Pirates leaving Maholm to face Pence was dumb, Hunter having himself a game and great to see Norris possibly get a win tonight.
You don't strikeout 14 guys, a number of those swinging, without having serious talent. Games like this gives you enough confidence that Norris could still be a top of the rotation guy, someday.
Good god all mighty...Kepp is batting 5th again. Bourn Sanchez Pence Lee Kepp Wallarus CJ Castro Happ I guess if the club wins its all good but Kepp or Blum batting 5th is horrible. I'd rather they bat him 3rd and move everyone else down a slot or maybe why not just let CJ hit there and try him out.
How did Chris Johnson get moved DOWN? Mills makes some head scratching moves, but it's hard to criticize too much since we've been much better recently.
Yet another late-inning rally. Yet another multi-hit game for CJ. Yet another multi-hit game for Pence. And a Castro multi-hit game that drove in the current winning run.
Its not the worst thing in the world to have a low strikeout, high average contact hitter in a prime RBI spot. I'd rather have a guy with pop in the 3rd spot (like Pence), but Kepp is just fine for the 5th spot). Also keep the kids on a low profile... they'll be the heart and soul of this lineup soon enough.
Man it must suck to be a Pirates fan, every season you pretty much know that your team will be last in the division and will always have one of the worst records in the entire MLB. With so many high draft picks over the last decade, I wonder why they can't field at least a semi-competitive team.
Most of them have the Steelers and Penguins to ease the pain but you're right, they haven't been able to do enough through their picks and trades.
It's a small sample size, but the numbers say keep CJ in the 7 hole. Batting 5th or 6th: .228 (16-70) 0 HR and 9 RBI Batting 7th: .452 (47-104) 6 HR and 25 RBI
After today's win, the Astros are sitting at 51-65. If you take out the interleague results (3-12 while playing the Yankees, Rays, Royals, and Rangers (6 times)) we're 48-48 . Hard to believe, but true.
Um, 65 minus 12 equals 53. Which would be 48-53. I'm not sure how you you got .500. We do however posses an excellent record within our division.
Oops, good catch. No excuses, I just botched that one. 48-53 - almost respectable if it wasn't for that turd we laid in interleague play.
I like the 5 spot to be a run producer who, in a perfect world, gets on base, Kepp gets on base but is hardly a run producer. I don't like Kepp in the 3 spot either but rather have peeps who get on base before the mashers drive them home. Saying all this, I also believe in what isn't broken doesn't need to be fixed so if Kepp/Blum in the 5 spot works, go for it.
Way off topic but is anyone following the Rangers? Their good but they won't make it past the ALDS. No way they beat the White Sox, Rays, or Yankees. Also their fans are real annoying, they seem to forget they have won ONE playoff GAME and haven't made the playoffs in 11 years. I like the way the Rangers play but its really hard to watch the games because their announcers are horrible, god forbid something goes against the Rangers way and Josh throws a tantrum if the team gets a base hit and I can't even hear the other dude talking, the White Sox announcers think their horrible. Sorry for the rant
