4-2 gets it done maybe, 5-1 for sure, 6-0 you might sneak a tie with the mariners

AggiEE said:

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W said:

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that is good data

the Astros were 6-6 at home in August and 5-5 at home in September

however it's hard to blame injuries for the offense after August 1st...because Correa, Sanchez, and Urias were added (and Pena was back by then)

this is where Espada mismanaged things...especially with regard to Dubon.

Dubon started 21 games in August (his second highest monthly start total of the season) -- despite the 4 players above joining the lineup. Dubon provided .504 OPS in August in 80 at-bats.

Dubon's OPS in September is .499

Joe played him way too much

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Joe not only defers to back of the baseballcard

He also defers to HEB commercial status

Apparently Dubon is a celebrity that MUST be played.

Which makes no sense when you have Urias with a .200 higher OPS and ditto for Sanchez. They should have taken away most of Dubon's starts.

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I agree with the sentiment, but Sanchez and Urias don't play CF plus you dont want Sanchez vs LHP. Dubon was likely our best option in those situations.

Rustys-Beef-o-Reeno said:

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6-0 you might sneak a tie with the mariners

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They'd need to go 2-4 against the Rockies and Dodgers for us to win. 3-3 we tie and lose on the tiebreaker

forget about the division at this point

just try to sneak in and hope something wakes up these chumps

Rustys-Beef-o-Reeno said:

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4-2 gets it done maybe, 5-1 for sure, 6-0 you might sneak a tie with the mariners

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Agreed.

3-3 (87 wins) - out
4-2 (88 wins) - 6 seed
5-1 (89 wins) - 5 seed - need Seattle to go 1-5 to win the Division and get the 2 or 3 seed
6-0 (90 wins) - 5 seed - need Seattle to go 2-4 to win the Division and get the 2 seed

Boston (85 wins), Detroit (85 wins), Cleveland (84 wins) likely outcomes:

Boston goes 3-3 (88 wins) - loses to Toronto, Beats Detroit
Detroit goes 2-4 (87 wins) - loses to Cleveland and Boston
Cleveland goes 4-2 (88 wins) - beats Detroit and Texas (89 wins sweeping Texas)

I'm not even thinking about the division -- just get in to the playoffs.

I think 88 wins will do it.

Either Detroit, Cleveland or Boston will end up with 87 wins. I could see Detroit going 2-4 or 1-5 over this final stretch against Cleveland and Boston. Red Sox have also been playing .500 baseball for the last 20 games. So, they could fall off. I think Cleveland's magic may soon run out.

We just have to win -- 2 of 3 from the As and 2 of 3 from the Halos OR 1 of 3 from the As and sweep the Halos. Both are possible.

I don't have faith they'll do it -- but I do have hope (a dangerous thing).

Buckle up!

Do we know how the pitching probables are lining up?

I worry about having to use HB late then him not being available in a WC series.

BTKAG97 said:

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Rustys-Beef-o-Reeno said:

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4-2 gets it done maybe, 5-1 for sure, 6-0 you might sneak a tie with the mariners

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Agreed.

3-3 (87 wins) - out
4-2 (88 wins) - 6 seed
5-1 (89 wins) - 5 seed - need Seattle to go 1-5 to win the Division and get the 2 or 3 seed
6-0 (90 wins) - 5 seed - need Seattle to go 2-4 to win the Division and get the 2 seed

Boston (85 wins), Detroit (85 wins), Cleveland (84 wins) likely outcomes:

Boston goes 3-3 (88 wins) - loses to Toronto, Beats Detroit
Detroit goes 2-4 (87 wins) - loses to Cleveland and Boston
Cleveland goes 4-2 (88 wins) - beats Detroit and Texas (89 wins sweeping Texas)

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Since Framber will be pitching at least one of the remaining games, assume at least one L. So 6-0 is probably off the table.

Ag_07 said:

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Do we know how the pitching probables are lining up?

I worry about having to use HB late then him not being available in a WC series.

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I assume it's Javier and Blubaugh for games 1 and 2 against Oakland. HB for game 3.

Then it gets fun. If you call it that.

Framber is game 1 against LAA. Like it or not it's his turn and there isn't anyone else. Then Alexander for Game 2. Then it's Johnny Allstaff if we have to win game 3 in Anaheim.

I think that sets HB for game 1 in the WC the following Tuesday on 4 days rest. Or a split Javier/Blubaugh game 1 and HB in game 2 on full 5 days rest.

And then god help us, Framber would be the game 3 starter if it got that far. In other words, better win in 2.

Quote:

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And then god help us, Framber would be the game 3 starter if it got that far. In other words, better win in 2.

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It would be pretty poetic if we get the wild card, split the first two, and our season rests on Framber's shoulders

Mathguy64 said:

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Ag_07 said:

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Do we know how the pitching probables are lining up?

I worry about having to use HB late then him not being available in a WC series.

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I assume it's Javier and Blubaugh for games 1 and 2 against Oakland. HB for game 3.

Then it gets fun. If you call it that.

Framber is game 1 against LAA. Like it or not it's his turn and there isn't anyone else. Then Alexander for Game 2. Then it's Johnny Allstaff if we have to win game 3 in Anaheim.

I think that sets HB for game 1 in the WC the following Tuesday on 4 days rest. Or a split Javier/Blubaugh game 1 and HB in game 2 on full 5 days rest.

And then god help us, Framber would be the game 3 starter if it got that far. In other words, better win in 2.

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I would start Alexander in that game over Framber unless he shows something amazing in his last regular season start. No need to worry about hurting his feelings if you don't plan to have him back next year anyway.

Interest betting market today

Detroit M/L -161 (Skubal pitching)
Guardians +132

Blue Jays M/L -164 (Gausman)
BoSox +134 (Giolito)

M/L on Astros/A's is essentially dead even at -110/-111 but our game has the highest O/U at 10.5 runs

(DK Sportsbook)

CFTXAG10 said:

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M/L on Astros/A's is essentially dead even at -110/-111 but our game has the highest O/U at 10.5 runs

(DK Sportsbook)

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So they expect the A's to win 10-1? Ok I can see that.

Mathguy64 said:

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CFTXAG10 said:

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M/L on Astros/A's is essentially dead even at -110/-111 but our game has the highest O/U at 10.5 runs

(DK Sportsbook)

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So they expect the A's to win 10-1? Ok I can see that.

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Or 10-0. Either seems possible. Are the As throwing a pitcher with an ERA over 5? If so, there is probably an even money chance we are no-hit through 7.

New @Crush_City_Pod with @tylercstafford

- A division-sealing sweep
- One good Seattle season or a changing of the guard?
- Christian Walker
- Setting up the road trip

Apple: https://t.co/DWikeZWqrr

Spotify: https://t.co/0X7VTLUxsc

YouTube: https://t.co/FvriOcIkHD

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 22, 2025

Quote:

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Are the As throwing a pitcher with an ERA over 5? If so, there is probably an even money chance we are no-hit through 7.

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Only faced him once this year back on 7/25. He went 6ip giving up 4 hits and 2 runs to this lineup

Smith
Altuve
Caratini
Walker
Diaz
Dubon
Hummel
McCormick
Short

Springs is 10-11 on the season. 4.17 ERA. Been better on the road than he's been at home as is the case for a few others on their pitching staff.

teams that can slug are bad matchups for the Astros

A's rank 6th in MLB in home runs with 214

the Astros rank 17th with 172 homers

A's rank 3rd in MLB in doubles with 281

the Astros rank 22nd with 237 doubles

So pretty much most teams are bad matchups?

Yeah. I actually agree with that.

the A's have even out-tripled the Astros 16 to 12

how can Dana fix the 'stros slugging problem in the offseason?

W said:

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the A's have even out-tripled the Astros 16 to 12

how can Dana fix the 'stros slugging problem in the offseason?

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I'm almost positive we have the ability, but the hitting coaches decided to put more emphasis on other things.

superaggie73 said:

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W said:

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the A's have even out-tripled the Astros 16 to 12

how can Dana fix the 'stros slugging problem in the offseason?

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I'm almost positive we have the ability, but the hitting coaches decided to put more emphasis on other things.

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Like swinging wildly at pitches out of the zone, especially early in the count.

Prediction: The Rockies beat the Mariners twice because the Mariners aren't used to being in this situation and are going to take their foot off the gas.

If we see Seattle in the playoffs, for the love of God, could we IBB Raleigh?

superaggie73 said:

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W said:

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the A's have even out-tripled the Astros 16 to 12

how can Dana fix the 'stros slugging problem in the offseason?

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I'm almost positive we have the ability, but the hitting coaches decided to put more emphasis on other things.

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Stop trying to pull outside pitches.

Better yet...

Stop swinging at outside pitches.

superaggie73 said:

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W said:

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the A's have even out-tripled the Astros 16 to 12

how can Dana fix the 'stros slugging problem in the offseason?

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I'm almost positive we have the ability, but the hitting coaches decided to put more emphasis on other things.

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I don't really agree with this. I think it is true for Pena and Meyers but that adjustment was a positive. You probably lost 40 HRs between Yordan and Paredes. That's significant run production not even accounting for how the rest of the lineup is positively affected by their presence.

EastCoastAgNc said:

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New @Crush_City_Pod with @tylercstafford

- A division-sealing sweep
- One good Seattle season or a changing of the guard?
- Christian Walker
- Setting up the road trip

Apple: https://t.co/DWikeZWqrr

Spotify: https://t.co/0X7VTLUxsc

YouTube: https://t.co/FvriOcIkHD

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 22, 2025

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The sweep, changing of the guard, and Walker.
That sounds like a really fun podcast.

It's now Round 10 of a 10-round boxing match. Do the Astros answer the bell or choose to stay in their corner?

I'll be watching because its what I've done since 1962.

superaggie73 said:

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W said:

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the A's have even out-tripled the Astros 16 to 12

how can Dana fix the 'stros slugging problem in the offseason?

---

I'm almost positive we have the ability, but the hitting coaches decided to put more emphasis on other things.

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Not sure that's true.

Who on this team has the ability to be a power hitter?

CHANGE IS A-COMING!

Major League Baseball (MLB) today announced that the Automated Ball Strike (ABS) Challenge System has been approved for Major League play by a vote of the Joint Competition Committee.  Beginning in 2026, the “Challenge System” will be used in all Spring Training, Championship…

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 23, 2025

CFTXAG10 said:

---

Quote:

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Are the As throwing a pitcher with an ERA over 5? If so, there is probably an even money chance we are no-hit through 7.

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Only faced him once this year back on 7/25. He went 6ip giving up 4 hits and 2 runs to this lineup

Smith
Altuve
Caratini
Walker
Diaz
Dubon
Hummel
McCormick
Short

Springs is 10-11 on the season. 4.17 ERA. Been better on the road than he's been at home as is the case for a few others on their pitching staff.

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The two runs he gave up were a 2 run shot by Zack Short with Chas on base. Since neither are in the lineup, my prediction seems on target. We also lost that game 15-3.

linkdude said:

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CHANGE IS A-COMING!

Major League Baseball (MLB) today announced that the Automated Ball Strike (ABS) Challenge System has been approved for Major League play by a vote of the Joint Competition Committee.  Beginning in 2026, the “Challenge System” will be used in all Spring Training, Championship…

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 23, 2025

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Booooo! Umps can't stand the idea of us figuring out how bad they have been during the regular season games forever. Why only use it in pre- and post-season?

it includes the regular season as well (MLB calls it "the championship season")

linkdude said:

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it includes the regular season as well (MLB calls it "the championship season")

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Never heard it called that before. Glad to hear it will include all games.

ABOUT DAMN TIME

They should use the umpire scorecard season averages over the last couple years to decide how many challenges each team gets a game.

Astros get 10, Yankees get 0

But what about the human element. Professional hitters that know the zone better than umpires do just need to adjust their strike zone, which is very clearly outlined in the rulebook, to each individual umpire. They just need to choke up on the bat and protect the zone even if a pitch is 6 inches outside