Manager did a lot better tonight.

GoldMind said:

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Astros blastros. On track like a train chugging to October.

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That one felt good

Oldbear83 said:

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Astros win 6-1 over the Nationals. Bregman hits a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 8th, and Liriano closes out the 9th in an unorthodox but fun 1-2-3 inning.

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Liriano's inning was a low stress, low leverage inning. His ERA is decreasing because Hinch is using him is those type situations now. Hopefully he'll keep producing.

But the big bullpen star of August has been Joe Musgrove. He was a very disappointing 5th starter for most of the season, but seems to have found his calling in the bullpen. He's got a 0.00 ERA in August in 11.1 IP and 13 Ks.

Check out his starter vs. reliever stats --
Starter --> 4-8, 6.12 ERA, 2.9 K/BB ratio, 1.513 WHIP, 78.0 IP
Reliever --> 1-0, 0.55 ERA, 9.0 K/BB ratio, 0.673 WHIP, 16.1 IP


And not just his stats, but watching him last night ... he looked better than ever. Dotting 95 on the outside corner. Vicious sliders. I like it.

Astros record -- 77-49, 36 games remaining
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic Number to clinch AL West/Playoff Spot -- 24 (over Angels)
Magic Number to clinch homefield in ALDS -- 30 (over Indians)
Magic Number to clinch homefield throughout AL Playoffs -- 33 (over Red Sox)

GoldMind said:

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Astros blastros. On track like a train chugging to October.

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They also are 9-15 since Reddick's come from behind 3 run home run in Detroit on July 28th moved them back to 34 games over .500 for the last time.

Last night, the Astros had a game-tying sac fly in the 4th inning. It was only the 2nd game-tying run scored by the Astros since July 28th. Alex Bregman's 9th inning triple against Toronto on August 6th producing the other.

Remember that through July 28th, the Astros were playing insane comeback baseball. Something close to .500 when trailing after 6, when you should be between 15 and 20%. But they have come back to Earth.


Here's hoping Correa's return on September 1st will speed up the train that might have started to chug last night.

ValpoCory said:

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GoldMind said:

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Astros blastros. On track like a train chugging to October.

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They also are 9-15 since Reddick's come from behind 3 run home run in Detroit on July 28th moved them back to 34 games over .500 for the last time.

Last night, the Astros had a game-tying sac fly in the 4th inning. It was only the 2nd game-tying run scored by the Astros since July 28th. Alex Bregman's 9th inning triple against Toronto on August 6th producing the other.

Remember that through July 28th, the Astros were playing insane comeback baseball. Something close to .500 when trailing after 6, when you should be between 15 and 20%. But they have come back to Earth.


Here's hoping Correa's return on September 1st will speed up the train that might have started to chug last night.

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Now that's how a fan talks helll yea brother! Some on this board should follow your example!

GoldMind said:

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Now that's how a fan talks helll yea brother! Some on this board should follow your example!

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Beer and koolaid, huh?

Ken Giles was out yesterday due to a stick neck from a bad pillow. Nice.

Well, the Astros put up a nice fight in tying the game late, but ultimately lost on a funny bounce off the plate that scooted by McCann, followed by allowing the Nationals to score a huge insurance run from first on a single.

J.D. Davis hit his first major league home run in the 11th, and fortunately for him, the ball ricocheted back into the field of play, Unfortunately for him, Nationals right fielder Andrew Stevenson (0 career home runs) didn't notice the Astros trying to get the ball, and tossed the ball into the crowd.

The Astros outscored the Nationals 13-10 in the series. Another frustrating set.

What's Altuve's status?

D. C. Bear said:

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What's Altuve's status?

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Badass

GoldMind said:

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D. C. Bear said:

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What's Altuve's status?

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Badass

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He left last night's game with an injury of some sort.

D. C. Bear said:

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GoldMind said:

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D. C. Bear said:

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What's Altuve's status?

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Badass

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He left last night's game with an injury of some sort.

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Tweaked his neck. I've done that sneezing.

Great night tonight as the Astros won and the Red Sox lost.

Astros record -- 78-50, 34 games remaining
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic Number to clinch AL West/Playoff Spot -- 22 (over Mariners)
Magic Number to clinch homefield in ALDS -- 29 (over Indians)
Magic Number to clinch homefield throughout AL Playoffs -- 30 (over Red Sox)

D. C. Bear said:

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YWhat's Altuve's status?

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He's day-to-day. It's Hinch's m.o. to give players who leave a game due to injury the next game off.

What was also interesting though was Carlos Correa's absence from the Fresno Grizzlies lineup. Hopefully he's back in the lineup tomorrow.

UPDATE from Twitter:

ICYMI, tonight is just a scheduled off day for Carlos Correa. He's due to be back in the @FresnoGrizzlies lineup tomorrow. #Astros

I just hate how Marwyn Gonzalez pretty much never swings at the first pitch, usually digging himself into a hole.

Astros fade beginning to be a trend. Yesterday the 'Stros built a 6-1 lead but lost 7-6, today jumped out to 4-0 but now trail 5-4 going into the bottom of the 7th.

No more excuses, this team is in decline. Fans have a right to expect more than a swift exit in the playoffs.

Welp. Stros losing. Didn't even have to look at score.

GoldMind said:

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Welp. Stros losing. Didn't even have to look at score.

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HPB and an error, A's have the bases loaded without a hit.

Swell.

Brain McCann triples to give the Astros the lead. First good news I have seen in a long time.

Look at this. The most resilient team I've seen since the 2003 Marlins. Comeback for the ages.

GoldMind said:

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Look at this. The most resilient team I've seen since the 2003 Marlins. Comeback for the ages.

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Seriously?

Cmon boys almost there, I can see October now shining like a diamond.

Oldbear83 said:

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GoldMind said:

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Look at this. The most resilient team I've seen since the 2003 Marlins. Comeback for the ages.

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Seriously?

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Well, he's a lot closer to the truth of their performance than your Eyore-like analysis of the season for a team that has the best record in the AL.

Giles loads the bases but gets Pujols to fly out to finish the win

D. C. Bear said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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GoldMind said:

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Look at this. The most resilient team I've seen since the 2003 Marlins. Comeback for the ages.

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Seriously?

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Well, he's a lot closer to the truth of their performance than your Eyore-like analysis of the season for a team that has the best record in the AL.

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Unlike some, I pay attention to problems which are not addressed. If you want to put stickers over the warning lights, that does not make me "Eeyore".

D. C. Bear said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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GoldMind said:

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Look at this. The most resilient team I've seen since the 2003 Marlins. Comeback for the ages.

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Seriously?

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Well, he's a lot closer to the truth of their performance than your Eyore-like analysis of the season for a team that has the best record in the AL.

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Just block out the negativity and don't even respond. Makes following the ALs best team much more enjoyable. SicEm Stros.

Every team has flaws. Almost all of them have flaws that have given them a record worse than the Astros' this season.

GoldMind said:

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Just block out the negativity and don't even respond. Makes following the ALs best team much more enjoyable. SicEm Stros.

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I seem to recall you responding to my posts rather frequently. I guess you are conceding that my points are valid rather than merely "negativity".

You may also note that I am not the one name-calling (cf "Eeyore") , in case you need a mirror to check for hypocrisy viz a viz negativity.

D. C. Bear said:

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Every team has flaws. Almost all of them have flaws that have given them a record worse than the Astros' this season.

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I am just hoping the Astros start playing more like the pre-All Star Break Astros, and not the late July/ August set of issues Astros.

Oldbear83 said:

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D. C. Bear said:

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Every team has flaws. Almost all of them have flaws that have given them a record worse than the Astros' this season.

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I am just hoping the Astros start playing more like the pre-All Star Break Astros, and not the late July/ August set of issues Astros.

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They have different players, but they are coming back around the last week or so.
Also, the bullpen has the best ERA in baseball for the month of August. The offense is solid 1-9, particularly when they don't have three minor leaguers in there, and they are getting the guy's back healthy at a good time. They are not perfect, but they are a team that could win it all this year and no one would be surprised.

If you are an Astros fan, this is a season to enjoy the ride, not a season to nitpick.

D. C. Bear said:

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Oldbear83 said:

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D. C. Bear said:

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Every team has flaws. Almost all of them have flaws that have given them a record worse than the Astros' this season.

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I am just hoping the Astros start playing more like the pre-All Star Break Astros, and not the late July/ August set of issues Astros.

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They have different players, but they are coming back around the last week or so.
Also, the bullpen has the best ERA in baseball for the month of August. The offense is solid 1-9, particularly when they don't have three minor leaguers in there, and they are getting the guy's back healthy at a good time. They are not perfect, but they are a team that could win it all this year and no one would be surprised.

If you are an Astros fan, this is a season to enjoy the ride, not a season to nitpick.

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I've been an Astros fan since 1975. I remember 1999 and 2005. The regular season is great, but we have a shot at winning the World Series. Some of the players are great, some are coasting. I know it's a long season, but I have experience with teams that paid more attention to their wins at the start of the season, and did not fix problems that killed their post-season.

No one is a bad fan for wanting to see problems fixed. Trashing players would be wrong, demanding the impossible is out of line, but concern about problems that continue to show up is perfectly reasonable, even though I know Hinch is aware of them and working on them.

Looking good. #2 team in the AL shifts to Cleveland.

Astros record -- 79-51, 32 games remaining
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic Number to clinch AL West/Playoff Spot -- 19 (over Angels and Mariners)
Magic Number to clinch homefield in ALDS -- 27 (over Red Sox)
Magic Number to clinch homefield throughout AL Playoffs -- 28 (over Indians)

ValpoCory said:

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Looking good. #2 team in the AL shifts to Cleveland.

Astros record -- 79-51, 32 games remaining
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magic Number to clinch AL West/Playoff Spot -- 19 (over Angels and Mariners)
Magic Number to clinch homefield in ALDS -- 27 (over Red Sox)
Magic Number to clinch homefield throughout AL Playoffs -- 28 (over Indians)

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Chugga chugga chugga TOOOT TOOOT!!!

I'll tell y'all one thing, them Stros HAVE to win it all now. They have to give the people of Houston a victory after all this water and bring glory to this city. ''Tis what we crave.