Gameday Thread: 5/15/2018 Astros vs Angels (Trout at leadoff, Ohtani 2nd)

[Dick B Back]

Just now, Rico said:

Too much to ask to have him pitch the 9th as well?  96 pitches.

He’s done.

[Warfarin]

1 minute ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

Alvarez right choice for 8th IMO

With two lefties due up, I'd say there's a high probability that is indeed what we see.

[BackUpTheTruck]

Just now, Warfarin said:

With two lefties due up, I'd say there's a high probability that is indeed what we see.

Yup

[JarsOfClay]

4 minutes ago, bloodbrother said:

His plate approach completely deteriorating since coming to Anaheim is the thing that baffles me the most and always will. His physical ability declining is obvious because he's older, but I don't get how you can just stop being good at recognizing balls/strikes etc. That shouldn't be something that diminishes with age. That's something thats innate to those who are good hitters in this league. I'd expect Trout to still be able to hit even as he gets older because of his elite strike zone awareness/pitch recognition skills.

There were already signs Albert was in decline mode before he signed with the angels. His 2011 numbers across the board were the worst of his career. 

Yet angels still gave him a 10 year contract. Go figure.

[UndertheHalo]

Would be cool if Luis avoided the Golden sombrero. 

[bloodbrother]

1 minute ago, Rico said:

Too much to ask to have him pitch the 9th as well?  96 pitches.

You mean the 8th? Considering he's only 21 yrs old, highly doubt they let him pitch another inning

[Stradling]

Remember how everyone was bitching about the starters need to go deeper in games?  Well we are now averaging almost 5 1/3 innings a game.  As Fletch said, if they get to just under 6 innings a start they will be in the top few in baseball.  As it is we are probably in the top 20 now.  A couple weeks back we were dead last.

[Taylor]

1 minute ago, Randy Gradishar said:

Best pitching staff in the league.

Barria > Cole

[BackUpTheTruck]

Maybe Anderson gets a four out save facing 1-4

[Stradling]

2 minutes ago, Rico said:

Too much to ask to have him pitch the 9th as well?  96 pitches.

Before or after he pitches the 8th?

[Waybackman]

Be nice if our black hole in the lineup did something different.

  

[JarsOfClay]

So is Cozart/Valbuena an official platoon or is Cozart just getting the night off?

[Warfarin]

Just now, BackUpTheTruck said:

Maybe Anderson gets a four out save facing 1-4

After seeing what happened the last time we asked him to go 2 innings, and considering he threw a good amount of pitches last night, the odds are this are near zero.

[GrittyVeterans]

I wish Luis Valbuena wasn't so crappy. But he is

[BackUpTheTruck]

Just now, SuperTroopers said:

Remember how everyone was bitching about the starters need to go deeper in games?  Well we are now averaging almost 5 1/3 innings a game.  As Fletch said, if they get to just under 6 innings a start they will be in the top few in baseball.  As it is we are probably in the top 20 now.  A couple weeks back we were dead last.

I think if a starting pitcher starts to go through the order for the 4th time, you may be pushing your luck anyway

[Stradling]

Just now, JarsOfClay said:

So is Cozart/Valbuena an official platoon or is Cozart just getting the night off?

No. Yes.

[UndertheHalo]

Come on Kole bring one home !

[stormngt]

22 minutes ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

Okay IMO to have somebody warm up in case the pitcher starts to lose it, but why Parker?  Better pitchers available IMO.

I could have sworn I read a bunch of "give Parker another chance" posts

[Taylor]

Kinsler! Let's get some insurance runs.

[UndertheHalo]

Kole shot a couple foul balls the other way last AB and now the shift is much less severe. 

[Waybackman]

Nice Kinsler. Keep it good ng Kole!

[Lou]

13 minutes ago, IEAngelsfan said:

I confess, I really liked them.

and General Public 

[Waybackman]

Just now, Waybackman said:

Nice Kinsler. Keep it going Kole!

 

[Lou]

Guaranteed hit 

[stormngt]

17 minutes ago, JarsOfClay said:

Baseball needs to seriously make these shifts illegal.  It's not how baseball is intended and is being overly abused.

Shame on them for trying to win