Yep and Cle has the division lead at less than .500. Pretty incredible what's going on with Bos and NYY right now.

Generally, the guys shifted against tend to be the power hitters. Fangraphs had an article about it. The general conclusion I drew from it is that it's a combination of not being good at bunting and viewing a bunt as an opportunity to not drive the ball. As these extreme shifts become more common, I figure we'll see guys work on their bunting more but we are still in that transition period.

Correct but still a miss passing on a guy who had arm issues for a cornerstone at 3rd base???

Beat40 said:

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Frok said:

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Another clean save for Giles since punching himself in the face

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I remember hearing they basically told him he needed to get his emotions under control more. If that's the trick, I hope it sticks.

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Everyone else has noticed that he does his pre-pitch dip slower this year, right?

Crazy: last season we had an offense on a historic all-time level. This season we have pitching on a historic all-time level. What a time to be a fan. Get to witness all time hitting, all time pitching, and a WS mixed in

Tony Kemp:

Frok said:

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irish pete ag06 said:

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AgSportsFan89 said:

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Nobody tell Vasgersian about Mark Appel...

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Jessica just did. Or the time that all the media made the FO out to be heartless *******s for low balling Brady Aiken and his teeny tiny UCL.

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Don't know why but the tiny UCL comment made me lol

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I'm here all night.

Off day talk commence .....now

Give me a minute and I'll see if I can come up with another off day bomb discussion point like "Should we trade Dallas Keuchel this year?"

Here's something I read with this morning's coffee...

Quote:

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• Brian McCann: The Astros have $15MM club option on him for 2019 that vests into a player option if he doesn't end 2018 on DL, starts at least 90 games at catcher in 2018, and has at least 1000 plate appearances in 2017-18. With just 399 PA last season, McCann would need a career-best 601 PA this year to gain control over his 2019 status. He does have 118 PA through 33 games, and he made his 30th start behind the plate tonight, so it's not completely out of the question that McCann could get hit both thresholds, if unlikely. There's also the possibility that McCann plays less down the stretch as the Astros rest him for the postseason.

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So do you think it vests into a player option? If so does he exercise it? If not do we pick up the club option?

im sure this has been discussed...but if you take the bad game Lance had against the twins out...

he has a 2.10 on the year.

Ag_07 said:

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Here's something I read with this morning's coffee...

Quote:

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• Brian McCann: The Astros have $15MM club option on him for 2019 that vests into a player option if he doesn't end 2018 on DL, starts at least 90 games at catcher in 2018, and has at least 1000 plate appearances in 2017-18. With just 399 PA last season, McCann would need a career-best 601 PA this year to gain control over his 2019 status. He does have 118 PA through 33 games, and he made his 30th start behind the plate tonight, so it's not completely out of the question that McCann could get hit both thresholds, if unlikely. There's also the possibility that McCann plays less down the stretch as the Astros rest him for the postseason.

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So do you think it vests into a player option? If so does he exercise it? If not do we pick up the club option?

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From a pure numbers perspective, you don't pick up that option if you are the Astros. However, I'm not sure Stassi/Stubbs is ready to manage the staff. Verlander has one more year, and Jose Altuve's big $ doesn't kick in until 2020.

It will be interesting to see what happens... although I'm leaning towards them not picking it up.

There are a few intriguing free agent catchers out on the market in 2019.

and he is one back of leading the AL in wins.

I don't think it will become a player option.

also think the front office's plan was to be done with McCann's large salary after this season. Have to see how he finishes the year.

probably not going to pay someone $15 MM to be a part-time starter

Here's another off-day topic:

Playoffs start tomorrow (using today's standings) and we are the 2 seed with home field advantage against the Indians.

Who's your rotation after Verlander?

Verlander, Cole, Morton, Keuchel

BowSowy said:

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Verlander, Cole, Morton, Keuchel

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So Keuchel to the pen.

Edit: I'm an idiot. It would be LMJ to the pen.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23558800/tampa-bay-rays-forefront-rotation-revolution

Interesting strategy from Tampa Bay this weekend. The last line of the article will give you a good laugh as well.

Did anyone catch Morton's comments about not playing 4 or more years?

Ag_07 said:

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Agree on not paying him the $15MM and on Stassi/Stubbs

However, I think McCann could be in a situation where at this point in his career he doesn't want to test the market and/or play elsewhere.

I could see a situation where they don't pick up the option but sign him to a cheaper one year deal.

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I also could see that. I could also see him just retiring. Pretty wild number of outcomes could happen.

Yes, which is why I think when the Astros offer him a QO, he accepts it.

So you don't think he will seek the huge payday? Just maybe a 2 year equivalent of an extension?

Agnzona said:

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So you don't think he will seek the huge payday? Just maybe a 2 year equivalent of an extension?

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Colby Rasmus did the same thing. Coming off that really good year with the Astros he could have gone out and gotten a 2-3 year deal but loved it here and wanted to stay. Last year ths QO was 1 year at $17.4 million. In 2019, the QO will likely be $18-19 million. The Astros made the QO, probably expecting him to turn it down and receive a draft pick, but he accepted it.

There are 4 Free Agents coming after this year. I think the Astros will offer a QO to 3 of the of 4:

• Tony Sipp, NOPE
• Dallas Keuchel
• Marwin Gonzalez
• Charlie Morton

I think Morton will probably accept. Just a hunch that he only wants to probably pitch for a very short amount of time and has no intentions of taking the Bartolo Colon route. Charlie is a different dude than your average athlete... Just like Rasmus was. DK and Marwin will obviously turn it down and the Astros should receive some nice draft compensation for those 2.

Then again... it may be a bit risky offering Marwin a QO. He may accept it also.

Topher17 said:

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http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23558800/tampa-bay-rays-forefront-rotation-revolution

Interesting strategy from Tampa Bay this weekend. The last line of the article will give you a good laugh as well.

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This is pretty damn smart...

Quote:

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To jog your memory, in general, starters fare worse the third time through the order. Here are the numbers for this season:

• First time through order: .697 OPS allowed
• Second time through order: .722 OPS allowed
• Third time through order: .805 OPS allowed

As pitch counts go down and the percentage of innings to relievers goes up, starters -- especially the back-of-the-rotation ones -- often don't make it through 27 batters. The average stint in 2018 is just a shade over 23 batters. That means going through the lineup twice and then facing the first five batters a third time. The most batters Yarbrough had faced this season was 22. Well, if you're going to face only a few batters a third time as you're tiring, it makes more sense that those are the 5-6-7-8-9 hitters in the lineup rather than 1-2-3-4-5.

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That makes a lot of sense. Seems like a guy like Brad Peacock who was notorious for getting shelled the 3rd time through would benefit from this.

Edit: Meant to add this to my post above.