With just one good SP we are toast in the playoffs. I agree that getting in the playoffs is better than missing them, but what is this team really capable of? Blue balls probably not ready for prime time. Framber is too mentally cooked. Alexander will be like throwing apollo creed out there against drago. Yordan? Hader? Will Abreu shitt himself in the closer role against way better lineups than the rangers? it just seems so bleak.
You know, there are just too many "issues" with this team. I have a hard time seeing them moving forward. I will continue to cheer them on as they limp to the finish line, which is looking closer and closer. Literally, Seattle may end their season.
Everyone has to make the first postseason appearance at some point... Keuchel, Javier, Brown, and Garcia all did not allow a run in their postseason debuts.
They are absolutely up against it. That said, 12 players on this active roster have rings. Everyone who gets in has a punchers chance, and experience means something. Chip and a chair
It would not surprise me at all if Blubaugh ends up throwing 4 scoreless innings in a playoff game this season. He has nasty stuff and it’ll play up when his adrenaline is going. Would rather see him on the mound than Javier, although I’m hoping Javier changes my mind tonight.
2005 Astros were incredibly flawed but yet... won their first pennant. Bagwell had one arm. The outfield was Burke-Taveras-Lane. 4 starters with less than 100 OPS+. Wandy and Astacio had ERAs of over 5.
All of those had more major league innings under their belt than Blubaugh, but yes obviously everyone who has pitched in the playoffs has had their first playoff game.
But yet he's 7 for 7 in saves in regulation since Hader went down, his only blown save was in extra innings, which I hate that anyone gets a blown save on an unearned run, I consider that stupid. On the flip side, his era is 5.02 and that is obviously very worrisome.
Clemens. Pettitte, Oswalt, Backe. Lidge, Wheeler, Qualls on the backend of the pen. That should have won us a world series. But Lidge picked a bad time to start his meltdown. Could not get a clutch hit to save our lives. We should have won game 1. That was the key.
JV's era is 3.29 since April 20. His career era is 3.31. He still has a lot to offer. I'm still hoping he gets in the playoffs. Since July 23, his era is 2.17.
While I agree with that, what team scares you? Detroit has a big issue with their starters, hell even Skubal is not a guarantee these days. Bullpen is ok for the most part although nowhere near lockdown. I'm not enamored with their batting lineup. Toronto looks to be the most formidable but that team is gonna get ousted due solely to their bullpen. Losing Bichette is a huge deal. And then you're possibly putting somebody out there like a Bieber who is a total wildcard. Seattle to me is the most complete team with no holes. Their weakest link is their starters because Woo is your best option and he's never thrown a single inning of post season baseball. They've got decent starters, that's about as far as I can go with that group. It could be their downfall. But if they just outscore you, it won't matter.
Just gotta hope we catch a heater at the right time and guys step up. That's the funny thing about baseball compared to the other major sports, it's usually pretty wide open once the playoffs start and whoever is hot has the best chance. Maybe Framber pulls his head out of his ass and re-composes himself with that payday looming... Maybe Alexander stays hot and luck stays on his side... Maybe Javier steps up...and Hader, Paredes, and Yordon get back... It is a lot of maybe's, but you never know. Just like nobody knew that guys like Charlie Morton, LMJ, and Marwin Gonzalez stepped up in 2017. Now that I've said all this, I fully expect them to let us all down tonight and lose 2/3 to Seattle.
That was essentially a playoff game last night and he struck out 7 guys in 3 innings. You have absolutely no idea how he will perform in the playoffs - there's been plenty of guys with limited experience that have dominated in the playoffs. If you want an Astros example, Urquidy in 2019 had thrown 40 career innings before giving up only 1 run in 10 innings including 5 clutch scoreless innings on the road in the WS. I agree with you that the chances are slim but would have also said the same about the Rangers and Diamondbacks meeting in the 2023 WS. The fact our bats actually clutched up the last two nights at home with the season on the line gives me some hope.
