The Met's broadcasters loved the Astros' approach to baseball!

[Snuffy]

Growing up rooting for the Colt .45s, I have had to rely on the broadcasts of opponents for several decades to keep up with them.  It is much easier, now via the internet.  It became a habit.

You would expect the Astros announcers to love the team.  That's what they are paid to do. 

It is good to hear what others say about the Astros!  This year especially, thanks to mlb.tv,  it has been fun to watch non-Astros broadcasters admire our team and share nuances about the game we love:

• The Tampa Bay announcers loved Altuve - who doesn't! - even catching him glance @ 3rd just before the pitch is delivered...
• The Mets broadcasters raved about the Astros, :
  1. Naming Gary Pettis the MVP of game,2 of the double header for challenging the defense, sending runners home from 2nd base;
  2. Seeing Altuve respond to a HBP in the 7th by stealing 2nd, taking 3rd on a grounder to 3rd, and walking home on Reddick's sac fly -  "that's the way the game should be played! ...  Not waiting for a HR on station-to-station advances!"
  3. "The Astros have so many weapons - not just power - they use speed, (other reasons) to score more runs than anyone else."

I doubt that I am the only one that does this.  Would love to heat what others have learned from "the opposition".

Thanks,
Snuffy

[Mr. Happy]

Growing up rooting for the Colt .45s, I have had to rely on the broadcasts of opponents for several decades to keep up with them.  It is much easier, now via the internet.  It became a habit.

You would expect the Astros announcers to love the team.  That's what they are paid to do. 

It is good to hear what others say about the Astros!  This year especially, thanks to mlb.tv,  it has been fun to watch non-Astros broadcasters admire our team and share nuances about the game we love:

• The Tampa Bay announcers loved Altuve - who doesn't! - even catching him glance @ 3rd just before the pitch is delivered...
• The Mets broadcasters raved about the Astros, :
  1. Naming Gary Pettis the MVP of game,2 of the double header for challenging the defense, sending runners home from 2nd base;
  2. Seeing Altuve respond to a HBP in the 7th by stealing 2nd, taking 3rd on a grounder to 3rd, and walking home on Reddick's sac fly -  "that's the way the game should be played! ...  Not waiting for a HR on station-to-station advances!"
  3. "The Astros have so many weapons - not just power - they use speed, (other reasons) to score more runs than anyone else."

I doubt that I am the only one that does this.  Would love to heat what others have learned from "the opposition".

Thanks,
Snuffy

I think that most of the good color analysts, who tend to be former players, will point out really fine and amazing plays made by the opposition and give them the credit they deserve. It's good to hear that about the steM announcers.

[das]

Growing up rooting for the Colt .45s, I have had to rely on the broadcasts of opponents for several decades to keep up with them.  It is much easier, now via the internet.  It became a habit.

You would expect the Astros announcers to love the team.  That's what they are paid to do. 

It is good to hear what others say about the Astros!  This year especially, thanks to mlb.tv,  it has been fun to watch non-Astros broadcasters admire our team and share nuances about the game we love:

• The Tampa Bay announcers loved Altuve - who doesn't! - even catching him glance @ 3rd just before the pitch is delivered...
• The Mets broadcasters raved about the Astros, :
  1. Naming Gary Pettis the MVP of game,2 of the double header for challenging the defense, sending runners home from 2nd base;
  2. Seeing Altuve respond to a HBP in the 7th by stealing 2nd, taking 3rd on a grounder to 3rd, and walking home on Reddick's sac fly -  "that's the way the game should be played! ...  Not waiting for a HR on station-to-station advances!"
  3. "The Astros have so many weapons - not just power - they use speed, (other reasons) to score more runs than anyone else."

I doubt that I am the only one that does this.  Would love to heat what others have learned from "the opposition".

Thanks,
Snuffy

Keith Hernandez raved about the grit and determination of the team and how they play it the right way and was man-crushing on Reddick.  He's right but I still hate Keith Hernandez.

<<edited to add:  he also said the Astros were the team he was most looking forward to watching in the playoffs>>

[Snuffy]

I think that most of the good color analysts, who tend to be former players, will point out really fine and amazing plays made by the opposition and give them the credit they deserve. It's good to hear that about the steM announcers.

TY for the input, Mr. Happy!

I was surprised by the admiration expressed, a first for this old Astros fan.  Enjoyed it.  The color analysis does vary.

The Mets announcers shared that two young recently acquired relievers had NEVER pitched back-to-back games during their minor league play.  They scoffed that concern of "protection" of their arms left they not ready for the majors.  Interesting.

[Snuffy]

Keith Hernandez raved about the grit and determination of the team and how they play it the right way and was man-crushing on Reddick.  He's right but I still hate Keith Hernandez.

<<edited to add:  he also said the Astros were the team he was most looking forward to watching in the playoffs>>

Kudos, das, for getting Keith's name.  He was good - he loves the game.  I have missed this board.

I enjoyed seeing Cabrera pat Altuve on the head w/ his glove, as they waited for the (upheld) appeal of his steal of 3b.

[chuck]

You know, I'm just wondering how many people in the greater New York area are named Snuffy.

[Snuffy]

You know, I'm just wondering how many people in the greater New York area are named Snuffy.

Probably one less than you think.  (Added later) On clear nights, you could listen to KMOX and/or WLW,

[JimR]

TY for the input, Mr. Happy!

I was surprised by the admiration expressed, a first for this old Astros fan.  Enjoyed it.  The color analysis does vary.

The Mets announcers shared that two young recently acquired relievers had NEVER pitched back-to-back games during their minor league play.  They scoffed that concern of "protection" of their arms left they not ready for the majors.  Interesting.

Been saying this for years. Strict pitch counts hurt arms, not help them.

[Mr. Happy]

Been saying this for years. Strict pitch counts hurt arms, not help them.

This indeed is the gospel truth. In my opinion, pitch counts are the concession that travel ball coaches make to make a pitcher throw all year, which simply wears their young arms out early and which is, in my opinion, highly inadvisable. Then they never get to build up any endurance.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I stumbled across a Yankees/Indians broadcast (NY broadcast) a few weeks ago and they had the AL batting leaders up.   They noted that Altuve's lead over #2  if it holds would be the largest differential in 30 something years. They then took a few seconds to rave about Altuve.

Most of my exposure to the opposition's broadcast team however is the rangers.   That's a topic best left for another time. 

[Duman]

This indeed is the gospel truth. In my opinion, pitch counts are the concession that travel ball coaches make to make a pitcher throw all year, which simply wears their young arms out early and which is, in my opinion, highly inadvisable. Then they never get to build up any endurance.

Pitch counts are there because coaches can't seem to put kids best interest ahead of wins.  When we moved to Alabama last year, coach talked about how much he cared about arms during the visit we had with him and that same day allowed his step son to throw 178 pitches in a 7 inning game. 

Last season, my son said an opposing coach said they named the pitch count rule after our coach.  I think the NHSF pitch count recommendations or pitches and days of rest are reasonable.  120 pitches is a good stopping point for most high school kids. 

All travel ball my son ever played wasn't based on pitch counts.  It was based on # of innings.  That is why pitch counts are needed.  9 & 10 year olds could throw 3 innings and still pitch 5 more the next day.  We saw kids throw 60+ pitches one day and then 100 the next.  That can't be good for a 9-10 year old arm.  Many of the kids who were "aces" at that age never made it as a good pitcher in HS.  Some were just early develop kids who everyone else caught up with in size.  Some just seemed to lose velocity.  Many of those were kids who were IMO overused. 

One upside of pitch counts is now coaches have to develop more pitchers.  I am seeing more kids who had never pitched before being given a chance.

Now once kids get into pro ball and once bodies are mature, that is a different matter.

[JimR]

Pitch counts are artificial nonsense at any age. Limit the innings per week if you must. Travel ball and year round baseball are what is hurting arms, and more and more people are saying so.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Pitch counts exclude the makeup of the individual in terms of maturity, mentality, physicality, and endurance. They disregard game situations with no thought given to upcoming batter/pitcher match ups. I understand keeping a count of how many pitches have been thrown and being a factor in fatigue. But, I think a big reason strict pitch counts are popular is because they take a certain degree of accountability away from coaches, managers and parents.