Series Thread: Rangers to bury the 'Stros in Houston 8/5-8/7

[Nightcrawler]

What you expect of a #5 starter is someone who can eat innings, not require 80 pitches to get through 3 innings. The Astros are really struggling with the bat right now. Most other teams would have punished Harrell tonight. His ball-to-strike ratio is abysmal and unsustainable if he hopes to stick in the rotation.

Our bullpen weathered the storm tonight, but we need our #5 to pitch at least 5-6 innings the rest of the way so our pen isn't gassed by October.

September call ups should also help the pen.

 

[jaar01]

Harrell gave us 6 innings of 3 run ball last time. He only went 4 this time, but limited the damage to 1 run. I think you need a dose of reality of what to expect from a #5 starter. JD built a nasty bullpen for this reason.

I expect a #5 starter to eat a bunch of innings and have at least some semblance of command. Harrells strike/ball ratio is pretty awful. Astros have been really struggling at the plate lately. A decent hitting team lights him up tonight.

And while I agree JD has built a rather nasty and effective bullpen, I don't think the idea was to go 4-5 innings a game, even with the 5th starter going.

 

[romeo212000]

What you expect of a #5 starter is someone who can eat innings, not require 80 pitches to get through 3 innings. The Astros are really struggling with the bat right now. Most other teams would have punished Harrell tonight. His ball-to-strike ratio is abysmal and unsustainable if he hopes to stick in the rotation.

Our bullpen weathered the storm tonight, but we need our #5 to pitch at least 5-6 innings the rest of the way so our pen isn't gassed by October.

Didn't say I was happy with tonight. Just trying to keep things in perspective after only two starts.

 

[jaar01]

Oops looks like Will beat me to it!

 

[romeo212000]

I expect a #5 starter to eat a bunch of innings and have at least some semblance of command. Harrells strike/ball ratio is pretty awful. Astros have been really struggling at the plate lately. A decent hitting team lights him up tonight.

And while I agree JD has built a rather nasty and effective bullpen, I don't think the idea was to go 4-5 innings a game, even with the 5th starter going.

Again. It's been two starts. One quite respectable, and one leaving something to be desired. Have some perspective.

 

[PhantomWarrior]

So Alvarez and Harrell look like big losers so far.

Beltran and Lucroy look like a gold mine.

Oh the life of a major league GM.

Don't forget Jeffress

 

[romeo212000]

Don't forget Jeffress

Who should not be overlooked. Jeffress looks unbelievable.

 

[WilltheThrill]

Didn't say I was happy with tonight. Just trying to keep things in perspective after only two starts.

Understand. I don't expect greatness from Harrell, but I've been discouraged to say the least by his complete lack of control so far. I hope he settles down a bit and realizes we just need him to go out there every 5th game and pound the strike zone and let the chips fall where they may.

 

[romeo212000]

Understand. I don't expect greatness from Harrell, but I've been discouraged to say the least by his complete lack of control so far. I hope he settles down a bit and realizes we just need him to go out there every 5th game and pound the strike zone and let the chips fall where they may.

If he gives us 5-6 innings of 3 run ball each time out I'll be happy. I think he will.

 

[Bmurph]

#5.5 starters will have more disappointing starts than QS most of the time

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I expect a #5 starter to eat a bunch of innings and have at least some semblance of command. Harrells strike/ball ratio is pretty awful. Astros have been really struggling at the plate lately. A decent hitting team lights him up tonight.

And while I agree JD has built a rather nasty and effective bullpen, I don't think the idea was to go 4-5 innings a game, even with the 5th starter going.

Harrell has control issues. That is just him. He did pitch 6 innings in his 1st start so why are some of you acting like he will pitch just 3-5 innings in every start. Get the ball to the pen with the lead in the 6th or 7th and it is lights out. We are deep enough to handle that.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I missed the game but checked in on my phone when I could. The 2nd time it was 1-1 and we had 1 run on 9 hits. Unacceptable. My take is thank you for Beltran and Lucroy as they went 5-8 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. And my son told me that Lucroy made a great throw to nail Altuve. And if you wonder how big this was for the Astros just ask Altuve since he was on edge enough to be thrown out.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I just saw on the box score that Beltran went out with a strained quad. How did it look to you guys?

 

[romeo212000]

I just saw on the box score that Beltran went out with a strained quad. How did it look to you guys?

Word is quad contusion rather than strained quad.

 

[Bmurph]

Leaving Houston w a 7.5 game lead would be outstanding considering the lead was down to 2.5 a bit over a week ago

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Word is quad contusion rather than strained quad.

I guess we just need to find out if it is a grade 1, 2, or 3.

 

[romeo212000]

I guess we just need to find out if it is a grade 1, 2, or 3.

Contusions aren't graded.

 

[saddles]

Apparently, the player to be named later in the Lucroy trade is supposed to be a significant piece along the lines of Ortiz and Brinson. I wonder if adding Jeffress to the deal is worth that much when it is all said and done.

 

[romeo212000]

Apparently, the player to be named later in the Lucroy trade is supposed to be a significant piece along the lines of Ortiz and Brinson. I wonder if adding Jeffress to the deal is worth that much when it is all said and done.

Would think it's someone on the 40 man. Just hope it's not Mendez or Sadseck.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Contusions aren't graded.

I saw this on a number of websites but not positive:

Like muscle strains, contusions are grade 1, 2 or 3 depending on the severity.