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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 10:11:16 GMT -6
Rangers have just been swept by LAA and Astros just dropped two of three to MIN... so both teams are coming into this series on a down note.
However, Arlington is in total disarray, having just lost Andrus for a couple months, and their fans seem ready to blow the whole team up. Choo, Mazara, and Beltre will be threats but they'd have to all be clicking at the same time to do anything major. Astros touched Hamels for 3 runs on Opening Day and look like they could do even better this time around (with Yuli and having had a chance to get familiar with Hamels' offerings).
The Astros also have the advantage of putting their 3 most effective starters (so far) of the young season against the enemy in this series: Cole - Morton - Verlander.
How about a sweep?
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 10:13:31 GMT -6
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 10:15:46 GMT -6
Be sure to pack a box of Kleenex if you're going to Minute Maid and run across any Rangers fans  |
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Post by bannedfan on Apr 13, 2018 10:23:09 GMT -6
It may come down to the Astros and Angels for the division. Right now the Angels are in first....
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 10:24:27 GMT -6
A sweep puts the Astros at 12-4. After that, it's time to show that upstart Ohtani how to play ball Houston-style.
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 10:37:13 GMT -6
I'm calling HRs in this series by Bregman and Gattis. Both are overdue and are avoiding the whiff very well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 11:25:15 GMT -6
A sweep puts the Astros at 12-4. After that, it's time to show that upstart Ohtani how to play ball Houston-style. What is interesting is that Ohtani had a poor spring, and was an eyelash away from a AAA assignment. Now a couple of weeks later, he's gotten a little hot and the knee-jerk punditry thinks he is west coast savior. Watch after about another 20 games how well the league adjusts. I give him 50/50 he still will make that AAA stint. |
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 11:31:13 GMT -6
The league will make adjustments to Ohtanii and it will then be his job to make counter-adjustments. Tyler White and Derek Fisher both hit very well at first (OPS ~1.000) only to struggle as pitchers identified and exploited their weaknesses after a few short weeks. For various reasons the sports media needs a few darling players and Ohtani easily suits their needs. But reality will catch up with him soon.
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marshall
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21st Century Luddite
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...
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Post by marshall on Apr 13, 2018 12:57:44 GMT -6
Rangers have just been swept by LAA and Astros just dropped two of three to MIN... so both teams are coming into this series on a down note. However, Arlington is in total disarray, having just lost Andrus for a couple months, and their fans seem ready to blow the whole team up. Choo, Mazara, and Beltre will be threats but they'd have to all be clicking at the same time to do anything major. Astros touched Hamels for 3 runs on Opening Day and look like they could do even better this time around (with Yuli and having had a chance to get familiar with Hamels' offerings). The Astros also have the advantage of putting their 3 most effective starters (so far) of the young season against the enemy in this series: Cole - Morton - Verlander. How about a sweep? Let's not repeat the sweep talk that we had going into Minnesota. One play at a time. When we do that right, the rest will follow. |
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marshall
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21st Century Luddite
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood...
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Post by marshall on Apr 13, 2018 13:18:25 GMT -6
Rangers have just been swept by LAA and Astros just dropped two of three to MIN... so both teams are coming into this series on a down note. However, Arlington is in total disarray, having just lost Andrus for a couple months, and their fans seem ready to blow the whole team up. Choo, Mazara, and Beltre will be threats but they'd have to all be clicking at the same time to do anything major. Astros touched Hamels for 3 runs on Opening Day and look like they could do even better this time around (with Yuli and having had a chance to get familiar with Hamels' offerings). The Astros also have the advantage of putting their 3 most effective starters (so far) of the young season against the enemy in this series: Cole - Morton - Verlander. How about a sweep? Let's not repeat the sweep talk that we had going into Minnesota. One play at a time. When we do that right, the rest will follow. Keep the train moving. Stop trying to hit the three run homer with nobody on base. |
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 13:27:04 GMT -6
OK now this is funny. A former teammate of Gerrit Cole is accusing him of doctoring the ball with pine tar or a similar sticky substance from Twitter -- "f*** it, I'll say it. It's pine tar and/or Firm Grip. Use them if you want a higher spin fastball or slider (less effective on curveballs). Take my word for it – or don't – but trust that I've studied it enough. t.co/6cao5nidjQ— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinebases) April 11, 2018" |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 13:30:27 GMT -6
OK now this is funny. A former teammate of Gerrit Cole is accusing him of doctoring the ball with pine tar or a similar sticky substance from Twitter -- "Feck it, I'll say it. It's pine tar and/or Firm Grip. Use them if you want a higher spin fastball or slider (less effective on curveballs). Take my word for it – or don't – but trust that I've studied it enough. t.co/6cao5nidjQ— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinebases) April 11, 2018" |
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 13:33:20 GMT -6
Comments on Kyle Boddy's accusations against Gerrit Cole --
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 13:45:53 GMT -6
For what it's worth, I think pitchers should be allowed to use pine tar (just as hitters are). The rationale for giving pine tar to hitters is to improve their grip on the bat, helping them to their job and also helping to prevent the bat from flying out of their hands and becoming a dangerous projectile. Why shouldn't the same rationale apply to pitchers? I"m pretty sure that in the early decades of baseball, this type of 'doctoring the ball' was permitted and to a certain extent encouraged. Among other things, I would expect the number of hit batsmen would decrease if pine tar were allowed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 13:50:17 GMT -6
OK now this is funny. A former teammate of Gerrit Cole is accusing him of doctoring the ball with pine tar or a similar sticky substance from Twitter -- "Feck it, I'll say it. It's pine tar and/or Firm Grip. Use them if you want a higher spin fastball or slider (less effective on curveballs). Take my word for it – or don't – but trust that I've studied it enough. t.co/6cao5nidjQ— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinebases) April 11, 2018" |
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Post by paastrosfan on Apr 13, 2018 13:55:12 GMT -6
Before thinking sweep, take a game at a time. |
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 13:57:42 GMT -6
Before thinking sweep, take a game at a time. JUst planting a positive thought! |
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Post by paastrosfan on Apr 13, 2018 13:58:54 GMT -6
Preston just takes Darvish yard for the three run jack. He is spanking the ball for the Braves, happy for him.
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Post by abregmanfan on Apr 13, 2018 14:04:25 GMT -6
Anything can happen in a rivalry game.
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Post by paastrosfan on Apr 13, 2018 14:07:59 GMT -6
Before thinking sweep, take a game at a time. JUst planting a positive thought! I agree with the positive vibe, but a few of my buddies who are Yankee fans as soon as they acquired Stanton thought they were going to destroy the league. Got off two a great start ripping the Blue Jays in the first two games, and they thought they were on the way. I mentioned Stanton's D during spring training in left, he would be no Gardner out there, and the fly ball he botched last night a Fenway was laughable, |
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 14:19:53 GMT -6
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Post by blcoach8 on Apr 13, 2018 14:41:17 GMT -6
Glad Yuli is back and it should improve our offense. I do disagree with keeping Fisher and sending Davis down. I don't see what Fisher has done that was more impressive than Davis.
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 14:59:38 GMT -6
Yuli hit 4 doubles in his limited ABs with AA Corpus Christi. He nearly hit 6 doubles, as two sharply hit balls were caught in highlight-reel fashion by the opposing center fielder.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Apr 13, 2018 15:49:23 GMT -6
Marisnick starting again...unreal.
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 16:04:16 GMT -6
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Post by bannedfan on Apr 13, 2018 18:17:19 GMT -6
How about some first inning runs for the World Series champs.
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Post by bannedfan on Apr 13, 2018 18:18:32 GMT -6
Springer!!!
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Post by astrosdoug on Apr 13, 2018 18:19:38 GMT -6
By the way, everybody, if you are having trouble seeing the game, it is the mlb.tv "Free Game of the Day" so if you just go there and click on "Current Subscribers", you should be able to see the game, even in Houston.
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Post by paastrosfan on Apr 13, 2018 18:22:26 GMT -6
Nice spank job by George to start this game.
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Post by paastrosfan on Apr 13, 2018 18:29:10 GMT -6
Cole rolling nice for two.
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