In fact, there was some talk of banning shifts to get offense back up because they were working too well.
You are exactly right, as much as I wanted that win yesterday. We are still in the catbird seat. Go cAtSTROS! Lol
I've never seen since Mike Scott another situation where the opposing playoff team said if he pitches we will not only lose, we may not even get a hit. It's incredibly rare in the entire history of the game. And Mike Scott reached that point, against the world champions no less. I mean maybe 5 pitchers in history have hit a level like that. If Keuchel throws a no hitter it would be special, and even after not having given up a run yet, he still would not even be close to where Mike Scott was.
I'm not sweating... Astros had never been up 2-0 in their history of being in the LDS, so it would have been foreign territory. Coming home 1-1 is very familiar... exactly like how 2004 and 2005 was (as they won the first, lost the second). Take care of business at home, and we'll be fine.
Yeah, maybe we should never win the World Series since it's foreign territory Stros still in good position.
Still mad the game is on MLB network. No way to stream it on my phone....I'll be at work for most of the game. Might check out early to try and catch some at a bar or something...
I think Keuchel might struggle a bit just because this is a good Royals line-up. Still, I like the Astros chances since they seem to find a way to win a game when he's on the mound at home. Case and point, that Twins game (that I also attended).
It is ridiculous that Fiers has pitched zero innings in the series and has little prospect of pitching meaningful innings going forward with Keuchel, McCullers & McHugh locked in for 3, 4 and 5*; while we've seen the likes of Kazmir, Perez, Harris and Fields pitching with a lead and a chance to go up 2-0 with Keuchel ready for game 3! Fiers should have started and if not entered the game to begin the bottom of the 6th, if not an inning or 2 earlier. He could have gotten the game to the 9th and Gregerson himself. 4 runs and Fiers on the mound has been enough to win games. I also have no idea why Velazquez did not replace Neshek or Harris late in the season when they regressed.
A number of people were saying Fiers should have come to the game in the 6th inning. You do whatever it takes to go up 2-0 and coming home. Instead Hinch screwed around and went to Perez and then Fields. Then, oddly got Fiers up and throwing once the game was tied. Hinch is poor at in game strategy with his pen and has been all year. More likely than not, the Astros win game 2 with Fiers warmed up and ready in the sixth. People can defend Hinch, but it rings hollow concerning game two and pen management. I find it very interesting that Hinch had Qualls warming up against the Yankees in the WC game and he didn't even make the ALDS roster.
Agree with this - he shouldn't come in mid-inning with people on base because it's not a situation he's used to, but he'd be logical to start the 6th (or the game, ideally). VV had an ERA of close to 9 in September. He came into 6 games in September, and gave up 2+ runs in 4 of them. In a 5th, he got 1 out and gave up 2 hits. Harris had an ERA of 3.75 in September. He came into 14 games and gave up runs in 3 of them.
Fiers is used to having base runners on. It isn't really that different whether he put them on or someone else did. He should have started the 6th or came in after the leadoff double in the 6th. He knew for sometime he would probably be used in relief. He has also been used in relief in the past.
VV was not used consistently and thats why he struggled. That is on Hinch, he had a good asset there and not used him enough.
I agree with you in both statements. Actually, i am on record saying Kazmir should have a short leash and once in the game said Fiers should start warming up. It is a great idea what you are saying, using Fiers to start the 6th with a 2 run lead.
Except it is - we see it all the time. Players like routines and they perform better in familiar situations. You especially see it with closers coming into mid-innings or non-save situations and struggling. From a stats perspective, it makes no sense, but there's a human element there too. Being in the bullpen is already different - shorter warm-up, different mental preparation, etc. Adding runners and the pressure of not having the ability to come into the game and have a margin for error is also different. This is nonsense. When he came in, he consistently sucked. He had long breaks, but that's life in a bullpen with expanded rosters. If you don't perform in the role you're given, there's no reason to give you an expanded role.
