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Post by bearbryant on May 21, 2018 15:20:08 GMT -6
Sambito was good, but he imploded in the '81 postseason. His meltdown that year was like the one Giles had last October When you think of all the implosions of the Stros in playoff history, even Wagner had his moments. |
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Post by paastrosfan on May 21, 2018 15:44:12 GMT -6
When you think of all the implosions of the Stros in playoff history, even Wagner had his moments. At least we can say one thing, we witnessed a championship before going six feet under. Especially a few seasons ago that seemed would be a pipe dream, especially moving to the AL. |
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Post by unionstation82 on May 21, 2018 15:46:40 GMT -6
Mostly because Hinch kept him out of crucial situations
So yeah, the situations he called on Harris for last October were pretty crucialHarris’s performance in Game 2 of the World Series was pretty important. If he didn’t keep Pederson and Barnes in check with that runner in scoring position, Marwin’s at-bat against Jansen wouldn’t have mattered, the Dodgers go up 2-0, and we’re later watching a parade in downtown Los Angeles. |
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Post by paastrosfan on May 21, 2018 15:48:46 GMT -6
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Post by bearbryant on May 21, 2018 15:50:11 GMT -6
No one was 100 pct dependable from one October to the next it seemed. Years of agony going over which reliever could've done what different the time he failed seems like the rich tapestry of rooting for this ballclub At least we can say one thing, we witnessed a championship before going six feet under. Especially a few seasons ago that seemed would be a pipe dream, especially moving to the AL. |
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Post by Saint on May 21, 2018 15:52:41 GMT -6
He only gave up one run in the postseason last year... Mostly because Hinch kept him out of crucial situations Not really... He just didn't have him going multiple innings. And all the games were pretty close late in the WS he had 3 scoreless innings. |
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Post by bearbryant on May 21, 2018 15:52:52 GMT -6
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Post by paastrosfan on May 21, 2018 15:54:22 GMT -6
At least we can say one thing, we witnessed a championship before going six feet under. Especially a few seasons ago that seemed would be a pipe dream, especially moving to the AL. A decision before the scrutiny of the internet and how decisions made now, it was an unanswered question. |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on May 21, 2018 16:34:00 GMT -6
Harris was Hinch's go-to guy last postseason when he needed an unclean inning to finish. Meaning the starter had to exit mid-inning with men on base
So yeah, the situations he called on Harris for last October were pretty crucial Harris’s performance in Game 2 of the World Series was pretty important. If he didn’t keep Pederson and Barnes in check with that runner in scoring position, Marwin’s at-bat against Jansen wouldn’t have mattered, the Dodgers go up 2-0, and we’re later watching a parade in downtown Los Angeles. Jesus...please tell me you looked that up and don't actually remember the specifics of this random situation in a game that was played 8-9 months ago... |
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Post by unionstation82 on May 21, 2018 18:47:28 GMT -6
I looked up the batters that inning, I must admit.
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Post by bearbryant on May 21, 2018 18:51:47 GMT -6
You're like Ray Fiennes in Quiz Show
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Post by unionstation82 on May 21, 2018 18:55:23 GMT -6
You're like Ray Fiennes in Quiz Show Does that mean I’m a ringer? |
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Post by bearbryant on May 21, 2018 19:03:20 GMT -6
It means you claim victory and depart the field
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Post by bearbryant on May 21, 2018 19:32:24 GMT -6
Dominating game by Lance......best start I've ever seen from him. Harris scares me,but, Hinch sent him in to get the bottom of the order out and he did. Correa looked asleep at the plate all night. Still not cashing in on scoring opportunities but pitching and McCann's home run was enough. Now, we have Cole and Verlander ready for SF. Which sometimes I wonder why because since he has been an Astro he has been a solid, reliable reliever. Here is his ERA since becoming an Astro: 2015 - 1.90 2016 - 2.25 2017 - 2.98 2018 - 3.45 It's gone up over the years, but they are all solid numbers. |
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Post by astrosdoug on May 21, 2018 19:39:57 GMT -6
It's funny because Harris scares me as well. Which sometimes I wonder why because since he has been an Astro he has been a solid, reliable reliever. Here is his ERA since becoming an Astro: 2015 - 1.90 2016 - 2.25 2017 - 2.98 2018 - 3.45 It's gone up over the years, but they are all solid numbers. it's true. Harris's career splits by inning: 7th - 2.34 8th - 3.05 9th - 4.61 extras - 2.31 (based on only 12 IP) The boy should only be used in 7th or 8th innings, or extras. |
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Post by astrosdoug on May 21, 2018 19:40:53 GMT -6
a lot of times, hitters change their approach in the 9th inning. perhaps, Harris has not learned to make corresponding counter-adjustments.
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Post by paastrosfan on May 21, 2018 19:50:33 GMT -6
a lot of times, hitters change their approach in the 9th inning. perhaps, Harris has not learned to make corresponding counter-adjustments. What do you mean by hitters change their approach in the ninth inning. What would really matter what is the situation going into the ninth inning. How many runs are you down, is the hitter up with men in scoring position, only a man on first, no one on, how many outs. Harris has been in the pen most of his career, if he cannot make the corresponding adjustments he is in the wrong position. There is other things to consider, if there is runner or runners on the speed of the base runner, shifts and how to pitch to that shift. |
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Post by astrosdoug on May 21, 2018 20:33:34 GMT -6
a lot of times, hitters change their approach in the 9th inning. perhaps, Harris has not learned to make corresponding counter-adjustments. What do you mean by hitters change their approach in the ninth inning. What would really matter what is the situation going into the ninth inning. How many runs are you down, is the hitter up with men in scoring position, only a man on first, no one on, how many outs. Harris has been in the pen most of his career, if he cannot make the corresponding adjustments he is in the wrong position. There is other things to consider, if there is runner or runners on the speed of the base runner, shifts and how to pitch to that shift. I was just trying to consider to what extent it's Harris who is pitching differently in the ninth, or it's batters hitting differently in the ninth. Harris has been called in for a save only rarely in his career. Therefore, when he's appeared in the ninth, it's usually been in games where the Astros led by a lot or were behind by a lot, or the game was tied. When the Astros are ahead by a lot and in tie games, the opponent may try to generate baserunners using the bunt, or alternatively, may desperately swing for the fences. That might be different from how they approach their ABs in the 7th/8th innings. i totally agree that it's on Harris to adjust appropriately. To some extent, his success in getting outs will also depend on the defensive shift the manager is calling for. having said this, it's entirely possible that Harris just cracks under pressure. Whereas Harris has recorded 4.7 strikeouts for each walk in the 8th inning over his career, that ratio drops all the way to 3.06 when pitching in the ninth. Harris's BABIP Against is .333 in the 9th inning, about 50 points higher than in earlier innings. So, luck may be a factor working against him, but also it could be the manager using different defensive positioning in the 9th. Unlike other innings, Harris's battery mate has never thrown out a base stealer in the 9th. That probably has little to do with Harris, but still tends to help the opponent score. |
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Post by astrosdoug on May 21, 2018 20:45:40 GMT -6
Also, looking at the type of offensive damage opponents have done to Harris in the 9th in comparison with other innings, it's clear that his biggest problems have been base hits and walks. There's no significant increase in the rate of extra base hits allowed in the 9th. Harris has only allowed 5 HRs over 52 IP in the ninth, which is a pretty good ratio.
I'm not sure if the base hits have tended to be grounders that scoot through the infield, or line drives, or whatever, but the high walk rate suggests he has lacked his usual degree of control in the ninth. Maybe he's tried to get too 'cute' and paint corners instead of attacking hitters. There might be some online resource that shows his heat maps and such broken down by inning.
This year, Harris's cutter is more hittable than it's ever been (.279 BA against), but his curveball has been more deadly than it's ever been (.077 BA against). Maybe Strom can work some magic and show Harris how to get that cutter working more like it has in the past (.245 avg against over his career).
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Post by astrosdoug on May 21, 2018 21:02:11 GMT -6
Harris's velocity is about 1 mph higher than it was last year, which suggests the problem isn't age / arm falling off.
The degree of both horizontal and vertical movement on the curveball is actually higher this year than it has been over his career. That pitch has been golden for him this season -- it's the one that he has usually thrown when recording a strikeout, and he throws it for a strike slightly more often than he throws it for a ball even though he only throws it in the zone 25% of the time.
The cutter is his problematic pitch and while the horizontal movement on it is good this year, it's got about 25% less vertical movement than it has usually had. While it's generating hits, they are usually coming on ground balls and few hitters have been able to elevate it this year.
This year, Harris is tending to throw his cutter in the zone about 10% more often than he has in the past, and conversely he's throwing his curve outside the zone less often. Perhaps, he's allowing the cutter to catch a bit too much of the plate and failing to throw his wipeout curve for a called strike as much as he could be doing.
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Post by paastrosfan on May 21, 2018 22:27:41 GMT -6
Harris's velocity is about 1 mph higher than it was last year, which suggests the problem isn't age / arm falling off. The degree of both horizontal and vertical movement on the curveball is actually higher this year than it has been over his career. That pitch has been golden for him this season -- it's the one that he has usually thrown when recording a strikeout, and he throws it for a strike slightly more often than he throws it for a ball even though he only throws it in the zone 25% of the time. The cutter is his problematic pitch and while the horizontal movement on it is good this year, it's got about 25% less vertical movement than it has usually had. While it's generating hits, they are usually coming on ground balls and few hitters have been able to elevate it this year. This year, Harris is tending to throw his cutter in the zone about 10% more often than he has in the past, and conversely he's throwing his curve outside the zone less often. Perhaps, he's allowing the cutter to catch a bit too much of the plate and failing to throw his wipeout curve for a called strike as much as he could be doing. This is a good topic to debate, looking at it from the offensive and defensive side. Really there is no real correct answer, just look at this years Stros compared to last season how they are attacking the pitcher in the late innings. We have seen the expansion of the strike zone, not working the pitcher. Just plain not getting the hitting they had in the late innings last season. Obviously a relief pitcher in which the situation he is coming into the game will work the hitter differently on the situation he is inheriting. On a side not the DBacks have hit rock bottom since taking that series off the Stros. |
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Post by bearbryant on May 21, 2018 22:36:50 GMT -6
The problem with Harris is he had a big-stage performance when he was called on in the All-Star Game 2 years back, but he falls to pieces when called on to pitch the 9th. Defies logic it's true. Harris's career splits by inning: 7th - 2.34 8th - 3.05 9th - 4.61 extras - 2.31 (based on only 12 IP) The boy should only be used in 7th or 8th innings, or extras.
but not the 9th |
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Post by paastrosfan on May 21, 2018 22:45:09 GMT -6
it's true. Harris's career splits by inning: 7th - 2.34 8th - 3.05 9th - 4.61 extras - 2.31 (based on only 12 IP) The boy should only be used in 7th or 8th innings, or extras.
but not the 9thThat song brought back memories. |
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