The Astros rarely have entered a post-season where they were favored in any series. But they sure should be favored to win this time against the Red Sox. You doubt that? Here are ten reasons they will emerge victorious in this series.
- JV. No not the Junior Varsity like ISIS. Justin Verlander has been an excellent pitcher for over a decade, but the last month since joining the Astros he has lifted his performance and theirs to another level. He has been a perfect 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA since joining the Astros in the days right after Hurricane Harvey.
- Just win baby. The Astros have won 101 games this season, while the Sox have won 93. Well, that would be more.
- Road Warriors. The Astros are tied for the best road record in the majors with the Indians at 53-28. The Sox were a good, but not good enough 45-36.
- They’re so offensive. The Astros were first in the MAJORS in runs scored (896), doubles (346), BA (.282), OBP (.346), OPS (.823) and 2nd in HRs (238). The Sox – .258 BA (12th), .329 OBP (11th), .736 OPS (22nd), 785 runs (10th), 302 doubles (7th), and 168 HRs (27th) were not in the same zip code.
- They are so deep. The Astros have six players in the top 24 in batting average in the AL, from Jose Altuve‘s .346 down through Josh Reddick, Marwin Gonzalez, Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman to George Springer‘s .283. They also have five players in the top 25 in OPS from Altuve’s .957 down to Bregman’s .827. If Carlos Correa had 21 more ABs his .315 BA and .941 OPS would be up there too.
- Resiliency. They played big chunks of the season with the following guys on the DL at one time or another and many times together, Collin McHugh, Dallas Keuchel, Lance McCullers Jr., Charlie Morton, Will Harris, Carlos Correa, George Springer, Brian McCann, Evan Gattis and Jake Marisnick. And they still came within an eyelash of the best record in the majors.
- Health. Despite that laundry list of injuries, the only concerns right now are Reddick’s back which is expected to be healed by tomorrow’s game and Marisnick’s fractured thumb which will not allow him to play in this series.
- Putting it in Play. The Astros struck out the least in the majors this season with 1087 Ks. That is 67 less than the next best team and 137 better than the Sox.
- The Beard. When your second best starting pitcher is Dallas Keuchel, who won the Cy Young two years ago and pitched that well for most of 2017 and who was nails in the playoffs in 2015 (in games he started…) then you have two aces.
- The Grey hairs in the other beards. In 2015, the Astros were good but very young and green. This time around their own base is experienced (Altuve, Correa, Springer, Gattis) and they have added experience with McCann, Reddick, Verlander, Francisco Liriano, Carlos Beltran and experienced “rookie” Gurriel.
It’s your turn. Why do you think the Astros will take this series?
CHIPALATTA 
Same lineup two days in a row? How many times has that happened this season?
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Keep a good thing rolling…
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Yes yes yes!! CC with 2 run homer!!!
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Correa with the two run jack.
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DK can’t find the plate
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And Boston is not a good team to struggle with control because they will wait you out.
Keuchel pitched around a walk and a bloop double in the first, but in the second gives up a run and throws a lot of pitches. He is at 48 pitches after 2 innings.
Astros 2-1 in the bottom of 2nd inning.
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Thought I sent this reply to you once Dan so I’ll send again since I dont c it. Is the plate ump squeezing DK, sure looks like it to me
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It’s Angel Hernandez – one of the worst whiny umps around – he squeezes both pitchers and then all of a sudden he’ll call strikes you don’t expect to be called. In other words you hope his umping hurts the other guys more.
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Much better third for Keuchel and then Springer hits a beautiful HR the other way for a 3-1 lead.
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Bregman screaming double to left center followed by Altuve dump single to left – up 4-1 and Pomerantz is looking on the ropes.
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They pull Pomerantz with no outs in the 3rd ….they are desperate to hold the line on this one….
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They’re not going to “hold the line” without the help of Toto (the band OR the dog)
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The Astros unfortunately left the bases loaded with no out. Reddick murdered one but 3B snagged it. Yuli should have walked if Ray Angel Hernandez Charles was not umping.
Keuchel looks like he’s back in control – 4-1 headed to bottom of 4th.
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These announcers are so desperate for the Red Sox making a game and a series out of this. I’m surprised Price actually walks to the mound – according to them he should be levitating and floating out there.
The bats on both sides have quieted – 4-1 in the bottom of the 5th.
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Dan is it ok to say gonads in this situation?
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Looks like the ump thinks he walks on water as well.
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These gonads on MLB.com just mentioned the possibility of Price being the series MVP.
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I heard that daveb and that set me off. Now it is true he came in and stopped a leak in the boat but that kind of silly hyperbole drives me nuts.
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2016 was the year of the middle-reliever. They think that must be the thing in 2017 as well. I think they missed the memo that this is the year of the HR.
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Any comments on the lineup configuration, looks weird to though it worked yesterday. Backend shut out thus far
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It is a little odd, but I can understand when it worked so well you stick with it.
Looks like they pulled the MVP – David “god” Price after 3 innings.
Watching with the sound off…
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Old school the lineup is looking better and better…
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Devo comes in with 2 outs in the 6th and gets Moreland with a runner on first. Still 4-1…
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With one out and runners on 1st and 3rd – Bregman hit a short pop to right field and Betts let it pop out of his hand trying to throw. Marwin scores. Then after intentional walk – Correa two run double and then Gattis knocks him in. 8-1 heading to the 7th!!!!’
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Oh Lord, isnt this just wonderful, Springer and CC woke up to join in the mashing.
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Fun fun fun!!!!
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Wouldn’t it be nice if we do this in game 3?
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The gonads just announced that Houston is getting all the breaks. That explains the 16-3 combined score through just 15 innings of play.
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The only breaks we are not getting is from the announcers apparently…
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The Astros have pitched better, hit better and fielded better and have made their breaks.
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Just an observation. Not meant as a complaint. These announcers have not covered the Astros, nor have any of the major media. They know no information about the team, etc. So they talk about what they know. The RED SOX. They know the Red Sox historically have made comebacks. They know the Red Sox have a good, young nucleus. They know nothing about the Astros, except that Reddick started in the Red Sox organization.
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And in my opinion, Angel Hernadez is not corrupt. He is just totally inept. Just goes to show that if you sue your employer for discrimination these days, you get choice assignments.
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That’s inexcusable. It was obvious for a few months the Astros were going to be a playoff team. The media should have done their job.
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Daveb and astrocolt
Now the announcers that called Price potential MVP have called Keuchel and Verlander two pretty good pitchers. Pretty good
Yeah I don’t think Angel favors one team or the other but he must never look at film of himself umpiring. At times he makes me wince he misses calls by so far.
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Devo gets us thru the 7th and Gregerson thru the 8th – so it is 8-1 in a game where the Astros did not score with the bases loaded and no out and later with the bases loaded and one out.
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Giles gives up a meaningless run and the Astros win their 2nd 8-2 game in a row despite the wishes and desires of the announcers.
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Right here I will comment that the announcers have 3 or 4 times as much info on the Red Sox than they do on Houston. Except for Morosi, they just know what they have been able to find out about the Astros. It is so obvious that they have not seen the Astros play much and that they have seen Boston play a lot.
What do you bet that they are going to learn a lot more?
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Time for a little school lesson called, The Astros Have Arrived!”
Houston and the other guys.
Altuve’s Big Bat
JV, DK, and the Magic Bullpen
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This has the feel of a *magical* playoff series! What a game if your name is Carlos Correa!! DANG….these guys are on fire! Ok….I’m going to take off to the casino tomorrow…..bring my cards some luck!
Peacock gets the ball Sunday, and ALL HANDS will be available!! GO ‘STROS⚾!!
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The Astros saw Pomeranz a week ago and today they jumped all over him. Springer’s oppo homer off one of those looping curve balls broke Boston’s back. Their plan was to go after Houston with curves, just like the announcers said they would preceding the game. When Springer blew up that plan you could see Boston’s eyes start to fog over.
So, after Springer hits the curve, Pomeranz throws Bregman a fastball and he crushes it and then Altuve breaks his bat on a line single to left and the light starts to fade.
Can you believe what All-World right fielder Betts did on that little popup behind first that Marwin didn’t even bother to bluff on. That is when the goose got served for dinner.
Now the Astros face Fister, a week after he befuddled them in Boston, but came back to win anyway. You can bet they will study some video in the next two days. The Red Sox will face Peacock.
Ken Giles pitched in his first MLB playoff game today. I’m glad he got that out of the way.
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NINE MORE WINS! NINE MORE WINS! NINE MORE WINS!
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Tim, you were at this game, right? How was it?
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Sorry, I have been very busy and haven’t had much of a chance to respond.
It was loud and electric at MMP on Friday. The boys got to miss a day of school and I lost most of my voice from yelling and screaming (I am like a young adult/teenager during playoff games as I really get into it).
Let’s wrap this thing up today and get ready for, in all likelihood, the Indians. I truly believe the Astros and Indians are the 2 best teams in baseball. If we can get to the World Series I like our chances of having a parade in downtown Houston sometime in early November.
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Op, anybody, has there been word of McCullers yet and what role he will play. Any thoughts on that end folks?
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Since Peacock is starting game 3 and Morton to start a possible game 4, it is generally assumed that LMJ will be in long relief or in the same role he played in the All-Star game.
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Geez, Yanks were up 8-3 on the Indians earlier, I come back later and its tied 8-8. Gimmie a break NY, hold court for goodness sake! Aw never mind, let the Indians do what they do, and the Astros too, then see who can do it better
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Tony Defrancesco landed on his feet. He will manage the Mets AAA team in Las Vegas. I’m glad he’s going to get another chance to manage. Good man!!
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So, he changes one AAA manager position for another. ^;)^
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I’m guessing he saw his path to manage in the major leagues in Houston is blocked by Hinch. Hinch will probably be the manager here for many, many years. The Mets organization is very dysfunctional and he will have a much better chance at being a big league manager with them.
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– If Collin McHugh had been healthy in the spring, would Brad Peacock even be with the Astros today?
– Keuchel did turn out to be the key player of the game. After the second inning his pitches seemed to explode as they came to the plate.
– The guy following Altuve in the lineup showed up today.
– Marwin and Yuli just quietly go about the business of playing good baseball without the headlines.
– Gattis just keeps rattling shots off the scoreboard.
– Dad gum Chris Young!
– Hanley Ramirez does not get cheated on his swings.
– Does Hinch go with the same lineup against Fister? I would. Do you think the Red Sox want us to keep the same lineup?
– Beltan’s pinch hit line shot single was one of my favorite moments of the day.
– Two lefty starters, two big wins. Who says the playoffs aren’t a whole new season?
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So the Sox will give us Fister in game three, obviously on a short leash. We could also see Pomerantz or Rodriquez in game three at some point, if things really get desperate for the Beantown squad, even though there is already discussion about Pomenantz starting game four and Price getting game five. I don’t care. We can and will hit lefties. We can and will hit the Boston Red Sox pitching staff.
In the meantime, the Yankees have created a real mess for themselves, especially in taking 13 innings to give game two up. I’d just like to see them gather themselves and make the Indian arms work hard for at least a couple of more games.
I also think our bats have a bigger barrage at the ready. It being Sunday, I’ll take a touchdown and a field goal.
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Best scenario: Astros win tomorrow. Yanks and Indians go five.
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Started watching Yanks and Indians game 3. After a couple innings I realized it was at night. Another 1/2 inning and I realized it was game 2 replay. Guess that makes it a Lumberjack joke, but I didn’t bet on the outcome.
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All of our starters have at least two hits in the two games. A .343 average. An OBP of 418, an OPS of 1.103! All this against a team that is supposed to have a good pitching staff. There are no jitters with our guys. They are ready to play. I expect more of the same.
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When MLB gets finished with the two ALDS series they can explain to the nation that one series getting all the prime time games was because of the huge interest, nationwide, in the Indians. They can say it had nothing to do with slighting the Dall….errr Houston Astros or the Boston Red Sox who beat out America’s Baseball Team on the second to last day of the season.
– “Nobody wants to face these Yankees”
– Red Sox and Yankees fans are turning on their managers and some are even turning on their GMs.
– The Astros total payroll is about $10 million higher than Cleveland’s. Both are below MLB average dollar payroll ($152 m), with Houston at #15 ($149 m) and Cleveland at #18 ($139 m).
– I wonder which announcers are out there trying to find out who Brad Peacock is.
– ” Hey, tell me some neat stuff about Bruce Peacock! Well, go find something! How am I expected to act like I know something about him if you don’t tell me something! Jeez, we just went through this with Marvin Gonzalez.”
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