Welcome To Case's Column
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.
In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Could The Astros Prove Their Critics Wrong?
The Houston Astros sure have had some surreal things happen to them for about a year now. Pinch me and see if I'm dreaming. Well, reality set in with a stupid series of scandals the franchise had no business involving itself with. Now, after a shortened season in which the 'Stros finished with a losing record and a ton of injuries, not the least of which was starting pitcher Justin Verlander (Tommy John surgery), they once again will have to prove that they belong among baseball's best.
So far, they've passed two tests. The first was just getting to the playoffs by finishing second place in the American League West. The second was getting through what's left of Minneapolis by sweeping the Twins at Target Field in the Wild Card best-of-3. Oh, and there's 2A: Avoiding all the haters due to COVID and having no fans in the stands harassing them mercilessly. Yes, the Astros actually have haters now, thanks to the sign-stealing scandal that's caused friction with other players (and fans) in the league and put a damper on what was going to become a growing dynasty.
Now comes the hard part. Houston has to beat Oakland.
The Athletics are no patsies. They came out and played good baseball all season, with some of their best coming against the Astros. Time now for the American League Divisional Series at a bubble site in California. Houston is facing a good Oakland A's team, and it's clear that their work is cut out for them if they are to get back to The Promised Land. They will need effective performances from their core, but they'll also need their newer players to start stepping up. It's a lot tougher now, considering the 'Stros are three years removed from their only world championship. Things are a little different today, but it doesn't make things easier.
World Series or bust? The haters want the latter, but these Astros will have to get their swagger back and prove that they can rise again. Look, those guys don't need center field cameras and they don't need trash cans. They're perfectly capable of connecting the old-fashioned way. We're about to see if they can work their magic with a new hurdle.
So far, they've passed two tests. The first was just getting to the playoffs by finishing second place in the American League West. The second was getting through what's left of Minneapolis by sweeping the Twins at Target Field in the Wild Card best-of-3. Oh, and there's 2A: Avoiding all the haters due to COVID and having no fans in the stands harassing them mercilessly. Yes, the Astros actually have haters now, thanks to the sign-stealing scandal that's caused friction with other players (and fans) in the league and put a damper on what was going to become a growing dynasty.
Now comes the hard part. Houston has to beat Oakland.
The Athletics are no patsies. They came out and played good baseball all season, with some of their best coming against the Astros. Time now for the American League Divisional Series at a bubble site in California. Houston is facing a good Oakland A's team, and it's clear that their work is cut out for them if they are to get back to The Promised Land. They will need effective performances from their core, but they'll also need their newer players to start stepping up. It's a lot tougher now, considering the 'Stros are three years removed from their only world championship. Things are a little different today, but it doesn't make things easier.
World Series or bust? The haters want the latter, but these Astros will have to get their swagger back and prove that they can rise again. Look, those guys don't need center field cameras and they don't need trash cans. They're perfectly capable of connecting the old-fashioned way. We're about to see if they can work their magic with a new hurdle.
Total Comments 3
Comments
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Oakland is going to be tough, but the Astros are still capable. To overcome their haters, they'll just need to win. Game 1 of this latest series is already a big test.Posted 10-05-2020 at 03:38 PM by malfunction
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And the Astros appear to provide an exclamation point to this ALDS, as they are up in Game 4, 11-4 in the top of the 8th in L.A. They're on the verge of another ALCS berth.Posted 10-08-2020 at 04:46 PM by case44
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Well, say what you will about the 2020 Astros. They battled injuries and had to use ten different starting pitchers. Their relief corps was reduced to mostly rookies with Chris Devenski, Brad Peacock, and Roberto Osuna out of the picture.
And the upside to this? Those rookies have experienced some playoff baseball pressure. This will come in handy next year, assuming all of them will make the club out of Spring Training. They also appear to have solved their problem with the lack of lefthanded pitching that seemed to define the Jeff Luhnow / A J Hinch era. Really, Blake Taylor and Brooks Raley look like they have something to bring to the table. And kudos to starter Framber Valdez for establishing his potential bread-and-butter, and that's his curveball. I'll write more about next year when I get some more time.Posted 10-19-2020 at 08:45 AM by case44
