Astros (56-40) @ Mariners (51-45) Jul 18-20, '25...

[Chapow]

As someone else said we’d better not take our foot off the gas with Woo on the hill today. We NEED the sweep! Momentum swing!

They've been hovering around 6 or 7 games back of the Astros for weeks now. A win today would close that gap to 2 games. Huge game, and huge opportunity to be right back in it for the division.

 

[Sperrydogg]

I'm still geeking out about that win yesterday. Huge statement. Though admittedly the Astros were not at full strength.

I don’t care if they’re not at full strength we need to have no mercy. Step on them for a boost

 

[Sperrydogg]

Best stat of the year….. Abreu has blown only 4 save chances this year for the Astros. ALL 4 to the Mariners.

It’s a pretty nice stat but I’ll take whatever Raleigh’s stats are this year

 

[MontanaHawk05]

5 straight wins, 48 runs in that span.

 

[Chapow]

No need to sugar coat it, Cal is in a slump. 0 for 5 today.

Unfortunately, Cal has been trending in the wrong direction for quite awhile now. His numbers over his last 30 games are not that bad, but noticeably down from his overall numbers on the season. The past 15 games have been pretty bad, and his last 7 he's basically ice cold. Really hope he can get it going again, but he's slumping hard right now (and kinda has been for awhile).

 

[Stanton Sucks]

 

[Stanton Sucks]

Unfortunately, Cal has been trending in the wrong direction for quite awhile now. His numbers over his last 30 games are not that bad, but noticeably down from his overall numbers on the season. The past 15 games have been pretty bad, and his last 7 he's basically ice cold. Really hope he can get it going again, but he's slumping hard right now (and kinda has been for awhile).

 

[Stanton Sucks]

Cal by month

 

[Sperrydogg]

After Vargas the 6 dudes who pitched didn't give up any earned runs. I thought the BP did alright considering Evans only went 4 innings.

Evans hasn’t quite been the same since his eight inning demotion

 

[Chapow]

Cal by month

View attachment 72583

It's a bummer, dude. We're pretty fortunate that Randy got red hot right about the same time Cal went really cold.

 

[Stanton Sucks]

It's a bummer, dude. We're pretty fortunate that Randy got red hot right about the same time Cal went really cold.

You nailed it. The good thing is Cal is still hitting it hard. Several warning track outs and that lineout to 3B the other day (yesterday?). I said a month ago fatigue would catch up with him because of his heavy workload. I think he will get a second wind here real soon.

 

[Steve Hawk]

The saying is that "home runs come in bunches". Cal had a mini slump earlier in the year. Nobody stays that hot for an entire season.

 

[Chapow]

Speaking of the stro's not being at full strength, Astro's all star 3B E-sock Parades just landed on the 10 day IL with a hammy strain.

*yes, I know it's Isaac, but that E-sock pronunciation is pretty snazzy*

 

[sutz]

There's no crying in baseball. If a team is not at "full strength" there is no sympathy for them. Nobody felt sorry for the M's when we had 3 starting pitchers out and we lost our shiny new RF for most of the season. Getting down to the short strokes now, time to pour it on.

 

[Stanton Sucks]

Moore can be useful.

 

[sutz]

Moore can be useful.

He could have taken off to first quicker, but he really played the HBP angle well.

Oh, I heard someone say that it was a contact play for Cal on 3rd, so he was off on the ball making contact. Smart move. Worst case they send him back to 3d, so why not?

 

[Stanton Sucks]

He could have taken off to first quicker, but he really played the HBP angle well.

Funny because he did play it well but convincing the umps of being hit would have been way worse. Glad he is a bad actor.

 

[sutz]

Funny because he did play it well but convincing the umps of being hit would have been way worse. Glad he is a bad actor.

Meh, it would have been 1st andf 3d with 2 outs. Still a workable situation. Cal going on contact kind of sealed it. He got home while everybody was still confused.

 

[Stanton Sucks]

Meh, it would have been 1st andf 3d with 2 outs. Still a workable situation. Cal going on contact kind of sealed it. He got home while everybody was still confused.

If hit, it would have been bases loaded one out and the inevitable DP lurking.

 

[sutz]

Looking like a pitchers duel today.

Now watch it go 12-10 in 12 innings.