4:12PM: Gurriel has a right MCL sprain, Astros general manager James Click told reporters (including Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle).
3:33PM: The Astros are one win away from clinching the World Series, but heading into tonight’s critical Game 6, the team has made a roster move. Catcher Korey Lee has been added to the roster in place of first baseman Yuli Gurriel, who suffered a knee injury in Game 5. As per league rules, Gurriel is now also ineligible for the rest of the series, should the Phillies win tonight and force a seven game.
Gurriel’s injury occurred in the seventh inning of Game 5, when Gurriel awkwardly bent his leg while being tagged out in a rundown play. Gurriel remained at first base for the bottom half of the seventh, but Trey Mancini then pinch-hit for Gurriel during his next scheduled plate appearance in the top of the eighth.
There isn’t any indication that Gurriel’s knee is anything more than sore, but since he still isn’t well enough to play after an off-day, the Astros aren’t taking any chances on leaving themselves with an undermanned roster. Despite the logic involved in the decision, there was naturally still some emotion involved in removing the longtime Astro from the roster. Manager Dusty Baker told the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes and other reporters that Gurriel “tried everything” to be ready for Game 6, and had “tears in his eyes” over not being healthy enough to play.
It now creates quite the opportunity for Lee, who made his Major League debut in 2022 and has played in only 12 games as a big leaguer. Lee hasn’t faced MLB competition since July 31, and hasn’t had game action of any kind since a Triple-A contest on September 26. This is the first time Lee has been included on Houston’s postseason rosters, as Martin Maldonado and Christian Vazquez have locked down the two catching positions.
Both Vazquez and Maldonado are in tonight’s lineup, with Vazquez at DH and Maldonado behind the plate. (Mancini takes over at first base for Gurriel.) Lee’s inclusion on the roster gives the Astros some extra flexibility at catcher, thus allowing Vazquez to move to designated hitter. Naturally, the Astros are hoping to use Lee purely for depth purposes, since it isn’t likely he would see any game action outside of an injury situation.
With Gurriel now gone for the rest of the World Series, it is possible he has already played his last game in an Astros uniform. The 38-year-old Gurriel is slated for free agency, and after he hit only .242/.288/.360 over 584 plate appearances during the regular season, there has been an expectation that Houston might move onto another first base option for 2023. Indeed, the acquisition of Mancini (another free agent) at the trade deadline was an early indicator that Houston felt more production was needed from the first base spot, though Mancini also struggled after coming over from the Orioles.
If this is Gurriel’s last hurrah with the Astros, he at least went out on the strength of a very solid postseason run. Gurriel hit .347/.360/.490 with two home runs over 50 plate appearances during these playoffs, and is the Astros’ postseason leader in batting average. Mancini’s struggles have only worsened during the postseason, as he has yet to record even a single hit in 21 playoff PA.
Bummer…..
“Gurriel’s injury occurred in the seventh inning of Game 5, when Gurriel awkwardly bent his leg while being tagged out in a rundown play.”
Thought he sat there a little to long for comfort… been a force for Houston in this world series. Bummer indeed
Feel like you can kind of game the system and just say someone is hurt to bring up a pinch runner type or an extra bullpen arm.
I thought he was doing well this post season though?
Yeah,if I were trying to game the system in this series, I would do it with Mancini long before I would consider Gurriel.
KLC, thank you. My point exactly.
You don’t “game” the system with a guy hitting .347 in this postseason not to mention one of the best defensive 1st basemen in the league & replace him with a guy who hasn’t played competitive baseball since late September.
StroDawg, precisely.
I feel like the MLB would check that though. With other leagues like the NHL they have mandated checks on injured players to see if they’re actually hurt, or just being kept out of play. They probably do the same thing in the MLB for these reasons
Check what? The guy did the splits in a rundown and then took a brutal knee to the head. This discussion makes zero sense
Although it might make sense if you’ve taken a knee, brutal or otherwise, to the head.
did you watch the game?
Indeed. But now Vazquez can hit in place of the impotent DH’s that Dusty has run out there. I would hope that more teams would do the same under the circumstances
LOL. That didn’t take long. A “CONSPIRACY THEORY” from someone who obviously didn’t watch the replay of Gurriel’s rundown.
That’s a blow.
now do Rhys Hoskins
Nothing would make me happier.
Hoskins cost us 2 playoff games, but he also won a few. Without him, Phillies aren’t here. Gotta take the good with the bad, despite the frustration.
I cant understand why hoskins remains in the 2 hole. This is a different series if segura hits there. His contact ability is perfect sandwiched between schwarber and realmuto. I agree hoskins has helped get the Phillies here but this is the World Series. His all or nothing approach is not worthy of the 2 hole
Segura isn’t exactly hitting either. Dude has what…2 hits this entire series?
I think they’ve got to seriously consider trading Hoskins. He is what he is defensively. It’s going to continue costing them games. Overall, I can’t complain much about him offensively. He’s a fairly decent bat even considering his extreme streakiness, but maybe not enough to offset the defense. He’s got the five post season home runs but has barely gotten on base otherwise.. Obviously there’s no room for him as a dh unless Castellanos is traded. And even then, we don’t know if Harper will be able to play the field on a daily basis.
I could name some players the if weren’t there the Astros would not be there either. Instead the Ms might be there. To give you names.
Altuve
Bregman
Tucker
Verlander
Bregman
Alvarez
McCormick
There are others but these probably would do the job. Put them in the minors and bring others up I predict we win the series.
I am being a smart a** of course I can’t wait till next year I think it will be exciting games and the division will hopefully be a battle. We need to make some moves of course but still will be fun. Mid season could have 3 really good pitchers that are barely old enough to drink. Here is to next year.
I would like to see us tie up Gilbert long term. There would have to be some outs if he gets injured and can’t play anymore like half his salary paid out over contract length. Not sure what the Union would say. I think if teams could do this with a core of players the game play would be different. Also many would buy jerseys and not worry about the guy being traded the next day. Would have to have no trade clause also.
The severity of it is not known I don’t believe if it is not that bad he could play. I don’t think (I know) his game is not a speed game do not a huge deal. He will need to mostly push off with left foot so won’t compromise him a ton fielding. It could be a move to get another player on the WS roster if he did that good for him.
You have a bunch of woke idiots running around tearing down statues from history. They did some bad things back then but it was the societal norm. Does
Not make it right but it was the way it was.
Why do we stop at the civil war? WWI and WWII they called from Russians to Japanese racist names. Go tear down the Marines raising the flag Iwo Jima. Not sure how far you would get. Then others would have to do this not sure 1st group would have enough healthy. Go to the Vietnam memorial.
There is racism in this land and world. Tearing history down will not change that. Using them as teaching aids would be a great use for them. It also needs to be taught correctly not changed to fit a groups narrative.
Thanks for the lecture, Professor Compass. That’s why we all come here, to read your pseudo intellectual ramblings.
Well those were posted in wrong spot if the post Made about them posted. I could say mute me don’t read them or generally stick your head where but I won’t. I could post a 20 chapter thesis paper on here which is my right you have multiple rights too. It is like guys posting about words spelt wrong etc. I hope I didn’t use big words that you didn’t know is that why you called me a Professor? If so I can explain them for you.
We will start with compass it is a tool to guide you through wherever you get lost.
Now this is a bigger one and probably hard for you.
Compassrose back when they had ships with sails they had a compass. Usually a sailor painted a picture on the face of the compass that related to the ship. They called it a Rose because it was detailed could be in color. I use compassrose so I can guide the slower people on here the way they should go. I wonder how many people read the whole thing. If you did put a like on it I know it might not be one you liked but just my way of being sarcastic. One thing I will admit I have trouble posting short posts. I use the excuse I wasn’t raised in the computer age. My HS had 1 computer it took up half the classroom. You were not allowed in the room unless you had black glasses with tape on the nose piece. Athletes were really not let in. So I didn’t grow up using short sentence’s.
Bless your heart!
“The Confederates lost the war, the rebellion. The victors, the thousands of soldiers — black and white — in the armed forces of the United States, died to protect this country. I think it dishonors them to celebrate the men who killed them and tried to kill off the American nation. The United States was far from perfect, but the values of the Confederacy, open and unrepentant white supremacy and total disregard for the humanity of black people, to the extent they still exist, have produced tragedy and discord. There is no path to a peaceful and prosperous country without challenging and rejecting that as a basis for our society.“
Karma police IS a great song
Tears in his eyes.
Can confirm; am Radiohead fan
In a weird way, I don’t see this as a big deal. Stros have been winning with their pitching. If they win the WS, which seems likely at this point, it’ll be the pitching that takes them there. That being said, go Phils.
Bad for this series, but Houston should go out an get Abreu for next season.. Power up the infield while they have Pena low cost an the others signed up.
Astros still have the best chance. Don’t let the Philly bats get hot. Still can see this going either way.
It will be over tonight. I’m feeling a Astros win.
Gurriel going down feels like a bad omen Merc. Guess we are gonna find out in a few hours.
I’ve already a good omen and won today with my bet on Flightline. Now all I need is to win Poweball!
I’d be much more worried if you were feeling ‘an’ Astros win. Yours isn’t as bad.
Need this stupid WS to be over already…let Free Agency start already!!
Hopefully Trey Mancini becomes a World Series hero today.
I was thinking the same thing. He’s too good a player to have stats like this. Would love to see one in the Crawford Boxes tonight,
Made a game-saving play in game 5. Had his moment already.
Athlete, I was thinking more like Harper.
Pitchers duel tonight fellas…..Extra innings here we come!!!
No courage left in baseball. You tough it out and deal with the pain until it’s over.
Yes. Because playing hobbled really helps your team. Sometimes the unselfish move is knowing when to sit.
You’re ignorant. He has an mcl sprain and wants to play. The Astros wont let him since he is compromised
Jimmy, I walked into my Doctors office once holding my head in my hands. He told me the same thing….Sometimes you are just hurt.
If you managed to get there, walk in, and had the strength to carry your head, you were healthy enough to play in the World Series.
You mean like Maldy did? Played through a sports hernia injury he’s had since August along with a fractured wrist. Look at his stats and tell me by doing that, with a healthy Vasquez on the bench as back up, it was best for the TEAM. He was almost an automatic out as soon as he stood on the box and even if he hit it deep it was a single. Funny how he withheld this from the public until after the series was over. Love his game calling but that was a selfish move on his part just to get a ring. Now he has to have off season surgery to repair it all and who knows if he’s ready for spring training. You can’t always think of yourself and just tough it out. You have to think what’s best for the team before what’s best for yourself.
Twitter users saying hes racist and deserves the injury. So he made a racial slur in 2017 to Darvish. Weve all made mistakes and i genuinely believe his apology. I was young and have said some not so great things I regret.
Aoe3, almost forgot about that until you just mentioned it.
I mean everyone makes mistakes, but that’s a pretty big one, and I think fans have a right to find the dude despicable. Astros are one of the deepest teams I can remember full of talent, but they aren’t exactly friendly fan-favorites. They’ve embraced the villain role after the 2017 scandal and while Stros fans have every reason to love this team,I don’t think anyone should be bothered or surprised when opposing fans straight up dislike the dudes from the 17 team.
@Aoe3,
I see your point. I remember doing something similar when I was six years old, and Gurriel did it when he was 33 years old. So, that’s really the same thing. Thanks for clearing that up.
Yuli did one thing stupid in 2017 to Yu Darvish but he had not done anything else before or since, so those type I give a break. If a player has a history of saying crazy stuff, like Kylie Irving, then it is time to crack down on him and suspend him. BTW, Yuli was suspended for several games for what he did, he apologized for it, and in the World Series he even tipped his cap to Darvish, so he has at least done the minimum necessary.
Oh really? I thought everyone was good if someone said one stupid thing their career and life are over. Apologies aren’t supposed to be enough. Where’s the woke crowd?
I don’t understand what you’re complaining about. Yuli was allowed to play again. He got injured. You’re mad because people don’t like him? I mean he made a ridiculously racist gesture and was part of a cheating scandal. I’m happy he apologized, but I don’t want to invite the dude over for Christmas Dinner. Sorry. I don’t think he should be banned or anything and he isn’t. What’s the problem? We should all love this guy? No thanks.
What gurriel did was bad
Not as bad as Ty Cobb going into the stands and beating the crap out of a guy in a wheelchair who called Cobb the “n” word. By the way, I don’t think Cobb apologized.
I mean sure, but why is this relevant?
I’m sure you were there to witness every bit of what Cobb did, right? And having to go back 100 years to top what Yuli did isn’t a very compelling argument.
Let’s go Phillies!!!
Sadly they’re only going home, but a great run.
Another World Series championship evades the goat Bryce Harper.
Still a great Phillies run. Their fans should be proud of that team. They will be a force next season. Such a solid team.
To all the Astros haters on these forums, you can take that 2017 asterisk and shove it!
The 2017 asterik will never go away. The 2022 championship doesn’t validate past transactions. No one ever thought the Astros weren’t good. We all knew how great they were in 2017, which makes the cheating even worse IMO. 2022 team didn’t cheat, but doesn’t erase the past. When I think of some of the most complete teams in baseball history, 2022 Astros make my top 10. Well deserved championship, but still hate the franchise.
Enjoy being salty. Astros win. AGAIN!!!!!!!
No salt. Best team won. Has nothing to do with 2017.
Like the Astros are the only team to cheat. If you want to take away the 2017 title then I think we need to take quite a few away from the Yankees. All teams cheat, the Astros got interesting with it got caught yet still won on the road hmmmmm. Hang onto the past all you won 2nd title in 5 years. One of the best dynasties in mlb history. Enjoy!
Man. The Astros fans defense of “all teams cheat” is such BS. Not all teams cheat. And not all cheating should be judged equally. Just enjoy the well-deserved championship. Stop acting like the world is against Houston. Ya’ll know damn well you’d feel the same if some other team was involved in the cheating scandal. Astros fans are the ones who keep talking about 2017 and asteriks. I’m just saying this year doesn’t erase the past. Nothing to do with it at all. 2022 Astros were an amazing squad.
Im just saying 2 titles in 5 years. That’s all
Yea. Hell of a squad. I only count one title, but that’s my opinion. I still think they’re one of the most deeply-takented organizations in baseball.
2 WS in 5 years makes them one of the best dynasties ever? Yikes, put the pipe down. It’s an impressive feat, but relax.
Give me a break with the word “dynasty” though. Astros are fortunate that 2nd and 3rd wildcards are in the post season, and Astros are lucky for a guy called Servais bringing in Robbie Ray, because winning Game 1 makes a big difference. Rob Thomson didn’t learn that Alvarez hits lefties better than he hits righties.
I don’t believe in 2nd and 3rd wildcards and I am glad the Astros won for Dusty Baker.
How about 6 straight LCS. Never been done before
The wilcard team you like to put down so much is the only team to beat the Astros in the playoffs. The Astros aren’t lucky. They’re very good snd would’ve beaten anyone easily. Phillies at least made it a bit interesting.
2 titles
4 WS appearances
5 pennants
All in a 6 yr time frame. If that’s not at least getting into the dynasty conversation I don’t know what does.
Keep on hating because the Astros will keep on winning…
To the Phillies fans, your team is a juggernaut. Your window is just starting.
A juggernaut? A team that comes 3rd in their division is a “juggernaut”?
Got hurt making Darvish eyes
Didn’t matter WINNERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For Astros fans, the 2017 team will always hold a special place in the hearts of the fans. That was the year a dynasty was born.
No asterisk exists in Houston. We love the Astros!!!!
Phillies should not have been there in the first place. Manfred is exploiting baseball for money along with owners by ‘creating’ extra wildcards. It goes against every thing a 162 game season is for.. Get rid of Manfred and get rid of extra wildcards, they are a joke and they’ve made baseball soft. The ‘new’ play-off format also is terrible because of all these extra teams, again, created by Manfred.
There should be only 1 AL wildcard and 1 NL wildcard. Baseball and the post season was never broke, but there was Manfred and the owners exploiting the game of baseball for money. It is wrong, sack Manfred.
Thanks for your lecture. I disagree. Everyone has opinions. Not everyone has your opinion. I also think this new format makes it much harder for the WC teams. Phils were just an exception. I think things will generally play out like how the AL did. Best teams won. Time will tell.
In a 3 game series, irrespective of where it is played, you are ‘given’ a chance, a ‘chance’ that should not exist. Whether it is “hard” or not is not the point, it is the ‘chance’ that you have that you should not have.
It doesn’t matter who the teams are, if you have decent enough pitching and hitting, anything can happen in a 3 game series. The point of 162 is gone, teams with byes in play-offs are ridiculous, this isn’t football, it’s baseball.
That’s cool. Baseball changes it’s rules constantly. I hate the DH, but I’m not going to sit here and say “that isn’t baseball.” Times change. You can be cranky and stop watching, or keep watching and complain…whatever you feel. I disagree with you. I like the extra Wildcard because teams actually play longer. Good teams don’t rest their starters towards the end of the year. Teams keep fighting to the end trying to make it. We see less tanking. The trade deadline is different. I find it more exciting. But I respect your opinion too. I get it.
What do you really think about Manfred though?
No ring for Yu!
Boo hoo. Racist jerk.