Astros @ Rangers, June 8, 2018

[HudsonHawk]

Choo hits Verlander’s first pitch of the game over the LCF wall. 1-0 Rangers

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That was a little disappointing.

Filthy slider to get Profar.

[austro]

I assume that Verlander thought he was going to get the first pitch for free, just to get things going.

By far the worst thing about that homer was seeing that little prick Odor bouncing around afterward.

[austro]

Filthy slider to get Profar.

You don't want to see Justin when he's angry.

[HudsonHawk]

JV strikes out the next three hitters.

After one...1-0 Rangers.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

You don't want to see Justin when he's angry.

I loved seeing Cole get pissed last night and channel it.

Also liked 3 consecutive Ks after the Choo HR.

[austro]

I loved seeing Cole get pissed last night and channel it.

It seemed like he wanted to bring a bulldozer out to that mound, too.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Attaboy,  Marwin.

Gattis gracefully rounds third.

[HudsonHawk]

Marwin with an RBI single...runners at the corners, nobody out...

[austro]

Aarrgghh. A rusty McCann pops up to shallow CF and can't get Reddick in.

But Kemp can! Speed kills.

[HudsonHawk]

Kemp with infield single to drive in a run...

[Astros Fan in Big D]

My options for this game are 1) Astros broadcast on the ipad 2) Rangers broadcast on the TV.

I'm opting for the TV, for now.

After the McCann shallow fly Grieve praises Deshields for making a good throw back in.

For those not watching,  he caught the ball about 50 feet from the infield dirt.

Ipad is nearby.

[Aussie Astro]

I assume that Verlander thought he was going to get the first pitch for free, just to get things going.

By far the worst thing about that homer was seeing that little prick Odor bouncing around afterward.

Laughing boy is probably not so happy now.

[austro]

My options for this game are 1) Astros broadcast on the ipad 2) Rangers broadcast on the TV.

I'm opting for the TV, for now.

After the McCann shallow fly Grieve praises Deshields for making a good throw back in.

For those not watching,  he caught the ball about 50 feet from the infield dirt.

Ipad is nearby.

Mute the TV, turn up the volume on the iPad.

[HudsonHawk]

Springer with a 2-run double!

4-1 Astros

[austro]

After the McCann shallow fly Grieve praises Deshields for making a good throw back in.

Didn't that throw practically hit 2nd base? From 30 feet away? Something weird happened with it, because it looked like the cutoff guy fielded on the bounce behind the mound.

[HudsonHawk]

Well that ended poorly...the old 5-2-5-4 double play.

[austro]

Well that ended poorly...the old 5-2-5-4 double play.

I was hoping to see Fister throw at least 10 more pitches that inning.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Well that ended poorly...the old 5-2-5-4 double play.

Bregman didn't want Springer to feel badly about the rundown.

[austro]

Name That Astro: Gattis?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Springer should have committed hard to home that far down the line once Beltre had it.

[austro]

Springer should have committed hard to home that far down the line once Beltre had it.

Yeah, come hard and make him throw the ball hard and around you. If you're close enough and slow enough that they can lob the ball around, you're doomed.

[HudsonHawk]

Springer should have committed hard to home that far down the line once Beltre had it.

He was trying to give Bregman a chance to get to 2B, but yeah, ideally you make the Rangers make the tag at the plate.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

JV is dealing.

[Texifornia]

JV is dealing.

I heard 'neck Ranger fans want Trump to ban immigration from Verland.

[HudsonHawk]

JV is dealing.

When he melts down, you own it.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I loved that Facebook interview he did where he said when he's cooking, he doesn't necessarily know what inning it is or who is coming up next.

He just deals.   Like a predator with tunnel vision as it makes the kill.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Speed in the OF!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Almost had another one.

[austro]

Almost had another one.

I really thought he was going to get that one, too.

[HudsonHawk]

Verlander getting squeezed like a motherfucker.

[austro]

Verlander getting squeezed like a motherfucker.

In keeping with last night's theme.

[Texifornia]

Verlander getting squeezed like a motherfucker.

Gamezone agrees. That ball 4 caught plenty of zone.

[HudsonHawk]

Gamezone agrees. That ball 4 caught plenty of zone.

So did ball two.

[austro]

Gamezone agrees. That ball 4 caught plenty of zone.

I think this guy is giving the high strike on the outside but not on the inside.

[austro]

Jesus, what was wrong with that curve?

[HudsonHawk]

Ball 2 to Mazara was right down the center of the fucking plate.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That Uncle Charlie was so much a strike.

[HudsonHawk]

Fuck. He struck out Choo and Mazara. Now it’s 4-3 on the E9

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Well that sucks.

[HudsonHawk]

Well that sucks.

I hope you’re proud of yourself.

[HudsonHawk]

Verlander’s had to get six outs this inning thanks to that numbnuts behind the plate.

[austro]

I hope you’re proud of yourself.

In his defense, Verlander didn't melt down, the fucking umpire did. And he didn't say shit about the umpire.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I hope you’re proud of yourself.

Duly noted.

I hope this Verlander character leans how to pitch.

[austro]

Any lipreaders out there? What did Verlander say as he was coming off the mound?

[Lefty]

Any lipreaders out there? What did Verlander say as he was coming off the mound?

Pretty sure he called him a cocksucker....or I'm sorry "cocksucking call".

[HudsonHawk]

Well, we’re definitely working with two different strike zones tonight. HPU must have money on this one.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Marwin got screwed.

[austro]

Marwin got screwed.

Twice. At least according to the strike zone that Verlander is having to work with.

[austro]

I think we're going to see a couple of innings of McHugh tonight.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Sit down,  Stink.

[austro]

Hah, I wonder if anybody has ever hurt their knee on a swing. Odor may be the first.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Kemp with a leadoff walk.

Now top of the order . . .

[Astros Fan in Big D]

. . . and a gidp.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bregman homers for the second consecutive game.

[HudsonHawk]

Still getting fucking squeezed. Has struck out Deshields twice...

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Still getting fucking squeezed. Has struck out Deshields twice...

When you factor in could have been outs,  this hpu has probably cost Verlander a dozen extra pitches tonight.

[HudsonHawk]

When you factor in could have been outs,  this hpu has probably cost Verlander a dozen extra pitches tonight.

Way more than that. I’m guessing an extra 30

[HudsonHawk]

Seriously....what the FUCK is wrong with this  Ump!!!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

THAT'S A STRIKE!!

[austro]

Jesus, there's another one. This guy is not qualified.

[MRaup]

I was driving home listening to the game on the radio, and Sparks was just laughing at some of the strikes called balls. I see he had a valid point now.

[HudsonHawk]

I was driving home listening to the game on the radio, and Sparks was just laughing at some of the strikes called balls. I see he had a valid point now.

This is the worst ump I’ve ever seen.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

This is the worst ump I’ve ever seen.

Doesn't Eric Gregg mean anything to you?

[austro]

This is the worst ump I’ve ever seen.

I'll be generous and just say that he's having a really bad night.

[austro]

Bye, bye, hammy. Not much doubt what happened there.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I'll be generous and just say that he's having a really bad night.

And Poland got off to a rough start in WWII.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Fireballer Bush in.

[austro]

5.19 ERA in last 5 games. That's the kind of stat I like to see for my opponents' pitchers.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Basse knock for Gattis.

[austro]

Reddick has hit a bunch of balls hard tonight, but they've all been pulled foul.

[HudsonHawk]

Doesn't Eric Gregg mean anything to you?

Yes.

[austro]

Cover 2nd base? Why would we do that?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Marwin takes second as the Rangers take the unorthodox approach of failing to cover the bag on a single up the middle.

[austro]

A base hit here would be very valuable.

[austro]

Marwin takes second as the Rangers take the unorthodox approach of failing to cover the bag on a single up the middle.

"Unorthodox." Very nice. That's exactly the right word.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

McCann disagrees with that call.

[austro]

Damn. Squandered opportunity.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

JV back out for the 6th

[austro]

Beltre has been a great player, but he may be reaching the end of the line.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Beltre has been a great player, but he may be reaching the end of the line.

I think this is his first game at 3rd since his DL stint.

I'm sure that rundown was the last thing they wanted to see with him.

[austro]

This guy really doesn't like to call strikes.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Oof.  Walked Odor on 4 pitches.

[Texifornia]

Gamezone says the HPU is terrible.

[Texifornia]

Gamezone says the HPU is terrible.

errr Gameday.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

They're both correct.

He's horrendous.

[Lefty]

errr Gameday.

No, you were right.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Kemp had a stutter step that cost him.

[austro]

Kemp had a stutter step that cost him.

Nonetheless, his presence in the lineup has really helped.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Nonetheless, his presence in the lineup has really helped.

Absolutely.  Love his speed and his contract skills.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Altuve!!!

2 run blast to RCF!

[austro]

My hero!!!!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

For those not on the broadcast,  Blummer counts at least 6 pitches with the entire baseball in the zone called balls.

[austro]

For those not on the broadcast,  Blummer counts at least 6 pitches with the entire baseball in the zone called balls.

At least.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Anybody interested in going tmw night?

I need a date.

[Jacksonian]

Nonetheless, his presence in the lineup has really helped.

Except for power he's been everything the Astros wanted Fisher to be.

[austro]

Except for power he's been everything the Astros wanted Fisher to be.

I'll gladly sacrifice the power for the contact.

[austro]

I would say that Mazara was fooled on that one.

[austro]

Golden sombrero for Beltre?

[HudsonHawk]

Golden sombrero for Beltre?

Size 4

[Texifornia]

McHugh would be starting for virtually every other ML team.

[austro]

McHugh would be starting for virtually every other ML team.

It is a tremendous luxury to have him in our bullpen. And it's a tremendous credit to him that he goes out and performs well in that role without complaining when it's clear that he'd prefer to be starting.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

McHugh would be starting for virtually every other ML team.

He'll be starting for this club next year.

[austro]

Odor sucks. I'm so glad he plays for the Rangers.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Odor sucks. I'm so glad he plays for the Rangers.

Most of the talk radio folks here came to this realization last year.

It's been reinforced this year.

[austro]

Giles for the 9th? Or stick with McHugh?

[HudsonHawk]

Giles for the 9th? Or stick with McHugh?

I’d stick with McHugh. Or maybe Rondon. I certainly wouldn’t use Giles.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Harris warming up.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Swiss cheese strike zone.

[austro]

Warriors are killing the Cavs.

[HudsonHawk]

The Will Harris lovefest continues.

[Texifornia]

He'll be starting for this club next year.

High likelihood.

[austro]

The Will Harris lovefest continues.

This is definitely unexpected.

[HudsonHawk]

This is definitely unexpected.

Maybe the old “get him back on the bike” kind of an outing.

[Texifornia]

Warriors are killing the Cavs.

They already beat the team they needed to. This is just pro forma.

[jbm]

Seems like the time you’d want to use him. It’s not high leverage.

[austro]

Maybe the old “get him back on the bike” kind of an outing.

Yes, I think you're right. I hope it works out.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

They already beat the team they needed to. This is just pro forma.

Hanging my Rockets head.

Should have won that series,  even without CP3 for G6/7.

[austro]

Should have won that series,  even without CP3 for G6/7.

I'm just not sure that their style is reliable enough to beat good teams.

[HudsonHawk]

Astros win!

Harris with a nice clean inning and a couple of punch outs to nail it down.

7-3 is the final.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Nice job by Harris.

[austro]

Good job, guys. Now let's go punish them again tomorrow.

[austro]

Wow, Cavs just pulled James with 4 minutes to go.

[Lefty]

Wow, Cavs just pulled James with 4 minutes to go.

I'm watching Vandy-MissSt.  Sounds like a much better deal.

[JimR]

It is a tremendous luxury to have him in our bullpen. And it's a tremendous credit to him that he goes out and performs well in that role without complaining when it's clear that he'd prefer to be starting.

He has been great, and I was shocked when Alonso hit the retying homer in the 13th at Cleveland. I think the BBGs took over that game and punished us for something. With better relief pitiching/use of pen in 3 innings, we would have been 3 of 4 v. Cleveland, 2 of 3 v. NYY, and 3 of 4 v. Boston.

If “ifs and buts” we’re candy and nuts....

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Not an overlay,  but this Verlander vs Odor gif is hilarious:

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1005420083085234177?s=19

(thanks to whoever it was that brought up pitching ninja; his content is stellar)

[juliogotay]

My options for this game are 1) Astros broadcast on the ipad 2) Rangers broadcast on the TV.

I'm opting for the TV, for now.

After the McCann shallow fly Grieve praises Deshields for making a good throw back in.

For those not watching,  he caught the ball about 50 feet from the infield dirt.

Ipad is nearby.

Rangers announcers are unlistenable. I think Grieve works with the Ray of DoRay Astros infamy from the Dark years.

[JimR]

Rangers announcers are unlistenable. I think Grieve works with the Ray of DoRay Astros infamy from the Dark years.

And Do is a studio fill in on the Astros broadcasts.