I like watching the Rangers feed sometimes to listen to their perspective while we kick the crap out of them and listen to them begrudgingly talk about our success
Tom Grieve is an insufferable b!tch. I'm in "Rangers Country" so I get to listen to them whenever I feel the need for personal persecution.
They didn't feel the same, the "good" Keuchel has people suckered into hitting unhittable pitches using late movement, those games felt like the batters just missed. I'd be curious what the analysis team has to say about his physical motion, i suspect there might be some minor restriction in motion that has a notable effect on such an unnatural movement (vs margin of error) as baseball pitching.
It's so fun to watch how he works his fastball(s) and breaking ball vs how Verlander does the same. Pitching clinic.
I think my favorite part of today's game was when Altuve somehow hit that ball that was 2 ft off the plate and the Ranger's pitcher just threw his arms up with "wtf can I do" reaction
Cole looked absolutely f**king sensational. He didn't just get outs, he was toying with them over those last 3 innings. This pitching staff is just gonna overwhelm opponents over 162. Even if they aren't all dominant, there's simply no big cracks. You're facing good pitchers all the time. Kalas calling his shot on Altuve flipping the pitchers pitch to RF had me dying. Rangers suck we all know that, but you still have to win the games. Taking 3 of 4 is always the goal of a 4 game series, so mission accomplished.
An average record of 12-6 over the next 4 seasons is doable and would equal 113-123 All-Time. Championships Astros - 3 Rangers - 0
So, please explain why Hinch (you know, the guy that managed the Astros to the World Series championship) was a "MORON" for using a shift (something the Astros do more than any other team) in the late innings of a blow out game. It was a shift they used in spring training. It was a shift they said they would use in certain situations on the road (and this was one of those situations). It was a shift they used a handful of times already. So, please explain why Hinch was a "MORON".
Chase Sisco of the Orioles bunted against the shift vs the Twins yesterday and Brian Dozier got all uptight about it. Sisco's approach in that AB might be a little signal to the Astros that the O's are willing to bunt if the defense wants to concede half the infield.
And Rosario of the Twins bunted against the Orioles shift for a hit. Not sure why Dozier would get upset about it.
No reason to get upset at all. Defenses know that they are inviting the bunt when they overshift, so can't blame the offense for actually implementing a strategy that gives a fairly high chance of reaching base. It's hardly sissy or unsportmanlike to bunt in that situation. I mention the Orioles since they're the team that's coming to town. If the Orioles bunt against the shift frequently, it will be interesting to see if Hinch continues that strategy.
And I'm sure the Astros would welcome power hitters, who are expected/paid to produce big-time run production, marginalize themselves by attempting to bunt. Sure, they could get on base... or they could get themselves out trying to do something they're not used to doing... and what they will certainly not be doing is getting an XBH or HR.
After reading the game story, the Twins were apparently upset because he did it in the 9th inning of a 7-0 game and that's "not baseball" (kind of an ironic statement from Berrios). What Berrios needs to understand is that the only way a team can come back from a 7-0 deficit in the 9th inning is to get guys on base.
This is the gamble. How proficient are power hitters at bunting period? Is it something that is even practiced? It seems most games go by without a bunt attempt even employed. On the other hand, if I was Gallo, I would brush up on bunting before he faces the Astros again.
Bunting in a sacrifice situation is much harder than bunting to a wide area of the field. That being said, it is not an easy thing to do regardless. I believe McCann did it once last year. It sure if he tried it on multiple occasions. Gallo should certainly practice. In a multiple run deficit, base runners are important, especially when a team is essentially giving you first base.
does it really need to be a bunt? can't they just check swing it ? I'm no pro, but that doesn't seem very hard to do
