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Let's frustrate Puhole

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by rterry, May 28, 2008.

  1. rterry

    rterry Member

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    I would never throw Puhole a strike. I don't care if it 8-0 or 1-0. We don't have to intentionally walk him just never give him a ball to hit. Eventually he will start to swing at bad pitches or worst case we walk him. We may hate the guy, but he hits everything in the strike zone. Frustrate the hell out of him, it will probably bring the whole team down.
     
  2. thech0senone

    thech0senone Member

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    Well...I think Pujols is already used to this kind of treatment. As much as I hate the guy, I have to give him props, hes such a great, patient hitter. He will sit back and wait for his pitch to hit. You make any kind of mistake to the guy and he will hammer it.
     
  3. thech0senone

    thech0senone Member

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    But I do agree that we might want to avoid pitching to him more often.
     
  4. swilkins

    swilkins Member

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    I agree.

    I think people would prefer to compete, but sometimes the pitching can be risky. Just scrapping the plan and always walk him is kinda childish.

    Not that you're childish, but you are admitting that you are defeated.

    An occasional walk is the smart thing to do, but being known as the team that runs away from pujols is not what I would expect the Astros to do.
     
  5. rterry

    rterry Member

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    I don't care what other teams think. I only care about winning. The macho stuff is for the birds. I also get frustrated with Oswalt's macho act. He is a great pitcher, but when he doesn't have his best stuff he should try to nibble instead of pretending to himself that he can still blow his fastball by everyone.

    I'm not admitting defeat. I just think if you never gave puhols a pitch to hit (and I mean never) he would get frustrated and so would the cardinals giving us an advantage. Getting an advantage is not accepting defeat.
     
  6. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Member
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    I think throwing at his head would frustrate him more than just not giving him strikes. In fact, I think we should throw at LaRussa too.
     
  7. Blake

    Blake Member

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    Now THAT would be hilarious. Have wandy just beam LaRussa in the head a la Nuke LaLoosh hitting the bull.
     
  8. JunkyardDwg

    JunkyardDwg Member

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    Should you walk him with a base open, with runners on, in a close ballgame? Sure. And usually when the Astros don't they get burned.

    But should you walk him if he's leading off an inning or coming to the plate with no runners? Maybe if it's a tie game in the late innings and you already have at least one out, otherwise no.

    You walk him every time he comes to the plate, you'd be tempting fate just as much as if you pitch to him in close games with runners on base. Cause sooner or later, those guys behind him will get the big hit.
     
  9. Gene the PIG

    Gene the PIG Member

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  10. Miguel

    Miguel Member

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    I would love nothing more.
     
  11. bobrek

    bobrek Politics belong in the D & D

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    Would you have said the same thing last year? He hit .245 against Houston with a .327 OBP and .469 slugging. Granted, this year is this year, but history suggests that the Astros generally handle Pujols pretty well compared to the rest of the league.

    Of course they should pitch carefully or walk him intentionally in a close situation with the game on the line, but to walk him just for the sake of walking him is usually a poor strategy and tends to p$%# off your pitching staff.
     
  12. Air Langhi

    Air Langhi Contributing Member

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    It seems like every time he bats with something on the line he comes through.
     
  13. Major

    Major Member

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    That's because of a tendency to remember what we want to - similar to whole "Bagwell/A-Rod only hits meaningless homeruns" phenomenon. Pujols, this year:

    With Bases Empty: 0.388 AVG, 1.209 OPS

    With Runners On: 0.318 AVG, 0.963 OPS

    With RISP: 0.256 AVG, 0.981 OPS

    He's a great player in general, but this year, he's been much better with nobody on base.
     
  14. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Member
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    Is that against the whole league, or just the Astros?
     
  15. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    I would pitch him normal until a crucial situation.....Roy O does well against him.

    DD
     
  16. msn

    msn Member

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    I would say so!
     
  17. rterry

    rterry Member

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    We'll see tonight. I hope you are right. Of course, Roy probably won't be pitching in the 8th and 9th when he seems to come through more often than not.
     
  18. msn

    msn Member

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    How to beat Albert Pujols:
    1. Score early and often
    2. Don't put runners on ahead of him
    Pretty easy, huh? :D
     
  19. rterry

    rterry Member

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    Have you changed your mind yet?
     
  20. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    LOL - How did I know someone would bring that up?

    Still only 3 runs given up is not that bad, the offense let the team down last night.

    And it was nice to see Roy looking more Royish, I hope he keeps it up.

    DD
     

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