Astros at Blue Jays, 9/25/18

[MusicMan]

Springer singles, Altuve with a little number that moves him to second, and Bregman makes it 2-0... camera stare pending.


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[Aussie Astro]

Home run eh?

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Pitcher says, Now, about that "strike two..."

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Excellent push-up form by Reddick.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

In round one of Bad Ass AAA Pitcher vs. Bad Ass AAA Hitter, James over Tellez.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Never more grateful for Springer's moves than on a pitch at his face.

[hostros7]

In round one of Bad Ass AAA Pitcher vs. Bad Ass AAA Hitter, James over Tellez.

I would like to meet the folks who bestowed him with the name Rowdy.


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[Aussie Astro]

I would like to meet the folks who bestowed him with the name Rowdy.


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Maybe they thought he was going to be a wrestler?

[MusicMan]

I would like to meet the folks who bestowed him with the name Rowdy.


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Radio explained he was very active in the womb, leading to a nickname that stuck.


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[JimR]

Great White is resembling a dolphin lately.

[das]

Nice short hop snag by Yuli!

[das]

Great deuce by James after the HR ball.

[JimR]

These AAA hitters are not impressed.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Never more grateful for Springer's moves than on a pitch at his face.

That was frightening.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Nice DP by Marwin/Bregman/White.

I include White because I think that was a full stretch for him and he managed to not fall down.  But it was close.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

What's the exchange rate for runs in Canada? 

Offense needs to awaken.

[JimR]

Nice DP by Marwin/Bregman/White.

I include White because I think that was a full stretch for him and he managed to not fall down.  But it was close.

Great play

[JimR]

Let’s have some vaunting

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Tyler went up there with a porpoise.

[JimR]

Tyler went up there with a porpoise.

Giviglio is his chum

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Back to the DP:

Marwin Gonzalez should just have is position listed as BASEBALL PLAYER.

He good.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Scary collision in the OF, ball finds the turf, and the bases are juiced.

[Lefty]

"he goes a long way to create that collision"

Blum is awesome

[Aussie Astro]

Tyler went up there with a porpoise.

Please stop.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Please stop.

I don't give a flipper how you feel about it.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Well done, Evan.

4-1, still 2 on with 2 out.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Catcher's interference on Springer's swing loads the bases for Altuve.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Damn.  Nice play by Zolarte forces Springer at 2nd to end the rally.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Giviglio is his chum

A pun from the old school!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Sipp on in relief.

The line for James:
5 IP,  1 R,  4 H, 3 K,  1 BB

[JimR]

Sipp has been very good.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Trouble in the bottom of the 7th for McHugh:

Broken bat single followed by a double.

Runners on 2nd/3rd, 1 out.

[JimR]

Gift K from HPU

[das]

Sipp has been very good.

McHugh has looked off the last couple weeks. Not very sharp with his curve.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

McHugh gets a very generous/terrible called 3rd strike on an inside breaking ball for the 2nd out.

He then falls behind 2-0, hits the outside corner 2-1, low inside 3-1, finally misses high outside to load the bases.

Smoak off the bench to pinch hit, AJ makes the call for Pressly.

[JimR]

McHugh has looked off the last couple weeks. Not very sharp with his curve.

Or his FB

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Or his FB

Wasn't close on ball 3 or 4 in that last AB. 

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Pressly drops in a couple of curves in the top of the zone to get ahead 0-2, then buries him with a wicked slider.

Threat nullified.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Can we call him Elvis?

I’m gonna call him Elvis.

[das]

Or his FB

Yeah, it’s running all over the place, especially up and outside to lefties. Like he does not know where it’s going.

[JimR]

Wasn't close on ball 3 or 4 in that last AB.

TK said 5 walks in last 8 IP

[das]

Pressly drops in a couple of curves in the top of the zone to get ahead 0-2, then buries him with a wicked slider.

Threat nullified.

That slider was a beaut. Especially after Cb #2. How do you protect a plate like that?

[das]

Boy, Jake is fast.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Jake triples in the RCF gap with 2 outs in the 8th.

(Maldonado was robbed on a nice play by the CF for the 2nd out)

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Boy, Jake is fast.

The Astros Athleticism Scale should run from McCann to Jake.

[Aussie Astro]

Can we call him Elvis?

I’m gonna call him Elvis.

I need to see him shimmy first.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I need to see him shimmy first.

Nice to see you resurface.

[Texifornia]

Why replace Elvis after only three pitches?

[Aussie Astro]

Nice to see you resurface.

Hmmm.

[Lefty]

Can we call him Elvis?

I’m gonna call him Elvis.

His momma call him Ryan, Imma gonna call him elvis anyway

[das]

I’m looking forward to seeing Rondon. Let’s see what Strom found.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Rondon on to pitch the 8th. 

He'll face the 2-3-4 hitters: McKinney, Tellez, Fernandez

[Astros Fan in Big D]

1-2-3 8th for Rondon who looked sharp.

On to the 9th up 4-1.

[JimR]

Why replace Elvis after only three pitches?

Because we have more games to play.

Because Hinch wanted Rondon to have an inning.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

If we win this game, I believe i’ll stay up for the late show on the West Coast.

[JimR]

Altuve wanted to go sit down.

[Snuffy]

You guys probably already know this, but it was interesting to me:

(3:30:48) The Jays announcers tracked the Astros scouting report on Smoak (an unknown hitter with 3 on & 2-out) during the 7th.
1. Strom handed a card to Hinch who put it in his back pocket left the dugout to make a pitching change. 
2. As they waited for Pressley at the mound, Hinch exchanged cards w/ Maldonado & pocketed the old one. 
3. Maldonado studied the card as they continued to wait.

How is the scouting report delivered for unknown players when there are no no pitching changes?

[JimR]

You guys probably already know this, but it was interesting to me:

(3:30:48) The Jays announcers tracked the Astros scouting report on Smoak (an unknown hitter with 3 on & 2-out) during the 7th.
1. Strom handed a card to Hinch who put it in his back pocket left the dugout to make a pitching change. 
2. As they waited for Pressley at the mound, Hinch exchanged cards w/ Maldonado & pocketed the old one. 
3. Maldonado studied the card as they continued to wait.

How is the scouting report delivered for unknown players when there are no no pitching changes?

I don’t know, but the bat boy could run it out there.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

That Guerreri guy made me uncomfortable.

[Snuffy]

I don’t know, but the bat boy could run it out there.

TY, JimR

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Osuna on for the 9th.

Gets Solarte on a 3U grounder for the first out.
Diaz flies out to Springer in right
Smith Jr flies out to deep center

Final
Astros 4
Blue Jays 1 

100 wins
Magic Number: 1

[Aussie Astro]

Nice.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Nothing clinched yet, but 100 wins is a landmark. 

Amazing that for all the emotional ups and downs this year, and player-games missed to injury, this squad has continued to grind and hit the century mark in wins.  First time in 28 years a defending WS Champ has done so.

[juliogotay]

The Astros Athleticism Scale should run from McCann to Jake.

I understand Marisnick has had scholly offer to play WR at Oregon.

[Lefty]

100

[Snuffy]

Osuna on for the 9th.

Gets Solarte on a 3U grounder for the first out.
Diaz flies out to Springer in right
Smith Jr flies out to deep center

Final
Astros 4
Blue Jays 1 

100 wins
Magic Number: 1

A 6-pitch save for Osuna!
So far, Astros 19-4 during Sept - leading the majors!!!  Oakland, 14-7, a great run

[Waldo]

Amazing that for all the emotional ups and downs this year, and player-games missed to injury, this squad has continued to grind and hit the century mark in wins.  First time in 28 years a defending WS Champ has done so.

On the radio broadcast Sparks said (and I might get some detail wrong here) that the last four teams to win 100 games after winning the WS all made it back to the WS, with two of them winning it again.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

James and Framber both came along and made big time contributions.   Among with White and Kemp lots of production coming from the farm rather than by depleting it via trade.


Maybe we should dedicate a portion OWA to the farm system?

[Aussie Astro]

James and Framber both came along and made big time contributions.   Among with White and Kemp lots of production coming from the farm rather than by depleting it via trade.


Maybe we should dedicate a portion OWA to the farm system?

That's a great idea, but what would you call it?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That's a great idea, but what would you call it?

The Super Fun Happy Time Page?

It would get tons of hits with that name.

[Jacksonian]

The Super Fun Happy Time Page?

It would get tons of hits with that name.

Yes, we would get hit tons.

[MusicMan]

That's a great idea, but what would you call it?

The front page?


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[Aussie Astro]

The front page?


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That's coming second so far.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

They're heading to the 9th in Seattle.

The A's lead 8-7.

Its been a wild one.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

2 out rally by the Sea Hags brings Seager to the plate and he delivers the game-tying RBI.

8-8, still 2 out . ..

[Aussie Astro]

Free baseball in Seattle.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

9th summary:
After Treinen got 2 quick outs Cruz singled to right, Healy reached on a throwing error.  Pinch runner for Cruz scored on a single by Seager.  Zunino then K'd on 3 pitches.

End 9
Oakland 8
Seattle 8
';

[Aussie Astro]

Chapman owes them something after the error... but I hope he doesn't deliver.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Diaz gets 2 quick outs, suddenly develops an allergy to the strike zone but survives a walk and gets a flyball on a 3-1 count.

Mid 10
Oakland 8
Seattle 8

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Leadoff double for Span.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Gordon pops a bunt up for the first out.

Runner still on 2nd.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Haniger, who apparently does not get a hit at every plate appearance, strikes out.

2 outs, runner still on 2nd.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Segura flies out to CF to end the 10th.

Sea Hags couldn't even move the leadoff double over, much less get him to paydirt.

To the 11th.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 11

Colome pitching for Seattle

Olson walks
Laureano Ks swinging
Canha grounds into a 5-4-3 double play

Mid 11
Still tied at 8

[Aussie Astro]

Walk off!

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Herrmann homers in the 11th.

Sea hags 10, Oakland 8.

THE 2018 HOUSTON ASTROS ARE THE AL WEST CHAMPIONS!!!!

[doyce7]

Division champs!

Thanks Mariners for doing something productive with your lives

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[Aussie Astro]

Division champs!

Thanks Mariners for doing something productive with your lives

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Yes, we can go back to the usual name calling tomorrow.

[JimR]

Nothing clinched yet, but 100 wins is a landmark. 

Amazing that for all the emotional ups and downs this year, and player-games missed to injury, this squad has continued to grind and hit the century mark in wins.  First time in 28 years a defending WS Champ has done so.

Good description; this season has been a grind. Less dynamic offense. Five All Stars on the DL at the same time. Up and down Keuchel. McCann’s surgery. A less effective Peacock. Duvenski’s collapse. The Giles drama. Still 100 wins with five opportunities for more.

Kudos to Kemp, White, Morton, Stassi, McHugh, Rondon, Smith, Valdez, and James for stepping up, to Bregman for becoming an All Star and MVP candidate while the others were out, and to Luhnow for adding Maldonado, Pressly, and Osuna to make the roster even stronger. Kudos to Yuli for becoming Marwin II in the infield while there were missing starters. Kudos to JV for being JV on the mound and for helping Cole become great. Kudos to Cole for being receptive to new ideas and for reaching his potential in Houston. Kudos to CFM for finally realizing (I hope) how good he is. Kudos to the As for a great season and for keeping the pressure on the Astros to be even better. I hope we get to 103 or more. Perhaps most of all, Kudos to Hinch and his staff for being the glue. Kudos to the 2018 Astros who did not settle.

Finally, Kudos to the GZ and its denizens. Y’all make winning even more fun.

[jbm]

Good description; this season has been a grind. Less dynamic offense. Five All Stars on the DL at the same time. Up and down Keuchel. McCann’s surgery. A less effective Peacock. Duvenski’s collapse. The Giles drama. Still 100 wins with five opportunities for more.

Kudos to Kemp, White, Morton, Stassi, McHugh, Rondon, Smith, Valdez, and James for stepping up, to Bregman for becoming an All Star and MVP candidate while the others were out, and to Luhnow for adding Maldonado, Pressly, and Osuna to make the roster even stronger. Kudos to Yuli for becoming Marwin II in the infield while there were missing starters. Kudos to JV for being JV on the mound and for helping Cole become great. Kudos to Cole for being receptive to new ideas and for reaching his potential in Houston. Kudos to CFM for finally realizing (I hope) how good he is. Kudos to the As for a great season and for keeping the pressure on the Astros to be even better. I hope we get to 103 or more. Perhaps most of all, Kudos to Hinch and his staff for being the glue. Kudos to the 2018 Astros who did not settle.

Great synopsis of the season

[Gizzmonic]

Props to McHugh for adjusting to his new role without any complaints (or at least, any PUBLIC complaints).

[JimR]

Props to McHugh for adjusting to his new role without any complaints (or at least, any PUBLIC complaints).

Doubt there were any anywhere.