Angels @ Astros..September 22, 2017

[HudsonHawk]

Again, not much interest in this one.

[austro]

Back in the states, or still overseas?

Nice battle between Trout and Verlander there, with Verlander eventually coming out on top.

[doyce7]

Just got home from work. Still love turning on the tv and being greeted with a verlander strike out

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[HudsonHawk]

Back in the states, or still overseas?

Nice battle between Trout and Verlander there, with Verlander eventually coming out on top.

Still in Sumatra...raining like a motherfucker.  Wish I had a cigar with my coffee.

[austro]

Just got home from work. Still love turning on the tv and being greeted with a verlander strike out

You're going to be a happy guy (or gal).

[austro]

Still in Sumatra...raining like a motherfucker.  Wish I had a cigar with my coffee.

Run into any giant rats?

[doyce7]

You're going to be a happy guy (or gal).

Happy guy indeed

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[HudsonHawk]

T1:

Calhoun singles to LF
Trout strikes out swinging on a good tight slider at the knees
Upton...0-2...strikes out swinging
Pujols...full count...flies out to shallow RF

No score

[Navin R Johnson]

Damn it's fun to watch Verlander pitch.

[HudsonHawk]

Run into any giant rats?

You know, I've heard about the giant rats here, but I've never seen one.  Mostly just monkeys.  And cobras. 

[austro]

You know, I've heard about the giant rats here, but I've never seen one.  Mostly just monkeys.  And cobras. 

For those younger than those of us of a certain age, this is the subtext for my comment.

[austro]

Well, we finally discovered how bad a pitch has to be for Altuve not to swing at it.

[Navin R Johnson]

Wow that Altuve at bat was pure shit.

[HudsonHawk]

It is brutal to watch Altuve hit in clutch situations.

[HudsonHawk]

If you're a pitcher, it must be nice to get out the #3 hitter by bounces three sliders in front of the plate.

[chuck]

Well, we finally discovered how bad a pitch has to be for Altuve not to swing at it.

Weirdly, that was the most hittable pitch of the at bat.

[HudsonHawk]

B1:

Springer files out F8
Reddick doubles off the LF wall
Altuve...flails through a pitch in the dirt, falling to his knees...does the exact same thing again to make it 0-2...manages to lay off one that bounces on the grass in front of the plate...and flails through a pitch in the dirt, falling to his knees to punch out.
Marwin...2-0...takes a pitch two feet off the plate for strike one...check swing fouls a pitch near his face to even the count...strikes out swinging at a pitch in the dirt

So Richards gives up a double, then gets two strikeouts without throwing a pitch within 2 feet of the plate.

No score

[HudsonHawk]

For those younger than those of us of a certain age, this is the subtext for my comment.

The giant rats of Sumatra are supposedly real.  I've never seen one though.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Altuve does his Aoki kamikaze impersonation.

[HudsonHawk]

T2:

Phillips pops one into no-man's land in shallow RF...Reddick, Altuve and Marwin converge, and Altuve makes a basket catch as Reddick slides underneath him
Simmons flies out F8
Valbuena strikes out swinging...does not flip his bat

0-0

[HudsonHawk]

B2:

Bregman lines out to deep LF, in the cutout by the CBs.  Squared it up, but right at em
Gurriel...full count...grounds out 5-3
McCann...full count...flies out F7

0-0

[HudsonHawk]

T3:

Cron pops out F6 on the first pitch
Maldonado grounds out 5-3
Calhoun strikes out swinging

No score

[JimR]

Is it impossible for a hitting coach to talk to Altuve? I do not care about his BA. His approach with runners on hurts this team.

[HudsonHawk]

B3:

Gattis hits a screaming line drive to LF for an out...another at em
Kemp flies out F8
Springer grounds out 4-3

No score still

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I would like to see some vaunting.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Is it impossible for a hitting coach to talk to Altuve? I do not care about his BA. His approach with runners on hurts this team.

He really has no apparent approach. Just hacking.  I'm hoping he doesn't win the MVP for fear of your head exploding.

[HudsonHawk]

Is it impossible for a hitting coach to talk to Altuve? I do not care about his BA. His approach with runners on hurts this team.

Everyone in the stadium knew what pitches were coming that at bat.  How is it he does not?  Or does he not care?  I think part of it his believes his own press that he's a good bad ball hitter and can hit any pitch in any location.  Part of it might be pressing knowing he's expected to produce.  But I agree, he's a liability at times. 

[BizidyDizidy]

He's going to win MVP though.

[HudsonHawk]

He's going to win MVP though.

That doesn't mean he doesn't mean he's a good clutch hitter. 

[hostros7]

I would like to see some vaunting.

I hadn't slept much for two days, so I couldn't stay up for the entire game last night. To say I was unimpressed to see we scored one run after the starting pitcher was pulled in the first would be a drastic understatement. This team is going to piss me off if they continue to give JV the Clemens runs scored treatment.


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[HudsonHawk]

T4:

Trout grounds out 5-3
Upton strikes out swinging
Pujols...full count...walks
Phillips flies out F8

Still no score

[HudsonHawk]

Someone please do some PBP for a while

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I hadn't slept much for two days, so I couldn't stay up for the entire game last night. To say I was unimpressed to see we scored one run after the starting pitcher was pulled in the first would be a drastic understatement. This team is going to piss me off if they continue to give JV the Clemens runs scored treatment.


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I wonder if he has spoken to Roy Oswalt about the need to throw a shut out?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Someone please do some PBP for a while

I can later on but right now I'm outside tending the smoker and getting my meat ready.

[NeilT]

I can later on but right now I'm outside tending the smoker and getting my meat ready.

I'm not sure that's the sort of multitasking I'd do around a fire.

[austro]

Yuli has gotten really good at picking those short-hop throws.

[HudsonHawk]

You guys suck at PBP.

T5:

Simmons grounds out 4-3
Valbuena strikes out swinging
Cron grounds out 5-3 on a nice pick by Yuli

Still no score

[NeilT]

You guys suck at PBP.

Nature abhors a vacuum. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

5TH INNING
Angels

    J. Verlander Pitching:
    A. Simmons: Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Simmons grounded out to second
    L. Valbuena: Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Foul, Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Valbuena struck out swinging
    C. Cron: Strike looking, Strike swinging, Ball, Cron grounded out to third

[HudsonHawk]

The Astros are hitting into bad luck tonight.  That's three or four well struck balls right at people.

[HudsonHawk]

B5:

Gurriel lines out to RF, on a nice running, shoestring catch by Calhoun
McCann...3-2...strikes out swinging at a pitch in the dirt
Gattis strikes out swinging

No score

[doyce7]

The Astros are hitting into bad luck tonight.  That's three or four well struck balls right at people.

And to be fair to them, Richards is pretty good

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[austro]

And to be fair to them, Richards is pretty good

Yeah, he's not too shabby.

[JimR]

And to be fair to them, Richards is pretty good

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Why would Reddick come out?

[NeilT]

Why would Reddick come out?

Probably not Rosh Hashana.  I can't think of any good reason.

[HudsonHawk]

T6:

For some reason, Fisher is in for Reddick

Maldonado lines one up the middle, almost takes Verlander's head off, but Altuve is there on the slight shift...4-3
Calhoun grounds out 5-3 on the shift
Trout flies out F9

Still no score

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Probably not Rosh Hashana.  I can't think of any good reason.

Shellfish allergy?

[NeilT]

Shellfish allergy?

Shellfish aren't kosher. 

[NeilT]

Monteleone isn't available.  Any other choices for New Orleans?

[HudsonHawk]

Monteleone isn't available.  Any other choices for New Orleans?

I stayed at the Royal Sonesta.  Not bad.

[NeilT]

With the Tigers in the race for the pennant, it must have driven a certain class of Detroit fans nuts when Hank Greenberg sat out games in late September for Rosh Hashana.  It would have been worse than watching Altuve flail at the plate. 

[HudsonHawk]

Richardson is getting tired.  Need to get to him here...

[austro]

It would have been worse than watching Altuve flail at the plate. 

I doubt it.

[NeilT]

Richardson is getting tired.  Need to get to him here...

I don't think that was the way to do it. 

[HudsonHawk]

B6:

Kemp grounds out 4-3
Springer...0-2...1-2...2-2...grounds out 6-3
Fisher...who came for Reddick for as of now unknown reasons...works the count full...strikes out swinging.  Imagine that.

0-0 through 6

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

With the Tigers in the race for the pennant, it must have driven a certain class of Detroit fans nuts when Hank Greenberg sat out games in late September for Rosh Hashana.  It would have been worse than watching Altuve flail at the plate.

Worse than the movie Mother.

[chuck]

Monteleone isn't available.  Any other choices for New Orleans?

The first time I ever went to New Orleans I went with my dad who was going there on business. I was 15, 16, somewhere in there. It was the first time I had ever left Texas by car. We stayed in the Marriott on Canal. We ate raw oysters and frog legs at a place in the Quarter on I want to say Chartres. Wherever it was, it's not there anymore. I found a small pearl in one of my oysters, round and smooth like an alabaster BB. No one ever believes that this really happened.

Anyway, I folded it up in a napkin and gave it to a girl. This same girl, I just realized, her own teenage son recently made national news after a fashion by tweeting a video of his indignantly burning a MAGA hat. Funny old thing, this orb, this alabaster BB.

[HudsonHawk]

T7:

Upton draws a leadoff walk
Pujols grounds into 5-4-3 double play...Upton really took out Altuve with a VERY late slide way past the bag, but Altuve can come off the bag and still get the slow Pujols
Phillips flies out F9

No score at the stretch

[doyce7]

Probably goes without saying but I'd keep verlander in

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[chuck]

With the Tigers in the race for the pennant, it must have driven a certain class of Detroit fans nuts when Hank Greenberg sat out games in late September for Rosh Hashana.

Was this guy Hashana a September callup or what? I guess teams have been doing this JD Davis shit for years.

[hostros7]

Monteleone isn't available.  Any other choices for New Orleans?

Windsor Court. The bar doesn't slowly rotate  though.


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[NeilT]

I doubt it.

Greenberg was often considered a self-promoting prima dona.  His slumps weren't well-received. 

[hostros7]

This umpire is a cocksucker


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[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Marwin got jobbed. Asshole umpire!!!

[doyce7]

Jesus fucking Christ that was horrible

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[chuck]

Windsor Court. The bar doesn't slowly rotate  though.

Hell no, after about six Hurricanes that joint spins like the barrel ride at Astroworld.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Most that were that shitty at their jobs would get fired.

[hostros7]

Petit still hasn't thrown one in the zone.


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[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

A runner in scoring position!!!!

[The Spleen]

A runner in scoring position!!!!

A fan will walk back to his front row seat from the gift shop with a souvenir baseball, and an Astro will swing at it and pop it up.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Runners at 1st and 2nd, Yuli batting with one out.

[hostros7]

YULLLLLLIII


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[Texifornia]

Yuli don't give a damn.


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[NeilT]

Yuli done good. 

[JimR]

Yuli! Fuck you assholes who are trolling.

[HudsonHawk]

La Pina delivers a 3-run tater!

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Yuli is a bad motherfucker!!

[doyce7]

Yuli!!!!

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[chuck]

We've said it all year. Yuli shuns pressure like water off a duck's back.

[MikeyBoy]

Damn that was awesome.

[HudsonHawk]

For you youngsters out there, that's a textbook lesson what happens when you consistently fall behind hitters. 

[doyce7]

For you youngsters out there, that's a textbook lesson what happens when you consistently fall behind hitters.

He got into a fastball count against fastball hitter and threw a fastball right down the middle. Got burned

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[JimR]

Verlander is done? Oh my. 6 outs to get. More runs please.

[HudsonHawk]

B7:

Petit in for the Halos...

Altuve lines a single to LF
Marwin...takes strike one two feet off the plate...takes strike two at his ankles...1-2...takes strike three 3 feet off the plate...argues...Hinch out to get between him and ump...Hinch gets the thumb...
Altuve steals 2B
Bregman walks
Gurriel homers to LCF...Altuve scores, Bregman scores

And that's all for Petit, Middleton in

McCann strikes out looking
Gattis...3-0...3-1...pops out F4

But the Astros grab a 3-0 Lead

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

We've said it all year. Yuli shuns pressure like water off a duck's back.

He is a smooth operator.

[Texifornia]

Devo dominates


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[HudsonHawk]

T8:

Devenski on the mound..Maybin in CF, Springer moves to RF, Fisher moves to LF, and Davis in at 3B as Bregman moves to SS...not sure how it'll go in the lineup...

Simmons taps back to the mound 1-3
Valbuena strikes out looking
Cron flies out F7

3-0 Astros

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Yuli don't give a damn.


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His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold

[Texifornia]

His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold

That's because it's pumping ice water.



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[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Cron has made some good plays over there at first.

[HudsonHawk]

B8:

Chavez gets the pill...

Maybin, who obviously went into Kemp's spot, strikes out looking
Springer...catcher trying to call time, but doesn't get, grounds out 6-3
Fisher...0-2...lines out to 1B on a diving, highlight reel catch by Cron...wow

To the 9th...Astros up 3-0

[HudsonHawk]

Normally, down three runs, you don't run like that.  But against the Astros, it's pretty much automatic

[austro]

What the fuck is Giles doing?

[HudsonHawk]

Single, walk...Trout to the plate representing the tying run, nobody out...

[NeilT]

What the fuck is Giles doing?

I hope not preparing us for the post=season. 

[NeilT]

That was brilliant.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Sweet.

[austro]

4-6-5-6. Not a common double-play.

[NeilT]

Windsor Court. The bar doesn't slowly rotate  though.


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Windsor Court is full. WTF?

[HudsonHawk]

Nice play by Altuve, but if he catches it, he may have actually had a triple play.

[NeilT]

Nice play by Altuve, but if he catches it, he may have actually had a triple play.

Grandstander probably failed to catch it on purpose. 

[HudsonHawk]

T9:

Giles in to try to close it out...

Revere, pinch hitting for Maldonado...singles to LF on a 2-strike pitch
Revere steals 2B
Calhoun...full count...walks
Trout...0-2...takes strike three for ball one...hits a soft liner up the middle, Altuve lets it drop, flips to Bregman at 2B to force Calhoun, and they have Revere in a pickle...score it 4-6-5-6 double play...Scioscia challenging whether or not Bregman touched 2B, but replays show he clearly did...confirmed
Trout takes 2B on fielder's indifference
Upton...takes strike three right down the middle for ball three to fill the count..pops out F3 in foul territory

Astros win!!!

3-0 is the final.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

A new addition to the worst umpire list.

[HudsonHawk]

Grandstander probably failed to catch it on purpose.

He obviously let it drop on purpose to get two.  It was a smart play. 

[VirtualBob]

A new addition to the worst umpire list.

Yep.

[NeilT]

Good pitching, good defense, just enough vaunting. 

[Aussie Astro]

That was a great win.

[The Spleen]

Was the home plate umpire a Russian plant? That was ridiculous...

[HudsonHawk]

Was the home plate umpire a Russian plant? That was ridiculous...

That was up there with the worst umpiring I've ever seen.  They are inching themselves closer and closer to an electronic strike zone with such horrible job performance.

[The Spleen]

Any news on Reddick?

[JimR]

Grandstander probably failed to catch it on purpose.

Of course he did. He got a double play doing it.

Sorry to interrupt your review of New Oreleans hotels.

[NeilT]

Of course he did. He got a double play doing it.

Sorry to interrupt your review of New Oreleans hotels.

No problem. 

[HudsonHawk]

Any news on Reddick?

I was only watching, not listening, so I didn't hear anything.  I'm hoping it's something minor like he had to take a shit or something.  Fingers crossed.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

HP-Dan Iassogna

[homer]

Lower back discomfort. Day to day.

[JimR]

Reddick—back issue

[JimR]

No problem.

Of course not. You’ll troll again tomorrow.

[NeilT]

Of course not. You’ll troll again tomorrow.

Wow. You drinking?

[Aussie Astro]

Is the MLB web site fucked up today?

[austro]

Is the MLB web site fucked up today?

Are the Indians in first place? Then, yes.

[HudsonHawk]

Is the MLB web site fucked up today?

I was able to watch the whole game, but the rest of MLB At Bat did not work.

[NeilT]

I was able to watch the whole game, but the rest of MLB At Bat did not work.

Didn't work for me either.

[Aussie Astro]

I was able to watch the whole game, but the rest of MLB At Bat did not work.

At Bat also screwed up here.  Not worry, they have about 12 hours to straighten it all out.

[HudsonHawk]

Now watching M's and Indians. Indians lead 1-0 in the 7th.

[HudsonHawk]

Mariner's walk it off in the bottom of the 9th on a Nelson Cruz home run. Astros back to 1 game back in the loss column.

[JimR]

Mariner's walk it off in the bottom of the 9th on a Nelson Cruz home run. Astros back to 1 game back in the loss column.

Just win, baby. Their slide is coming.

[Navin R Johnson]

Indians have 8 games left, Astros 9.   I believe they have the tie breaker, meaning the Astros are really 2.5 games out.

Indians remaining schedule.  2 with Seattle, 3 with the Twins, 3 with the White Sox.   If they go 4-4, the Astros would need to go 7-2 to pass them.   

Like Jim said, just win, baby.

[juliogotay]

No problem.

Have you considered the Roosevelt? I've always liked it.

[hostros7]

Have you considered the Roosevelt? I've always liked it.

I've stayed there as well. It's a good option when the Windsor Court and Monteleone are booked.


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[NeilT]

Also unavailable.  There's no Saints game, the LSU Tigers aren't taking a road trip, and nearly a month out there's no room in the inn.  I ended up booking an apartment through AIRBNB.

[chuck]

I ended up booking an apartment through AIRBNB.

These days it's the exception when I don't do this.

[NeilT]

These days it's the exception when I don't do this.

Turn out the produce convention is in town.  According to the reservations guy at Commanders Palace, it's one of the largest conventions of the year, and they ain't shy when it comes to handing out the cabbage.