I avoid the media for the most part but I tuned into MLB Tonight on the MLBN with Reynolds and Amsinger and saw they were going to highlight our boys when they came back from break. I got the feeling Reynolds really wanted to get more into our game but MLBN is of the impression we’re hated so much that they may lose viewers. Just the opposite! I never flipped the channel when the Patriots came on. I always wanted to know if they got their butts kicked! Cover the heels all the same and for gods sake we need to embrace it.
Greinke wasn’t sharp from the start. Very fortunate to get out with only 1 run scored. Semi-reminiscent of his playoff starts last year in Yankee Stadium and against the Nats (minus game 7). framber also had been off for 7 days. He was going to pitch regardless. No sense in leaving Greinke in 5 simply so he can get a “decision.” Framber could have pitched another 3 innings if needed. main thing I would second guess is Framber should probably start over any of these pitchers... but he’s certainly a valuable weapon in either role.
Sounds like game two could be similar in approach, but replace Greinke and Valdez with Urquidy and Javier...thoughts?
#1. Injuries to top players like Verlander, Alvarez, Osuna, Bregman and Altuve really hurt. That and small sample size. #2 The young pitchers exceeded expectations. Urquidy has been excellent and outside of home run issues, Javier has been very hard to hit. A few bullpen arms are doing well as well. The Astros young pitching has far exceeded expectations. Josh James has to have better command and control to be a good big leaguer. The stuff is elite but that isn’t enough.
It is smart to do for a team like the Astros that lack bullpen depth and have rookies in the pen. The Astros cannot take this approach in longer series, but they can in a 3 gamer. The nice thing is that the Astros can even go to McCullers if they have a lead and absolutely feel like they must shut the door. At some point the pen is going to get tested with Greinke, Javier and McCullers all only going 4-5 innings.
I absolutely questioned the decision to pull Grienke yesterday. I thought he was settling in. Framber worries me because when he can't locate his pitches he can get into a lot of trouble quickly. He's been more of a horse this year than a pinpoint tactician. With that being said, it turned out to be the right move. I'll gladly eat crow over and over and over again if it means we win. That curveball was nasty. Well ****ing done.
Since there will be no off days in the next series, if (when) the Astros advance, they won't be able to tandem their starters as they'll likely need all five to pitch in the series. The other issue will be that Valdez may be neutralized if the White Sox make it through; Chicago is 14-0 vs LH starters this year (technically 15-0 after yesterday)...and they murder LHP overall (.887 OPS compared to a .749 OPS vs RHP). Would be even worse for the ALCS with a possible only one day off if the division series goes 5 and the potential to have to play 7 straight days. In reality, if the Astros are going to make a deep run, the bats have to get going and they need to close out these series early...the more rest the better.
I recall it being a point of discussion last year that Luhnow's system hadn't produced a bonafide home grown major league starting pitcher despite our supposed pitching development prowess and being so far ahead of the curve on spin rate, etc. Well, that system seems like it has in fact developed three starting pitchers, all of whom have ceilings of being front line guys.
No one tell the Twins that Urquidy's changeup absolutely destroys LHBs. I would love to see that same lineup. P.S. His curve also does very well against the LHBs.
Developing pitching prospects is hard as a lot are going to have injuries, lose velocity, control, or just flat out not develop. It is a numbers game in which quantity usually beats quality. Though when quality develops right, look out.
Urquidy's breaking pitches have a lot more movement this season, and he seems to be doing a little better job at clustering his release points this year, but for some reason he's not getting the same whiffs this season on those pitches. It's a little odd.