Post by joshsbix on Oct 22, 2023 6:01:57 GMT -5
The white flag has been hoisted over Colt Stadium for just about a month now and the long season is taking its toll. After trading Brian Anderson to the Cubs as they search for the division title and a championship, the Astros will save some money down the stretch but they are in danger of losing fan support as they have already dropped from 75 to 71 over the last 2 sims. Good news out of the development camp, no news is good news. We aren't trying to jinx it but we haven't had any talent hits in 2 sims! However, that is where the good news ends.
In game 1, the Nationals jumped on Ted Lilly early and cruised to a 7-2 win to start the sim off on a poor start. Ultimately, Lilly got tagged for 6 runs, 5 earned. Rich Harden earned the win going all 9 and giving up 2 runs to get him his 16th win of the season. Nats lead 1-0.
John Lackey continued the pitching dominance for Washington in game 2. Lackey went 7+ before turning it over to the bullpen to turn out the lights. Lowe gave up 3 while also pitching into the 9th but couldn't get the run support and the Astros fall in game 2, 4-0 and the Nats sweep the 2 game series.
The team was reeling as they arrived in Atlanta. Mattes got the start for Houston after the Brian Anderson trade. He pitched well enough for the Astros to win the bullpen game taking a 2-1 lead into the 9th before the bullpen gave the lead away and eventually the game in extra innings to give the Braves a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2 in Atlanta seemed to be a night where the collective frustration of the team was expressed through their bats. The Astros got the scoring going in the 5th and then the floodgates opened as the Astros scored 5 in the 5th and 5 in the 9th to cruise to a much needed 15-3 win on 20 hits. Arroyo picked up his 15th win of the season. Some fans may see this as the defense letting Smoltz down as they gave up 3 unearned runs, however, I don't think Brian is going to be saying they could have won this won if the defense had played better. Astros tie the series 1-1.
Game 3 ended up being the best game of the series. The Astros took a 3-1 lead into the 7th before the bullpen gave up 2 in the 7th and the Atlanta late inning specialists took care of the rest as the Astros take the rubber game 4-3 and win the 3 game series 2-1. This should be a series that felt like it got away from the Astros. They had late inning leads in all 3 of the games and the one run wins had been their bread and butter all year, going 20-12 in 1 run games prior to this series.
The Astros were in desperate need of a win when they returned to Houston for the SD series. Game 1 went into extra innings before the Astros were able to send everyone home happy with a run in the bottom of the 11th. Lilly bounced back from his last appearance, giving up 1 run while pitching into the 6th inning but it was Jason Isringhausen that got the W for the Astros. Astros take a 1-0 series lead.
It looks like the bats showed up for the Astros in game 2, but if you look at the box score closer, the Astros scored all 11 runs in the 7th inning after giving up 1 run in the top of the 4th and the top of the 7th. The Astros responded to Washington's 2 run lead with 3 doubles and RBIs from Chavez, Ford, Erstadt, Stairs, Guillen, Hietpas, and Infante. Marsonek and Castillo split the run damage between them but it was Marsonek picking up his 14th loss of the season while rookie Oscar Villareal got his 2nd win out of the bullpen and the Astros take a 2-0 series lead.
San Diego salvaged game 3 with a 6-3 win. This time it was the Astros with the 3 run comeback in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into Extras but the Padres got to Frasor through the defense as he gave up 3 runs, 1 earned as he picks up the loss. Astros take the series 2-1.
As the calendar turns to September, the power we were starting to see in August almost completely disappeared and the bullpen is blowing late leads. It appears that everyone is ready for the offseason as every member on the team is using Green Day's, 'Wake Me Up When September Ends" as their walk up music. The Astros need to remained focused for the last month if they are going to reach their goal of being over .500. They currently find themselves 4 games over .500 but that is a 2 game decline during the last sim.
The Astros look to make the Cubs life harder as the Cubs come to town for 2 games, then a 2 game series against the Marlins, of course the Diamondbacks are due to show up on the schedule with a 3 game series before a leaguewide off day on the 9th. Management may make another waiver wire deal or two but the focus for this team is already on the offseason.
In game 1, the Nationals jumped on Ted Lilly early and cruised to a 7-2 win to start the sim off on a poor start. Ultimately, Lilly got tagged for 6 runs, 5 earned. Rich Harden earned the win going all 9 and giving up 2 runs to get him his 16th win of the season. Nats lead 1-0.
John Lackey continued the pitching dominance for Washington in game 2. Lackey went 7+ before turning it over to the bullpen to turn out the lights. Lowe gave up 3 while also pitching into the 9th but couldn't get the run support and the Astros fall in game 2, 4-0 and the Nats sweep the 2 game series.
The team was reeling as they arrived in Atlanta. Mattes got the start for Houston after the Brian Anderson trade. He pitched well enough for the Astros to win the bullpen game taking a 2-1 lead into the 9th before the bullpen gave the lead away and eventually the game in extra innings to give the Braves a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2 in Atlanta seemed to be a night where the collective frustration of the team was expressed through their bats. The Astros got the scoring going in the 5th and then the floodgates opened as the Astros scored 5 in the 5th and 5 in the 9th to cruise to a much needed 15-3 win on 20 hits. Arroyo picked up his 15th win of the season. Some fans may see this as the defense letting Smoltz down as they gave up 3 unearned runs, however, I don't think Brian is going to be saying they could have won this won if the defense had played better. Astros tie the series 1-1.
Game 3 ended up being the best game of the series. The Astros took a 3-1 lead into the 7th before the bullpen gave up 2 in the 7th and the Atlanta late inning specialists took care of the rest as the Astros take the rubber game 4-3 and win the 3 game series 2-1. This should be a series that felt like it got away from the Astros. They had late inning leads in all 3 of the games and the one run wins had been their bread and butter all year, going 20-12 in 1 run games prior to this series.
The Astros were in desperate need of a win when they returned to Houston for the SD series. Game 1 went into extra innings before the Astros were able to send everyone home happy with a run in the bottom of the 11th. Lilly bounced back from his last appearance, giving up 1 run while pitching into the 6th inning but it was Jason Isringhausen that got the W for the Astros. Astros take a 1-0 series lead.
It looks like the bats showed up for the Astros in game 2, but if you look at the box score closer, the Astros scored all 11 runs in the 7th inning after giving up 1 run in the top of the 4th and the top of the 7th. The Astros responded to Washington's 2 run lead with 3 doubles and RBIs from Chavez, Ford, Erstadt, Stairs, Guillen, Hietpas, and Infante. Marsonek and Castillo split the run damage between them but it was Marsonek picking up his 14th loss of the season while rookie Oscar Villareal got his 2nd win out of the bullpen and the Astros take a 2-0 series lead.
San Diego salvaged game 3 with a 6-3 win. This time it was the Astros with the 3 run comeback in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into Extras but the Padres got to Frasor through the defense as he gave up 3 runs, 1 earned as he picks up the loss. Astros take the series 2-1.
As the calendar turns to September, the power we were starting to see in August almost completely disappeared and the bullpen is blowing late leads. It appears that everyone is ready for the offseason as every member on the team is using Green Day's, 'Wake Me Up When September Ends" as their walk up music. The Astros need to remained focused for the last month if they are going to reach their goal of being over .500. They currently find themselves 4 games over .500 but that is a 2 game decline during the last sim.
The Astros look to make the Cubs life harder as the Cubs come to town for 2 games, then a 2 game series against the Marlins, of course the Diamondbacks are due to show up on the schedule with a 3 game series before a leaguewide off day on the 9th. Management may make another waiver wire deal or two but the focus for this team is already on the offseason.
