I think it is the fact that if you throw Munro 1st then Backe 2nd then you have to throw Munro again later in the series unless you want to send Backe out there on short rest nearer the end of the series which could be dangerous. With Backe going 1st then Munro 2nd, you get Backe in game 5 on full rest. The way I see it Backe has to throw on 3 days rest once so it might as well be the first game. We have to remember also that Backe's game on Saturday was a Noon start time and the game tomorrow is a night game so he's had more rest than a typical short-rest start. I think it is the right move at this point.
I would forgive him for Game 2 if he did that for us...BTW, it's almost 5pm, I wonder what our good friend Raffy is up to right about now.
You made some good points but I think the main reason for Backe starting game 1 is because game 5 is at home and he's lights out a home (1.55 ERA I think at minute maid). If he starts game 2, he will not get a chance to pitch at home. Edit: Actually I'm wrong, if he pitches game 2, he can pitch game 5 also on 3 day's rest.
I was wondering the same thing as codell and didn't realize your point 'till now. I guess that makes sense. My belief is that for the Astros to win this series, three things have to happen: 1. They gotta split games 1 and 2. 2. The bats have to stay hot and produce a lot of runs in those games because while I'm confident in Brandon Backe at home, I'm not as confident in him on short rest and on the road. The best we could hope for with Munro is 2-4 runs allowed through the fifth. Those 2 games are really going to be offensive shootouts where the bullpen has to be reliable and the offense hot. 3. The Astros have to win games 3 and 4 where Roger and Roy start (but we already knew that). If everything goes well, the Astros should go up 3-1 and then go from there.
Two evenly matched teams. I suspect this will go 7. Although pitching is important. Hitting will be important as well. The series will swing back anbd forth like any good series does. I don't think we will have to win the Oswalt and Clemens games. In the last series we were 2-2 in those games. We still won. And both pitchers were cut short in a few of those starts.
ugh.. I don't have fox sports net on campus... and the yanks game is on at same time tomorrow so I'm guessing that one will be on fox not the astos here!.. grr
Well the hour-by-hour forecast on weather.com for St. Louis has it clearing up tomorrow around 5-6pm ... so we might be in for a game after all. It didn't look too promising earlier today when I took a look at it.
Backe must have been talking to Francis.. I went to Astros.com with full intent to buy his jersey... then I saw they sell jerseys for $340.. no thanks Gooooo Backe!
If Munro keeps the ball down in the zone he can be rather effective. If he is able to keep the ball down he should do a good job at neutralizing the lefthanded bats with his 2-seamer that has good movement. If Pete is able to keep the ball down I expect him to give 4 to 5 strong innings. Bring it Pete! Astros 7 Redbirds 5
I still think we should have started Munro and let Backe get the full rest. No need to tempt fate once again.
Wouldnt fox move one of the games to the FX channel,atleast thats what they did in the first round when a game was being played and it ran over that start time of another game.Why not just throw one game on Fox and one on FX I'm in NY....I better see the Stros or I will die
Well, now that we've appeased the out of towners.. How about us local fans without cable? Will it be on 51 KNWS if it's on FX aswell?
Local people here in Houston will get it on regular Fox. That's how they do it. They basically will put your game on regionally here in Houston and the New york Game will be on cable. Much like in Boston or New York they will get their game on local Fox and Astros on Cable.
thanks for the clearup as well figured that they MIGHT do something like that , but wasn't quite sure.
