Jon Heyman pisses me off. If he's not whining about the Astros restructuring their front office, he's mad that Tony DeFrancesco wants to see what other opportunities are available to him. Or he's mad that the Astros have a philosophy to which they stick. Also, please don't forget that Heyman said the Astros overpaid Josh Reddick by "$20 million or so" but stuck it to Correa. And Heyman voted for Ivan Rodriguez for the Hall of Fame, but not Jeff Bagwell because of PEDs.
And it's not just Jon Heyman! Buster Olney went after the Astros back in 2013 when the Astros were trying to maximize their fairly-distant future, while the Cubs did it at the same time but were the Cubs and it was cool. Olney went so far as to link the rebuilding Astros in the same sentence as Joe Jackson and Pete Rose, such was the destruction of The Fabric of Baseball. The New York Times got in on it. So did the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who spend a lot of time pretending they don't care about Jeff Luhnow. Let's not forget Peter Gammons accused the Astros of ruining the Integrity of the Game.
So I asked some people if there's an anti-Astros bias in the national media. I asked national writers, Houston-based writers, basically anyone I deemed important enough (but also friendly enough) that I could ask to weigh in on whether the Astros' recent past clouds the judgment of the not-so-distant future. Here are their thoughts, via DM or email:
Tyler Kepner, New York Times:
I wouldn't say the media hates the Astros. From a media standpoint, their players, GM and manager are accessible and accommodating. Personally, they are one of my favorite teams to deal with, and I love the ballpark....I made it a priority to check in with the Astros every year, even when they were really struggling, so I could get a sense of their strategy and progress. I appreciated their openness about everything. Also, writers love great stories, and the Astros winning a World Series would be a great story, because Texas is such a rich baseball state and no Texas team has ever done it.
A writer who requested anonymity:
I don't think Gammons and Heyman have it in for the Astros as much as their old school guys who hate to see good scouts get fired at the expense of likely 20-somethings with a computer.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jose de Jesus Ortiz:
Haha. The media does not hate the Astros. I've learned that most fan bases think the media hates their teams. I promise you the media doesn't hate the Astros.
Another writer who requested anonymity:
Guys like Heyman and Gammons have a special thing out for the Astros. They're old. Their contacts are old. Those contacts feel threatened or worse: they develop hard feelings, and they communicate that out to Heyman and Gammons.
Houston Chronicle's Greg Rajan:
I don't think the media hate the Astros. The thing is, a lot of the time, performance drives perception. There wasn't a whole lot of positive stuff to chronicle with the Astros from 2011-14 when they went scorched earth to rebuild. Another thing you should consider is some longtime baseball writers are traditionalists and not as analytics-friendly like the Astros' regime. So they're going to look at the Astros differently than a traditional operation.
Locally, I think the team is treated fairly. It's just that the Texans drive the coverage much of the year. (The Texans') best years came when the Astros were in rebuilding mode and in most markets with NFL and MLB teams, the NFL gets the lion's share of attention. It may not be fair, but that's how it is. Now if the Astros win the World Series or make a deep playoff run, that may change.
The 2012-2014 tanking/rebuild and subsequent national perception stories about the Astros likely went a long way toward this disdain among some fans for national media. I don't remember too many complaints about guys like Jon Heyman around ten years ago. And you can't discount the social media impact. There are more opinions out there than ever before. Before, people wrote letters to the editor or even emails. Now, they can express their feelings in 140 characters.
NBC Sports Boston's Evan Drellich:
The Astros billed themselves as agents of change and have acted as such. Moments of change naturally produce more questions than times where the status quo is maintained. That's probably not ideal, but it's the reason I suspect some following the Astros may feel there's "bias" - changes bring more inquiries, and the Astros have trumpeted change. I'd suggest the Astros are not exactly under the most intense microscope, however. Houston's a one-newspaper town. The number of local media asking questions on a daily basis - substantive questions related to baseball operations, the people responsible for the entertainment product you pay for - is limited. There has been a common thread I've noticed through the years with the Astros, a question of how well they handle people (and how much the answer to that question matters).
Exploring a question isn't tantamount to condemnation. If scouts, employees, who helped contribute to a long-term rebuild project are told they're no longer valued right as success arrives, that creates a bad look. People will inherently be angry. That look shouldn't be ignored by a reporter. It should be noted and explored. If the Astros are re-envisioning how scouting is to be done, that's significant. If they're not, that may tell you something, too. What are the Astros gaining with these moves, if anything, and at what expense? Only one way to find out.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Saturday Morning 2-0 Hot Links
*Well. The Astros got to Drew Pomeranz, and the team that was 21-24 against lefty starters in the regular season is now 2-0 against lefty starters in the postseason. George Springer got sprung and the Astros eventually coasted to another 8-2 win over the Sons of Liberty.
*(Houston) Keuchel took a little while to settle in, eventually throwing 5.2IP, 3H/1ER, 7K:3BB.
Keuchel, Innings 1-2: 48 pitches, 3H/1ER, 3K/1BB
Keuchel, Innings 3-5.2: 48 pitches, 0H/0ER, 4K:1BB
Keuchel retired 13 batters in a row.
*Springer, who hit a home run (2x4, BB, RBI)
For us to come out and score off of those guys over there is obviously huge for us. (Sale and Pomeranz) are two quality arms who have started the games, and we've been stringing along with some quality at-bats and scoring early.
*Correa, who went 2x4 with a walk and 4RBI:
You've seen it throughout the whole season. One through nine, everybody can do damage, everybody can go deep. That's the good thing about our lineup, there's no holes in our lineup, and we feel very confident, no matter if we went 0-for-4 the day before or if we went 4-for-4.
*Alex Rodriguez broke down Carlos Correa's swing.
*The Astros had the bases loaded twice, and went 0x5.
*Dustin Pedroia, who is basically Matt Damon in The Departed at this point, summed it up:
They've played it great. They've done everything right, and we haven't done anything right. Hopefully, getting back home and getting in front of our fans will give us a boost and get us back in this series.
*More Pedroia:
We just got our ass kicked twice. Confidence is irrelevant at this point.
*Mookie Betts told Tyler Kepner:
We can only be ourselves. We can't go out and bang like them. We can't do a whole lot of things that they can do, but we can do what we can do. And what we do got us in the playoffs, and I'm pretty sure it can win us the World Series, too.
*Red Sox manager John Farrell:
They're very good, they're deep, and they have got a number of ways to beat you. So we fully respect and understood the opponent, and they're playing like that.
*The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham:
There was a sort of grim resignation in the Red Sox clubhouse that Houston is a much better team.
*Boston Herald's Jason Mastrodonato:
Forget about talent. The Red Sox simply didn't look ready to play.
*Boston Herald's Michael Silverman:
But yesterday's brutal Game 2 Division series loss exposed the most glaring weakness this team possesses: That it's offense, a punchless and moody group of hitters who put their worst on display when the team needed them the most in the 8-2 loss.
*Hinch:
We won't take anything for granted. This is a team that's very, very laser-focused on winning the series. You don't win the series with two wins - you win it with three.
*Richard Justice says the Minute Maid crowd shows Houston's resilience. Keuchel:
Just to be at home, everybody is so comfortable here, and we played so well. I know we played better, record-wise, on the road this year, but just being back at home at Minute Maid, where everybody's gone through a lot...it just means a lot to us to be here and for the fans to be out here.
*Jenny Dial Creech says these Astros look like something special.
*Providence Journal: Of the 56 teams to bedown up 0-2 in the division series, 49 have gone on to win. Since 2003, 30 of 32 teams have gone on to win the division series.
*MLB announced that the Astros and Red Sox will play afternoon games as long as the Cleveland/New York series is still going on. Like it's 1922, or something.
*Brad Peacock will start G3 at Fenway on Sunday afternoon. Hinch, on the decision:
He's had an exceptional season as a starter. He's filled a couple different roles, and he's earned this start. I think his effectiveness, his calmness, his ability to throw strikes, he's got real weapons, he gets a ton of swing and miss. His season speaks for itself, which is why we would turn to him in Game 3.
Charles Morton would start G4. McCullers is presumably ready out of the bullpen to close out the series on Sunday. Or whatever afternoon/not-convenient time MLB has decided to play this series.
*FiveThirtyEight says the Astros won G3 5500 out of 10000 times in simulations.
*Carlos Correa has worked with Jim Crane to send another plane full of supplies to Puerto Rico, which pretty much everyone in the contiguous 48 states has forgotten about. Don't do that.
*Alex Speier wrote about the Astros trying to stay ahead of the analytics curve. Luhnow:
It's a double-edged sword. If (other teams are) following things we did first, it means, a) it works; and b) our advantage is gone, or dissipating. That's why we're constantly trying to figure out how we can gain small advantages in multiple areas.
*FanGraphs: Has the era of the super-team arrived?
*Former Fresno manager Tony DeFrancesco has been hired by the Mets to manage their PCL team in Las Vegas.
*Oh hey here's a surprise, Jon Heyman picked Aaron Judge over Jose Altuve for AL MVP.
*Elsewhere in the postseason:
ALDS: Cleveland came back from an 8-3 deficit to beat the Yankees 9-8 in 13 innings. Edwin Encarnacion looked like he really hurt his ankle and I did not enjoy replays of that play. Cleveland has a 2-0 lead.
NLDS: Chicago held Washington to two hits, winning 3-0 to take a 1-0 series lead.
NLDS: Taijuan Walker became the latest playoff pitcher to not last two innings as LA beat Arizona 9-5 to take a 1-0 series lead. J.D. Martinez hit a home run, though.
*This is extremely my jam: 20 lost indie Britpop bands of the 2000s. (I'm sorry but The Bravery is not "lost.")
The Astros played like Whataburger was on the line— Whataburger® (@Whataburger) October 6, 2017
*(Houston) Keuchel took a little while to settle in, eventually throwing 5.2IP, 3H/1ER, 7K:3BB.
Keuchel, Innings 1-2: 48 pitches, 3H/1ER, 3K/1BB
Keuchel, Innings 3-5.2: 48 pitches, 0H/0ER, 4K:1BB
Keuchel retired 13 batters in a row.
*Springer, who hit a home run (2x4, BB, RBI)
For us to come out and score off of those guys over there is obviously huge for us. (Sale and Pomeranz) are two quality arms who have started the games, and we've been stringing along with some quality at-bats and scoring early.
*Correa, who went 2x4 with a walk and 4RBI:
You've seen it throughout the whole season. One through nine, everybody can do damage, everybody can go deep. That's the good thing about our lineup, there's no holes in our lineup, and we feel very confident, no matter if we went 0-for-4 the day before or if we went 4-for-4.
*Alex Rodriguez broke down Carlos Correa's swing.
*The Astros had the bases loaded twice, and went 0x5.
*Dustin Pedroia, who is basically Matt Damon in The Departed at this point, summed it up:
They've played it great. They've done everything right, and we haven't done anything right. Hopefully, getting back home and getting in front of our fans will give us a boost and get us back in this series.
*More Pedroia:
We just got our ass kicked twice. Confidence is irrelevant at this point.
*Mookie Betts told Tyler Kepner:
We can only be ourselves. We can't go out and bang like them. We can't do a whole lot of things that they can do, but we can do what we can do. And what we do got us in the playoffs, and I'm pretty sure it can win us the World Series, too.
*Red Sox manager John Farrell:
They're very good, they're deep, and they have got a number of ways to beat you. So we fully respect and understood the opponent, and they're playing like that.
*The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham:
There was a sort of grim resignation in the Red Sox clubhouse that Houston is a much better team.
*Boston Herald's Jason Mastrodonato:
Forget about talent. The Red Sox simply didn't look ready to play.
*Boston Herald's Michael Silverman:
But yesterday's brutal Game 2 Division series loss exposed the most glaring weakness this team possesses: That it's offense, a punchless and moody group of hitters who put their worst on display when the team needed them the most in the 8-2 loss.
*Hinch:
We won't take anything for granted. This is a team that's very, very laser-focused on winning the series. You don't win the series with two wins - you win it with three.
*Richard Justice says the Minute Maid crowd shows Houston's resilience. Keuchel:
Just to be at home, everybody is so comfortable here, and we played so well. I know we played better, record-wise, on the road this year, but just being back at home at Minute Maid, where everybody's gone through a lot...it just means a lot to us to be here and for the fans to be out here.
*Jenny Dial Creech says these Astros look like something special.
*Providence Journal: Of the 56 teams to be
*MLB announced that the Astros and Red Sox will play afternoon games as long as the Cleveland/New York series is still going on. Like it's 1922, or something.
*Brad Peacock will start G3 at Fenway on Sunday afternoon. Hinch, on the decision:
He's had an exceptional season as a starter. He's filled a couple different roles, and he's earned this start. I think his effectiveness, his calmness, his ability to throw strikes, he's got real weapons, he gets a ton of swing and miss. His season speaks for itself, which is why we would turn to him in Game 3.
Charles Morton would start G4. McCullers is presumably ready out of the bullpen to close out the series on Sunday. Or whatever afternoon/not-convenient time MLB has decided to play this series.
*FiveThirtyEight says the Astros won G3 5500 out of 10000 times in simulations.
*Carlos Correa has worked with Jim Crane to send another plane full of supplies to Puerto Rico, which pretty much everyone in the contiguous 48 states has forgotten about. Don't do that.
*Alex Speier wrote about the Astros trying to stay ahead of the analytics curve. Luhnow:
It's a double-edged sword. If (other teams are) following things we did first, it means, a) it works; and b) our advantage is gone, or dissipating. That's why we're constantly trying to figure out how we can gain small advantages in multiple areas.
*FanGraphs: Has the era of the super-team arrived?
*Former Fresno manager Tony DeFrancesco has been hired by the Mets to manage their PCL team in Las Vegas.
*Oh hey here's a surprise, Jon Heyman picked Aaron Judge over Jose Altuve for AL MVP.
*Elsewhere in the postseason:
ALDS: Cleveland came back from an 8-3 deficit to beat the Yankees 9-8 in 13 innings. Edwin Encarnacion looked like he really hurt his ankle and I did not enjoy replays of that play. Cleveland has a 2-0 lead.
NLDS: Chicago held Washington to two hits, winning 3-0 to take a 1-0 series lead.
NLDS: Taijuan Walker became the latest playoff pitcher to not last two innings as LA beat Arizona 9-5 to take a 1-0 series lead. J.D. Martinez hit a home run, though.
*This is extremely my jam: 20 lost indie Britpop bands of the 2000s. (I'm sorry but The Bravery is not "lost.")
Friday, October 6, 2017
Friday Morning Hot Links
*LOLOLOLOLOLOL. Jose Altuve is the greatest player of all time, Justin Verlander > Randy Johnson, and the Astros just need ten more wins to have a big damn parade downtown.
*Justin Verlander did Justin Verlander things: throwing 6IP, 6H/2ER, 3K:2BB. His 3K in a start were the fewest since he failed to record a strikeout of a single Cleveland Indian on July 2. He had struck out 4+ in 31 of his 34 starts in 2017. It's his 10th straight start of two or fewer walks. Verlander:
Today was just incredible. It's great to be a part of a town that has embraced us this much...It was just incredible. From the moment I walked out on the field, it seemed like it was electric. To the point where I was like, 'let's focus on what you gotta do.' It's a great feeling.
*Bregman, on Verlander:
Just his presence, him being in here, it's meant everything. He's special, man.
*Chris Sale's line: 5IP, 9H/7ER, 6K:1BB, 3 HR allowed. Sale had not allowed nine hits in a start since June 10. He has now allowed 7HR in his last 10IP. Chris Sale is what it looks like when you are on a regimen of kale smoothies and meth.
*Jose Altuve hit three - THREE - home runs today. Let's put this in context:
Altuve's postseason home runs today: 3
Jeff Bagwell's postseason HR, career: 2
Craig Biggio's postseason HR, career: 2
It's only the 10th 3HR game in Major League Baseball postseason history. Jose Altuve had never hit three home runs in a game in his career before. He hit five home runs in 152 games in 2013. Pay him. Pay that man his money.
*Altuve, ever the gentleman:
I love the way that the team went out there and played today. We put a lot of good at-bats together, and when Marwin doubled, it was real big. But I think one of the keys was when Alex homered. I think he set the tone.
*Altuve:
I couldn't believe any of my homers. I hit one and I was like, "Wow." And the second one is like, "Wow, what's going on here?" (The third?) I don't know. I've got to wake up.
*Here's Cut4 ranking Altuve's 3HR game.
*Hitting coach Alonso Powell, who spent time in Japan with Ichiro, said of Altuve:
I know Ichiro well, and I never thought I'd say that I would see a better hitter than Ichiro. But three months into the season last year, I made that concession.
*Bregman:
It's going to be a different guy for us every game, like it has been all year...We were ready to compete. We've been waiting for this day for a long time.
*Josh Reddick, playing for the first time in 11 games, reached base three times:
My legs feel really heavy right now, but I'll come in early tomorrow, get some treatment, take care of it and get things ready to roll for tomorrow.
*The bullpen of Devenski, Harris, Liriano, and Musgrove threw 3IP, 2H/0ER, 3K:0BB. Both hits belonged to Will Harris.
*Marwin, on Keuchel's G2 start:
We're expecting something good. Everybody is, obviously the fans, too. He's one of the best pitchers in the league...He's been dominating all year, so I hope he has a good game tomorrow and we have the confidence that he's going to have.
*Collin McHugh was left off the ALDS roster in favor of Lance McCullers. McHugh:
My mindset has always been it's a privilege to be here. It's a privilege to play Major League Baseball, especially on a team that has a chance to win the World Series...Just because I'm not on the roster doesn't take away from what I've been able to add to this team throughout the season.
*Adrenaline is playing a big part of why Hinch hasn't named a G3 starter.
*Eduardo Nunez, he of the sketchy knee, didn't make it to 1st base in the 1st inning before said knee tweaked on him. Unfortunately, daggum Chris Young will replace him. Like, the Bellaire grad Chris Young, who has played in 66 games against the Astros to the tune of .318/.378/.577. Young has 20+ games against 28 of the 30 MLB teams and his .956 OPS against Houston ranks 2nd. I know he's hitting .235/.322/.387, but that dude scares me to death.
*Jim Crane might win a humanitarian award for what he's done for Houston and Puerto Rico.
*Alex Jacobs, a scout, left for Arizona and Jon Heyman is predictably upset. Half of his Astros notes (or, one out of two) are about the Astros "losing people."
*Not even remotely Astros-related, but the LA Times' Andy McCullough has a great story about Clayton Kershaw and 2016 NLDS G5.
*Justin Verlander did Justin Verlander things: throwing 6IP, 6H/2ER, 3K:2BB. His 3K in a start were the fewest since he failed to record a strikeout of a single Cleveland Indian on July 2. He had struck out 4+ in 31 of his 34 starts in 2017. It's his 10th straight start of two or fewer walks. Verlander:
Today was just incredible. It's great to be a part of a town that has embraced us this much...It was just incredible. From the moment I walked out on the field, it seemed like it was electric. To the point where I was like, 'let's focus on what you gotta do.' It's a great feeling.
*Bregman, on Verlander:
Just his presence, him being in here, it's meant everything. He's special, man.
*Chris Sale's line: 5IP, 9H/7ER, 6K:1BB, 3 HR allowed. Sale had not allowed nine hits in a start since June 10. He has now allowed 7HR in his last 10IP. Chris Sale is what it looks like when you are on a regimen of kale smoothies and meth.
*Jose Altuve hit three - THREE - home runs today. Let's put this in context:
Altuve's postseason home runs today: 3
Jeff Bagwell's postseason HR, career: 2
Craig Biggio's postseason HR, career: 2
It's only the 10th 3HR game in Major League Baseball postseason history. Jose Altuve had never hit three home runs in a game in his career before. He hit five home runs in 152 games in 2013. Pay him. Pay that man his money.
*Altuve, ever the gentleman:
I love the way that the team went out there and played today. We put a lot of good at-bats together, and when Marwin doubled, it was real big. But I think one of the keys was when Alex homered. I think he set the tone.
*Altuve:
I couldn't believe any of my homers. I hit one and I was like, "Wow." And the second one is like, "Wow, what's going on here?" (The third?) I don't know. I've got to wake up.
*Here's Cut4 ranking Altuve's 3HR game.
Great photo by @coomerchron of Rich Dauer’s reaction to Jose Altuve’s third home run in Game 1 of Astros-Red Sox pic.twitter.com/Xy09ureqZs— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) October 6, 2017
*Hitting coach Alonso Powell, who spent time in Japan with Ichiro, said of Altuve:
I know Ichiro well, and I never thought I'd say that I would see a better hitter than Ichiro. But three months into the season last year, I made that concession.
*Bregman:
It's going to be a different guy for us every game, like it has been all year...We were ready to compete. We've been waiting for this day for a long time.
*Josh Reddick, playing for the first time in 11 games, reached base three times:
My legs feel really heavy right now, but I'll come in early tomorrow, get some treatment, take care of it and get things ready to roll for tomorrow.
*The bullpen of Devenski, Harris, Liriano, and Musgrove threw 3IP, 2H/0ER, 3K:0BB. Both hits belonged to Will Harris.
*Marwin, on Keuchel's G2 start:
We're expecting something good. Everybody is, obviously the fans, too. He's one of the best pitchers in the league...He's been dominating all year, so I hope he has a good game tomorrow and we have the confidence that he's going to have.
*Collin McHugh was left off the ALDS roster in favor of Lance McCullers. McHugh:
My mindset has always been it's a privilege to be here. It's a privilege to play Major League Baseball, especially on a team that has a chance to win the World Series...Just because I'm not on the roster doesn't take away from what I've been able to add to this team throughout the season.
*Adrenaline is playing a big part of why Hinch hasn't named a G3 starter.
*Eduardo Nunez, he of the sketchy knee, didn't make it to 1st base in the 1st inning before said knee tweaked on him. Unfortunately, daggum Chris Young will replace him. Like, the Bellaire grad Chris Young, who has played in 66 games against the Astros to the tune of .318/.378/.577. Young has 20+ games against 28 of the 30 MLB teams and his .956 OPS against Houston ranks 2nd. I know he's hitting .235/.322/.387, but that dude scares me to death.
*Jim Crane might win a humanitarian award for what he's done for Houston and Puerto Rico.
*Alex Jacobs, a scout, left for Arizona and Jon Heyman is predictably upset. Half of his Astros notes (or, one out of two) are about the Astros "losing people."
*Not even remotely Astros-related, but the LA Times' Andy McCullough has a great story about Clayton Kershaw and 2016 NLDS G5.
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Thursday Morning Hot Links
It is here. As I type, we're less than nine hours away from first pitch in ALDS G1. I've already called in sick for tomorrow (can't today) but - how's this for irony? - I'm actually sick. Playoff Fever, baby, catch it! I don't know about you, but I'm an absolutely bundle of nerves. Within seconds I go from dreaming about going to the parade in downtown Houston to thinking about how I'm going to write the postmortem after the Astros get swept by Boston. This is what we wanted, I guess. So let's make some jokes and do some reading.
*Flick Nickem has your ALDS Bingo Cards ready for you to download.
*Five key Statcast facts to note during the ALDS.
*ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has a great piece on how the Astros' lineup is built to roll through October, and how the organization's philosophy has changed over the last four years.
*Verlander is honored to start G1, and complimentary of the rest of the rotation:
I've been lucky to be part of some pretty great pitching staffs where anybody can go No. 1 the first game and you don't feel like you're team's any different than if the other guy goes No. 1...It's a great situation to be on because...the weight of the world doesn't fall on your shoulders to have to win that game.
*Verlander said yesterday that there's a special buzz in the clubhouse.
*Josh Reddick is ready to go.
*Carlos Correa learned a few lessons from 2015 ALDS G4, and is ready for a deeper run. Hinch, on Correa:
He's so driven to be great, and most of the great ones are. I mean, it's how they're built and how they go about it. But I love how he takes it personal when people challenge him about playing shortstop, and I love how personal he takes it in being in the middle of the order and wanting to be the most productive hitter on the team.
*This is just great. ALDS G3 at Fenway will start at 1:38pm Central. My kingdom for a playoff night game. What a joke.
*The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant and Gerry Fraley both picked Red Sox in five.
*Baseball saved Chris Devenski from gang life.
*The San Diego Union-Tribune is unsurprised by hometown boy Joe Musgrove's success.
*An oral history of Carlos Beltran's 2004 postseason.
*Flick Nickem has your ALDS Bingo Cards ready for you to download.
*Five key Statcast facts to note during the ALDS.
*ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has a great piece on how the Astros' lineup is built to roll through October, and how the organization's philosophy has changed over the last four years.
*Verlander is honored to start G1, and complimentary of the rest of the rotation:
I've been lucky to be part of some pretty great pitching staffs where anybody can go No. 1 the first game and you don't feel like you're team's any different than if the other guy goes No. 1...It's a great situation to be on because...the weight of the world doesn't fall on your shoulders to have to win that game.
*Verlander said yesterday that there's a special buzz in the clubhouse.
*Josh Reddick is ready to go.
*Carlos Correa learned a few lessons from 2015 ALDS G4, and is ready for a deeper run. Hinch, on Correa:
He's so driven to be great, and most of the great ones are. I mean, it's how they're built and how they go about it. But I love how he takes it personal when people challenge him about playing shortstop, and I love how personal he takes it in being in the middle of the order and wanting to be the most productive hitter on the team.
*This is just great. ALDS G3 at Fenway will start at 1:38pm Central. My kingdom for a playoff night game. What a joke.
*The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant and Gerry Fraley both picked Red Sox in five.
*Baseball saved Chris Devenski from gang life.
*The San Diego Union-Tribune is unsurprised by hometown boy Joe Musgrove's success.
*An oral history of Carlos Beltran's 2004 postseason.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Astros Bingo - ALDS Edition
Do you think you can watch our ALDS series and breathe at the same time? If you can't, try relieving some of that stress while playing one of our favorite Astros-related online games, Astros Bingo, while you watch! (Well, maybe not FAVORITE, but its likely in the top half) Adjustments have been made since the last time we played back in April, such as a sleeker design and more unique spaces per sheet. Remember, all you have to do is to take the first letter of your twitter handle and find the card that has been made for you. If you don't have a Twitter, you can just pick a card to play with. Some spaces are shared by all cards, some are card specific, much like real bingo. And remember, this bingo card is used through the SERIES; it does not reset for every individual game. So what are you waiting for? Save your card and get ready to play!
- Flick
- Flick
Wednesday Morning Hot Links
You know The Suits were upset when Minnesota took a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Then, as they watched the Yankees rattle off eight of the last nine runs, they got so excited they had to recharge the batteries of their sex robots and holler their secrets and fears into a pillow. Network Executives beat Schadenfreude 1-0. Yankees at Indians will start tomorrow evening. It's the Twins' 13th straight postseason loss.
*In a completely not-shocking move, Justin Verlander will start G1. Hinch:
Verlander has pitched extraordinarily well since he got here. The five starts we've seen have been exceptional. Dallas has pitched very well recently as well and obviously has a long history here....we decided to go 1 Verlander, 2 Keuchel, which leaves open the option at the back end to do whatever we went if it ends of being a Game 5.
*FiveThirtyEight simulated each game 10,000 times and factored in travel, rest, and pitching. The Astros won G1 58% of the time, and G2 (Keuchel vs. Pomeranz) 60% of those simulations.
*Hinch hasn't committed to naming a G3 or G4 starter but is still open to using McCullers in relief.
*A couple of notes regarding the 25-Man Roster, which has to be set by tomorrow morning:
-Colin Moran, J.D. Davis, and Reymin Guduan will not be a part of this round of the playoffs.
-Tony Kemp, Max Stassi, and Francis Martes were sent to West Palm Beach in case they're needed later.
This likely means that Juan Centeno and Tyler White will make the 25-Man ALDS roster. Centeno was chosen over Stassi mainly thanks to his arm.
*Josh Reddick is feeling better and is a likely option for G2, since he will probably be held out of G1.
*If you're a Wall Street Journal subscriber, you can read Jared Diamond on the Astros' Great Baseball Experiment.
*Will Leitch has your Astros' playoff dossier.
*Presumably because the Red Sox are terrified of the color Orange, the Astros are asking fans to Orange-out Minute Maid Park.
*Brian T. Smith writes that the Astros have the ability to boost an entire city.
*Carlos Correa is super-impressed with what Jim Crane and the Astros have done to help Puerto Rico.
*Marwin's dedication to the game is paying off.
*The New York Post's Mike Vaccaro says the Mets should hire Alex Cora to be their next manager.
From Boston
*A.J. Hinch knows about Boston's pitching. Hinch:
When you're talking about a potential game where you've got to get to Sale, or you've got to get to Kimbrel, with Price mixed in. That combination, in a short series, is very threatening. We'll grind out our at-bats, and I like our guys, and we'll be able to (complete). But that's the combination that makes it tough.
*The Boston Herald's Michael Silverman probably spent a few minutes on FanGraphs and determined that the Red Sox are elite defensively and the Astros are "okay with the gloves."
*The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, on how the Astros and Red Sox match up.
*Alex Speier says the Red Sox' pitching staff turned in one of the more dominant pitching seasons in history.
Elsewhere
*Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto held his post-mortem press conference, and it was bleak.
We have a long way to go to bridge the gap between where we are today and where the Houston Astros are...I do believe that we're making progress. I don't believe that we're nipping at the heels of the Astros. That's going to take some time. And frankly, a little bit of luck.
*The Rays and former Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey will part ways after eleven years.
*Definitely read this Paris Review piece on the legend of Babe Ruth's 1932 called shot.
*In a completely not-shocking move, Justin Verlander will start G1. Hinch:
Verlander has pitched extraordinarily well since he got here. The five starts we've seen have been exceptional. Dallas has pitched very well recently as well and obviously has a long history here....we decided to go 1 Verlander, 2 Keuchel, which leaves open the option at the back end to do whatever we went if it ends of being a Game 5.
*FiveThirtyEight simulated each game 10,000 times and factored in travel, rest, and pitching. The Astros won G1 58% of the time, and G2 (Keuchel vs. Pomeranz) 60% of those simulations.
*Hinch hasn't committed to naming a G3 or G4 starter but is still open to using McCullers in relief.
*A couple of notes regarding the 25-Man Roster, which has to be set by tomorrow morning:
-Colin Moran, J.D. Davis, and Reymin Guduan will not be a part of this round of the playoffs.
-Tony Kemp, Max Stassi, and Francis Martes were sent to West Palm Beach in case they're needed later.
This likely means that Juan Centeno and Tyler White will make the 25-Man ALDS roster. Centeno was chosen over Stassi mainly thanks to his arm.
*Josh Reddick is feeling better and is a likely option for G2, since he will probably be held out of G1.
*If you're a Wall Street Journal subscriber, you can read Jared Diamond on the Astros' Great Baseball Experiment.
*Will Leitch has your Astros' playoff dossier.
*Presumably because the Red Sox are terrified of the color Orange, the Astros are asking fans to Orange-out Minute Maid Park.
*Brian T. Smith writes that the Astros have the ability to boost an entire city.
*Carlos Correa is super-impressed with what Jim Crane and the Astros have done to help Puerto Rico.
*Marwin's dedication to the game is paying off.
*The New York Post's Mike Vaccaro says the Mets should hire Alex Cora to be their next manager.
From Boston
*A.J. Hinch knows about Boston's pitching. Hinch:
When you're talking about a potential game where you've got to get to Sale, or you've got to get to Kimbrel, with Price mixed in. That combination, in a short series, is very threatening. We'll grind out our at-bats, and I like our guys, and we'll be able to (complete). But that's the combination that makes it tough.
*The Boston Herald's Michael Silverman probably spent a few minutes on FanGraphs and determined that the Red Sox are elite defensively and the Astros are "okay with the gloves."
*The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, on how the Astros and Red Sox match up.
*Alex Speier says the Red Sox' pitching staff turned in one of the more dominant pitching seasons in history.
Elsewhere
*Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto held his post-mortem press conference, and it was bleak.
We have a long way to go to bridge the gap between where we are today and where the Houston Astros are...I do believe that we're making progress. I don't believe that we're nipping at the heels of the Astros. That's going to take some time. And frankly, a little bit of luck.
*The Rays and former Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey will part ways after eleven years.
*Definitely read this Paris Review piece on the legend of Babe Ruth's 1932 called shot.
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Tuesday Morning Hot Links
*Two more evenings without Astros baseball, well, five more nights since those idiots at Mayjerr Leeg Baysbawl put both ALDS G1 and G2 in the afternoon. At least we have the chance to watch the Twins beat the Yankees tonight and ruin every idiot network executive's sad, sobbing wet dream of a Yankees/Red Sox ALCS.
*Sports Illustrated: The case for the Houston Astros to win the World Series.
*Oh here come Teh Pundits!
-Whereas five of the six baseball writers polled by USA Today picked the Astros to beat the Red Sox (I see you, Ted Berg), not a single solitary one thought the Astros would get past the Indians.
-Same thing for the Washington Post.
-18 of ESPN's 29 responses had the Indians beating the Astros in the ALCS.
*Bovada lists the Astros as +450 to win the World Series, +225 to win the AL Pennant.
*Justin Verlander is, wait for it, ready for the postseason, having tweaked the mechanics in his arm.
*Oh good. Angel Hernandez will be a part of the ALDS umpiring crew.
*How the Astros built their postseason roster.
*Don't get MLB Network? Don't worry, they're going to offer a free preview until October 11.
*Will Dallas Keuchel win another Gold Glove?
*Josh Reddick and the Astros: a match made in baseball heaven.
*Sporting News writer says the Astros are the 2nd-most likable team in the postseason...behind Cleveland.
*John Perrotto gives Altuve the AL MVP nod.
*The Braves are an absolute dumpster fire right now.
*Sports Illustrated: The case for the Houston Astros to win the World Series.
*Oh here come Teh Pundits!
-Whereas five of the six baseball writers polled by USA Today picked the Astros to beat the Red Sox (I see you, Ted Berg), not a single solitary one thought the Astros would get past the Indians.
-Same thing for the Washington Post.
-18 of ESPN's 29 responses had the Indians beating the Astros in the ALCS.
*Bovada lists the Astros as +450 to win the World Series, +225 to win the AL Pennant.
*Justin Verlander is, wait for it, ready for the postseason, having tweaked the mechanics in his arm.
*Oh good. Angel Hernandez will be a part of the ALDS umpiring crew.
*How the Astros built their postseason roster.
*Don't get MLB Network? Don't worry, they're going to offer a free preview until October 11.
*Will Dallas Keuchel win another Gold Glove?
*Josh Reddick and the Astros: a match made in baseball heaven.
*Sporting News writer says the Astros are the 2nd-most likable team in the postseason...behind Cleveland.
*John Perrotto gives Altuve the AL MVP nod.
*The Braves are an absolute dumpster fire right now.
Monday, October 2, 2017
Monday Morning Hot Links: Just Win Eleven
The Astros' regular season ended the way it began: with a win. The Astros finished the regular season with a 101-61, the 2nd-highest win total in franchise history. Collin McHugh threw a quality start and the Astros got a 4-run 7th inning to ride into the postseason against...oh, yes, the Red Sox. Game 1 is Thursday.
*ALDS odds:
-FanGraphs: 55.4%
-FiveThirtyEight: 58%
It's interesting that FiveThirtyEight lists Keuchel as the G1 starter for Houston, and still gives the Astros a 53-47 edge in that game. G2, which lists Verlander vs Pomeranz, gives the Astros a 64-36 nod.
*Hinch:
It was an incredible regular season run for us. Obviously, we switch gears to the postseason now, but there will be a reflection back on a spectacular regular season. Even with the lull we had in August, to come out of it with 101 wins, a division championship for the city of Houston and our fanbase, it was a great run in the regular season.
*Jose Altuve was 0x2 but won the batting title for the 3rd time and became the first player in baseball history to lead the league in hits for four straight years. Altuve:
This is the first time I've won a batting title and the team's going to the playoffs (Ed. Note: true. In 2015 Altuve led the AL with 200 hits but Miguel Cabrera and Xander Bogaerts finished ahead of him in the batting title race). I think every single player in the big leagues, after they win a World Series, would like to win an MVP. That would make me really proud. But to me we're still in the middle of the season and haven't done what we want to do.
Altuve's 8.4 bWAR is the highest by an Astro since Biggio's 1997 9.4 bWAR season, and is the 7th 8+ bWAR season in franchise history:
1. Biggio (1997): 9.4
2. Altuve (2017): 8.4
2. Dierker (1969): 8.4
4. Clemens (2005): 8.2
4. Bagwell (1994): 8.2
4. Scott (1986): 8.2
7. Cedeno (1972): 8.0
*Collin McHugh threw 6IP, 5H/3ER, 8K:1BB to earn his 5th win of the season. Since 2014, McHugh is 16-0 in September and October. McHugh:
Obviously, we've got a glut of great pitchers to choose from. I want to pitch. I'm up for pitching. However innings get doled out, I want some.
*Yuli Gurriel was 2x3 with a sac fly, meaning that he finished the regular season 158x529 for a .2986 batting average. One more hit, out of 529 ABs, would have given him a .300 average for the season.
*The Astros finished the season with 896 runs, 2nd-highest in franchise history. This team led the AL in runs, doubles, AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS. They were 2nd in MLB in home runs (238, three behind the Yankees) and had the fewest strikeouts (as an offense) in MLB. Their 1087 strikeouts is 66 fewer than the Indians, who finished second.
*Bringing out a colossal FU to pretty much all Astros fans, MLB has set the times for Games 1 & 2, and you're going to need to take some time off from work:
-Game 1 will start on FS1 or MLBN at 3:08pm Central on Thursday.
-Game 2 will start on FS1 or MLBN at 1:05pm Central on Friday.
No game times have been announced past Game 2.
So let's all join the chorus of people hoping this backfires on MLB, who desperately want an Indians-Yankees evening slot. Tomorrow we are all Twins fans. MLB sucks and I hope they get chigger bites on their buttholes.
*I broke down the six starts in which Justin Verlander squared off against Chris Sale.
*Marwin is a "key cog" in the Astros machine as things shift to the ALDS. Hinch notes that Marwin will mostly play LF, but could move to the infield in late-inning situations.
*From yesterday, FanGraphs' David Laurilia looks at how Charlie Morton is different and better.
*McTaggart has three reasons why the Astros could win the World Series.
*Hinch told the Boston Herald that, even though these two teams just finished a four-game series, the ALDS will be a very different experience:
I think (with) the emotions and intensity that will run high next week, there will be some memory based on this series, and familiarity, and guys that have seen certain pitches or some things that we've done, but it will feel like a reset because of the days off.
*The Astros are hopeful Josh Reddick will be ready to go on Thursday. ESPN's Sam Miller has a good analysis of Reddick's sense of humor here.
*Needing to clear a 40-Man roster spot for the returning-from-80-game-suspension-for-PEDs David Paulino, the Astros found a reason to put him on the 60-Day DL instead, and he had surgery to remove bone spurs on Friday.
*The Astros will pick 28th in the June 2018 draft.
*How a Pittsburgh financial advisor brought down college basketball.
*ALDS odds:
-FanGraphs: 55.4%
-FiveThirtyEight: 58%
It's interesting that FiveThirtyEight lists Keuchel as the G1 starter for Houston, and still gives the Astros a 53-47 edge in that game. G2, which lists Verlander vs Pomeranz, gives the Astros a 64-36 nod.
*Hinch:
It was an incredible regular season run for us. Obviously, we switch gears to the postseason now, but there will be a reflection back on a spectacular regular season. Even with the lull we had in August, to come out of it with 101 wins, a division championship for the city of Houston and our fanbase, it was a great run in the regular season.
*Jose Altuve was 0x2 but won the batting title for the 3rd time and became the first player in baseball history to lead the league in hits for four straight years. Altuve:
This is the first time I've won a batting title and the team's going to the playoffs (Ed. Note: true. In 2015 Altuve led the AL with 200 hits but Miguel Cabrera and Xander Bogaerts finished ahead of him in the batting title race). I think every single player in the big leagues, after they win a World Series, would like to win an MVP. That would make me really proud. But to me we're still in the middle of the season and haven't done what we want to do.
Altuve's 8.4 bWAR is the highest by an Astro since Biggio's 1997 9.4 bWAR season, and is the 7th 8+ bWAR season in franchise history:
1. Biggio (1997): 9.4
2. Altuve (2017): 8.4
2. Dierker (1969): 8.4
4. Clemens (2005): 8.2
4. Bagwell (1994): 8.2
4. Scott (1986): 8.2
7. Cedeno (1972): 8.0
*Collin McHugh threw 6IP, 5H/3ER, 8K:1BB to earn his 5th win of the season. Since 2014, McHugh is 16-0 in September and October. McHugh:
Obviously, we've got a glut of great pitchers to choose from. I want to pitch. I'm up for pitching. However innings get doled out, I want some.
*Yuli Gurriel was 2x3 with a sac fly, meaning that he finished the regular season 158x529 for a .2986 batting average. One more hit, out of 529 ABs, would have given him a .300 average for the season.
*The Astros finished the season with 896 runs, 2nd-highest in franchise history. This team led the AL in runs, doubles, AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS. They were 2nd in MLB in home runs (238, three behind the Yankees) and had the fewest strikeouts (as an offense) in MLB. Their 1087 strikeouts is 66 fewer than the Indians, who finished second.
*Bringing out a colossal FU to pretty much all Astros fans, MLB has set the times for Games 1 & 2, and you're going to need to take some time off from work:
-Game 1 will start on FS1 or MLBN at 3:08pm Central on Thursday.
-Game 2 will start on FS1 or MLBN at 1:05pm Central on Friday.
No game times have been announced past Game 2.
So let's all join the chorus of people hoping this backfires on MLB, who desperately want an Indians-Yankees evening slot. Tomorrow we are all Twins fans. MLB sucks and I hope they get chigger bites on their buttholes.
*I broke down the six starts in which Justin Verlander squared off against Chris Sale.
*Marwin is a "key cog" in the Astros machine as things shift to the ALDS. Hinch notes that Marwin will mostly play LF, but could move to the infield in late-inning situations.
*From yesterday, FanGraphs' David Laurilia looks at how Charlie Morton is different and better.
*McTaggart has three reasons why the Astros could win the World Series.
*Hinch told the Boston Herald that, even though these two teams just finished a four-game series, the ALDS will be a very different experience:
I think (with) the emotions and intensity that will run high next week, there will be some memory based on this series, and familiarity, and guys that have seen certain pitches or some things that we've done, but it will feel like a reset because of the days off.
*The Astros are hopeful Josh Reddick will be ready to go on Thursday. ESPN's Sam Miller has a good analysis of Reddick's sense of humor here.
*Needing to clear a 40-Man roster spot for the returning-from-80-game-suspension-for-PEDs David Paulino, the Astros found a reason to put him on the 60-Day DL instead, and he had surgery to remove bone spurs on Friday.
*The Astros will pick 28th in the June 2018 draft.
*How a Pittsburgh financial advisor brought down college basketball.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Justin Verlander vs Chris Sale: A History
The case for acquiring Justin Verlander basically came down to two key points:
a) His track record speaks for itself.
b) Going to a team with a better-than-non-existent chance to win a World Series would amp him up and he would recapture some form of magic that 34-year old pitchers rarely manage to recapture.
Turns out that, so far, both of those points have proven true. He's out-Johnsoning Randy Johnson. Though, to be fair, (and, like Randy Johnson) the Astros didn't acquire Justin Verlander for the regular season.
I don't know how you quantify the fabled Big Game pitcher. Brandon Backe, for example. Roy Oswalt. Roger Clemens (both in Houston and elsewhere). Clayton Kershaw - perhaps the greatest pitcher of our generation - has a 2.36 ERA in the regular season and a 4.55 ERA in the postseason (though his 2015 postseason, 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA) - is maybe not a Big Game pitcher? That just sounds ridiculous, though.
There are numerous sub-plots to what's going on when two starting pitchers face each other. How's the other team's offense? How's your team's offense? What has happened in the games surrounding these starts? So, if you'll allow a fairly simplistic view of this exercise, let's take a look at what happened in the six starts since 2012 that featured Justin Verlander vs. Chris Sale, Boston's likely Game 1 (and, maybe, Game 4/5 starter).
*Note - we'll do this for Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber, should the opportunity present itself.
In six starts, Justin Verlander threw 42IP, 30H/9ER, 44K:9BB when facing the White Sox/Red Sox when Chris Sale started for the other side. This is a 1.93 ERA/0.89 WHIP, with a 4.89 K:BB ratio.
On the other side, Chris Sale threw 42.2IP, 38H/14ER, 48K:12BB when facing the Tigers. This is a 2.95 ERA/1.17 WHIP, and an even 4.00 K:BB ratio.
Game 1
September 2, 2012. 4-2 Detroit win. Verlander, coming off his 2011 Cy Young/AL MVP season, threw 8IP, 4H/1ER, 11K:2BB with the lone run coming on a leadoff Alejandro De Aza home run in the 1st inning. After that home run, Verlander would retire 24 of the next 29 batters, two of whom would reach scoring position. Detroit would go on to win the AL Central with an 88-74 record. He would finish 2nd in AL Cy Young voting to David Price, mainly because Price had 20 wins with Tampa Bay. Price got 14 first-place votes, Verlander got 13.
Sale, whose White Sox would go 85-77 and miss the playoffs, threw 6IP, 6H/4ER, 7K:4BB, and allow two home runs - one to Brennan Boesch, and a three-run shot to Delmon Young in the 6th. 2012 was Sale's 3rd year in the League but his first exclusively out of the rotation, having appeared in 79 games in relief in 2010-2011. Sale would go on to finish the year 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA/1.14 WHIP, and finish 6th in AL Cy Young voting.
Verlander 1
Sale 0
Game 2
September 24, 2014. 2014 was the first season since 2008 that Verlander's ERA (4.54, with a 1.40 WHIP) was above 3.45 for the season and marked the end of five straight All-Star appearances. The 2014 Tigers went 92-70 and won the AL Central again, finishing 17 games ahead of Sale and the White Sox. This game was both of their final starts of the regular season. Verlander would throw 8IP for the first time in nine starts, allowing 7H/1ER, 6K:0BB, the 4th time all season that he would allow 0 or 1 earned runs.
Sale threw 6IP, 4H/1ER, 10K:3BB, wrapping up a season in which he went 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA/0.97 WHIP. His 173 ERA+ led the AL and he was two seasons deep into what will likely be a 6-year streak of finishing in the Top 5 in AL Cy Young voting. That September 24 game - a 6-1 Tigers win after Javy Guerra and former Astros great Matt Lindstrom combined to allow 5ER in 1.2IP - was Sale's 7th Quality Start in his previous eight outings.
Verlander 1
Sale 1
Game 3
August 31, 2016. Detroit and Chicago would both miss the playoffs - the Tigers by three games and the White Sox by eleven games. The Tigers would win this game on a walk-off in the bottom of the 9th, but it was a pitcher's duel from the beginning. Verlander threw 7IP, 3H/2ER, 9K:0BB. Both runs came on solo home runs by Jose Abreu (his 19th) and Alex Avila (his 5th). Both came with two outs in the inning. Verlander would finish 2nd in AL Cy Young voting, behind Rick Porcello, though Verlander got 14 1st-place votes to Porcello's eight, and led to this legendary Kate Upton tweet.
Sale, however, threw 8IP, 8H/2ER, 6K:4BB and faced nine more batters (33) than Verlander (24) in this game. Overall, Sale's 2016 season saw him lead the league with six complete games and finish 5th in AL Cy Young voting.
Verlander 2
Sale 1
Game 4
The next time through the rotation, September 5, saw a rematch of Verlander-Sale. Detroit would in 5-3 in 11 innings, but saw another classic match-up between two of the AL's best pitchers. Verlander would throw 7IP, 8H/2ER, 11K:1BB with a solo home run allowed. Sale threw 8IP, 6H/2ER, 8K:0BB with two solo home runs allowed.
Verlander 2
Sale 2
Game 5
Which brings us to 2017. Verlander's issues early on in 2017 are well-documented. But, like most pitchers, a few key bad outings can really screw up the dashboard stats: 9ER against Cleveland on April 15. Six earned runs at Houston on May 25. Seven more earned runs against Cleveland (wait, this isn't as fun anymore). On July 3 Verlander woke up to a 5-6 record and a 4.96 ERA. Since, then, however, Verlander is 10-3 with a 1.92 ERA/0.86 WHIP, 127K:25BB and a .558 OPS-against. But these struggles happened after Verlander faced Sale and the Red Sox on April 10.
The Tigers won their 6th game of the season 2-1 over Boston. Verlander held the Red Sox to 3H/1R (0ER), 4K:2BB, throwing 67 of 112 pitches for strikes. Sale had himself a game, too, more indicative of his 2017 - it'll be a travesty if he doesn't win the AL Cy Young this year - 7.2IP, 5H/2ER, 10K:1BB, 70 of his 108 pitches for strikes.
Verlander 3
Sale 2
Game 6
Two months later, June 10, saw Boston win 11-3, but eight of those Boston runs came in the 7th-8th innings, after Verlander had left the game. Verlander threw 5IP, 5H/3ER, 3K:4BB, the 5th of six times this season he would walk 4+ batters in an outing. Chris Sale threw 7IP, 9H/3ER, 7K:0BB and hung around long enough to get the win. 82 of his 110 pitches were for strikes.
Verlander 3
Sale 3
So the six matchups are split pretty much down the middle. But Verlander can and will get up for Chris Sale starts. We'll talk about Sale vs the Astros later in the week, but this should be an exciting series, not that that's what any of us want. Verlander is perfectly capable of handling a game when Chris Sale is the other starting pitcher.
Sunday Morning Hot Links
Lance McCullers didn't exactly impress yesterday in Boston as the Astros fell 6-3. The loss clinched a couple of things: Boston's winning the AL East and Cleveland's wrapping up of the best record in the American League. Game 4 will be today in Boston before the ALDS starts on Thursday.
*Did you like what you saw from Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz? He's Boston's likely G2 starter. The Astros dropped to 21-24 against lefty starters.
*Hinch:
This is a good team across the way. We're a good team. We're both division champions. We'll obviously see a lot of each other over the next 10 days.
*McCullers threw 4.1IP, 6H/5ER, 6K:2BB in 83 pitches. Two of those runs came in when Tony Sipp allowed a Mitch Moreland double that scored Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts. McCullers told McTaggart (video link) that if he filled a David Price-type role in the playoffs, "let's do it."
McCullers, Innings 1-3: 1H/0ER, 4K:0BB
McCullers, Innings 4-5: 5H/5ER, 2K:2BB, wild pitch
*The bullpen of Sipp, Hoyt, Gregerson, and Feliz threw 3.2IP, 4H/1ER, 6K:2BB (one intentional walk).
Since returning from the DL Tony Sipp has made eight appearances, throwing 5IP, 7H/1ER, 5K:2BB.
*Carlos Correa was 2x3 with a walk. Five of his last eight games have been multi-hit games. Springer (BB) and Bregman each went 0x4 on the day.
*Brian McCann hit his 18th home run of the season, off of Craig Kimbrel. It was the first home run Kimbrel had allowed since August 28 and just the 6th home run he has allowed all season. Luke Gregerson, on the other hand, has allowed six home runs in the last three batters*.
*estimated
*George Springer's 1st Grade teacher came to Fenway yesterday, and brought him cookies.
*Dallas Keuchel will throw a simulated game today and Collin McHugh will start G162 in his place. Hinch, explaining why today might be a better day to hug your family and prep for Playoff Armageddon, maybe read a book for pleasure:
A couple of guys will get some days off, a couple of guys will play half games. A lot of the backup guys and extra guys from September will get a lot of playing time.
*Keuchel isn't worried about a nine-day layoff between starts.
*'Litos is ready for the playoffs:
*Some milestones at stake for the Astros going into the final game of the season:
-The next run Yuli Gurriel score will move him off 69 runs for the season, which no one wants or needs.
-Alex Bregman needs one more double to reach 40 for the season.
-Carlos Correa needs one more hit to reach 400 for his career.
-George Springer needs one more double to reach break his career-high of 29 doubles, and also to join the 30-double/30-homer club - which hasn't been done by an Astro since Carlos Lee (43 doubles, 32 home runs) in 2007.
-Jose Altuve needs one more home run to break his career-high of 24 home runs in a season. Hinch said he'd get "a couple" of plate appearances.
*Marly Rivera sat down with Jose Altuve and talked about how hard this season his been, the impact of data on his game, and the possibility of being the 2nd Venezuelan MVP in history.
*A.J. Hinch said that bench coach Alex Cora would make a fine manager.
*Brian T. Smith said what every right-thinking person already knows: Jose Altuve is a lock for AL MVP. More on this after the playoffs.
*Ken Rosenthal notes that Our Boy Marwin - who should be in the conversation as one of the best Rule 5 picks in baseball history - is lining himself up for a Ben Zobrist-type deal (4yrs/$56m).
*Cool piece on Alex Bregman's 2012 draft experience and how close he came to joining Boston's organization. Bregman:
I told them I wanted to be drafted in the first round or paid like a first-rounder.
*Check this video on Carlos Beltran's efforts to help Puerto Rico.
*Make a direct donation to Beltran's efforts to help Puerto Rico.
*Congratulations on a fine career, Matt Cain. Here are all 27 outs from Cain's perfect game against the Astros on June 13, 2012.
*Did you like what you saw from Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz? He's Boston's likely G2 starter. The Astros dropped to 21-24 against lefty starters.
*Hinch:
This is a good team across the way. We're a good team. We're both division champions. We'll obviously see a lot of each other over the next 10 days.
*McCullers threw 4.1IP, 6H/5ER, 6K:2BB in 83 pitches. Two of those runs came in when Tony Sipp allowed a Mitch Moreland double that scored Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts. McCullers told McTaggart (video link) that if he filled a David Price-type role in the playoffs, "let's do it."
McCullers, Innings 1-3: 1H/0ER, 4K:0BB
McCullers, Innings 4-5: 5H/5ER, 2K:2BB, wild pitch
*The bullpen of Sipp, Hoyt, Gregerson, and Feliz threw 3.2IP, 4H/1ER, 6K:2BB (one intentional walk).
Since returning from the DL Tony Sipp has made eight appearances, throwing 5IP, 7H/1ER, 5K:2BB.
*Carlos Correa was 2x3 with a walk. Five of his last eight games have been multi-hit games. Springer (BB) and Bregman each went 0x4 on the day.
*Brian McCann hit his 18th home run of the season, off of Craig Kimbrel. It was the first home run Kimbrel had allowed since August 28 and just the 6th home run he has allowed all season. Luke Gregerson, on the other hand, has allowed six home runs in the last three batters*.
*estimated
*George Springer's 1st Grade teacher came to Fenway yesterday, and brought him cookies.
*Dallas Keuchel will throw a simulated game today and Collin McHugh will start G162 in his place. Hinch, explaining why today might be a better day to hug your family and prep for Playoff Armageddon, maybe read a book for pleasure:
A couple of guys will get some days off, a couple of guys will play half games. A lot of the backup guys and extra guys from September will get a lot of playing time.
*Keuchel isn't worried about a nine-day layoff between starts.
*'Litos is ready for the playoffs:
Correa on facing Red Sox and returning to ALDS: "We're more prepared." pic.twitter.com/hwTZje3OBK— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 30, 2017
*Some milestones at stake for the Astros going into the final game of the season:
-The next run Yuli Gurriel score will move him off 69 runs for the season, which no one wants or needs.
-Alex Bregman needs one more double to reach 40 for the season.
-Carlos Correa needs one more hit to reach 400 for his career.
-George Springer needs one more double to reach break his career-high of 29 doubles, and also to join the 30-double/30-homer club - which hasn't been done by an Astro since Carlos Lee (43 doubles, 32 home runs) in 2007.
-Jose Altuve needs one more home run to break his career-high of 24 home runs in a season. Hinch said he'd get "a couple" of plate appearances.
*Marly Rivera sat down with Jose Altuve and talked about how hard this season his been, the impact of data on his game, and the possibility of being the 2nd Venezuelan MVP in history.
*A.J. Hinch said that bench coach Alex Cora would make a fine manager.
*Brian T. Smith said what every right-thinking person already knows: Jose Altuve is a lock for AL MVP. More on this after the playoffs.
*Ken Rosenthal notes that Our Boy Marwin - who should be in the conversation as one of the best Rule 5 picks in baseball history - is lining himself up for a Ben Zobrist-type deal (4yrs/$56m).
*Cool piece on Alex Bregman's 2012 draft experience and how close he came to joining Boston's organization. Bregman:
I told them I wanted to be drafted in the first round or paid like a first-rounder.
*Check this video on Carlos Beltran's efforts to help Puerto Rico.
Harrowing drone footage shows a neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in aftermath of Hurricane Maria. "Ghost town covered in sewage water" pic.twitter.com/SHKsJ3Byhq— ABC News (@ABC) September 30, 2017
*Make a direct donation to Beltran's efforts to help Puerto Rico.
*Congratulations on a fine career, Matt Cain. Here are all 27 outs from Cain's perfect game against the Astros on June 13, 2012.
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