In addition to the huge bullpen advantage the Yankees have, the bottom third of their lineup is head and shoulders above the Astros. They showed all the defense you need to win last night as well. And with Hicks back on the roster they can put a defensive outfield on the field as good as any by sliding Gardner over to left. They showed they can handle Greinke. The big tests are yet to come. Verlander and Cole have no margin for error in this one and pitching to this line up is no easy task. There is not one spot that a pitcher can look forward to.
Well Stanton is out of the lineup tonight, but the Yankees have lived quite well without him all year. Verlander is on the bump with Cole going in Game 3. This is where the Yankees can either steal the series right here, or face the fact they are in a knock down drag out brawl. Big Papi just called the Astros lineup a "AAA lineup" for not making any adjustments to the split. I didn't see the game, so I can't really comment about it all but generally, I trust the guy with the rings.
Also, I've been busy watching football and throwing human beings out of my place. What the hell is going on with the Cards down O-2? Flaherty will put them on the board, but I thought Wainright would have shown better, or shut down the Nats. I see it was a close game and all, but what in the world is going on with St Louis? Take pitches, force balls in play and make them use their bullpen. They've got 3 bats in the lineup. Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be.
My golfing buddy who is a Cardinals fan said it's an anomaly that they made it, that they just don't have the lineup. Said they are playing a utility guy in the outfield because they just don't have the talent.
Was he talking about Edman? That's an awfully good 'utility guy.' It could be argued that he changed their whole season.
Jose had a great run with the Astros. Fans loved him. He had a son who also played in the Majors, Jose Jr. Great college career at Rice and 1st round pick, was journeyman in MLB though. So if you were here at that time you visited the now decaying rat infested Astrodome!
It wasn't vintage Verlander but he only gave up that one bomb to Judge, which he is prone to doing. He's had several games where he only gives up a few hits but 2 or 3 of them bombs. Astros in a must win situation for Tues with Gerrit Cole on the mound. No clue who they will trot out on Wed, and Greinke is the likely starter for Thursday. Assuming we can steal a win in NYC, it will be up to Verlander and Cole to finish it off.
Yes I did. The Astrodome was still in it's heyday. Bum Phillips and Earl Campbell were with the Oilers at that time also.
So... is anyone going to tell the Cards that the NLCS has, in fact, started. What an uninspired effort so far.
I see the Dodgers have a new pitching coach. Mark Prior, Honeycutt has retired/been reassigned. I read where Honeycutt has some medical issues.
Solid win by the Astros yesterday. Cole was good but not his dominant great that he was vs the Rays. But then the Yankees on the road might have had something to do with that. It was a must win for the Astros and assures that we'll return to Houston. The Nat's give the Cards the Broom. The Astros/Yankees is now going to go at least 6 games and probably 7. So the Nat's ptichers will be well rested for the WS. Seattle is now the only MLB not to make a WS appearance.
About 3-4 years ago, Gerrit Cole made a rehab start in Indianapolis, home of the Pirates' AAA franchise. He barely got through the first inning and got blown out in the 2nd. I recall thinking that he's got a long way to go. I've followed him since that rehab start and he's been lights out, first for the Pirates and now for the Astros on baseball's biggest stage. IMO he clearly is the AL Cy Young Award winner. No one else is close, not even Verlander, who in any other year would be the winner.
That is going to be an interesting Cy Young vote, clearly both pitchers had great years, Verlander had the no hitter, won 21 games. Cole also won 20 games. Their stats are so close. WAR Verlander #1 7.8 Cole #4 6.9 ERA Cole #1 2.50 Verlander #2 2.58 Strike Outs Cole #1 326 Verlander #2 300 Games Started Verlander #1 34 Cole #2 33 Innings Pitched Verlander #1 223 Cole #3 212 They both just had such great years. What I hope is that the Astros management digs deep and finds the money to pay Cole to stay with Houston. The talk is though that Cole want's to return to L.A. He grew up in Orange County and attended UCLA. Dodgers aren't afraid to spend money.