It's not "blowing your bullpen" when guys are pitching a single inning ahead of of a rest/travel day. Not even close. And this is this season's most important game. You empty the clip. And by the way, Verlander looked like he was dealing in innings 1-3 of Game 1... before cratering. Proactive management of the pitching decisions is the key here.
Unless something has changed at the very end of this season, the decision to keep Verlander in the game or pull him isn't up to Dusty. The front office makes those decisions. I know that there is friction between Click and Dusty over line up configurations etc. during the season but the rule under Luhnow and Click has been the front office makes those decisions. So, there must have been some agreement with Dusty and Click on Verlander. Agree that the hook will be a lot quicker tonight, the series is shorter, I could see them pull him after only a couple runs because there are only two games at most left after tonight and there is a travel day. Also, the Astros do not need to worry about Verlander being able to or not able to pitch in the rest of the series. There is a whole lot on the line for the Astros franchise in this series. They really want to win a non 2017 WS so that they are not as tainted, and they also want to establish themselves as the best team/mini dynasty of this era in baseball. For Verlander, there is a lot on the line financially and legacy-wise. A Jack Morris type performance and the discussion of his WS struggles will fade away. Also, as for the fans, an Astros win and the ownership group is very likely to increase the budget to an even higher level. The Astros would have an excellent chance of possibly repeating next year.
Exactly my thoughts on everything this is a legacy defining moment for Verlander and possibly for the Astros as well. Never good to face a team with one game away from clinching.
Every time that the DH or LFer struggles Click feels in the pit of his stomach, the daggers Crane is shooting in his direction as the anger smolders under. I would go with Hensley if I were Click. He can work a count and if he performs, the fact Click struck out on the "big bat" is less obvious.
If Verlander is dealing he stays in. If he isn’t you make sure and get him out as quickly as possible. No sense in penciling him down for innings before the game starts.
The front office makes in game decisions about when to pull a pitcher? This is the first I'm hearing of it as my understanding was that the front office can make team makeup decisions but things like lineup and when to pull a pitcher or sub a player is the Manager and in dugout coaches' decision. Wasn't that why there was all the tension between Billy Bean and Art Howe in Moneyball?
Just got McTaggart's "guide to the World Series G5" email.. he projected Diaz is in again at DH, and he's not usually wrong
Ever been to Philly? That is the most Philly thing I have ever seen. Even the rich white girls eat cigarettes and fentanyl for breakfast and their children fall asleep to listening to their mom get jack hammered by a methed out biker they met at Twin Peaks.
Has anyone ever mail ordered Philly Cheesesteaks from one of the two famous places? That's the only way I'll probably ever have an authentic one. I doubt I'll ever make it there. I would like to eat cheesesteaks while the Astros win. Probably not enough time to get them now, though.
Mail order cheese steak just sounds like a bad idea. I did have a Geno's when I was there. It was good but not something that I was really impressed with. Also I might've cost us game 1. I had a cheese steak at Woodrows by MMP. I figured eating the food of the enemy would be good mojo. Maybe I should've just stuck with Whataburger.
Why? If you want the authetic Philly experience, go to Walgreens and buy a pack of Newport filterless.... smoke them on your front porch and then go smash the first person that waves to you in the face with a tire iron or wrench.
