Not bringing Cole in the 7th Inning...

Since when “up in the 80s” pitch count is high for a starter? Especially for a former Cy Young winner that’s making 35M per year who still in his prime of his career. AJ, u screwed that **** up. Owned it!!! And we still love you as our manager.

 

"But, But...I thought it was only Bill O'Brien and Mike D'Antoni that make decisions that cause losses.....especially BoB..".

 

I agree with everything that is said in this post. Harris had a career year and postseason. It is fool's gold to continue to trust him over and over. Again, not that the Nationals wouldn't have gotten to Cole but I'll take my chances with the talent of Cole over Harris. The pitch Harris threw was not a bad pitch. As astros123 says, in Game 7 of the world series, you pitch your most talented pitchers only unless you are forced to pitch a journeyman of Harris's caliber who the manager deemed as "exhausted" before a decisive Game 7 who was tagged for a homer the night before.

Trying not to hate on Hinch too much because it could have worked out and we are all singing his praises but logically there were about 3 better options IMO.

1) Keep the seasoned Vet (future hall of famer) pitching a 2 hitter with 1 not so good pitch in the game who has only thrown 80 pitches after a questionable walk to Soto
2) Bring in Osuna (to hopefully) close the door in the 7th
3) Bring in Cole to just go ahead and start the 7th after pinch hitting for Chirinos* even though this would have been questioned since Greinke was pitching so well through 6 innings.
4) Bring in Harris

*Anyways, I was surprised Hinch didn't pinch hit Tucker or Diaz for Chirinos in the 7th inning after Correa's RBI Single (should have been a double?) That would have then made sense to go ahead and role with Cole to start the 7th w/ Maldonado as the battery mate and would have justified bringing Greinke out of the game. To me, if you stay with Greinke to start the 7th you give him the benefit of the doubt that he can get out of it just like he has hundreds of time in his career, especially with the way he was pitching last night.

 

I thought the same about Chirinos batting after Cobra single. That would have been a perfect time to PH for Chirinos.

 

The problem is we didn’t score enough runs. I disagree with the decision to take Greinke out but Harris had an awesome season and a fantastic post season. He got us out of more than one jam these playoffs. He didn’t even throw a particularly bad pitch to Kendrick. **** just happens.

If Greinke gets that strike call on Soto, maybe he finishes him off and ultimately the inning. That leaves Osuna in the 8th and Cole in the 9th. You could have won with 2 runs but we should expect more and they should of gotten more.

I disagree with Hinch taking out Greinke but ultimately the relievers that have been getting the job done, all failed. That’s on them. Cole was a wildcard that we all think would have done well. But not using him wasn’t a baseball crime.

 

Harris has let us down going back to the Royals series in 16. I hope he isn't brought back unless it's for cheap.

We should have gone out swinging and lived with the result.. Cole should have pitched.

 

Don’t be a prisoner of the moment. Harris was one of the better relievers in baseball this year, and was huge in the playoffs. I would gladly.. gladly... have Harris back.

 

Dude..... don’t talk about logic and then post that. I mean seriously.

 

So he can blow another playoff game? Game 4 Royals 2016, Games 6 & 7 WS 2019 come to mind so it isn't being in the moment. I see a pattern.. he can't be trusted.

 

AJ even told the press that Harris was gassed BEFORE game 7.

 

F*ck hindsight. The astros will worry about that stuff.

Only the road team won in the WS. Only the road team succeeded at converting RISPs.

 

But was it a bad pitch?

 

**** off with you "real fans" bullshit. I don't want to hear it honestly.

I've followed the Astros since 1988. Probably longer than you've been alive. Get off your high horse thinking you matter more than anyone else.

 

Cole being used in relief on 2 days rest is still a huge risk. You tout his resume but the same argument can be used about Kershaw being used in relief. Harris was literally groomed to be used in that moment all season, for high leverage relief. He had already gotten us out of several jams this post season. You say Harris was gassed but wasn't Cole gassed as well? Wasn't Scherzer gassed?

People also mention CFM being used in 2017 for Game 7 but remember he was on 3 days of rest and Cole was on 2...

 

but he was planning on bringing him in to close....the highest leverage situation there is. my guess is hinchy had some dumb script he wanted to stick with capped off with a big heroic save from cole, didn't account for greinke absolutely dominating, then seized the moment at the slightest sign of trouble from greinke to get back on script. it's insane for a star pitcher who we acquired for a heap of money and prospects to leave the game after 80 pitches of domination, and it's even more insane that we were up 2 runs after 6 innings in game 7 of the world series, and somehow lost the game without an available Cole seeing the field.

other dumb ****: bunting chirinos with 2 on and no outs, not pinch-hitting for chirinos, pitching to soto with 2 outs and 1st base open with a runner on 2nd.

hinch has always been a super dumb manager, but the monstrous amount of talent on the team has masked it, overcome/nullified his stupidity, and won 1 world series (should've been 2 or 3) in spite of him. he's friends with the players and likable though, and the world series was won under his watch, so he'll be here forever. i've come to accept it and be grateful that i lived to see 1 championship.

 

Yep, how many left on base? That’s the ball game.