Baseball Fans Absolutely Ripped Astros Manager AJ Hinch on Twitter for Controversial Decision-Making
By Thomas Carannante
![](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Screen-Shot-2019-10-31-at-11222-AM-30c983b36b121ed227842c7477757dbb.jpg)
The Houston Astros choked, plain and simple. They had two tries to win one game at Minute Maid Park and they failed, relinquishing late leads in both Games 6 and 7.
But fans are particularly irked by manager AJ Hinch's decision-making after the team faltered late in Game 7 to lose 6-2 in front of the home fans. Zack Greinke was throwing an absolute gem before giving up a solo home run to Anthony Rendon, but at that point the Astros still held a one-run lead.
Hinch pulled Greinke, and while many thought he was going to turn to Gerrit Cole, he went with Will Harris, who ended up blowing the game.
Gerrit Cole well rested for Game 8.
— David Fucillo (@davidfucillo) October 31, 2019
Seriously, where was Cole? How did this strategy get thrown to the wayside?
Greinke to Cole was the formula. Not really sure how Hinch could mess that up, but he managed!
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) October 31, 2019
Maybe Hinch is a better fit for the New York Mets than we originally thought...
Maybe AJ Hinch is the next Mets manager. Especially the way he handles the bullpen. #WorldSeries
— Paul Lo Duca (@paulloduca16) October 31, 2019
How was Max Scherzer feeling after this?
Glad Max pic.twitter.com/FwZog8bTD4
— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) October 31, 2019
Wait, we're sorry. Did you think Hinch was done there? Far from it! He went to Roberto Osuna right after Harris, and the controversial right-hander surrendered another run.
“Thank God we got Osuna!” pic.twitter.com/z0EgDDP99J
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) October 31, 2019
If you listen carefully, you can hear Brandon Taubman yelling this at a wall.
How did Osuna give up this run, you ask? With a runner on second and two outs, Hinch opted to not walk JUAN SOTO, who delivered the RBI single.
Yet the Astros pitched to him. https://t.co/aM9S1MlvED
— Tom (@Haudricourt) October 31, 2019
Still, after all this, the Astros were still in striking distance. It was 4-2 with the bases loaded and Hinch decided to call on Jose Urquidy, who gave up a two-run single to make it 6-2 in the top of the ninth. And that folks, was it.
Urquidy was thrown to the wolves. Smh.
— patrick (@PatDStat) October 31, 2019
Not exactly the best move to put a rookie in such a situation, but that's what happened and the Astros disappointed their fans at home. Hinch will have a lot of explaining to do after this.