Post by joshsbix on Oct 23, 2023 6:20:14 GMT -5
One week into September, the Astros find themselves 14 back and finding themselves on the verge of losing their minds as they search for answers to what happened this season. There are multiple reports that Neil Diamonds September Morn has been blaring on repeat over and over, not the whole song though. One line in particular has driven the business and home owners into the streets united. For 3 straight days the Astros HQ has played the same line, over and over, "We've traveled halfway 'round the world To find ourselves again September morn." The Astros have placed signs around their compound and some have trickled into the city that simply say "September Mourn" with a picture of the Astros logo. Here is what has the Astros down in the dumps:
After an off day on September 1st, The Cubs take game 1, in Houston. The Cubs scored 4 in the 3rd 3 in the 5th and 3 in the 5th. The Astros tried to mount a late inning comback scoring 1 in the 8th and 2 in the bottom of the 9th but all they managed to do was make the 7-4 final look a little more legit and gave Strop the chance to pick up another save. As far as the stolen base watch goes for the NL lead, the Cubs were limited to 1 SB by Elvis Pena. Lew Ford hits HR number 21 for Houston even as his name swirls around trade rumors for the offseason. Cubs lead series 1-0.
In Game 2, Houston was forced to try to rally late once again. The Cubs took a 4-2 lead into the 8th. The Cubs sent a familiar face to the mound in Brian Anderson, He was strong for 7 innings but this is one game where the starter was left out there 1 out too long as Anderson was unable to get any outs in the 8th and by the time the dust had settled, Houston had scored 4 runs and Anderson finished with 7 innings and 6 ER. For the Astros, Nieves hit HR 23, another guy who's power is surging down the stretch as trade rumors linger over him. Astro starter Dontrelle Willis also went 7 giving up 4 but it was Izzy that picked up the W out of the pen. Astros tie the series 1-1 and that's how it would end. Have I mentioned I hate 2 game series?
Game 1 in Florida was a tight 3-1 game headed into the 9th inning when Houston exploded for 6 runs behind a 2 out 3 run HR (22). Ted Lilly went into the 7th giving up only a single run on a RBI double from 3B Khalil Greene. Pat Burrell went 3/4 with an RBI as the Astros take game 1.
Florida pitching showed up for game 2. Gabe White went 7 and the bullpen was perfect. Derek Lowe picked up a tough loss after allowing only a single run in the 3rd. Youkilis hit a 1 out double and 3 batters later Dale Murphy drove in what would become the winning run. Looking at this box score I am wondering if there was a strikeout dropped 3rd strike where the runner reached in that 3rd inning. If Youk had a 1 out double and none Greene nor Young had a hit, walk, and this is one game where Houston didn't commit an error. I am curious what others think may have happened in this 3rd inning on 9/5. Either way Florida evened the series 1-1. Have I mentioned I hate 2 game series?
The Astros landed in Arizona and went to work in game 1. Bronson Arroyo gets win #16 with a 3-1 win and Jason Frasor seems to have gotten back on track closing out his 41st save of the season. Nieves hits HR #24. Lew Ford quietly joins the 20/20 club as he swipes his 20th bag of the season. Sure he isn't a top base stealer in the league but he will get his. Astros take a 1-0 lead and are 3-2 for the sim.
It seems Arizona took the series opening loss a little personally as they seemingly were hitting before the Astros took their defensive positions. Behind 15 hits, the DBacks destroyed the Astros 10-0 to even up the series and the Astros sim record. I really don't want to say anything else about this game.
To update some of the other stories we have been following. Matt Stairs didn't get any hits in the last sim getting only one start. This is a little odd because management was adamant that Stairs was going to get more at bats in an effort to get him to 3,000 hits next season. Billy Butler is on a 5 game hitting streak. He is the heir apparent if Nieves gets traded. If he continues to hit the way he has been over the last couple of sims, he should be able to get to 150 hits as he watches Stairs go for 3,000 he is doing the math that says with some consistency he can get to 3,000. Jose Guillen had been on a cold streak as he watched his average fall below .300. He seems to be turning things around as his average was up the last sim and looks to be trending towards .300 again.
The Astros are looking to try to take the 3 game series and help the other NL Contenders out a little bit. Arizona has been a buzz saw for us this year, winning a series as the season winds down would be a way to put an end to the September Mourn. The Astros reflect back on the season where a cold streak in July significantly altered the math and I am sure some analysis will come out as the Astros are able reflect on what happened.
After an off day on September 1st, The Cubs take game 1, in Houston. The Cubs scored 4 in the 3rd 3 in the 5th and 3 in the 5th. The Astros tried to mount a late inning comback scoring 1 in the 8th and 2 in the bottom of the 9th but all they managed to do was make the 7-4 final look a little more legit and gave Strop the chance to pick up another save. As far as the stolen base watch goes for the NL lead, the Cubs were limited to 1 SB by Elvis Pena. Lew Ford hits HR number 21 for Houston even as his name swirls around trade rumors for the offseason. Cubs lead series 1-0.
In Game 2, Houston was forced to try to rally late once again. The Cubs took a 4-2 lead into the 8th. The Cubs sent a familiar face to the mound in Brian Anderson, He was strong for 7 innings but this is one game where the starter was left out there 1 out too long as Anderson was unable to get any outs in the 8th and by the time the dust had settled, Houston had scored 4 runs and Anderson finished with 7 innings and 6 ER. For the Astros, Nieves hit HR 23, another guy who's power is surging down the stretch as trade rumors linger over him. Astro starter Dontrelle Willis also went 7 giving up 4 but it was Izzy that picked up the W out of the pen. Astros tie the series 1-1 and that's how it would end. Have I mentioned I hate 2 game series?
Game 1 in Florida was a tight 3-1 game headed into the 9th inning when Houston exploded for 6 runs behind a 2 out 3 run HR (22). Ted Lilly went into the 7th giving up only a single run on a RBI double from 3B Khalil Greene. Pat Burrell went 3/4 with an RBI as the Astros take game 1.
Florida pitching showed up for game 2. Gabe White went 7 and the bullpen was perfect. Derek Lowe picked up a tough loss after allowing only a single run in the 3rd. Youkilis hit a 1 out double and 3 batters later Dale Murphy drove in what would become the winning run. Looking at this box score I am wondering if there was a strikeout dropped 3rd strike where the runner reached in that 3rd inning. If Youk had a 1 out double and none Greene nor Young had a hit, walk, and this is one game where Houston didn't commit an error. I am curious what others think may have happened in this 3rd inning on 9/5. Either way Florida evened the series 1-1. Have I mentioned I hate 2 game series?
The Astros landed in Arizona and went to work in game 1. Bronson Arroyo gets win #16 with a 3-1 win and Jason Frasor seems to have gotten back on track closing out his 41st save of the season. Nieves hits HR #24. Lew Ford quietly joins the 20/20 club as he swipes his 20th bag of the season. Sure he isn't a top base stealer in the league but he will get his. Astros take a 1-0 lead and are 3-2 for the sim.
It seems Arizona took the series opening loss a little personally as they seemingly were hitting before the Astros took their defensive positions. Behind 15 hits, the DBacks destroyed the Astros 10-0 to even up the series and the Astros sim record. I really don't want to say anything else about this game.
To update some of the other stories we have been following. Matt Stairs didn't get any hits in the last sim getting only one start. This is a little odd because management was adamant that Stairs was going to get more at bats in an effort to get him to 3,000 hits next season. Billy Butler is on a 5 game hitting streak. He is the heir apparent if Nieves gets traded. If he continues to hit the way he has been over the last couple of sims, he should be able to get to 150 hits as he watches Stairs go for 3,000 he is doing the math that says with some consistency he can get to 3,000. Jose Guillen had been on a cold streak as he watched his average fall below .300. He seems to be turning things around as his average was up the last sim and looks to be trending towards .300 again.
The Astros are looking to try to take the 3 game series and help the other NL Contenders out a little bit. Arizona has been a buzz saw for us this year, winning a series as the season winds down would be a way to put an end to the September Mourn. The Astros reflect back on the season where a cold streak in July significantly altered the math and I am sure some analysis will come out as the Astros are able reflect on what happened.
