Really wish Mills would reign in his players from stealing in that situation... with a high average batter at the plate, a guy on 3rd, and a pitcher about to be on the ropes the LAST thing you want to do is give away an out. Steals and sacrafices don't win baseball games... its proven. There are situations where they help, but that was certainly not one of them.
awful spot to steal in the first place. and, holy ****! thanks to clutch, castor, whoever answered my request and decorated the stros' forum! awesome job!
no joke. have there been other instances this season when they attempt steals in a spot as idiotic as that? if that happens more than one time, that's a serious problem.
Earlier this season, I believe... similiar situation (JD may have been at the plate instead of Altuve... but it was Schafer who was CS). I understand when you're in a tie game, or you're down and just struggling against an elite pitcher... a steal can definitely help rattle the pitcher. However, in that situation... I don't care if you're the fastest guy on earth (which Jordan isn't), and the catcher one-hops nearly all throws (which Hannigan doesn't)... you let your most productive batter have a chance to drive in that run ESPECIALLY with 2 outs.
in the 9th inning (8th also, maybe), down 2 with 2 outs i can get behind stealing 2nd with a runner also on third, but other than that, there's no situation where that makes any sense, no matter who is batting. there's obviously no way i would remember, but i may have never seen a steal attempted with runners on the corners and 2 outs in my life that early in a game.
Lyles looks to have matched his improved confidence with some improved stuff. Again, he will be prone to the hiccup/big inning as his stuff still isn't "that" good to consistely blow away elite lineups, but he is only 21... and still has a couple of years to develop his arm strength/pitches to really see what he is capable of.
Even when he comes back down to earth (which he will), to put together a month like this at only 21 years of age is a VERY GOOD predictor of things to come, and things he is capable of.
Jed Lowrie is a good looking player... if Weiland amounts to anything of substance, the Melancon trade has gotta be one of the most lopsided (in favor of the Astros) deals they've made in recent memory.
Still only 25 (two years younger than Melancon). If he fails as a starter, could still be an above average bullpen guy... which is all Melancon is.
Interesting move letting Lyles bat when he's already thrown 90+ pitches. I guess Schafer's ejection has something to do with that.
