Sunday, September 6, 2020

Sunday Morning Hot Links

What a stupid day. After putting Jose Altuve on the IL, the Astros lost two games in which they scored 15 runs and got 21 hits, dropping to 21-18 on the season, which includes a 5-12 record when they play in other empty stadiums, and 6-10 in 1-run games. Houston is 3.5 games back of Oakland. The Astros have lost 13 games in which they had the lead. Houston is tied for 11th in win% in MLB with the 9th-best run-differential (+24).

Game 1

After letting a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 3rd get away, the Astros scored three runs in the top of the 7th to take a 9-7 lead, and then the Angels scored three in the bottom of the 7th to walk it off. Everyone in the Astros' lineup got at least one hit, except for Abraham Toro (now hitting .141/.218/.282). It was 109 degrees at 1st Pitch, the highest 1st Pitch temperature recorded in Anaheim.

Kyle Tucker was 3x4 with a home run and 3RBI. He has a team-leading seven home runs. 

George Springer hit the 12th triple of his career, and his first since August 2, 2019.

Astros pitchers allowed 13 hits and three walks. Eight of the Angels' 13 hits were for extra-bases. 

Bullpen: 2.2IP, 6H/6ER, 2K:3BB

Game 2

The Astros had a 4-0 lead...and then blew it, allowing three runs in the top of the 7th without an answer in the bottom half (Houston was the "home team" even though it was played in Anaheim, due to the rescheduling of one of the Hurricane Laura games) in a 7-6 loss. 

George Springer was 2x4 with two home runs and 3RBI. He hit his 37th career leadoff home run, tying him for 8th all-time with Ichiro. It was the 13th 2HR game of his career, three of which have been against Anaheim. 

Josh Reddick had his 17th 3+ RBI game as an Astro, his first of 2020.

Bullpen: 3.1IP, 4H/5ER, 6K:1BB

*Chandler Rome: Lack of pitching moves at the deadline could prove to be costly. Dusty:

These guys have a lot of pride. They know how to win. They've probably never been with their backs against the wall like this. They had a lockdown bullpen for a number of years here. Every year is different.

Bullpen:

2020: .252/.359/.418, 4.49 ERA / 1.56 WHIP

2019: .226/.295/.399, 3.75 ERA / 1.20 WHIP

2018: .214/.276/.353, 3.03 ERA / 1.06 WHIP

2017: .234/.310/.409, 4.27 ERA / 1.28 WHIP

More Dusty:

We've got to just continue to fight. You've got to be a fighter. That's what it's all about. You got to fight through tough times. You can either hang your head and quit, or you can tighten your belt up and keep fighting.

*Jose Altuve was placed on the 10-Day IL with a right knee sprain, the same knee that cost him a number of games in 2018 and required surgery in the offseason. Jose Urquidy and Brad Peacock were activated and pitched on Saturday. Dusty:

He felt a little better [yesterday] but can we afford to play short for possibly another week? We're hoping that he's ready to come back a couple of days before, so he can get some swings in and some running in and feel 100%, not only physically but psychologically. That's the hard thing about any injury, and especially in an area where you had hurt it before.

Cionel Perez was optioned to the alternate training site, and Rogelio Armenteros was transferred to the 45-Day IL. 

*Justin Verlander, at Deshaun Watson's press conference:

I'm so happy. Being able to go to games and sit in the stadium and see you sign this extension, it's pretty special. Crazy how fast it comes. Thankful to call you a friend and watch you in Houston for a long time to come.

*The Cubs' Steven Sousa, Jr. was DFAd in between games of a doubleheader.

*ESPN: Why the minor-leagues as we know them will disappear on September 30.

*BBC: What happens when a player gets called up to the Scotland National Team?

*The Verge: These students figured out their tests were graded by AI, and the easy way to cheat.

*Mental Floss: 24 strange predictions for the 21st century.

*A Musical Selection: