Fair Enough. As long as the Astros are still considering Urquidy to be available to start a Game 6 or 7 assuming he feels OK, then it makes sense to me.
I think at this point, it looks like the Astros starters seem to do better when they're not named Framber Valdez.
Can play the what if game all we want. Again, it's easy to say things like this now. The reality is he used him and he gave up 0 runs when we desperately needed a 0 to calm everything down, and he only pitched 14 pitches. Is it ideal? No, but neither is having to fight and scratch and claw for your life down 4-0 (at the time 4-5) facing elimination. Not breaking any news here, but if the Astros are gonna pull this off then a lot of guys are going to have to step up and perform at a high level. The offense can take a load off the pitchers if they continue to pile on runs. But we will need every inch of our pitching staff. I think we have to have trust that Strom can find a way to get the most out of all of these guys with whatever they have left in the tank.
I believe he’s tipping his sinker …they don’t swing at any of his off speed stuff ….strike or no strike
I get you gotta win which is why I wasn't phrasing it as a criticism. I was more thinking Urquidy should still be a potential option for a Game 6 start if he's feeling well. If you think it absolutely rules him out for a Game 6 start, then a different reliever may have made sense there. I would hope at this point the Astros are looking at all of Garcia/Urquidy/Odorrizi and how they are feeling for Game 6.
Braves have scored 18 runs in 5 games. Framber has given up over half of those (10) in 4.2 innings. Others gave up 8 runs in 38.1 Innings (1.88 ERA)
One other thing I think I missed is they may have intended Urquidy to go longer than an inning, but he was removed for a pinch hitter.
You can't apply series long game planning, rest, innings, and pitch count when you are down 3-1 in the final series of the season, with a championship and elimination on the line. That's the disadvantage of going down 3-1. Dusty will run out of bullets going into Game 6 and 7, it's desperation, all hands on deck, every inning. You just do the best you can and hope for the best.
Yep. It kinda reminds me of the 2017 World Series. The Astros hammered Yu Darvish in Games 3 and 7(he was likely tipping his pitches), but the team struggled to score in Games 1, 2, 4, and 6. His horrible starts were basically the difference in that series and the reason the Astros won.
He's definitely tipping his pitches considering how they hammer him and can't even touch anyone in the bullpen .
Good point. Urquidy and Framber can basically be viewed as fresh arms in the bullpen that can be used in traditional relief roles for games 6 And 7. It’ll be Garcia and Greinke as SP with 11 guys available to use in whatever way is most likely to immediately get outs and prevent runs.
I think about it like we've got 18 innings to get through. You can probably get 2 each from Pressly Graveman Javier 1 each from Maton (I get the off day, but Maton ran his pitch count up in a B2B appearance - he probably needs 2 days) Stanek (pitched every game in ATL) That covers 8 innings. I'd pencil Greinke in for 2 innings on 3 days rest in a game 7, and Urquidy is a wild card -- can he go 2 innings? 3 innings? In any case, you're looking to pick up 5-6 innings out of Luis Garcia, and whatever matchup outs from Yimi Garcia, Odorizzi and the lefties (including Framber potentially). I get the temptation to go with Garcia, but I'd honestly try and save him. I'd probably try and go- Game 6 Urquidy - 2 Odorizzi - 2 Yimi - 1 Javier - 2 (3 if he's rolling) Stanek - 1 Pressly - 1 Game 7 Garcia - 4 Greinke - 2 (he's on 3 days rest - could probably give you 40 pitches?) Maton - 1 Graveman - 1 (2 if you need it) Pressly - 1 You've also got the 2 bullpen lefties for matchups either game, and home Framber potentially if they can sort him out.
Interesting way of looking at it. Planning for the contingency of extra innings (which would be the only spot where Blake Taylor would be used), if each pitcher can give 2 innings over 2 games, they’ve got it covered. Game 6: L Garcia 2, Odorizzi 2, Javier 2, Y Garcia 1, Graveman 1, Pressly 1; Extras: Framber 1, Raley 1, Stanek 1, Maton 1 Game 7: Greinke 2, Urquidy 2, Framber 1, Maton 1, Stanek 1, Graveman 1, Pressly 1; Extras: Taylor 2, Raley 1, Y Garcia 1
Yeah if you can't figure that out just try and go back to that exact moment in time and marinate on your thoughts regarding the game at that time. We had given up runs in 2/3 innings and just relinquished the lead after climbing back from 0-4. The Freeman homer felt like another shot to the gut. That inning was valuable AF.
Luis Garcia, Christian Javier, Jake Odorizzi, Brooks Raley all need to step up one more time in Game 6 Still waiting for Sleeping Giant Yordan Alvarez to wake up, he is really needed Game 6 Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Kendall Graveman, Ryan Presley hopefully lock it down
