re: DAT 9/8: YFPHA @ Athletics

I read your testimonial earlier today in this thread and thought I would drop in not to say "I told you so", but to admit that the Dodger sweep, which included a no-hitter in addition to back to back wins over Greinke and Kershaw, had even me a bit delusional.

Reality has slowly but surely set in. I think most evident when you see a guy like Gattis defensively swing at a strike 2 when he is in command of the count. Just not something professional hitters do. We have been defying such incredibly surmounting odds, that this outcome was inevitable.

Case in point tonight. Top of the 5th I think. Gray is struggling w his command, throwing 58 ft curveballs, and Valbuena who makes solid contact one out of every 5 ABs is even able to get a leadoff hit. Still in trouble, Gray lets Conger get command of a 3-1 count and the best Conger can manage after striking out in a bases loaded 1 out situation in his previous AB is a pop up. This is a guy who is definitely not in the lineup for his defensive skills. LOL

Marisnick same thing. 2-0 count and Gray has to give in. Pumps a grooved 92 mph FB right down the middle. Marisnick is looking for it and hammers a HR. Only problem is it's over the 3rd base dugout. Guys that stick around in this league don't miss those.

Now, the part of the lineup that has a better chance to make Gray pay comes up, but it's 2 outs too late. Springer smacks one up the middle and Altuve tries to hit an oppo HR to RC.

I believe we are starting to see the pressure set in and the combination of road problems, beating the Rangers problems, and just a general return to normalcy w our pitching take its toll.

Welp, Looks like we'll finish the season 75-87

After Altuve, of qualified Houston astros, gattis has the next highest batting average. I won't give the average in hopes you can still have a good day.

I posted in a DAT a couple of months ago that Gattis has been horrible in his career in Aug & Sept. I believe it was around a .215 BA in those two months for his career. I was hoping DHing for most of this year would keep him fresh to break that late month career slump, but doesn't look like that is the case. I think I saw that he is hitting .170 or something so far in Sept.

Man, am I glad I started watching football

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I really don't want to see him on the team next year.

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I don't know what kind of catcher he is, but if you could have his numbers at catcher that would be pretty awesome. We just have better all around hitters that have way more potential than him in the system(Tucker). Tucker needs to be DHing next year, all year. He doesn't need to play OF and he is a better hitter than gattis IMO.