Looking into the Astros + 180 in the series here...Anyone have any thoughts on this series.....Houston plays StLouis tough and the Cards have been money all year but I just have a feeling Houston takes it....would love to hear everyones thoughts on this matchup
ASTROS/CARDS
- Thread starter RexBudler
- Start date
im already down on houston to win the world series at +850. st.louis really played well against los angeles, but houston has so much more firepower on offense that they should be able to get into what i feel is a suspect st.louis bullpen. im not going to add any additional stake on the 'stros by touching the stl/hou series price, but im still very confident about houston getting it done. i see this series as a complete tossup. both teams have excellent 2/3/4/5 hitters but i still think houston has the equalizers in clemens and oswalt. i used to think morris was a borderline dominant #1 starter, but not anymore. i see the cards as a team that is offensively good enough to bail out their mediocre pitching. but if astros get good pitching, they are certainly capable of winning and it wouldnt be an "upset".
not mcuh time to explain right now.....but I think with the way houstons starters were utilized in the atlanta series, they will be hard pressed to find good starting innings......i dont know who is starting game 1 but it will probably be brandon backe.....
Houston are not the better hitting team:
Stl 1st in NL 855 runs 214 HR .804 OPS
Hou 6th in NL 803 187 .778
In the bullpen :
Stl 1st in MLB 31-16 1.13 WHIP .225 BA 3.01 era
Hou 16th 27-24 1.34 .254 4.10
And as far as Starters go, Houston just burned out their best two.
St.Louis has the homefield advantage, and even if they didn't, their road record(52-29) is better than Houston's home record(48-33)
Of course none of this means that St.Louis is going to win, but they do have the better hitting and better bullpen, not Houston, as you said.
Stl 1st in NL 855 runs 214 HR .804 OPS
Hou 6th in NL 803 187 .778
In the bullpen :
Stl 1st in MLB 31-16 1.13 WHIP .225 BA 3.01 era
Hou 16th 27-24 1.34 .254 4.10
And as far as Starters go, Houston just burned out their best two.
St.Louis has the homefield advantage, and even if they didn't, their road record(52-29) is better than Houston's home record(48-33)
Of course none of this means that St.Louis is going to win, but they do have the better hitting and better bullpen, not Houston, as you said.
Think Houston is the hot team right now but I too am concerned how Garner (WS winner 79 with the Pirates :clap: ) used his pitching. Clemans and Oswalt will get 4 games in if the series goes 6-7 games still I think. I'm taking the Astros for the series. 
The Cardinal bullpen is statistically one of the best this season. Clemens and Oswalt will not be available until game 3 and 4.
Just my opinion but if you look at the entire line-up... edge STL ... Defense... STL... Bullpen STL...Starting pitching STL (since we will only see Oswalt once and maybe Clemens twice)... Managerial edge has to go to STL.
Houston is the only team to win season series against Cards this year. But season was wrapped up by the time of the final two series. Can't say Cards brought their "A" game into those series especially the last series.
Just a few thoughts and I wish you luck whoever you play. But don't slight the Cards bullpen.
Honestly, the biggest concern in this bullpen is probably Izzy. He likes to make closing games an adventure at times.
Just my opinion but if you look at the entire line-up... edge STL ... Defense... STL... Bullpen STL...Starting pitching STL (since we will only see Oswalt once and maybe Clemens twice)... Managerial edge has to go to STL.
Houston is the only team to win season series against Cards this year. But season was wrapped up by the time of the final two series. Can't say Cards brought their "A" game into those series especially the last series.
Just a few thoughts and I wish you luck whoever you play. But don't slight the Cards bullpen.
Honestly, the biggest concern in this bullpen is probably Izzy. He likes to make closing games an adventure at times.
gman2 said:
Me too!
Played the pick 4 at Pinnacle last week and have Houston defeating the Cards and Boston defeating the Yanks and Houston taking it all. Odds were like +2145
IF it hits, I'll be a happy camper!!!
Good luck!!!
hey rex, i have houston taking this series and the world series.
i will be pulling for my yankees as well but this seemed like the best play to make. houston is clicking on all cynlinders and should be able to win this series.
spider
i will be pulling for my yankees as well but this seemed like the best play to make. houston is clicking on all cynlinders and should be able to win this series.
spider
Astro's
Astro's
Not playing it either way but Houston definately has good value as the St. Louis starting pitching doesn't have a solid #1 or 2 starter. Morris isn't the pitcher he once was and Carpenter was their ace and he is out. As far as someone bringing out that St. Louis was first in hitting and Houston was 6th that is very deceiving as if you would just take those stats in August and September I don't think you would get the same results. Rolen and Edmonds have struggled lately. Where as the Astro's Beltran has taken off the pressure of the other Killer B's as they look a lot more comfortable. I think St Louis wins in 7 but Houston's value at a 1.80 dog looks pretty good.
Glta
Astro's
Not playing it either way but Houston definately has good value as the St. Louis starting pitching doesn't have a solid #1 or 2 starter. Morris isn't the pitcher he once was and Carpenter was their ace and he is out. As far as someone bringing out that St. Louis was first in hitting and Houston was 6th that is very deceiving as if you would just take those stats in August and September I don't think you would get the same results. Rolen and Edmonds have struggled lately. Where as the Astro's Beltran has taken off the pressure of the other Killer B's as they look a lot more comfortable. I think St Louis wins in 7 but Houston's value at a 1.80 dog looks pretty good.
Glta
==== DEJA VU ====
==== DEJA VU ====
==== ALL THE HOUSTON BACKERS SOUND LIKE THE PUNDITS WHO WERE ENAMORED WITH THE ASTROS BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED ............... HMMMMM ? ====
==== DEJA VU ====
==== ALL THE HOUSTON BACKERS SOUND LIKE THE PUNDITS WHO WERE ENAMORED WITH THE ASTROS BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED ............... HMMMMM ? ====
Don't think Houston can beat the Cards 4 times with out their 2 studs opening things up. Just my 2 cents worth.
