Game of the Week: September 3: HOU @ TEX

[Commissioner Erick]

Houston Astros (72-58) @ Texas Rangers (86-43)


HOU: Brady Rodgers (4-8, 4.50)
TEX: Anthony Bass (8-4, 3.66)


The Texas Rangers are coasting towards the playoffs. The Houston Astros are in a dogfight for the final wild card spot.

Texas rivals on different ends of the playoff spectrum clash when the Texas Rangers meet the Houston Astros for the Game of the Week.

Texas has built itself into a juggernaut. Five players already have 26 home runs, which could give them an astounding five players with 30 home runs at the end of the year. They're first in every offensive category and perhaps have the best defense too. Simply put, Clayton Piper, despite some struggles early in 2017, has created the best collection of position player talent in baseball.

Virtually everybody in the starting lineup or rotation has been imported, with only tonight's starter Anthony Bass coming up from the minors, and Rougned Odor on the original roster. Clayton has had the guts to make major moves and is now the favorite for the American League pennant.

The fascinating element is the sheer depth of elite talent. Paul Goldschmidt leads the league in runs and OPS. A different Ranger leads in average, in steals, in RBIs, and in total bases.

Their sheer talent will be tough for a Houston team to overcome. The Astros are dealing with a number of injuries to their rotation, which has resulted in Brady Rodgers being given a significant role this year. Despite a 4.50 ERA, Rodgers has missed bats and hasn't walked many guys, which isn't bad for a 27-year-old rookie.

Rodgers will lead a team that has rebounded after a dismal July that left them fighting for a playoff spot. A trade with Washington at the deadline boosted Houston's lineup, both consolidating talent and providing reinforcements. Andrew McCutchen has hit to the tune of a .903 OPS, while Daniel Murphy has hit .284 with four steals, albeit with no power.

Jose Altuve also continues to hit. After an absurd .178 average through May, Altuve is hitting a robust .329 since June 1. He'll need Carlos Correa or Alex Bregman to join him on a superstar pace though. While both players have had strong years, Correa's .245 average leaves much to be desired, while Bregman's superior ability to get on base hasn't come with as much power. One of those two players may need to step up, either Correa in average or Bregman with power, to take down a team as good as Texas.


Questions for the GMs:


For Sean Bain, I don't think Brady Rodgers was supposed to be part of the plan this year. Talk about what he's provided you?

As Altuve has turned things around, you've dropped him to sixth in the order. Why the change?

You released Brian McCann and made the trade with the Nationals since your last appearance. How do you feel about your remade roster taking on Texas tonight?

For Clayton Piper, with a few weeks to reflect, how do you feel about the Seager trade you made earlier this year?

You had Billy Hamilton batting leadoff for most of the year before dropping him to ninth. La Cabra, Francisco Mejia, was placed in the leadoff spot instead. Why did you make those moves?

Tonight's starter Anthony Bass is one of the few guys who has survived the upheaval with all the trades you've made. What has allowed him to stick around?

[friscoranger]

For Clayton Piper, with a few weeks to reflect, how do you feel about the Seager trade you made earlier this year?


We feel good about it. Corey has done great for us since coming over and we were really hurting at SS production before obtaining him. Also Luis Gonzalez progression has made parting with a stud like Maz a little easier.


You had Billy Hamilton batting leadoff for most of the year before dropping him to ninth. La Cabra, Francisco Mejia, was placed in the leadoff spot instead. Why did you make those moves?


Billy had been struggling out of the leadoff spot so we dropped him down to 9th and his batting average has sky rocketed since being moved down there. Also we wanted to get Mejia’s bat higher up in the lineup.


Tonight's starter Anthony Bass is one of the few guys who has survived the upheaval with all the trades you've made. What has allowed him to stick around?


Bass has been able to stick around by just flat out balling. He has surpassed our expectations ever since PBA started and he is just a scrapper and that’s what I believe has kept him around. I mean if you would have told me at the beginning of the year that Bass would have 8 wins and an ERA under 4 I would have asked you what you were smoking.

[Commissioner Erick]

Rangers 5 - Astros 3


WP: I. Krol (2-2)
LP: B. Rodgers (4-9)
SV: L. Avilan (2)


Clayton Piper moved Francisco Mejia up to the leadoff spot after underwhelming early-season results by Billy Hamilton.

That decision looked prudent last night.

Francisco Mejia homered twice, including the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, leading the Texas Rangers to a 5-3 victory over the Houston Astros.

Texas decided to skip Anthony Bass and start Cole Hamels on very short rest after Hamels shut out Houston in August. The move didn't agree with him. Hamels gave up single runs the first three innings before leaving after four innings. Apparently he had a strained abdomen he tried to pitch through, unsuccessfully. He only fanned one batter, walking three, and allowing five hits in 4.0 innings. Carlos Correa took him deep in a disappointing outing.

However, Texas was able to hit four home runs in the game to come back. The first batter Brady Rodgers faces was Mejia who launched a home run to right to make tie the game at one in the first. In the fourth, after Kyle Seager doubled, his brother Corey launched a two-run shot down the right field line to tie the game at three.

Rodgers was able to work out of trouble from there. In the fifth with two men on, Rodgers got Carlos Santana to pop up to the left side for the second out, before striking out Paul Goldschmidt for a clutch inning-ending K. Rodgers got in trouble in the sixth and faced a two-out, two-on situation. Billy Hamilton ended it by lining out to Daniel Murphy to end the threat.

Rodgers' luck would run out in the seventh when Mejia led off an inning for the second time with a home run, giving Texas a 4-3 lead. The Rangers got a man on and over to second with outs, but Rodgers got Kyle Seager to fly out to end the inning.

Rodgers allowed only four runs, but he did allow three home runs and two extra base hits in 7 innings. He only struck out three. While his WHIP wasn't terrible, allowing that much contact to a lineup as dangerous as Texas' ended up dooming him.

Ryan O'Hearn took James Hoyt deep in the eighth inning to complete the scoring.

Aside from Santana's heroics, and Texas' power, the Rangers bullpen was the next biggest reason the Rangers won the game. They worked 5 scoreless innings to give the lineup time to turn things around.

Matt Bush allowed two hit and a walk over 1.1 innings, but didn't allow a run. That's partly because Ian Krol was able to come on after Bush allowed a runner in the sixth, and contribute to Garrett Stubs getting caught stealing before retiring Tony Kemp. Krol worked 1.2 innings and got the win.

Sam Dyson and Alex Claudio teamed up to work a perfect eighth inning. Jeremy Jeffress allowed the first two to reach in the ninth, ending up with a second and third situation with one out. Texas played it very interestingly. Alex Bregman grounded out to Corey Seager, but in a two-run game, George Springer didn't break for home. Clayton Piper's manager bot then walked Carlos Correa to load the bases before going to the lefty Luis Avilan to face Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen hit a weak grounder Avilian was able to field and fire to first to end the game for his second save.


Questions for the GMs:


For Sean Bain, you moved Jose Altuve to the second spot in the lineup, dropping Daniel Murphy to six. What prompted the move and how to do you think it affected the game?

Brady Rodgers' surface stats weren't horrible as he was mostly done in by stray home runs by a dangerous lineup in a home-run heavy ballpark. How do you assess his performance?

Your team managed only two extra base hits in the game. Do you feel you generally lack for extra base pop?

For Clayton Piper, your manager bot had an intentional walk in the bottom of the ninth, pulled your closer, and allowed a lefty to face Andrew McCutchen. Do you agree with those moves?

While you moved Mejia up in the order for his on base abilities, he had three extra base hits and only drove himself in. What's your take on a dangerous power hitter like Mejia batting with the bases empty so often?

You had no problems using multiple relievers for either longer than an inning or shorter than an inning. Is that a general philosophy to not be held to more strict bullpen roles?

[astrosgm]

For Sean Bain, you moved Jose Altuve to the second spot in the lineup, dropping Daniel Murphy to six. What prompted the move and how to do you think it affected the game?

Since acquiring Murphy, we've had him bat further down in the order against LHP because Altuve is rated better. Small sample size, but overall the move has been beneficial for Altuve and the team.

Brady Rodgers' surface stats weren't horrible as he was mostly done in by stray home runs by a dangerous lineup in a home-run heavy ballpark. How do you assess his performance?

When I took over this team, Rodgers was pitching in AAA. For some reason, the previous regime thought that Charlie Furbush was worthy of an off-season signing.

Rodgers is a good back end starter, but this team is missing a true ace at the top of the rotation to complement Keuchel.

Your team managed only two extra base hits in the game. Do you feel you generally lack for extra base pop?

Ratings wise and the ballpark we play in, we shouldn't be lacking in pop. However, something just seems off with this team. OOTP doesn't ever seem to like George Springer, and if you look at other players like Bregman and Correa you'd expect more pop to be there. It's almost as if the sliders are slanted more toward pitching in this league because "The Launch Pad" just doesn't seem to be playing that way this year.

[friscoranger]

For Clayton Piper, your manager bot had an intentional walk in the bottom of the ninth, pulled your closer, and allowed a lefty to face Andrew McCutchen. Do you agree with those moves?


Lol, no but it worked. Baseball can be weird like that. 


While you moved Mejia up in the order for his on base abilities, he had three extra base hits and only drove himself in. What's your take on a dangerous power hitter like Mejia batting with the bases empty so often?


We have deep lineup and would rather have his bat at top of order then hitting 7th or 8th. Plus hitting leadoff leads to him getting more at bats. 


You had no problems using multiple relievers for either longer than an inning or shorter than an inning. Is that a general philosophy to not be held to more strict bullpen roles?

I disagree with some of the moves the bot make in regards to RP but that typically is when it pulls a RP to early. I'm all for them staying in more then one inning if there on a role. But yea I tend not to be held to stricter bullpen roles.