DAT 8/22: Tigers (Zimmermann) @ Astros (Cole), 7:10 CDT

Some morning shift discussion:

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You could tell another story of shift success with the Astros, who ranked fifth in the AL in Defensive Runs Saved last season but have climbed to No. 1 in 2019. The Astros are shifting at a similarly high volume as last season but are getting much better results.

They went from 5 Shift Runs Saved to 34, and with that, the infield has experienced a 52-run improvement to 40 Runs Saved this season. The addition of Michael Brantley (5 Runs Saved) has helped produce a nine-run improvement to 25 Runs Saved in the outfield.

The Astros have one other notable positive in their Runs Saved total. They have 18 Defensive Runs Saved from Good Fielding Plays. A team can attain those in a number of ways, such as robbing home runs (the Astros have four, one behind the Brewers and Yankees for the MLB lead), players throwing out runners trying to advance, and through catchers blocking potential wild pitches. Catcher Robinson Chirinos has come through in a big way in that area. He has eight Runs Saved from Good Fielding Plays, most among catchers, and ranks third in pitch-block rate at 95.5 percent.

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I remember in the 80's Nolan Ryan would lose just like JV did last night. Frustrating.

I might have to pop my 2019 DAT cherry if we keep
Sucking.

Glad I am knee deep in mindhunter and only caught a couple innings last night

I know I was drunk last night (I know I know, I'm an alcoholic), but I still stand by my statement. That was the worst game the Astros played in quite a while, even worse than the game we lost against Baltimore. The hitting last night was disgraceful and laughable. GOATlander ought to chew those frickers out big time. Losing to teams like that with your ace especially isn't acceptable.

And granted I know Chirinos had a great game hitting when no one else wanted to do shite. I didn't see if Pettis told him to stop or go to 3rd, but if he told Chirinos to stay at 2nd but Chirinos went to 3rd anyway, then I lost all my respect for him. When instead of trying to win the game you try to get a triple just for your individual success of getting the cycle, I think that's selfish as frick. Very selfish. Again idk if it was his decision or Pettis', but whoever made it looks like an idiot.

Hopefully they win today with Cole on the mound today if not then it'll be concerning.

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I don't post in the DAT much, but was I the only one who truly had trouble going to sleep last night I was so aggravated?

I feel like a pretty level headed Astros fan. I understand that the season is long and we will have bad stretches and good. I can handle playing poorly. What I can't handle is major league players having piss poor fundamentals. Neither player should be in the lineup tonight.

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You learn over time that baseball is a game of random frickery. Over a 162 game season, this frickery manifests itself in various forms, even to the very best of teams. On any given day, an absolute dogshit team can beat an elite team and there is no rhyme or reason to it. Last night was one game out of 162. If the Astros were in a heated divisional race or wildcard race, I would have been more annoyed. I am still slightly annoyed that it cost a game in the home field advantage race. If last night had been a playoff game, projectiles would have been hurled. But I promise that if you look back, the Yankees have also had a few games that they have lost where they should have won.

The annoying part was definitely what you mentioned. I used to laugh at the people here who criticized Altuve for being a "dumb" ball player, but I now get their point. I wouldn't say Altuve is a dumb player....but goddammed if he doesn't do dumb things sometimes. And lately they have been happening too often.

Altuve's base running took the bat out of Alvarez's hands. Chirinos' base running took the bat out of Brantley's hands. Tell me you wouldn't have like to have seen them hit with a runner at 2nd. Just bad decision making. The aggression gets you a lot of runs over the course of a season....but it also costs you at the worst possible moment.

So after that game ended last night, I had the old "On to Cincinnati" mindset. Forget that bullshite and move to the next one.

The positive: The bullpen got a full night off. They needed that. It would be great if Cole could go at least 7 tonight to give some more guys some rest.

Wowwwww

It's only like 10 days until the minor league season is over with anyway

Altuve has awful baserunning and fielding instincts. He also might have the best feel for contact in MLB. You take the bad because the good is so good but he can be frustrating

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The Astros are calling up third base prospect Abraham Toro

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Well Toro = Bull, so I already like.

Maybe he plays 3rd and Bregs to short?