STEPHEN UZICK
Sorry Texans, I can't handle this relationship anymore. We are breaking up
Stephen Uzick
Sep 24, 2018, 12:08 pm
Dear Texans,
It’s not you, it’s me. Well, actually that’s a lie – it’s you. We have been together for years and we have had some good times, but its been mostly disappointment. Sure we went on a few dates in January but that b**ch from New England showed up and ruined the evening. I have tried to stick it out, visiting every week, but you just make it too difficult. It’s almost as if you just don’t care.
I know you tried to make some drastic new changes last year and at first it felt like maybe things would work out. Even when it started to fall apart last year I told myself you were committed to making changes and I should give you one more chance. We didn’t see each other for about eight months and I guess as they say distance makes the heart grow fonder. When you came back a few weeks ago I had hope that you would be different and we could work this out. You weren’t; you came back with that same loser mindset. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
After how you treated me this week I am done. I just can’t take the disappointment and frankly embarrassment anymore. I think i’ts time we take a break. Maybe if you commit to some real changes or change your thinking we can re-visit our relationship, but for now I think maybe it’s time we see other people. I still love football, but I just don’t think I love you. While I’ll be considerate enough to not take out any of your neighbors – the Titans, Jaguars and Colts – I can’t make any promises that I won’t find another team to care about. I’m sure I’ll still see you around, and I hope we can still be cordial and not make things awkward, but for now we are finished.
See you around,
Stephen
Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.
The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.
The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.
On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.
Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.
It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.
The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.
How the mighty have fallen.
Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.
Screenshot via: MLB.com
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