The O’s - Rangers ALDS

[slakattack]

Too much ice in the lineup for weeks now, I don't think any one player is going to carry this team and we can't seem to get 3 of them to hit on the same day, so if you're gonna go down, go down with youth and speed...

Rutsch/Gunnar/Westy/Mateo/Cederic/HK every game

[eddie83]

1 hour ago, WarehouseChatter said:

I agree that Texas looks beatable but the bats need to come to life. We need a spark. Maybe Kjerstad is the answer. I don’t think it’s Hicks. Mullins is so valuable in CF but some of his swings and misses today were ugly.

I can see Heston getting a start in Texas. I don’t see him starting tomorrow with a LHP.

Issue is who do you replace Mullins with ? Has to be Hicks but then who is DH? No other RHB. 

[rm5678]

2 hours ago, TopGunnar said:

Cedric is the coldest hitter in the Major Leagues right now. And it’s been like that for a long time. Bench him for anybody 

He might not be at 100% after his injuries, but yes we need him to get back to form ASAP.

[Sports Guy]

Pitched great, fielded well but couldn’t get enough hits.

It happens.

Don’t think Hyde got outmanaged or anything like that…but guys failed.

This is a bad matchup for the Os. They are going to have to overcome a lot of things to win this series and they couldn’t do it today.

[Sports Guy]

While I don’t think Hyde made many bad decisions or got out managed, I do feel the Frazier decision was dumb. That tells me all I need to know about how they feel about Westburg in this series. 
 

I understand  that not every big situations comes late in games, just like not every save occurs in the 9th inning but Frazier isn’t a good defender and they have so many lefties to go to throughout the game that you just don’t go to him that early.

I don’t mind the idea of pinch hitting Frazier for Westburg in a big situation but not that early..not taking his glove and power potential out of the game that early.

You need to use these guys the best way possible. Hicks, Frazier and Mateo shouldn’t be starting but they are great pieces to have in the playoffs for certain situations.

Edited October 8, 2023 by Sports Guy

[Sports Guy]

Game 1 is always the easiest for the road team to steal, especially  when they have played and the other team has sat.

The Os will win tomorrow. This probably goes 5 now. 

[eddie83]

1 minute ago, Sports Guy said:

Game 1 is always the easiest for the road team to steal, especially  when they have played and the other team has sat.

The Os will win tomorrow. This probably goes 5 now. 

I would sign up for that. 

[Sports Guy]

Just now, eddie83 said:

I would sign up for that. 

It’s a bad matchup. Texas has a huge advantage right now.

Still, get the game tomorrow and you feel ok. This isn’t a great Texas team but they are a bad matchup and that is worse but I think the Os can overcome it. 
 

It’s not like they were outclassed today. 

[Malike]

9 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

It’s a bad matchup. Texas has a huge advantage right now.

Still, get the game tomorrow and you feel ok. This isn’t a great Texas team but they are a bad matchup and that is worse but I think the Os can overcome it. 
 

It’s not like they were outclassed today. 

They get as cold as fast as they get hot at the turn of a dime.  Wouldn't shock me if they win the next two here after sweeping Tampa and then getting swept themselves in the ALCS. Wouldn't shock me if they lost the next three games against us. They've been a roller coaster all year.

Edited October 8, 2023 by Malike

[emmett16]

11 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

While I don’t think Hyde made many bad decisions or hit out managed, I do feel the Frazier decision was dumb. That tells me all I need to know about how they feel about Westburg in this series. 
 

I understand  that not every big situations comes late in games, just like not every save occurs in the 9th inning but Frazier isn’t a good defender and they have so many lefties to go to throughout the game that you just don’t go to him that early.

I don’t mind the idea of pinch hitting Frazier for Westburg in a big situation but not that early..not taking his glove and power potential out of the game that early.

You need to use these guys the best way possible. Hicks, Frazier and Mateo shouldn’t be starting but they are great pieces to have in the playoffs for certain situations.

Spot on.  That was my gripe.  You leave a lesser fielder out there for 5 innings, only give the power guy 1 AB, and you give the weaker hitter 2 AB.  I’m OK with one, in a certain situation, but that was a mistake.  

[Sports Guy]

Just now, Malike said:

They get as cold as they get hot at the turn of a dime.  Wouldn't shock me if they win the next two here after sweeping Tampa and then getting swept themselves in the ALCS. Wouldn't shock me if they lost the next three games against us. They've been a roller coaster all year.

Yep. Montgomery is tough right now. It’s tough. Gunnar being silenced really hurts us and he will barely face right handed pitching in this series. 
 

[eddie83]

21 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

It’s a bad matchup. Texas has a huge advantage right now.

Still, get the game tomorrow and you feel ok. This isn’t a great Texas team but they are a bad matchup and that is worse but I think the Os can overcome it. 
 

It’s not like they were outclassed today. 

Need another bat to step up is basically what’s needed. I think Westburg plays longer tomorrow. 
 

I wonder if McCann or Mateo starts tomorrow instead of Urias. Something along those lines. In another post I said I doubt Mullins doesn’t start but it’s not impossible. 

[Spy Fox]

I think the bats come to life a bit tomorrow— maybe a couple runs off Montgomery, a few off the bullpen— and they win a 6-4 type game. 

[baltfan]

28 minutes ago, emmett16 said:

Spot on.  That was my gripe.  You leave a lesser fielder out there for 5 innings, only give the power guy 1 AB, and you give the weaker hitter 2 AB.  I’m OK with one, in a certain situation, but that was a mistake.  

Everyone keeps referring to Westburg as a power guy, but he hasn’t shown power in the bigs.  Much better chance Frazier hits a homer there, though he seems to not hit homers anymore either. 

[baltfan]

Orioles know Montgomery from when he was with the Yankees.  This gives me some hope