OK, I'll weigh in a little here. The Astros just made a throwing error in the top of the first of Game 2, and a Ranger scrambled home for a 1-0 lead. It's odd to be rooting for Texas, but I am rooting for Texas.
And now my Rangers have singled home another run, and Texas is leading by 2-0. Go, Rangers!
I have a nephew who lives just outside Dallas. He's moved down there with a Toyota promotion about six years ago. He's a huge Cardinals fan, but he's took on the Rangers as his second team. He bought the big MLB television package right after getting down there and decided he would keep it if he seriously watched at least parts of no fewer than 300 games a season. I think he has kept up his end of the deal with himself and kept the package each year so far.
I don't know any of these players. I know the managers, of course. But I only care about the A's (and a little about the Nationals), and so those are the only players I know. To that point, OK, I know of Texas shortstop Marcus Semien. Anyway, because Oakland was so bad this year, I pretty much took the season off.
Oh, of course, I know Houston's Justin Verlander and Texas's Max Scherzer, as well.
Well, I'm totally struggling with remembering Astros/Rangers crossovers. So I'm going to start out remembering the 1976 Astros and Rangers cards. This is a common Immaculate Grid strategy for me.
Still 4-0 through one full, and now Semien singles into left to open the second.
'76 Astros ... well, the catchers are Milt May and Skip Jutze, and I don't think either of them played for the Rangers. Bob Watson, Rob Andrews, Roger Metzger and Doug Radar at first, second, short and third ... no Rangers in there ... in the outfield, Jose Cruz, Cesar Cedeño and ... hmmm?
Yordan Álvarez, a giant Astro whom I know, rips a pitch by Nathan Eovaldi, a pretty big Ranger I also know, about six rows deep into the right-center seats of the Astrodome or whatever stupid field the stupid Astros cheat/play at. It's 4-1.
But then the Texas third baseman goes all Graig Nettles on a hard hit down the line, and the Rangers are out of the second.
The Rangers now have a batter named Taveras up to try to hit a homer against this Astros pitcher named Valdez, and I don't think I know either of these guys. Now, the 1976 Topps set had Frank Taveras, a swift shortstop for the Pirates who eventually played for the Rangers--but never played for the Astros, as far as I can remember. So I won't be wasting any Astros/Rangers Immaculate Grid guesses on Frank Taveras.
In at least one season in the early 1980s, Topps featured a Red Sox shortstop named Julio Valdez, but I don't remember him ever turning up on a set for another team. So no Valdez guess will be forthcoming from me.
Programming note: We just decided to go out and eat steaks for supper! And then I'm planning to attend a college-financing webinar put on by the ACT people tomorrow at about this time. So my pinch-hit MLB23 coverage in GoHeath's stead is likely down to about 30 minutes. Plan accordingly.
Oops ... I think I just missed v3 and that we're heading to ^4. I'm guessing the Astros didn't hit any more homers because I didn't hear a bunch of screaming from the other tab. I'll have to confirm, but I'll bet the score remains Texas 5 and Houston 1.
76 Astros pitchers ... Larry Dierker, Ken Forsch, J.R. Richard, Doug Konieczny, Joe McIntosh (on a "traded" card after an offseason deal with San Diego) ... hmmm? ... Tom Griffin ... TOM GRIFFIN MIGHT'VE BEEN A RANGER! TOM GRIFFIN MIGHT'VE BEEN A RANGER!
Pardon. We're still in the bottom of the third. There must've been a pitching change precipitating a commercial break. Anyway, it remains 5-1, Rangers.
Another current Astro I know is Jose Altuve, who has batted a career 1.239 in 450 games against Oakland, and he turned up a bunch on Twitter/X today because of a giant base-running error last night that I enjoyed so much that I almost decided maybe Elon Musk isn't such a bad guy, after all.
Backup '76 Topps Astros ... Wilbur Howard outfielder, maybe Cliff Johnson catcher/first baseman, maybe Gene Pentz pitcher ... no Rangers among those dudes, I don't believe. So, my all Astros/Rangers Immaculate Grid grid right now stands at ...
NOLAN RYAN/XXX/XXX LEON ROBERTS/XXX/XXX TOM GRIFFIN/XXX/XXX
I stepped away for a bit to get ready (to go out for steaks!), and Houston is now within 5-2 in the top of the fifth.
Also, I spent some time concentrating on 1976 Topps Rangers: catcher Bill Fahey, first baseman Jim Spencer, shortstop Toby Harrah, third baseman Lenny Randle and outfielders Jeff Burroughs, Tom Grieve, Juan Beniquez and Dave Moates ... pitchers Jim Umbarger, Fergie Jenkins, Joe Hoerner, Steve Foucault, Jackie Brown, Steve Hargan ... I'll tell you what, I don't believe a one of those guys ever played for Houston. Maybe Spencer, maybe Burroughs ... at the ends of their careers. This is tough.
Roy Howell, a Ranger in the 1976 Topps set who had a league-leading 28 errors among third basemen that season, also never played for Houston. At least I'm pretty sure he didn't. I'm really struggling to fill out this grid.
Nathan Eovaldi strikes out the next two Astros, and then up comes Alex Bregman, another Astro I know. Fox posts some graphic that he's hit seven grand slams in some career condition--in the playoffs? But before I have time to read what it said, he bounces a grounder back to that same Texas third baseman. So, no dice for Houston in the bottom of the fifth after loading bases with none out. Seems important.
Philadelphia beat Arizona, 5-3, last night, so the Phillies lead the National League Championship Series, 1 game to 0. Game 2 is scheduled for tonight in Philadelphia at 7:07. WTBS has the TV coverage, so it'll be good to hear Skip Caray and Immaculate Grid one-trick-pony Darrel Chaney (Reds 1969-75 and Braves 1976–79).
This is an unusually cynical point for me, but I feel like this is basically the point where so many teams in sports today decide that the brilliant thing to do is start tanking, substituting out their best players so that they don't get injured before they can be traded for draft assets and undertaking their rebuild. I hate the Astros, but I was thankful that they at least tried to come back against the Rangers the other night.
If the Phillies win this series, they will have won seven National League Pennants since divisional play began in 1969. That would equal the Cardinals, and trail only the Dodgers (who have eight in total, but only three since 1988). That is very impressive.
The Braves have won six NL pennants since Divisional Play began: 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2021. It's amazing to think that the Phillies could soon lead the Braves in this category.
The Phillies were swept in the 1976 NLCS to Cincinnati after getting out to a big lead in their division, hosting the Bicentennial All-Star Game and then having to scramble a bit to hold things together at the end of the regular season. Scarred from 1964, there was real angst from Philadelphia over the second half of the summer, and there was some talk that the Phillies actually might fire Danny Ozark--who had taken over the team when it was in last place in only 1972--at the end of MLB76.
The Phillies got a bunch more hits -- this time by people who were not former Nats -- and they now lead 6-0 after 6. The Phillies have played six post-season games at home this year. So far, they have outscored their opponents 35-8 in those games. The Phillies at home are playing like the way people my age remember the Big Red Machine as playing.
Phillies now lead 8-0 in the bottom of the 7th. This all helps to explain why the Dodgers had so little interest in beating Arizona. Who would want to go through this?
OK, I'll weigh in a little here. The Astros just made a throwing error in the top of the first of Game 2, and a Ranger scrambled home for a 1-0 lead. It's odd to be rooting for Texas, but I am rooting for Texas.
ReplyDeleteAnd now my Rangers have singled home another run, and Texas is leading by 2-0. Go, Rangers!
3-0, none out in the top of the first.
ReplyDeleteI have a nephew who lives just outside Dallas. He's moved down there with a Toyota promotion about six years ago. He's a huge Cardinals fan, but he's took on the Rangers as his second team. He bought the big MLB television package right after getting down there and decided he would keep it if he seriously watched at least parts of no fewer than 300 games a season. I think he has kept up his end of the deal with himself and kept the package each year so far.
4-0, one out.
I don't know any of these players. I know the managers, of course. But I only care about the A's (and a little about the Nationals), and so those are the only players I know. To that point, OK, I know of Texas shortstop Marcus Semien. Anyway, because Oakland was so bad this year, I pretty much took the season off.
ReplyDeleteOh, of course, I know Houston's Justin Verlander and Texas's Max Scherzer, as well.
I'm going to try to come up with Immaculate Grid Astros/Rangers. Nolan Ryan is one.
ReplyDeleteAstros finally get out of the half inning. Remains 4-0, Rangers.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm totally struggling with remembering Astros/Rangers crossovers. So I'm going to start out remembering the 1976 Astros and Rangers cards. This is a common Immaculate Grid strategy for me.
ReplyDeleteStill 4-0 through one full, and now Semien singles into left to open the second.
'76 Astros ... well, the catchers are Milt May and Skip Jutze, and I don't think either of them played for the Rangers. Bob Watson, Rob Andrews, Roger Metzger and Doug Radar at first, second, short and third ... no Rangers in there ... in the outfield, Jose Cruz, Cesar Cedeño and ... hmmm?
ReplyDeleteLeon Roberts.
ReplyDeleteWait, I think Leon Roberts eventually played for the Rangers!
ReplyDeleteTEX 4
ReplyDeletev2
HOU 0
Yordan Álvarez, a giant Astro whom I know, rips a pitch by Nathan Eovaldi, a pretty big Ranger I also know, about six rows deep into the right-center seats of the Astrodome or whatever stupid field the stupid Astros cheat/play at. It's 4-1.
ReplyDeleteBut then the Texas third baseman goes all Graig Nettles on a hard hit down the line, and the Rangers are out of the second.
TEX 4
^2
HOU 1
Nope, sorry ... that's ^3, not ^2 ... and now Jonah Heim homers to open the third for the Rangers, so it's back to a four-run Texas lead.
ReplyDeleteThe Rangers now have a batter named Taveras up to try to hit a homer against this Astros pitcher named Valdez, and I don't think I know either of these guys. Now, the 1976 Topps set had Frank Taveras, a swift shortstop for the Pirates who eventually played for the Rangers--but never played for the Astros, as far as I can remember. So I won't be wasting any Astros/Rangers Immaculate Grid guesses on Frank Taveras.
ReplyDeleteThe top of the third is over.
TEX 5
v3
HOU 1
In at least one season in the early 1980s, Topps featured a Red Sox shortstop named Julio Valdez, but I don't remember him ever turning up on a set for another team. So no Valdez guess will be forthcoming from me.
ReplyDeleteProgramming note: We just decided to go out and eat steaks for supper! And then I'm planning to attend a college-financing webinar put on by the ACT people tomorrow at about this time. So my pinch-hit MLB23 coverage in GoHeath's stead is likely down to about 30 minutes. Plan accordingly.
ReplyDeleteOops ... I think I just missed v3 and that we're heading to ^4. I'm guessing the Astros didn't hit any more homers because I didn't hear a bunch of screaming from the other tab. I'll have to confirm, but I'll bet the score remains Texas 5 and Houston 1.
ReplyDelete76 Astros pitchers ... Larry Dierker, Ken Forsch, J.R. Richard, Doug Konieczny, Joe McIntosh (on a "traded" card after an offseason deal with San Diego) ... hmmm? ... Tom Griffin ... TOM GRIFFIN MIGHT'VE BEEN A RANGER! TOM GRIFFIN MIGHT'VE BEEN A RANGER!
ReplyDeletePardon. We're still in the bottom of the third. There must've been a pitching change precipitating a commercial break. Anyway, it remains 5-1, Rangers.
ReplyDeleteAnother current Astro I know is Jose Altuve, who has batted a career 1.239 in 450 games against Oakland, and he turned up a bunch on Twitter/X today because of a giant base-running error last night that I enjoyed so much that I almost decided maybe Elon Musk isn't such a bad guy, after all.
ReplyDeleteBackup '76 Topps Astros ... Wilbur Howard outfielder, maybe Cliff Johnson catcher/first baseman, maybe Gene Pentz pitcher ... no Rangers among those dudes, I don't believe. So, my all Astros/Rangers Immaculate Grid grid right now stands at ...
ReplyDeleteNOLAN RYAN/XXX/XXX
LEON ROBERTS/XXX/XXX
TOM GRIFFIN/XXX/XXX
TEX 5
ReplyDelete^4
HOU 1
I stepped away for a bit to get ready (to go out for steaks!), and Houston is now within 5-2 in the top of the fifth.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I spent some time concentrating on 1976 Topps Rangers: catcher Bill Fahey, first baseman Jim Spencer, shortstop Toby Harrah, third baseman Lenny Randle and outfielders Jeff Burroughs, Tom Grieve, Juan Beniquez and Dave Moates ... pitchers Jim Umbarger, Fergie Jenkins, Joe Hoerner, Steve Foucault, Jackie Brown, Steve Hargan ... I'll tell you what, I don't believe a one of those guys ever played for Houston. Maybe Spencer, maybe Burroughs ... at the ends of their careers. This is tough.
Earlier Astros/Colt .45s I remember: Joe Morgan, Cesar Geronimo, Don Wilson ... no Rangers.
ReplyDeleteEarlier Rangers/Senators I remember: Mike Epstein, Elliott Maddox, Hank Stroud ... no Astros.
TEX 5
ReplyDeletev5
HOU 2
Bob Knepper. Nope. Ed Herrmann, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Joe Sambito, Joe Ferguson, Art Howe, Terry Puhl. Nope.
ReplyDeleteBilly Sample, Mickey Rivers, Gaylord Perry, Nelson Cruz, Jim Kern, Len Barker, Tommy Boggs ... brutal. No.
ReplyDeleteMound visit for Texas. The Astros have runners on first and second with none out in the bottom of the fifth ...
ReplyDeleteThis time the Texas third baseman goes all Roy Howell on a dribbler. Bases loaded.
ReplyDeleteRoy Howell, a Ranger in the 1976 Topps set who had a league-leading 28 errors among third basemen that season, also never played for Houston. At least I'm pretty sure he didn't. I'm really struggling to fill out this grid.
ReplyDeleteNathan Eovaldi strikes out the next two Astros, and then up comes Alex Bregman, another Astro I know. Fox posts some graphic that he's hit seven grand slams in some career condition--in the playoffs? But before I have time to read what it said, he bounces a grounder back to that same Texas third baseman. So, no dice for Houston in the bottom of the fifth after loading bases with none out. Seems important.
ReplyDeleteSTEAK!
Final: Texas 5, Houston 4.
ReplyDeleteSteak: Delicious!
Nolan Ryan: Correct. Houston Astros (1980–1988) and Texas Rangers (1989–1993).
Leon Roberts: Correct. Houston Astros (1976–1977) and Texas Rangers (1981–1982).
Tom Griffin: Incorrect. Houston Astros (1969–1976) but no Texas Rangers.
Argh: Cliff Johnson and Joe Hoerner.
Philadelphia beat Arizona, 5-3, last night, so the Phillies lead the National League Championship Series, 1 game to 0. Game 2 is scheduled for tonight in Philadelphia at 7:07. WTBS has the TV coverage, so it'll be good to hear Skip Caray and Immaculate Grid one-trick-pony Darrel Chaney (Reds 1969-75 and Braves 1976–79).
ReplyDeleteGreat job by Eric! I'm back sooner than I thought, so I may have a bit to say about the D-Backs and the Phillies.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSo far in these playoffs, the Phillies are 6-1. The Rangers are 7-0. The D-Backs are 5-1. The Astros are 3-3.
ReplyDeleteFormer National Trea Turner crushes a home run in the bottom of the 1st, and the party is underway at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies lead 1-0.
ReplyDeleteThis is an unusually cynical point for me, but I feel like this is basically the point where so many teams in sports today decide that the brilliant thing to do is start tanking, substituting out their best players so that they don't get injured before they can be traded for draft assets and undertaking their rebuild. I hate the Astros, but I was thankful that they at least tried to come back against the Rangers the other night.
DeleteIf the Phillies win this series, they will have won seven National League Pennants since divisional play began in 1969. That would equal the Cardinals, and trail only the Dodgers (who have eight in total, but only three since 1988). That is very impressive.
ReplyDeleteThe Braves have won six NL pennants since Divisional Play began: 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2021. It's amazing to think that the Phillies could soon lead the Braves in this category.
DeleteOn the other hand, the Phillies did eliminate the Braves in 1993, 2022, and 2023.
DeleteThe Phillies were swept in the 1976 NLCS to Cincinnati after getting out to a big lead in their division, hosting the Bicentennial All-Star Game and then having to scramble a bit to hold things together at the end of the regular season. Scarred from 1964, there was real angst from Philadelphia over the second half of the summer, and there was some talk that the Phillies actually might fire Danny Ozark--who had taken over the team when it was in last place in only 1972--at the end of MLB76.
DeleteIn the bottom of the 3d, former National Kyle Schwarber lines a homer into the right field seats, and the Phillies lead 2-0 after 3.
ReplyDeletePhillies lead 2-0 after 5. D-Backs have two hits. Phillies have two hits -- which were both home runs. Really dull stuff so far.
ReplyDeleteIn the top of the 6th, the D-Backs get a one-out double, but can do nothing. Phils lead 2-0 after 6 1/2.
ReplyDeleteSchwarber hits another home run to lead off the bottom of the 6th, and the former Nats are leading Arizona 3-0.
ReplyDeleteThe Phillies got a bunch more hits -- this time by people who were not former Nats -- and they now lead 6-0 after 6. The Phillies have played six post-season games at home this year. So far, they have outscored their opponents 35-8 in those games. The Phillies at home are playing like the way people my age remember the Big Red Machine as playing.
ReplyDeleteReds are 5-0 in the 1976 postseason after Game 2 of the World Series.
DeletePhillies now lead 8-0 in the bottom of the 7th. This all helps to explain why the Dodgers had so little interest in beating Arizona. Who would want to go through this?
ReplyDelete