100% a mental creation. One of those baseball oddities that they allowed to blossom into a mind virus. We know that at least Jose Abreu had a problem with the batters eye and I believe others were noted in agreement but not named.

This was a second half thing. We weren't this bad at home early on and then we totally tanked. I think they got into a hitting slump at home and tried to come up with reasons to explain it and eventually let themselves believe they can't hit at home. It's in their heads that they were going to have a hard time hitting and if you have doubt in your mind, you're not going to.

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Posted by Lsuhoohoo

Member since Sep 2007

95104 posts

Posted on 10/24/23 at 5:41 pm to Lsuhoohoo

quote:
@UmpireAuditor

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Umpires missed 84 calls in the #ALCS and 46 went against the #Astros. They combined for a correct call rate of 90.8% (league average 92.5%). The crew consisted of Scheurwater (42nd of 92), Ripperger (39th), Hoye (54th), Eddings (86th), Hudson (51st), and Baker (45th).

Totally normal for 55% of blown calls to go against 1 team over 7 games.

Whatever we were our own worst enemies. The fouled off rolled over meatballs did far more to doom us than the umpires. I thought they were far more egregious in Arlington.

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Posted by wahoocs

Lafayette, LA

Member since Nov 2004

22413 posts

Posted on 10/24/23 at 6:23 pm to Lsuhoohoo

quote:
100% a mental creation. One of those baseball oddities that they allowed to blossom into a mind virus.

Well, I’ll share a little backstory about that.

It was the year 2005, and my beloved Astros had made me suffer long enough, esp in 2004. An old high school friend went on to become a VP for MiLB and had secured 24 tickets for me to the ‘04 WS, and they were overnighted to me just prior to losing to the Cardinals. I drank myself to sleep that early morning and was awakened by the doorbell at lunchtime the next day by the FedEx delivery of tickets that could never be used.

But alas, this was ‘05, and this time we won. And I had 18 tickets. The only thing my friend asked in return for this incredible gift? Pictures of the batter’s eye at MMP from behind home plate.

You see, there were league-wide complaints surrounding its effects. Our pitchers were unhittable. And yes, our lineup outside of Berkman, couldn’t hit its weight, esp vs decent pitching.

So I share this only to say, there is some kind of mystique, an aura, if you will, that has involved this park and the backdrop for those entrusted to compete with a bat in their hands.

Baseball, like many things in life, comes with unexpected circumstances.

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Posted by LaLadyinTx