With a 3-2 count to Heinemann in the bottom of the 9th (6-4 Nationals lead), Ashby says to Steve Sparks, "you'd rather him hit a double on a pitch down the middle than give up a leadoff walk here - right?" Sparks agreed. I think the better baseball play is to give up the leadoff walk rather than the leadoff double. I think what Ashby meant to say was "You need to make sure you throw a strike in this situation and give your fielders a chance to make a play rather than giving up a walk"
Ashby being Ashby. Makes me really, REALLY miss Deshaies. Ashby just puts me to sleep. Looking forward to much more Geoff Blum than we had last year. Guy is super entertaining and not a mumbling robot.
That was the one half inning that I had the sound on. He is in midseason form (although I didn't hear him use the word 'intriguing'). We were spoiled with Dierker and Deshaies as analysts.
Pre-managing stint Dierker, yes. I will always remember how bitter/negative his analysis got during his post-managing stint games.... its like his time as manager literally sucked some of the joy of the game out of him (which isn't actually that hard to fathom).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> RHP Lance McCullers will start the season on the disabled list.</p>— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/710102397880823808">March 16, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Hopefully this is just to give him as much rest as possible... and not simply a sign that they're heading towards an early intervention. It will make Hinch's job easier as far as figuring out who the 5th starter was going to be... rotation should be Keuchel, McHugh, Feldman, Fister, Fiers.
Wish we still had VV to replace Lance in the rotation. I think he'll be a monster once his curveball is more consistent.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jeff Luhnow on <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork">@MLBNetwork</a> "whoever wins the 1st base job will probably be a little bit more of a contact, get on base type of guy" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosFuture/status/710144991604027392">March 16, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ha ha ha. He might as well have said "Whoever wins 1st base will be more of a Not-Jon-Singleton kind of guy."
Rotation is easier, but I wonder how it affects roster decisions. I'd think Wandy's chances of making the roster have just increased dramatically. While the current 40-man roster has 39 guys, White will take that open spot. Straily is out of options and not making the team, so he will be placed on waivers and no longer be on the 40-man roster opening a 2nd spot.
Speaking of options, does Peacock have any? Frankly, I think he should be cut for someone else to be on the 40, but I was curious. edit: That also isn't a knee jerk... he's just not an MLB level pitcher.
