclear]

Calhoun - K looking
Trout - HR to LF
Pujols - Pops out to 1B
Murphy - Grounds out 1-3

End of the 1st.  Angels 1-0.

[subnuclear]

Rasmus - Line drive single to RF
Villar - K looking
Conger - Pop up out to 1B foul territory
Marisnick - Soft fly out to CF

Middle of the 2nd. Angels 1-0.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I've had the sound turned down while also watching the football games, have they said anything about Heaney's fanstock?

[subnuclear]

Cron with a solo HR. Angels 2-0. No outs.

[subnuclear]

Hate that dude.

[subnuclear]

I've had the sound turned down while also watching the football games, have they said anything about Heaney's fanstock?

Not yet.

[subnuclear]

Cron - HR
Aybar - Flies out to shallow LF
Freese - Singles to RF
Perez - Flies out to shallow RF
Featherston - Tagged out on infield dribbler

End of the 2nd. Angels 2-0.

[subnuclear]

Springer - Single up the middle
Altuve - Flies out to RF. Springer holds.
Correa - Check swing foul tip K
Gattis - Grounds out to SS

Middle of the 3rd. Angels 2-0.

[MRaup]

Ashby sounded positively gleeful on Trout's homerun.

[MRaup]

Ashby sounded positively gleeful on Trout's homerun.

And disappointed on the strikeout in his next at bat.

[subnuclear]

Calhoun - K looking
Trout - K swinging
Pujols - Grounds out to third

End of the 3rd. Angels 2-0.

[subnuclear]

Conger gets HBP, bases loaded with 1 out. Marisnick up.

[subnuclear]

Marisnick pops up to catcher. Springer gets a chance to be heroic.

[subnuclear]

Gonzalez - K swinging
Rasmus - Bunts for a single down the 3B line
Villar - Single to LF
Conger - HBP
Marisnick - Pops out to catcher
Springer - Flies out to RF.

Middle of the 4th. Angels 2-0.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

These guys kick opportunity in the nuts.

[subnuclear]

I'm going to take a break. I can't take watching Cron again.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I'm going to take a break. I can't take watching Cron again.

He can't even pronounce his own name right.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Altuve led off with a double.
Correa grounded out to third, Altuve doesn't advance.
Gattis flies out to Trout
Marwin with an infield single, Altuve to third.
Rasmus flies out to deep LCF

Middle of the fifth Angels 2 Astros 0

[MRaup]

Some seriously pathetic effort by the offense today.

[subnuclear]

Earlier in the game it was not pathetic, it was torturous. My stomach hurts, so I'm folding clothes.

[subnuclear]

With 2-outs, Tucker homer, Springer triple, Altuve singles, Springer scores. Angels 3-2. 2 outs.

[subnuclear]

Correa singles, Altuve to second. Captain Caveman up. Lowrie up.

[subnuclear]

omfg

[chuck]

Ahbee got-dang.

[subnuclear]

This team is going to fucking kill me.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Sheeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiit Yeah!

[subnuclear]

Gonzalez hbp, Rasmus up, still 2 outs. Astros 5-3.

[subnuclear]

Rasmus walks. Villar up.

[NeilT]

I never had any doubts.

[subnuclear]

Villar Ks. Now up to the bullpen. Hope Fiers lends out his pine tar.

[subnuclear]

Two outs for Gregerson. Aybar up.

[subnuclear]

Astros 5-3. Final.

[NeilT]

Well. Well. That was something.

[jbm]

Pretty special. Must say that I gave up as a fan.

[HudsonHawk]

I got home with 2-out in the top of the 9th, and turned the game on.


You're welcome.

[NeilT]

They were waiting on you.

[NeilT]

I wouldn't have minded if they'd scored earlier in the game.

[ValpoCory]

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.

[das]

Well. Well. That was something.

I can't believe what my eyes just saw...

[subnuclear]

Speaking of the almighty BBGs, Lowrie said the fans above their dugout were shouting "Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!"

[OregonStrosFan]

Holy Crap! Nice!!!

[The Spleen]

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...

[Reuben]

I got home with 2-out in the top of the 9th, and turned the game on.


You're welcome.

Same here, except it was the radio at first, while I unloaded the groceries. Then I kept it on the radio throughout the rally.

[austro]

Same here, except it was the radio at first, while I unloaded the groceries. Then I kept it on the radio throughout the rally.

With me, it's the opposite. After the failed bases loaded opportunity earlier in the game, I told my wife that the only way they might possibly score was if I quit watching, so I switched over the Ravens-Broncos game. It wasn't until I checked back in here that I learned what was going on. I switched over to discover that the Angels were changing pitchers, and then of course I put the kiss of death on Villar (who I was surprised to see not get ejected after his strike out). I didn't dare watch the bottom of the 9th, so I switched back to the football game, where I doomed the Ravens comeback attempt.

[NeilT]

We were driving back from Austin, and I was listening on my phone. I lost service when Lowrie came to bat. By the time I got it on the radio it was done.

[Navin R Johnson]

I love this.  Look at Gattis' reaction to the homer.  Gattis was the guy who was just pulled from the game for Jed.

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CO0gN44U8AAIyXO.mp4

[geezerdonk]

Good call by Ashby - "an unexpected storm".

[pots]

Okay I admit I got totally caught up in football today and just got around to checking out the score.  I like to scroll through the play by lay without looking at the score.  Successfully got to the play by play without seeing anything.  DAMN!  The play by play was so painful to scroll through and then euphoria.  If they make the post season, this will be the game they look back on I think

[TenThirty]

Holy crap. I just checked the box score. I literally turned off the game after Valbuena's K in the ninth. Saying, "they sure ain't gonna win if I DO watch". Does that mean I can't watch any more games the rest of the season?

[The Spleen]

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.

[roadrunner]

Incredible

[JimR]

Iike several of you, I have this superstition if I turn the game off, they'll do better. I turned it off after 2-0. In the 9th, I kept getting notices from my Score app of the comeback. I turned it back on to watch a replay of Lowrie's homer, but I turned it back off so as not to jinx Gregerson.

You are welcome.

[Jacksonian]

I love this.  Look at Gattis' reaction to the homer.  Gattis was the guy who was just pulled from the game for Jed.

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CO0gN44U8AAIyXO.mp4

Team.

[Bench]

I watched the whole thing pacing around my kitchen trying to be very quiet as everyone else in my house was napping. I was successful but when the baby woke up he was greeted very enthusiastically. Between that game and the coogs game yesterday it's been a fun weekend.

It was interesting decision to hit Lowrie for Gattis in that situation. I appreciate the matchup difference but taking out the guy that can put up a big fly seemed INTRIGUING to me. Has anyone seen the explanation?

[subnuclear]

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.

I think you are right about this. I recommend watching the mlb.com highlight with Robert Ford freaking out about Featherson's stuck ball.

[pots]

I think you are right about this. I recommend watching the mlb.com highlight with Robert Ford freaking out about Featherson's stuck ball.

I always thought infielders used gloves with smaller webbing.  That seemed like an outfielders glove.  I must be mistaken

[roadrunner]

Lowrie > Gattis straight up even before you take the matchup into account.

And lefty righty matchup.  Great job by Hinch.

I would love to fuck up Hamels tonight.

[David in Jackson]

I was the opposite of many in here - was watching the Saints, saw we were down 0-3 in the 8th, and switched to watch the Astros.  Of course, my son has Carson Palmer on his fantasy team so he was making the Saints-Cardinals game unwatchable.

Once again, you never know in this game.  A huge win.  Reminds me of Springer's Sunday afternoon catch to rob grand slam - the first time I thought this could be a special year.

[JimR]

I watched the whole thing pacing around my kitchen trying to be very quiet as everyone else in my house was napping. I was successful but when the baby woke up he was greeted very enthusiastically. Between that game and the coogs game yesterday it's been a fun weekend.

It was interesting decision to hit Lowrie for Gattis in that situation. I appreciate the matchup difference but taking out the guy that can put up a big fly seemed INTRIGUING to me. Has anyone seen the explanation?

they did not need a big fly. they needed a line drive hit to tie the game. Lowrie was more likely to do that.

[pots]

Carlos Correa, scalded a one-hopper, tracked by Statcast™ at 111.2 mph

[NeilT]

What a fluke that play was. I didn't see it until today, but listening to it on the radio I was surprised they awarded a hit.  I guess that makes sense.  I've never seen anybody look at their glove with that "you're not my friend anymore" look that Featherston gave his.

[JimR]

What a fluke that play was. I didn't see it until today, but listening to it on the radio I was surprised they awarded a hit.  I guess that makes sense.  I've never seen anybody look at their glove with that "you're not my friend anymore" look that Featherston gave his.

what else could it be?

[NeilT]

what else could it be?

error, and it would have been an error if it was merely a matter of him not getting it out of his glove, right?  Or was it never going to be an error because of the excellence of the fielding?  I was hearing it described on the radio yesterday, not seeing it.  So my picture in my head was a stop, and then a flubbed removal. 

[JimR]

error, and it would have been an error if it was merely a matter of him not getting it out of his glove, right?  Or was it never going to be an error because of the excellence of the fielding?  I was hearing it described on the radio yesterday, not seeing it.  So my picture in my head was a stop, and then a flubbed removal.

not necessarily. miraculous diving stop.

[NeilT]

not necessarily. miraculous diving stop.

Yeah, I think I realized how strange the play was when the hit was awarded.  I wonder if it had been an easy stop and the ball stuck in the webbing if it would have been a hit or an error? In other words, was it the miraculous stop that was the reason it wasn't an error, not the stuck ball?

[Duman]

Agreed.  If he makes that play, he is the hero for the Angles.  That was clearly a hit.  He made no error other than choosing a window style web for his A2000.

Ordinary effort is the standard for deciding an error.  There was nothing about that stop that was ordinary.

[NeilT]

Agreed.  If he makes that play, he is the hero for the Angles.  That was clearly a hit.  He made no error other than choosing a window style web for his A2000.

Ordinary effort is the standard for deciding an error.  There was nothing about that stop that was ordinary.

Too bad he hadn't loaned that glove to Walt Weiss.

[Navin R Johnson]

Even if he gets up, transfers the ball perfectly from glove to throwing hand, is it a given he gets Correa?   He clearly wasn't getting Altuve at 2nd.  I think more than likely he gets CC, but CC can really get down the line.

[NeilT]

Even if he gets up, transfers the ball perfectly from glove to throwing hand, is it a given he gets Correa?   He clearly wasn't getting Altuve at 2nd.  I think more than likely he gets CC, but CC can really get down the line.

Correa would have been out.  The ball was at Featherston too quickly for it to be anything but an out.

[Navin R Johnson]

You are right, just re-watched the replay.   The ball is hit so hard, it is in Featherston's glove when Correa is barely 2 steps out of the box.  Man that thing was a missile.  One hell of a job by that guy even getting leather on that.

[HudsonHawk]

Correa would have been out.  The ball was at Featherston too quickly for it to be anything but an out.

Yeah, but if he jumps up and bobbles it trying to get it out of his glove, it's still a hit.  It's a hit by virtue of what he had to do to even get a glove on it.  The only way it's any kind of an error is if he throws it wild and runners advance. 

[hostros7]

For the sake of entertainment value, it's really a shame he didn't try and throw his entire glove to the first baseman. 

I was watching the game at a bar after having been at the Texans game. I thought Calhoun may have caught Lowrie's HR, given how things have been going of late. Everyone else was watching football, so the audio wasn't on the Astros game and it wasn't clear that it got out for a couple tense seconds.

[NeilT]

Yeah, but if he jumps up and bobbles it trying to get it out of his glove, it's still a hit.  It's a hit by virtue of what he had to do to even get a glove on it.  The only way it's any kind of an error is if he throws it wild and runners advance.

I guess that's why I was surprised it was a hit.  On radio, i just couldn't get a sense of what a very good play it was.  What I got was that the ball got caught in the webbing.

[geezerdonk]

Excellent write up [urlhttp://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-watch-an-improbable-astros-comeback/ in Fangraphs.

[JimR]

link does not work for me.

[subnuclear]

I like the picture with the fan reaction.

[jbm]

The Springer jersey fan?  That was my tell that it went out.  Had to be a great feeling for someone to endure 8.2 of that and see the winning hit drop nearby in a sea of the enemy. 

[JimR]

great article.

[subnuclear]

The Springer jersey fan?  That was my tell that it went out.  Had to be a great feeling for someone to endure 8.2 of that and see the winning hit drop nearby in a sea of the enemy.

I was thinking of the fans prayin/crossed arms/can't look, though that was good, too.

[roadrunner]

The Springer jersey fan?  That was my tell that it went out.  Had to be a great feeling for someone to endure 8.2 of that and see the winning hit drop nearby in a sea of the enemy.

I loved that fan's reaction.  A close 2nd to the Gattis celebration.