re: DAT 10/23: ALCS GM4 -- HOU (LMJ) @ NYY (Cortes) 6:07 TBS

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My liver appreciates this 4 day break for rest and recovery.

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Mine doesn’t get a break. It could easily win a triathlon.

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Has anyone heard an explanation on Maldonado’s inability to catch McCullers without 10 drops, with more than half in the strike zone?

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Wildest thing I’ve ever seen.

And the one that Bader advanced on, Maldy just watched it for a second like he forgot someone was on base

I think Astros should win, but this series worries me

1. PTSD from 2019 and 2021
2. Got good power hitters
3. Nola and Wheeler
4. Great momentum going into this series

Series shall be interesting. Don't think we'll sweep another one. They'll put up a much better fight than the Mariners or Yankees. Just hoping we finish the job.

It’s difficult for every pitch followers of a team to appreciate doing anything other than trying your best to win

The Astros have been in a very unique position these past 6 seasons. Im willing to admit that I may not possess the wisdom to appreciate the lack of urgency in our personnel and managerial decisions

I do think it’s safe to say that Strom was not the pitcher whisperer we once thought. Or at the very least he was expendable.

Hey, can we get a welfare check on Tommy Deuces? He hasn't posted since Thursday night and I am getting bad vibes about it.

TL:DR A bunch of ramblings from an old dumbass. (Honestly, wasn't expecting to have this much to say, my fingers just kept banging away on the keyboard.)


Man, I was feeling good. Just got my tickets for Game 1. Had a few free minutes so jumped into the thread to see what's going on, and Dukke's gone and done Dukke things and shite all over the Astros with his prediction.

I might have to sell these four tickets now.

Honestly, the Dusty thing with me, it has less to do with his current "game management" and it is more with his history and current demeanor.

A couple of days ago, he was asked "You were brought in after the cheating scandal, how did you keep this team focused?" And that SOB's answer was, "Well, I took all the heat. I drew all the fire from everyone so that freed the guys to focus on playing. And very early on, I told all of them, they needed to ask for forgiveness." <10 second pause> "if you're guilty."

1. That MFer didn't take any heat. How many times have you heard stadiums chant "frick Baker!"? How many times have you heard that in other stadiums that aren't playing baseball?? None. But he didn't say shite when it was happening to Altuve. He didn't go to the media and tell them how wrong it was. He didn't go to MLB and demand they get that shite under control. Throwing things on the field at Astros players (less so this year than last, but it happened, a LOT). Dusty Baker didn't do shite to take any heat off the players.

2. Historically, Baker has destroyed pitching staffs with mismanagement and over-use. Granted, his power to do that now is minimized, but I expect any day for him to destroy the incredible pitching staff that Jeff Luhnow and Brent Strom created.

Lastly, and I freely admit this one is purely non-logical and overly emotional on my part, it pisses me off that he wears black rubber gloves all the damn time.

So yeah, I'm not a Dusty fan. I've seen him run amazing teams right into a ditch. I don't want him doing that to this team -- they deserve better. Maybe he's changed and learned from his past mistakes. I don't care. I'm ready for him to retire.

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I do think it’s safe to say that Strom was not the pitcher whisperer we once thought. Or at the very least he was expendable.

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Not all of us were so seduced.

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Strom was not the pitcher whisperer we once thought.

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I think that is a fair statement. But much of Astros management and talent development people give Strom 100% credit for developing the program that developed Garci, Valdez, and Urquidy.

Apparently, for years he was the only MLB pitching coach that travelled to international training facilities - he was literally doing things no other organization was doing. He wanted to personally supervise that what the international prospects were receiving for pitching/training was the same process and methodology that the MLB team was using. And he wanted consistency all the way up through the minors.

Many people have said that the Astros were years ahead of everyone else with their pitching program -- and it was all because of Strom.

Wait until we see how Arizona's farm system matures before we cast Strom out as over-rated.

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I think Astros should win, but this series worries me

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All you DAT regulars gotta step up your game! We need positivity and good vibes. Y’all gotta stop with this worrying shite.

Astros are going to KICK arse!!
frick the Phillies!

And always, frick the Yankees!