Farmer1906 said:

---

It's gotta some combination of Garcia, James, Javier, Raley, Scrub, Taylor, & Pressly.

---

Wild guess that the reason De Jong made the roster for this series over some seemingly more qualified candidates (like Perez and Bielak) is because there's something about his stuff that we like against the Rays.

I won't be surprised if he factors in tonight.

I think you've got to go with who you think has the best chance top get you 2-3 IP then piece it together as you go from there.

Let's be honest. TB is in the same place with pitching. They will have to piece it together as well. And if they play a close game and run out the A teamers and lose it put them in a tough spot the next game. They have games in hand and may be more willing to not blow their pen.

Today is a crapshoot for both teams.

Who has the calmest nerves to get out there in the first inning and not light the mound on fire?

De Jong - Nope
James - Nope
Sneed - Nope
Taylor - Maybe
Javier - Maybe
Scrub - Maybe
Raley - Maybe
Garcia - Unknown

Mathguy64 said:

---

Let's be honest. TB is in the same place with pitching. They will have to piece it together as well. And if they play a close game and run out the A teamers and lose it put them in a tough spot the next game. They have games in hand and may be more willing to not blow their pen.

Today is a crapshoot for both teams.

---

But the rays pen options are better and more numerous. It's not really close. But the stros can hit heat

BCSGrubber said:

---

Who has the calmest nerves to get out there in the first inning and not light the mound on fire?

De Jong - Nope
James - Nope
Sneed - Nope
Taylor - Maybe
Javier - Maybe
Scrub - Maybe
Raley - Maybe
Garcia - Unknown

---

Maybe go with the unknown in Garcia on a quick hook if necessary, then work your way back.

BCSGrubber said:

---

Who has the calmest nerves to get out there in the first inning and not light the mound on fire?

De Jong - Nope
James - Nope
Sneed - Nope
Taylor - Maybe
Javier - Maybe
Scrub - Maybe
Raley - Maybe
Garcia - Unknown

---

By that metric, I'd likely go with Javier if he can bounce even back for an inning. Raley would be after that. Get through 3 innings still in the game and hold on to your butts with James and Garcia through the middle.

I think I lean Garcia. They have almost no tape on him. Hope he goes 4-5 but if he falters then throw darts blindfolded

Yep. Gotta find the right balance between riding hot hands and quick hooking guys who don't have it. Dusty's discretion in that regard could make or break our season.

Deluxe said:

---

Yep. Gotta find the right balance between riding hot hands and quick hooking guys who don't have it. Dusty's discretion in that regard could make or break our season.

---

Yea, I loved seeing him bring over Maldy to ask his opinion too. Who knows better than the guy calling the shots behind the dish?

I almost wish we could have gotten Javier as a starter today, but he was clearly needed and a big part of why we won yesterday. Hell, I had way more confidence in him than Pressly.

Agreed

BMX Bandit said:

---

Is Javier available today?

---

He has to be.

Quote:

---

Hell, I had way more confidence in him than Pressly.

---

That's the truth. Pressly lost his mojo when he hurt his knee. We need Austin Powers to teach him that's it's still in there somewhere.

I would think Paredes is a available for an inning if need be.

If James does get in this game, it needs to be for an inning only. Trying to stretch him two innings has backfired on us every time this season.

tjack16 said:

---

Deluxe said:

---

What if we do what the A's did back in August and strategically fake a positive covid test?

---

Knowing our bad luck this series they would do the logical thing and say "well you have a taxi squad for this purpose... game goes as scheduled"

---

The sports media would love if this happened. Guaranteed they'd find a way to tie Taubman into the story somehow.

"The Astros have always shown a lack of respect to the written rules, battered women, and now science."

I can't believe I'm saying this, and I'm mad that I have to...

But I'd go some combo of James/Garcia with epically quick hooks, and hope you somehow get 5 out of them. Any extra is gravy.

If they get through 5-7 innings I'm coming back with Javier, Paredes, and Pressly.

Now, if James/Garcia both run into trouble early... I'm coming in with Framber and riding him until he can't go anymore. This is an elimination game and he has to be "available" to some extent.

I think you go with Garcia. The lack of tape and lack of knowledge by the Rays on seeing his stuff could be a difference.

Maybe he'll surprise us with a performance like Urquidy last year.

Give the kid a shot. He's better than the options of James or DeJong.

Check out his fangraph:

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/luis-garcia/23735/stats#batted-ball

Josh Fleming is my guess for TB

I start James with Garcia already warm in the pen. See if James gets through 1 unscathed or not. If he gets through without trouble I let him start the 2nd and keep Garcia warm and ready to come in on 1 batter's notice. If you get 2 out of James you do it again in the 3rd. After 3 or into the second time seeing the lineup he's out either way. Once Garcia comes in I get Raley up and do it all over. My objective is to use those 3 guys and get through 6 with a tie or a lead. That's a win for me. Now you take your chances with Taylor, Scrubb, Paredes, Extra innings is devastating but thats true for both clubs.

Sometimes you just have to roll the dice. Sometimes you gotta post fatties and roll the dice.

i'd go raley to open, garcia as bulk and wing it after that

07ag said:

---

i'd go raley to open, garcia as bulk and wing it after that

---

Raley to open if you thought they would have Meadows and Lowe both batting in the top 3 slots?

I am excited to see Garcia pitch, he was fun in his two extended outings this year

So I wasn't able to follow along on my phone last night but it seems like it got a little weird....in a very big way. Cant say I'm too disappointed in missing that...and really glad I skipped through the pages at work and didn't scroll

Lonestar_Ag09 said:

---

So I wasn't able to follow along on my phone last night but it seems like it got a little weird....in a very big way. Cant say I'm too disappointed in missing that...and really glad I skipped through the pages at work and didn't scroll

---

BayAg_14 said:

---

You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait till this afternoon.

---

Ill be watching on my phone so i wont be tracking the thread again.....I think this may be for the best, we won without me looking at TexAgs once during the game yesterday....and I dont need to throw up in public from fat chicks

Unrelated question... did Bearkat survive his heroic self-sacrifice?