SHOTS FIRED!

Splashy moves, cheap heat at Astros expense sets stage for fireworks in the MLB's 3rd act

Splashy moves, cheap heat at Astros expense sets stage for fireworks in the MLB's 3rd act
WWE's Trish Stratus took a shot at the Astros on Monday night. Composite Getty Image.
Top-tier Astros hacks to help you finesse the game at Minute Maid

Newton’s Third Law of Motion says for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Bet you weren’t expecting a science lesson here. According to Sir Isaac, if the Astros are rising, then the Rangers must be setting in the West. And it's about damn time, too.

This could be the week the Astros reclaim their constitutional right to be in first place. I believe it’s the Sixth Amendment.

Despite trade deadline headlines by the Rangers and Angels, the Astros are in good shape for the pennant drive and another spot in the World Series.

Sure the Rangers made a splash by acquiring Max Scherzer from the Mets, but he’s clearly in his pitching twilight years. His earned run average is up, strikeouts down. Statistically he’s having his worst season in the past 10 years.

Max Scherzer and many of today’s superstars have become hired guns, jumping from team to team chasing a World Series title. Look at Scherzer. He’s a future Hall of Famer, no doubt. Throughout his career he’s been able to name his place and price. He has pitched for six teams since arriving in the big leagues in 2008: the Diamondbacks, Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers, Mets and now the Rangers.

If the Wagner Group ever fielded a baseball team, their starting pitcher would be Max Scherzer. With Justin Verlander warming up in the bullpen.

Free agency, payroll budgets and trade deadline frenzy have created a caste system of haves and have-nots in baseball. Lucky for fans in H-Town, the Astros are the most-have team in MLB the past six years.

Of course it’s not a hard and fast rule that wealthy teams win and penny-pinching teams lose. The Baltimore Orioles are in first place with the 29th lowest payroll (there are only 30 teams), while the Mets are holding a yard sale despite the highest payroll in baseball history. The Padres have the third-highest payroll and they’re below .500 right there with the Mets.

Contracts aren’t loyalty oaths that a player will stay in that city for the length of the deal. Contracts are really just pay schedules. Teams can trade players and players can force their way off a team. Look at Verlander. He signed a two-year deal with a third-year option with the Mets. He practically got a tattoo that said “I Love NY.” His bags are packed after only four months with the Metropolitans.

Kind of makes you admire great players who stick with one team their entire careers, like Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell … and let’s wait and see, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.

A funny thing happened Monday night with the World Wrestling Federation in town at Toyota Center. Trish Stratus, a bleach blond evil rulebreaker, was running her mouth about fan favorite Becky Lynch when, out of nowhere, she said, “One thing I’m not is a cheater … like the Astros!”

Yeah, she went there. The sold-out crowd rained boos and jeers on Stratus. It was the loudest crowd reaction of the night. Who the hell are you to say that about our beloved Astros? Hey, we can criticize the Astros and rant on Twitter, but not you Trish Stratus!

Lately there's been a lot of criticizing manager Dusty Baker about his decisions, mostly his continuing to play Martin Maldonado at catcher instead of rookie Yanier Diaz. Maldonado is batting .169, while Diaz is hitting more than a hundred points higher. Baker’s heard it. This week he responded.

“Yanier has trouble with lefties. Everybody’s trying to help me manage. I don’t really need it, thank you,” Baker said.

Baker is right about Diaz’s futility against pitchers who throw left. He’s batting .179 against southpaws.

Just as you can’t blame Baker for asking fans to get off his back on Twitter, fans are entitled to snipe at the manager’s moves. It’s not being disloyal to the team. That’s how baseball works, the team and fan dynamic. So complain all you want. Just not you, Trish Stratus.

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Houston is back in action on Friday night. Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images.

Despite a last-minute comeback attempt by Gonzaga on Saturday, the Cougars defeated the Bulldogs and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth straight NCAA Tournament.

Houston will face the No.4 seed Purdue, who made it to the championship game last year.

The Boilermakers will be one of the toughest opponents the Cougars have faced thus far and will essentially have the home-court advantage with the game taking place in Indianapolis.

Despite the daunting matchup on paper, Houston is currently an -8.5 favorite to win this game. The Cougars should be able to handle Purdue so long as their offense stays hot and they continue to play defense at an elite level.

Keep the offense flowing

Houston guard LJ Cryer matched a career-high with 30 points against Gonzaga and has been the offensive focal point of this team.

This season, the Baylor transfer has averaged 15.6 points per game and has stepped up to be one of the unquestioned leaders of this team.

In addition to Cryer, the Cougars have Milos Uzan and Emanuel Sharp, who can carry the offensive load as they did during the Big 12 Tournament and against SIUE on Thursday.

J’Wan Roberts is another key factor for Houston’s success. The senior forward seems to have recovered from his ankle injury and has been a productive player since returning to the lineup.

Roberts leads the team in rebounds and is one of the most efficient scorers for the Cougars, averaging more than 50% from the field over his last five seasons.

Houston’s dynamic offense and elite defense makes this team one of the toughest to beat during the tournament.

Containing Purdue’s stars

The Boilermakers have two proficient scorers on their team, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith, who each average over 15 points per game.

Kaufman-Renn scored 22 points in his previous game against McNeese State and has been one of Purdue’s best players for most of this year.

Roberts and Joseph Tuggler will likely be assigned to the junior forward to slow down his offense, forcing his teammates to step up.

Smith is Purdue’s second-leading scorer, averaging 16 points per game, and has the most assists and steals for the Boilermakers this season.

Both Uzan and Cyrer, who have been elite parameter defenders, will cover the Purdue guard and limit his production.
Containing both Kaufman-Renn and Smith will be Houston’s top priority and the key to come away victorious.

Play Cougar basketball

Head coach Kelvin Sampson has now made it to at least the Sweet 16 six consecutive times and has his team well-positioned to make another deep tournament run.

Since arriving in Houston, the 69-year-old coach has turned this program from an afterthought to one of the best basketball teams in the country year after year.

Sampson’s key to his success is instilling a defensive-first mentality into his team and getting the best effort out of his players.

This season is no different, as Houston has the number-one ranked defense in the nation and is holding their opponents to 58.4 points per game on average.

If the Cougars can create consistent offense and continue playing defense at an elite level, they should win this game with ease and advance to the Elite 8 for the first time in three years.

The Houston-Purdue game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday at 9 pm. The winner will play either Kentucky or Tennessee in the next round.

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