MLB 2019 Season: Shipping Up To Boston

stringertom

Bionic Poster
I don't mind pulling Scherzer after 5. That was one of the best pitching performances I have ever seen from a guy that had his C stuff. At that point they had the lead. At 115 was the plan on him going 130+ pitches? Better to start the next inning off with a new pitcher instead of sending Scherzer out their just to yank him once the first guy gets on base. Also the 115 included a large amount of high leverage pitches. 115 in 5 tough innings is a lot different than coasting to a 115 inning shutout.

Also, not sure Corbing pitching rules him out to start his regular game. These guys throw bullpen sessions in between starts anyway so he was throwing pitches regardless.

Astros continue to not drive guys in they are not quite NYY ALCS RISP bad but pretty close.

Cole looked scared to throw his fastball after that 2d homer. I'm sure the Astros will chalk it up to he was due for a dud game. Most runs he had given up since late May or something.

Oh yeah, terrible bunting by both teams. Why even try it at this point?

I was watching with my buddy and when eaton game up as the 2nd batter in the game my buddy says.
"That guy right there is gonna be the MVP, I'm calling it"
He then proceeds to pop up a bunt for an out
Eaton almost made the play of the night at the wall on Springer’s drive but I love the idiots in the Fox booth ripping on the runner that scored on the double instead of criticizing hot dogging Springer. That drive could have been a triple if Springer had run from the box instead of jumping three times! Had he made third base, the next fly ball is a SF and the game is tied.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Eaton almost made the play of the night at the wall on Springer’s drive but I love the idiots in the Fox booth ripping on the runner that scored on the double instead of criticizing hot dogging Springer. That drive could have been a triple if Springer had run from the box instead of jumping three times! Had he made third base, the next fly ball is a SF and the game is tied.

What was their gripe with the runner who scored from second?... And it does look like Springer would have been on third had he hustled. Can we say that with 100% certainty as Springer the tying run has to play it conservative and not run the risk of being thrown out at third?
I suppose most sluggers are in the habit admiring when they think it's gone. But Springer miscalculated distance as this was not clear-cut -- just barely reached the fence. It is hard to get into the hustle mindset when you think you've hit a dinger. Easier to hustle when you hit a liner that you know will stay in the park.

It is what it is these days. Springer apparently will get no heat for it. Maybe old school managers would have gotten in his face.
Pete Rose would have run it out but Pete always runs it out as he practically never hit homers. Hence nothing to admire. :(

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stringertom

Bionic Poster
What was their gripe with the runner who scored from second?... And it does look like Springer would have been on third had he hustled. Can we say that with 100% certainty as Springer the tying run has to play it conservative and not run the risk of being thrown out at third?
I suppose most sluggers are in the habit admiring when they think it's gone. But Springer miscalculated distance as this was not clear-cut -- just barely reached the fence. It is hard to get into the hustle mindset when you think you've hit a dinger. Easier to hustle when you hit a liner that you know will stay in the park.

It is what it is these days. Springer apparently will get no heat for it. Maybe old school managers would have gotten in his face.
Pete Rose would have run it out but Pete always runs it out as he practically never hit homers. Hence nothing to admire. :(

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Tucker was at 2B already and went back to the bag to potentially tag up if the ball was caught. With one out, the play is to stay close enough to second to return safely if the drive is caught but far enough towards third to score easily if it’s not caught. They were splitting hairs about Tucker but never once mentioned the gaffe by Springer.
 
C

Chadalina

Guest
Rough start, that left field wall is stupid, a player got their hand stuck in it last night, should be solid
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Nationals already up 2-0 on Mr. Upton with Rendon driving in the two on a double off the wall. Soto just whiffed for the first out.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Astros are making a lot of mistakes. Really uncharacteristic showing thus far in the Fall Classic. They look like the ones here for the first time while the Nationals look like they have the experience the Astros do in reality.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Astros tie it up on a 2-run moonshot by Bregman. Could have been 3-2 but Altuve got thrown out trying to steal third earlier.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Are you kidding me?! 42 year old Rodney warming up in the bullpen.

Where is Corbin?? He only thru 20 pitches last night

Is Martinez even trying to win this game?!
:(

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stringertom

Bionic Poster
Nationals add five more as Verlander gets yanked after a walk and Pressly comes in with more gasoline to throw on the fire. Another free pass, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk and then Bregman can’t corral a bouncer for the fourth run. Then a 2-run single, the only ball leaving the infield since Suzuki’s dinger. A dribbler down the third base line and Bregman throws wildly to first and two more score.

8-2 and Suzuki bats again.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
The grounder was an ERROR by Bregman. Generously ruled an infield hit.
Pressley doing a great Corbin impersonation.
:(
Martinez bringing in Rodney. Hold on to your seat.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Dude holy crap going to be a huge payday if they actually do it. Insane odds. I still can’t believe how much Washington was disrespected
Never disrespect solid starters in the postseason, especially when one is named Corbin!

What was the line you got?

Going home up 2-0, i might find out what a sweep line would pay...the Astros have one less bat for the next two games.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Great hedging opportunity if you now take the Astros to win the series.

:unsure:

It’s money I can afford to lose I honestly will likely just stick with my belief in the Nationals to win but we will see.

I almost never wager but seeing the biggest underdog in 12 years being a team that is hungry, hot, and talented I had to do it.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
It’s money I can afford to lose I honestly will likely just stick with my belief in the Nationals to win but we will see.

I almost never wager but seeing the biggest underdog in 12 years being a team that is hungry, hot, and talented I had to do it.

The Nats were the biggest underdogs in 12 years? :eek: Wow. Just. Wow.
Makes no sense. Not with their Big Three: Scherzer, Strasburger and Sanchez. And Corbin ready to ply his trade in relief.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
The Nats were the biggest underdogs in 12 years? :eek: Wow. Just. Wow.
Makes no sense. Not with their Big Three: Scherzer, Strasburger and Sanchez. And Corbin ready to ply his trade in relief.
Yep. Wouldn’t say easy money since the Astros are so good. It’s not over yet either but it’s looking pretty good Fedpo is getting a little early Christmas bonus.

Lots of baseball left though
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
It’s money I can afford to lose I honestly will likely just stick with my belief in the Nationals to win but we will see.

I almost never wager but seeing the biggest underdog in 12 years being a team that is hungry, hot, and talented I had to do it.

I am tempted to put $20 on the Nats to win this series. Even though they must face Cole and Verlander again.
What is my payoff?
:(

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Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Nationals looking to sweep. We pray that Corbin gets a starting opportunity before it's all done.
:(

HOUSTON -- When the 2019 World Series shifts to Washington D.C., the Nationals will have Anibal Sanchez on the mound for Game 3, not Patrick Corbin, manager Dave Martinez announced Wednesday. Their Game 4 starter is still TBA. Corbin threw an inning out of the bullpen in Washington's Game 1 win Tuesday night.

"Game 3 Anibal will start. I haven't made a decision on Game 4," Martinez said. "I talked to Corbin a little bit. He's going to go throw today and we'll see how he feels after he plays catch. These guys, they're all in. And this is based on a conversation I have with them every day, and we'll see how he feels after he throws."

Sanchez has made two starts this postseason and both have been excellent. He struck out nine and held the Dodgers to two runs in five innings in NLDS Game 3, and he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Cardinals in NLCS Game 1.

"You look over there, you look at the (Astros) lineup and they've got some good hitters," Martinez said. "But I've always said this before, Sanchez is going to compete and he's going to try to get those guys out the best he can and keep us in the ball game."

Martinez indicated that someone other Corbin -- possibly Joe Ross -- could start Game 4 depending on the team's bullpen needs in Games 2 and 3.
 

NonP

Legend
I was among those who were skeptical of the lopsided odds against my Nats but it's safe to say nobody expected them to outgun both Cole and Verlander so comprehensively in two consecutive road games. Much has been said about Hinch's decision in the 7th to intentionally walk Soto (their very first of the season) but I think his real mistake was in taking out Verlander prematurely after a single walk to start the inning. Soto was average by his standards last nite which Verlander deserves much credit for, and my guess is that V would've avoided that Suzuki HR at the very least which might have prevented the 6-run explosion in the first place. (Actually went to a late-nite movie after that. Wasn't expecting the lead to get even bigger.)

Quote of the Night:

"I've watched [Juan] Soto just like you have," said Astros manager AJ Hinch. "We see the downside of it. Clearly, I think there's a lot of downside, given that I haven't done it all year. But ironically, I thought it was our best chance to limit their scoring, and instead it poured gasoline on a fire that was already burning."

More takeaways:


I met him in person while I was working an internship with the Detroit Free Press. Had credentials to be in the clubhouse on a few occasions. Had to help cover the story of his brothers suicide. My least favorite thing I’ve ever had to do especially since I had met and spoken to him personally a few times. He was always my favorite Tiger by a mile. Austin Jackson and Anibal Sanchez (another Nat now!) were also very classy.

Ah, I missed that possibility. Yeah that must've been an excruciating experience, but Max seems like the type of guy who'd understand you were simply doing your job so hopefully it all turned out OK.

Looks like we've got quite a few classy guys in DC! And maybe the most fun-loving, too:


The grounder was an ERROR by Bregman. Generously ruled an infield hit.

That was a tricky ball, a hit sounds about right to me. Call it a forced error if you will (this is a tennis board after all).
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Much has been said about Hinch's decision in the 7th to intentionally walk Soto (their very first of the season) but I think his real mistake was in taking out Verlander prematurely after a single walk to start the inning. Soto was average by his standards last nite which Verlander deserves much credit for, and my guess is that V would've avoided that Suzuki HR at the very least which might have prevented the 6-run explosion in the first place. (Actually went to a late-nite movie after that. Wasn't expecting the lead to get even bigger.)

No. Suzuki led off the inning and took Verlander deep. Verlander walked the next batter. And then Verlander was yanked; Hinch really had no choice to yank Verlander after the leadoff HR and walk. Hapless Pressley came on in relief and proceeded to walk his first batter. :rolleyes:

And then the Nationals scored a zillion runs.
 
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NonP

Legend
No. Suzuki led off the inning and took Verlander deep. Verlander walked the next batter. And then Verlander was yanked...
Hapless Pressley came in and then walked his first batter.

I am fine with your idea of keeping Verlander in if he tells me he feels good. But these managers seem to adhere to pitch count as if it were written in stone.

Man I really messed up the chronology there. Still think V should've stayed in, but the As are notorious for being the league's stickiest sticklers so maybe he had little say in the matter.

Our pitching OTOH continues to be stingy AF. Strasburg had an admittedly rocky start but that mini-save to close out the 6th was clutch. Hope Sanchez will be just as stingy as Max and Steph come Friday.
 

T1000

Legend
Series is over. Astros have Greinke Bullpen Cole Verlander Greinke. Can’t see them winning four of those and really don’t like the odds if Cole is pushed up to start game 4.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Series is over. Astros have Greinke Bullpen Cole Verlander Greinke. Can’t see them winning four of those and really don’t like the odds if Cole is pushed up to start game 4.

Too early to count the Astros out. They lost opener at home and then won 4 out of five to close out the Yanks.
Nationals bullpen remains vulnerable and can collapse at any moment.
If Astros take game 3 then we likely have rested Cole and Verlander in Games 5 and 6 versus Scherzer and Strausburg.
Still give the slight edge to Astros in that pitching matchup for 5 and 6. Scherzer is still a question mark as he was on his "C" game but somehow pulled through.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Vegas odds had Nats way underrated so anyone who threw a few bucks on WAS good on ya.

Pitching so far has been shaky for both. Guys getting rocked and having uncharacteristic command issues. Nats have just gotten more hits when it mattered. Yet they say RBI's are a worthless stat
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Vegas odds had Nats way underrated so anyone who threw a few bucks on WAS good on ya.

Pitching so far has been shaky for both. Guys getting rocked and having uncharacteristic command issues. Nats have just gotten more hits when it mattered. Yet they say RBI's are a worthless stat
Scherzer was shaky with bad command; Strasburg made one big mistake but settled in and battled with less than his best stuff.

You could pretty much interchange Verlander with Strasburg last night until the Suzuki dinger...2 runs in the first with one key hit and then goose eggs. Both would have earned a quality start (6 innings, 3 ER or less) had Hinch lifted JV.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Scherzer was shaky with bad command; Strasburg made one big mistake but settled in and battled with less than his best stuff.

You could pretty much interchange Verlander with Strasburg last night until the Suzuki dinger...2 runs in the first with one key hit and then goose eggs. Both would have earned a quality start (6 innings, 3 ER or less) had Hinch lifted JV.

None of them have been absolutely terrible, but nowhere close to being on top of their games. I would have expected something close to a masterpiece from at least one of them. There have been baserunners galore.

Maybe that means Grienke is due for a beast performance and Sanchez wont go 8 innings of one hit.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
None of them have been absolutely terrible, but nowhere close to being on top of their games. I would have expected something close to a masterpiece from at least one of them. There have been baserunners galore.

Maybe that means Grienke is due for a beast performance and Sanchez wont go 8 innings of one hit.
Advantage Greinke...at the plate; he is a decent hitter.

I like Sanchez at home but I’m not expecting a gem. Several Nats batters are above .300 vs Greinke with 9 or more career ABs. Only Michael Brantley fits that mold vs Sanchez. It will be interesting to see if Cabrera replaces Kendrick at 2B in the starting lineup due to his 15/35 ownage of Greinke.
 

NonP

Legend
Per StubHub the lowest-priced ticket for tonite's game is going for... $1350!!!!!!!!! Jezuz I know the inventory is low but that is obscene.

Kinda hoping the As take this one so we've got something of a series. Expecting both Sanchez and Greinke to give up more than 2-3 runs. We'll see.
 

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Per StubHub the lowest-priced ticket for tonite's game is going for... $1350!!!!!!!!! Jezuz I know the inventory is low but that is obscene.

Kinda hoping the As take this one so we've got something of a series. Expecting both Sanchez and Greinke to give up more than 2-3 runs. We'll see.

Wow. Just. Wow. Granted, Washington has not had a World Series in a 100 years, but price is steep.
No doubt Senators, lawyers, lobbyists and other D.C criminal elites are snatching up tickets. Maybe even POTUS will throw out the first ball. :unsure:
D.C. must be going crazy for this team. And rightly so, they are the Cinderella story.

Astros remain very dangerous and Nats need to go up 3-0. Winning 4/5 is nothing for a team that has won 107. Astros had a closed door player meeting and are still feeling confident.

In fact, if Astros take Game 3, Astros are in the drivers seat because Martinez is still threatening to start Corbin in Game 4.
"Trick or Treat" indeed. :(

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stringertom

Bionic Poster
Astros jump to the 1-0 lead in the second but Baby Sharks are swarming with two singles in the bottom of the frame and Suzuki Shark ready to feed. Cabrera got one of the hits...Martinez followed my advice.

Suzuki caught looking on a good low fastball.
 
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