Astros Series - 8/22 - 8/25

[sportsfan8703]

Scary series.  I think the Astros' advanced scouts, from leaving that NYY series where we put up 17, is what figured us out.  We haven't been the same since.  

The good analytic teams give us fits.  Houston and Cleveland.  

Edited August 22 by sportsfan8703

[Spy Fox]

Could really use a bounce back performance from Burnes tonight to set the tone. 

[Too Tall]

Even when we had bad teams, we seemed to play the Astros tough. It's time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, I'd send Rogers down and keep Irvin and Povich up with Vespi flipped when Akin returns. Rogers still needs lab work - not that he's alone.

[Just Regular]

Our banter rate has been high enough this was off Page 1 last hour.     Copying from duplicate post:

An interesting measuring stick opportunity.    No matter the 2023 Rangers glitch, this has been the AL's best team a long time.    They come in a little cool, the Red Sox having won the series down there after splitting at Camden Yards.

Aaron Judge was I believe behind Jorge Mateo on prospect lists when the young Astros beat the old Yankees in the 2015 wildcard game, Colby Rasmus notching a Game Winning RBI to eliminate Alex Rodriguez in the final season he was any good.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA201510060.shtml

Thought exercise - if Mike Elias recommends David Rubenstein spend very big money on an individual this winter, is Alex Bregman more his style than Burnes or Santander?     Alex Bregman is old enough to be the smartest guy in the room.     Corbin Burnes perhaps is not going to be Frank Robinson.

I think they'll be sharp this series knowing in the long run BAL is the best positioned team to overtake them as the league's best, and just like the old Yankees greats their days remaining the On Paper favorites over these Orioles are numbered.

It is granted this weekend Orioles fans have no earthly idea whether Hyde has any relievers who can retire any of their top of the lineup champions.    Or even any starters aside from Burnes, if even he can.

[Baseball fandom]

They are the better team and probably the favorite to get to the World Series at this point in my opinion. Maybe the Orioles can steal a game from them this time 

Edited August 22 by Baseball fandom

[Spy Fox]

MLB has some TBAs on the Astros side, while ESPN has these as the likely matchups: 

• Burnes (12-5, 3.10) v Arrighetti (5-11, 5.20)
• Povich (1-6, 5.77) v Brown (11-7, 3.82)
• Suarez (6-4, 3.18) v Valdez (13-5, 3.20)
• Rogers (2-11, 4.92) v Kikuchi (6-9, 4.37)

The raw numbers undersell the Astros SPs that we'll face, as a few of them had bad springs but better summers.  The rookie Arrighetti had back to back 12 and 13 K starts earlier this month. Brown had a nearly 10 ERA in April, but 2.59 since. Similarly, Framber was ok early but has a 2.60 ERA since June 1. And Kikuchi has a 2.42 ERA since the trade, with Houston winning all four of his starts. It's going to be tough. 

[dtk9119]

3 hours ago, Frobby said:

If you look at our season, the June 21-23 Astros series is the turning point.  Before that, the O’s were 49-25 and had just won series from the Yankees, Phillies and Braves following a 4-game sweep of the Rays in Tampa.  The team could not have been riding higher.  But then they flew into Houston, got swept, then lost the first two games to Cleveland, and they’ve been on shaky ground ever since.   That other thread quoting Jon Meoli saying how the team ERA has been 2 runs higher after June 20?   It starts with the Houston series.  

Let’s hope this series marks a turning point in the other direction.  
 

That series is ENGRAINED in my mind as THE 2024 turning point. Attended all 3 games at MMP and it was a complete disaster on all levels -- including listening to 3 straight days of annoying obnoxious Astros fans. At the time I could not fathom that the poor play in that series would last another TWO freaking months and still going. And the Astros were not even playing as well then as they are now.

I want to say this series will tell us a lot about where this team stands but honestly I am expecting more of the same MEH from this team. Probably a 2-2 split to keep the mediocrity going. On a smaller scale, Burnes needs to rebound from his last start or even the mediocrity of this team will fall into complete collapse. Looking at the projected match ups, I would expect wins in the Burnes and either Suarez/Povich start. Losses in either Suarez/Povich and Rogers starts. 

[dtk9119]

2 minutes ago, dtk9119 said:

That series is ENGRAINED in my mind as THE 2024 turning point. Attended all 3 games at MMP and it was a complete disaster on all levels -- including listening to 3 straight days of annoying obnoxious Astros fans. At the time I could not fathom that the poor play in that series would last another TWO freaking months and still going. And the Astros were not even playing as well then as they are now.

I want to say this series will tell us a lot about where this team stands but honestly I am expecting more of the same MEH from this team. Probably a 2-2 split to keep the mediocrity going. On a smaller scale, Burnes needs to rebound from his last start or even the mediocrity of this team will fall into complete collapse. Looking at the projected match ups, I would expect wins in the Burnes and either Suarez/Povich start. Losses in either Suarez/Povich and Rogers starts. 

Well, I missed the roster moves today.. I wondered what they were going to do w/ Irvin. I guess he has now replaced Rogers in the rotation? But he's not in line for Sunday, so I wonder who is going to pitch?

[Sports Guy]

Can’t field good about winning the series or even splitting the series if you don’t win tonight.  Feels almost like a must win game.

[SteveA]

22 minutes ago, dtk9119 said:

Well, I missed the roster moves today.. I wondered what they were going to do w/ Irvin. I guess he has now replaced Rogers in the rotation? But he's not in line for Sunday, so I wonder who is going to pitch?

Why  not Kremer?

[maybenxtyr]

I remember the first series and Grayson was humming along. They just started tattooing him and it really never stopped. 

[Rbiggs2525]

The offense is going to have to get going to win this series. Talking about 6-8 runs in 3 games.

[Grt 2BA FL Gator]

4 hours ago, Roy Firestone said:

Im not sure of the dates, but in fairness, losing Westburg, Mateo, Coulombe, Kremer(for about month) later G-Rod and then Eflin had a ton to do with the fall. This series could be more of the same, and then after this series,the Orioles play the Dodgers. It's going to be a rocky road ahead. Buckle up,

To me, the feels started to shift when Bradish went down on 6/14. I was loving our rotation before then and it felt like we were gonna cruise to 100 wins again. Felt like we had three potential aces.

I know you can’t measure the effect, but Bradish was irreplaceable, especially after Means looking decent and going down a couple weeks prior.

[foxfield]

1 hour ago, Sports Guy said:

Can’t field good about winning the series or even splitting the series if you don’t win tonight.  Feels almost like a must win game.

I agree.  Won't be there tonight but will be there Sat and Sun. With a group of 10.  

Actually have 3 tickets (Section 30 Row 4 pretty much behind Home Plate). Anyone with interest let me know.  Rather find someone here than dump online.

[rm5678]

1 hour ago, SteveA said:

Why  not Kremer?

Now that Rogers has been optioned, Kremer might be moved into the Sunday slot.