My emotions last night...James gets a shutout inning. Incredibly excited for James. Even posted how it was great he got through a month without giving up a run as I thought here comes Javier for 2-3 innings with Pressly in reserve in case Javier runs out of heat. James comes out....I think....Man, Dusty has been good at not putting pitchers in situations that stress their abilities. I expected it with Pressly possibly being stressed by pitching 3 games in a row, but not James. Then I thought, James probably is given one base runner trying to give James a shot to shorten Javier's outing by an out or two. I check twitter to see if Dusty has Javier ready. Nothing about Javier in the pen. Start to get worried like when James originally came in. James gives up a base runner. He's still in there. Pray for a double play as I don't think anyone is up in pen ready if a second runner gets on. Second runner gets on. I expect James either to serve up a goofer ball or walk bases loaded. ****
If just one of the quartet of Smith, Devo, Peacock, James could consistently contribute, the whole complexion of the bullpen (and team) would be dramatically improved. Literally one solid bullpen arm away from being *that* much more dangerous even with the abomination that this season has been due to COVID-19. Bats need to go put up a 10-spot today. I liked Baker moving Correa up in the order yesterday. What do y'all think of maybe giving Diaz another start today - maybe at first for Yuli?
If Greinke isn't going to be able to go today, I'd still name him the starter... can always swap him out for Javier before the game without penalty, right? #Gamesmanship
Cole was ready to go in the last game of the season. The Astros have 1 guy in Lance we can depend on to pitch with 2 games left....
I’d start Diaz at DH but I trust Yuli at first base. Great glove and he’s shown more than enough historically for me to trust him offensively too.
No. But holding a 3 run lead with 9 outs to go, with the right pitchers put in, is an expectation I would think any playoff team would have.
4d chess. We sweep two rounds and get cold waiting. Or take the extra sweat by punting a game. I hope Fiers is forced to pitch. Win win
Ideally they go with Greinke, Javier, Paredes, Pressly today. If Greinke could give them 3-4 innings that would be huge.
Horrible. Sounds even worse on replay. plenty of posters here were more than happy to have James try and go a 2nd inning. Hell, sometimes he does look unhittable. But to not have anybody else ready to go in case people got on base? Like I said earlier... malpractice.
So no team has coughed up a lead this post season? Or ever? I know it was a tough loss but **** happens and the freak out is a bit over the top.
If you lose with your best options, you live with it. sometimes the other team is just better. asking James to pitch a 2nd inning, something he hasn’t done all year... after not pitching at all for the last 3 weeks... was a bad decision. Cant take for granted games you have a shot at clinching in. Especially when pitching is no longer a given the deeper these series go.
You act like anybody else he brought in was guaranteed to not give up those runs.; Who took anything for granted? I can agree it might have been a bad decision but you don't have all of the info that went into that decision , I hate placing blame when all the relevant info is not available.
Anybody else but James. At least with someone else, you throw a dart at the board and say "maybe he can get through this". Not that the confidence meter is at an all-time high if he brought in say Raley immediately after James 1st inning, but almost anyone gives you a better chance than automatic HR Josh James.
