*** Official Houston Astros @ Kansas City Royals ALDS Game 2 Thread ***

[alnorth]

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
HOU	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	0
KC	0	1	1	0	0	2	1	0	X	5	11	0

Series Tied, 1-1



Scott Kazmir 5⅓IP 3R 3ER 1BB 4K 1HR
Oliver Perez 0IP 1R 1ER 1BB 0K
Blown Save Josh Fields ⅔IP 0R 0ER 1BB 2K
Loss Will Harris ⅔IP 1R 1ER 0BB 0K
Tony Sipp ⅔IP 0R 0ER 0BB 0K
Pat Neshek ⅔IP 0R 0ER 0BB 1K

VS.



Johnny Cueto 6IP 4R 4ER 3BB 5K 1HR
Win Kelvin Herrera 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 1K
Hold Ryan Madson 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 2K
Save Wade Davis 1IP 0R 0ER 1BB 1K

Home Runs

HOU

Colby Rasmus - Top 3rd solo shot to center

KC

Salvador Perez - Bottom 2nd solo shot to left

Other Games

Final / 14: TEX 6, TOR 4 - TEX leads, 2-0
Final: CHC 0, STL 4 - STL leads, 1-0
Final: NYM 3, LAD 1 - NYM leads, 1-0

Starting Lineups

HOU

1. Jose Altuve, 2B
2. George Springer, RF
3. Carlos Correa, SS
4. Colby Rasmus, LF
5. Evan Gattis, DH
6. Luis Valbuena, 3B
7. Chris Carter, 1B
8. Jason Castro, C
8. Jed Lowrie, ph
9. Jake Marisnick, CF
9. Preston Tucker, ph
9. Carlos Gomez, pr

KC

1. Alcides Escobar, SS
2. Ben Zobrist, 2B
3. Lorenzo Cain, CF
4. Eric Hosmer, 1B
5. Kendrys Morales, DH
6. Mike Moustakas, 3B
7. Salvador Perez, C
8. Alex Gordon, LF
8. Jarrod Dyson, pr/LF
9. Alex Rios, RF
9. Paulo Orlando, RF

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Because we lost the exact same way other teams lost to us in the playoffs last year.

We don't have that small ball edge anymore. We're now the idiot team that tries to swing for the fences every pitch instead of just worrying about getting dudes on base pushing them along through bunts, sacrifices, and steals. And then we throw our arms up in exasperation when a good outfield catches our shit when we put it in play.

It's exactly why if Cueto isn't nails tonight, we're ****ing toast. Even with Kazmir's struggles, the Astros still have one hell of an edge both in play on the field and in terms of the Royals needing to win 3 of the next four..

We won th WC game by stealing at will on John Lester who was psychologically unable to throw to first base.

What playoff/WS game did we win with small ball?

We won the LDS with the long ball.

[BWillie]

I'm against 5-game series. I'd rather not have the WC games, and all 7-game series. If you lose game one, it makes it so difficult. Now you have to win 3 of 4.

I would imagine, we were at 57% to win the series before it started, now we are probably at 22%. Just because of one game.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I'm against 5-game series. I'd rather not have the WC games, and all 7-game series. If you lose game one, it makes it so difficult. Now you have to win 3 of 4.

I would imagine, we were at 57% to win the series before it started, now we are probably at 22%. Just because of one game.

On 610 this morning they said the game loser goes on to win the series 31% of the time.

[mr. tegu]

I still think the Astros are making a mistake in starting Kazmir. I know he has done well against us in the past but I don't think he is Danks.

I am wondering if part of their decision is based on the fact that they traded for him and feel like he has to get a start. I am glad they are doing it though because I think we will get him out of there quickly and up big.

[Hootie]

time for Cueto to show his worth ... to this I have little faith

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

If we can keep Altuve off the bases off the bases I think that will prevent the big innings and allow us to not have to score a ton to win.

I posted this is another thread and we did not do a good job of keeping him off base so it is not too surprising we lost. He is their main consistent on base and base hit person and though they didn't have huge innings, he led off the 2 run inning, had another RBI, and was on base again and divided Young's attention. He ended up getting thrown out but it probably didn't help Young's focus on the batter who hit a HR one or two pitches later.

[teedubya]

I don't like the 2 WC teams... it's a problem. The WC that wins has such momentum moving forward. It helped us last year.

But when the WC was the #4 seed... they didn't win much.

The WildCard winner has won 50% of the world series since 2011, I read.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I still think the Astros are making a mistake in starting Kazmir. I know he has done well against us in the past but I don't think he is Danks.

I am wondering if part of their decision is based on the fact that they traded for him and feel like he has to get a start. I am glad they are doing it though because I think we will get him out of there quickly and up big.

McCullers has been better, but he's got a hard home/road split, so I assume they're saving him for Game 4. So it comes down to Kazmir or Fiers today (Tex correct me if I'm wrong), and I assume they going with Kaz because of exactly what you said -- his record against us this year and the fact he was a prized trade piece.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

We won th WC game by stealing at will on John Lester who was psychologically unable to throw to first base.

What playoff/WS game did we win with small ball?

We won the LDS with the long ball.

At least two of the three Angels games were won where at least one of the runs was produced via a sacrifice, bunt, or steal.

We did no such thing last night. Morales got his two solo homers, and the rest of the night it was Escobar, Cain, Hosmer, Moose, and Perez all swinging at shit like it was a burglar trying to rape their daughters.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Because we lost the exact same way other teams lost to us in the playoffs last year.

We don't have that small ball edge anymore. We're now the idiot team that tries to swing for the fences every pitch instead of just worrying about getting dudes on base pushing them along through bunts, sacrifices, and steals. And then we throw our arms up in exasperation when a good outfield catches our shit when we put it in play.

It's exactly why if Cueto isn't nails tonight, we're ****ing toast. Even with Kazmir's struggles, the Astros still have one hell of an edge both in play on the field and in terms of the Royals needing to win 3 of the next four..

But aren't the Astros, "The idiot team that tries to swing for the fence every pitch?"

Yes - much easier for the Stros to play .500 than for the Royals to play .750

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

At least two of the three Angels games were won where at least one of the runs was produced via a sacrifice, bunt, or steal.

We did no such thing last night. Morales got his two solo homers, and the rest of the night it was Escobar, Cain, Hosmer, Moose, and Perez all swinging at shit like it was a burglar trying to rape their daughters.

One run (not a game winner) via SF, steal or bunt in three games.

The games were won on defense, dominant pitching and the HR.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

McCullers has been better, but he's got a hard home/road split, so I assume they're saving him for Game 4. So it comes down to Kazmir or Fiers today (Tex correct me if I'm wrong), and I assume they going with Kaz because of exactly what you said -- his record against us this year and the fact he was a prized trade piece.

Correct. IMO, (and many in these parts) it's a mistake and it's only gonna open the door for the Royals. It's exactly the kind of mistake a young manager / team makes. Sometimes you should not play the percentages when there is an overwhelming trend against them. Kaz has been terrible and had they skipped a few of his starts, they might have won the West.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

I think expectations were unreasonable-we swept through the playoffs last year-and most did not expect them to come out and play like shit.

I guess we will find out very soon if they will start playing with some urgency and passion again.

Well I saw a Royals team last year that showed a LOT in terms of grit and determination. A team that went all the way and had the misfortune of facing the best pitcher in baseball twice in the World Series. They went father than anyone thought and wrote a pretty amazing story getting there. Give me a team like that and I'd NEVER predict gloom and doom after simply losing the 1st game of a 5 game series - even if happened at home. Maybe this time around they write another amazing story that begins with losing the 1st game of the ALDS? They deserve the benefit of the doubt. They earned it.

I'll tell you something - I used to work for the Astros up until May of this season, and there is a great deal of respect, among management and players, for the Royals and what they accomplished last season. In fact, the Royals were referenced in tons of meetings, followed with (Direct quote)," We can be the Royals this season." Make no mistake, this IS the matchup the Astros wanted and it was not out of bravado - it is /was out of respect. To be the best, you need to beat the best. The Royals are that, and like I said, deserve the benefit of every doubt.

[Discuss Thrower]

DFA CoMo

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

One run (not a game winner) via SF, steal or bunt in three games.

The games were won on defense, dominant pitching and the HR.

That one run was a mashed double by moose and two sacfly balls.