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Posted

Phew. That would have been possibly worst loss of the season so far. Valdez outbattles DeGrom and we take a 3-1 lead into the 8th. Abreu and Hader both cough up 2-out solo shots. We then waste a perfect 10th from Sousa...

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Posted
1 minute ago, Guadaloopy said:

We need the gif of Adolis celebrating like he walked it off.  

He's busy wearing a jersey that is too big around his neck and biceps 

 

#hmmm

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Posted (edited)

Short, Hummel, Corona, Matthews in the same frame as the broadcast ended.

 

why are all of these Space Cowboys wearing the Astros fire red 

Edited by UTexasFight
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Posted

^ Pinche Putt

If only tomorrow was a cool, very HTown specific day that promoted trunk banging, fifth hanging, 84s and vogue swanging

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Posted

St. Jose, my favorite

Jose Altuve embraces the culture he has cultivated, watches as Astros beat Rangers

Chandler Rome

Quote

HOUSTON — Procedure hasn’t changed across this charmed season, so Joe Espada emerged from his perch before the ninth inning and prepared to execute it. He brought with him a lineup card missing so many massive names, only to remove another.

Maybe the Houston Astros function better this way: depleted, doubted and down to the final dregs of their depth. Few other explanations suffice for the season’s first 95 games. The team is conducting a case study in survival, be it from injury, ineffectiveness or inconclusive medical imaging.

“I think it’s in the atmosphere,” left fielder Jose Altuve said. “Our chemistry and our philosophy is to just go out there and try to win the game. Everyone is on the same page. It doesn’t really matter who it is; someone comes (up) big when we really need it.”

So often, that someone is Altuve. Few players in this franchise’s history crave clutch moments more. He seized one in the first inning Saturday, beating Jacob deGrom to his spot and sending a 98.9 mph fastball off the left-field facade for a tying solo home run.

Eight frames later, the essence of this extraordinary season appeared. Espada did what has become routine: remove the face of this franchise from a one-run game. The baseball strategy is sound, but just saying that obscures the bigger point. Altuve accepts it without complaint. If anything, he is in favor of it, showing a selflessness that is rare for someone of his stature.

“It starts with guys like Altuve,” first baseman Christian Walker said. “There’s a certain culture in this clubhouse where everybody is welcome. We’re all the same. And I think that, in the dugout, on the field, you feel that. We’re rooting for each other. Anybody can come through. We all have confidence in each other.”

Culture can’t be quantified. Explaining it is impossible unless you’re immersed in it, but games like Saturday’s 5-4 triumph over the Texas Rangers help to tell the world.

Altuve sat out the final three innings of what may be the most meaningful win of this wonderful season, one that stopped a four-game losing streak and helped to harness some momentum before the All-Star break. Some of the players who replaced him won’t be here when Houston’s injury-ravaged roster heals, but Altuve’s mere presence on the bench is proof that status or service time mean nothing.

“In my opinion, that’s the stuff that good teams do,” Walker said. “You want to play for a long time in the season? You have to rely on everybody.”

Twenty-two players have already taken an at-bat for Houston this season, part of the 90 batting orders Espada has written across the club’s first 95 games. Yordan Alvarez hasn’t been in one since May 2. All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña last played June 27.

“There’s going to be games where things are not going to go perfect,” Espada said. “But what I do know is that there’s someone there that’s going to pick them up, and we’re going to find a way to win games.”

Somehow, the Astros won a game in which they took just four at-bats with runners in scoring position. Somehow, during the final one, Zack Short kept a line drive inside the right-field foul line. Houston’s dugout emptied when the walk-off single landed.

Altuve stood among the throng of bodies mobbing Short, a 30-year-old veteran journeyman who brought a career 56 OPS+ to the ballpark. His heroics became possible only because of Kenedy Corona: an undersized, unheralded 25-year-old who awoke Saturday morning with three major-league plate appearances.

Then, in the ninth inning, Espada asked him to replace Altuve. Espada made the move official with home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi as closer Josh Hader jogged onto the field.

Hader has a career 32.6 percent fly-ball rate. The league average is 23.9 percent. Deploying the best defensive outfield behind him during a close game is mandatory. Houston led Saturday by one run, a slim margin Espada did not want to jeopardize with Altuve in left field.

Altuve’s outfield defense continues to improve, but he is still a converted infielder learning the position. Putting Corona — a minor-league Gold Glove winner — in center field and shifting Taylor Trammell to left is sound logic.

That Altuve ended the eighth inning with a strikeout, and therefore wouldn’t be scheduled to take another plate appearance for eight more spots in the batting order, only made Espada’s decision easier. So has Altuve’s acceptance of this plan all season. Saturday was the 11th time Espada removed Altuve from left field in the ninth inning with a lead.

Hader made all of the previous moves moot. He took the mound a perfect 25-for-25 in save chances. He stood two strikes away from a 26th before leaving a sinker up to Kyle Higashioka. Texas’ designated hitter lofted it 347 feet into the Crawford Boxes. According to Statcast, the baseball wouldn’t have left any other ballpark.

“Pick your guy up and let him know that he’s not out there by himself and we got you,” Walker said. “That’s what it’s all about. He’s been absolutely nails for us all year. S— happens. It’s part of it.”

Higashioka’s home run meant Corona had to replace Altuve in the third spot of Houston’s batting order. Failing to score the automatic runner in the 10th inning meant Corona would have to take an at-bat in the 11th. Adolis García’s go-ahead single in the top half meant it would be with a deficit.

Robert Garcia began the 11th by walking Cam Smith, a blessing for Corona and his club. His task became far simpler: lay down a sacrifice bunt. Corona tried four times. All of Garcia’s pitches missed the strike zone.

Corona celebrated when the fourth one sailed high. Walker followed with a tying sacrifice fly, bringing Short to the plate for his seminal moment.

“When games like this come up and there’s a situation for a walk-off, you just start hearing multiple guys saying, ‘I’m going to finish this, I’m going to finish this,’” Altuve said, “And somehow, they make it happen.”

 

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Posted (edited)
20 minutes ago, runthebone said:

St. Jose, my favorite

Jose Altuve embraces the culture he has cultivated, watches as Astros beat Rangers

Chandler Rome

 

 

this team has more balls and clutch than last years team. with a staring line up on the IR. i'm damn excited to see what a playoff run brings. they're not backing down

 

this man needs a 'C' on his chest (and a cape) ....

 

IMG_4616.jpeg

Edited by tx 3 putt
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Posted (edited)
8 minutes ago, UTexasFight said:

Espada’s the reason their in so many one run games instead of up 3-5?

Tied for the third best record in MLB despite the team suffering the 3rd most days on the IL. Even the most jaded has to admit he has the team exceeding reasonable expectations. 

Edited by TonyTexas
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Posted
9 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said:

They won a World Series with Dusty as the skipper, but that does not make him a good manager. 

 

#8 all time wins, he's one of the all time greats

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