Verlander was bad. In the playoffs it takes the offense having to step in and win a game as well from time to time. Felt like the front office was too content with great pitching and didn't have the since of urgency to get an everyday bat that could help the cause in the playoff stretch. With guys like Pena, Yuli most of the year (he's been the best hitter today), and all of the bottom of the lineup, they needed another proven everyday bat or 2. Not someone who wasn't going to play everyday which Vazquez and Mancini don't.
Today is ALL about JV choking. And I'm his biggest supporter, but this is eclipsing the badness of early post season career Clayton Kershaw in the last 8 starts for JV (1-6, era roughly 5.30). In fact Kershaw (13-12) and JV (14-12) appear to be running towards one another and trying to meet in the middle in terms of overall numbers in the post season. Who'd a thunk that?
Him being a defensive replacement there is the exact, only, reason he's on the roster. PH 2ndC for CF...then PH UTIF for C...so Dubon plays CF and you still have Meyers and Hensley on the bench for later. I'm sure this will matter later.
Offense just sucks without Brantley and Correa. This lineup is very weak compared to previous astro teams.
JV definitily **** his pants but let's not act like this offense has been anything special other than Yuli & Yordan, the rest have been utter trash.
