Such a terrific bounce-back series. I didn't really doubt that they would, I'm just glad that they did. A sweep today would be amazing, keep the momentum going boys.
Taylor is pretty much a joke, terrible at the play and in the field. I don’t think he’s that young either. Robel is pretty damn good defensively for the most part, including some really top-end plays, but he’s mostly a liability at the plate. Regardless, Robel is a serviceable replacement and deserves a spot on the team bc of his utility and defense.
The at all part doesn’t make sense. I got in heated discussions with people from game 1 to when they were 1-7 to now. The Athletics are annoying, statistically a bit of an anomaly right now, but they aren’t bad. Sure they lost Semien, and they’re closer too right? It had me thinking during the 1-7 start, but unfortunately they are a well-run organization and they have a clue of what they are doing. They are going to hang around. If we pulled away comfortably it’s bc we are crushing it and running up mid-100s in wins, but they are going to make us earn it. A’s are on pace for about 93-94 wins, and I think it’ll end up being closer to 97-98 as they always tend to play better in the stretch run. Our games against them will be huge, and so far this year we have succeeded in head to head. Bottom line is DONT trust these number that show the A’s are average. By the end of the season those numbers will even out if the A’s do finish with a mid-90s win total or higher. They’re a pest, but they are also a real problem, the best approach for now is to focus on winning your games and hopefully the talent disparity will play out over the second half as it has in the last month and a half.
I get that Robel kind of "has" to be on the team so we have another SS (although Straw has played there in the past) But, even with the injuries, it's hard to explain him being our DH
The Astros only field 12 position players. Assuming you want to try and give 2 the day off (which I don't agree with given Yordan is also away) the DH is either Garcia or your backup catcher.
He can't catch. Most players hit better when they play in the field. As the other players' bats are more important, he gets the DH. Only other option is Stubbs. While it is incredibly odd that Robel is the DH, it probably is the right call with these players unless he can play LF.
Impresslyve !! Ryan should make All-Star for the 2nd time as an Astro and 2nd time in his career (no thanks to Jones). The "sticky-stuff" rule has not effected
Just let Greinke hit for himself. He's one of the all time best hitting pitchers. Castro batted behind Toro and Chas before these injuries. Why do the injuries dictate that he moves ahead of them in the lineup? The more we b**** about a lineup the more they produce so keep it up.
Tired of these poverty line ups. Oh well. As long as this team makes the post season and all 9 of the regulars are healthy I'm not going to lose sleep over it. It's just a more selfish desire because it's more fun watching a opposing pitcher navigate through a fully operational Astros line up. It's also hilarious when opposing announcers just get exhausted with how deep the line up is.
