Any series left versus Toronto? If you do make sure to stream those to twitch as I will check them out.
Any series left versus Toronto? If you do make sure to stream those to twitch as I will check them out.
The Astros (52-53) dipped below .500 for the first time since April 29 after being swept at home by the Miami Marlins. Houston lost 14-3, 7-2 and 5-3 (10 innings) to Miami.
The Astros, who are just 24-28 at Minute Maid Park, will continue their 10-game homestand on Monday as they begin a 3-game series with the Oakland Athletics (55-49). Houston has taken 7 of 10 from the A's this season.
Jared Cosart (6-5, 4.04) will face Jesse Chavez (6-8, 3.91) on Monday night. Tuesday night's matchup will feature Brett Oberholtzer (7-7, 3.97) against Sonny Gray (7-8, 3.15). The series will conclude with Wednesday's Businessperson's Special, a 1:10 PM first pitch, with Scott Feldman (7-5, 4.37) slated to face AJ Griffin (5-5, 3.47).
Gonna be tough for your bats with those pitchers.
The dude abides.
Good news and bad news came from Houston's series-opener with Oakland on Monday night at Minute Maid Park. The Astros got back to .500 at 53-53 with a 4-3 win that featured 5 Houston doubles and a fantastic outing for Jared Cosart (7-5, 3.91).
Cosart got the win, scattering 7 hits over 6.2 innings, striking out 4, walking 2 and allowing just 1 run. Closer Jesse Crain earned his 28th Save in 31 opportunities, surrendering a lone walk in the ninth.
Unfortunately, the Astros lost their leadoff man when second baseman Jose Altuve dislocated his throwing shoulder after making a diving stop in the 4th inning.
Manager Bo Porter said that Altuve will be placed on the 15-day DL but Porter also said that the injury could sideline the second baseman for the rest of the season. "4 to 8 weeks", are what Porter said would be a realistic timeline for Jose's return.
The injury has brought about a move that many Astros' fans have been clamoring for - the promotion of shortstop Carlos Correa. Correa, 19, was drafted first overall by Houston in 2012 and has quickly risen through the system to lead Houston's AAA-affiliate, Oklahoma City, in most offensive categories this season. What's more, Correa is more heavily lauded for his play in the field and is already considered by most in the organization to be the club's best option at short.
Porter went on to say that the injury will cause Marwin Gonzalez to become the "everyday" option at second while Correa and Jonathan Villar share time at short.
How many games are you back now Steeler? What about the hunt for the WildCard?
As you saw I just got crushed by Oakland, 13-1. Hopefully, DD realizes soon that I don't have the pitching staff to stay on HOF difficulty.
I knew I was screwed in that second game against the A's if Oberholtzer wasn't sharp. My bullpen is EXHAUSTED. I need one of my starters to give me 7-8 innings to level things out because I have 5 more days before a day off.
Anyway, at 53-54, I'm 7.0 games behind the Rangers and 5th in the West. I'm just 3.5 games out of the Wildcard race. But, again, I really don't want to make the playoffs, lol. It would signal a slider issue or a DD issue to me.
Houston still sucks and I should struggle.
Going to play the rubber match with Oakland shortly and I will broadcast it, in case you want to have a look.
For the rest of you, I plan to broadcast the rest of my games this season so if you'd like to be alerted, subscribe (steelerfan1933 on Twitch). It may be a good time killer if you work in front of a computer because I play alot during the day.
For the record, Carlos Correa walked in his first MLB PA but followed that with 3 Ks. He was good in the field though, with 4 assists and a putout. He showed really nice range getting to a grounder up the middle against the first batter in the 8th. Threw him out too.
Houston (54-54) earned their grittiest win of the 2014 season on Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.
Needing nothing more than a long outing from starter Scott Feldman (7-5, 4.51), disaster struck early. Feldman suffered an abdominal strain after lasting just 1/3 of an inning. The injury forced Houston's heavily-fatigued bullpen to take over early on, something they did not need.
Houston surrendered 4 runs in the first and the overwhelming sentiment was among the home fans was, "here we go again". However, Manager Bo Porter used 7 pitchers to get the job done and the offense chipped away at the deficit (through 9 hits and 10 walks).
Eventually, a 2-run Alex Presley homer to left put Houston in front in the 6th inning and the bullpen finished the job, with the Astros winning 6-4 to take 2 of 3 from Oakland.
Raul Valdes (3-4, 3.07) earned the win pitching a perfect 1.1 innings with one strikeout and Jesse Crain (1-1, 1.44) hurled a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his 29th Save.
The biggest performance on the mound, however, was turned in by lefty Darin Downs (2-1, 4.36). Downs came into a tenuous situation in the 8th. After Chad Qualls (4-3, 4.24) allowed a single and a walk to open the inning, Downs held Houston's shaky 5-4 lead by striking out the next 3 batters to retire the A's.
Houston will host the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays (61-48) in the first 4 on Thursday night. Alex White (2-4, 2.90) will face Brandon Morrow (7-8, 4.22) to kickoff the weekend series and close the month of July.
Probable Starters for the rest of the series:
Friday: Jerome Williams (10-5, 3.37) vs Cole Hamels (5-9, 4.69)
Saturday: Jarred Cosart (7-5, 3.91) vs Shelby Miller (5-10, 5.07)
Sunday: Brett Oberholtzer (7-8, 4.36) vs Marcus Stroman (8-5, 3.22)
Jaymo, I plan to start the series with Toronto tomorrow. Keep your eyes peeled for a better idea of what time.
Looking to get started with the Blue Jays in the next twenty minutes or so. I'll be playing this series on and off throughout the day and, of course, will be broadcasting.
Some a bit of your last game broadcast versus the Jays. Looks like your team has improved a lot since the A's series.
I just got a couple of timely hits from Matt Dominguez early on. He got a double and a single in his first 2 at bats; each one with 2 outs. Each of those hits drive in 2 runs.
I also got 7 strong innings out of Alex White, something that was desperately needed. Looking at Toronto's stats, they have had subpar pitching this season. They've won with offense. If I can get decent pitching against them, I have a shot.
On another subject, I managed a trade at the deadline. It's a deal that gets me a true utility infielder and will give me the option of adding another reliever to my bullpen (basically, I have one player that can fill the role of 2 now). I'll post the details later, before my next game.
Following Houston's 6-3 series-opening win over Toronto on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park, the Astros announced that they had completed a deadline day trade with Miami.
Houston acquired SS Adeiny Hechavarria and outfield prospect Austin Dean from the Marlins in exchange for SS Jonathan Villar and Single-A reliever Jorge DeLeon.
Villar (72 OVR, B), 22, hit .284 with 18 RBI in 194 ABs for the Astros this season and is a .243 career hitter in 2 seasons with the club. Villar was viewed as excess to the Astros as he can only play SS. In 79 games this season, he scored 22 runs with 13 doubles, 2 triples, 8 steals and a .971 F%.
DeLeon (51, D), 26, is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in a limited Major League career and had toiled in Lancaster, Houston's Single-A affiliate, this season. He will join the bullpen in AA Jacksonville for the Marlins.
Dean (61, B), 20, will move from AA Jacksonville to a starting role in AAA Oklahoma City's outfield.
Hechavarria (72, C), 24, plays SS, 2B and 3B and will provide depth at all 3 positions for the Astros. In 94 games with Miami, Adeiny hit .222 in 306 AB with 5 HR, 30 RBI, 30 runs, 18 doubles and a triple. He has 4 steals and a .976 F%.
Depth move or do you think this will help for a playoff run?
I'm not looking toward the playoffs this year.
Villar is a decent, young shortstop with some upside (72, B). However, he ONLY plays short. He doesn't fit into the long term plans since I have Carlos Correa (76, A) who is just 19 and also only plays shortstop.
That said, I didn't have a true utility infielder. Villar (SS), Marwin Gonzalez (SS, 2B) and Correa (SS) - none of them plays 3rd. That forces me to keep a third 1B, Jesus Guzman, simply because he can spell Matt Dominguez at third base.
Bottom line, this move gives me more roster flexibility. I can send Guzman to AAA and use his spot on a specialist (ie lefty, base stealer, extra reliever etc.).
Additionally, giving up Villar for Hechavarria = advantage Marlins. However, I offset that by getting a decent prospect for garbage on the other half of the deal.
Last edited by steelerfan; 07-15-2014 at 06:37 PM.
I'll be broadcasting another game (second of 4 with the Jays) in about 15-30 minutes.
Prior to Friday night's game with Toronto, the Astros announced several roster moves in the wake of their trade Thursday evening.
LF Mark Krauss was sent from AAA Oklahoma City to AA Corpus Christi and RP Jordan Jankowski was sent from Corpus Christi to Class-A Lancaster.
Houston also recalled SP Mark Appel from Oklahoma City and placed RP Matt Albers on Optional Assignment Waivers.
Should Albers clear waivers, the 31-year-old reliever will join the AAA RedHawks bullpen after making 41 appearances for the Astros in 2014. Matt went 3-5 with a 5.71 ERA, 15 Holds and 2 Blown Saves in 48.2 innings of work. The veteran of more than 7 Major League seasons struck out 32, walked 12 and posted a 1.42 WHIP with Houston this season.
Appel, 22, was selected first overall by the Astros in the 2013 draft. He was previously selected by the Tigers in the 15th round (2009) and by the Pirates 8th overall in 2012, however he did not sign because of his commitment to Stanford. Mark is a native of Houston and he went 8-7 with a 2.77 ERA in 21 starts (13 QS) this season for AAA Oklahoma City. The 6'5", 225-lb. righty had 3 complete game shutouts among his 136.2 innings and struck out 120 with just 31 walks and a WHIP of 1.05.
I was just thinking to myself... YOU PLAY AS THE Houston Dynamo in FIFA, the Houston (Aeros?) in the AHL and the Houston Astros in MLB... is there a theme here? You are definitely a "hometown" fan. If I do get The Show this year or next, I am torn between doing a RTTS with either Toronto, Oakland, or Kansas City.
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