Astros AM Breakdown: Make it an even dozen!
Oh, look, the Astros have won TWELVE games in a row. How about that, baseball world?
The last time that the Astros lost a ballgame, well, I was planning a trip to Georgia. And here I am typing a post in Georgia. Funny how time flies, right?
As I watched the game unfold on my phone from my hotel room, Houston was struggling against the Rays. A quick 4-0 deficit didn’t forebode well for a twelfth straight Houston victory. The bullpenning experiment was working. And the Astros were in unfamiliar defensive positions.
Doubt began to creep into my mind. Oh, how I would be wrong.
Fast forward to Alex Bregman in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Normally I do not like to be wrong. A thing called pride gets in the way, right or wrong. But I was glad to be wrong this time.
Oh, it is also time for HEB to put together a commercial featuring Bregman and Evan Gattis.
On a personal note, here is shout out to the Rays’ Wilson Ramos for a two-run home run in the benefit of my fantasy team. Sure, it was a detriment to the Astros, and I wasn’t actively rooting for the dinger.
Wait, was Ramos in my lineup?
*Frantically checks fantasy lineup that hasn’t been checked in three days*
Yes, he was in the lineup. Thank goodness.
Like I said, I was not actively rooting.
Despite four earned runs and a season-high five walks by starter Gerrit Cole, the team was able to survive the early deficit. The team only had a 19.6% win expectancy entering the last frame. By the time Bregman rounded second, the win expectancy was decided at 100%. Like numerous games during baseball’s longest win streak this year, Houston received contributions from all over the roster on Monday.
And congrats to the new President of Baseball Operations, Jeff Luhnow, on his contract extension through 2023. He’s earned it! The road was definitely a rough one. Lumps were taken. Questions and ridicule followed him and the organization for a long time. But Luhnow, like the Astros, has proven himself again and again. And don’t worry as Luhnow will still be the team’s general manager for the foreseeable future.
Houston Astros News and Notes From Around FanSided
Mariners push intriguing but, should not be surprising [House of Houston – Kenneth Cline]
Khris Davis is the only position player worth targeting [House of Houston – T.A. Mock]
Houston Astros: Which relievers will the club target at the deadline? [Call To The Pen – Kyle Cardoza]
More Houston Astros and General Baseball News From Around the Internet
Astros GM Luhnow promoted, gets extension [MLB.com – Christian Boutwell]
What Do You Think of These Ten Surprising Hitters? [FanGraphs – Jeff Sullivan]
Next: Astros need more of vintage Dallas Keuchel
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the Astros AM Breakdown.