And this still didn't stop the train Luhnow built. If they can keep one of Bregs or Tucker expect the train to keep rolling.
That’s a move I do sometimes when they’re up going into the 9th. Either they win and I’m good or they blow it and I don’t want to see that **** lol
He is a fat azz though, so maybe he doesn't make it. Maybe in the 7th inning Dezenzo could've run for him? Just a thought that maybe Espada should be considering.
Dana still could've picked up a league avg bat to fill one of those spots and let Whitcomb/Dezenzo/Singleton fight it out for the spot at 1B. It wouldn't have cost much to add a Winker/Canha. Dana got too focused on Diaz/Parades and failed to have a backup plan.
That would've been a smart. Dezenzo makes it to easily to 3rd and he would've eventually scored. Espada sucks in close game decision making though.
On the flip side, the mindset in extra innings has to be to play for more than one run, especially if you’re the road team. Scoring one run only as the visiting team doesn’t move the needle much in expected wins. It’s the norm. Obviously scoring no runs as the visiting team is likely an automatic loss. Given that premise, if at any point the Astros have a lead-off double, and the goal is to score more than one run, the smart analytical move is to have the next batters swing away. Theres also the fact that given where the Astros were in the order (heavy hitters) and given what they have to follow (not heavy hitters)…. Taking the bat out of Bregman’s hands would have them automatically walk Yordan (who would have been pinch-ran for) next to set up a DP (with the AL leader in DP then coming to the plate). They’d obviously pitch to Diaz and try to induce a ground out… but if you’re the home team, you’re guarding against a HR there. If the run from 3rd scores, so be it… you get it back in the bottom of the inning.
How much of our payroll next year is sunk? Abreu- 19.5 Montero- 11.5 McCullers- 17.5 Is there more? How much more? Hard to believe what happened after Click was fired. Downright embarrassing. TWO players totaling 93 million were so unplayable that they were cut halfway through their contracts. Both of them. That is unbelievable and will cripple us in the free agent market. Our payroll is listed as 236 mil. 48.5 of that is sunk on 3 players. Thats over 20% of our entire payroll!! Captain Obvious, I know.
Honestly, this is much more likely than seeing McCullers make a start the first week of next season. He's thrown 6 shutout innings with 14 Ks in AAA so I think we are going to see Montero back with the club here shortly.