Easter Sunday vs the Rangers...April 1, 2018

[HudsonHawk]

Lineups somewhere

[HudsonHawk]

T1:

Springer draws a leadoff walk
Bregman pops out F3 in foul ground
Altuve flies out F7
Correa...takes strike one, takes strike two, foul, foul, flies out F9

No score

[HudsonHawk]

B1:

Andrus flies out F8
Gallo...extreme shift on, four outfielders...doesn't matter, homers to LF
Beltre...0-2...1-2...makes an out, but it's not shown on TV, nor does Kalas describe what happened
Mazara...0-2...1-2...2-2...strikes out swinging

1-0 Rangers

[HudsonHawk]

T2:

Marwin strikes out swinging
Gattis pops out F6
Marisnick strikes out swinging

1-0 Rangers

[HudsonHawk]

B2:

Chirinos pops out F4 on the first pitch
Odor takes strike three for ball two, takes strike four for ball three, and takes strike five for ball four.  Three straight pitches right down the middle for balls
Rua strikes out looking
Profar pops out F5...Bregman had a run a long way in the shift to get to it

1-0 Rangers

[HudsonHawk]

Stassi leads off the third with a double in the gap.  He's struck some balls pretty well so far this year.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Just got here. Was Gallo’s homer off a fastball?

[HudsonHawk]

T3:

Stassi...3-2...doubles to LCF
Fisher...0-2...lines out to CF
Springer pops out F3
Bregman flies out F8 at the wall in the deepest part of the park

1-0 Rangers

[HudsonHawk]

Just got here. Was Gallo’s homer off a fastball?

Hanging slider, outside part of the plate

[chuck]

The guy in the orange Astros jersey, fourth row, basically directly above home plate from our view, looks, aided surely by the distance and the soft focus, fucking exactly like my father did when he was 40 or so. It’s pretty eerie, actually.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Dang.

Leadoff double stranded.   Although Fisher and Bregman had solid contact.

[MRaup]

Dang.

Leadoff double stranded.   Although Fisher and Bregman had solid contact.

Two ripped line drives that were unfortunately at Rangers.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

The guy in the orange Astros jersey, fourth row, basically directly above home plate from our view, looks, aided surely by the distance and the soft focus, fucking exactly like my father did when he was 40 or so. It’s pretty eerie, actually.

Ha!

That's my buddy Ged.   His son Cal is sitting next to him in the home white jersey.

[chuck]

It’s really only when he’s looking on, concentrating on the game. When he perks up and smiles or something his countenance changes. But still, it’s a very odd sensation to be having.

Of course it’ll probably turn out to be fucking Doyce or something and I’ll have to endure who’s your daddy comments until the end of time.

[chuck]

Fuck.

[chuck]

I wonder if he’s on ancestry.com.

[HudsonHawk]

Ha!

That's my buddy Ged.   His son Cal is sitting next to him in the home white jersey.

Is that pronounced "Ged" or "Jed", as in the soft "J"...like "GIF"?

[HudsonHawk]

I really need some more cigars.  I'm down to the throw down ones I keep in the humidor just to take up space.

[MRaup]

Is that pronounced "Ged" or "Jed", as in the soft "J"...like "GIF"?

God. Damnit.

[chuck]

I really need some more cigars.  I'm down to the throw down ones I keep in the humidor just to take up space.

Thinly veiled attempt to spark up a conversation about Ynez.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Is that pronounced "Ged" or "Jed", as in the soft "J"...like "GIF"?

With a J.

Gary Edward,  somehow morphed to Ged.

He and I drove down and watched Game 5 together.

Then we drove back that night.  Or rather the next morning.

[HudsonHawk]

B3:

Robinson...0-2...1-2...2-2...strikes out swinging
Andrus walks
Gallo strikes out swinging
Beltre pops out F3, as he falls to his knees and totes his bat down the line

1-0 Rangers

[HudsonHawk]

Thinly veiled attempt to spark up a conversation about Ynez.

I should have had Ty pick me up a couple of bundles before heading into town.  Of course, I should have Ynez in the kitchen cooking me a boliche. 

[HudsonHawk]

I'm probably more scientifically minded than most fans, but this shit about "velo" and "launch angle" is gonna fucking kill me. 

[chuck]

My dad was adopted so in addition to his blessedly small adopted family I’m related by blood to any number of necks who are likely to be roaming around the I-20 corridor between Abilene and Dallas.

If you wanted to be thorough you could drop down to Sin Angela and make a sort of Bermuda Triangle of gerrymandered bastardy just so long as you succeeded in including Ballinger and Brownwood.

But the surname Edward isn’t one that resonates with what relatively little I know about Dad's biological lineage.

[MRaup]

I'm probably more scientifically minded than most fans, but this shit about "velo" and "launch angle" is gonna fucking kill me.

It kills me almost as much as all the fat pitches they've swung through so far today.

[moriartp]

I'm probably more scientifically minded than most fans, but this shit about "velo" and "launch angle" is gonna fucking kill me.

Did you know that if you hit the ball fucking hard, and not too low or too high, it'll go a fucking mile?

[MRaup]

Gabe Morales, today's home plate umpire, has absolutely zero clue where the strike zone ends both outside and up. He's all over the place today.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Marwin has a legit gripe.

[HudsonHawk]

T4:

Altuve doubles over CFer's head on the first pitch
Correa...down 0-2...1-2...2-2...strikes out swinging
Altuve steals 3B
Marwin...infield now comes in...down 0-2...1-2...strikes out looking
Gattis...full count...walks
Marisnick strikes out swinging

1-0 Still

[MRaup]

This game has been fucking nauseating so far. If there is anything more pretentious in baseball than the Rangers The Natural music every time someone hit's a home run, I still haven't witnessed it.

[HudsonHawk]

Marwin has a legit gripe.

Way too close to take with two strikes, especially with the tying run at 3B and the infield in.

[VirtualBob]

Gabe Morales, today's home plate umpire, has absolutely zero clue where the strike zone ends both outside and up. He's all over the place today.

The only thing consistent about this crew is that they seem equally clueless regardless of who is behind the plate.

[HudsonHawk]

B4:

Mazara lines out to CF on the first pitch
Chirinos flies out F8
Odor flies out F8

Nice inning...still 1-0 Rangers

[HudsonHawk]

Fisher with an RBI triple to tie it up!

[MRaup]

Stassi downshifted in to 5th rounding 2nd and never looked back. Big fella motoring!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 So the key is don't hit doubles.

[HudsonHawk]

Fisher can fucking run.

[MRaup]

Fisher can fucking run.

Yes he can.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Fisher can fucking run.

Right on cue.

Standing up, not close.

[HudsonHawk]

Stassi downshifted in to 5th rounding 2nd and never looked back. Big fella motoring!

Excellent read off the bat.  That was just good base running all the way around.

[HudsonHawk]

T5:

Stassi...0-2...1-2...hit by pitch
Fisher triples to RCF, Stassi scores
Springer...infield in at the corners, back up the middle...flairs to shallow CF, caught, but Fisher tags and scores easily...score it a sac fly and RBI for Springer
Bregman flies out F9

And that's it for Minor...Martin in...

Altuve grounds out 6-3

But the Astros take a 2-1 lead

[HudsonHawk]

Someone else grab some PBP...have to grill some lamb chops.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 5

Rua Ks on a low 97 mph heater
Profar Ks on a pretty breaking ball
Robinson Ks on another 97 mph

Astros 2
Rangers 1

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Hopefully left Marwin can do some damage.

[moriartp]

Stassi's making some real good contact today.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Top 6
Martin still in the bump

Correa singles softly to right center

Marwin falls behind 0-2, battles to a full count,  then K's swinging as Correa steals 2nd

Gattis doubles into the corner in left,  Correa scores, chasing Martin

Claudio in

Jake falls into an 0-2 hole,  gets caught looking at strike 3

Stassi likewise falls behind 0-2, works it to2-2, then dumps one into left that Rua can't scoop plating Gattis to make it 4-1 (Martin gets 2 runs charged to his ledger)

Fisher keeps the string going,  falls to 0-2, barely misses having a double on a ball foul down the rf line, works back to even the count,  then grounds out to 1B unassisted.

Mid 6
Astros 4
Rangers 1

[HudsonHawk]

Fuck, Cole is getting squeezed.

[JimR]

I love double plays!

Fisher looks very good at the plate today.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 6

Andrus greets Cole with a leadoff double

Gallo digs in, falls behind 0-2, then Ks on a 1-2 breaking ball

Beltre gets ahead 3-0, takes a strike, then ball squirts out of Stassi's glove,  advancing Andrus.

Mazara justifies pitching around Beltre by grounding into a 4-6-3 dp.

The 6-3 portion was a freaking laser beam from CC

End 6
Astros 4
Rangers 1

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I love double plays!

Fisher looks very good at the plate today.

That has to be one of the tougher arm angles for a lefty.

Fisher just missed an rbi double.

[MRaup]

That has to be one of the tougher arm angles for a lefty.

Fisher just missed an rbi double.

Fisher hung in there like a beast against Claudio.  That was a great at bat.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Correa didn't miss his double.

Pour it on.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 7

Claudio faces to of the lineup

Springer Ks

Bregman lines a single to right

Altuve down 0-2, then takes a 62 mph changeup,  followed by reaching out on his tip toes and pines the next one safely into rf

Correa promptly doubles in Bregman and Altuve making it 6-1 and chasing Claudio.

Jepsen in to pitch

Marwin digs in, takes strike 2 8 inches off the plate, then flies out to left

Gattis lines a 1-2 pitch to rf plating Correa easily. 7-1.

Jake lines out to CF

Mid 7

Astros 7
Rangers 1

[JimR]

Marwin really is struggling.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 7

Cole remains on the mound

Chirinos leads off,  can't check his swing 3-1, then Ks on a 96 mph fastball

Odor Ks on another 96 mph heater located up

Rua falls to 0-2, takes a FB outside,  then Ks swinging on a low/ away breaking ball

End 7
Astros 7
Rangers 1

[chuck]

Marwin really is struggling.

Nothing Yuli won’t fix.

Since the Astros got good again I can’t remember too many times a pitcher has looked better than Cole looked today.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Marwin not doing himself any favors.

Took his helmet off during his AB after a tough call,  then kicks the ball the HPU threw out to the mound.

[JimR]

Nothing Yuli won’t fix.

Since the Astros got good again I can’t remember too many times a pitcher has looked better than Cole looked today.

Exactly right. Yuli in the 5 hole lets Marwin hit 6th it 7th.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 8

Gardenwine pitching

Stassi flies out

Fisher gets caught looking on a nice back door curve

Springer Ks looking at a FB in the vicinity of the outside corner. His protests did not result in a reversal.

Mid 8
Astros 7
Rangers 1

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Marwin tossed from the game after saying something to Jerry Meals.

[JimR]

Top 8

Gardenwine pitching

Stassi flies out

Fisher gets caught looking on a nice back door curve

Springer Ks looking at a FB in the vicinity of the outside corner. His protests did not result in a reversal.

Mid 8
Astros 7
Rangers 1

HPU reminds me of a ST game I saw in which players on both sides were pissed off all day.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Top 8

Devo in

Profar bounces out to the shifted Bregman at SS

Robinson blasts a solo shot into right,  setting off fireworks and The Natural music in a sparsely populated Globe Life Park

Andrus flies out to CF

Gallo grounds into the empty left side of the infield for a single

Beltre grounds softly to Altuve who just beats Gallo to the bag for the 3rd out

End 8
Astros 7
Rangers 2

[JimR]

Jake has 2 HRs and a whole bunch of Ks.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 9

Gardenwine still in

Bregman flies out

Altuve gets an infield hit

Correa flies out to deep right center.  Mark will have the launch angle/ exit velo data shortly

Davis hits for the ejected Marwin,  singles on the first pitch he sees moving Altuve to 2nd

Gattis gets ahead 3-0, takes strike 1, then lines over  3rd plating Altuve.   Davis to 3rd, Gattis in with his second double

Jake takes his 0 for 4 self to the plate, gets a 3-2 count, then Ks swinging likely completing his tough day at the plate

Mid 9
Astros 8
Rangers 2

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Bottom 9

Giles pitching

Mazara lays off a tough 2-2 slider,  then pops out to Bregman

Chirinos falls behind 0-2, then swings thru 97 mph strike 3

Odor flies out to CF

End 9
Astros 8
Rangers 2

[HudsonHawk]

I love double plays!

Fisher looks very good at the plate today.

Fisher has looked good, and Stassi has had really good at bats all series.

[JimR]

Fisher has looked good, and Stassi has had really good at bats all series.

Stassi was sitting on that changeup on his single like hitters do to Devo.

[doyce7]

It’s really only when he’s looking on, concentrating on the game. When he perks up and smiles or something his countenance changes. But still, it’s a very odd sensation to be having.

Of course it’ll probably turn out to be fucking Doyce or something and I’ll have to endure who’s your daddy comments until the end of time.

I don't know who your daddy is but I do know who the rangers daddy is

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[juliogotay]

Jayson Stark tweet yesterday post-game

Is it possible the #Astros’ best starter is the guy who started their 4th game of the season?

Gerrit Cole today: 7 IP 2 H 1 R 11 K

“He’s going to win the Cy Young on that team,” a scout who saw the Astros a lot this spring told me. “He might have the best stuff in the league.”


4:58 PM - Apr 1, 2018