The Astros are up 3-1 in the ALCS. They have won both games in Yankee Stadium. Zack Greinke was good to pretty good. The Astros got some big hits. Game 5 is tonight at 6:08pm Central.
*FanGraphs has the Astros at 88.3-11.7 to win the Series, though FanGraphs gives the Yankees at 51-49 edge for Game 5. FiveThirtyEight says it's 90-10 Astros, with a 51-49 edge to the Astros in Game 5.
*Teams that are up 3-1 in a Championship Series have gone on to win 73 of 86 series. Most recently, the Cubs did it in the 2016 World Series.
*The Astros were 3x14 w/RISP, the Yankees were 0x8. Series total:
Astros w/RISP: 5x32
Yankees w/RISP: 6x31
Also series total, wins:
Astros: 3
Yankees: 1
Aaron Boone:
We played poorly tonight, there's no other to explain it. And we need to flush this immediately.
*Altuve:
We're not thinking about the World Series yet, because we're playing against one of the best teams in the big leagues.
*Zack Greinke: 4.1IP, 3H/1ER, 5K:4BB. Robinson Chirinos took responsibility for a couple of those walks in the 1st inning.
*In 3.2IP thrown by relievers not named Josh James (Pressly, Harris, Smith, Osuna): 0H/0ER, 6K:2BB. Pressly:
It doesn't get any better than pitching in the Bronx in the postseason. This is what you dream of as a kid.
*Carlos Correa:
I think it's disrespectful that every time we score a lot of runs, people talk about tipping. Nobody was tipping today and we scored, what, eight runs? We're great hitters. We've been doing it for a whole season.
Correa is the youngest player to hit 10 postseason home runs, doing it quicker than Albert Pujols. His home run had a launch angle of 17 degrees. Our dude Daren Willman notes that only 0.8% of home runs were hit at 18 degrees or lower. Correa, on what he told Ryan Pressly before he took the mound:
This is your moment. I remember when we were in the training room both rehabbing at the same time. This is the moment we worked really hard for, for moments like this, for moments for you to shine and give us a chance to win the ballgame.
*Springer, who hit his 13th postseason home run, going ahead of Altuve by one:
To get out of the first inning with only one I think was absolutely huge for us, and then to come back and score off a really, really tough pitcher, a guy that doesn't give up runs at all in the playoffs. He's been unbelievable throughout his career.
*It's the sixth time that Springer and Correa have both homered in the same postseason game.
*Hinch, post-game:
When the game ends and we go into the next game, I love the fact that we have JV on our side. And he's going to set a tone tomorrow that hopefully leads us to the World Series.
*A win tonight means that the Astros would have three full days of rest before Game 1 of the World Series, Cole would start Game 1 and Verlander would start Game 2 on normal rest. Osuna:
It means a lot, especially because we would get a couple of days off. Gerrit Cole would be able to get ready for Game 1...We're going to work to get this done [tonight].
*Pour one out for CC Sabathia.
*Yankees fans, 84% of whom have a sexually-transmitted disease, taunted Zack Greinke about his mother, and his battles with anxiety and depression. Aaron Boone had to record a video for the Jumbotron asking Yankeefan to not throw their literal crap on the field.
*Luhnow said that allegations the Astros are cheating are "ludicrous."
*Tim Brown: Yankee Stadium in October is no match for these Astros.
*Bench coach Joe Espada apparently had a really good interview for the Cubs gig.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label CC Sabathia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CC Sabathia. Show all posts
Friday, October 18, 2019
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Tuesday Morning Hot Links
It wasn't as bad for Charles Morton as the line would indicate. The Yankees went all Royals on the Astros - balls finding holes, bloops and then random blasts, including a throw-the-controller-against-the-wall type of home run from Todd Frazier. The Astros have scored five runs in three games, yet lead the series 2-1.
*Morton threw 3.2IP, 6H/7ER, 3K:2BB, with two charged to him courtesy of Will Harris, who allowed a three-run homer to Aaron Judge. Harris shook Gattis off twice before uncorking a fastball, for some reason.
*Morton, on Frazier's ridiculous home run:
If you were to show me a video of that swing, show the pitch speed and the location, I would never have thought that. That was unbelievable.
*Collin McHugh threw 4IP, 0H/0ER, 3K:1BB, retiring 12 of the 13 batters he faced, and saving the back end of the bullpen from an extended outing. McHugh:
It was the job that needed to be done. We were down pretty big. It's my job to get outs. I was focused on getting one at a time, giving our guys a chance to chip away...We have some great one-inning, two-inning arms down there. So to be able to get a couple of innings in, save [the bullpen] for when the game is tight - that's what my job was.
*The Astros were 1x7 w/RISP and left eleven men on base. Teams that are down 2-1 in a best-of-seven are 40-94. But they're 5-5 since 2012. Make sure you body up ESPN for yet another "Houston, we have a..." headline. Springer-Reddick-Marwin are a combined 1x30. Springer:
The scoreboard doesn't always show how hard you hit the ball. I thought we hit some balls hard tonight that didn't fall. We're not going to change our approach just because we fly out to the track.
Reddick:
It's not the normal Astros offense; we're used to producing five-plus, but our whole lineup's not hitting. We're relying on Altuve and Correa a little too much in the first two games, and we've got to come together as a team, maybe talk it out and work on things like we were doing in the Boston series. We have to come back out and get things sorted out. Our lineup will be alright.
*Check out CC cussing out Reddick:
*Cameron Maybin tried to explain just what the hell happened when he watched a Greg Bird fly ball drop in front of him in the 4th inning for a ground rule double:
It's a long run. Once I got there I kind of froze. It's one of those things where you realize you're by yourself, and in my head, I was thinking about if I missed it's probably gonna be a triple. It's just a tough play.
*Lance McCullers will get the nod in this [squints] afternoon's (...?...) game. McCullers:
It's a big game for us. It's a big game for the team. The Yankees have a great home record and are a great team. We did the job putting [ourselves] in the situation getting up 2-0...It's a big situation to be able to pitch in, put us within a game of the World Series.
*Hinch admitted that starting Lance is a gamble:
He's a really good pitcher. He's got really electrifying stuff, some of the best in the big leagues...It starts with setting the tone with him. I don't have to remind you, he was an All-Star to start the year. He has some of the best stuff in the big leagues and we believe in him.
*The Yankees' G3 win dropped the Astros to 70% in FiveThirtyEight's simulations, who give the Yankees and Sonny Gray a 54-46 edge in today's game. FanGraphs has the Astros at 75.4% to win the pennant.
Gray vs current Astros:
McCullers vs current Yankees:
*Having already interviewed with Boston, Alex Cora will interview to be the Mets' next manager.
*FanGraphs' Marc Hulet wrote up the Astros' farm system.
*This Baseball America article on the "growing consensus" of expansion (Portland and Montreal) and dramatic realignment is all sorts of interesting. The proposal would put the Astros in a division with the Cubs, White Sox, Colorado, Kansas City, Arlington, and St. Louis. YOUR HATE CAN LIVE ON FOREVERRRRRRRRRRR.
*How a Northeastern progressive turned himself into a neo-Fascist.
*Morton threw 3.2IP, 6H/7ER, 3K:2BB, with two charged to him courtesy of Will Harris, who allowed a three-run homer to Aaron Judge. Harris shook Gattis off twice before uncorking a fastball, for some reason.
*Morton, on Frazier's ridiculous home run:
If you were to show me a video of that swing, show the pitch speed and the location, I would never have thought that. That was unbelievable.
*Collin McHugh threw 4IP, 0H/0ER, 3K:1BB, retiring 12 of the 13 batters he faced, and saving the back end of the bullpen from an extended outing. McHugh:
It was the job that needed to be done. We were down pretty big. It's my job to get outs. I was focused on getting one at a time, giving our guys a chance to chip away...We have some great one-inning, two-inning arms down there. So to be able to get a couple of innings in, save [the bullpen] for when the game is tight - that's what my job was.
*The Astros were 1x7 w/RISP and left eleven men on base. Teams that are down 2-1 in a best-of-seven are 40-94. But they're 5-5 since 2012. Make sure you body up ESPN for yet another "Houston, we have a..." headline. Springer-Reddick-Marwin are a combined 1x30. Springer:
The scoreboard doesn't always show how hard you hit the ball. I thought we hit some balls hard tonight that didn't fall. We're not going to change our approach just because we fly out to the track.
Reddick:
It's not the normal Astros offense; we're used to producing five-plus, but our whole lineup's not hitting. We're relying on Altuve and Correa a little too much in the first two games, and we've got to come together as a team, maybe talk it out and work on things like we were doing in the Boston series. We have to come back out and get things sorted out. Our lineup will be alright.
*Check out CC cussing out Reddick:
CC cursing out Reddick for throwing his helmet is the most BX thing ever #Yankees 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾 pic.twitter.com/DUaodavwFG— Jeaux Vaughn (@Joveezyy) October 17, 2017
*Cameron Maybin tried to explain just what the hell happened when he watched a Greg Bird fly ball drop in front of him in the 4th inning for a ground rule double:
It's a long run. Once I got there I kind of froze. It's one of those things where you realize you're by yourself, and in my head, I was thinking about if I missed it's probably gonna be a triple. It's just a tough play.
*Lance McCullers will get the nod in this [squints] afternoon's (...?...) game. McCullers:
It's a big game for us. It's a big game for the team. The Yankees have a great home record and are a great team. We did the job putting [ourselves] in the situation getting up 2-0...It's a big situation to be able to pitch in, put us within a game of the World Series.
*Hinch admitted that starting Lance is a gamble:
He's a really good pitcher. He's got really electrifying stuff, some of the best in the big leagues...It starts with setting the tone with him. I don't have to remind you, he was an All-Star to start the year. He has some of the best stuff in the big leagues and we believe in him.
*The Yankees' G3 win dropped the Astros to 70% in FiveThirtyEight's simulations, who give the Yankees and Sonny Gray a 54-46 edge in today's game. FanGraphs has the Astros at 75.4% to win the pennant.
Gray vs current Astros:
McCullers vs current Yankees:
*Having already interviewed with Boston, Alex Cora will interview to be the Mets' next manager.
*FanGraphs' Marc Hulet wrote up the Astros' farm system.
*This Baseball America article on the "growing consensus" of expansion (Portland and Montreal) and dramatic realignment is all sorts of interesting. The proposal would put the Astros in a division with the Cubs, White Sox, Colorado, Kansas City, Arlington, and St. Louis. YOUR HATE CAN LIVE ON FOREVERRRRRRRRRRR.
*How a Northeastern progressive turned himself into a neo-Fascist.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Friday Morning Hot Links
Six days until Pitchers and Catchers.
*Marwin's versatility is where his value lies.
*Keith Law released his Top 100 prospects list, and TCB has the list (I let my Insider subscription lapse). Bregman at 19, Francis Martes at 40, A.J. Reed at 44, and Kyle Tucker at 67.
*All four of the full-season minor-league managers will be at Major-League Spring Training, for unity and recognition.
The Astros are also holding a "micro camp" for 10 players on February 26. "Micro" is smaller than "mini," yes? The ten players: Pitchers Mike Hauschild, Tommy Shirley, Michael Freeman, Travis Ballew, Cy Sneed; Catchers Garrett Stubbs and Jamie Ritchie; Infielders Mott Hyde and Nick Tanielu; and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
*If you only pick one of these articles to read, make it this one, on 2015 40th Round pick Steve Naemark.
*FanGraphs measured their Depth Charts vs. FANS projections and decided that the Astros could be a scary team.
*USA Today's Ted Berg asks if Jon Singleton is ready for prime time.
*Joel Sherman notes how the Astros have shifted the way baseball values relievers.
*This Illinois columnist is predicting a Mets/Astros World Series.
*Lance McCullers will be at the PetSmart on Wertheimer at Dunvale on Saturday to help with pet adoptions.
*CC Sabathia talked about his decision to go to rehab right before the Wild Card game against the Astros.
*Bossier Parish Community College pitcher Sarah Hudek - believed to be the only woman playing college baseball - got her first win on Wednesday night.
*Marwin's versatility is where his value lies.
*Keith Law released his Top 100 prospects list, and TCB has the list (I let my Insider subscription lapse). Bregman at 19, Francis Martes at 40, A.J. Reed at 44, and Kyle Tucker at 67.
*All four of the full-season minor-league managers will be at Major-League Spring Training, for unity and recognition.
The Astros are also holding a "micro camp" for 10 players on February 26. "Micro" is smaller than "mini," yes? The ten players: Pitchers Mike Hauschild, Tommy Shirley, Michael Freeman, Travis Ballew, Cy Sneed; Catchers Garrett Stubbs and Jamie Ritchie; Infielders Mott Hyde and Nick Tanielu; and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
*If you only pick one of these articles to read, make it this one, on 2015 40th Round pick Steve Naemark.
*FanGraphs measured their Depth Charts vs. FANS projections and decided that the Astros could be a scary team.
*USA Today's Ted Berg asks if Jon Singleton is ready for prime time.
*Joel Sherman notes how the Astros have shifted the way baseball values relievers.
*This Illinois columnist is predicting a Mets/Astros World Series.
*Lance McCullers will be at the PetSmart on Wertheimer at Dunvale on Saturday to help with pet adoptions.
*CC Sabathia talked about his decision to go to rehab right before the Wild Card game against the Astros.
*Bossier Parish Community College pitcher Sarah Hudek - believed to be the only woman playing college baseball - got her first win on Wednesday night.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Sunday Morning Link Dump
Back from vacation and with two decent nights' sleep behind me, let's get back to some postings, eh?
At 43-34, the Astros have a 53.9% chance to win the division, according to FanGraphs, and a 66% chance of making the postseason. Baseball Prospectus puts the division chance at 46.7% with postseason chance at 61.2%.
*A.J. Hinch said he was "disappointed" at Oberholtzer throwing at A-Rod, which led to his ejection and, seemingly, his demotion to Triple-A after the game. Hinch talked to both A-Rod and manager Joe Girardi.
*Oberholtzer said he wasn't throwing at A-Rod, just that his command sucked all game. It didn't prevent CC Sabathia from storming the field and having to be restrained by Girardi.
*Michael Feliz may be coming up to replace Oberholtzer.
*Cole Hamels hasn't ruled out a trade to the Astros, but admitted that he didn't think they would be this good. Hamels:
I had to make a list back in October. I came up with a criteria based on a lot of things - winning and losing, family. It was only nine teams. Those teams were in the middle of the pack...(The Astros) just didn't make the nine-team list. When I made the list in October - who knew?
*Corpus' Conrad Gregor's defense from the beginning of the season to now is "like night and day."
*Scott Feldman is progressing in his rehab stint, throwing a workout session before yesterday's game.
*Colby Rasmus has a skin infection on his arm.
*As the season progresses, the Astros will try to skip starts or make some relief appearances in order to limit McCullers' and Velasquez's innings. And Scott Boras likes the Astros' plan. (Whew!)
*Chris Young vs. Houston, career: .336/.399/.615. Chris Young at Minute Maid Park, career: .407/.445/.769. Don't pitch to Chris Young.
At 43-34, the Astros have a 53.9% chance to win the division, according to FanGraphs, and a 66% chance of making the postseason. Baseball Prospectus puts the division chance at 46.7% with postseason chance at 61.2%.
*A.J. Hinch said he was "disappointed" at Oberholtzer throwing at A-Rod, which led to his ejection and, seemingly, his demotion to Triple-A after the game. Hinch talked to both A-Rod and manager Joe Girardi.
*Oberholtzer said he wasn't throwing at A-Rod, just that his command sucked all game. It didn't prevent CC Sabathia from storming the field and having to be restrained by Girardi.
*Michael Feliz may be coming up to replace Oberholtzer.
*Cole Hamels hasn't ruled out a trade to the Astros, but admitted that he didn't think they would be this good. Hamels:
I had to make a list back in October. I came up with a criteria based on a lot of things - winning and losing, family. It was only nine teams. Those teams were in the middle of the pack...(The Astros) just didn't make the nine-team list. When I made the list in October - who knew?
*Corpus' Conrad Gregor's defense from the beginning of the season to now is "like night and day."
*Scott Feldman is progressing in his rehab stint, throwing a workout session before yesterday's game.
*Colby Rasmus has a skin infection on his arm.
*As the season progresses, the Astros will try to skip starts or make some relief appearances in order to limit McCullers' and Velasquez's innings. And Scott Boras likes the Astros' plan. (Whew!)
*Chris Young vs. Houston, career: .336/.399/.615. Chris Young at Minute Maid Park, career: .407/.445/.769. Don't pitch to Chris Young.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
What They're Saying: G1
Here's what "They" are saying this morning, following the Astros 6-2 win over the Yankees.
New York Post: "And you thought Obamacare got off to a bad start..."
New York Daily News: "CC Sabathia insists there's a mechanical and reasonably explanation for getting lit up by the Triple-A Astros that has nothing to do with his diminished velocity...Whatever the explanation for Sabathia getting lit up in Houston, it's fair to wonder, now more than ever, if the big lefty can survive, never mind thrive, with his diminished fastball."
Poughkeepsie Journal: "CC said he wanted to pitch like a bully again, but he got beat up on his first day back at school."
Sabathia: "I didn't settle in because of the excitement of Opening Day. I backed off a little too much. Balls were up and the changeup was cutting...I wanted to start the season pitching so good, I wound up pitching bad."
Girardi: "It's not what you want, but I had a feeling we were going to lose a game at some point this year so we got it out of the way early."
New York Post: "And you thought Obamacare got off to a bad start..."
New York Daily News: "CC Sabathia insists there's a mechanical and reasonably explanation for getting lit up by the Triple-A Astros that has nothing to do with his diminished velocity...Whatever the explanation for Sabathia getting lit up in Houston, it's fair to wonder, now more than ever, if the big lefty can survive, never mind thrive, with his diminished fastball."
Poughkeepsie Journal: "CC said he wanted to pitch like a bully again, but he got beat up on his first day back at school."
Sabathia: "I didn't settle in because of the excitement of Opening Day. I backed off a little too much. Balls were up and the changeup was cutting...I wanted to start the season pitching so good, I wound up pitching bad."
Girardi: "It's not what you want, but I had a feeling we were going to lose a game at some point this year so we got it out of the way early."
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Know Your Enemy: CC Sabathia
This is the 5th anniversary of doing game previews for the first month of the season, and then petering out, so let's enjoy it while it lasts.
New York Yankees (0-0) @ Houston Astros (0-0)
2013 series record vs. NYY: 1-5. The Astros won the opening game of the season series in New York, and dropped the next five, including the final three games of the season.
Opposing Pitcher: CC Sabathia
*Had scholarship offer to play football for UCLA.
*20th overall pick by the Indians in 1998.
*Does not like periods between the initials of his first and middle name.
*Sabathia threw 211IP last season for the Yankees, continuing a seven-year stretch of 200+ IP.
*From 2007-13, Sabathia threw 1610IP, most in MLB in that span, and 35.1IP more than Justin Verlander.
*In 2013, he had a 4.10 FIP and a 3.76 xFIP to off-set his 4.78 ERA, though he had a 7.46 K/9 - lowest since 2005 - and a career-high 1.19 HR/9.
*Sabathia lost 40 pounds over the 2013 offseason.
*Sabathia told the New York Daily News that, while he throws with his left hand, he's actually right-handed. (File under: WUT)
*Sabathia has only faced three current Astros: Chris Carter (.533 OPS), Jesus Guzman (1.167 OPS), and Dexter Fowler (.000 OPS) who are a combined 2x9.
New York Yankees (0-0) @ Houston Astros (0-0)
2013 series record vs. NYY: 1-5. The Astros won the opening game of the season series in New York, and dropped the next five, including the final three games of the season.
Opposing Pitcher: CC Sabathia
*Had scholarship offer to play football for UCLA.
*20th overall pick by the Indians in 1998.
*Does not like periods between the initials of his first and middle name.
*Sabathia threw 211IP last season for the Yankees, continuing a seven-year stretch of 200+ IP.
*From 2007-13, Sabathia threw 1610IP, most in MLB in that span, and 35.1IP more than Justin Verlander.
*In 2013, he had a 4.10 FIP and a 3.76 xFIP to off-set his 4.78 ERA, though he had a 7.46 K/9 - lowest since 2005 - and a career-high 1.19 HR/9.
*Sabathia lost 40 pounds over the 2013 offseason.
*Sabathia told the New York Daily News that, while he throws with his left hand, he's actually right-handed. (File under: WUT)
*Sabathia has only faced three current Astros: Chris Carter (.533 OPS), Jesus Guzman (1.167 OPS), and Dexter Fowler (.000 OPS) who are a combined 2x9.
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