Blunder
Unless Hinch thought Verlander was done it was a huge mistake to take him out of the game. Either that, or he was banking on a Gattis bomb (unlikely). Once Reddick walked to lead off the top of the 7th the importance of getting the tying run into scoring position became critical. Bunt him over. Verlander could have easily accomplished this and stayed in the game. As it was, Gattis did worse than what Verlander could have done by giving himself up with a bunt out.
I’m tired of watching games get shitily managed. And now it looks like the one decent chance the Astros had of winning this thing is gone.
“Lance McCullers” looks and sounds a lot like “Livan Hernandez” if you squint and slur your words.
We’re fucked.
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
It does feel like the Dodgers win in a blow-out tonight.
Dodger fans will all be feeling like Rooster, cock of the walk.
Oh well, the 29 year drought was a long one. It had to end at some point.
If I remember correctly, Gattis did get screwed on the 2-0 pitch. The ball was outside, but got called a strike. Huge blown pitch by the ump.
Rally-killer Reddick was a huge goat. And that’s on the manager too for starting him against Hill.
The further away I get in time from the Giants’ 3-in-5, the more amazing it becomes. And I already thought it was amazing.
agreed. It seems nearly impossible to win it all. Houston trying to pull it off without a bullpen the way we pulled it off in 2014 without any SP’s other than Bum. Well if they do it, that’ll be ONE.
Gonzalez, McCann and Reddick all have been very weak at the plate this PS (although somehow McCann has 7 RBIs despite a .556 OPS).. Add a pitcher to that part of the LU and Houston has a problem. I guess I’m hoping the rest of the Stros hitters blast away.
mm, understand the reluctance about seeing Stros pen guys, but why put Verlander, an AL non hitter his entire career, up to bunt and give away an out? NL guys who hit all the time aren’t very good at it and result could have been a K or a GIDP on a crummy bunt right at someone.
Plus it forced Roberts to bring in Maeda, whom they lit up before and had thrown ton of pitches in WS. Might have used a different hitter but trying to tie or go ahead in the game there imo was a better move than a bunt.
Don’t forget Verlander had given up the lead in previous inning and Seager almost blasted one out that wound up being the sac fly. I hadn’t seen anything up to the hit by Taylor, which was a ball he left up. Not a solid hit but he fought it off ala Posey going to RF for a single.
I agree WillieD. Someone asked one of the Astros beat writers on twitter last night why Hinch didn’t bunt. His answer was pretty blunt. They never bunt during the regular season, why would you do it now. They won 101 games without bunting. It is what it is.
Bottom line, after IF hit Stros had 2 on one out and runner in scoring position with Bregman and Altuve up there vs. Maeda…and couldn’t score. Altuve and Correa with couple 0-4s. Springer had 2 hits and a walk but guys behind him went 2-16.
Anything can happen in Game 7.
Like Michael Morse driving in the game winner.
Or Luis Gonzalez pinning an L on Mariano Rivera.
Or Bob Gibson losing at home in ’68 after record setting reg season.
I said it an earlier thread but it bears repeating. The Astros bullpen never had one single pressure moment during the regular season. They were so far ahead in their division from day 1, that they never had a “big moment, must win game.” The bullpen got exposed from day 1 of the PS. No one (save Peacock) had the balls to man up in that pen. Giles especially. All of the heart of this team lies in the position players and Verlander and Keuchel. McCullers has the opportunity to join that list tonight.
Yeah, when Houston didn’t score in the 4th with runners on 2nd and 3rd, no outs, and repeated that the next few innings, it didn’t look good. You don’t score you can’t win . . .
I’m not so down on Hinch for taking Verlander out, but his comment on the bunt is stupid. It’s ‘playing the way we play’ that gets you bounced from the playoffs. IT’s how Matt Williams lost his playoff series against the Giants when he pulled Zimmerman with 2 outs in the 9th. IT’s how Dusty fucked up the 2002 series. During the Giants run, Bochy did a lot of outside the box things things. Timmy in the pen, Bummie for 5 innings of relief. Even signing relievers to big deals in the first place.
good points, all
Anything can happen in any World Series.
Take that 1968 series. You have the fireballing Bob Gibson (Cardinals one bad ass dude)with his 1.12 era for the season and you have Denny McClain with his gaudy record of 31-6 that year,so all the hype was with those 2.
So who’s the MVP with 3 complete game wins ? Mickey Lolich of all guys, Who outshined then all..
Brilliant, utterly brilliant, McCullers – Hernandez sentence.
thanks PK. I feel like you’re always the only one who really appreciates lines line that 🙂
My biggest fear is that Darvish goes out and pitches a gem. He had a poor outing his last time out and I don’t suspect we will see that again. As classy and gracious as he was in the way he handled the Gurriel situation, I think Karma goes his way tonight.
I was surprised Grinch kept Mr. Kate Upton in as long as he did. He emerged 2-1 from that torturous half-inning but it was close to being a disaster. It was 2-1, still within reach, but it was a dodged bullet and suggested Verlander was tiring. And I was positive that Roberts’s removal of Hill would backfire. But it didn’t.
I’m optimistic for the Stros. Darvish hasn’t exactly dominated them in the past. Stros need to score 6 or more probably to win. I’m looking for a high scoring game…
28-27 Dodgers.
or 29-28 Astros
True. #3in5 looks ever more miraculous. And we already knew that.
Dusty could have started Woody in game 7, the team wanted that. But Dusty was Dusty. Hinch has no choice but to start McCullers…
Well my prediction of the Stros in 6 did not materialize. Thought Verlander had to get it done and missed most of the game…I cant stomach to watch the Dodgers celebrate but they handled Darvish the last game amd I am trying to stay optimistic.
There is a story out there that a Vegas gambler has 6-0 in the WS letting each win ride. He must have originally bet $350k because he won $14 mill in Game 6 and isbletting it ride allegedly for Game 7. Payout would be $28 mill. What an idiot if true…
I hope they check his room for explosives.
Well if Darvish has to use those extra shiny baseballs again which everyone is bitching about and it neutralized his awesome slider then he might be ineffective again. My gut feeling is that their use a bunch of dirty son this old balls in this game..
Jesus. Who did he bet on tonight? Cut and run, baby.
Yeah, I remember thinking Hernandez was just going to nonchalant his way through that game 7, and he did. Dude was infuriating.
Hill has never impressed me, and it was actually something to see him get so pissed off about being pulled yesterday. I thought as well that it would backfire. Houston not scoring in the 4th and 5th was killer.
Darvish also pitching for a contract…
quick check in on how Beede and his bride spent halloween….
Hope you enjoy bus rides in and out of Sacramento, hot ass…
No shit. What was his signing bonus? A couple mil maybe? What’s the over/under on how many years she gives him until she moves on to a dude with real money?
exactly. And the dumb thing is that if he just focused on his baseball career a little more he’d probably do well come FA time. I think she’s completely consuming him based on all of his/her twitter posts. Although, theoretically, if he scored a 60 mil deal he’d probably move on to someone just as hot who’s half the maintenance.
Looking at the Astros’ batting numbers, they’re not hitting all that well in this Series. The big 13-run game kind of makes it seem like they’re hitting well, but they’re not, overall.
I do like the start tonight, however. 🙂
Way to start off Stros!
Ripped double and a fucked up Dogpile defense for the error and lead..
Dogpile rattled Stros putting the extra pressure on !! Fuck LA!!!
Over/under on how many minutes they hold this lead: 8.5
Can’t ask for a better start.2 runs 24 pitches out of Darvish, Gurriel 12 pitch AB beautiful!!
Did I say Fuck LA, oh maybe so well Fuck it 1 more time FUCK LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why the fuck does the catcher have to visit the mound for the 3rd batter of the game and one out?
And again!
And again!
And again!
And again!
And again!
So the mystery gambler according to a sb nation pocketed the $14 mill…sounds urban legend
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/lookit/2017/11/1/16592488/world-series-gambler-14-million-game-7-winning-every-game-dodgers-astros
A cakewalk bottom of the first, and by “cakewalk” I mean “landmines.”
I’m telling you all it’s the World Series baseball ⚾️ their using which is playing a mind fuck on Darvish. He has no bite on his slider the pitches are staying up and he’s getting hammered because of it..
3 zip Darvish is toast..
Another Dodger defensive screw-up.
Darvish is costing himself millions with every pitch…
Springtime in LA!
Springer Dinger!
Nice!
Greatest start to Game 7 in world’s series history!!!
It beat this one…
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA198510270.shtml
Oh Fuck yeah Blow it open baby!!!
Hey Roberts how’s your computerized Baseball doing now LOL
Better off trying Strato-Matic!!
Loving this
Fodger fans can start beating traffic…
Zumiee with the perfect all time jinx coming right out of the gate this morning…good job!!!
I’ve never been so nervous about a 5 run lead in my life.
Yeah especially when McCullers has hit 4 Dodgers tonight WJ which is cool with me as long as they don’t score!
What the fuck is Hinch doing? I wouldn’t go to that mess of a pen until I absolutely had to.
Jesus quick hook again. Hinch should of atleast let McCuller hit one more Dodger before pulling him..
I haven’t questioned many of Hinch’s moves, but I don’t like this one.
I would need to see 2 runs score before pulling McCullers.
Agreed. He had been wildly effective. Until proven otherwise, why make a change.
Even if Peacock gets out of this, I hate the move. Asking this pen to give you 6 2/3 innings?
No shit about being nervous with a 5 run lead. I feel like I’ve got a bag of cement in my stomach.
Good time for a diversion…friends were talking about this last night and think we have talked about Prince’s performance on While My Guitar Gently Weeps…stunning!
Great call. I’m going in.
Like I said, these managers would rather be ripped for bad results of some kind of pitching move rather than results of a non move. Stros one away from the 6 runs I think they need to win…
I dunno. When you have a great pen, you have a quick hook. When your pen is a hot mess, you ride your starter into the ground.
I think Kershaw found his post season calling…As a middle reliever.
Diversion 2.0:
We’re doing a team building activity next week at the high school where I work. We each need to print off the lyrics to a song we love that has special meaning to us. We then sit in a circle and take turns reading the lyrics and we all guess which staff member picked the song. I’m trying to come up with a song that begins with highly sophomoric lyrics that I think it will sound hilarious if they get read by the 68 year old Resource Specialist. Right now, the leader in the clubhouse is “TNT” by AC/DC. Let me know if you have any other great ideas. We’re only reading the first couple of lines, so the song needs to nail it right out of the gate—–but I also don’t want it to be too raunchy or satanic.
I spent a good chunk of my work day today considering songs, so I’ll be surprised if you come up with something I haven’t already considered.
Fun Fact: I initially was taking this fairly seriously and actually considered While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
dude, I will spend some time on this one…My first instinct is to go with something from Dio because some of his lyrics are just epic. Rainbow in the Dark would be my pick. But like I said, gimmie the night on this one and I’ll come up with something else.
He has the most bizarre and nonsensical lyrics in rock and roll history.
Monkey Man (Rolling Stones)
Liriano? Are you fucking kidding me? I had no idea he was on the Astro’s.
Is the universe trying to shove the Joe Nathan trade in our face one final time?
So far Hinch has pulled the right trigger on his moves, everyone of his pitching moves has worked.,
Go with “She’s Got Balls”. Much better song.
I keep telling myself to give The Orville one chance, but I haven’t followed through.
Have any of you gone there?
And Zumie—I totally agree with you that the end zone celebrations in the NFL this year have been lame—and I’m a guy who loves a good end zone celebration.
Stashing a flip phone in the padding around the goal post—brilliant!
Diggity—question 4 ya: are you more interested in laughing at the way this old lady reads the lyrics or are you more interested in the lyrics?
I’m actually trying to nail this thing Flav. I want it to be clever and funny and actually a song that I like that evokes pleasant memories and is somewhat well known. In horse racing terms, I’m going for the Exacta here. I actually think TNT checks a lot of boxes.
She’s got style that woman
Makes me smile that woman
She’s got spunk that woman
Funk that woman
She’s got speed my babe
Got what I need my babe
She’s got the ability
To make a man outta me
But most important of all
Let me tell you
My lady’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got soul my lady
Likes to crawl my lady
All around the floor on her hands and knees
Oh because she likes to please me
But most important of all
Ah, let me tell you
My lady’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
And she’s got taste my lady
Pace my lady
Makes my heart race
With her pretty face
She’s got balls my lady
Likes to crawl my lady
Hands and knees all around the floor
No one has to tell her what a fella is for
But let me tell you, oh, ooh yeah
My lady’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
She’s got balls
My lady’s got (she’s got balls)
Balls (she’s got balls)
She’s got balls
….now we’ve got some guys coming out of the weeds—I like it! I was starting to wonder if this thing was plugged in for a while there.
I mean really. Rainbow in the Dark? Holy Diver?
These make no sense on any level.
Jeeeeeeebus.
It only took 5 innings for Fuck to bring up Game 7 of 2002.
No shit. Does he mention 3 in 5? Fuck no. Assholio.
Fuck you Joe Buck still needs throw a dagger at the Giants about how we blew that series against the Angels!!
God he’s such a shit disturber!!!!
If we’re doing AC/DC you got to do a song that at least some will recognize. I would go with “You shook me all night long”.
TNT is practically a National Anthem!
But wait a sec….does Shook start with “She was a sex machine…….?”
You could be onto something with that one.
AC/DC “Livewire”
I like that one—good call.
He has me so pissed off I can’t even fucking type!!
She’s Got Balls is a little high on the Raunch-o-Meter for me.
Dio actually has crossed my mind.
She was a fast machine
She kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman I had ever seen
She had the sightless eyes
Telling me no lies
Knockin’ me out with those American thighs
There’s a new sheriff in town…..
I gave you the winner at 7:36.
Head for the windows…
I guess that rules out Jerkin’ Back and Forth by Devo.
Not too bad actually.
I know I let you tell me what to do
You were confident you knew best
Now things aren’t working like you want them to
Your confidence is what I detest
You got me lookin’ up high
You got me searchin’ down low
You got me I know you know
You got me jerkin’ back ‘n’ forth
Read more: Devo – Jerkin’ Back ‘n’ Forth Lyrics | MetroLyrics
“Bobby Brown goes Down” by Zappa doesn’t start off too bad. It goes downhill really fast after that.
We have to score off Opie. Just cuz.
Just checked out Monkey Man. Those are good lyrics, but I don’t think I know that tune.
I don’t think I’ve ever been this upset…
I’m gonna listen to it, Loo. Maybe I just don’t know it by name. (Smiley face)
The intro alone is worth it…
When there’s lightning, you know it always brings me down
‘Cause it’s free and I see that it’s me
Who’s lost and never found
I cry out for magic, I feel it dancing in the light
It was cold, I lost my hold
To the shadows of the night
This ain’t bad. Pictures of lily by the Who
I used to wake up in the morning
I used to feel so bad
I got so sick of having sleepless nights
I went and told my dad
He said “son now here’s some little something”
And stuck them on my wall
And now my nights seem quite so lonely
In fact I, I don’t feel bad at all
I don’t feel bad at all
Pictures of Lily
Made my life so wonderful
Pictures of Lily
Helped me sleep at night
Pictures of Lily
Solved my childhood problem
Pictures of Lily
Helped me feel alright
Speaking of Zappa… Dynamo Hum….
First one I thought of. Or Titties and Beer
Oh No
Big inning right here.
I’m gonna fucking have a heart attack.
There you go, ‘Dawg. Inagaddadavida
Houston’s bullpen being what is (largely horrible), a few more innings left in this game just.. seems… way… too… long…
Jesus. Fuck me.