Astros 6, Twins 4: Walks Do Haunt

3 hours ago, MinnInPa said:

there is no situation ..ever ..that you send Jackson up as a pinch hitter 

I can't assume that Fedko was available but have heard nothing stating he wasn't available.

We can assume Buxton was not available and that leaves you three bench options. We know that Keaschall pinch hit for Larnach with one out and nobody on base in the 7th. This occurred with two more innings to go... down by two and a reasonable certainty that Josh Hader would close the 9th. We also know that after Larnach was removed from the game. Left Handers Clemens and Gray were still in the lineup.  

With Keaschall pinch hitting for Larnach in the 7th. He is down to two pinch hitting options for Gray.

Jackson and Fedko were the available options. Jackson has been decent this year in 45 AB's. However oddly and in a small sample... Jackson's success this year has been against right handers not left handers. His career splits over 487 AB's are poor against right handers and left handers but better against right handers. 

Jackson does have 162 PA's against lefties and while Fedko has 4 PA's. So... I can't blame him for going with experience. Even if the other guy isn't very experienced at all. 

However... facing lefties is what Fedko was brought up to do. If Fedko isn't the choice over Jackson... What is Fedko here to do?  

If they should tie or take the lead in the 9th. The future moves when presented with these two choices.

Jackson replaces Gray by going to catcher... Caratini goes to 1B, Lewis goes to 3B and Lee to SS. 

Fedko pinch hitting for Gray would be Fedko to CF... Kreidler to SS. The Fedko sub is also stronger defensively. 

If he wasn't injured or ill. We can all remove Fedko from our list of players who might be able to help us in the future. 

11 hours ago, howeda7 said:

That was the play of the game right there. Caratini has mostly been good on challenges, but not using one there was inexplicable. 

Truly. Of course, Ryan can challenge, too. Caratini used a failed challenge on a Raya pitch later, with a runner on first and no outs, on a 0-0 count! Basically an inconsequential meaningless challenge at that count even if won. The difference of a 0-1 or 1-0 count. No inning ending result with success. ABS should be used all the time for every pitch. If it is to be used to correct calls, then make them all correct. Challenge system is so wimpy. 

6 hours ago, Woof Bronzer said:

The box isn't official, and not using full ABS absolutely does not change the outcome of every game, lol.  No one forced Ryan to serve up a center-center meatball to Alvarez.  That changed the outcome of the game for sure.  Throw a better pitch, Joe.  

Add all the ABS (which is only accurate up to about 1/6 of an inch) and replay you want, fans are still going to complain.  Because fans don't actually want the "accurate" call, but the call that benefits their team.  

Not me, and I am a fan. I love baseball first and want the most correct call available, regardless whether it goes my favorite team’s way. Perhaps you don’t care as long as incorrect calls benefit your team, but you then you may not love baseball first, but your allegiance to your team. You certainly can’t speak for fans in general, just yourself. As for the ABS that is used for challenges, it would be the same one for every pitch. No reason not to use it. If it can overturn a call, it is the standard. It is done for every pitch, regardless of if it is shown or not. That WAS absolutely the time to use a challenge, since we are still stuck in this wimpy transition period. A point of tremendously significant consequence. Not a 0-0 count  

On 7/1/2026 at 2:03 PM, Trov said:

This game was a huge highlight as to why the ABS system is needed.  Sure, it worked against the Twins, had it not been in place Ryan strikes out Altuve and ends the inning saving 5 runs.  That shows how big a single missed call can be by an umpire.  

I used to argue with people that would talk about how "accurate" the umps were overall, like 90% or 95% correct.  Except for they were like closer to coin flip on borderline calls.  Others would still push back saying well it is just a few and they "even out" except for in a case like last game, where the call would have ended the inning and rally for Houston, and maybe turn the outcome to a win for the Twins.  Getting a single call wrong on 0-0 pitch normally is not huge deal, but on 3-2 or a call that would end or continue an inning is always huge. 

The Delgado at bat was even more reason. If in use, the incorrect ball 4 call to Delgado would have been a strikeout, inning over, even without a challenge (that inexplicably wasn’t made). No Altuve at bat. No Alvarez. No elevated inning pitch count. 3-1 lead and on to the top of the 5th. 

6 hours ago, MinnInPa said:

there is no situation ..ever ..that you send Jackson up as a pinch hitter 

Right? After all, he is the only one on the team currently hitting over .300! (.311 after the at bat)