if the Astros were not in the middle of prolonged offensive suckage, today’s lineup would have me tingly in special places.
This has probably been posted and I just missed it, but this is a proper feel-good Sunday morning article: https://www.mlb.com/news/jayden-murray-family-celebrate-mlb-debut-with-astros
Altuve went 3 for 32 before batting .308 in the World Series in 2022 Postseason. For a former batting champ, he is incredibly streaky. We have already seen it this year. Give him a day or two of rest before letting him go completely nuclear.
Probably my current #1 favorite thing to watch in sports is family interviews when a prospect makes their big league debut. So heartwarming every single time. The thought of how much these families have invested in these kids, and the long odds they’ve overcome, and the pure joy and pride they feel for their loved one achieving their dream, that’s the good stuff. 2nd to that is college football walk-ons being told they earned a scholarship. Also love military homecoming videos.
Current guess for the playoff roster: SS Pena DH Paredes LF Alvarez 2B Altuve 3B Correa 1B Walker RF Sanchez C Diaz CF Meyers Bench: Dubon, Caratini, Urias, Melton SP: Brown, Valdez, Javier, Alexander RP: Abreu, King, Okert, De Los Santos, Kimbrel, Ort, Murray, Blubaugh, Garcia Lineup is deep. Pitching staff is risky.
I didn't totally realize that he had back-to-back major surgeries for uncommon injuries the past 2 years (thoracic outlet syndrome and ulnar nerve transposition, whatever the hell that is). He obviously worked his ass off in rehab, a lot of people would have just quit. Much respect.
I am fine with this, but the approach I want is shades of AJ Hinch in 2017. Whoever is throwing the best between Javier and Garcia, I want them available for game 1 and 2. If Abreu king Okert and de los santos are all slinging it, fine, let them cover leverage innings. If Javier or Garcia are throwing it better, I go to them. It is tournament baseball all the way.
You think they are not keeping Cam? I think Sanchez and Smith are strict platoon in RF. They will drop a pitcher in the WC/LDS to make this happen. If they make it to the LCS then they must decide between Melton or Urias. I would normally say Urias - no brainer, but with Dubon on the bench not needed to start at all they could use Melton's baserunning. It will be interesting either way.
I think the Astros will drop out of first by the end of this week. We just don't have the discipline and hitting.....outside of Brown we are begging to win. DD
We are only few teams Rangers could win against with Corbin starting and yesterdays lineup. Rangers starting lineup did't have 1 over 800ops player. They had 6 under 700ops. Corbin is 5y older than Lance and has been on realease watch for years because he has absolutely no stuff anymore. You force him into the zone and fireworks. And we as righthanded as they come. Corbin ERA's (all years over 150IP, not a short clip) 2021. 5.82 2022. 6.31 2023. 5.20 2024. 5.62 After the big win, Astros prob. thought this one is in the bag without breaking sweat with Framber starting. Maybe even pad your stats game. We are playing Blue Jays, Braves and Rangers again. Seattle faces Cardinals,Angels and Kansas. We prob. are only playing for home court "advantage" at this point. Third div winner I believe plays 3rd WC so we are playing Mariners no matter what. This Rangers will be destroyed by Mets and Brewers and I don't buy any Royals stock and bit of a run they had. I think only team that could snatch the 3rd WC from us is Cleveland. For some reason to me they look more of threat getting those couple of dudes out betting on their own games. Pretty much egoless clubhouse now with hardest working star Ramirez having the clockwork season as always and some nice/mid SP core that gives a chance every night. Mariners will be in 1st place at latest during their Kansas series. Even with our horrible run at home, I still feel we would have better chance at home because Mariners pitch so much better at home. But it might not matter if they pound 5 homers a game at Daikin and we get 1 per game from Yordan/Walker/Altuve. Per game, not per player. I would love if Altuve went to Joe & Dana and say "I have something something in my hand wink wink sit me next series" because otherwise that won't happen and he is absolutely killing offense left and right.
How many dam times does the opposing pitcher have a 6-8 pitch inning because we all swing at the first pitch and let the opposing team off the hook
