Houston; Problem Not Solved

It is tough to beat a team when your starting C, SS, 3rd, CF and DH are missing along with your best starter and one of your top relievers.  But, we had a lead in every game and held a lead later in games twice.

Excuses aside, we have to play better

Gardner showed he is a step slower just missing a few balls and those were big plays.  He is still a really good LF'r defensively, but he has always been just avg in CF and now is weaker there.  Gardner playing every day is not good for us.  We need another CF'r

Wade just does not seem to be a major league player.  he bounced a ball on a routine DP and is overmatched at the plate.

Romine has been awful in his time playing this year.  He does have a HR which was hit off a 2nd baseman who came into pitch, but outside of that, he is 2-14 with no walks or extra base hits.  his defense has also been poor, but he made a good play yesterday when he blocked a ball with 1st and 2nd and while the ball got away from him a little he quickly dissected the opportunity to not throw to 3rd, but to throw to 1st base and pick off the runner and he nailed him.  Not an easy play.

I don't believe Paxton threw a strike with his breaking ball or change until his 40th pitch.  His change was awful all night, but later he started to get better with his curve.  He was not sharp and so far has not pitched well (he will get better, although that is not going out on a limb as he has a 6 ERA now)

Kahnle was awful yesterday and has allowed 4 hits and 4 walks in 4 innings.

LeMahieu has really been great so far.  He has shown to be very good at 3rd, excellent at 2nd base and has a .993 OPS.

Bird had his first good game in a while, this is very important to us as we need some lefty in the lineup.  He was only 1-2 but he had very good AB's and walked twice.  Hopefully he gets going

Judge had his head up his rear his 1st 2 AB's (he k'd his first 3 AB's), but the first 2 were simply terrible AB's taking 3 curves for strikes and swinging at 3 curves that were balls.  the last AB featured all curves also, but at least he took a few balls and just swung through a curve that was a strike.  he has a very odd approach to the plate in that he seems to sometimes have his mind made up that he is taking a pitch no matter what, but he is immensely talented.  I guess the point is that there is room for improvement which is really exciting for a guy who has been tremendous so far.

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