The Astros' troubles began with the Yankees. Let the Astros' troubles end with the Yankees.
It's time for some hair of the dog. While most people understand the expression to mean the curing of a hangover with more alcohol, the full expression ("hair of the dog that bit you") literally describes a homeopathic method for treating rabies: either by imbibing a few hairs of the rabid dog in a potion or by rubbing those hairs into the wound itself.
To mix metaphors for a second, the Astros have been snake-bitten ever since the season began against the Bronx Bombers. Coming into that season-opening series, the Astros were abuzz with excitement, having just signed one of the most highly-touted closers in the game. The Astros already had Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu. Now, with Josh Hader, pundits were saying that the Astros had "one of" — if not "the" — best bullpens in baseball. The thinking was: Should the Astros get a lead going into the seventh inning, it was — as Pvt. Hudson says — "Game over, man! Game over!" At least... it was supposed to be.
In all four opening games, the Astros turned over leads to its bullpen. In all four games, the bullpen failed to deliver. In all four games, the Astros lost. ...and they have yet to recover completely from the setback. Let's return the favor.
Right now, the Yankees are where the Astros want to be. The Yankees sit a healthy 10 games over .500; the Astros languish 10 games below .500.
The best thing the Astros can do now is go after the hair of the dog that bit them. If they take two out of three against New York, they'll be doing it against a team that is only one game out for the best record in the American League and only two games out for the best record in the Majors, and they'll be doing it on that other team's home turff. What a springboard that could be into the next month's worth of games, half of which (14 of them to be precise) take place against division rivals.
Speaking of the next month, the Astros are only one month away from the 19th anniversary of Fred Faour's infamous tombstone. Many folks are keen once again to bury the Astros. Some already have. That's fine. The last time it happened, the Astros finished in the World Series. Keep in mind, too, that last season's World Series Champs also had a bullpen they were excited about, only to see it falter for much of last season, so... there is some precedent on the Astros' side. Still, it would be better not to waste any more time and to turn things around right now on this very road trip, starting with the team that put the Astros in this quagmire in the first place. Take care of business here against New York, and the Astros could be setting themselves up for a nice run. Fail to do so, and this same month of games just might end with another tombstone on the 19th "death day" of the original.
Let's go get that hair of the dog.
Game 1, Tues., 6:05 PM (CST)
Justin Verlander, 1-0, 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
-v-
Luis Gil, 2-1, 3.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Game 2, Wed., 6:05 PM (CST)
Spenser Arrighetti, 0-3, 8.27 ERA, 1.96 WHIP
-v-
Carlos Rodon, 2-2, 3.68 ERA, 1.28 WHIP
Game 3, Tues., 4:05 PM (CST)
Ronel Blanco, 3-0, 2.09 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
-v-
Marcus Stroman, 2-1, 3.41 ERA, 1.43 WHIP
It's time for some hair of the dog. While most people understand the expression to mean the curing of a hangover with more alcohol, the full expression ("hair of the dog that bit you") literally describes a homeopathic method for treating rabies: either by imbibing a few hairs of the rabid dog in a potion or by rubbing those hairs into the wound itself.
To mix metaphors for a second, the Astros have been snake-bitten ever since the season began against the Bronx Bombers. Coming into that season-opening series, the Astros were abuzz with excitement, having just signed one of the most highly-touted closers in the game. The Astros already had Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu. Now, with Josh Hader, pundits were saying that the Astros had "one of" — if not "the" — best bullpens in baseball. The thinking was: Should the Astros get a lead going into the seventh inning, it was — as Pvt. Hudson says — "Game over, man! Game over!" At least... it was supposed to be.
In all four opening games, the Astros turned over leads to its bullpen. In all four games, the bullpen failed to deliver. In all four games, the Astros lost. ...and they have yet to recover completely from the setback. Let's return the favor.
Right now, the Yankees are where the Astros want to be. The Yankees sit a healthy 10 games over .500; the Astros languish 10 games below .500.
The best thing the Astros can do now is go after the hair of the dog that bit them. If they take two out of three against New York, they'll be doing it against a team that is only one game out for the best record in the American League and only two games out for the best record in the Majors, and they'll be doing it on that other team's home turff. What a springboard that could be into the next month's worth of games, half of which (14 of them to be precise) take place against division rivals.
Speaking of the next month, the Astros are only one month away from the 19th anniversary of Fred Faour's infamous tombstone. Many folks are keen once again to bury the Astros. Some already have. That's fine. The last time it happened, the Astros finished in the World Series. Keep in mind, too, that last season's World Series Champs also had a bullpen they were excited about, only to see it falter for much of last season, so... there is some precedent on the Astros' side. Still, it would be better not to waste any more time and to turn things around right now on this very road trip, starting with the team that put the Astros in this quagmire in the first place. Take care of business here against New York, and the Astros could be setting themselves up for a nice run. Fail to do so, and this same month of games just might end with another tombstone on the 19th "death day" of the original.
Let's go get that hair of the dog.
Game 1, Tues., 6:05 PM (CST)
Justin Verlander, 1-0, 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
-v-
Luis Gil, 2-1, 3.19 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Game 2, Wed., 6:05 PM (CST)
Spenser Arrighetti, 0-3, 8.27 ERA, 1.96 WHIP
-v-
Carlos Rodon, 2-2, 3.68 ERA, 1.28 WHIP
Game 3, Tues., 4:05 PM (CST)
Ronel Blanco, 3-0, 2.09 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
-v-
Marcus Stroman, 2-1, 3.41 ERA, 1.43 WHIP
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