People rooting for the Rangers are the same people who want a runner bunted over to third with no outs in the top of the 1st inning.
If we wound up playing a one gm playoff against the Rangers for the division on Monday who would we go with? Fiers? Looks like McCullers is going tomorrow, and I sure don't want Kazmir going.
Exactly... If the Astros lose to a team they have no business losing to, I don't give a flip of what other teams are doing. Does anybody think the Rangers are taking solace in losing these games because they have a slight margin for error? The Astros have very little margin for error... till they don't.
Fiers has had one start against the Rangers this year... it was not good. Kazmir has been very good against the Rangers this year (mostly with the A's)... but he's struggled as of late (although he pitched well against them in Arlington). My guess is they'd start Kazmir... but hold him to an extremely short leash.
It doesn't matter because the Astros will have 2 less losses coming into tonight's game, even if they lose both, they still have a chance to play a one game with the Angels. If the Astros will win one, they will play the Yankees. Now if the Angels win, and if the Astros lose tonight. Rangers lock up the division. Tomorrow Angels will be likely to win while the Astros will have a different situation and even if they both win out, the Astros will still play with the Angels again.
Still need to win tonight regardless.... because it keeps the pressure on the Rangers to win tomorrow. Isn't it kinda hilarious that both the Angels AND the Rangers are rooting for the Astros to lose? Gotta love baseball...
I wonder how fast they got the champagne out of there, and took off the tarps in the locker room? I would love to see live footage of that.
What do you consider an extremely short leash? Sounds good in theory, but it likely entails him getting knocked around for at least a few runs anyway. I don't see how it wouldn't be Fiers. He's basically been our best pitcher since we traded for him, and Kazmir our worst. And Kazmir is completely lost lately. All Kazmir is right now is a bigger name.
Also...putting in your closer for the 5th game in a row? Guy is also now spent for tomorrow, so Hamels better pitch a complete game.
So this is the situation. Assuming the best case scenario for the Astros, they will win out the last 2 games and the Rangers lose tomorrow again. Angels will be out and the Astros will be playing one game at Arlington on Monday against the Rangers. If we lose, we will be playing the Yankee on Tuesday. As of now, you are counting on Fiers and also Kashmir to win either game or Dallas come back from a short rest. And if the Astro will lose tonight, it will become more messy.
He's still had recent success against the Rangers (and was actually the best starting pitcher for the Astros in that entire Arlington series)... he's also pitched against the Rangers far more than Fiers has. I agree that he's sucked as of late... but if his arm responds with the extra rest (and with Hey Now's premise that the game "doesn't really matter" as much in the back of your head...), he still could be of value.
Actually, the Astros better win tonight... otherwise Hamels won't pitch and this entire game becomes a footnote for them. I wonder if the Rangers and Angels players will get together to have a root against the Astros party...
