A 500 OPS catcher who was passing out free bases like hot cakes started 5 of them while a 850 guy with a cannon watched from the bench.
Sure, there’s a chance you hit into a double play, that absolutely can happen. But, you’re definitely giving them a free out.
14 of 16 teams that won game 1 went on to win the 3 game series. 10 home teams lost the first game (6-10 record in games 1s). 2-8 record in those series (2020 Athletics and 2020 Padres came back to win). 6 road teams lost the first game and went on to lose all 6 series. Now that first game record for home teams is 6-13. Yikes. But history says 20% of those home team game 1 losers went on to win the series. Time to make it 3-8.
Unless the catcher can't make the play. It's not THAT automatic. But point taken. I'm a little more in favor of it if it's a fast runner. 90% chance a bunt turns into an out? Somewhere thereabouts. 15 GIDPs for Pena. So about a 1 in 40 chance. Given all that, swing away. It's a tough call no matter how you slice it. Being at home vs on the road is probably the tiebreaker in this scenario. Get to extra innings.
Can't keep losing at home in the playoffs. I mean, WTF?! Having said that, I knew this one would be tough. Best pitcher in the AL. It is what it is. And you never know what Framber you're going to get. Doesn't matter. No excuses from this point forward.
No long term contracts. So a little difficult to ruin a run on 3 year deals. We just need to get past next year to get Pressly, Montero and Abreu off the books. McCullers after 2026. But yeah those 2 GM-less months were so so costly.
If the game is close it will be all hands on deck for Detroit. You don’t want to leave things up to a winner take all game 3 if you don’t have to.
My pecking order after the Astros: 1. Mets (Lindor needs a title) 2. Padres 3. Phillies (Harper needs a title) 4. Tigers (I like AJ) 5. Royals 6. Orioles (hapless for too long) 7. Guardians 8. Brewers The rest can burn in hell.
For all the Detroit vs KC talk, I doubt the offense today would have done much against Ragans either.
Yeah that was the Eovaldi and Bradley show. Game 2 was a real disappointment. We go up early on them only to see Cole kinda fall apart. A solid outing by Cole (he was really on a roll for us heading into that post season) and we may have done the reverse, lose all 3 at home and win all 4 on the road, lol.
Meaning AJ is about to get the last laugh by POTENTIALLY sending the Astros home. I know he's been really polite and owned up to it in front of the cameras, but at least some part of him is probably thinking how at least this way he can get some retribution. Nevertheless go 'Stros!
