Bullpen arms are also fairly unpredictable from year to year. I know that the Astros intend to trade for an elite closer with overwhelming stuff. They tried hard to get Chapman/Kimbrel at the deadline. Every single season is different, next year it may be something different and not the pen. Why I was not happy that the Astros passed on the KRod/Lind deal. This season isn't "gravy" like some people seem to think.
The Lilard shot was bad, but that was only to force a game 7, not close out a series. 98 against the Padres was bad, but it was a single inning or moment. The Astros never had that series in the bag. The Royals certainly haven't been better than the Astros in the post season, but they are at home hosting an elimination game. One terrible relief appearance? Where have you been.... it wasn't one terrible relief appearance.
No, it's just that I said "to me" multiple times in my posts. My posts are opinions, and this game doesn't come close to any of the ones I mentioned as far as Houston team disappointments go. It's much more significant to you. That's fine. I tend to think we win Wednesday and it will go down as a footnote and nothing more. But that 16 inning game. Come on, dude. Up 3-0 in the 9th inning with Dave Smith there to close it out, and Mike Scott waiting to pitch game 7 when he'd been unhittable, and Smith lets them tie it up and then we go ahead in extras again only to blow it again?? And it eliminated us?? This game is rougher than that??? Just an opinion, but you're nuts.
Haven't read the last few pages, but this is not as bad as Game 5 in 1980. Elimination game at home vs. Phillies, up 5-2 going into the 8th and giving up 5 in the 8th. We rallied but lost in extras. That one really hurt.
Will Harris gave up a hit to all 4 batters he faced in the 8th inning. Your damn right, I think Fiers would have been better.
Stupid manager for not knowing in advance that Will Harris would give up 4 straight hits. If you look at his 68 appearances with the Astros, he'd given up more than 2 hits a whopping 0 times, so it should have been obvious to the manager that it was a likely outcome.
They'll never bench Gattis; not now. But... if they were to make a move, I'd like to see them put Gomez at DH and start Marisnick in CF; he's been very good at the plate since September; he's a terror on the basepaths; and, of course, he plays GG defense at the single most important defensive position on the field.
Well there was the fact that he gave up 6 earned runs in 13 innings the last month of the season. Then there was game 2.... when Harris was ineffective. Also at any point in time before Harris gave up 4 hits, he could have been pulled..... "Oh look, a hit..... and another one...... yup.... now three!.... tying run at the plate, now four hits...... guess I should pull him now..... Hmm hasn't pitched well the last month of the season, and has never given up more than two hits in an appearance.... sure there is nothing wrong..... four hits? No problem!" My FAVORITE part? Other than having Fiers on the roster and not using him, a high strike out pitcher too...... was that Hinch went to Gregerson in the 8th inning with only one out anyway. If you are going to do that, then just open the 8th with him! Nope, that isn't Hinch's fault, how could he possibly know that doing the same thing would result in a similar outcome....... But hey........ we are just lucky to be here right?
If you didn't expect Harris to struggle, then you have not paid attention. His era was 4.5 the last month of the season. He was ineffective in game two as well. Every reasonable indication was that Harris would possibly struggle. Letting him give up 4 straight hits goes beyond giving the manager the benefit of the doubt.
Burning Sipp to pitch with a four-run lead isn't smart, either. He's worked five straight games; I'm sure Hinch wanted to give him the day off (+ rest through Friday) - that's not exactly "dumb" management by any stretch. If it were a 1, 2-run game, sure - you throw the kitchen sink out there. But Hinch can't be blamed for thinking his 'pen could protect a four-run lead. If you want to gripe he didn't pull Harris soon enough, OK - I think that's fair. But, again - Correa's error was the inning's dagger.
How come I didn't see all this b****ing when he was getting key outs in the wild card game, game 1, and game 3? Not to mention the entire Seattle/Arizona series to end the season? About the only thing I "expect" in here is to see you complaining about Hinch only after something bad happens.... that's what's happening when I "pay attention" as you suggest.
I know that.... a win in that game would not have eliminated the Blazers. An Astros win yesterday eliminated the Royals.
Game 1? You mean where Harris gave up two hits in 2/3 an inning before being bailed out by Perez? How about game 2, where he again gave up two hits in 2/3 an inning, but this time gave up a run? Then there was game 3, a game we needed to win, and he didn't see the field. So that leaves game 4.... where he gave up 4 straight hits, 4 runs in 2/3's of an inning. So he has been effective in one of the four playoff games he has appeared in and was highly ineffective in the last month of the season.
