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Post by astrosdoug on Jun 14, 2018 18:02:23 GMT -6
It’s all clicking nicely, but our boys still haven’t had a statement series against a tough opponent. If they beat up the weak sisters in the meantime, it’ll be fine. Apparently, the Mariners that they beat up to win 3 of 4 in Seattle is much better without Canó. They've only got one more series against the Big Boys. A three game series with Boston. Unless you count Seattle, and there are three series and ten games there. Perhaps a three game series with the Dodgers. All the rest can be considered weak sisters. FiveThirtyEight has the Astros projected to win 104 games this season, with a 24% chance of repeating as WS champions. |
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marshall
Veteran
21st Century Luddite
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...
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Post by marshall on Jun 14, 2018 18:11:34 GMT -6
KC has been playing rotten baseball this year, but they were one of the few teams to post a winning record against the Astros last season. While KC has some of the worst pitching and weakest hitting in the majors, one odd thing about them is that they rarely strike out. They make lots of outs, just not by way of the K. Soler, Merrifield, and Moustakas should be the main guys to watch out for. Also, this series will give us a chance to see potential future Astro, Kelvin Herrera, in action. Do you really think they'll ever have a late inning lead? ie Save Opportunity? |
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Post by astrosdoug on Jun 14, 2018 18:21:35 GMT -6
Well, I hope KC won't, but they have had the Astros' number since at least 2015, so the Astros better be fighting all the way for 27 outs each game.
Herrera's had 10 or so appearances this year that weren't in save opportunities, so who knows. He did just blow a save vs. the Reds. Gave up 2 walks, a hit, and a run while taking 31 pitches to record 3 outs. His ERA jumped to a whopping 1.05.
There is a risk with Herrera somewhat like that with Giles insofar as Herrera really only has two pitches. So if either of them is not working, he becomes very predictable and hittable. I didn't see the KC-CIN game so not sure what happened there, but he will kind of be under a microscope for the next 6 weeks as he's one of the more desirable relievers out there on the trade market.
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Post by blcoach8 on Jun 14, 2018 19:35:19 GMT -6
We have to keep in mind there is no Hosmer or Cain on this Royals team. They aren't the same team that gave us such trouble.
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Post by bannedfan on Jun 14, 2018 23:08:54 GMT -6
Red Sox beat Seattle 2-1.
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Post by unionstation82 on Jun 14, 2018 23:11:08 GMT -6
Mariners had the first two (Haniger, Cruz) reach against Kimbrel on walks. Seager struck out. Healy GIDP 6-4-3.
Boston 2, Seattle 1.
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Post by unionstation82 on Jun 14, 2018 23:12:05 GMT -6
Red Sox beat Seattle 2-1. First place again! Surprised that Felix gave up just two runs. He’s been awful. |
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Post by astrosdoug on Jun 14, 2018 23:19:39 GMT -6
For a minute there, it looked like Seattle would pull another 1-run win out of its ass.
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Post by astrosdoug on Jun 14, 2018 23:20:32 GMT -6
May the Astros stay in first place from now till the end of the regular season.
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Post by astrosdoug on Jun 15, 2018 0:09:53 GMT -6
We have to keep in mind there is no Hosmer or Cain on this Royals team. They aren't the same team that gave us such trouble. Thankfully, Hosmer now drops infield pop-ups for us, and as for Cain, the only way the Astros have to deal with him are if the Brewers end up representing the NL in the WS. The Brewers do have the NL's best record at the moment, but most people don't think they can make it continue given their lack of pitching. Then again, if they go hog-wild at the trade deadline and get, I dunno, Syndergaard and DeGrom, that could change the projections a lot. |
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Post by astrosdoug on Jun 15, 2018 0:25:43 GMT -6
One interesting thing about the remainder of the schedule as described at www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds is that the Astros have (on paper, at least) the AL West's easiest remaining schedule. In fact, only two AL teams (the Indians and Twins) will have easier schedules than the Astros, and that should make the Indians approx. 91-game winners this season. The Mariners, Rays, and Orioles have the toughest remaining schedules. In the NL, we can expect the Nationals and Cubs to be buoyed to some extent by easier schedules. |
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Post by bannedfan on Jun 15, 2018 2:03:18 GMT -6
Red Sox beat Seattle 2-1. First place again! Surprised that Felix gave up just two runs. He’s been awful. Yeah. Finally. Need to keep winning. |
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Post by bearbryant on Jun 15, 2018 10:06:55 GMT -6
and now the Mariners run into the Boston freight train... The Mariners better get that Prep-H ready for King Felix. He’s been garbage this season. |
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