I disagree with almost all of that. I would not have an untested rookie with less than a month of major league starts take a playoff start from any of those three. Very few other teams have 3 starters better than those three. In the post-season, hitters raise pitch counts on everyone. Doesn't matter how good your stuff is. I get what analogy you're trying to make with Josh Beckett, but there was a fair amount of not great stuff in Hunter Brown's two starts so far. The Statcast data was pretty bad: Small sample size, but he had by far the highest average exit velocity (96.0mph) of any Astros starter this year. The other 7 starters have average exit velocities clustered between 87.5-89.9mph. He also has the highest barrel percentage at 10% (other starters 4.5-9.1%) and Hardhit % at 56.7% (others 25.9-41.0%). Basically, he got pretty lucky cuz his stuff was getting hit and getting hit hard. Hunter Brown pitched against two crap teams and had some reasonable success, let's not go overboard anointing him savior.
Bro, is this comment tongue in cheek? Lol Urquidy has performed well enough his career for #4 starter status...most teams a #3 Good playoff performances too
Urquidy has the experience and the ability to be a perfectly good 4th postseason starter. He’s fine. There’s no way I’d put Brown or Garcia over Urquidy. I’m not sure that I trust Javier over Urquidy either but it’s close. I actually like Javier quite a bit as a postseason reliever which probably tips the scale to Urquidy getting the starting role.
If Urquidy has another game where he gives up 5+ runs, I don't care what he's done in past playoffs. He shouldn't be starting.
I was watching Degrom highlights and it made me wonder if in a few years, Hunter Brown can have a fastball that sits between 98-100 mph consistently.
Again Dustoria allows 6 before the hook, because we have the least used bullpen in baseball. Makes sense.
We are not hurting for effective Relievers to the point you should waste an effective Starting Pitcher.
I equate Urquidy and Garcia throwing HRs as Matt Schaub throwing Pick 6. During this season, Verlander gave up 7 HRs within the month and this past 2 months, 0 HR and his ERA average around 1.5. What I'm trying to point is that I don't see #65 and #77 making any adjustment in the post-season. HR is a game changer, a dead crowd into a frenzy. Javier has pitched well in the post-season in the past which is why he should start and isn't likely to throw a Pick 6. Uquidy and Garcia has done well in the posteason, but if they are to start they should be in a short leash. Remember Garcia gave up that HR in the World Series. Both should be 1 and done, 1 HR and hit the shower.
So... he should have taken a starting pitcher out with 2 outs in the 5th inning ahead 4-3, facing a guy who was 2-15 lifetime against him?
Lol, people need to chill with the reactionary hot takes. I know the playoffs are coming up, but the Astros are in as comfortable a position as they've been all year: 46 games over .500, 100% playoff lock and near guaranteed to get the bye 8-2 in their last 10 games. Statistically they should lose 1 out of every 3rd game; feels like some of y'all can't handle that anymore without indicting Dusty or the Astros playoff strategy. They'll lose games in the playoffs too. Heck they might even not win the World Series. That is a possibility.
No. He should have taken out the starting pitcher with none out in the 3rd after Kemp tripled. Garcia was in the pen to tag team if necessary. It was necessary. Urquidy couldn't get his pitches down in the zone.
Not unless Javier completely loses his command (like Urquidy). But competing for a possible 5th starter with Garcia should be considered if needed for a decisive fifth straight NLDS game if it goes 7. This would require three losses from Velander, Valdez, McCullers and Javier, two of which will have pitched two games. ps Loss of command applies within the zone as well as at the edges. It doesn't necessarily mean he can't throw batting practice.
Most certainly it does. Not confident handing the 4th spot to Urquidy or Garcia, as of today. That could change with a really nice start heading into the postseason. The hottest hand should get the ball on the mound.. stay tuned.
Seriously? You're blaming Baker for not taking Urguidy out in the 3rd inning? Why not go even further and blame him for even starting Urguidy?
It's not that they lost. It's HOW they lost. I liked their line-up. We scored 5 runs. But we left a struggling pitcher in too long unnecessarily.
Hypothetical...game 7 in Dodger stadium. A healthy Verlander pitching on normal rest is up 5-2 in the bottom of the 5th and has thrown 60 pitches. Bases loaded, 2 out. Are you taking him out?
