I honestly think the booing and other teams trolling them about cheating is going to motivate them. Maybe last year there was some doubt there and it was fresh but coaches usually look for reasons to fire up their team. this one is pretty clear and easy. Everyone thinks you can't win without cheating. Prove them wrong. Of course it's a long *** season so this is one series but to dominate a good team like that feels good. The team really does feel stacked though.
It will mean the most to Altuve/Breg/Correa/Yuli The rest of the squad had no part of it. I think Houston fans in visiting environments are most likely to be bothered. Happy for the sweep tho.
Starting pitchers almost never go deep on their first start or 2, fresh off of spring. I thought the starting pitching was solid.
Is it weird that a large percentage of people thought everyone would just crumble under the scrutiny? The 2020 gap year seems to have helped.
Astros may actually be better once Framber returns. Just need to load manage this team without sacrificing timing/rhythm.
Urquidy struggled terribly with pitch count. Thankfully Bielak pitched the other half of the game using only 44 pitches LMJ was like he usually is. Way too high of a pitch count. Javier was pulled earlier than he normally would be, but was struggling a bit. Greinke was Greinke and would have gone at least 1 more inning if it was later in the season, possibly even 2 more. But if the bullpen does this all year? We'll be golden. Not having Verlander to eat up innings is going to be a concern over 162. Starting depth is likely to be a concern at some point, at least until/if Framber comes back, but being 4 games up on the A's and dominating the tie-breaker is a great way to start.
It may have taken a toll on them in 2020 (hard to say given the weird year that took place), but I definitely didn't think it would be a concern in 2021. Not having JV & Springer, followed by the indefinite loss of Framber were the real concerns.
Not sure if it is the intent, but it isn't that there aren't pitchers that can go 6-7 today. The problem with starters going 6-7 innings is that some teams that were doing this with non-aces were getting eaten alive by teams that had guys going max effort 4-5 and then go to the pen. 30 years ago, I doubt there were enough quality pitchers to use as many relievers that are used today.
I also think Odorizzi will eat up 6-ish on a consistent basis too. Adding him soon and Framber come summertime and the rotation will be in decent-to-good shape. Urq then becomes a luxury if Javier struggles or if someone needs a spot day off here and there.
He is probably the most extreme example of a starter today. For 3 innings, he dominated in a way that a pitcher, besides the rare ace, can't match if they are saving something for 6-7. 4th inning, average fastball dropped by over a tick from the 3rd. It is uncanny on how quickly he goes from dominant to dominated. Dusty should just start getting a guy warm anytime he sees 91 on the gun with Javier pitching.
I picture Javier as a great 2-3 inning pitcher coming out of the bullpen in the playoffs. His stuff should play really well.
Javier would be great in that role. I'd prefer just keeping him as a starter so he can kick the top and middle of the order in the balls in the 1st and 2nd innings. Give the Astros a couple of chances to get the lead, and then have a bulk reliever ready to take over in 4th, 5th, or 6th. I think he'll eventually build up endurance to go 5 consistently. Basically, if the bulk reliever is a fringe starter, the guy could go the distance like Bielak last night in a blow out or if things are close at least get it to the 8th.
There's a case to be made for this. Who do you pull out of the rotation when Framber, Jake are ready?
Garcia for Jake. Whoever is hurt for Framber. If no one is hurt, I probably don't care as Astros have a big lead in the AL West.
Haha didn't mean to come off as hostile or complaining, man it's hard to complain when they are smacking the crap out of the ball. I was honestly worried he was going to have Straw lead off to start the season. It's just a fact that Diaz should never hit third while Yordan is sixth in any game. I'm of the opinion that moving players around in the lineup does next to nothing in terms of "comfort". It's about optimizing the ability to produce runs; giving your best hitters more ABs. Of course the results from one game will lead people to discuss otherwise but I think we can all agree that Dusty has in-game managerial flaws. I still love him though, he's been exactly what they needed coming out of the "scandal".
Edit: If no one is hurt, I will probably care some. I just don't think it is a likely scenario that Astros have Javier and 5 other healthy starters very often, but I have been thinking about it since you mentioned. I'd probably want to slot Odorizzi behind Javier. Javier is likely a future starter for the Astros, and I want him to build endurance. Also, I think the odds of Javier being dominant in the playoffs as a reliever will be increased if he's treated like a starter in the regular season. However, pitchers, especially veteran pitchers, tend to be divas, and I think being in the pen would piss off Odorizzi more than Javier. I'd probably have Javier come in the 6th for Odorizzi unless he's back to 2019 form. Problem with having Javier be the second guy is that I don't know if my heart can handle him in the 9th after pitching a few innings.
