Breaking Dawn
I know some of you are going to roll your eyes at the fact that I am referencing a title from the Twilight series. But if you think about it, the team just played up in Washington State when facing the Seattle Mariners. It's where that series is set, so it actually does make sense for me to make that reference. Specifically, the final book in the series which wraps things up in a neat little package. It is symbolic to what the Houston Astros are doing as a team right now.
To put it mildly, the bats are thawing out and heating up. While at the same time, the pitching has been so on point that records continue to be shattered and broken. And we are still within the first month of season play. I analyzed this near perfect road trip in my latest piece from House of Houston. You can check it out in the tweet link below!:
But you get to see first hand exactly what that does to a player like Gattis, who has really been in a struggle since the first series against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. I've said it so many times before, but it "bears" repeating. (Pun most assuredly intended!) It only takes one going over the fence to give a real boost of confidence to any hitter, especially the Bull-Bear. From here on out, you are really going to see his true form come to its fruition, with his numbers making the same kind of rocket style launch.
That's not to say that he still won't have his occasional stumbles and slumps. I mean, everyone on the team is going to at times. That's what makes baseball so enjoyable to watch. Nevertheless, getting that first homer yesterday is going to be just the ticket to getting Gatty Daddy to where we all truly know that he is capable of being at. It's also a true redemption from the triple play gaffe of Thursday. I personally believe that getting him behind the plate late on Friday may have been another way to get his head back in the game. But then again, that could just be me.
Regardless, the Bull-Bear has found his swing again, and that will hopefully mean that he will be allocated the same consistent playing time that skipper A.J. Hinch has been doing since the start of the year. The journey does not get easy for Gattis and the Astros, despite the team coming home for a 10 game home stand. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim await them upon their return tonight to the juice box. Additionally, Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani will pitch against our hitters on Tuesday night.
I know many of us will be on the edge of our seats for this entire series against the Halos. Namely, the game happening on Tuesday will most certainly be the biggest in this 4 game Battle Royale. It will be a pretty clear indicator as to which team will carry the most momentum to a division title this coming fall. So long as the bats can stay hot against Ohtani pitching on Tuesday, and the pitchers continue their dominance over him with any potential DH start that he may have in this series, likely Thursday in the finale, I won't be too worried about our spacemen.
Their time is certainly now to really get going like we know they can, and they are doing just that. Evan Gattis will be a big part of that, much more so than folks realize it now. This first home series against the Angels will be the ultimate test for them in the division. And once they face the Boston Red Sox, that will be a test for defending the AL Pennant and making it back to the fall classic. I have faith in them, and I know all of you readers out there do as well. Let's all continue to stand by our men!
To put it mildly, the bats are thawing out and heating up. While at the same time, the pitching has been so on point that records continue to be shattered and broken. And we are still within the first month of season play. I analyzed this near perfect road trip in my latest piece from House of Houston. You can check it out in the tweet link below!:
The very best part about this road trip, by far was when your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis hit his first homer of the season yesterday. According to StatCast, it was a 92 mph sinker pitch from Hector Santiago that El Oso Blanco clobbered at a rate of 100 mph of of his mighty bat. Of course, it is a homer that is too good not to show via the actual video footage from MLB.com. If only they would have had the embed code so I can post it here. Oh well, there is always the links here and on my HOH piece.ROAD TRIP! @tvwizard85's week four recap is LIIIIIIIIVE! Overall, the #Astros had a SUCCESSFUL week on the road. The pitching has been PHENOMENAL and the bats are starting to WAKE UP! All that and more, check it out! ⚾️🤔🔥💯https://t.co/evxKA9PilA— House Of Houston (@HouseOfHouston) April 23, 2018
But you get to see first hand exactly what that does to a player like Gattis, who has really been in a struggle since the first series against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. I've said it so many times before, but it "bears" repeating. (Pun most assuredly intended!) It only takes one going over the fence to give a real boost of confidence to any hitter, especially the Bull-Bear. From here on out, you are really going to see his true form come to its fruition, with his numbers making the same kind of rocket style launch.
That's not to say that he still won't have his occasional stumbles and slumps. I mean, everyone on the team is going to at times. That's what makes baseball so enjoyable to watch. Nevertheless, getting that first homer yesterday is going to be just the ticket to getting Gatty Daddy to where we all truly know that he is capable of being at. It's also a true redemption from the triple play gaffe of Thursday. I personally believe that getting him behind the plate late on Friday may have been another way to get his head back in the game. But then again, that could just be me.
Regardless, the Bull-Bear has found his swing again, and that will hopefully mean that he will be allocated the same consistent playing time that skipper A.J. Hinch has been doing since the start of the year. The journey does not get easy for Gattis and the Astros, despite the team coming home for a 10 game home stand. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim await them upon their return tonight to the juice box. Additionally, Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani will pitch against our hitters on Tuesday night.
I know many of us will be on the edge of our seats for this entire series against the Halos. Namely, the game happening on Tuesday will most certainly be the biggest in this 4 game Battle Royale. It will be a pretty clear indicator as to which team will carry the most momentum to a division title this coming fall. So long as the bats can stay hot against Ohtani pitching on Tuesday, and the pitchers continue their dominance over him with any potential DH start that he may have in this series, likely Thursday in the finale, I won't be too worried about our spacemen.
Their time is certainly now to really get going like we know they can, and they are doing just that. Evan Gattis will be a big part of that, much more so than folks realize it now. This first home series against the Angels will be the ultimate test for them in the division. And once they face the Boston Red Sox, that will be a test for defending the AL Pennant and making it back to the fall classic. I have faith in them, and I know all of you readers out there do as well. Let's all continue to stand by our men!
Original Photo Credit: David Banks of Getty Images
Love seeing the jubilation on his face. Brace yourselves for more clutch bear hits and bombs to come, fans!
Comments
Post a Comment