*Juan Centeno - playing in his first game as an Astro - and Yulieski Gurriel both hit solo homers and Lance McCullers held the Tigers to 1H/0ER, 5K:2BB in 6IP (now 22 scoreless IPs and counting for McCullers) for a 6-2 Astros win. Jake Marisnick had three hits, and the Astros are 31-15 with a 7-game lead.
*Hinch, on Centeno, who went 2x3 with an *intentional* walk and the Title Belt:
Given that's his first game this season with us, I'm glad he was in Spring Training with us to be very familiar with our guys. Fun night. He should be very proud of his effort, and our team responded well to him.
Centeno, with maybe the quote of the year:
I don't hit that many homers, so that was an experience. I never saw the ball. I just put my head down and kept running.
*The Astros are 2-0 against Detroit despite going 1x20 w/RISP in two games.
*Carlos Correa was sick yesterday.
*Tom Verducci: The curveball is taking over baseball (featuring Lance McCullers)
*The Baseball Assistance Team gave Bob Watson its lifetime achievement award. And if you're looking to kill a little time you can read about Watson scoring the one millionth run in Major League Baseball.
*Brian McCann and Dallas Keuchel are both looking at returning on Saturday.
*Alex Bregman talked to the Detroit Free Press about hanging out with Ian Kinsler during the WBC.
*The Nationals and Red Sox have been scouting Jose Quintana.
*Jeff Sullivan and the meaning of a team's 50-game record.
*Here's a big ol' scouting report on Japanese superstar Shohei Otani.
*Check out Chris Archer and his mindfulness.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Ian Kinsler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian Kinsler. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Sunday Morning Link Dump
Astros are 28-16, with a 5.5-game lead in the AL West. FanGraphs gives them a 39.2% chance of winning the AL West and a 58.3% chance of making the postseason.
*The Astros turned yesterday's postgame celebration into a traveling disco for McCuller's first Major-League win. (subscription may be needed - use this link if necessary)
*Infield coach Rich Dauer noted that Kinsler leads the league in hitting balls down the line, and positioned the infield to take that away, leading to the triple play. (subscription may be needed)
*Josh Fields could return today; Sam Deduno is a bullpen away from a minor-league rehab assignment; Oberholtzer will throw BP in Fresno today in advance of a rehab assignment.
*The Fresno Bee declares Carlos Correa ready for MLB. Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco:
I've been around a lot of great players; Carlos probably is at the top of the list right now. Very mature for a 20-year old. He understands the game; he's in tune with what's going on on the field. I think he's going to be one of the top players for a long time.
*A few days ago, reliever Chris Cotton has been promoted to Corpus from Lancaster. Cotton was the 14th Round pick in 2013 out of LSU. In 25.2IP Cotton allowed 20H/4ER, 37K:7BB
*The QC Times on yet another Quad Cities win.
*This Red Sox blog would like to trade Justin Masterson to Houston for Chris Carter.
*Here's a fun story on Nick Rozdilski, head groundskeeper at Corpus.
*The Astros turned yesterday's postgame celebration into a traveling disco for McCuller's first Major-League win. (subscription may be needed - use this link if necessary)
*Infield coach Rich Dauer noted that Kinsler leads the league in hitting balls down the line, and positioned the infield to take that away, leading to the triple play. (subscription may be needed)
*Josh Fields could return today; Sam Deduno is a bullpen away from a minor-league rehab assignment; Oberholtzer will throw BP in Fresno today in advance of a rehab assignment.
*The Fresno Bee declares Carlos Correa ready for MLB. Grizzlies manager Tony DeFrancesco:
I've been around a lot of great players; Carlos probably is at the top of the list right now. Very mature for a 20-year old. He understands the game; he's in tune with what's going on on the field. I think he's going to be one of the top players for a long time.
*A few days ago, reliever Chris Cotton has been promoted to Corpus from Lancaster. Cotton was the 14th Round pick in 2013 out of LSU. In 25.2IP Cotton allowed 20H/4ER, 37K:7BB
*The QC Times on yet another Quad Cities win.
*This Red Sox blog would like to trade Justin Masterson to Houston for Chris Carter.
*Here's a fun story on Nick Rozdilski, head groundskeeper at Corpus.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Ian Kinsler torches Rangers
So in case you missed it, True Detroit Tiger Ian Kinsler set a flame-thrower to the Rangers and GM Jon Daniels in particular in ESPN The Magazine. Read the whole thing, but for our purposes...
*"Nolan put us on the map. He brought respect to the organization,...I saw the two World Series teams, and the way we played, the toughness we had as a team, it had started to move away from that ... It's weird. In the past four years, Texas has been at the top, but no one says, 'What a great organization...' Daniels is a sleazeball. He got in good with the owners and straight pushed Ryan out. He thought all the things he should get credit for, Ryan got credit for. It's just ego. Once we went to the World Series, everybody's ego got huge, except for Nolan's."
*"Nolan s -- s gold here. Once the Rangers fall apart, he's going to s -- gold even more because they turned on him."
(Note: This is great news for the Ownership's debt ratio. And the Astros payroll. Someone should just follow Nolan Ryan around with a bucket to collect all the gold he's pooping.)
*"To be honest with you, I hope they go 0-162. I got friends, and I love my friends, but I hope they lose their ass."
Us, too, Ian Kinsler, you True Tiger.
*"Nolan put us on the map. He brought respect to the organization,...I saw the two World Series teams, and the way we played, the toughness we had as a team, it had started to move away from that ... It's weird. In the past four years, Texas has been at the top, but no one says, 'What a great organization...' Daniels is a sleazeball. He got in good with the owners and straight pushed Ryan out. He thought all the things he should get credit for, Ryan got credit for. It's just ego. Once we went to the World Series, everybody's ego got huge, except for Nolan's."
*"Nolan s -- s gold here. Once the Rangers fall apart, he's going to s -- gold even more because they turned on him."
(Note: This is great news for the Ownership's debt ratio. And the Astros payroll. Someone should just follow Nolan Ryan around with a bucket to collect all the gold he's pooping.)
*"To be honest with you, I hope they go 0-162. I got friends, and I love my friends, but I hope they lose their ass."
Us, too, Ian Kinsler, you True Tiger.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Recap for G64 - Astros @ Rangers
So the Astros avoided the season sweep with a 5-3 win over the Rangers. Down 3-0, the Astros scored the final five runs of the game to win it. How? Mainly by keeping Kinsler, Blalock and Cruz to a combined 1x11 - seeing 40 pitches...total.
Backe. Backe, Backe, Backe: 4IP, 4H/3ER, 1BB, 2HR - one from Michael Young, one from Chris Davis.
Wright: 2.2IP, 3K:2BB
Arias: .1IP, 1K, 1W
LaHawk: 1IP, 2H, 1BB
Valverde: 1IP, 1H, 1K, 1Sv
Backe pitched moderately effectively by keeping the ball - mostly - on the ground. Seven groundballs, Four flyball outs, and of course the two homers. 12 of his 34 strikes were of the non-contact variety, 10 called / 2 swinging. Wright had the same number of non-contact strikes, meaning the Astros got 27 called strikes off the Rangers. The bullpen recorded 5IP, 3H/0ER, 5K:3BB.
Once again, a throwing error by the catcher - this time Quintero - led to a run being scored. Nelson Cruz singled, then moved to second on a Backe WP, and then stole third. In the process of stealing third, Quintero threw the ball away, which allowed not only Cruz to score, but David Murphy to advance to second. Backe then buckled down and got the next two to get out of the inning. +1 to Pence for doubling Andrus off first on a Kinsler fly ball to right.
Offensively, it took the Astros a little while to get going. Berkman grounded out with 2 RISP in the first. Erstad GIPDed to end the 2nd. In the 5th, Quintero scored Erstad from 2nd with a single to center to make it a 2-run game. The 6th was pretty big. Let's look...
Keppinger: Walk
Tejada: Single
Lee: Single, scores Keppinger and Tejada takes the extra base to 3rd
Berkman: Walk
Pence: Struck out swinging
Matsui: (Tejada scores, Lee moves to third, Berkman to 2nd on a 1-2 passed ball) Infield single
Erstad: Struck out swinging
Quinter: FC
Five baserunners, two walks, three hits, two runs.
Pence led off the top of the 8th with a homer off Jason Jennings, and Bourn tripled to right scoring Quintero to account for the final two runs of the game.
Man of the Match: Hard to say. So we'll go a little odd here and give it to Wesley Wright. Backe had allowed three runs in four innings with a .438 OBP. Wright came in and got eight outs in nine batters, slowing down the Rangers offense. Too bad he didn't get the win, but it's still a win.
Goat of the Game: Let's give this one to Berkman. 0x4, but with a walk. Each of his four outs ended the inning and he left four Astros on base.
Backe. Backe, Backe, Backe: 4IP, 4H/3ER, 1BB, 2HR - one from Michael Young, one from Chris Davis.
Wright: 2.2IP, 3K:2BB
Arias: .1IP, 1K, 1W
LaHawk: 1IP, 2H, 1BB
Valverde: 1IP, 1H, 1K, 1Sv
Backe pitched moderately effectively by keeping the ball - mostly - on the ground. Seven groundballs, Four flyball outs, and of course the two homers. 12 of his 34 strikes were of the non-contact variety, 10 called / 2 swinging. Wright had the same number of non-contact strikes, meaning the Astros got 27 called strikes off the Rangers. The bullpen recorded 5IP, 3H/0ER, 5K:3BB.
Once again, a throwing error by the catcher - this time Quintero - led to a run being scored. Nelson Cruz singled, then moved to second on a Backe WP, and then stole third. In the process of stealing third, Quintero threw the ball away, which allowed not only Cruz to score, but David Murphy to advance to second. Backe then buckled down and got the next two to get out of the inning. +1 to Pence for doubling Andrus off first on a Kinsler fly ball to right.
Offensively, it took the Astros a little while to get going. Berkman grounded out with 2 RISP in the first. Erstad GIPDed to end the 2nd. In the 5th, Quintero scored Erstad from 2nd with a single to center to make it a 2-run game. The 6th was pretty big. Let's look...
Keppinger: Walk
Tejada: Single
Lee: Single, scores Keppinger and Tejada takes the extra base to 3rd
Berkman: Walk
Pence: Struck out swinging
Matsui: (Tejada scores, Lee moves to third, Berkman to 2nd on a 1-2 passed ball) Infield single
Erstad: Struck out swinging
Quinter: FC
Five baserunners, two walks, three hits, two runs.
Pence led off the top of the 8th with a homer off Jason Jennings, and Bourn tripled to right scoring Quintero to account for the final two runs of the game.
Man of the Match: Hard to say. So we'll go a little odd here and give it to Wesley Wright. Backe had allowed three runs in four innings with a .438 OBP. Wright came in and got eight outs in nine batters, slowing down the Rangers offense. Too bad he didn't get the win, but it's still a win.
Goat of the Game: Let's give this one to Berkman. 0x4, but with a walk. Each of his four outs ended the inning and he left four Astros on base.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Recap for G63 - Astros @ Rangers
Well, that wasn't much fun. The Astros have never lost five straight to the Rangers, which happened last night, 5-4 in ten innings. Ortiz pitched well, going another season-high six innings, allowing three earned runs. Let's take us a gander:
Ortiz: 6IP, 7H/3ER, 5K:1BB
Sampson: 1IP, 1K
LaHawk: 1IP, 1H, 1K
Valverde: 1IP, 1H, 2K
Fulchino: .1IP, 2H/1R (0ER), 1BB
Fulchino got the loss, but on an unearned run, of which there were two, thanks to two throwing errors by Pudge and one by Keppinger on a groundball. Middle relief looked sharp, as did Ortiz. Ortiz threw 17 of his 25 first pitches for strikes. Ian Kinsler (on whom my wife has a not-so-secret crush, which burns me to my core), scored the winning run. Why is that important? Because Keppinger's throwing error allowed him to reach to lead off the inning, which he then stole econd. Then Michael Young singled, and Fulchino intentionally walked Hank Blalock. That's bases loaded for Nelson Cruz, who flied out to center. David Murphy's single allowed Kinsler to score the winning run, but the 10th inning's complexion could have been much, much different had Kinsler not reached base. Murphy's single wasn't enough of a rip to score a runner from second.
The Astros had another game in which they took themselves off the basepaths. Michaels led off the 9th with a single, Bourn bunted into a fielder's choice, getting Michaels out at 2nd. Bourn was then caught stealing second. Of course, Keppinger singled two pitches later - which, had he made it, or had Michaels been on second, could have scored the go-ahead run.
Hunter Pence was 4x5 with an 8th inning homer, while Keppinger, Lee and Matsui all had two-hit games. Berkman and Tejada went hitless, going a combined 0x9. Oh, and congratulations to Pudge, who set the all-time record for games caught. Should he be able to avoid this whole...mess, he'll be a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Man of the Match:
Hunter Pence. 4x5 with a game-tying homer, and now hitting .328 with a .408 OBP.
Goat of the Game:
This is tough. I really don't want to give a Goat to a guy who set an all-time major league record. But I'm gonna. Pudge was 1x5, left Pence on 2nd base - twice, but once (obviously) in the 10th. And the throwing error, which he almost rocketed the ball to Azle, trying to get Kinsler at third.
Ortiz: 6IP, 7H/3ER, 5K:1BB
Sampson: 1IP, 1K
LaHawk: 1IP, 1H, 1K
Valverde: 1IP, 1H, 2K
Fulchino: .1IP, 2H/1R (0ER), 1BB
Fulchino got the loss, but on an unearned run, of which there were two, thanks to two throwing errors by Pudge and one by Keppinger on a groundball. Middle relief looked sharp, as did Ortiz. Ortiz threw 17 of his 25 first pitches for strikes. Ian Kinsler (on whom my wife has a not-so-secret crush, which burns me to my core), scored the winning run. Why is that important? Because Keppinger's throwing error allowed him to reach to lead off the inning, which he then stole econd. Then Michael Young singled, and Fulchino intentionally walked Hank Blalock. That's bases loaded for Nelson Cruz, who flied out to center. David Murphy's single allowed Kinsler to score the winning run, but the 10th inning's complexion could have been much, much different had Kinsler not reached base. Murphy's single wasn't enough of a rip to score a runner from second.
The Astros had another game in which they took themselves off the basepaths. Michaels led off the 9th with a single, Bourn bunted into a fielder's choice, getting Michaels out at 2nd. Bourn was then caught stealing second. Of course, Keppinger singled two pitches later - which, had he made it, or had Michaels been on second, could have scored the go-ahead run.
Hunter Pence was 4x5 with an 8th inning homer, while Keppinger, Lee and Matsui all had two-hit games. Berkman and Tejada went hitless, going a combined 0x9. Oh, and congratulations to Pudge, who set the all-time record for games caught. Should he be able to avoid this whole...mess, he'll be a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Man of the Match:
Hunter Pence. 4x5 with a game-tying homer, and now hitting .328 with a .408 OBP.
Goat of the Game:
This is tough. I really don't want to give a Goat to a guy who set an all-time major league record. But I'm gonna. Pudge was 1x5, left Pence on 2nd base - twice, but once (obviously) in the 10th. And the throwing error, which he almost rocketed the ball to Azle, trying to get Kinsler at third.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Recap for G62 - Astros @ Rangers
There it is. 6-1 loss to the Rangers, and that's four straight Ls to the in-state rivals.
Let me tell you what's killing me about this. After Wandy's last, brilliant start, Coop comes out and says: Quintero catches Wandy. So last night, needing two games to break Fisk's all-time games caught record, Pudge gets the start. Not Quintero. And Wandy gives up 6ER in 4IP. Now I'm not saying - at all - that what happened to Wandy is Pudge's fault. The Rangers can, and did, hit the ball all over the place. But a little bit of consistency would be nice. Fact: Wandy has had one good start in his last five. Fact: Quintero caught Wandy in that one good start. Fact: Coop went back on what he said.
I understand Pudge deserves to set this record in Arlington. But he very easily could have caught tonight/tomorrow's game to break the record in Arlington, and still let Quintero catch Wandy.
So Wandy was bad. Control issues all night long - allowing 11 baserunners in 4IP, four extra-base hits and three of those home runs. 103 pitches, and the thing was, Wandy got in front of a lot of them - 14 of 23 batters saw first-pitch strikes. And 14 Rangers had ABs of 5+ pitches. All three Rangers home runs came on first-pitch balls.
But let's give it up to Arias for throwing 37 pitches to get through three innings. Good outing from him.
Offensively, Bourn and Tejada provided 80% of the offense. Four of the five hits. Tejada now hitting .348, with Bourn now at .294. Lone HR from Pudge, his sixth of the year. The Astros again took themselves off the basepath, in the first inning. Setting? Bourn on 2nd, Tejada on 1st. Lee up with one out. Lee struck out, Bourn was caught stealing third.
Why in the world was Bourn stealing third with Lee up to bat? Bourn is so fast, it's not like he needs the four extra steps to make it home on a single.
Man of the Match: Miguel Tejada. On base three times, with two hits and a walk.
Goat of the Game: It has to go to Wandy. Now he's just being silly.
Let me tell you what's killing me about this. After Wandy's last, brilliant start, Coop comes out and says: Quintero catches Wandy. So last night, needing two games to break Fisk's all-time games caught record, Pudge gets the start. Not Quintero. And Wandy gives up 6ER in 4IP. Now I'm not saying - at all - that what happened to Wandy is Pudge's fault. The Rangers can, and did, hit the ball all over the place. But a little bit of consistency would be nice. Fact: Wandy has had one good start in his last five. Fact: Quintero caught Wandy in that one good start. Fact: Coop went back on what he said.
I understand Pudge deserves to set this record in Arlington. But he very easily could have caught tonight/tomorrow's game to break the record in Arlington, and still let Quintero catch Wandy.
So Wandy was bad. Control issues all night long - allowing 11 baserunners in 4IP, four extra-base hits and three of those home runs. 103 pitches, and the thing was, Wandy got in front of a lot of them - 14 of 23 batters saw first-pitch strikes. And 14 Rangers had ABs of 5+ pitches. All three Rangers home runs came on first-pitch balls.
But let's give it up to Arias for throwing 37 pitches to get through three innings. Good outing from him.
Offensively, Bourn and Tejada provided 80% of the offense. Four of the five hits. Tejada now hitting .348, with Bourn now at .294. Lone HR from Pudge, his sixth of the year. The Astros again took themselves off the basepath, in the first inning. Setting? Bourn on 2nd, Tejada on 1st. Lee up with one out. Lee struck out, Bourn was caught stealing third.
Why in the world was Bourn stealing third with Lee up to bat? Bourn is so fast, it's not like he needs the four extra steps to make it home on a single.
Man of the Match: Miguel Tejada. On base three times, with two hits and a walk.
Goat of the Game: It has to go to Wandy. Now he's just being silly.
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