Angels @ Astros - September 24, 2017

[Aussie Astro]

Astros going for the sweep, where are all the 'real' fans?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Astros going for the sweep, where are all the 'real' fans?

Maybe they took too big of a turn around first.

[astrojo]

This team has run itself out of so many innings this year? What is it going to take? 1st and 3rd seems like a pretty good place to be, even with two outs. Geez!

[astrojo]

And Angels return the favor

[Reuben]

For those of us not able to watch because of ESPN, how does McCullers look?

[JimR]

For those of us not able to watch because of ESPN, how does McCullers look?

Very good so far

[Aussie Astro]

For those of us not able to watch because of ESPN, how does McCullers look?

A couple of hard hit balls but 4 nice strike outs.

[HudsonHawk]

Any chance of a little PBP?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 3
Maldonado leadoff double
Calhoun walks
Trout F8, Maldonado to 3rd
Upton grounds into FC, Calhoun out 5-4,  Maldonado scores
Calhoun steals second
Pooholes grounds out to Altuve standing in shallow CF.

Angels 1 Astros 0

[JimR]

Top 3
Maldonado leadoff double
Calhoun walks
Trout F8, Maldonado to 3rd
Upton grounds into FC, Calhoun out 5-4,  Maldonado scores
Calhoun steals second
Pooholes grounds out to Altuve standing in shallow CF.

Angels 1 Astros 0

The double was a well-placed pop fly on the foul line.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bregman should have come home with that ball.

And lance should stop giving up doubles.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

The double was a well-placed pop fly on the foul line.

And the Upton double was a single with normal OF alignment.

[Aussie Astro]

Bregman should have come home with that ball.

And lance should stop giving up doubles.

Angels (catcher) scored from third, Astros missed the inning ending DP by half a step.  Hindsight says Bregman should have played safe and thrown home.

So, yes and yes.

[Aussie Astro]

Bregman goes deep, Astros 2-1.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Love Bregman's emergence.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

I'm watching the new Star Trek show. What's with all these breaks where they cut away at the stressful moments to shill for giant multinational corporations? 

[hostros7]

That ball sounded like a firecracker off Gattis's lumber.


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[hostros7]

(Or ESPN's mics are always cranked up to 11)


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[austro]

That ball sounded like a firecracker off Gattis's lumber.

It certainly got to the wall quickly.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 3

Maybin Ks
McCann hits a deep drive foul,  then pops out to ss in shallow center
Springer hbp on the left knee
Bregman  gets out in front of a breaking ball,  still manages to hit it for a 2 run dinger to the Crawford boxes!
Altuve ahead 3-1, takes ball 4 for strike 2, then walks
Correa ahead 3-1, walks
Gattis 2 run double to alley in left, Altuve and Correa score
Reddick F8

To the 4th
Angels 1 Astros 4

[Astros Fan in Big D]

(Or ESPN's mics are always cranked up to 11)


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Definitely heard Pooholes say "time" and the HPU say "timeout,  timeout" in the top of the inning.

[austro]

Way to take care of business, Lance.

[austro]

3.1 innings? Yeah, that's the horse I want to ride into the posteason.

[HudsonHawk]

3.1 innings? Yeah, that's the horse I want to ride into the posteason.

In his defense, he's not out because he' was exhausted or because he was getting hammered.  He's out because the Astros said you're throwing 60 pitches, and that's it.  Period. 

[hostros7]

One batter for Guduan in the 4th? I don't have a problem with it of course.


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[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Top 4

Phillips battles to a full count then blasts a HR into the rafters (4th consecutive breaking ball)
Simmons F8
That's all for Lance (3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 K, 1 BB)
Guduan in, gets Valvuena to groundout to first, a feat so masterful AJ pulls him to bask in the glory
Martes in, Cron flies out to center on 1st pitch

Mid 4th
Angels 2 Astros 4

[BizidyDizidy]

So, what do you do with McCullers in the playoffs? Tandem start? Bullpen? His stuff is so good (and can definitely strike guys out).

[Astros Fan in Big D]

In his defense, he's not out because he' was exhausted or because he was getting hammered.  He's out because the Astros said you're throwing 60 pitches, and that's it.  Period.

That's certainly what it looked like AJ was saying on the mound.

[austro]

So, what do you do with McCullers in the playoffs? Tandem start? Bullpen? His stuff is so good (and can definitely strike guys out).

I simply don't trust him. If it's a choice between him and Peacock, I'm going with Peacock. At least this year.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

People who say Simmons is the best defensive shortstop in the majors, will get no argument from me.

[Aussie Astro]

Top 4

Phillips battles to a full count then blasts a HR into the rafters (4th consecutive breaking ball)
Simmons F8
That's all for Lance (3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 K, 1 BB)
Guduan in, gets Valvuena to groundout to first, a feat so masterful AJ pulls him to bask in the glory
Martes in, Cron flies out to center on 1st pitch

Mid 4th
Angels 2 Astros 4

ESPN said 4 breaking balls in a row, Gameday said 6 knuckle curves in a row.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Bottom 4th

Yuli full count, grounds out to SS
Maybin singles up the middle
McCann flies out to left
Springer ahead 2-0, takes ball 3 as Maybin steals 2nd, then grounds out to 2B.

Skaggs at 75 pitches

To the 5th
Angels 2 Astros 4

[austro]

I'll be glad when Martes is 23.

[MusicMan]

Remember when Martes was untouchable? Good times.


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[David in Jackson]

Don’t want to see him on postseason roster.


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[hostros7]

Remember when Martes was untouchable? Good times.


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He's still trying hard to be, and his strategy is to throw it 8 inches outside of the zone.


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[drew corleone]

Bregman goes deep, Astros 2-1.

FWIW I'm watching the game with Jim and he called this HR.

[hostros7]

The pitching in this inning is brutal.


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[BizidyDizidy]

That sucked

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 5
Martes on the mound
AJ confirms limited workload was the plan for Lance

Maldonado leads off, pops out to Altuve
Calhoun hits a single thru the shift to right
Trout singles past Correa to left; 2 on 1 out
Upton down 0-2, lays off a breaking ball but misses the next one
Pooholes rides his rascal to the plate,  wp advances runners,  then walks
Phillips convinces Martes to finally throw a strike,  Martes quickly tires of that approach and walks him on a 3-2 count, Calhoun scores.
Martes out, Hoyt in with bases juiced
Simmons ahead 3-1, walks.  Trout scores to tie things up.
Valbuena grounds out to first unassisted.

Mid 5
Angels 4 Astros 4

Barf.

[homer]

Fine plan you had there AJ.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

FWIW I'm watching the game with Jim and he called this HR.

Ask him to call some strikes from our relievers.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Martes was left in two batters too long.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Bottom 5

Skaggs still on the bump

Bregman K's looking on a well placed FB on the outside
Altuve with a nice bunt single fielded by 1B who had no play
Correa hits a fly off the handle,  out F9
Captain Caveman singles past SS, Altuve to 2nd
Reddick flies out to left.


To the 6th
Angels 4 Astros 4

[HudsonHawk]

Did that idiot whatshername just say that the Astros tanking in 2012-2014 are what allowed the Astros to get Carlos Correa and Dallas Keuchel? 

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 6

Hoyt remains

Cron flies out to deep CF
Maldonado down swinging
Calhoun rips a single to RF
AJ gets Hoyt, Devo in.
Trout walks, Calhoun to 2nd
Upton grounds out 4-3

Mid 6
Angels 4 Astros 4

[homer]

Did that idiot whatshername just say that the Astros tanking in 2012-2014 are what allowed the Astros to get Carlos Correa and Dallas Keuchel? 

I think she threw Altuve in there too.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 6

Middleton on for the angels

Yuli hits a weak grounder to 2nd, out 4-3
Maybin strikes out on a high FB
McCann falls behind,  battles,  strikes out looking

To the 7th
Angels 4 Astros 4

[VirtualBob]

Game day says injury delay. ?

[HudsonHawk]

Game day says injury delay. ?

Devo took a liner off his foot...now gives up a 2-run, bat flipping double to Luis Valbuena

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 7

Devo remains on the mound

Pooholes hits the bloop of all bloops over 1B for a single
Phillips hits a GB to Bregman who turns a 5-4-3 ball into an E5 with everybody safe
Simmons hits a comebacker off Devo's foot,  ricochets past SS, everybody safe.  There's an ill wind blowing.
Valbuena works to a full count,  fouls off a FB then a changeup, fouls another,  finally hits a changeup to the bar of the wall in right,  Pooholes and Phillips score.
Valbuena lifted for a PR
Cron up with runners on 2nd and 3rd, pops out foul to yuli
Maldonado pops a bunt up behind the plate that McCann catches.
AJ gets Devo; Liriano in.   
Calhoun gets ahead 2-0, Liriano evens things up, strikes him out swinging on a full count


Stretch time
Angels 6 Astros 4

[BudGirl]

Astros going for the sweep, where are all the 'real' fans?

Some are watching just not posting. 

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 7
Bedrosian on to face the top of the lineup

Springer greets Bedrock's offspring with an opposite field dinger (#33 on the season)
Bregman up, grounds out 5-3
Altuve singles up the middle (hit #198)
Correa  gets behind 0-2, goes down swinging
Gattis can't check his swing per HPU, down on strikes

To the 8th
Angels 6 Astros 5

[Bench]

Did Hinch get tossed between innings?

[BudGirl]

Wow. AJ tossed twice in one weekend.

[BudGirl]

Did Hinch get tossed between innings?

Apparently

[Bench]

That was some bullshit calls by the HPU who seemed to have been doing a decent job for most of the game.

[Bench]

Wow. AJ tossed twice in one weekend.

Marwin's got his back.

[BudGirl]

That was some bullshit calls by the HPU who seemed to have been doing a decent job for most of the game.

I'm hoping since it scored Verlander some runs Friday it'll work for Gregerson

[Bench]

Every time gregerson throws the ball it seems like it just occurred to him to let go of it.

[HudsonHawk]

Is there a team policy that if the Astros score, they have to give a run back the following inning?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 8
Greggerson on.
AJ out after getting tossed between innings

Trout grounds out 5-3 On a close play
Upton just misses driving one out to left,  settles for an opposite field shot on the next pitch to make the deficit 2 again
Pooholes grounds out to Altuve in shallow center for the second time tonight
Phillips flies out to right

Mid 8
Angels 7 Astros 5

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Is there a team policy that if the Astros score, they have to give a run back the following inning?

No kidding. Frustrating.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That was some bullshit calls by the HPU who seemed to have been doing a decent job for most of the game.

Guessing the low strike to Correa and the check swing ring up (anybody see a replay) led to it.

And I agree,  HPU has been consistent most of night.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Every time gregerson throws the ball it seems like it just occurred to him to let go of it.

Perfect description

[HudsonHawk]

That was a pretty pathetic inning

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Bottom 8

Petit on the hill.

Josh down looking
Yuli down on strikes
Beltran PH for Maybin; singles past diving Phillips
(Fisher runs for Beltran)
McCann

End 8
Angels 7 Astros 5

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Duty calls.

Clipard goes 3 up 3 down in the 9th.

Last chance.

Angels 7 Astros 5

[HudsonHawk]

Damn.  Another one that got away.

Gotta win tomorrow boys.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That turned to crap after a promising start.

[JimR]

Hinch won with his JV lineup Sat, but his JV relievers could not throw strikes Sun. Then the defense sabotaged Devo.

[BlownRanger]

People who say Simmons is the best defensive shortstop in the majors, will get no argument from me.

Wasn't that exciting when he became the first player in the history of the sport to fake out an opposing baserunner?

[juliogotay]

(Or ESPN's mics are always cranked up to 11)


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this was another broadcast where the audio mix annoyed the shit out of me. The announcers audio level was like background noise. I'm tired of this "sound of the game" bullshit. If they don't want us to actually hear the announcers why do they put three in the booth?

[JimR]

Wasn't that exciting when he became the first player in the history of the sport to fake out an opposing baserunner?

Greatest play in the entire history of history

[austro]

Greatest play in the entire history of history

Second greatest, after Jeter's back-handed flip to get Giambi. Nobody will ever supplant Jeter.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Second greatest, after Jeter's back-handed flip to get Giambi. Nobody will ever supplant Jeter.

Jeter's dive into the stand was the greatest thing in the history of sports history's greatest marvels.