For things I am looking forward to: 1. How will the Astros use James as a starter? Will he get quick hooks? Will the Astros being able to stretch him out to 5-6 innings regularly? Has his improved mechanics helped control without sacrificing stuff. I love watching James when he throws strikes. 2. Young arms in general. I love watching batters bat against Javier. They just seem out of sync. Paredes brings some power. I was hoping to see more Bielak and Conine...they seem to have better control and as a result will likely be less frustrating once they are ready. 3. Straw...I'm curious to see if he develops such that he can start next season or not. 4. Tucker...I think he's worthy of starting. I don't know if he will hit for enough average for his power to really play. 5. Diaz....can he be healthy such that he can get some more power while maintaining his improved plate discipline from late last year. 6. Toro...Will he be able to force his way to get more ABs? Will he show enough to be counted on as a starter or top backup MLB player next season? 7. Verlander mowing down fools. 8. McCullers hopefully putting together a healthy year in which he has his curve and change both working at the same time. Maybe we will see a return of the 4S fastball if he can control it. 9. Healthy Pressly is fun to watch. 10. The lineup just clicking. Probably should be number 1...but it almost is a given. Springer, Altuve, Correa, Bregman. 11. The return of Urquidy and Alvarez. 12. Bregman being the MVP.
Ok, I'll play: 1) Astros redeem themselves in the eyes of the baseball world. 2) Manfred, NYY & Red Sox get their due in the cheating scandal. 3) Mike Fiers becomes a vacuum cleaner salesperson.
1) Won't happen naturally. They're going to be forced to realize this line up has been better post garbage cans. Wishing 2) and 3) did come to fruition. If Stros win this world series, they will say asterisk! due to the shortened season. Mind you, these are the same talking heads that have previously said: ..."Ohhh Baseball is too long and gets boring. The season should be cut in half so the games have more meaning." I'm ready.
The only pathway to change the narrative is to continue to have batting success like 2019. Eventually, you string enough stats together post 2017 and they'll have to stop claiming the only reason the wins happed was due to trash cans. Its basically the Patriots model. Win for long enough and it no longer matters.
Unfortunately, NYY leads 4-1 (as of the time of this post). Stanton lighting up Scherzer. Rain delay as of 7:51 my time.
He looks fine. Maybe a little amped up, but throwing strikes and still having unhittttable breaking stuff. I just wonder what Pittsburgh’s former coaching staff is thinking looking at this version of Cole.... and they thought he should have been more of a two seamer/ground ball pitcher.
