The Rundown: Astros Walk Off Game 2 of ALCS, Beltrán Rebuffs Cubs, Miguel Amaya’s Defense Recognized

The Yankees-Astros ALCS game last night was one of the better playoff games I’ve watched in my lifetime. In case you missed it, Houston walked it off with a home run by Carlos Correa in the bottom of the 11th to even the series at a game apiece. By the way, you must hear the home run call by Houston radio announcer Robert Ford provided in previous link.

Both teams provided a treatise on bullpen management, particularly the Yankees. Manager Aaron Boone tied an LCS record by using nine pitchers, and the eight relievers who followed starter James Paxton allowed just a single run on two hits with 11 strikeouts in 7.2 innings before Correa homered. Houston’s five relievers combined for 4.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball after taking over for Justin Verlander. The game took nearly five hours to complete.

The loss was the first of the postseason for the Yankees, though nobody truly believed they would run the table. The ALCS may provide more bumps and thrills than the upcoming World Series, as both Houston and New York have plenty of star power and both are the envy of all of baseball.

The Astros will send Gerrit Cole to the mound in Yankee Stadium tomorrow night. Cole had 25 strikeouts across 15.2 innings against the Rays in the division series. He won both starts and will carry an impressive 0.57 postseason ERA to the bump. The Yankees will counter with Luis Severino, who held the Twins to four hits in his lone start in this year’s playoffs.

Cubs News & Notes

Monday Stove

The Phillies will interview Buck Showalter, Dusty Baker, and Joe Girardi for the opportunity to manage their team in 2020 and beyond.

Jon Heyman tweeted that Diamondbacks vice president of player development Mike Bell and Phillies player information coordinator Sam Fuld are among those under consideration for the managerial opening with the Pirates. Pittsburgh is also reportedly interested in Twins bench coach Derek Shelton and former Rangers skipper Jeff Banister.

Former Rangers All-Star third baseman Michael Young is on the radar for a number of the teams looking for a manager, per Heyman.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post predicts that baseball will see heavy turnover in its teams’ front offices after next season, including Epstein and Jed Hoyer. Sherman allegedly heard from an anonymous team executive who predicts a “GM purge” will occur in 12 months’ time. It’s no surprise that Brodie Van Wagenen of the Mets tops his list.

Extra Innings

They Said It

  • If you want to say we were stubborn with this group, I think that’s fair. We had a real belief in this group.  That’s an area where I need to do a better job as a leader, letting go of the past and focusing on the future.” – Theo Epstein
  • It’s going to be important for the next manager of this particular group at this time to find a way to foster a team identity. I think this group, our routines tended to be more individualized. There wasn’t a lot of work as a team. And I think it’s going to be important for this group, that we find time to work as a team, that we find time to assemble as a team. That we find ways to deliver messages to the team, so there can be a greater sense of team identity and purpose for this group.” – Theo Epstein

Monday Walk Up Song

All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow. Today is my last day of vacation and I’m leaning slightly toward early ’90’s nostalgia. Besides, I like a good beer buzz early in the morning. Who doesn’t?

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