Rangers have been irrelevant for years. I guess it’s fun to talk some ****, but maybe slow down and get the job done first.
Both games were very winnable despite The Astros looking very very unlike The Astros.... With that said, cmon... Lets be serious, Astros are winning all their games in Dallas and clinching The World Series here in Houston... This is the most likely outcome.... Bats come alive tomorrow and Astros win big....
Think teams still feel lucky to get by the Framber game. They don't want to see him again with the series on the line. The pressure is still on the Rangers to close out early. On the other hand, the Astros do not fear Eovaldi or Montgomery.
They haven't done anything well in particular to warrant that, Astros sort of beat themselves... They have been making bad pitchers look good all season. Not that they haven't faced good pitchers they just haven't faced really good pitching to warrant how poorly they have been batting and how the Astro's line up changes identity constantly. Yeah, we get upset at this team but at the end of the day we know how The Astros are... This is the most Astros thing this season. Haven't dominated all year, still found a way.... They will find a way....
One game is all it takes to break The Rangers confidence, I think it comes tomorrow.... None of their pitchers look good enough to close this out in a 7 game series. If it was the alds I'd be worried but its not, even that 4th game is tough... Check the Tampa Bay Ray's who at the time had way better pitching than The Rangers, started 3-0 and Astros still took them to a game 7. Its not even close to over, yes they have something to celebrate but that changes quick....
All the bravado on the board feels good, but doesn't paint an accurate picture of where the Astros are. If they lose on Wednesday, their chances of winning the series go to zero. If there ever was a MUST WIN, this is it. No pressure.
The Astros and Rangers have both had a schizo season where they look like world beaters one week and a non-playoff team the very next week. Until it doesn't happen again, I'm expecting one more flip where the Rangers play like crap after winning 7 in a row to start the postseason, and the Astros play like champs.
Yeah, I like the optimism but the Astros are in a sub optimal position. I think it is an assumption based on hope alone that Astros will suddenly look like world champs and the Rangers are suddenly going to choke for three straight. I don't know.
Spoiler 2015 RS: H: 53-28 | A: 33-48 PS: H: 1-1 | A: 2-2 (won wild card game in NY; 1-2 in KC) 2016 RS: H: 43-38 | A: 41-40 Destroyed Tal’s Hill after this season 2017 RS: H: 48-33 | A: 53-28 PS: H: 8-1 | A: 3-6 (won all home games vs Yankees; lost all road games vs Yankees; 2-2 in LA, won WS on road) 2018 RS: H: 46-35 | A: 57-24 PS: H: 2-3 | A: 2-1 (lost all 3 games at home vs Red Sox) 2019 RS: H: 60-21 | A: 47-34 PS: H: 5-5 | A: 5-3 (won 3 at home vs Rays; 2-1 both H/A vs Yankees; lost every home game vs Nationals) 2020 RS: H: 20-8 | A: 9-23 PS: H: 3-2 | A: 5-3 (beat Twins in WC on road 2-0; won 2 in Oakland, split at home; lost 3 of 4 in Tampa, 2-1 at home) 2021 RS: H: 51-30 | A: 44-37 PS: H: 5-3 | A: 4-4 (2-0 at home vs White Sox, split in Chicago; 2-1 both H/A vs Red Sox; 1-2 both H/A vs Braves) 2022 RS: H: 55-26 | A: 51-30 PS: H: 6-1 | A: 5-1 (swept Mariners; swept Yankees; split first four vs Phillies (1-1 both H/A) before taking final two (1A/1H)) 2023 RS: H: 39-42 | A: 51-30 PS: H: 1-3 | A: 2-0 PS total: H: 31-19 | A: 28-20 Maybe the Rangers are last year’s Astros. Swept the 99-win Rays, swept the 101-win Orioles, currently sweeping the 90-win Astros. Maybe they’re just really good.
It feels like Framber ALWAYS throws the ball away !! How many grounds has he taken? How many times has he thrown to first? Between Frambers fielding and Altuve's baserunning it's amazing I have any hair left.
I agree but I think we've also played very poorly in moments - just that first inning yesterday cost us the game.
The Astros need to win 4 of 5. Not impossible, but will be tough. So far both games were winnable so it's not hopeless, but they simply need to play better. It starts with 1.
