{Official} Astros @ Athletics

I actually agree with this.

Still, if Kuechel is throwing more than 100 pitches in any start the team is in trouble. What I am saying is the innings/pitches he threw last years are catching up with him.

 

105.3 the fan speculated prince is done for the season and his career could be over.

 

Deja Vu 2014

 

If that really were the case, wouldn't he be getting worse, not better, as the season went on and the innings piled up?

Certainly it has to be considered as one of the many possible reasons for his slow start... but again, he seems to be getting better as the season is going on (albeit, he's still not back to where he was last year).

Most pitchers show serious regression after the 6th inning and/or 100 pitches as is. However, just one more inning from your pitcher gives you that many more options for your bullpen to hold the fort. Hinch had a 50/50 decision last night... didn't really end up working out (but didn't really back-fire catastrophically either... as they did turn the game over to their closer with a lead).

 

Rangers already down 4-0, but they're threatening with 2 on, top of 2nd.

 

Angels escape bases loaded, with a warning-track catch.

4-0 Angels

So you're saying it did backfire, just not catastrophically.

Giles deserves his share of blame, but Hinch deserves his too.

It was even more stupid to pitch Sipp. Complete dumbass of a decision.

 

Huston Street is god awful.

 

He survived. 3.5 GB.

 

Spoiler

Stros' rise continues!!!

Tuve - AL league leading .357 BA, too

 

Never thought we'd be 3GB of the rangers this early

 

Same here. I thought it wouldn't be until at least mid to late August.

 

should be 1 game back but....... it is what it is.

 

On the flip-side, could still be 5-6 games back if the Rangers took care of business against an opponent the Astros are 8-1 against.

 

Yeah, we lost a series. No good team ever loses a series.

Sometimes I wonder if fans realize that even bad teams have major league players.

 

Just really sucks we blew that one game, but it happens. We've snatched plenty of wins from the jaws of defeat this season, so it isn't like it is one sided.

 

if only the Astros didn't shift on that play because it always fails..

 

Yep. Speaking of that, there have been a lot of shift-hit-saving balls in play as of late. Especially the up the middle positioning.

Nobody notices... nobody cares... but the once deemed "shift-proof" A's hit into plenty of them this last series (along with the Mariners prior).

 

I must admit that I complain everytime the shift bites us in the ass but I'm guessing management has done some in depth analysis on the subject and the shift more times than not is worth it.

And yes, the shift has done a lot of good lately.

 

I love the shifts, except while playing the Twins, Rays and A's. Would be nice to see the fail/ success rate against those 3 teams.