tjack16 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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I'm okay with not bunting honestly. Dusty knows what our guys are capable of based on last year... they just didn't come through. I'm usually not a fan of bunts in general because I don't like giving away free outs.

We have the 2017 MVP, and 2019 MVP runner up along with 3 other all stars in our starting lineup.... we should be able to score a run with a guy on 2nd and no outs without bunting

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That's great but Myles straw was batting behind Toro not any of the players you just mentioned in that scenario

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They weren't batting in all 4 of the extra innings.

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Bottom of 11th is what I'm referring to. First and second no outs and toro is at the plate, straw on deck.

Not bunting in that scenario is indefensible imo. For what reason would not at least try to lay one down for 1 pitch?

I'm not referring to any other inning

LMAO, keep it up

I get that completely. My point is it shouldn't have gotten to the 11th inning with Altuve, Bregman and Brantley up... especially with a man on 2nd and no outs.

bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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I get that completely. My point is it shouldn't have gotten to the 11th inning with Altuve, Bregman and Brantley up... especially with a man on 2nd and no outs.

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Now that I'm in agreement on. Situational hitting was non existent tonight

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I'm just hoping it was a one time thing. I think it will turn out to be .... but it still is worrisome.

bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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I'm okay with not bunting honestly. Dusty knows what our guys are capable of based on last year... they just didn't come through. I'm usually not a fan of bunts in general because I don't like giving away free outs.

We have the 2017 MVP, and 2019 MVP runner up along with 3 other all stars in our starting lineup.... we should be able to score a run with a guy on 2nd and no outs without bunting

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That's great but Myles straw was batting behind Toro not any of the players you just mentioned in that scenario

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They weren't batting in all 4 of the extra innings.

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Bottom of 11th is what I'm referring to. First and second no outs and toro is at the plate, straw on deck.

Not bunting in that scenario is indefensible imo. For what reason would not at least try to lay one down for 1 pitch?

I'm not referring to any other inning

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I agree. Horrible game management

AggieMD95 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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I'm okay with not bunting honestly. Dusty knows what our guys are capable of based on last year... they just didn't come through. I'm usually not a fan of bunts in general because I don't like giving away free outs.

We have the 2017 MVP, and 2019 MVP runner up along with 3 other all stars in our starting lineup.... we should be able to score a run with a guy on 2nd and no outs without bunting

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That's great but Myles straw was batting behind Toro not any of the players you just mentioned in that scenario

---

They weren't batting in all 4 of the extra innings.

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Bottom of 11th is what I'm referring to. First and second no outs and toro is at the plate, straw on deck.

Not bunting in that scenario is indefensible imo. For what reason would not at least try to lay one down for 1 pitch?

I'm not referring to any other inning

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I agree. Horrible game management

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Anything other than "toro is literally the worst bunter of all time) is unacceptable here.

Chuck Gay said:

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Could have used Greinke instead of Toro as a PH. Greinke has 47 career sac bunts.

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wangus12 said:

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Can't take forever to get the season rolling with only 60 games. Pretty pathetic showing at the plate

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this is good time to mention one of Yogi Berra's greatest quotes:

"it's getting late early"

that's the theme with a 60-game season

AggieMD95 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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I'm okay with not bunting honestly. Dusty knows what our guys are capable of based on last year... they just didn't come through. I'm usually not a fan of bunts in general because I don't like giving away free outs.

We have the 2017 MVP, and 2019 MVP runner up along with 3 other all stars in our starting lineup.... we should be able to score a run with a guy on 2nd and no outs without bunting

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That's great but Myles straw was batting behind Toro not any of the players you just mentioned in that scenario

---

They weren't batting in all 4 of the extra innings.

---

Bottom of 11th is what I'm referring to. First and second no outs and toro is at the plate, straw on deck.

Not bunting in that scenario is indefensible imo. For what reason would not at least try to lay one down for 1 pitch?

I'm not referring to any other inning

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I agree. Horrible game management

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Toro was a pinch hitter for Reddick then right?

MosesHallRAB04 said:

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AggieMD95 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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bullard21k said:

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tjack16 said:

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I'm okay with not bunting honestly. Dusty knows what our guys are capable of based on last year... they just didn't come through. I'm usually not a fan of bunts in general because I don't like giving away free outs.

We have the 2017 MVP, and 2019 MVP runner up along with 3 other all stars in our starting lineup.... we should be able to score a run with a guy on 2nd and no outs without bunting

---

That's great but Myles straw was batting behind Toro not any of the players you just mentioned in that scenario

---

They weren't batting in all 4 of the extra innings.

---

Bottom of 11th is what I'm referring to. First and second no outs and toro is at the plate, straw on deck.

Not bunting in that scenario is indefensible imo. For what reason would not at least try to lay one down for 1 pitch?

I'm not referring to any other inning

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I agree. Horrible game management

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Toro was a pinch hitter for Reddick then right?

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Toro was the PH for Stubbs, who took over for Machete after Springer pinch hit for him and replaced Reddick in the field.

Ag_07 said:

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I mean I guess the logic for not bunting is pretty simple.

Someone on this team has to be to get a GD base hit to win a ball game.

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This. There's no question that the Astros have done extensive research and ran numbers on probabilities of bunting versus trying to get a hit. Some nights it's just not going to work out, like last night. It won't be the last time we don't bunt in extra innings.

k20dub said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I mean I guess the logic for not bunting is pretty simple.

Someone on this team has to be to get a GD base hit to win a ball game.

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This. There's no question that the Astros have done extensive research and ran numbers on probabilities of bunting versus trying to get a hit. Some nights it's just not going to work out, like last night. It won't be the last time we don't bunt in extra innings.

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No, Dusty has not done anything close to extensive research. If Hinch, then yes, you would be accurate.

tjack16 said:

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This is gonna be a long off day

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For us fans it definitely will be, but I am glad the guys get a day to hit the reset button. Maybe someone will go flick them in the fleshy patch where their nuts used to be.

I think that last night showed that these games in a condensed season are all important to win, especially the close ones. Baker and crew needs to get a game plan for extra inning tactics for all extra innings going forward. Rolling the ball out there and letting the team play isnt working at the moment, figure out something else

At least have a fairly easy stretch coming up ... We should have a couple game lead over the division after the next two weeks

irish pete ag06 said:

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With 16 teams making the playoffs... the regular season almost doesn't matter. Hit your stride fully in 60 games.

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pete always shows up to put things into perspective for us

irish pete ag06 said:

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With 16 teams making the playoffs... the regular season almost doesn't matter. Hit your stride fully in 60 games.

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I was disappointed in the playoff expansion as well

But now we can use that time to develop these players for our playoff push rather than exclusively focus on winning each and every game

A lot of people were complaining on here about the expanded playoffs I guess now they are seeing it's not such a bad thing considering it increases our chances of making it

Overall I'm pretty pleased with what I saw the last two games against the Dodgers.

-Before any game takes, I'm glad MLB laid the hammer down on Joe Kelly. Not necessarily because he's a ****** (he is), but because it sets the tone for other teams trying the same BS against us down the road and prevents things from escalating. It was nice watching the game last night not worried about 1) another Dodger pitcher taking matters into his own hands or 2) Dusty having to pick the right spot to retaliate. Back to baseball.

-I'm very pleased with what I saw from all our pitchers against a GREAT Dodgers offense. Man, Javier looks like a stud. If he is what we think he is, we're gonna be loaded later this year if JV gets back. The other young guys (specifically Taylor) look solid too. And I like seeing them get extended looks (2+ innings). The Rays/Click seemed to excel in getting their relievers to work multiple innings. And given the uncertainty around our rotation, we'll probably have more innings to bridge than normal.

-This series was a good reminder that pitching has been what has truly made us great the last couple years. Offense is going to come and go over the course of the regular season, especially against a team like Dodgers that have great arms and super high level ability to game plan. Pitching has been our rock the last few years against the good teams. Despite our elite regular season production, our offense has tended to disappear for long stretches during the playoffs. But if we get our pitching in order, we'll be alright.

-I'm not worried about Altuve. After hitting a dinger on opening day last year, he went like 2 for his next 19 and looked lost. Then he started mashing. He just needs to get synced up. Slightly worried about Springer though. Think he's putting too much pressure on himself with the contract talks coming up and don't think his transition from the Hinch "hit dingers" approach to the Dusty "hit some singles the other way" approach works as well for him. I'm sure he'll have a couple hot stretches this year and ultimately carry his weight, but I suppose I'm a little concerned.

astros4545 said:

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I guess we just couldn't predict that the number one pitcher on the team would potentially be done after one start

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No but expanded playoffs increases your chance of making it to the postseason. That's why I was happy about it for a 60 game season.. it gives you room in case you have stuff like this happen. I wasnt anticipating JV being out ... but I do know our teams injury history so I thought Expanded playoffs would help due to Correa, springer, Alvarez and Altuve health concerns from last year