1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

2018 AL West Race and AL Races

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by marks0223, Jul 27, 2018.

  1. CheezeyBoy22

    CheezeyBoy22 Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    Messages:
    6,116
    Likes Received:
    2,459
    I wish the Yankees could take at least one game from the A's...

    Houston I hope can win two out of three against Boston this weekend.
     
  2. HTown2017Champs

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2018
    Messages:
    4,623
    Likes Received:
    4,408
    We should have won the home series 3-1. But then Harris blew Verlander's gem.
     
    CheezeyBoy22 likes this.
  3. marks0223

    marks0223 2017 and 2022 World Series Champions
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2007
    Messages:
    11,188
    Likes Received:
    15,822
    4 games up in the loss column feels good.
     
  4. CheezeyBoy22

    CheezeyBoy22 Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    Messages:
    6,116
    Likes Received:
    2,459
    So it looks like the A's will come away with two wins from the Yankees series. The A's are four games back in the lost column with the Astros heading into the Boston series. I would love nothing more for Houston to come away with two wins this weekend. The Astros IMO can't afford to lose all three games with the A's playing the Rangers. Houston will have all of their players back this weekend with the exception of McCullers. It's going to be a fun weekend for sure.

    Fan Graphs has Houston finishing with 101 wins this season and the A's at 95. I just have to think the A's rotation is going to catch up to them at some point right?
     
  5. CheezeyBoy22

    CheezeyBoy22 Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    Messages:
    6,116
    Likes Received:
    2,459
    I also don't see the Yankees winning a wild card game at all.
     
  6. CheezeyBoy22

    CheezeyBoy22 Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    Messages:
    6,116
    Likes Received:
    2,459
    I think the Yankees could lose home field advantage to the A's or Astros for the wild card game. The Yankees have 6 games left with Boston, 4 games on the road against Tampa Bay, and 3 more games against the Blue Jays. Blue Jays tend to play the Yankees pretty tough.

    The A's have the easier schedule left among Houston and the Yankees IMO. You could argue Houston does after Arizona and Seattle because Houston only has 6 division games left whereas the A's have 9 games left. Division games can always be tough unless you're playing the Rangers... I think the Angels would love nothing more to give the A's a few losses.

    Bottom line, the A's are going to try and win as many games as they can right now. They have the most to gain from it simply because of home field advantage either in the wild card game or the division. I hate to bring up the past but getting swept by the Rangers and Seattle really killed this team. Doesn't hurt the two games where the MLBreview totally screwed Houston.
     
  7. Nippystix

    Nippystix Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2013
    Messages:
    1,510
    Likes Received:
    1,213
    Bold strategy Cotton.
     
    SS0101, RedNation, leroy and 3 others like this.
  8. Snake Diggit

    Snake Diggit Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    Messages:
    10,956
    Likes Received:
    14,704
    You gotta think their rotation will catch up with them. I believe Mengden is now hurt. Fiers, Cahill, Jackson, Montas, and Bassitt...there’s not a single guy in that group who should be better than a #4 for a playoff team. Their lineup and bullpen are tremendous but no way they should be able to catch Houston with those SP.
     
  9. jim1961

    jim1961 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2010
    Messages:
    17,053
    Likes Received:
    12,913
    They are within 2 games for the wildcard lead. NYY lead by 5 10 games ago. A's closing that gap big time.

    Fiers maybe a #4, but he is 5-0 with a ERA in the mid twos since going to the A's. Like last year with us, when the staff gets injured, Fiers pitches his best.
     
  10. sealclubber1016

    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    18,999
    Likes Received:
    27,530
    If somebody would have asked me to bet on the prospects of a team going down the the stretch with Mike Fiers, Edwin Jackson, and Trevor Cahill as their 3 best pitchers, I would have lost a lot of f**king money.

    Their starters have a 4.37 FIP, our starters have a 3.32 FIP. We've also scored more runs, and yet we can't shake them. It's getting aggravating.
     
    marks0223 likes this.
  11. Amshirvani

    Amshirvani Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2008
    Messages:
    4,888
    Likes Received:
    2,999
    Like Nick mentioned in another post, imagine their frustration from their perspective.
    They were banking on making up real ground with us playing at Boston
     
  12. tmacfor35

    tmacfor35 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    Messages:
    22,954
    Likes Received:
    12,952
    That team will get superiored by the Sox or Stros at some point.
     
  13. CheezeyBoy22

    CheezeyBoy22 Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2005
    Messages:
    6,116
    Likes Received:
    2,459
    Yankees have a one game lead now over the A's.... Not looking good for the Yankees.
     
    texans1095 likes this.
  14. jim1961

    jim1961 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2010
    Messages:
    17,053
    Likes Received:
    12,913
    When I look at or try to predict how a one game playoff should go, at least on paper, NYY should be the favorite.

    But the A's knocked Severino (NYY best starter?) out of the game in 2.2 innings last time they faced him and tagged him for 4 runs in the first inning alone.

    If I was a betting man, I wouldn't dare bet against the A's. They have been odds defying all season. Nearly every metric says they are overachieving and should regress to the norm but they haven't.

    They definitely get my vote for baseballs 2018 Cinderella team.
     
  15. Hey Now!

    Hey Now! Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2000
    Messages:
    14,143
    Likes Received:
    4,772
    By metric, I'm guessing what you really mean is your own expectations? The A's are playing above their Pythagorean expectation by about 5 games, yes - but even after making that adjustment, they'd still be on pace to win 91 games.

    And the +5 variance is likely heavily rooted in their 28-12 record in one-run games. Having said that, they have a TREMENDOUS bullpen, and while one-run success tends to mostly be random, there is some data to suggest a great bullpen can *increase* a team's chances of winning one-run games.

    They almost certainly have players that are overachieving - but *every* team that wins that much has a few (cough'17Marwincough; cough'17Reddickcough - sorry, something is apparently stuck in my throat).

    I think the A's are legitimately good in 2018, and I'd be straight-up terrified if I were the Yankees. And, frankly, I wouldn't be terribly thrilled if I were Boston, either (although I suspect the Red Sox will handle them). Careful what you wish for, and all - but I'd much rather draw Cleveland than Oakland in the postseason.
     
    HTown2017Champs likes this.
  16. sealclubber1016

    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    Messages:
    18,999
    Likes Received:
    27,530
    Their starting pitching is not good, or at least it shouldn't be. They are using league average starters, and journeyman that have been on multiple organizations in the past year. On top of the unrepeatable record in one runs games.

    Over 162 I still would feel there is no chance a team with the starters they have could win 100 games, but it may happen this season. Baseball is weird that way.

    Not that I think they are a bad team, they are legit good. They just have no business winning this much IMO.
     
    #76 sealclubber1016, Sep 13, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
  17. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 1999
    Messages:
    23,839
    Likes Received:
    13,895
    This. Cleveland is lucky that they are in the AL Central.
     
  18. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 1999
    Messages:
    23,839
    Likes Received:
    13,895
    There are only 4 teams with easily better pitching staffs (starters and rotation) in the AL. There is a large gap between the haves and have nots in pitching in the AL. Offense has been great, especially lately. Defense has been helping save half a run each game which helps average starters and journeymen look good.

    The luck the A's have had has made the AL West look close. Take out the luck, and they are probably in a dogfight for one of the wild cards with the Yankees and Rays. Poor Rays. They are sneaky good once again only to get pounded by Yankees and Red Sox. A's are a step down in talent from the Astros and Red Sox, but they are good.
     
  19. juicystream

    juicystream Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2001
    Messages:
    29,254
    Likes Received:
    5,362
    I looked at a preview for the A's game tonight, and was excited to see the O's ace Dylan Bundy is starting, and then I noticed his ERA.

    Dylan Bundy has given up 56 runs (53 earned) in his last 54 IP. A 1.053 OPS allowed in those 11 starts. Basically, he makes everyone look like a team of Mike Trouts.
     
  20. Hey Now!

    Hey Now! Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2000
    Messages:
    14,143
    Likes Received:
    4,772
    Rays have actually held their own v Boston & New York (16-18) - in fact, they're 28-27 v (likely) playoff teams, including season series wins v Cleveland, Houston, New York and Oakland.

    Unfortunately, they're a combined 13-12 v the Orioles and White Sox. Beat those two teams at the same clip as the rest of baseball, and they'd be four games back of Oakland (instead of nine) and this three-game series with the A's would be make-or-break. Still a big series - sweep it and you've got a chance...
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now