To be fair, I wasnt trying to be condescending, but it was a serious question. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php?threads/official-rays-astros.291796/page-18#post-11833797
Doesn’t make much difference with Gattis on first base. If Reddick wasn’t going to steal second then I don’t see the point. If he wouldn’t have started Jake then he wouldn’t have had this problem. Jake is stealing at bats from legit major leaguers.
Yes, your logic is correct, and that's the right way to approach lineups generally to maximize players. However... You saying the splits aren't relevant is incorrect. You can play Altuve against Snell and bench White. Tuve hitting .700 OPS against lefties > anything White's done (not to mention Tuve has killed lefties in his career which is far more reflective than what's he done so far this year) Everyone goes back to their regular positions; defense is also way better as a result (Yuli looked lost out at 3B). I doubt Snell lasts 7 innings as well, considering he hasn't made it that far in 2 months. Guy had 7 walks tonight and Altuve wasn't even playing. Changes the whole approach from the pitcher when you got Tuve in the 3 hole with Snell's ability to lose command/control at times. The first inning alone could have changed the game with Tuve having George and Breggy on with 0 outs (.942 OPS with runners on, 1.054 OPS with RISP for Tuve). Now, against Eovaldi, you can trot out Kemp for Tuve at 2B, and Reddick in for Jake. You have your lefties against Eovaldi and a solid lineup capable of producing without Altuve: Springer, Bregman, Correa, Yuli, Reddick, Gattis, Marwin, McCann, Kemp. Main guys get their rest day, Jake still gets playing time, and White doesn't play (cause who cares? he's really not a major league player if we're being honest).
It is on both of them. Luhnow for determining how to use relievers more effectively and Hinch for successfully using relievers effectively. If Hinch made a mistake with bullpen usage, it was leaving Verlander in too long. I don't see that as a mistake. Fans boo Hinch for resting players against Yankees while not playing well. Fans boo Hich for resting players against Ray's during a hot streak. I guess Hinch can rest players when they are dead. Hinch isn't perfect, but his team is in great position to have home field advantage, is healthy, and generally well rested (i.e., whatever problems people think Hinch has, it isn't significant enough to cause Astros to play poorly). Damn you, Hinch. Edit: Pitching Giles in high leverage situations when Giles didn't have his slider for several games is the thing that most sticks out this season to me as a bad move, but as bobrek will attest, it hasn't hurt the Astros much.
Makes a huge difference going to home on a double, third on a single, breaking up a DP, advancing on a short passed ball. If you don’t see all the opportunities for a faster runner to be on first in a 9th inning 1 run game, I don’t know what to say. Every manager would have made that exact same move.
Why do any of them need to steal more? There are certainly situations that call for at least the threat of a steal, but to criticize the Astros for not stealing more is just odd.
Did you consider their GIDP numbers before posting this ? The baserunning overall has improved over the past few years, but still seems below par. Would be interesting to know how we compare to other teams.
I have a problem with Hinch sitting Altuve when the team is going for a franchise record winning streak.
You don’t get extra points for setting a franchise record. Players need rest. Why is it such a problem?
What is it with people acting like a winning streak actually matters? Did anybody know, or care what the record win streak was 6 days ago, now suddenly it matters?
Don't you realize that setting a new franchise record regular season winning streak is a once in a lifetime opportunity
Would letting Altuve play until their streak ended affected how the team plays in the playoffs? BTW, I generally agree with how Hinch rests players.
I will always support Hinch, but last night we fielded a non-playoff lineup. It is only 1 loss and the loss wasn't lopsided, so I would take this type of losing than getting blown away, or playing half-hearted.
Did anybody mention this last night? So Hinch starts him today and they go on another 10+ game streak. Or maybe they start it the day after. How did Cleveland's streak treat them last year? Who cares about it now?
