gehringer_2

OK - maybe not!

that's two.

Another one I don't get it. If Schoop and Kreidler are both in the game what is gained putting Schoop at 2B? I can believe they may think Kreidler is already a better 2B than Schoop, but I have a hard time believing they think that what they gain at 2b isn't less than what they lose at 3b.

How does Abreu get an IF hit?

I think one problem is the dislocation streakiness produces in the lineup. If the guy puts up good numbers - goes to the top of the line-up, then crashes between the team's other high OBP hitters, he effectively spikes more rallies than if were batting 7th where his end of season numbers would have put him, or vice versa, the #7 hitter is suddenly hot and 5/6 don't gett on base and 8/9 don't drive him in so he ends up a LOB stat all the time. I don't have any math to prove it, but given that performance distribution in baseball is asymmetric around the mean and there is a strong non-linearizing BaBIP contraint on the upper limit, it just seems to me that consistent performance is going to allow for the best line-up optimization and thus the most runs through the season.

Ooops - you mean that wasn't a freebie?

the catch would have been hard because Austin didn't approach it optimally. A better OF gets to the wall, leaves himself a step so he can make the jump to adjust to the ball. Meadows certainly is capable of making that jump, he couldn't because he had already pinned himself against the wall. IOW, he was fielding the ball in a reactionary way instead of having been able to anticipate the play he should have made. And yes, that is exactly the difference between a plus OF and an average one.

that's what Schoop does. Hot and cold streaks

After Wentz's good outing and with Lorenzen almost ready, Manning may be pitching for his job. We'll see if he rises to the occasion.

OTOH, I don't imagine a reliever that throws the other team's most dangerous hitter a batting practice pitch with two men on is likely to get too many more chances to do it again - even from the Tigers.

Hope springs eternal, but I think Weaver is already about 2yr past his sell date.

I would think this is correct.

I won't dispute Vierling as star #1, but if Englert doesn't go three, there is no way Houston doesn have a handful more runs by 11 innings.

I was just going to say he didn't have to pitch to Abreu, but nevermind!

javy with the poor throw at a bad time. Have to make it hard on themselves.

Vierling - have a night!

defense has been the difference. Both Tork and Meadows could have ended it. OTOH, Houston bobbled a couple they still got the outs on.

he got his glove on it. I'd say his mistake was he got up against the wall and left himself no room to jump/adjust. You have to stay off the wall far just enough to go up for the ball clean.

one the plus side, Abreu will be the baserunner in the 10th. wait - no he won't. Tucker

javy could have stepped toward home to give him a target, but Tork has to make the throw to the inside.

Javy!

are we going to get a 3 inning relief appearance? Holy 1965 Batman!

Montero goes low, low and lower.

never saw where that ball even went - OPPO

And Yordan looked like he was complaining to the ump about Englert's hold there -- but there was all kinds of time left on the clock.