"Baker will lift Urquidy here after three and two third shut out innings. So two on and two out in the 9th and Baker has motioned for the lefty Brooks Raley to face Nelson Cruz."
I think I am going to vomit. There is no reason for Scrubb to pitch if Astros can get a lead in Games 1 and 2.
Baker, D'Antoni, and O'Brien often stay up late together discussing strategerie. There's really nothing to worry about. It's a circle of trust.
Hopefully he’s seen enough these last few weeks to be a believer in riding the hot hand. Always baffles me as to how these old school managers can be so wishful that their starting pitchers can continue to get outs after 100 pitches, but you have to go to your 8th inning guy in the 8th... and your 9th inning guy in the 9th.... when your bridge guy may be the most equipped to get through any lineup just once over 2-3 innings.
Let’s just hope the players play better than they have this season. It was nice to see some offensive production in the last series. Hopefully our team is ready to come out guns blazing. I’m not so worried about Dusty mismanaging; I’m more worried that our players don’t play to their potential. Everyone is struggling with it, not just HOU. MIN is beatable. They’re good. Solid pitching, solid lineup...good team. It should be an interesting, hard fought series, unless we come out just flat.
So..., theyll stay true to regular season form then. My key to the series- SCORE MORE RUNS THAN THE OPPONENT IN A GAME FOR 2 GAMES.
They're predicting sweep for the Twins and if the Twins lose to the Stros the season is an abject failure.
Its amazing the amount of angst some fan bases are hinging on this non-season. Granted, I'll be happy if the Stros win... but I'm not going to go apoplectic if they lose. Yankees fans already preparing to call for Boone to get fired if they lose.
Yankees fans should be pissed though I haven't followed enough this year to know if Boone should get their angst. One first place finish in 8 years, their pitching staff is aging, may lose their best player to free agency (I can hope, right), and their once mighty franchise is getting picked on by those bullies from Houston and Tampa.
For a three game series, you really only need 1 or 2 hot bats with probably 1 great SP performance. Given the number of guys on the roster who can do those things, is very possible.
I badly want to see a first inning homer by Lindor or Jose Ramirez, a cheap solo shot mid game by naquin or Santana, and Beiber carves up NYY for seven scoreless, then karinchak Ks 3 in the 8th, and hand holds them off for the ninth, for a 1-0 win by CLE.
The key for me is whether the offense continues in September mode or breaks out somehow. If the former, we lose. If the later, I think we got a real shot. I expect the pitching to be less than stellar, so its up to the offense.
Considering the Astros are without their best starting pitcher, their best relief pitcher and their best hitter.... the Twins should be looking to win the series. The Astros are not terribly motivated.... having said that, it is a small sample size and the Astros have a chance.
Rays over Jays Indians over Yanks Stros over Twins A's over Sox Rays over Indians A's over Stros Rays over A's Dodgers over Brewers Padres over Cards Cubs over Marlins Reds over Braves Pads over Dodgers Cubs over Reds Pads over Cubs Rays over Pads
