World Series Game Three Thread: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Houston Astros

Good evening everyone and welcome to Houston, the site of Game Three of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The first two games of this series were entertaining to say the least and I expect nothing less out of these two teams tonight and going forward over the next three games here inside Minute Maid Park. In Game Three the Dodgers will send Yu Darvish to the mound to face off with Lance McCullers Jr. The game will be played at 8:00 pm ET inside Minute Maid Park and can be seen on FOX.

Follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes and enjoy the game. I have been right on my predictions, as far as the winner and not so much the score, in the first two games so let’s make it three-for-three tonight.

Prediction: Dodgers win 6-4 

World Series Game Three Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Houston Astros

Welcome to Houston, welcome to the land of the designated hitter and welcome back to the World Series as the Houston Astros and Minute Maid Park play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Three of the 2017 World Series. The Dodgers and Astros split the two games out in Los Angeles after a couple of crazy games to kick off the World Series and much of the same is expected tonight in Houston for Game Three. In Game three of the series the Astros will send Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound to face off with Yu Darvish, the first right-handed pitcher for the Dodgers to take the mound as a starter during this Fall Classic.

Darvish has been the Dodgers second best pitcher this postseason behind only Clayton Kershaw so every time the Japanese-born right-hander takes the mound you have to think that Los Angeles is confident that they are going to win. Darvish has made two starts in this postseason allowing just two runs while striking out 14. This will be the first time that Darvish pitches in the World Series though in his Major League career.

McCullers Jr.  was a hero for the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees where the right-hander threw four scoreless innings in the victory for Houston. McCullers pitched well in the ALCS overall throwing 10 innings and allowing just one run and three hits with nine strikeouts consistently keeping the Yankees bats down.

The game will be played at 8:00 pm ET inside Minute Maid Park in Houston and can be seen on FOX. Enjoy the game, and FYI my boycott of this year’s World Series is still going strong despite my feelings of missing baseball. I just can’t stomach to see the Astros in the World Series after the Yankees were so close to making it, it’s nothing personal to them. Oh, and I’m not the biggest fan of Yankees haters like Joe Buck but I feel like I’m not alone in that sentiment. 

The Daily Dozen: April 11th Edition

The Daily Dozen: April 11, 2015 Edition

Twelve Takeaways from Today's Game

1. 19 Inning Hangover.  The Yankees looked like a team that was hungover today.  Boston had the same amount of sleep as New York (likely less in fact), but seemed ready to play.  Their regulars (Pedroia, Napoli, Bogaerts, Sandoval) played while Ellsbury, Beltran, Teixeira, and McCann sat out for the Yankees.  I know it was a 6 hour, 49 minute game last night and this morning, but starting the season 1-4 can't be helpful.  However, coming into the game the Yankees were hitting .199 as a team with only 13 runs scored...and that was with the extra 11 innings.

2. Alex Rodriguez at First Base.  I've heard that the experiment during Spring Training went well and he played the position adequately.  It didn't work out too well for the Yankees today, but I'm not sure the experiment should be stopped.  He wasn't exactly helped by the infielders.  Gregorius sent a nice sinker ball in the 2nd that led to the first Boston run.  A-Rod looked fine fielding the ball as the first play of the game went right to him (as per normal thanks to the baseball Gods).

3. Chase Headley, A-Rod's replacement at Third.  Made a great barehanded play in the 2nd inning that was all for naught as Gardner got Yankee Stadium sunned on what should have been a routine fly ball out.  Watch Headley's play HERE.

4. Harold Reynolds Surprised.  HR was surprised that the Yankees fans reacted positively to Alex Rodriguez in his first game this year and during the 1st at-bat today after his error at 1st.  I don't understand why he is surprised.  The Yankees NEED Alex Rodriguez because they really have no other choice.  What other offense will there be?

5. If the Yankees withhold bonuses from A-Rod, it would be shameful.  As if the Yankees didn't really know what was going on in A-Rod's life and his career leading up to not only one but TWO record contracts...part of that last contract was $6 million bonuses as he reaches each of the next 5 home run milestones...the first being tying Willie Mays at 660 Home Runs.  The Yankees organization claims that because of his 2014 suspension and the Biogenesis Scandal that A-Rod is no longer marketable.  Well, he's surely more marketable than Carlos Beltran or any of the other players currently on the roster.  "Pay the man his money..."

"Check, check, check...."

6. Joe Kelly..the Wild Man.  Kelly was very wild in the 2nd inning and couldn't seem to find home plate.  His wildness allowed the Yankees to strike right back.  However, the Yankees were not very patient the rest of the game frequently swinging early in the count.  Let's see...the Red Sox depleted their bullpen in a 19 inning game, but we'll go ahead and help out the starting pitcher any chance we can....arrrghh.

7.  Boston Red Sox Love Fest.  I had been under the impression that all out love for the SAAAAHX was reserved by ESPN.  This is no longer true as the crew of Joe Buck / Harold Reynolds / Tom Verducci couldn't say more positive things about Boston during their FS1 broadcast.  Interestingly, when Alex Rodriguez steps to the plate, it's all about controversy...when Ortiz comes up, nothing...At least be freaking consistent!

8. NAVA, the Yankee Killer?  Daniel Nava had 2 RBI by the 4th inning, the only ones for the Red Sox.  According to Joe Buck..."Nava is a fighter and just won't take no for an answer..." (See lovefest above).  Jeff Quagliata of YES astutely pointed out that Nava was 6 for 11 against Warren...me thinks maybe they should have walked him??

9. You can't spell Dustin Pedroia without DP.  Peddy grounded into TWO double plays before hitting a 2-run double in the 7th to provide Boston with a convincing lead.  You also can't spell Pedroia without P.E.D....just saying...naaaah...he's clean!

10. What a catch by Allen Craig!  Craig was a great pickup by the Red Sox by trading away John Lackey to the Cardinals.  Defense wins Championships...the Yankees who supposedly have such a great defense are giving away games with their errors, lack of awareness, and positioning (see the defensive alignment of the outfield in today's game for reference).

11. The vaunted 7-8-9 of the Yankees.  Boy...we are in for an offensive show this season if the 7-8-9 used today by the Binder holds...John Ryan Murphy, Didi Gregorius, and Gregorio Petit.  Do you think Didi and Petit are related somehow?  Anywho...they were a combined 1 for 8 today and made some pretty bad defensive mistakes.

12. Adam Warren finished with a career best 98 pitches.  He actually had a quality start with a final line of 5-1/3 innings, 1 ER, 5 hits, 2 walks, and 1 strikeout.  More impressive was his 60 strikes out of the 98 pitches.  Warren probably feels a bit like Pineda right about now.  Kelly on the other hand, aided by the previously mentioned lack of patience by Yankee hitters, pitched 7 innings with 1 ER, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts and got the coveted win in Yankee Stadium.

"How about a little offensive support guys?"

Harold Reynolds To Replace Tim McCarver On FOX

I'm being straight up honest. I have no idea what run differential is. - Harold Reynolds
— Heard on MLB Tonight (@HeardOnMLBT) May 23, 2013

When I saw "replace Tim McCarver" I jumped up and down for joy, then I saw Harold Reynolds was going to replace him and I sat back down and hung my head for a minute before typing this out. Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead reported that both Reynolds and Tom Verducci would join Joe Buck for Saturday afternoon games, All Star games, and the World Series.

You're "whack" if you don't believe in batting average as the best indicator of production, says Harold Reynolds.
— Anthony Witrado (@awitrado) May 28, 2013

No issues with Verducci, he knows the game and has the inside sources to make some interesting fill time in my opinion. Harold Reynolds just seems like he is going to be a disaster, he is on Hot Stove in my opinion. Reynolds has the experience, he was on ESPN's Baseball Tonight before being fired for sexual harassment, spent a few minutes working for MLB.com, and is currently employed at MLB Network until the season starts, if they haven't already gone their separate ways officially yet.

"I see a right fielder who's going to give me great defense." - Harold Reynolds on Nelson Cruz
— Heard on MLB Tonight (@HeardOnMLBT) August 7, 2013

This is gonna be fun...