3/31: Schmidt vs. France

[jon abbey]

2 28 year old RHP in the finale of this four game set, Clarke Schmidt vs. JP France. 2 PM EST on YES.

If I told you that Clarke Schmidt made all 32 starts last year, you probably wouldn't believe me, but he did. He worked on his arsenal this winter and hopes are high for him to keep improving in his second year. France similarly started 23 games in his rookie year last year and is looking to build on that, and to salvage one of these four games for HOU.

I'm going to keep putting Volpe in the leadoff spot until they actually do, I'm also going to try to sit Gleyber again:

Volpe SS
Soto RF
Judge CF
Rizzo 1B
Stanton DH
Verdugo LF
Cabrera 2B
Trevino C
Berti 3B

 

[jon abbey]

HOU lost all four home games in the ALCS last year, they are now a stunning 7-25 at home since mid-August (0-6 vs NY).

 

[Wingack]

View: https://twitter.com/Jomboy_/status/1774459862820221191?s=20


Jomboy is right

 

[jon abbey]

Actually Volpe was scratched with an upset stomach, Cabrera to SS and Berti in at 3B.

 

[Wingack]

Actually Volpe was scratched with an upset stomach, Cabrera to SS and Berti in at 3B.

Oh, well, its the thought that counts.

 

[Wingack]

Sloppy sloppy Astros.

 

[cromulence]

Stupid ballpark.

 

[Wingack]

Berti with his TrueYankee moment.

Now steal second.

 

[cromulence]

I'm glad he homered yesterday but Stanton still looks terrible. I don't know why anyone throws him a strike.

 

[jon abbey]

Schmidt was better than his line looks, excited for him this season.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Soto is amazing. Give him whatever he wants.

 

[cromulence]

I could not possibly love Soto any more.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Soto is so good.

 

[cromulence]

Meanwhile, Judge still looks lost. If they get out of here with a sweep it'll be almost all because of Soto and Oswaldo.

 

[cromulence]

You knew Clay wouldn't make it easy. Ugh.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

Berti showing leather to possibly save the game

 

[cromulence]

What a win. What a series.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Feels good. Real good.

 

[jarules1185]

Amazing series- timely hitting, and glad to get out of there probably 1 day before Yordan Alvarez fully gets his timing down

 

[cromulence]

Astros used Hader in 3 out of 4 games and got swept.

 

[jon abbey]

Meanwhile, Judge still looks lost. If they get out of here with a sweep it'll be almost all because of Soto and Oswaldo.

And the 15.1 scoreless innings from the bullpen, amazing job by pretty much everyone.

 

[jon abbey]

Holmes got lucky about four times in that ninth inning but it's hard to close three times in four games the first week of the year.

 

[jon abbey]

Also it is very unlikely to matter but NY wins the season series from HOU, they play three games in NY in May and that's it.

 

[jon abbey]

View: https://twitter.com/JamesSmyth621/status/1774546918183501988?s=20

 

[jon abbey]

Also I thought Gleyber was pretty bad most of this series, but remarkable job there in the 9th. He flipped a hit into right, stole second easily with the lefty pitching, and was running on the pitch to Soto on his single, so he was already around third when the ball cleared the infield.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

It's only 4 games but if they wanted to make a statement, they did. On the road, 4 straight against Houston, and their new players and kids thrived in the atmosphere.

Separately, shocking to see Houston open with 20 games in 21 days and the Yankees a 7 game road trip with no off days. I assume they plan on a couple rain outs when scheduling like this but yikes.

 

[jon abbey]

Hader only allowed one SB all last season.