This statement doesn't work anymore. Keuchel has been on 95-100 after 6 and given up runs in the 7th more times than not this season. It is 100% on the manager. No matter how hard headed or stubborn the player is.
He was over 100 pitches and he's not the same pitcher that he was last year. He cant go deep into games like he did last year and be effective. See: Rangers game last year.
Then again, he's showing improvement... not regression... as the season is going on. Part of that is confidence in his abilities. Hinch and co. have had more than their fair share of "reclamation" projects this season (between Keuchel, Valbuena, Giles, Gomez). They're actually not terrible in this regard.
I agree. Those were Keuchel's runs but even the acest of aces gets in jams every now and then. He had given up like 2 or 3 hits up until that point I believe. You have a bull pen to help your starters out of jams especially later in the innings. There's a lot of fault to go around but as shaky as the bullpen was last night, I don't think an extra inning of Giles would have saved the game. Correction: ONE superstar.
When is it on the player? Even if we blame the 2 runs in the 7th on Hinch, why is the game on Hinch when all Harris had to do was hold on to a lead in the 9th?
You know, I could sit here and argue that Hinch should have kept Dallas in the game and let him get out of his own jam. After all, he does a better job of forcing double plays than anybody else. That's how MMQBing works.
What would it take to get Chapman here for the stretch run? Harris has been great but I just don't see him as a closer.
Despite not giving up that many hits... he was not sharp. Way too many 3 ball counts, umpteen pitches fouled off to run up the count, and the A's helped him out by swinging/missing at ball 4 more than once. Its what they do. Sometimes you tip your cap. Hinch did remove him as the contact became harder and the pitch count was at 115. The only logical decision in hindsight would be to not let him start the inning... or take him out after he had gotten the first out, or after he gives up the base hit (then again, he was then facing the bottom of the lineup at that point). In the end, they collectively blew a 3-0 lead after 6 innings. Its the second time in 2 weeks they've blown a 3 run lead or greater in later innings against the A's. Need to be better.
My "fake" argument was that even with all the walks and not looking as sharp, he was able to keep the As from home plate. So, if Giles started the inning and still gave up two runs; wouldn't we be blaming Hinch for that decision as well? This was a collective loss and for a team that has been over-achieving, this isn't too surprising. My biggest concern is the toll the past two games might have on the team. last night's game had the looks of the beginning of a losing streak or a downward spiral. Hoping they're able to get back to winning today and the rest of the season moving forward.
i Thought dallas was his cy young self last night but the arm was getting tired by the time the arms usually begins to get tired. Giles did well. Taking the ball away from dallas maybe only scores 1 run or there is a massive crack along cali's fault which causes a mother earthquake destroying all civilization, since I know some are sensitive to the what if scenarios. But next time, Hinch will take him out by pitch 101. It just sucks losing due to letting your guy work out of it or not walking big roidy with an open base. But it's also the same reason player will play hard for him. In all, Beat these freaking a's today and sweep them when they come rolling with their dangerous mind batter's music. ^He mad.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Fiers, who didn't complete four innings in either of his last two starts, is listed as the Astros' starter for Sunday's game vs. LAA.</p>— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakemkaplan/status/755795466542018561">July 20, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Astros-Angels pitching matchups<br>Fri: McCullers. vs. Shoemaker<br>Sat: McHugh vs. Weaver<br>Sunday: Fiers vs. TBA</p>— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakemkaplan/status/755795707131469825">July 20, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
With Keuchel struggling in the 6th and 7th so much this year, he should have been pulled. His pitch count was high. Batters were fouling him off and sitting on a good pitch to hit. Harris doesn't miss enough bats to be a closer. 93 mph isn't closer stuff.
Gomez and Rasmus should not be everyday players anymore. Gomez has proven to be lost all season and if you take away April, Rasmus had been just as awful. Both are automatic outs
No, I'd blame Giles even more. As of right now, he's the 7th inning guy. His job is to protect the lead for typically just one inning. It would not have been Hinch's fault at all. The good thing about baseball is that they have the chance to snap out of it in just a few short hours. Hell, the 1-0 loss to the Mariners could have been just as demoralizing... and they followed it up with a white-wash. Not sure why you'd say they've been over-achieving. They were certainly under-achieving to start the year.... and when the starting pitching and some other guys in the lineup started coming around (mainly Gomez), they started getting back to where they were expected to be.
Gattis and Castro in the lineup at the same time. Sigh. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's how the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> will line up for the series finale in Oakland. <a href="https://t.co/PyrTWR23Ye">pic.twitter.com/PyrTWR23Ye</a></p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/755810017626816512">July 20, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Better that Texas is losing, but yea, we could be closer than the current 4.5 for sure. As far as playing time, I think we are giving some players too much as is. Some guys need to be gone altogether. Its seems rather pointless and/or counter productive to build a strong farm only to have them blocked at the major league level by guys who struggle to tow the Mendoza line. The brass seems over concerned to the point of brain-freeze of letting a guy walk away in fear that he may turn it around somewhere else. I agree, that may happen. It does happen. But the future isnt written. The present is here now. Move on from guys like Singleton, Marisnick and Brad Peacock. Free up those 40 man spots with someone that can perform now.
Maybe I shouldn't say over-achieving. What I mean is that individually, aside from Altuve, the guys aren't playing that well. Yet they are six games above .500. The Red Sox have like 7 guys hitting above .270. The astros have 1. Yet the Astros are within striking distance. The best Astros SP would probably be 3rd or worst in most playoff ball clubs. Yet the Astros are right in the thick of things. That is why I love this team so much. They, more often than not, find ways to get it done. Imagine what they would do with a true ace. And if Springer, Correa, and Valbuena get their BAs to .280. And of course, if Bregman comes in and plays like we are all hoping he will. Man!
Would't get too hung up on individual performances or simply batting average. The Astros are collectively one of the league leaders in walks. They still also have prodigious power (albeit, not the league leading variety from last year). They score enough runs... but perhaps they get better with some additions (and more importantly, replace the guys who have no business being in an MLB lineup).
