The trick to beating the Yankees is simple. Don't let them tee off.

And immediately after the slam, the Rays reliever dusts Urshela. Message for the earlier stuff with Chapman maybe.

JABQ04 said:

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Farmer1906 said:

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Here's my smoking hot take. He's going to surpass Jeter of the best postseason SS.

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While that may happen, national media will remain silent.

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And this is why so many guys end up with the Yanks. Imagine the media coverage and endorsements. Same logic as to why no cheating would have ever have been revealed in regards to the gays in pinstripes.

Up 6, T9 and the Yankees are stealing bases. I predict someone somewhere in pinstripes wears one in the series as payback.

Mathguy64 said:

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Up 6, T9 and the Yankees are stealing bases. I predict someone somewhere in pinstripes wears one in the series as payback.

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It would be smarter to do it now when it's meaningless.

Anyone see that collision just now

EagleAg19 said:

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Anyone see that collision just now

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Stop watching after the collision of the ball and Stanton's bat

Yea that was pretty embarrassing. Feel bad for the dude as I think they said AA was the highest he's pitched at before

Back to the Astros game - Harold Reynolds made a good point on MLB Network. He said the Astros are likely more confident at the plate in the playoffs because there is no real risk of anyone throwing at them. So, they can stick to their game plan and have good ABs. That's why they can cover both sides of the plate without to much concern they may get one in the ribs or coconut.

Didn't Yuli get hit and Altuve nearly get plunked today? I mean, I guess we're lucky guys aren't intentionally going after us as if that's some sort of favor.

October Carlos is best Carlos!

Great article and some good videos in the article. Richard Justice is a good Astro fan.

Quote:

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Correa, who recently unlocked his 2015 swing with the help of Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, seemingly set the tone by embracing the hate that encircles this team. It was obvious on Wednesday, after his Astros made quick work of the Minnesota Twins, when he lashed out with the one sentence that has evolved into a misguided rallying cry: "I know a lot of people don't wanna see us here, but what are they gonna say now?"

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Interesting nugget I found in an ESPN article on Carlos embracing the hate.

Cintron for as much crap as he has taken has done a good job with helping to adjust the swings of Tucker and Correa.

Would be nice to lock him up, but I doubt that he won't test the free agent market when the time comes.

scrimp said:

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That seems unlikely... Besides Joe Kelly (of the 2018 Red Sox, also accused of cheating during their world series run) no one has intentionally gone after anyone this season. MLB handled that pretty quickly.

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They presented it through the lens that the batters getting hit in KC in a June may have put the concern of being hit, in the back of their minds, and that may have put them off balance.

I bet it has played into the struggles some, but I don't think that's the real reason they struggled.

As far as the media narrative, MLB Network, with the exception of a few former players, have been very fair about the Astros.

I'm ready for the game today.

BCSGrubber said:

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Quote:

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Correa, who recently unlocked his 2015 swing with the help of Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, seemingly set the tone by embracing the hate that encircles this team. It was obvious on Wednesday, after his Astros made quick work of the Minnesota Twins, when he lashed out with the one sentence that has evolved into a misguided rallying cry: "I know a lot of people don't wanna see us here, but what are they gonna say now?"

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Interesting nugget I found in an ESPN article on Carlos embracing the hate.

Cintron for as much crap as he has taken has done a good job with helping to adjust the swings of Tucker and Correa.

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Can he reverse what he did to Altuve?

This is awesome. Super excited for another work-day game.

You're saying harold has more career firings for dick pics than career playoff appearances?

tjack16 said:

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MuckRaker96 said:

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Top 6 hitters went a combined 14-for-28 with 8 runs scored and 9 RBI.
.500 BA, .857 SLG

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but .... but.... I thought we couldn't hit without the trashcans

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Nobody can hit with trashcans, they used bats.

The plan is to have 10k fans for LCS games and the WS, right? I suspect it will be a brutal crowd in Arlington if the Astros make it. 10x that if the Yankees advance, but even if it's the Rays there will be pouty-faced fans from all over picking up seats just for the chance to boo the team. If the Dodgers advance to the WS against the Astros, it will be 20x. Can we hope for a Rays LCS and then the Marlins for the trophy?!

Long as the Astros are there, I don't think anyone- including the players- will care. But, it will be entertaining to watch the hysteria that ensues.

Ag_07 said:

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Increased offense has nothing to do with no longer thinking about being hit. They were never being hit. That's a narrative pushed by the idiot ass national media.

I think I has to do with a combination of three things

Playoff experience
Relaxation from being in the bubble with their families and getting a sense of normalcy on the road
Realization that this is their last hoorah. Reddick alluded to it last week but I think they're realizing not all will be returning and this is their last chance to make a run with this group.

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I think all those things are factors but also think it's also just law of sample size. We're too good to hit as lousy as we did during the regular season. The lid was bound to come off eventually.

We also had Bregman, Altuve, Springer and Brantley battle injuries this year. Makes it much harder to get in a rhythm. Bregman especially was starting to get in gear before his hamstring pull. Basically forced him to press the reset button on his season.

Ag_07 said:

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Increased offense has nothing to do with no longer thinking about being hit. They were never being hit. That's a narrative pushed by the idiot ass national media.

I think I has to do with a combination of three things

Playoff experience
Relaxation from being in the bubble with their families and getting a sense of normalcy on the road
Realization that this is their last hoorah. Reddick alluded to it last week but I think they're realizing not all will be returning and this is their last chance to make a run with this group.

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I think the postseason experience is a big factor.

I agree being in a bubble where they can hang out with their families and themselves is relaxing them and a huge help.

I also think the media doesn't remember up until that angels series in the beginning September that we were leading the AL in runs/game without the top of the order having it going.

Exactly. There's 50+ reasons why we didn't hit well this year. But if there's one thing I know about national media (in all subjects), it's that they are lazy AF and just run with narratives that they know will get clicks.