Game 2 Thread. March 29th, 2019, 6:10 CDT. Astros vs. Rays

First of all, if you love the Astros, you love Charlie Freakin Morton, the only man to win both a game seven ALCS game and a game seven World Series. And it’s not just that he was such an important part of the Astros team that won its first World Series, it’s that he’s such a a beautiful, humble man. So let me speak for all of us here at TCB and say we love you, Charlie Morton.

I’m going to find it hard to root against him tonight. He shouldn’t be pitching against the Astros. (Not intended as a knock on the management decision to let him walk)

But business is business and Morton is facing Gerrit Cole, who’s been even better than Charlie since joining the Astros. And last night the Astros hit Blake Snell like he was some sort of Tampa Bay Rays opener, rather than the Cy Young winner of 2018. Springer’s home run swing last night looked more disciplined than in the past, and Altuve’s homer displayed more power and bat speed than I remember seeing in his injury riddled 2018 season. A shot by Micheal Brantley was a nice plus, since he’s supposed to be a contact hitter.

And what about Verlander. After a rough start he showed play-off season stuff, shutting down the Rays after allowing a lead-off home run.

I predicted a 4-3 Astros win last night, which means I underestimated the Stros bats and the pitching prowess of Justin Verlander. What a fool.

Astros 7-3.

Line up below. No Carlos Correa again.

For your listening and viewing pleasure

Game 2: Friday, March 29th @ 6:10 pm CDT
Listen: Astros - KBME 790 / Rays - WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM, WGES 680
Watch: Astros - ATT SportsNet-SW / Rays - Fox Sports Sun