CaliforniaDreaming

I'm sure MLB will still find a way to get the Astros into the playoffs. Manfred cares about what is good for baseball, not about what is fair.

Might as well finish the regular season with a win

Let's win this game!

Really...must win...not just saying it this time...

Am I crazy to have more confidence in Montero (for 4 or 5 innings) than anyone not named Skubal?

Please win...

Must Win!

Whew! Why do they have to make everything so difficult?

And...we don't...

Please win...

Must Win

Is this a "New Friend" alert?

Must finish this sweep of the evil empire

Must defeat the evil empire again!

Must defeat the evil empire!

Must Win

@casimir mentioned weeks ago how Kahnle falls off a cliff after a certain number of innings. I wonder if they purposely gave him "a month off" (which is basically what has happened), to try to reset his stamina and to hopefully get him back pitching well for the very end of the season and the playoffs. If so, I could be convinced that @casimir caught Scott Harris' attention at a game a while ago and was able to convince him of this plan.

I wish there was a bit more of the "chaos" still being used. I'm a big fan of the opener strategy, especially now that there is an extra arm in the bullpen. I wish most of our struggling starters (like anyone not named Skubal) had an opener pitch before them.

Must Must Win...

Must beat the lesser of the two Evil Empires

Win this Series!

Or...start Flaherty/Mize/Morton/Paddack (take your pick) but have an EXTREMELY quick hook. Have Melton (and others) ready to go already in the first inning if need be. If you see that you've got the "Bad Jack" (or any of the others), don't be afraid to start the chaos right away. But if you happen to get the good version of any of them, you can let them keep going.

Might as well win the series

Really must win this game

I don't get all of the angst about Harris' deadline moves. He did EXACTLY what has has said all along he was going to do. Since he arrived he has broadcast that his goal is to build a team that is successful long-term through draft and development and that he would not trade that long-term goal away for short-term success. His moves at the deadline were exactly what we should expect. If we had any other expectations then either we have not been listening over the past three years or we were being delusional. And, since Harris (et all) has our team in first place, I'm inclined to trust him and enjoy the ride. Watching winning baseball and the praying we win the crap-shoot called the playoffs is a pretty good life.