Astros advance, end Yankees' season

AP ^ | 10/7/15 | HOWIE RUMBERG

[Artemis Webb]

NEW YORK (AP) -- A year ago, no one could've pictured this. Yet here they were, Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros, soaking in champagne, merrily posing for a victory shot on the mound at Yankee Stadium.

After all that losing, this was one October win to remember.

Pitching on three days' rest for the first time in his career, Keuchel baffled New York for six innings of three-hit ball. Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez homered, and the Astros beat the Yankees 3-0 Tuesday night in the American League wild-card game.

"Nobody really gave us anything at the start of the year. And I don't think anybody gave us a shot at the end of the year," said Keuchel, the AL's only 20-game winner.

The orange-clad Astros, who secured their spot in this winner-take-all game on the last day of the regular season, advanced to the Division Series against the defending AL champion Royals starting Thursday night in Kansas City.

[KGeorge]

I’m not the expert here, but I was surprised when DH told me that last night. Anything that extends the season is okay with me.

PS It’s not the same without Milo Hamilton’s voice. How I wish he were here to see this. RIP

[Vigilanteman]

My comment wasn’t about the American League. It was about automatically advancing less than the best teams to play-off spots just because they happen to be playing in mediocre divisions.

[ErnBatavia]

I guess my lack of following sports that much anymore is evident to me.....I have no idea when the Houston Astros stopped being in the National League...

[jjotto]

If MLB wanted the strongest wildcard team, it would be a three-game series. MLB is actually trying to handicap the wildcard team in the next playoff series by burning their best pitcher. The thinking is too many wildcard teams have been in the World Series. Last year featured two wildcards in the World Series.

[Verginius Rufus]

On "Mike and Mike" this morning they were discussing calls for a best-of-three playoff for the wild card teams. Maybe the fact that it was the Yankees that got eliminated had something to do with that.

After last night, the Astros and the Yankees had exactly the same win-loss record for 2015.

[Artemis Webb]

2013.
I could’t believe it when it happened. At the time the Astros were one of the weakest teams in baseball and they were being thrown into what was arguably the tougher of the two leagues. It’s taken them some time to come around but they certainly deserve praise for their accomplishment.

[DoodleDawg]

btw, my wife has a bobble head of George Brett on the entertainment cabinet. For years after we met this normally quiet and meek woman’s face would go red with anger at the mention of the pine tar bat incident.

Obviously a woman of refinement and excellent taste in household decorations. I've got my Gordo bobblehead next to my Yordano Ventura bobblehead and my Moose bobblehead.

[oh8eleven]

... end Yankees' season
That the Yankees lost was bad enough. That they went out without a whimper really p*ssed me off.
Half the problem belongs to the players who have forgotten how to play the game - especially playoff games. Small ball. You can't hit a 3 run homer with no one on base.
The other half of the problem is Joe Girardi. Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury to $153 million contract - and Giradri sits him the first playoff game. Oy.

[DoodleDawg]

My comment wasn’t about the American League. It was about automatically advancing less than the best teams to play-off spots just because they happen to be playing in mediocre divisions.

Breaks of the game. But you're right, if the Pirates were in the East division and the Cubs in the West then the Mets and the Dodgers would be playing for the wildcard. Instead the three teams with the best records in baseball all wind up in the same division. That happens in just about every sport with a wildcard system.

[Artemis Webb]

Well, I happen to like Joe Girardi. But the Yankees don’t have a history of being terribly patient with their managers. We’ll see what happens.

[DoodleDawg]

On "Mike and Mike" this morning they were discussing calls for a best-of-three playoff for the wild card teams.

We're damned close to playing into November as it is.

[oh8eleven]

If MLB wanted the strongest wildcard team, it would be a three-game series.
I agree, but there would have to be some serious regular-season schedule changing to avoid playing baseball over the Thanksgiving weekend.
As it is, if this year's WS goes seven games, game 7 is November 4th. Brrrrr ...

[Hyman Roth]

On "Mike and Mike" this morning they were discussing calls for a best-of-three playoff for the wild card teams.

I like Golic but cannot stand Greenberg. Such a liberal bed wetter.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

If they don’t pitch to Cutch, then they have to pitch to Pedro Alvarez...who regularly puts HR balls in the Allegheny River....so if JHay (who has been on fire) leads off and gets on base, even if Arrietta strikes out Palonco and Marte, they walk Cutch, two on two out and ElToro plops one over the stadium and into the river...3-0 Bucs!

I can see it...

So much hype about Arrietta, it ought to be a great game.

[oh8eleven]

Well, I happen to like Joe Girardi.
"By the book" Joe? He does a fair job, but under-manages his field players, and over-manages the pitchers.
Ellsbury and Gardner are two of the better base stealers in the game, and they ended up with about 20 each for the year. Unacceptable.

[Ransomed]

The problem comes from division winners sitting around for 5 or 6 days to start the play offs while teams struggling to get in the wild card play their game or break ties for the wild card spots. I wonder if not having your rotation set perfectly is an actual penalty when compared to not actually playing and keeping an edge. I suppose time will tell. But I don’t know how you get around it. A three game WC series would seem to only make it worse, even if they cut down regular season games which doesn’t seem to have much of a chance of ever happening.

Freegards

[who knows what evil?]

The Yankees? What a pitiful line-up of ‘no-names’...I surprised Keuchel gave up ANY hits. Best part is that ESPN jocks are all wearing black armbands this morning.

[dartuser]

Wow, I have not followed baseball for a few years ... LOL ... when did the Houston Astros move to the AL?

[hadaclueonce]

I am always rooting for who ever is playing the Yankees.

[Artemis Webb]

2013 FRiend!