Author Topic: I am so excited I can't even sit still.  (Read 2987 times)

das

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I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« on: April 03, 2017, 07:58:19 am »
 8 PM (for me) can't get here fast enough. I don't remember being this excited for the start of a season in the last 15 years.  I am jealous of all of you that are getting together today complements of BudGirls hard work. Hopefully I will be able to attend another sometime soon.  Do whatever is necessary to bring home a win this evening!
Another trenchant comment by a jealous lesser intellect.

BudGirl

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2017, 09:06:16 am »
You need to plan for next year!!!!  Mark your calendar now!!
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Fredia

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2017, 11:03:34 am »
a banner day for all Astros fans..sucks to have crappy health and spectrum ...but  wont keep me from yelling cheering and eating chicken .What is this years motto?
forever is composed entirely of nows

BudGirl

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2017, 11:22:12 am »
Earn It!
''I just did an interview with someone I like more than you. I used a lot of big words on him. I don't have anything left for you.'' --Brad Ausmus

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Fredia

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2017, 11:33:30 am »
well said
forever is composed entirely of nows

Kit

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2017, 10:23:40 pm »
How bout thostros ? !Keuchel looked bad ass.  D-fense was strong. Spring(board)er got the season rolling the right way. Correa's HR was scary long. Good to see Giles get off on the right foot.Yeah baby Go Stros!
Remember Jesus Alou being called out of the 1st base coaching box to pinch-hit a double vs. the Reds in '79 I think, to win a crucial game, and he patted Morgan on top of the head (ala Benny Hill w/the little bald guy) and Little Joe got pissed.....yeah,that was great.

das

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2017, 12:38:07 pm »
I am (almost) equally excited about seeing Morton's start tonight.  And, Musgrove's tomorrow night.  These two could be the difference between a very good year for the Astros and a great, top 3 season and I loved what I saw from both of them during spring training.

While an extremely small sample size, the Keuchel and McCullers starts were very promising.  The vaunted bats will show up, I'm sure.  The pitching, just hammering the bottom of the zone, has been awesome.

I'm excited.
Another trenchant comment by a jealous lesser intellect.

ValpoCory

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2017, 01:20:58 pm »
So in 2016, Minute Maid Park was the most pitcher friendly stadium in baseball, according to the Park Factors ranking system.  After 2 games in 2017, we're seeing 6 total runs scored.

Yet when describing the new center field dimensions at Minute Maid changing from 436 to 409 feet on MLB Network this week, Harold Reynolds derisively declared, "Minute Maid is already a bandbox ... this is going to take it even further".

From Ron Kruk to Harold Reynolds to countless others, it's frustrating to hear the condescension from them towards Houston's stadium.    Does the reputation really stem from Jose Lima's first impression season some 17 years ago?

« Last Edit: April 05, 2017, 01:55:07 pm by ValpoCory »

MusicMan

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2017, 01:27:30 pm »
Your first mistake was listening to Harold Reynolds.
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BlownRanger

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2017, 01:51:12 pm »
So in 2016, Minute Maid Park was the most pitcher friendly stadium in baseball, according the Park Factors ranking system.  After 2 games in 2017, we're seeing 6 total runs scored.

Yet when describing the new center field dimensions at Minute Maid changing from 436 to 409 feet on MLB Network this week, Harold Reynolds derisively declared, "Minute Maid is already a bandbox ... this is going to take it even further".

From Ron Kruk to Harold Reynolds to countless others, it's frustrating to hear the condescension from them towards Houston's stadium.    Does the reputation really stem from Jose Lima's first impression season some 17 years ago?

Once something is written in the Talking Head's Handbook of Conventional Wisdom, it is there to stay.

The Metrodome had the same issue.  It opened with home runs flying right and left, but once pitchers adjusted, it was a middle-of-the-pack ballpark in terms of home runs.  Yet, until the day it died, no talking head could mention it without using the term "bandbox" and lamenting how unfair it was to pitchers.
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roadrunner

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2017, 01:53:33 pm »
So in 2016, Minute Maid Park was the most pitcher friendly stadium in baseball, according the Park Factors ranking system.  After 2 games in 2017, we're seeing 6 total runs scored.

Yet when describing the new center field dimensions at Minute Maid changing from 436 to 409 feet on MLB Network this week, Harold Reynolds derisively declared, "Minute Maid is already a bandbox ... this is going to take it even further".

From Ron Kruk to Harold Reynolds to countless others, it's frustrating to hear the condescension from them towards Houston's stadium.    Does the reputation really stem from Jose Lima's first impression season some 17 years ago?

Pretty interesting.  I had no idea MMP had the lowest Runs factor.

ValpoCory

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2017, 02:01:51 pm »
Once something is written in the Talking Head's Handbook of Conventional Wisdom, it is there to stay.

The Metrodome had the same issue.  It opened with home runs flying right and left, but once pitchers adjusted, it was a middle-of-the-pack ballpark in terms of home runs.  Yet, until the day it died, no talking head could mention it without using the term "bandbox" and lamenting how unfair it was to pitchers.

Agreed.  And it sometimes comes with an implication that if only "fill in the blank former player turned commentator" were still playing, he'd hit 30+ home runs there every year.  It minimizes Astros hitters' accomplishments.  Even on ESPN's Astros Page today, they have a blurb about McCann's home run:

"ESPN Stats and Information 

It's fitting that Brian McCann's first home run as an Astro would have been an out at almost every other ballpark besides his new home field. "

First off, why is it "fitting"?  But ignoring that, it's one thing to say a ball would only be a home run at Minute Maid, but entirely another to declare that not only would it not be a home run elsewhere, but it "would have been an out" at almost every other park. 

The narrative is there.  Even in a 2-1 game.

juliogotay

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2017, 02:39:18 pm »
Pretty interesting.  I had no idea MMP had the lowest Runs factor.

That is surprising.

Waldo

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2017, 03:09:47 pm »
Pretty interesting.  I had no idea MMP had the lowest Runs factor.

Park Factor can be a pretty volatile statistic, and MMP is no exception.  From the last ten years:

2016: 30th
2015: 22nd
2014: 13th
2013: 9th
2012: 20th
2011: 7th
2010: T-27th
2009: 24th
2008: 14th
2007: 25th

The overall indications are that MMP is a neutral-to-slightly-pitcher-friendly park.  Some talking head calling it a bandbox is simply a classic example of lazy sports commentary, but the other extreme isn't entirely correct either.

JimR

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2017, 04:02:04 pm »
Agreed.  And it sometimes comes with an implication that if only "fill in the blank former player turned commentator" were still playing, he'd hit 30+ home runs there every year.  It minimizes Astros hitters' accomplishments.  Even on ESPN's Astros Page today, they have a blurb about McCann's home run:

"ESPN Stats and Information 

It's fitting that Brian McCann's first home run as an Astro would have been an out at almost every other ballpark besides his new home field. "

First off, why is it "fitting"?  But ignoring that, it's one thing to say a ball would only be a home run at Minute Maid, but entirely another to declare that not only would it not be a home run elsewhere, but it "would have been an out" at almost every other park. 

The narrative is there.  Even in a 2-1 game.

Do these same talking heads notice Yankee Stadium's cozy RF?
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austro

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2017, 07:20:27 pm »
Do these same talking heads notice Yankee Stadium's cozy RF?

No shit. Or the Pesky Pole in Boston?
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BudGirl

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''I just did an interview with someone I like more than you. I used a lot of big words on him. I don't have anything left for you.'' --Brad Ausmus

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ValpoCory

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Re: I am so excited I can't even sit still.
« Reply #18 on: April 06, 2017, 09:27:13 am »
Tremendous.

Duman

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