spadilly said:

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Has AJ said who's starting game 1 yet?

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I just don't see how it's not JV. If Dallas is truly a team player he will have no problem with it and recognize that JV is clearly the ace at this time.

To me it's like Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling for AZ back in the day. I don't even remember who started game one of those series I just remember they were both badass and they basically had two aces.

I just looked at the position player splits R vs L.

Betts hits righties worse.
Bogaerts hits righties worse
Benentendi hits righties much much better
Bradley hits righties woirse
Pedroia hits righties worse
Moreland its a push
Vasquez hits righties slightly better but its pretty close to a push.

Boston has seen Verlander twice. Both times matched up with Sale. JV won 2-1 and lost 11-3.
Boston hasnt seen DK this year at all.

spadilly said:

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Has AJ said who's starting game 1 yet?

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FWIW McTaggert is leaning towards Verlander:

http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/256386934/springer-correa-lead-as-astros-sweep-rangers/

Quote:

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In his final outing before likely starting Game 1 of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan next week, Justin Verlander (15-8) improved to 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA in five starts with the Astros by striking out 11 batters and allowing six hits and two runs -- on solo homers by Willie Calhoun and Drew Robinson -- in six innings.

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This year is setting up to be an all time awesome playoff

These teams are loaded

3 teams with 100 wins is as many as last 7 years combined

Nationals starting pitchers are the best 1-2-3 in my opinion

Going to have some very good LDS matchups...Nats-Cubs and Astros-Red Sox would be great LCS, at least looking at it now.

I tend to think that McCullers might be best served in a Devo-esque role at the moment, given that he hasn't pitched much lately, or for very many pitches. Let him throw in a 6-7-8 inning and go for 40 or 50 pitches.

The Rays used David Price as a late inning guy in 2008 when they went to the World Series (granted, he had just been called up, but he was also 23, same as Lance), and Lance might be pretty good in that role right now. I'm not sure I would put him as a starter in any of the first three games.

Ag_07 said:

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Water Turkey07 said:

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Goodness the thought of a JV, DK, LMJ 1, 2, 3 with McCullers in the form he had in May.... plus this lineup...

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No doubt but at this point I don't think Lance will be starting in the playoffs.

With only 1 start (65 pitches) in the last 2 months he's not even stretched out. Add to it the fact that he's not very good on the road and doesn't particularly like pitching at Fenway.

If anything I think he'll be a BP arm, but I'm not even sold on that idea. Maybe they let him start Gm 4 and use him and McHugh to do a tandem start.

But I think JV, DK, and Peacock is one of the best 1-3 in the league.

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Wouldn't surprise me in the least if McCullers is left off the roster for the ALDS.

I would definitely be surprised if Lance was left off the roster. Now I don't expect that he'll be a starter, but he could definitely be a valuable arm if needed for long relief, or possibly even planning to have him replace a Peacock start after 4 or so innings

astros4545 said:

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Lance will be on roster 100%

I mean, would you rather have Martes?!?!

Btw

George Springer swing & miss % by season:
2014: 41.1%
2015: 32.8%
2016: 27.9%
2017: 23.4%

Wow.

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I was just thinking this last night. George was always a big swing big miss type guy. This year we haven't even really noticed him striking out a lot either. He has really evolved as a player.

Diddo.

Ditto.

Do y'all really trust a rusty, easily mentally shaken Lance McCullers coming out of the pen for the first time ever in a playoff game?

I don't

Yeah he could be great but now is not the time to figure that out.

LMJ will not be off the post season roster. How he is used is TBD, but he will not be left off.

irish pete ag06 said:

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LMJ will not be off the post season roster. How he is used is TBD, but he will not be left off.

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This is what I see.

irish pete ag06 said:

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This is what I see.

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This looks accurate

CSWendt said:

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Do you really think Hinch is going to leave off one of your All-Star pitchers? Not to mention how the team will view that type of decision.

0% chance he's off the roster.

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Lance hasn't been even close to AS caliber since June so the indication that he'd be leaving off an AS pitcher is a bit of a stretch. Yeah he technically is an AS but c'mon.

And I'm not saying I think he's off the roster. Just that it wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't. I think he makes the roster and is used in a tandem start role. I really don't expect him to make a BP appearance unless the game is not close either way.

I think there's more of a chance he doesn't make an appearance at all than there is that he's left off the roster.

Spot on. The final spot probably down to Clippard or Fiers, with Centeno having an outside shot if Hinch wants to go the backup catcher route

I think Centeno makes it since it looks like Gattis will be a DH role (or he should be the way he's swinging it).

And I'd be surprised if Clippard doesn't make it. One thing they talked up about him was his extensive playoff experience. I know he hasn't been as sharp lately but I thought that the playoffs was one reason why they got him.

NotGibbs said:

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Cut4 wrote an article on who will have the best hair of the postseason and didn't even mention Yuli

****ing colusion

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La Pina got his due

Quote:

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Yuli Gurriel



There are two things that can defy gravity: NASA rockets and Gurriel's otherworldly locks.

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irish pete ag06 said:

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This is what I see.

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I'd say Centeno or Stassi get the last spot (with advantage Centeno). Allows you to pinch run for Gattis or McCann and/or start one at DH.

Looks like he was added in after originally being published. Article originally ended at Hanley

Andyzipp said:

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irish pete ag06 said:

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This is what I see.

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You think Marwin is going to be on the bench? He's going to be starting in LF for most post season games.

Maybin is your 4th outfielder.

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It's all going to depend on matchups and situation. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of those 11 guys in the lineup.

With all the options, it's probably easiest to list Marwin on the bench for sake of ease. But ya, Martin definitely won't be riding the pine much this post season

979ag said:

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It's all going to depend on matchups and situation. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of those 11 guys in the lineup.

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Except Beltran. He sucks

irish pete ag06 said:

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This is what I see.

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Marwin starts and Maybin sits. I want 4 ABs for a super hot hitter, not the chance of 1 late. Maybe in the WS with no DH I hold back someone but not here.

And I put in a 3rd catcher as Gattis is DH over Beltran against a lefty.

CSWendt said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Do y'all really trust a rusty, easily mentally shaken Lance McCullers coming out of the pen for the first time ever in a playoff game?

I don't

Yeah he could be great but now is not the time to figure that out.

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Do you really think Hinch is going to leave off one of your All-Star pitchers? Not to mention how the team will view that type of decision.

0% chance he's off the roster.

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I think there is a decent chance he's off the roster. He's not going to start a game. His value as a long reliever is minimum. Putting a player on the roster because you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings is just silly.

There is a zero percent chance McCullers is off ALDS roster

astros4545 said:

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There is a zero percent chance McCullers is off ALDS roster

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There have been times I've thought there's a zero percent chance Hinch is going to let Beltran go to the plate against a lefty late in the game when we're down....but lo and behold.