Meanwhile, one-run games continue to be the Rangers' b****. If the Stros aren't careful, playoffs will be a long shot within 2 weeks.
For the better part of 2 months the Astros have been on an absolute rampage, a lull was gonna happen. While the pen as a whole isn't a problem, closer very well may be. Either give the ball to Giles or Gregerson and hope for the best, or go big an try to acquire Andrew Miller. Harris just seems like a guy who is better suited for a setup role, unfortunately we may have a bullpen full of that type.
Harris has been great. Giles has more Blown Saves and worse OPS than Harris. As long as he continues to convert at 80% we'll be in the playoff hunt. His face is bump red when closing, but he's been generally terrific. Everything still points to Harris as the man.
He hasn't been able to consistently spot his curve for a month, and when that happens he gets hit. And I totally disagree, "9th inning guy in the bullpen" is one of those rare situations in life where an 80% success rate is totally unacceptable, like kicking PATs or landing airplanes.
i don't even think we're playing bad baseball except friday's debacle. Easily could have gotten Dallas' start vs yankees and you had yesterday's game in the hand's of harris for the victory.
Was thinking Astros more specifically due to competition level... plus we're playing some of the exact teams we're in competition with. Detroit, a team that was somewhat an afterthought a week ago, passed us in the standings last night. Lose today and we're farther behind them and lose the tie breaker, then 10 games vs TEX and TOR (both ahead of us) in the next 2 weeks. Trust, it could get ugly quick.
Concerned for what your standards are for "great". As a closer, Harris has been mediocre. He's one more blown save from being around the area where Gregerson was before he got demoted (only difference is that Harris was lights out prior). Now, Gregerson has been lights out since being demoted. All pointing to them both being better as setup guys than closers. Giles will face scrutiny too... Certainly shouldn't just be handed the job by default at this point... But he also happens to be pitching the best he has all season. Last night was filthy... Made the best hitter in baseball (besides Altuve) look helpless.
FINALLY. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bregman in No. 2 hole today in series finale in Detroit. <a href="https://t.co/UrUnXAQg24">pic.twitter.com/UrUnXAQg24</a></p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/759750873769734144">July 31, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Agreed. That was the Giles we all hoped we acquired last night. Harris' arm definitely wore down last year, and I hope we don't see that again. I wouldn't mind getting some of these pen guys a little more rest so they're at full strength for the stretch.
Until Valbuena and Gomez get healthy, and Gurriel joins the team, we really don't have any other options. But I'm with you......our bottom half of the lineup has been brutal, and that's in large part to the abyss that's been our DH position so far.
What is your standard? He has 11 saves and 16 holds, and only 2 blown saves. Take a position. nobody else on the team can even get close to that. He made the All Star team for cripes sakes.
I really want us to trade for Beltran and slide him into the DH spot. This team is a big step better with a DH that can hit over .200, let alone Beltran's .301 21/62 numbers. He can be had for little, lets make it happen.
