Posted:
#1
I don't know about you but it sure does feel like Christmas morning!!! I am beyond stoked that Baseball is finally back and can't wait to get started. Last season was a pretty good year for me and It ended very well. I ended the season on one of the best runs of my life, which is good n all, but it made me very anxious to get 2013 started. Thankfully it is finally here... I wish everyone the best of luck this season and I hope to bump into some familiar faces.
Sunday Night Baseball 
Astros @ Rangers
We kick off the season with the Houston Astros making their debut in the American League and squaring off against new divisional opponent the Texas Rangers. Last season was a total disaster for the Disastros and this season won't be any easier having to compete in a very tough division. Meanwhile the Rangers will have a new look heading into the opener with the departures of Hamilton, Napoli and Wright. The Rangers brought in the ageless wonder Lance Berkman and AJ Pierzynki to try and help replace some of the missing weapons in the batting order. A lot of weight will be on guys like Cruz, Beltre and Murphy and it remains to be seen if the consistency will be there throughout the course of the season.
Tonight's starters will feature the Astros best young arm in Bud Norris and the Rangers ace lefty Matt Harrison. Starting with Norris, on paper his W/L record from a year ago is atrocious but that would be a true statement with anyone in an Astros uniform last season. I watched Norris pitch quite a bit last season and he is a promising young arm. He was DOMINANT at home with a very impressive 4-1 record, 1.71 era, 0.71 whip and teams were hitting just .199 against him. That being said, once Norris hit the road (along with the rest of the diastros) the wheels came off big time. His #s plummeted to a high 6s era, 1.69 era and teams were batting .293 against him. Those times are things are expected in young pitchers like Norris, as they tend to struggle when they aren't at home. I am gonna give the benefit of the doubt to the young arm, and I think he will have a much better season on the road this year. He has the talent, he just needs to do on away soil.
On the side we have Matt Harrison, the lefty was consistent in terms of his production in both home and away production. He is a work horse that the Rangers will rely upon heavily this year. I am not a big Harrison fan, as I feel he is an above average pitcher but doesn't deserve to be in an elite conversations. He is the type of pitcher you know what you are gonna get on most nights and for the most part your pretty content with it. Speaking of nights, that was an area where Harrison did have some better of his starts last year. His 2.83 era in night games was much better than his 4.17 era in day game, which of course is to be expected with the type of pitcher Harrison is.
In terms of bullpen play, the Astros were one of the leagues worst last year and the Rangers were one of the top bullpens. Not much has changed in that department, but the Rangers did part ways with set up man Mike Adams. Despite Adams being a pretty dependable arm in the pen, the Rangers have plenty of those that I don't see it effecting them as much.
And lastly, one of the main reasons for my play tonight is the good ole familiarity factor (or lack there off). Both the starters Harrison and Norris will be facing the opposition line up for the first time ever. The only player who has any plate appearances is Carter who has faced Harrison 5 times and is 0-5. Both pitchers will have an edge going against each line up the first few times in the batting order and that's all I want. I haven't forgotten about how shaky the Astros bullpen was last season, this season might be a new one but the Astros still have serious bullpen question marks so until proven other wise....
Astros/Rangers 1st 5
UNDER 4.5 (-120)
1 Unit
Play Ball
We kick off the season with the Houston Astros making their debut in the American League and squaring off against new divisional opponent the Texas Rangers. Last season was a total disaster for the Disastros and this season won't be any easier having to compete in a very tough division. Meanwhile the Rangers will have a new look heading into the opener with the departures of Hamilton, Napoli and Wright. The Rangers brought in the ageless wonder Lance Berkman and AJ Pierzynki to try and help replace some of the missing weapons in the batting order. A lot of weight will be on guys like Cruz, Beltre and Murphy and it remains to be seen if the consistency will be there throughout the course of the season.
Tonight's starters will feature the Astros best young arm in Bud Norris and the Rangers ace lefty Matt Harrison. Starting with Norris, on paper his W/L record from a year ago is atrocious but that would be a true statement with anyone in an Astros uniform last season. I watched Norris pitch quite a bit last season and he is a promising young arm. He was DOMINANT at home with a very impressive 4-1 record, 1.71 era, 0.71 whip and teams were hitting just .199 against him. That being said, once Norris hit the road (along with the rest of the diastros) the wheels came off big time. His #s plummeted to a high 6s era, 1.69 era and teams were batting .293 against him. Those times are things are expected in young pitchers like Norris, as they tend to struggle when they aren't at home. I am gonna give the benefit of the doubt to the young arm, and I think he will have a much better season on the road this year. He has the talent, he just needs to do on away soil.
On the side we have Matt Harrison, the lefty was consistent in terms of his production in both home and away production. He is a work horse that the Rangers will rely upon heavily this year. I am not a big Harrison fan, as I feel he is an above average pitcher but doesn't deserve to be in an elite conversations. He is the type of pitcher you know what you are gonna get on most nights and for the most part your pretty content with it. Speaking of nights, that was an area where Harrison did have some better of his starts last year. His 2.83 era in night games was much better than his 4.17 era in day game, which of course is to be expected with the type of pitcher Harrison is.
In terms of bullpen play, the Astros were one of the leagues worst last year and the Rangers were one of the top bullpens. Not much has changed in that department, but the Rangers did part ways with set up man Mike Adams. Despite Adams being a pretty dependable arm in the pen, the Rangers have plenty of those that I don't see it effecting them as much.
And lastly, one of the main reasons for my play tonight is the good ole familiarity factor (or lack there off). Both the starters Harrison and Norris will be facing the opposition line up for the first time ever. The only player who has any plate appearances is Carter who has faced Harrison 5 times and is 0-5. Both pitchers will have an edge going against each line up the first few times in the batting order and that's all I want. I haven't forgotten about how shaky the Astros bullpen was last season, this season might be a new one but the Astros still have serious bullpen question marks so until proven other wise....
Astros/Rangers 1st 5
UNDER 4.5 (-120)
1 Unit
Play Ball
0
Play Ball ______________________
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