He was the home plate ump in Keuchel's last start at Yankee stadium, when he threw 7 shutout innings. Has a 23/2 K:BB ratio in 4 starts with Cooper as the HP umpire.
Yep...we tend to forget this small detail you've stated due to the reality of the Stros playing in the wild card tomorrow
I think he also ejected Garner out for arguing strike and had other games with questionable strike calls for some other important games the last time the Astros were in the playoff hunt in the NL.
I just realized tomorrow is the Rockets' first preseason game too. I have been so excited about the Astros, that I forgot about the Rockets preseason lol
Not that this matters one iota, but he was rated last year as the 2nd best home plate ump in MLB. http://epicrelievers.com/2014/07/statistically-ranking-the-best-and-worst-home-plate-umpires-in-mlb/
The Astros are only the underdog in the light of them having been bad over the past 5 years and the Yankees being called the "Yankees." Astros are the favorite on all the betting lines. To be honest, for this game and these teams, I DO think the Yankees are the underdog. If you change the team name from Yankees to probably any of 2/3 other MLB's teams, everyone would consider the Astros the favorite.
I just want to see 4 more locker room celebrations this year. Is that too much to ask? Let's get that first celebration tomorrow and get into the real show
Keuchel will do his thing, I know what to expect from him. I just hope the offense stays patient instead of swinging on the first pitch and then grounding out. I'm curious to see who will step up in the line-up other than Altuve.
I'd go with this lineup... 2B Altuve RF Springer SS Correa LF Rasmus DH Gattis CF Gomez 3B Gonzalez 1B Carter C Castro What I'm hesitant about is only 2 LH hitters (Rasmus & Gonzalez) vs. A RHP. Should Gomez start? It seems like a huge risk. Essentially you are taking a LH hitter out of the lineup (Lowrie or Valbuena) Marwin has been on fire and I don't want that bat out of the lineup but Valbuena has more AB's vs. Tanaka than anyone else and 3 hits. Tough call. I'm really really excited for tomorrow
I've liked the Yankees way longer than I liked the 'stros, BUT.. GO STROS!!!!!! The Astros are built to make that leap towards a first championship. The Yankees are old and plagued. I'm hoping for another 6 pitcher no-hitter!
Yankees payroll 219 million Astros payroll 70 million Game is in NY Yankees lineup has a ton of playoff/WS experience. NY the underdog in this game
Gonzalez can't hit left handed, and Valbuena is really hitting very good. I think the lineup is going to be: 1. Altuve 2b 2. Springer rf 3. Correa SS 4. Rasmus LF (Lf in Yankees Stadium is big, we need this guy in LF) 5. Gomez CF 6. Gattis DH 7. Valbuena 3b 8. Carter 1b 9. Castro C (this guy is really struggling at the plate) Rasmus hitting 4th? I don't mind because he has an OPS close to .800 and hits better on the road, and remember, that RF porch in NY is beneficial for left handed hitters. We should win this game
You are right but this team is different from the one that started the year, Luthnow made the right moves to make this team a playoff team. At the beginning the rotation was: 1. K 2. McHugh 3. Feldma 4. Wojo 5. Roberto Hernadez That changed to 1. K 2. Kazmir (yes, he struggled, but he is that good) 3. McCullers (for me this is the big difference, he changed everything) 4. McHugh 5. Fiers With that, we got 2 All Stars in the lineup, Correa and Gomez (former all start that started to hit before getting injured). I think we are going to play the same way we did in April, and they will have to play good to beat us. Now, i hope Hinch does not make many mistakes, that is the only spot i am a bit worried, well, and Qualls and Neshek. Hopefully in the series he will use Fields over Qualls and Neshek.
