Astros Anonymous

Notes on watching the MLB/Japan All Star Series

2006-11-03T01:13:00.000-06:00

Somehow my mlb.tv subscription works for the archived games of the MLB/Japan All Star Series. and I've started watching the first game and wanted to share some of the stuff that I saw since I know many folks don't give 2 shits about this series. But I really like international baseball. I watched as much of the World Baseball Classic as I could and it was really awesome to be introduced to another style of playing the game.

I've bitched about the mlb.tv deal before, but being able to watch these games is a welcome surprise. However, the first thing they showed was the ceremonial first pitch where some Japanese guy threw out the first pitch to Twins C Joe Mauer. The reason I don't know who it was is because the mlb.tv announcers didn't mention this and all of the writing onscreen is in Japanese. But it had to be someone of some importance because after Mauer signed the first pitch ball, the Japanese guy signed another ball for Mauer. Thanks for the details, mlb.tv.

Can everyone read that gray line at the bottom? Fucking blackouts!

The next two things are apparently traditions in Japanese baseballs. First, as the defense takes the field, they each autograph a ball and throw it into the crowd. That is damn awesome, and everyone likes free shit. I'd like to see that at an MLB game. Next, the crowd calls out the names of the Japanese starters as they take the field. Kind of a roll call. Kind of cool.

Now I know this is a minor baseball thing and that very few people care, but I like it. But apparently this isn't too important in Japan either. There are a bunch of empty seats in the stadium.

The roster is full of All-Star players (but no Astros) and a few dim-star players (I'm looking at you Lyle Overbay!). Which leads me to the question, why is this not on TV? Not in prime time, but this has got to be better than the late night shit on Fox Sports, right?

Take a look at that lineup? Pretty nice, huh? Don't you want to watch that game against foreigners that play the game differently? Ok, maybe I'm the only one.

I've still got a World Series post brewing, but just haven't been able to sit down and write about Preston Wilson winning a World Series. I love David Eckstein and am elated that he won the MVP, but Preston's got a ring. I just can't find any other word to string together. It is incomprehensible to me. I cannot form complete sentences when i think about it. Preston? Uh, and a ring.... huh? well... it's just making me sad.

Let the Free Agency speculation begin!!!

Windmills Do Not Work That Way!

2006-10-13T02:42:00.000-05:00

The Astros cannot "solve" their "problems" with a quick free agaent signing.

See Also: Toronto Bjays, Texas Wranglers, Chicago litte harmless cublings, and all the rest that I did not mention but would support my arguement. Support!

Just as windmills do NOT cool off the Earth, one grandiose slugger does not equal alls well. Nor does adding another "veteran" bat. See Preston K. Wilson, IV.

The Astros need to stick with what works. They got the arms. They got bats. Well, yeah, kind of. I spose.

They got the bats because Chris Burke is good for 500 ABs. Mike BLamb another 250-400. Biggio 300-400 probly. And of course Lance, Ausmus, Everett, Willy T, Luke Scott. Those five will be in the opening day lineup 2007. If not, well, I know absolutely nothing about anything that could possbily pertain to a baseball related topic. Not at all.

Carlos Lee would fit in very well in that Houston clubhouse.
Even though the White Sox gave up on him.
And the Brewers.
And now the Rangers.....

Soriano? No. Alex Rodriguez? not likely. Eric Chavez? Yes. (hey why not?)

For the first time, I see. I do see.

McLane has built a winning franchise.

Now the hard part: sustaining.

Trust? Who> Tim Purpura? Hunsicker? Someone.

Of course, the Astros can do it.

In 2007.

and now, the synopsis, but of course!!
(Well not yet)

go Al gore! we need to defend the planet against pollution.
and wizards!
blame the wizards!!

sapphires!

GooTube?

2006-10-06T17:55:00.000-05:00

Apparently Google is buying the Über-popular video site YouTube. On TechEBlog they combined the logos to make GooTube, and I couldn't help but share. Good stuff!

SKINNER:
"We need a name that's witty at first, but seems less funny everytime you hear it."

APU:
"How about the B-Sharps?"

Sure, I'll talk Astros baseball if I have to. Garner got an extension and Hickey's gone. Happy?

Watching the Yankees in the post-season makes me sick. I want them to lose so bad, but know they're a damn great team top to bottom and are as good as anyone. Tigers get a shot at a 2-1 lead tonight. Grrrr! Go, Tigres.

Cardinals/Mets in the NL. I'm actually rooting for the Mets though. David Wright helped me immensely in multiple fantasy leagues this season, despite his poor 2nd half.

Also, the A's surprised the hell outta me and took the first 2 at Minnesota. And appear to have game 3 wrapped up, 8-3 A's right now. The Twins had the best home record in baseball this year at 54-24, and their stadium is supposed to make for a freakish advantage, though I have never seen for myself.

Although I just read that they're getting a new stadium in 2010. So, I've still got a few years to get up to Minnesota, but it's really not a priority. Now spring trainings in Florida? That's got to happen sometime soon.

Hello My Name Is Kyle

2006-10-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

So It Goes

2006-10-03T17:53:00.000-05:00

The Astros did not relinquish their grip on the 2006 season until the very last day of their regular season.
Not a bad way to go at all.
This image was called "Hope." I like it.

Onto the Press!!
Roy. ROY. ROYoung. This man could be on his third Cy Young Award already.
Yet here he is, on the brink of the honor due to him.
The best right-handed pitcher in the Majors right now. He dominates big games.

Lance Berkman. Can't make as strong of an arguement for his MVP campaign.
I never thought Ryan Howard should win it, basically leaving it between Lance and our super duper great buddy pal Albert "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! NOT HIM!!" Pujols.
Cards got the Central, give to Albie.

Alas, The 'Stache rides no more this year.

We here at AA hope to have ya back, next year, and the next 7 at least.
Managers used to stick and mold a team for years, and the team became what they wanted it to be and they played hard like the manager.
And The 'Stros always got a shot with The 'Stache.

Don't Worry Be Happy

2006-10-02T19:14:00.000-05:00

Yes folks, this is not a time for anger and unhappiness. Instead, be happy and thankful for the ride that we've been taken on this year. And be thankful that the Astros provide mostly winning and exciting baseball-flavored entertainment to us fans. It has been a true joy to be a part of the craziness the past few years and I hope the organization knows it.

That's not to say there's nothing that needs changing or that I'm totally satisfied (will I ever be?), but when you consider poor, poor towns like Pittsburgh or Milwaukee or Tampa Bay or Chicago (North Side). At least we get a race and something to root for. Some hope. Some Lance and Roy, Clemens and Pettitte. And Lidge? C'mon Houston is home to baseball-gold these days, and it's fun.

Next year? It's on. We need a few moves (Crawford? Carlos? Woody?) and a few players to return (Roger? Andy? maybe Huff?). All under budget of course, Mr. McLane.

Ok, enough of the positive. Onto a taste of the negative. We've got a few months to point out each and every place where things went wrong this season. Tonight's topic... The bottom 3rd of the lineup.

Everett .239/.290/.642, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 52 runs
Ausmus .230/.308/.593, 2 HR, 39 RBI, 37 runs
Pitcher

Offensively? Bad. Just plain bad. However, Everett is one of the best defensive shortstops and it's an important position where you may have to take an offensive hit. A defensive stud at that position can be hard to find. But we've got one, he only committed 7 errors in 688 total chances all season and was part of 105 double plays. All amongst the tops in baseball. Luckily for him, he makes up with his glovework what he can't do with his bat.

Ausmus on the other hand is no longer such a defensive specialist. He did lead all catchers in field %, and had only 1 past ball all season, in 124 games started, which is pretty remarkable, but he was more middle of the road in both Stolen Bases Allowed and Caught Stealing. Point is, there are catchers of comparable defense that are better at the plate.
But I have a feeling that we're stuck with another year of Ausmus as the primary catcher. He's supposed to be great working with the pitchers and could be crucial to bringing Clemens back. So, maybe it's not as bad as I think, but I don't think I can stand another season of wishing the bottom 3rd of the lineup could do something with the bat.

JR House could maybe assume a backup role next season. For the Express and Hooks this year he hit a combined .345/.392/.913, 15 HR, 105 RBI and 83 runs. The Astros farm system seems to be as good as any, and I think it's time we see more of them in Houston. No need for the free agency catcher-version of the Preston K Wilson Experience in 2007. Dear God, please make it so.
I really wanted to get into the Preston Wilson Experiment, circa 2006, tonight, but I just can't take anymore.

Preston gets into the playoffs, but I'd bet they don't get past the David Wells and the stingy Padres. Padres had the lowest ERA in the NL at 3.87. Guess who was 2nd with 4.08?

Turning to the Cardinals for a second. They lost nine of their last 12, almost blowing a seven-game lead. They finished 83-78, the worst record by an NL Central champion. The Central title was out there all season and no one wanted to beat the Cardinals. wtf? If the Astros could have won 2 or 3 of the 4-6 games that Lidge blew, they'd be playing tomorrow. Shoulda, coulda, woulda and so on. But now... Now it's time to put all your energies into rooting against the Cardinals and Yanks. I'm thinking Mets vs. Twins at the moment.

By the way, new Lost and South Park start Wednesday. So there are other things to be happy about too.

Also 2 great pitching matchups tomorrow, Johan vs. Zito and Chris "Cy" Carpenter vs. Jake Peavy.

Play In-Round One (The NLPI Series)

2006-09-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

I want to see this smiley face for at least two more weeks.

There are few people who have the entire state of Texas' hatred.
Francisco Cabrera, welcome to the club.
You gave the St. Louis Cardinals a victory today after Ben Sheets and Jeff Cirillo had won the game for the Milwaukee Brewers.

They didn't want you in Arlington, Houston now wishes you nothing but scabs and influenza. Milwaukee may not be too fond of you anymore either.
So praps you lofted one right over the heart of the plate to Scott Spezio today.
After being up 1-2 in the count.

Break a slider! He already whiffed at one.
Just do not PITCH IT DOWN THE MIDDLE!

The 'Stache goes to Andy Pettitte in a must-win tonight in Atlanta.
The 'Stros know that nothing matters except winning tonight.

Then tomorrow. So long as St. Louis is playing in San Francisco or Houston on Monday, it's a victorious season.
These next two games at Atlanta are the play-in round of the NLDS.
The National League Play In Series if you will.
This is Round One. And it's a two-game series right now, so let's win out boys!

WE GOT US A RACE, FOLKS!

2006-09-29T10:43:00.000-05:00

That's a pretty sight! I shouldn't really have to say much else. They won their 9th in a row and the Cardinals dropped another. Hell, even the Reds are still technically in it.

One half game behind the NL Central lead, can you feel it now? The Astros are officially 3 games over .500. We've got ourselves a race people. I only got to see the final few innings of the game yesterday, but Roy pitched well, scattering 4 hits over 7 innings, and recording an BB RBI in the 5th. The Astros' 3 hits and 4 walks were enough to move another step closer.

The Cards got all beat up by the Brewers last night, 9-4. Preston K Wilson IV was the offensive star last night for the Cards. He went 2/4 with 3 RBI and 2 Ks

If the Cardinals have to rely on Preston to provide the offensive spark for the team, that's terrible and highly humorous. I mean could this be any more perfect? The guy the Astros booted playing for the team they're up against, and despite playing well, they're still getting beat.

Go brews!!!! Tonight's Matchups
Clemens (7-5, 2.35, 95, 29) vs Chuck James (10-4, 3.94, 83, 45)
Chris Capuano (11-11, 3.87, 172, 44) vs. Jeff Weaver (7-14, 5.79, 105,46)

The pitching matchups favor all the right teams today. Clemens start should almost be an automatic victory at this point with the way the team has been playing. As for Chris Capuano, he was one of the best pitcthers in the first half (10-4, 3.21 ERA) but has gone 1-7 with a 4.84 ERA since the break. We need him to come up with a solid Dubya to get the Astros in the lead.

Did we mention that Roy should get the CY and Lance the MVP?
OH, and there was a shutout last night too, but the good kind this time. Heeeeere's Walter!

Slammin' The LID(ge)

2006-09-28T17:59:00.000-05:00

The waiting is indeed the hardest part.
Woke up early to catch the 11:30 a.m. game (I work nights usually) and waited.
And waited.
Then, well, I took a walk. Then I waited.
Then the Astros started working walks. And they WON.

*************************ATABOY***********************************
That's the Brad Lidge we all love and know.

These are the Astros that turned a a baseball audience into a legit Baseball Town, U.S.A.
Ready for Hyperbole's?

ROYoung (let's just rename the trophy).

The 'Stache = Inventor of clutchitude.

Lance. Most Valuable Player on a National League team that has no other legit everday masher. They got hitters, but no Lance's. Pujols missed time, and is the best hitter, but not most valuable PLAYER. Ryan Howard has Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. Both MVP candidates.
Plus that Phillies infield rivals the NYY and NYM as the top infield in all of baseball. Sorry, Cleveland.

Roy goes seven strong to go with an RBI walk and improves his record to 15-8. Woulda coulda shoulda been a third-straight year 20-game winner.
Oh Well, I'll take my boys.
Ensberg RBI walk.
Most importantly, Adam Everett with a beautiful RBI-single back up the gut with Chris Burke taking off for third. Good baserunning, good hitting.

Now we wait.
To see if the Brewers can take down the Cardinals.
Doug Davis vs. Jason Marquis. I like the Wisconsinerites chances. Go Sausages!
Make the Cardinals flightless, like the Penguin.

TRUST YOURSELF

2006-09-28T09:26:00.000-05:00

15 innings for the win last night, and they're still 1.5 games back. No gound gained or lost last night because Bochy sure botched that one for the Padres.

St Louis's Magic Number is now 4, with 5 games left. Which means that regardless of what the Astros do, if the Cards win their remaining 4 games against the Brews, they're in. That powerless feeling sucks...

I'm sending good vibes to everyone in Milwaukee because the fate of the Astros ultimately rests in their hands. Sure, the Astros pretty much have to win out, but if the Brews can't take 1 or 2 games from the Cardinals, it won't matter.

BOO Cardinals, and much love to The Brews.

Beat 'em up Brews!!!

Garner spent ~8 years as Brewers Manager (1992 through most of 1999). Maybe he should put a call into Ned Yost and inform him that pitching to Pujols with the game on the line is MURDER and to avoid it like, well, murder. Simply Murderous...

Damn, I've never hoped so hard for a win by the fuckin-Brewers.

LET'S GO ASTROS
TRUST YOURSELF

Lies! All Lies!!

2006-09-28T01:19:00.000-05:00

First Off, How F#$(#_%(#(-ing stupid is Bruce Bochy??? (VERY, VERY STUPID)

Are not the Padres in a penant race as well?
Has the National League not learned?

WHY would you EVER pitch to Albert "Automatic" Pujols with the game on the line??? Thanks a lot fucking Bochy for giving the Cardinals a freebie and some momentum.
MORON!

I hope you miss the postseason and are fired. You suck. Enormously.
And no, I am not bitter.

OK, maybe a tad.

Onwards and Upwards.

ROYoung needs to go CG SHO today. Yes, he is pitching before I usually get up.
Alas, it is my 26th, so I will be up with coffee (Irish?) in hand watching the 'Stros.

Let's All Hope ROY got some rest before that game ended.....

The message coming from my bones says leave it alone.
Go 'Stache! Keep up yer magic! Go 'Stros!!!

The Astros are just dodging Knives at this point. Jack and Meg, give us some magic!

"I am a baker
And today is my birthday
And I just turned 26 years old
And I’m very cold
Cause I just found out
I’m a baker man
And I live inside a baking can
With soft and pretty
Baker’s hands
And I’m also meeeeee!!"

The Wizird's Baker: It Makes You All Nipply.
Go Astros

Drunk By Noon

2006-09-27T11:24:00.000-05:00

Following the past two Astros games via internet gamechannel while working nights has been a lot like rolling in the snow naked.

It stings and seconds last hours, to say the least.

Alas, there has been no true pain as the hometown boys have continued their resurgence and the Padres clipped another Cardinal wing with a comeback against the Carp. All along we've strongly hinted that consistency is a big key, and the boys with the Star on their hat have been playing very consistently.

Tonight I'll be heading out to the local bar to watch the game live via baseball package.
Tomorrow it gets even funner, as it's my 26th birthday, and ROY Young is set to start in a game with the first pitch at 11:30 A.M.!!!
That is correct, for probably about the, oh, third time all year, a MLB game is starting before noon.

Surely I shall be out watching that one as well. If I have to sacrifice bodily functions and normal trains of thoughts for watching the game and drinking on my birthday in salute of the CY season of ROYoung and LANCE-V-P, then so be it.

Beeeeeelieve in the Boys of H-Town! GO 'Stros!!

Jason Hirsh, CEO

2006-09-27T09:27:00.000-05:00

Jason Hirsh is at the helm tonight of the Astros-mobile. Bound for the playoffs.

Next stop...

Pittsburgh. vs Shawn Chacón

Hirsh looks to even his record with his 4th win

CARDINALS against the Padres again tonight

--Matchup-- (W_L, ERA, K, BB)
Chris Young (11-5, 3.55, 158, 67) vs. Anthony Reyes (5-7, 4.92, 64, 30)

Astros can move to one half game behind the Cardinals if everything goes right. Go Padres and Hirsh, wins all around, cept none for the Cards.

Lance Berkman for MVP, and some love for Biggio

2006-09-26T21:19:00.000-05:00

If the Astros can pull off this playoff thing again, Lance Berkman's name should be in there with Pujols and Ryan Howard for NL MVP. Ditto that for Roy Oswalt and the NL Cy Young. But check this out.

Lance's 2006, before tonight's game

.316 AVG
.419 OBP
1.044 OPS
43 HR
130 RBI
92 runs

All of those averages are better than his career average. Also, the next highest RBI count on the team belongs to Craig Biggio at 58 RBI. If we're talking most valuable player to a team, Lance wins. The Astros would have been the Cubs or Pirates this season if it weren't for Lance's clutchness? clutchatude... umm, clutchisity?

Vote Berkman/Oswalt in 2006

Ah, the wonder of MS Paint

Onto the game

Top 1-
A series of singles by Scott & Huff. 3-0 Astros

Bottom 1-
Andy goes 1-2-3 in the first.

Top 2-
1-2-3 for Snell as well.

Bottom 2-
Jason Bay and José Bautista dinger to tie the game at 3.

Top 3-
Lamb singled, to second base on Lance's ground out, to third on a past ball. Luke Ks. Morgan walked to set up Biggio with runners on 1st and 3rd. Biggio weakly singles through the right side of the infield to plate Lamb. 4-3 Astros.

(Only 73 more to 3,000)

Bottom 4-
Another hit by Bautista, but Pettitte get out the inning clean.

Top 5-
Mike Lamb walks. Lance Ks, but Luke Scott singles, and Lamb advances to 2nd. Aubrey singles to load the bases now for Biggio with 1 out. Sac fly to make the lead 5-3. Alredy 3 RBI for Biggio tonight.

Hell, why not Biggio for MVP?

Sure, he's batting .246 this year (.197 since the break and .173 on the road), but he can be as valuable as anyone on the team, given the chance.

Oh, and Adam Everett singled to score Luke Scott for another run. Is now 6-3 Astros.

Bottom 7-
Pettitte allows 2 base runners and gets yanked for Springer, who beans Jason Bay to load the bases for X Nady. AH! getting sketchy. Wheeler works the count full, and Nady fouls off a fastball before popping out to Mike Lamb in foul territory. Whew, still 6-3.

Top 8-
Willy singles with 1 out. Then Lamb walked for the 3rd time. 2 on for Lance, who singles and scores Willy for their 7th run. 7-3, Astros!

Bottom 8-
Nieve walks one, no hits or runs.

Bottom 9-
Nieve heads back to the mound, gets 1 out, the gives up consecutive doubles to Jack Wilson (who I thought was with the Yanks, but that's Craig) and Freddy Sanchez. Wilson scores, 7-4.

Nieve gets the final 2 outs, and the Astros move to 1 game above 500.

A strong outing by Pettitte limited the work needed by the Astros bullpen, after being seriously worked last night. A solid win with smart play, productive outs and, most importantly, many runs scored.

KEEPING AN EYE ON THE CARDINALS<------------------------------------------->

Don't think I forgot the key to the Astros and their playoff run; the Cardinals LOSING.

GameNotes

Padres scored in the first, Cardinals tied in the 2nd with a Ronnie Belliard home run. (since when have they had him?>? trade deadline?). Padres take the lead back with another run in the 4th, 2-1. Cardinals come back with another home run by Belliard. Sweet Jeebus! Cardinals add 2 more the next inning on a single by Edmonds. Chris "reigning-Cy" Carpenter is on the mound tonight for the Cards, so I don't expect the Padres to pull this out.

Well surprise, surprise, just as I'm about to post, the Padres score 4 in the 7th to take a 6-5 lead over the Cardinals. 1.5 games back looks within reach. It's the best position they've been in all year.

...
...
...

And the I thought to myself, "END IT ALL WITH A WEIRD AL VIDEO"

enjoy

Pirates Pre-Game

2006-09-26T15:40:00.000-05:00

The Astros are 10-3 against the Pirates this year, including 2 sweeps, April 21-23 and August 8-10.

Pettitte's career line against the Pirates...

6-1, 2.30 ERA, 34 Ks and 10 BB, 11 earned runs.

Can you feel it??

Post Philles, Pitts Preview POST

2006-09-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

How's about them Astros? 6 up for Houston while St Louis falls 6. And now the Astros stand only 2.5 games back of the NL Central lead. Also, keep an eye out for the Reds. They are only 3.5 games back. But finally we have a playoff race with only 6 games left.

The Astros won a coin flip yesterday so that if there were to be a tie in the NL Central between the Cards and Astros, the game would be played in Houston. I'm not sure why it came down to a coin flip because with the 4 game sweep, the Astros have won 9 of 16 games between the 2 this season. The Astros should get home field advantage for a tiebreaker because even though the Cards have been in the lead all year. Heads up, the Astros have the better record.

On to the game last night. Sampson only lasted 3 and 2/3rd innings, and the Astros ended up using a total of NINE pitchers last night.
Now, I have mixed feelings about this. They won, which is great, but used almost the entire bullpen. I don't think this is a great idea considering they are entering the most important stretch of games. Granted, after Sampson, no one pitched more than 1 inning, but time will tell if this has an effect on the rest of the week.

Just for fun, here are the pitch counts from last night.

Sampson 45
Springer 7
Rodriguez 23
Nieve 8
Borkowski 23
Miller 8
Lidge 11
Qualls 6
Wheeler 17

So no one was used in excess, which hopefully should help in the long run.

Last night, the Astros won with a series of great pinch hits. First Jimerson hit a 1 out single in the 5th. And in the 7th, the Astros took the lead back on clutch RBI pinch singles by Orlando Palmero and Mike Lamb.

Every one contributed to the win last night. Let's keep it up and surprise the crap out of everyone, including myself.

Next up the Pirates of Pittsburgh.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Tuesday: Pettitte (13-13, 4.31, 169, 68) vs. Ian Snell (14-10, 4.67, 166, 71) Wednesday: Hirsh (3-4, 5.83, 28, 21) vs. Shawn Chacón (7-6, 6.25, 57, 62)
Thursday: RoyO (14-8, 3.07, 160, 36) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (2-4, 3.79, 38, 28)

PNC PARK at night

Hey, I've been there!!!

It's Sampson Time

2006-09-25T19:21:00.000-05:00

No Albers tonight like I previously indicated.

It's Chris Sampson time, and as I write this, he's got a 1 hitter going.

Hope this doesn't jinx anything. Oh, and the Astros only have 1 hit too. C'mon offense!!

Go Sampson!!

---------------------------------

Then, of course, just a few minutes after I posted the above comments about Sampson, he gets pulled after giving up 2 hits in a row in the 4th. Russ Springer is in now.

Maybe The 'Stache was planning on only letting Sampson pitch a few innings? Maybe now's not the time to be letting rookies get their experience? It is a playoff race, right?

But still, only 3 hits given up by Sampson, already 3 Ks, no walks? Why not let Sampson try to get that 3rd out?

Fine, so it's not Sampson's day to shine. But good for him. Now, let's see how the rest of the bullpen is today...

Can They Keep It Up?

2006-09-25T00:36:00.000-05:00

A sweep of the Cardinals, and the Astros 2nd place in NL Central (3.5 games back) and 3rd in Wild Card (5 games back) - probably still boned, but the people in Houston have something to root, since the Texans started 0-3. Again.

Well, screw the Wild Card. That's going to the Phillies, Padres or Dodgers. If the Astros are going to make it to the playoffs through the backdoor, then it's got to be via winning the NL Central.

Both the Cardinals and Astros have 7 games left. Here is the breakdown...

Cardinals
- 3 against the Padres, starting today at home
- 4 against the Brewers, at home

Astros
- 1 against the Phillies
- 3 against the Pirates
- 3 against the Braves

The Cardinals appear to have the easier road to the playoffs, with all of their remaining games at home. The Astros may get to play the worse teams, but they are all on the road. Plus, the Braves are always a problem.

If they are able to pull this out, it would be the stupidest thing ever. Or as Habeab puts it, "the most awesomely stupid great fucking thing ever." They've been playing like poop most of the year, and they just may be able to pull another playoff run outta their ass. All because the rest of the NL has been almost equally as poopy.

Up tonight is a makeup game against the Phillies. The Phillies also have a 5-game win streak going and are looking to make their way past one of the NL West teams to the NL Wild Card.

--TODAY'S MATCHUP--
Matt Albers (0-2, 6.00, 11, 7) vs. Randy Wolf (4-0, 5.47, 39, 28)

As Rage Against the Machine might say, "Rally around the rookie with a pocket full of Ks"

One Strong Buzz

2006-09-25T00:34:00.000-05:00

Let's all give a huge hand to our boys for plucking the Cardinals at the big box o' baseball.
And of course, to Mr. Clemens. No explanation necessary.

I believe that The 'Stache believes it can still happen.

Can it? For now, it's great that the Phillies are in first. After they shellacked the 'Stros at home some 10 days ago, its time for payback. Too bad it's just a one-game makeup and not a series.

Three more wins, and there's a chance. Any more losses and no way. Plenty of teams can still beat up on each other. Can Roy start six more times??

Let's throw all our coulds and cannots into the rubble of Astroworld and just say thanks, boys. I've had a blast these past three years, and for one, have not counted ya'll out.

Biggio Praise

2006-09-23T12:38:00.000-05:00

Holy Cow! Biggio hit well last night. 3/5 with 3 RBI and a SB.

77 hits to 3,000

first walk-off of the year?

they're playing fun, competitive baseball again

3 Dubyas inna row

WC update-
they won, but so did the Padres, Dodgers and Phillies

still 5.5 games back, 9 left

Rookie Reyes vs. Roy

RoY-O wants his 15th W

tonight at 6

will it continue?

Thank You Lance-Christ, May I Have Another?

2006-09-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

Definition: Lance
"The quintessential weapon of the man-at-arms. The lance initially began as a long spear (about 9') but became progressively longer and heavier."

Definition: Christ
From the Greek "christos," meaning "anointed one" or "chosen one." See also Messiah.

Who's Your Buddy?

Definition: Lance-Christ

From the Texan Waco, by way of Houston. A batter capable of combining the savior-like qualities of Jeebus and the lethal force of the spear.

Ok, I'm done for now, but our main man, Lance Berkman, had 2 dingers and 4 RBI last night in a 6-5 comeback win against the NL Central leading Cardinals. The bullpen pitched well again too, Borkowski delivered 3 perfect innings and Dan Wheeler recorded his 7th save of the season.

The pitching matchup has changed for Sunday. Last night after the game, Garner announced that Roger Clemens will start the regular-season home finale against St. Louis on Sunday. On 3 days rest. Instead of young Matt Albers. Garner is now pulling out all the stops, apparently thinking that the Astros have some sort of a chance to make it to the playoffs still. Too little too late?

But, I guess this calls for an NL Wild Card update. I didn't think I'd be doing this again this season.

Looks to me like the Wild Card team will be from the NL West or the Phillies. Time shall tell, but again, it doesn't look good for the Astros. They will have to win all remaining 10 games and then count on the SIX teams ahead of them taking a huge dump in the last week. I just don't see it happening. But much thanks to Lance and company for making us think that there still could be a shot.

May I have another?

Tonight is the battle of the Jasons. Marquis vs Hirsh. Go ASTROS

In the mean time check out the trailer for a totally NEW and EXCITING movie called The Astros-Zombies. Looks AWESOME

Clemens' Last (home)Stand?

2006-09-20T16:19:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen....

MR. CLEMENS!

Yesterday's Lineup:

Biggio, 2B
Lamb, 3B
Berkman, 1B
Scott, LF
Huff, RF
Burke, CF
Everett, SS
Ausmus, C
Clemens, P

I like the setup (cept for Biggio at leadoff (but then again if they're really focused getting him to 3,000 hits, Biggio should get every possible at bat the rest of the year so he doesn't have to take too much time getting there next year)). But we've got Burke in CF batting 6th, Lamb back in 2nd, and Scott batting cleanup with Huff behind him. Not bad.

1-2-3 first for Clemens and Bronson.

Luke Scott dingers in the 2nd. Earlier point proven! He gets one of the corner OF spots next year. Scott, Willy and Carlos Lee? anyone think that looks good? sprinkle some Burke here and there? Yes, delicious.

Chris Burke is the nuts! Oh, and there'll probably be some Burke-nuts scattered at SS and 2B too.

Moving on...

2 outs in the 5th, Luke Scott triples for the 3rd game in a row on a bases-loaded line drive to right field. 4-0 Astros. Luke's got the hard part of the cycle completed already, only a single and double left to go. He didn't get it.

Biggio did hit a 3 run shot in the 7th to give Roger a 7-0 lead. Nieve gave up a couple of runs in the 8th, but Roger WINS in his last home start of the year and the Astros take 2 outta 3 from the Reds.

This was possibly his last start in Houston. Roger's got 2 more scheduled starts, but they are on the road. I bet if he asked nicely, they'd let him sit those out. If he secrectly swore to come back next year if he got to start resting up now? eh? Let some of the younger pitchers take those 2 starts?

Wishful thinking I bet.

Tonight, Pettitte vs. Chris Carpenter to start a 4-game series against the Cards. Carpenter is probably set to win his 2nd Cy Young in a row and Pettitte looks for his 14th win of the season.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Thursday: Chris Carpenter (15-6, 2.79, 173, 41) vs. Pettitte (13-13, 4.37, 167, 64)
Friday: Jason Marquis (14-15, 5.82, 93, 69) vs. Hirsh (3-4, 5.59, 26, 19)
Saturday: Anthony Reyes (5-7, 4.92, 64, 30) vs. RoyO (14-8, 3.05, 156, 34)
Sunday: Jeff Weaver (7-14, 5.84, 100, 44) vs. Matt Albers (0-2, 6.00, 11, 7)

Anyone else know that the Carpenters did a cover of the Black Sabbath song "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath?" Wait, nevermind that was The Cardigans.

All By Myself...

2006-09-20T11:11:00.000-05:00

My partner in Blogging-Crime is outta town for the rest of the week, so our frequent readers (anyone out there?) will get to put up with my ramblings for the rest of the week.

Roy Oswalt continued his dominance over the Reds Monday night, going 6 and 2/3 innings with 8 Ks and 2 earned runs. Wheeler got the save, and we haven't seen Brad Lidge on the mound since the 16th when he gave up 3 earned runs on a walk, 2 hits and a sacrifice fly against the Phillies. He was finally dropped from my fantasy league today for the Boston closer du jour, Mike Timlin.

Astros beat the Reds last night and Luke Scott tripled for the 2nd day in a row and was a only a single away from the cycle. But our boys couldn't keep the rally going and lost 5-4. They had the bases loaded in the 8th with 2 outs, but Burke popped out. I didn't watch the beginning of the game and just now noticed that Matt Albers got the start last night because Pettitte went to be with his hospitalized father. Albers 2nd career start didn't go all too well though. Albers pitched 4 and 2/3 innings giving up 5 earned runs, but then the bullpen finished the game with 4 and 1/3 innings of PERFECT relief (no hits or BBs), highlighted by 3 stellar innings from Chris Sampson, who I will discuss later in this post. Sampson struck out the side in the 7th and finished with 4 Ks.

there's supposed to be a Luke Scott photo right about here and Burke somewhere below, but the upload tool is all farked

Luke's got to be an everyday player next year, right? Hitting .380 since the All-Star break is the BEST in all of baseball. True, he's not a big power threat (7 HR, 26 RBI and 23 runs in 166 at bats), but if the Astros can get a couple of consistent bats around him and Lance, that high average should translate into a high Run or RBI total next season. Both? Hell, Luke had 20 HR in 87 games at Round Rock this year, so there is potential for his power output to increase. Oh, and did I mention that he'll turn 29 next June? PLAY HIM!

Richard Justice had a blog post yesterday pushing for Luke and Burke to play everyday next season, and I can't argue with that. However, Justice questions where Burke will play with Biggio coming back, and asks if we would be satisfied with an outfield of Burke, Willy T and Scott. There's concern about a lack of HR production in the corner OF spots, but that hasn't been what the Astros are all about anyways the past few seasons, hitting HRs, right? If we can get something like a .330, 25 HR and 100 RBI season out of Scott that would be an improvement over the Preston/Huff/Lamb experiment this year in the OF.

The Astros have a terrible track record of not letting their younger players develop at the major league level, and they just can't let it happen again with Burke and Scott. It would be a (Texas) Travesty of the highest order. They've proven all that they can or should need to in the minors, and deserve a regular starting spot. Same with Jason Hirsh and I'll argue the case for Chris Sampson later.

The 2007 rotation is up for grabs, save Oswalt. He's the undisputed #1 of the staff, even if Clemens and Pettitte come back. They've got to give Hirsh 25-30 starts next season and see what happens. He'll be a cheaper and similarily productive option to signing whatever big name arms will be out there this offseason.

Ok, now I want to talk about Chris Sampson for a second. He's been very effective when he's been in Houston this season. He's 1-0 with a 2.66 ERA in ~23 innings. He's another local kid too, which I just love (HA, kid. He's 2 years older than I am, but whatever). He was born in Pasadena, TX, and went to Texas Tech. He'll be 29 years old next May and if he has any chance of contributing it'll likely happen sooner rather than later. This season in Round Rock he's been every bit as good as Hirsh (12-3, 2.51 ERA with 68 Ks in 125.2 innings) and deserves a shot either as a starter or middle/long-relief because if he's going to play for the Astros its gotta be soon. Or conversely, if they want to package him in a trade or something, the more time he has to show his stuff at the major league level, the more valuable he will be as a trade commodity. But c'mon, Sampson? If they can come up with brilliant Luke Skywalker promos and shit for Luke Scott, Chris Sampson should be a slam dunk (minus the P, Samson). Unless they don't want to reference a hairy Biblical figure of great power that was screwed over by his girl or something.

Well, ok then. Back to the present. We've got a sweet matchup today for the rubber game of the Reds series. Bronson Arroyo vs. Roger Clemens. I'll be following the game at work (Thanks MLB.TV for not blacking this one out) and post again later tonight, prolly.

Showdown for the Title!!!!

2006-09-18T15:45:00.000-05:00

No, the Astros aren't going to pull an amazing finish outta their ass this year. The showdown I'm talking about is between Habeab and myself as we battle out for the next 2 weeks for the championship in our Yahoo fantasy baseball league. We've been #1 and #2 all season and it all comes down to this.

Habeab's recently lost his 2 top hitters (Manny and Hafner) in the past week or so, and it's up to people like Corey Hart and Chris Duffy and Robinson Cano to carry his offense. My offense has been solid all year despite all of the trading that went down, but now my outfield and Util spots rest in the hands of Carlos Lee, Nick Markakis, Ichiro, Delmon Young, Torri Hunter and Michael Cuddyer. Steady pitching and hot bats will win this thing, we shall see who is the best.

It shall be me!

Yes, yes. Now of course the Astros are still playing, and for fantasy purposes I hope Lance Berkman goes outta his mind during the last few weeks to help crush my dear friend. But they recently lost 3 in a row to the Phillies. That really helped the Phils, as they are now 1 game out of the Wild Card. Also the Dodgers lost the lead in the West to the Padres.

I'm still secretly rooting for the Marlins. I just love the youth movement, and it kinda proves the worth of giving young players a shot to earn a spot on the roster. Any team now would love to have Uggla or Hanley. Plus, I like the focus on the team. They've taken a group of guys that were underestimated and they're going to finish with a better record than the Braves, and probably be real close to the Wild Card, if they don't win it.

Oh wait, the Astros. Yes, they are a team. A team that plays the Reds next. The Reds have still been playing a little better than the Astros, and they sit 5 games back from the Wild Card. They're out of it too though. Awesome. This time of the season can be the most entertaining or most depressing. Your team is either in it still or you're left wondering what in the hell you can write about on your blog that is dedicated to a failing team. That's right failing. If the goal was to get to the playoffs again, they failed. Well, not technically yet, but practically.

--matchups-- (W, L, ERA, K, BB)
Monday: Kyle Loshe (4-8, 5.80, 86, 37) vs. RoyO (13-8, 3.06, 148, 34)
Tuesday: Aaron Harang (13-11, 3.88, 193, 56) vs. Pettitte (13-13, 4.37, 167, 64)
Wednesday: Bronson Arroyo (14-9, 3.17, 172, 55) vs. Clemens (6-5, 2.52, 83, 25)

Speaking of Bronson Arroyo, check out this commercial he did back in Boston. I was hoping there was a bad, funny music video or something, but this will work. Enjoy!

Ain't No Skin Off'f My Ass

2006-09-17T01:48:00.000-05:00

The Astros Lost.

Post-injury Clemens looked knackered yesterday.

Now it's Injury time for Andy Pettitte and a lost start. How's that elbow skin?

Yet there ain't nothing small about this (lack of) a season for our hometown H-Town boys. Seriously. 500 ABs for Luke Scott and Chris Burke?
Would a protest make this happen in 2007????

Is ANYONE convinced that those two will get a combined 1,000 At-Bats next season? Becuase that is what they need to mature, develop, and blossom into actual, life-like hitters that can produce for the Astros next year.

I am looking at you, Richard Justice.

Phillies Again

2006-09-15T16:20:00.000-05:00

I'm not entirely sure why I go to the trouble of putting the Wild Card update on here anymore. The Astros are still 5 games back with 5 teams ahead of them. Basically making no progress in the last month. Sucks.

They're still mathematically in this thing, but they've got to be 5 games better than the Padres, Phillies, Giants, Marlins and Reds the rest of the way. And with only 17 games left, they'd pretty much have to win out or go on some crazy 15-2 streak to even have a chance. If there are baseball gods, and they are good and they pull ALL of the possible strings for the Astros, then they are golden. But realistically, it's time to look ahead at 2007.

But if they can help keep the Phillies from getting the Wild Card, that's just fine with me. Can't stand the Phils, even though I can acknowedge that Ryan Howard and Utley are damn good. It'll be sweet in a few years when they're playing for the Yankees. Bound to happen, right?

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Friday: Brett Myers (10-6, 4.05, 161, 54) vs. Clemens (6-4, 2.27, 79, 20)
Saturday: Cole Hamels (7-8, 4.34, 117, 40) vs. Hirsh (3-3, 6.10, 21, 17)
Sunday: Randy Wolf (3-0, 5.56, 34, 26) vs. Pettitte (13-13, 4.37, 167, 64)

--------------------------
Yes, I know it's a little premature to put up a pumpkin photo now, being that we're only halfway through September. But I don't care if it people give me shit, I'm just ahead of my time.

Following the Game at Work

2006-09-13T16:20:00.000-05:00

Roy O vs Jason Marquis today in St. Louis. Habeab pointed out something interesting in the lineup today. Morgan Ensberg is batting 2nd. This is something we like because of all Morgan's walks (91). Morgan's got a .389 OBP compared to his .229 AVG. Much better than Biggio this year, who's been hitting .224 with an .318 OBP from the 2-hole.

After a quick glance at the splits, Burke is hitting best from the 2nd spot in the lineup. .385 with 4 HR and 15 RBI. That's just under half of his totals for HR and RBI all season. Other notable lines while batting 2nd belong to Willy T (.281, .339 OBP) and of course, Mike Lamb (.313, .362 OBP). I don't mean to overvalue OBP for top of the order, but look at the Florida Marlins back in 2003 when they beat the Yankees to win the champioship....

Their top 2 were Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo. Pierre hit .305, .361 OBP and Castillo hit .314, .381 OBP. They scored a total of 199 runs that year. For the Astros this year, between Willy T, Lamb, Biggio and Burke (the 4 most commonly in the first 2 spots of the lineup), they've scored 183 combined runs from the 1st and 2nd spots in the lineup. A difference of 16 runs. OK, OK. So, it didn't turn out to be as much of a difference as I was hoping, but I did the work, so I've got to post it, right? Dammit. Well, so I don't know. My point is shot to shit, but OBP is important in the top of the lineup, that's all I wanted to say. Shut up! (thanks baseballreference.com for helping me kill some time!)

Also of note today :: Biggio and Everett are sitting with Bruntlett and Burke manning the middle infield.

I was at lunch while the Astros scored their 4 runs in the first inning. But says here Willy singled and store 2nd, Morgan singled, Lance and Luke Scott both walked (separated by Huff's K). Luke's walk scored Willy. Then Burke singled with the bases loaded and scored 2 more. Bruntlett singled in Scott for the last run of the inning. Roy's got a 4-run lead to work with now.

Still 4-0 in the 4th. Roy's held the Cards to 2 hits so far, and he strikes out 2 of 3 in the bottom of the 4th. Jason Marquis did not return after his 4-run first.

Lance knocked a solo HR in the 6th, Astros lead 5-0.

Nothing all too interesting in the rest of the game. Roy gave up 3 hits in a row in the 9th, to give the Cards 1 run, but Trevor Miller and Wheeler came in to end the game. Astros WIN!! Roy gets his 13th win of the year, and Berkman his 40th bomb!

And now, a BONUS image of a happy Roy with his tractor. A job well done!!

Another bonus is something I read on Baseball Musings yesterday. Thought I should share...

"Phil Jefferis writes:

I heard something over the weekend that caught my attention. The Astros leading RBI man is obviously Lance Berkman, but who would you guess is second? The answer is tricky. Preston Wilson, who departed about a month ago after riding the bench for awhile, had 55 RBIs during his stay, which would currently put him in second place. The active Astro with the second most RBIs is Adam Everett with 54. Its a telling stat. A guy whose derives about 95% of his value from his defense is our second RBI guy. No wonder we're currently in our third 20+ inning scoreless streak for the year.

That was only part of what surprised me though. The part that I am interested in is the disparity between Lance and Everett. Lance, at 120 RBIs, has more than doubled his closest teammate. I'd have to think that 66 RBIs is about as big a disparity as you'll see in the Majors. Have you looked into this at all?
I took a quick look at the teams I thought might have a similar situation. Philly was my first choice, and from what I can tell, they are the closest with Howard leading Utley by 49 (1.55 times more)."

Only The Blind

2006-09-13T02:16:00.000-05:00

Is there one Astros fan out there that did not see the end of Tuesday night's game vs. the Cardinals coming? Maybe a blind fan, but methinks that even those fans were tuned into the sense of DOOOOOOOOOOM!

Seriously, about an inning before it even happened. No need to even face Pujols.
Of course, must walk (bean) a batter, especially the batter before Pujols.

Fantastic idea.

We here are at the anony-moose would like to beelieve still. Really.

We'd also like to believe Chris Bukre and Luke Scott will get 500 ABs in 2007.

I mean, cheeeses. cheeeeses fuggin christ. What happened?

Oh, have we mentioned our intense enjoyment of a little show called Home Movies?
Well, it's probly my favorite show, at least cartoon, ever. Check'er out.
It's rudding season.

Roy, Andy, Rocket, Lidge. Berkman, Willy T, Burke, Ensberg.
It seemed like we had the team that was the envy of many.

Moo Mooo Mooo, I am a cow.
Now we are left just fantasizing. Oggling. Just hoping there is a slim chance where we can sneak in undetected and before anyone realizes it is happening.
That's how it was sposda happen, eh?

Oh boy. I cannot even sentences correctly form.

On the other hand, at least the White Sox ain't getting in either. Hooray!
From Mike
-------------
I came in here to fix a spelling thing, and couldn't help but add a lighthouse image, in honor of "Lighthouse" Lidge. Enjoy!

yeah another one

2006-09-11T22:10:00.000-05:00

another shutout tonight. a CG SHO by Carpenter. anyone else sick of thinking about it? talking about it? writing and reading about it? the season is effectively over and the Astros are still getting shutout. It sucks a little these days in Astroland (Astroworld?), my friends. Luckily it's football season, but the Longhorns lost, ditto the Texans and Cowboys.

Capitan Zero strikes again, and its a sad, boring time in the City of Deadly Sleep tonight.

Another Day, Another Shutout

2006-09-10T16:20:00.000-05:00

Mark It Zero

Brandon won't be Backe

2006-09-08T10:45:00.000-05:00

Brandon Backe had season-ending surgery yesterday to repair his elbow. Yes, Backe had the procedure known as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, AKA, Tommy John surgery. In this procedure, a tendon is removed from the patient’s wrist or hamstring and grafted into the elbow—woven in a figure-eight pattern through tunnels drilled in the humerus and ulna bones. Apparently this is similar to reconstructive ACL surgery. For more information click here.

Usual rehabiliation from this type of surgery lasts 12-18 months, so Backe is likely out for ALL of 2007 too. Which sucks. Kinda. Backe's career line is 19-14, 4.71 ERA in 42 games started. That kind of production should be replaceable, but I just like the idea of a likeable hometown guy playing for his hometown team. Backe grew up in Galveston.
Right now, though, the pitching staff for next year is full of question marks. We know Roy's coming back, and you'd have to assume Jason Hirsh will get a spot in the rotation to start next season. There's just not much else for him to accomplish in Round Rock. He's ready for his shot.

It's a little too early to know what will happen with Pettitte and Clemens, but not too early to speculate! I would think that Roger's going to come back at this point. And I'd be ok with getting them both back on the roster is the price isn't outrageous.

The 2 big name free agenct pitchers, Barry Zito and Jason Scmidt, will be too expensive. So, if they don't get the former-Yankee duo back, then it's time for either the young guns to come up for their shot (I'm thinking Albers here!) or to get someone like Vincente Padilla or Randy Wolf or Woody Williams from free agency. Even if the Astros deem it time to bring out the young guns, there's no doubt in my mind that it would be a good idea to get another veteran arm out there behind Roy.

If I had to say now, I'd bet we get both Roger and Andy back next season, as the Astros try to deliver that damned, elusive World Series to Craig Biggio, in what hopefully will be his last season as close-to a full-time player. Get Craig his 3,000th hit and then greatly reduce his playing time and let him be a pinch-hitter/spot-starter and late innings replacement/bench guy. This year has shown us that he's just not got it anymore, well, enough to warrant a full-time starting position. There's only so long that the organization will allow their aging stars to fade out before they PUT them out.

PS, in an effort to make this blog more multimedia friendly, here's the clip of when Randy Johnson killed that bird in Spring Training. Always a good time!!

100th Post

2006-09-07T12:12:00.000-05:00

Well folks, we've officially made it to 100 posts in the blog-o-sphere. Awesome, go us! Now only if we could get 100 readers...? Hmm.

I bet the Astros feel like a hundred bucks after beating the Phillies last night. Pettitte again was mostly effective (6 and a third, 2 runs, 2 BB and 4 Ks) and Lance went 3/4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI.

Something I just noticed in the box score for yesterday's game... Berkman has 23 doubles (after his 2 last night) and Chris Burke has 21 doubles in 150 less at-bats. Why is this kid not playing everyday? Oh that's right Biggio. Now I know Biggio is a Hall-of-Famer and will get to continue playing often next year as he heads for 3,000 hits. He's currently sitting at 2,916 career hits. However, not playing young the promising young players is far more of a systemic problem in the Astros organization (See Daryle Ward, Richard Hidalgo and Chris Burke, amongst others I likely forgot).

Yes, like Luke Scott. Jason Lane got the start again last night over Luke. He and Burke have proved to me that they need to be playing everyday. What will it take for the 'Stache and the rest of the organization to make this happen?

Oh, one more thing about the game last night. Brad "Lighthouse" Lidge again got the save, but gave up a run. Unearned this time due to an error by Aubrey Huff, but still.. damn! Brad. C'MON!

Next up is a 3-spot against the Brewers.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Friday: RoyO (11-8, 3.12, 136, 31) vs. Ben Sheets (4-6, 4.54, 79, 8)
Saturday: Clemens (6-4, 2.27, 79, 20) vs. Tomo Ohka (4-4, 4.35, 48, 29)
Sunday: TBA vs. Dave Bush (10-10, 4.66, 144, 36)

That TBA... Probably Hirsh or Wandy. Probably not Francisco Nieve, who was just activated from the DL yesterday

Wild Card update. Are the Padres really running away with this thing? They've won 5 games in a row and it's looking like the Wild Card will go to someone in the West or East and the Central will only be represented by the Cardinals. There are still about 3 weeks of games left to play, so anything can happen, but you just can't expect that the Astros will be able to pull this off 3 years in a row. Even the Braves NL East streak is coming to a close, anything can happen

Philly

2006-09-06T12:45:00.000-05:00

So, I just got back from Chicago last night and didn't pay much attention to baseball over the weekend. We decided not to see the Cubs vs. Pirates game on Monday because it was cold-ish and rainy. And although it would have been somewhat humorous to see the Cubs only shining star this year (Carlos Zambrano) get rocked and leave in the 2nd inning, we passed.

In Astro-land, they are 1-3 in the last 4 games, winning only one game against the Mets and losing the opener against the Phillies 2-3. Borkowski gave up a walk-off HR to Chase Utley in the 10th inning to seal the deal. Also, Ryan Howard hit his 53rd HR of the season off Clemens in the 6th. That's a fuck-ton of HRs for a guy in his 2nd year. Simply amazing. Oh and he's also got 134 RBI. That guy's good, and should probably win the NL MVP award.

Last night's game was rained out, so tonight we've got Pettitte vs. Randy Wolf.

Looking at the updated Wild Card standings, the Astros are fading fast. 5 games back with 24 games left to play and 5 teams ahead of them. It's almost over, but they're still in it by the numbers.

Slugga

2006-09-01T20:23:00.000-05:00

Situational hitting is now a part of the Houston Astros.

Unfortunately, the Mets again proved their NL dominance in a 8-7 Win Friday.
Today let's hope the 'Stros throw open that roof so the Mets are super hot and sweaty, and beat the Yanks of the NL. Yes!

As for Friday's game...
Willy T is punching the ball into gaps and running! Chris Burke is hitting, bunting, fielding! Adam Everett's bat is awake! Everyone seems to be aware of the situations nowadays. Waytogo boys.
Yet the plunkmaster Craig Biggio was beaned again, and the home plate ump said he struck-out, not got a HBP. Bidge argues and protests to no avail.
This is after the home plate ump had already missed a call when Carlos Delgado was beaned earlier in the game. Has an ump ever missed TWO Beanballs???
How can you not believe Biggio when he says he was hit????
Jason Lane lofts a flyball to deep centerfield to score Willy T on a sac-fly.
Earlier in the year that's a groundout double play. Gotta love it.
Fantastic hitting by Biggio, Berkman, Lane, Ensberg, Burke, Quintero.

Wandy looked sharp. Definitely the first time I have ever said that.
His fastball was cutting and his curve was quite big.
However, Wandy was his own undoing once again as he didn't stick to what was working and started to tinker here and there.
But for the most part, this guy looks like he can give the 'Stros 5-6 IP, 3 ER a game, and that is good.

On another note, Mike is up here in Chicago starting today for a visit, so the blog may suffer because of our shenanigans.
I am going to pistol whip the next person who says shenanigans (super troopers!).

Today it's John Maine and Jason Hirsh, two touted rookies.
Maine already shutdown and shutout the Astros this season back on July 21.

Gotta win today. Gotta take 2 of 3 in this series.
Ride The 'Stache!

6 IN A ROW, WAY TO GO

2006-09-01T10:25:00.000-05:00

The Astros won their 6th game in a row last night behind a strong start from Andy Pettitte. He went 7 innings giving up 1 earned run and striking out 5. The Astros scored 4 runs in the 7th with RBI doubles from Ausmus and Willy T and a 2run homer by Biggio. Also, Lidge got his 28th save and only scared everyone a little when he gave up a double to Kevin Mench with only 1 out.

But another win for our boys! And now they're only 2.5 games back of the Wild Card. The Reds have lost 6 in a row and now are only 1 game ahead of the Astros. The real test starts tonight. Mets, best record in the NL. In fact, this month will be a tough one for the Astros. They've got 3 games against the Mets, 6 against the Phillies, 6 against the Cardinals, 3 against the Reds and 3 against the Brews. Then the last 2 series of the year are against the Pirates (should F-ing sweep again) and their nemesis, Atlanta Braves, to end the season.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Friday: Tom Glavine (12-6, 3.92, 103, 53) vs. Wandy (9-8, 5.46, 81, 56)
Saturday: John Maine (4-3, 3.50, 48, 18) vs. Hirsh (2-2, 8.53, 13, 13)
Sunday: El Duque (9-9, 5.29, 130, 47) vs. RoyO (10-8, 3.25, 127, 30)

Bottle, Rocket

2006-08-31T01:15:00.000-05:00

The Mild, Wild Ride.
Que Es Esto?
In actuality, the parity around the NL is the cause of the supposed mediocrity of play. If most teams are damn near equal, well, no team is going to torch everyone, and few teams are going to get blown away. Teams beat each other up, it leads to similiar near-.500 records.
Yup.
Astros stand 3 games back of San Diego.
Roger Clemens continues to prove that the Astros literally could win every time he starts. Seriously.

Now there's 5 total teams standing betwixt those Bla'stros and sweet, delicious, saucy and sticky postseason action.
Five teams: 1 from the Central, 2 West, and 1 East standing between Fall Joy Rides down I-10, 45 and 610, or hoping the Rockets have a point guard and the Texans...

---Wait, Houston has a football team?-----

SinSinNatty cannot understand Greg Maddux's 'old-school game' and swing confused sticks all night. No longer looking so shiny, the reds might be fading.
Dodgers win 7-3. yay Reds lose!!

Dave Roberts heaps the Padres up on one of his legs and Bruce Bochy on the other for a 4-1 win and the lead in the NLWC as of now! they're monks!
Monkey Friars! Whose dog is splattering poop like a monkey's racehorse!

Philadelphia begs Ryan Howard to truly consider owning more than just this particular city, maybe perhaps the World.
Howard becomes the first hitter to record a 'W' without pitching in a 5-1 win over the sorta a city with a team, Washington (DC).

Florida loses to St. Louis 13-6.
No one likes a St. Louis victory. Let's just nod at the Marlins loss.
Catch some mercury there unwanted Miami Fish Baseball Club.

And the senior PGA SF Giants are somehow stickin' around.
What are they, like, all pumped up?
To play baseball?
?
Atlanta chops 'em down to size with a 5-3 win.

Andy Pettitte gets the start at home tomorrow night and has done very well in the big box o' juice his last 2 starts: 16 IP, 17 K, 2 BB, 7 H, 3 ER (4-2 W over Pads, 1-0 L to Cubs grrr).

Ride The 'Stache.

------------
From Mike: There was a shutout last night, so I had to add the Mark It Zero picture. Such a great image. Walter almost intimidated BOTH teams into scoring ZERO runs last night. But Huff was man enough to standup to this fictional character to knock in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th. Just in time....

Happy Happy Birthday!!

2006-08-30T10:18:00.000-05:00

Hey, who wouldn't want a $73 Million birthday present? Yes, folks after the trade deadline scare, where the Red Sox, Mets and a few other teams thought they could get their hands on Roy Oswalt, last night the Astros signed him to a 5-year, $73 mil deal, with an option for a 6th year. That's roughly $14.6 million per year, and that 6th year option is worth $16 million. This solidifies Roy as one of the top starting pitchers in the league and THE ace of the Astros staff. When you're the ace and you've got Clemens and Pettitte behind you as 2nd and 3rd starters, that's a damn fine staff.

The consolation prize for his birthday was an Astros win, although Roy didn't get the Dubya. They had an early lead with a pair of home runs from Luke Scott and Biggio. But Roy gave up a series of hits in the 7th to tie the game at 3.

The Astros countered with a HUGE 8th inning. Well, Danny Kolb helped out. 6 consecutive batters reached base in a row, and everything was capped off by Jason Lane's first career grand slam. Kolb had walked in a run before Lane's at bat. Jason's a pretty patient hitter, and he took 3 straight balls from Kolb. With the count 3-0, Kolb grooved a fastball right down the middle of the plate and Lane rocked a grand slam off the wall above the Crawford Boxes. There were still no outs.

But next up was Willy T, who had another shot to continue his hitting streak against Derrick Turnbow. He was beaned twice last night (once in the head) and Turnbow struck him out to end his streak at 30 games. Longest in club history and 2nd longest of the year. Congrats, Willy!

WC update

Burke Everyday Man

2006-08-29T15:46:00.000-05:00

Ryan Freel.
Michael Cuddyer.
Bill Hall.
Rich Aurilia.
Chone Figgins.

Chris Burke.

All the above mentioned names are utility players that have played themselves into full time roles, either at one position or at multiple spots. Except Chris Burke.
Hell even Nick Punto and Ty Wigginton and more are getting everyday play daily. Chris Burke seems to always be on the cusp of an emptying glass.

Is there any reason Chris Burke cannot play every game in September?
Remember his play in October 2005? His grit, promise, and determination?
We need this kid! This year, next year, next year, and so on.
Let him play, let him develop. Don't wait for him to develop, play him every day and let him develop.
He'll be that much stronger in Feb-March-April 2007 if he knows he IS playing 145-160 games in 2007.

Players need FULL seasons in the majors to truly develop into a well-rounded, consistently contributing ballplayer.
Chris Burke has only 284 AB this year.
318 AB last year.
If he just gets 350-400 ABs again next year, that's it.
No longer being a youthful prospect, he'll have missed his chance to develop in his prime while he had youth to blossom. He'll still be good, but not as good and not for as long.
Chris Burke should get 500+ AB in 2007. Absolutely should.
And play everyday in September.

WC Update

2006-08-29T07:35:00.000-05:00

The Reds, who were tied with the Cardinals at one point are now 3.5 games back of the NL Central lead, but still lead the Wild Card by half a game.

So many teams mired in a pretty uninteresting race (so far). Even the Reds are still only 2 games over .500. Most interesting development is that San Fran & San Diego have been playing well recently. Hell, the Marlins have won 8 straight, and the Braves are still in better shape that the Astros.

Everyone's still in it, and someone's got to get hot and be able to run away with this thing. And I know It's been mentioned before on this page a few times before, but consistency is key.

Rain, Rain Go Away

2006-08-27T16:27:00.000-05:00

I started watching the movie United 93 during the rain delay. It's pretty good so far, but somewhat worn fare for a movie, especially if you've read the first 100 or so pages of the 9/11 Commission Report. An interesting movie nonetheless and it should strike a chord with everyone that could do nothing but stare dumbfounded at CNN that day.

Anyways...

After the delay, Willy T singled to extend his streak to 30 games. Now he's only 5 games behind Chase Utley's 35-game streak for the longest of the season. Lance then knocked in Willy to give Hirsh an early lead 1-0. Jason Hirsh got through the first 2 innings, giving up only a single to X. Nady.

Willy is an on-base machine. He reached base for the 2nd time, by walking in the 3rd. He advanced to 2nd on an errant pickoff attempt by Chacón and then scored on a Mike B-lamb double. Did anyone know that Shawn Chacón was born in Alaska? Howz about that? Burke walked and Berkman reached on an error to score LAMB! 4-0 Astros!

Hirsh cruised through another scoreless inning. I'm really liking this Berkman, Burke, Everett & Lamb infield.

A couple of base runners allowed by Hirsh in the 4th, X. Nady singled on a bloop to center that even Willy T couldn't get to that scored José Bautista. 4-1 Astros.

In the top of the 5th, Mike B-Lamb walked and Burke singled to push Lamb to 3rd for Lance, who's been hitting .377 with runners in scoring position by the way. LANCE hits a 3 run HR OUT OF THE PARK!!! Over the wall and almost into the Allegheny River. 7-1 Astros, awesomeness!

Hirsh loads the bases again in the bottom of the 5th for Jason Bay with only 1 out. And out comes Coach Hickey, as Chris Sampson (formerly the closer at AAA Round Rock) starts getting warm. Bay pops out to Lance in foul territory and Burnitz pops out to Scott to end the inning. Still 7-1, whew...

Willy, ground rule doubles to left on a hit that would have easily been a triple for him. Willy's 3 for 3 with 2 runs so far and is now the catalyst in the top of the order the Astros have been looking for and expecting him to be for a while now. B-Lamb follows with a single. Willy gets caught in a rundown after Burke grounds to 3rd, but he runs around long enough to allow Lamb to reach 3rd and Burke to 2nd before getting tagged out. Intentional BB to Lance to load the bases. Lamb scores on a grounder to first that Huff beat out. Nice, another run, 8-1. Another run, Burke scores on a sacrifice fly by Scott, 9-1. Everyone's getting into the offense today!! Everett doubles down the 3rd base line to score 2 more runs, AND Ausmus singles to score Everett. Now everyone's been on base except for the pitcher (Scott hasn't hit, but has walked twice). Hirsh bats for himself, and pops out to first to end a 5 run 6th inning.

It's now 12-1 Astros and Hirsh is back on the mound in the 6th and we've got some defensive changes. Berkman gets the rest of the day off, Lamb moves from 3rd to 1st, Huff from RF to 3rd, and Orlando enters the game in RF. Flexibility people, very important!

In the 9th, Everett tripled and was knocked in on a sac fly by Lane. Bottom 9, Trevor Miller comes in, gives up a single and beans Ryan Doumit. But no runs for the Pirates. Final Score: 13-1. ASTROS WIN and take 3 out of 4 from the Pirates.

Now the Astros are headed home to Houston for a short 6-game homestand, which starts Tuesday against the Brewers. When they met earlier this month, the Brews took 2 out of 3 in Milwaukee.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Tuesday: Tomo Ohka (4-3, 4.42, 44, 27) vs. RoyO (10-8, 3.23, 120, 29)
Wednesday: Dave Bush (9-10, 4.89, 135, 34) vs. Wandy (9-8, 5.51, 79, 56)
Thursday: Doug Davis (9-8, 5.17, 125, 85) vs. Clemens (6-4, 2.50, 64, 16)

Scurvy

2006-08-27T12:42:00.000-05:00

Today's game is brought to you by....

Minute Maid Orange Juice. Helping pirates deal with the horrors of scurvy since 1945.

According to the updated Wild Card standings, the Astros are still technically in this thing, but every loss is a kick to the groin in what is ultimately a pissing contest. I'm not too sure what that means exactly, but you get my point.

Today's Lineup:

Willy T, CF
Lamb, 3B
Burke, 2B
Berkman, 1B
Huff, RF
Scott, LF
Everett, SS
Ausmus, C
Hirsh, P

Now Hirsh's starts have alternatively been bad, good and then bad. So if this trend continues, today should be one of the good ones.

And as of 12.42 pm, we've got a delayed start of the game due to rain. Whoop dee doo!

So Small From Space

2006-08-27T02:07:00.000-05:00

The Astros finally can Breathe in, Breathe out, and relax.

Play the game of Baseball. Enjoy taking the field and trying to win that game.

WAS it really just 2 weeks ago Andy Pettitte crushed a homerun.
A mere 2 days after Roy Oswalt went yard.
All was joyous in Houstonia and Astroland.

Saturday, the Astros played winning baseball once again.
No matter the details, but the consistency was (again) provided by certain alphaBetical letters.
B's. and T's and P's and E's.

Andy Pettitte battled his ass off once more and gave what he could, which is pinpoint accuracy and meticulously good delivery.
It has increased his K's, yet made his "missed" pitches more hittable. So it seems.

Onto Chris Burke.
Absolutely should play in 97% of games in Septemeber 2006.
And all of 2007.

It seems parity is the antedote to complete despair, as those Astros beat the Pirates 7-4 and praps defibrilated some nearily smeared hearts that still, well, Bee-lieve.

Nobody mention Willy T's 29-game hit streak.
Let his talented legs and bat swoop upwards of a 40-gamer.
...and let the 2-3 hitters behind him give him a chance to steal, and do things to increase his chances of scoring a run. (Chris Burke, Luke Scott, Lance I Like)

Ahem.
Bees.

Six games under .500 once again. Really, I can whole-heartedly accept a .500 season.
The sheer joy I've experienced (mixed with dread) the past 2 (18) years cannot be matched.
Tim Purpura and Drayton. Don't "shave the 'stache."
Keep him around. I suppose I'd like to see Adam Everett in 2007 as well.
And Brad Ausmus.

There seems to be 5 of 8 offensive spots ready to go next year.
Try out every option this year so there is absolutely no
"We don't really know what we have yet" scenario in 2007.

Lobby for Burke. Lobby for Bees. Lobby for wins.
Let's all go. Lobby.

BY the way, I miss this guy.

Poor Poor Pitiful Pirates

2006-08-24T18:49:00.000-05:00

Interesting lineup tonight.

Willy, CF
Burke, LF
Berkman, 1B
Morgan, 3B
Scott, RF
Biggio, 2B
House, C
Everett, SS
Wandy, P

Love to see Burke 2nd and Biggio 6th. Morgan batting cleanup though? I just don't understand. A bases loaded situation fell to Craig in the first. He grounded out to end the inning, but I'd rather see Craig up there in those situations instead of setting them up. 3 walks in the first inning to Willy T, Scott and Morgan.

Time for a Vietnamese Food break. I'll check back in probably around the 7th...

As I'm about to leave Willy T bunts his way on and Burke knocks a 2-run bomb. Astros lead 2-0. Burke definetly needs to be batting 2nd from now on. Ride the hotness, my friends...

Pirates Preview Post

2006-08-24T11:16:00.000-05:00

According to the updated Wild Card standings, the Astros are still in the race. But being 6 games back with 7 teams still ahead of them, the Astros are like the limping, injured guy who's about to get lapped by the rest of the competition.

Here's a quote from RoyO I read on Yahoo Sports.

"We lost a lot of ground the last three or four days. We've got to go to Pittsburgh and pretty much sweep the Pirates."

YUP, that about sums it up. This is more or less their last ditch, desperate-as-hell, now-or-never series.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Thursday: Wandy (9-7, 5.37, 72, 56) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (2-3, 3.74, 35, 24)
Friday: Clemens (5-4, 2.58, 62, 15) vs. Paul Maholm (5-10, 4.86, 98, 66)
Saturday: Pettitte (11-13, 4.51, 153, 59) vs. Victor Santos (5-8, 5.65, 71, 38)
Sunday: Hirsh (1-2, 12.75, 11, 11) vs. Shawn Chacón (6-4, 6.99, 41, 49)

Anyone want a four-game sweep for desert? Sweet, delicious sweeps...

PS> I just couldn't help myself...

Time and Money (and a dub-ya)

2006-08-23T11:47:00.000-05:00

Give up Now?
After spring training and
4 months of season?

We've already sunk 6 months into this.
That's more time than we've sunk anything before.

'W' today avoids the sweep.
Praps the pressure is lifted from the 2005 NL Champions now.
It is tough to fully recover from a World Series sweep, and a season of uncertainties.

The Astros could use Homer J's Wonderbat.

For a day they played like Monty Burns Team O' Ringers, scoring 6 times in one inning in a 7-3 win.
One good approach at the plate turns into good at-bats for everyone. This happens frequently infrequently for the Astros.
They win a lot of games when they have that 1 or 2 innings where everyone takes a thoroughly good approach.
Nobody pulling the ball, trying to hard.
The 'Stache pulls ROY O after 6 strong innings. In fact, Roy owned the Reds after the 1st inning today. AND he OWNS the Reds in his Career (16-1, now 17-1).
Just 6 IP when the bullpen is shaky?? Let him finish it, 'Stache. What's to lose?

Las notas del juego del beisbol
N) THE LINEUP - Willy T leading off, with Chris Burke 2nd again. I like the look and speed. But why Ensberg 4th? Luke Scott gets the day off, but when he's back in there, how about hitting him 3rd with the same 1-2, and Lance 4th.
Willy T now has the Astros club record for hit streak at 26.

N) Lance for MVP fizzles because the Astros have popped. The urgency and pressure on Lance to go 3-for-4, 2B, HR, 6 RBI Every Game for the Astros to win has led to a lot of poor at-bats for Lance. We still love ya fats.

T1)Burke rips one to leftfield and hustles his ass right out of the box to get a double on his legs as Adam Dunn routinely plays the ball.
Love the agression and passion.

B1) THE REDS - Phillips the speedster leads off, with Scott Hatteburg hitting 2nd.
This works very well because Phillips has speed, and Hatteburg has a high OBP% and rarely strikes out.
Sound strategy. Griffey with a hit, 2-0 Reds.

T4) Ensberg appears to have Zero Pop right now. A fat pitch right down the middle, he sizes it up, studies it, considers swinging, and then swings weakly and flies out to left.
N) Healthy/Post-Brain Fart Ensberg would have socked that into the seats.
(And Healthy/Post-Brain Diarrhea Brad Lidge would stop talking, thinking, and just nail these games down) What happened to that Houston Clubhouse?

B4) ROY (Young, someday) starts shaky the first 3 batters.
Instantly his veins strengthened as his stare turned into a very ticked-off look of determination. Since the 3 hits, 2 runs 1st inning, Roy has allowed 2 singles and whiffed 6 of the past 9 hitters.

T5) Adam Everett made sweet eye-lovin to the seams of the baseball and walloped a legit homerun. 2-1 Reds.
Willy T extends the inning and his hit sreak (26 games, club record) with a bunt hit.
1st and 3rd, one out. Burke pops up. Overtrying a bit, but he and Willy T have energy together. This is good.
*N) Remember, this is Adam Everett's 2nd FULL season in the Majors. Really.

T7) Chris Burke, RBI single! He chops a bleeder (if that is possible) through the left side.
Doug Mansolino sends Brad Ausmus from 2nd, and Ausmus is rounding 3rd as Dunn picks up the ball in LF. Dunn overthrows it, Ausmus scores to tie it.
Bags full after the IBB to Lance.
Morgan (0-7, 2K with bags full '06) takes 2 pitches that look like strikes, and Wally Bell calls both of them balls. Todd Coffey disagrees with Mr. Bell, who in turn does not particularly enjoy Mr. Coffey's objections, and gives Coffey the Heave-Ho!
Showers Away!
N)Has Ensberg always given 10 little check swing warm-ups before the pitch?
Is he going a little schizo right now? Chill Morgan.
Of course Morgan walks. RBI walk nonetheless. Ensberg now has 86 Walks.
86 BB is staggering for a man hitting in the .230's. And he missed time this season.
He is 4th in the NL in BB! Shocking. If he gets that swing straightened out, oh boy!

Huff opposite field RBI! Lane up the middle RBI! Everett through the gap in RF!
6 runs. Looks like fun!
Like South Park, maybe if they don't try to win, they'll win.

B7) THE BULLPEN:
1) Russ Springer. Gives up 2B, RBI 1B first 2 hitters. Recovers with two grounders and escapes the inning.

B8) Trever Miller.
2) Two quick outs. Hits Encarnacion on a 1-2 count. Weak grounder to the mound from Dunn, easy inning. Since Miller adapted a 3/4 drop-down arm angle, he has become a much better pitcher. Once a strict lefty-lefty guy who couldn't be counted on for a whole lot, Miller now gets lefties off-balance, and swoops in to righties.

T9) Huff pegged in the ribs. Delicious ribs. Jason Lane does not make the Reds pay and whiffs, looking. The Beast, Adam Everett, goes oppo for a single again.
Up the middle, opposite field, only leads to good things.

B9) Wheeler.
3) Wheels looks a little Lidgeish today. Double. BB. He calms down though and gets out of it, Astros win!
That's better than yesterday! Pirates Tomorrow!

Astros Don't Play Tuesday

2006-08-22T22:47:00.000-05:00

The Astros lost. Horribly. It seems a baseball game was scheduled for the day, but the Astros just didn't play.
The call for Hirsh has gone bad. TOD: 7:53 p.m. central.
I cannot be disapointed or heartbroken, the Houston Astros have given me more than I ever expected the past 2 years.
Without a chance at that FIRST World Series one more year, here goes something else.....

On July 12th, this happened:
Tampa Bay Devil Rays trade OF/3B Aubrey Huff to the
Houston Astros for AA SS Ben Zobrist.

As of Aug. 22, here are the 2 teams records:
Tampa Bay 51-75
Houston 59-67

Each team' record after trade:
Tampa Bay 12-25
Houston 16-20

Congrats to Willy T on his 25-game hit streak. Bunts count, dammit.
Maybe he can hit in every single game. He has that speed.
Someone send Willy T to train with Ricky Henderson this winter.
I want 100 steals!
aaaaand a World Series.

reds game 1

2006-08-21T18:06:00.000-05:00

PRE-GAME NL WILD CARD UPDATE:

¡SEVEN! teams are still within 5 games of the Reds (Giants, Rockies, Astros and Brewers all tied at 5 games back). This chart was accurate before today's games.

I've got bad news, folks. Against the Reds this year, the Astros are 2-7. But we're all hoping that another new-blood transfusion, in the form of JR House, can keep the offense swinging. Yes, there's a new backup catcher in town, boys and girls. House got called up from Round Rock, and down goes Munson. This year House batted a combined .343, 13 HR, 95 RBI in 120 games at Corpus Christi and Round Rock. Ausmus is still starting tonight, but maybe we'll get to see him hit at least.

In the first, Willy T bunted his way on to extend his streak another game, but he got thrown out at 2nd trying to steal. Good to see some agressiveness, but didn't work out this time. Berkman homers to left. TV said that he's hit more home runs at the Great American Ballpark than any other visiting player. GO LANCE. Arroyo follows by striking out Luke Scott and allowing another dinger, this time by Aubrey Huff.

Bottom of the 2nd, Pettitte loads the bases, but strikes out Bronson & Freel to get out unscathed. Still 2-0 Astros. Pettitte loads the bases again in the 3rd, and strikes his way out of it again. Boy, he's not making this easy for himself. 77 pitches already through 3 innings. Maybe Andy should read up on effectivness & efficiency. He finished with 118 pitches in 5.1 innings. A LOT better in his last few innings.

Aubrey hit another HR in the 7th. Three runs, three dingers.

One dinger by the Reds, and the game is tied at 3. Rich Aurilia hit triple-scoop dinger in the 8th off Qualls. Then Phillips scores on a ground ball off a diving Everett's glove. Reds lead 4-3. Ah, yes! It's about time a reliever other than Lidge let us down.

With Everyday Eddie on the DL, Scott Schoeneweis came in as the closer du jour for the Reds. He gets through Lamb, Berkman and Scott. and the Astros fall to 6 games back of the Wild Card now. Not the way they need to be moving....

rockstar

2006-08-21T17:49:00.000-05:00

BUY IT HERE!

I know it's OK, but is it really?

2006-08-20T16:44:00.000-05:00

Just got back from the noon show of Snakes on a Fuckin' Plane at Alamo. It was pretty great. Exactly what you'd expect. Snakes killing people, people killing snakes, Samuel Jackson swearing, Keenan and more movie stereotypes than you can shake your tail at.

What's even better? I come home to an early Astros lead. And Clemens is pitching. 3-1 Astros. Corey Hart hit a HR off Clemens in the 3rd. The Astros runs came on a bases loaded walk to Jason Lane that scored Willy T, and a 2 RBI double from the offensive juggernaut known as Adam Everett. The Brews are wearing their throwback uniforms with the classic 'mit' logo.

Biggio's got the day off while Burke starts at 2nd base, and 2nd in the lineup. Morgan started at 3rd and went 0 for 3 with 1 BB, 1 K. He didn't leave anyone on base this time though.

So, I missed the exciting parts of this game. Clemens allowed only the HR and struck out 7 in 7 innings. No runs for either team after the 3rd inning. Clemens doesn't qualify to be a leader in ERA yet (ERA Leaders: Minimum 123 innings pitched, he's got 73.1). But if he did, he would be leading all of baseball. His 2.58 mark beats NL leader Josh Johnson's 2.84 and Johan Santana's 3.10.

But I must mention the most interesting of times ever in any Astros game this season. Bottom of the 9th when the Astros lead by a few runs. They showed a shot on TV before the 9th of Lidge seated while Borkowski and Wheeler were warming up directly behind him. It's got to be weird for Lidge to be used to a certain role and kicking ass at it, then to be removed from that role because of his recent shaky performance. I hope he gets things figured out and can return to that same kickass level sometime again with Houston or not. He's been one of the best closers in baseball the past couple of years and it would be sweet to see him doing that again. Wheeler got the call and gave up a leadoff double to Bill Hall, but ended the game and got the save.

Clemens moves to 5-4, and the Astros split the series with the Brews. Astros are still tied with the Brews at 5 games back of the Wild Card. Neither team picked up any ground. And to let you know how the season is going, the Astros are only half a game ahead of the lowly Atlanta Braves.

Almost done, but I've also got some Jason Lane trivia for ya. His highest batting average of the season is .233, which he had back on April 26th. It has mostly fluctuated between the .220s and the .190s all season, mostly. But I'd still rather have Lane get the occasional start over Preston K Wilson. I'd rather have an excess of walks over strike outs every time. Lane's OBP is still about 20 points higher than Preston. But that average, Jason, is just so bad.

Did you forget that Willy Ts hitting streak is still going? It was extended to 23 games today with a single in the first inning. And one last thing I didn't see until I checked my fantasy league is Lance Berkman stole a base in the 1st inning. It's his 2nd of the season and 46th of his career. The Astros travel to the Wild Card leading Cincinnati Reds next.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Monday: Pettitte (11-13, 4.65, 143, 55) vs. Bronson Arroyo (10-8, 3.45, 138, 41)
Tuesday: Hirsh (1-1, 6.75, 9, 6) vs. Kyle Loshe (2-5, 5.96, 68, 27)
Wednesday: Roy Oswalt (9-8, 3.24, 113, 29) vs. Chris Michalak (1-1, 5.91, 2,4)

It Is OK

2006-08-19T02:23:00.000-05:00

Buried benath frustrated bats also burrows Brandon Backe.
Backe understands pitching. It's obvious to me. Particularly for a starting pitcher somewhat recently converted from an outfielder.
And definitely to mention a pitcher considered "could be out for the season" after an early injury.
His return excited me, and that feeling has been exceeded.

*UPDATE* OF course I mention Backe standing out, and he goes on the 15-day DL.
Goddammit.

There are gems waiting to be polished off, their force seen and felt.
Rising to the top if it all comes these 3 pearls.
NL MVP Lance Berkman. NL CY YOUNG R-O-Y Oswalt. NL ROY Luke Scott***.
***He is NOT Elgible. Though he should be, stupid Sept. Call up.
See successive post below***

Those 3 are not impossibilites really.
Teams have won 22 of 30 games before. 28 of 30. These are not impossibilites. yet.
The time away while healing instead of surgery (LOVE That Move) has clearly effected Backe and altered his approach during a start.
Now he's crafting up pretty good starts along with expected post-injury control problems. He has less stuff, like a decent and consistent mid 90s fastball he once had during two close to, if not better than quality seasons ('04 and '05) that exploded into fantastic postseasons both years, pitching in 2 NLDS, 2 NLCS, and one World Series in which I seemed incapable of moving further tha 10 inches from my TV.

We will not mentioned negative things about the World Series. We will not...

Despite it all, I still bee-lieve. By the way, the buzzing bees at the bix box o' juice are annoying. Please, find another sound of bees or music unique to the Astros that does the two things it should be doing:
pumping up the team/crowd while affecting the opposing team in a negative way.

Come on guys, you are so friggin' close. It is there.
It is OK.

ROY (That's Rook, MVP, and R-O-Y)

2006-08-19T01:13:00.000-05:00

I am in the future today.

Lance Berkman is the first Astros player to win NL MVP since Jeff Bagwell in 1994.
R-O-Y grabs the C-Y Young as he finishes 18-8 with a 2.78 ERA and 190 K's as he ups his K/9 rate back towards his 2004 mark 7.82.
The award for National League Rookie Of the Year goes to Luke Scott. If he hadn't been on the roster an excess of 15 games in 2005 to qualify now.

The first two are very possible, well, as long as the Bla'Stros bats return. I saw them play. Really. A few weeks ago. Honest.

Lance carries the Astros into the playoffs. Literally.
Aubrey Huff hurts something sometime in mid-September and Lance literally carries Huff home and dumps him on home plate, then touches home himself. Game-winning, season turning 2-run double from Chris Burke, batting 7th in a now very long and strong blastros offense. Oh yes.

Luke Scott blasts beyond torrid batting in the 2-hole, his rightful spot as a locked-in, sweet-swinging, on base machine as he and Willy T (good friends from AA) lift each other to 3-for-5's, 4 or 5 R/G all September long if they hit 1-2.
Run Willy T! Swing Luke Scott! Blast Lance Berkman!
Scott has a mere 11 runs. He has been on base 54 times.
FIFTY FOUR TIMES IN 112 plate appearances. Only scoring 20% of the time for a man doing that much damage does not bode well.
His OBP and OPS is being wasted with the bottom of the order behind him. They are good hitters, but instilling fear immediately.
Hit Scott 2nd and let Lance knock him in. Runs.
***Hitters are considered rookies if they had less than 130 at-bats in any previous season. Also, if any player spent more than 45 days on a team's active roster, he cannot be considered a rookie.

Luke had 80 AB's in 34 games in 2005, what seemed his rookie year. So far as I can tell he is a rookie in 2006. But he was on the roster at least 59 days in 2005 that I can count. Roughly 27 in April/May, about 30 in September/October.
Last year Ryan Howard won ROY in only 88 games and 312 AB's.
This year Luke has 100 AB in 30 games, with a killer and unique stat line.

HOWARD-: .288-.356-.567. 22 HR. 63 RBI. 177 Total Bases. 52 Runs. 90 H. 33 BB.
SCOTT--: .430-.491-.690. 3 HR. 14 RBI. 66 Total Bases. 12 Runs. 43 H. 11 BB.
Projected 2006 Luke Scott stat line from ESPN and my guess at BB and TB:
233 AB. 70 G. 7 Hr. 33 RBI. 28 R. 100 H. 30 BB. 156 TB.
In the 2-hole in front of Lance he will see pitch after pitch to crush, leading to what I believe could be a 2006 stat line like this:
.412-.488-.730. 12 HR. 41 RBI. 49 Runs.

It is a shameful fact that he's only scored 11 runs this season.
The Astros have exactly 40 games left at 58-64 (122 total games). Figure 4 avg AB/G for a good offense and he could get 160 more AB putting him at roughly 255.
Even if he cools and hits .370, he could do a lot of damage if Starting Pitchers had to face Luke Scott and Lance Berkman every single first inning. And that rotation?

Seriously, imagine the prospect of facing the Astros on Sept. 2.

Sept. 2: Roy Oswalt is facing the New York Mets at the big box o' juice in Top 1.
Two strikeouts, 1-2-3 inning.
Leading off the BTM 1: Willy T. Luke Scott. Lance Berkman.
Willy T singles. Steals. Luke Scott RBI double. Lance 2-run HR.
3-0 Astros.
Sept. 3: Andy Pettitte. Willy T. Luke Scott. Lance Berkman. Another Win.
Sept. 4: Roger Clemens. Willy T. Luke Scott. Lance Berkman. Mike Lamb. Aubrey Huff. Craig Biggio. Adam Everett. Brad Ausmus. (And Chris Burke at SS/2B/RF/3B).
It's not a demoiton Bidge. We need your experience in the 6 hole. Sweep.
Aren't you concerned about that start of that Astros lineup if you are Tom Glavine? John Maine? El Duque? Steve Trachsel?
YES.
Start strong with the the 3 best chances of geting a rally started in the 1st inning. Pro-Active.

A postseason berth on the strenght of Luke and Lance (are their L sounds we can use?) produces a season beyond expectations. Again.
Lance Berman MVP. Luke Scott ROY. ROY Oswalt Cy-Young.
2006 World Series Champion Houston Astros.
As Herm Edwards once said,
"You play to win the game."

This team is built with winners.
Bring home a ton of hardware.
It is there for the taking.

PRESTON'S NEW COLORS

2006-08-18T15:16:00.000-05:00

After Preston K Wilson IV was unconditionally released by the Astros, he was picked up by the division-leading St Louis Cardinals. And he got the start for them in right field today against the Cubs. As I write this, the Cards are winning 6-3 and Preston homered in the 6th inning AND stole a base. No Ks yet. All in all, a pretty good start for his new team.
Good luck Preston, I hope you're capable of single-handedly crushing the Cards' offense with all your Ks. That's all for now.

Hirsh TaKe Two

2006-08-17T21:59:00.000-05:00

I was all set to see (Muthafukin') Snakes on a (Muthafukin') Plan e this evening but it was sold out. I'm not surprised. But Plan B for the night is to watch Hirsh's 2nd major league start against the Brewers. Munson is catching him tonight, Ausmus did last Saturday. Think it'll make any difference?

Top 1st -- Nothing to see here. Willy walked to open the game, but Biggio popped out and Willy was picked off at first. Lamb ended the inning with a fly ball.

Bottom 1st -- Corey Hart hit a leadoff HR. Graffanino smacked a fast ball to left center (almost to the warning track on another fastball), Hirsh is challenging hitters with fastballs and paying for it. Plunk-ola on Prince, walk-ola to Gross, but Hirsh got Bill Hall to fly out and struck out Jenkins. 1-0 Brews.

Top 2 -- Berkman walks. Luke Scott ripped a pitch to the corner in RF for a double. Berkman to 3rd. Huff popped up, but it was deep enough for Berkman to score on the sacrifice. They just broke a streak of 22 scoreless innings.

Bottom 2 -- Hirsh cruises, 1-2-3.

Top 3 -- C'mon offense. Willy T stole 2nd, which'll make up for him getting picked off. But no one drives him in. Still 1-1.

Bottom 3 -- Hirsh cruises, 1-2-3, again! Striking out Hart, who hit the HR earlier.

Top 4 -- Berkman & Scott both K. Then Huff dingers to deep center. 2-1 Astros. Everett beat out the throw for an infield single. Well at least we can see that they're trying. Without Preston and Morgan in the lineup the team looks and acts totally different. A question I've not asked or heard asked yet though is, Can Chris Burke play 3rd? I don't recall anyone talking about him playing there because Morgan had 36 HR and 101 RBI last year. 3rd base wasn't really up for grabs. According to what I found at ESPN.com, he's not played a single game at 3B in the majors. I did not find a similar chart for his time in the minors or college, but I didn't really look for one. Maybe we'll get to see him try.

Bottom 4 -- Hirsh struggled a little. A walk, a wild pitch, and a single by Bell to score Gross, but Hirsh Ks Miller to end it. I don't know if Hirsh knows it, but he's putting intense pressure on the Astros offense. They've already got 2 runs for you, Jason. That's alot for the Astros. You've got to be real careful.

Top 5 -- Well, well. Just when you start to constantly and publicly doubt them, they score another couple runs. Willy T singled and Biggio was plunked (for the 281st time in his career), before Lamb singles in Willy. Sweet Lord he's fast!! Luke Scott TRIPLES to right to score Biggio & Lamb. 5-2 Astros!!

Bottom 5 -- Hirsh cruises through 1-2-3, again! AGAIN!

Top 6 -- Nothing special. Muson singled, but no runs.

Bottom 6 -- Hirsh started losing it. Prince ground-rule doubled and Hirsh walked Bill Hall. Hickey comes to the mound and Qualls starts warming up. Jenkins works the count full, and walks to load the bases. Hickey makes the call to the bullpen, and Hirsh is yanked. Bases loaded, 1 out for Qualls. It's Qualls' birthday today, Happy Birthday Chad! This situation is not quite the present he had in mind. Man, I hate working on my birthday, and apparently Chad doesn't like it much either. He walks in a run, 5-3. Everett makes another sweet double play to end the threat. Damn good thing. That was about to get out of hand.

****

Time for me to take a little break from baseball. The season finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is starting. It's a pretty good show that's totally grown on me. Check out some older episodes, if you're into that whole BitTorrent thing.

****

While I was gone, Berkman hit a 2-run bomb and the bullpen held up. 7-3 Astros.

Top 9 -- Derrick Turnbow comes in to pitch, and the Astros go down 1-2-3.

Bottom 9 -- Wheeler comes in for the save, and gets it. Game Over. ASTROS WIN!!! Hirsh gets his first career win.

The game finished just in time for the Daily Show & Colbert Report. Ah, yes. The best hour on TV.

MARK IT ZERO!!

2006-08-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

Who knew Walter Sobchak was forcing the Astros into shutouts? Gunplay is no joke, in a bowling alley or a major league baseball park. Zero is the amount of runs they like to score, and the % chance they have left after blowing a series to the F-ing Cubbies.

That was a terrible series, maybe season-crushingly terrible. The Astros have to consider every game from here on out as a must-win. They lost 5 games in a row after winning 4 in a row. They currently sit 6.5 games back of the NL Central lead and 5 games back of the Wild Card, even with the BrewCrew and the Giants. They're starting to fall into a group of teams that no one expects to make it to the postseason. And with the way that the Phillies and Reds are playing, I can't be the only one losing hope.

In fact, Houston Chronicle writer, John P Lopez mentioned our blog yesterday as part of the growing frustration amongst Astros fandom. The point that we would like to make is that the truth is not negative or positive, but merely the truth. The comments of the fans simply reflect the negative season that the team is having.

Next up is a 4-spot at the Brewers of Milwaukee. It's now do or die, now or never...

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Thursday: Hirsh (0-1, 9.00, 4, 2) vs. Ben Sheets (3-4, 4.98, 52, 4)
Friday: Backe (3-2, 3.93, 17, 16) vs. Tomo Ohka (3-3, 4.30, 38, 26)
Saturday: Roy-O (9-8, 3.24, 113, 29) vs. Dave Bush (8-9, 4.69, 125, 33)
Sunday: Roger (4-4, 2.71, 55, 15) vs. Doug Davis (9-6, 4.97, 115, 79)

Whoever wins this series will be that much closer to the Wild Card. And the fact that the Brews traded away their best hitter, Carlos Lee, and are still in the same position as the Astros speaks volumes. Fuck it, Dude! Let's go bowling...

6 (FEET) Under .500

2006-08-16T15:36:00.000-05:00

Andy Pettitte - 9 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB

Ryan O'Malley - 8 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 6 BB....SIX WALKS

Who should have won this game, and who did?

(SILENCE....SILENCE...DIAL TONE....Dead)

Letdown Lidge Strikes Again!

2006-08-16T00:49:00.000-05:00

Though the Astros mustered 6 runs in the first 9 innings, the second nine innings looked more like a Clemens start. 0 runs.

'Stros Lose! 8-6! To the Pathetic Cubs.

Dave Borkowski will get the 'L' in this game, but forever in my mind Brad Lidge gets the loss for this stinker of a ballgame.
Lights Out can NO LONGER be his nickname. This man should not close even 1 more game for the Astros in 2006. It has been 4 months of mediocrity and disapointment. It's not June. There is no longer time to let him sort things out. No more Lidge in the 9th inning for the Love of My Gut! Save the 'Stros fans!! Wheeler, Nieve, Qualls, Hirsh, I DON'T CARE, just someone else. Thank you Brad Lidge for making a 9 inning win an 18 inning loss.
LIDGE THIS IS YOUR FAULT, AND I HOPE YOU KNOW THIS.
If I knew you, I'd say it right to your face. Same with Morgan Ensberg. They look the same during their respective approaches, and whiny "How did that happen? I tried so hard!" faces. Cheeses Christ!!!!

I am too tired from watching two full games to really write tonight, so I will publish my drafted musings from innings 1-9, um, right about, now.
By the way, Astros-Cubs in 12 hours from now.

Can I BEAR to watch?? Wow, the Astros swept the PIRATES. I bet you $10,000,000 Roger Clemens wishes he were a member of the Red Sox or Yankees right now.
The last finality, Chris Burke reaches base FOUR TIMES in extra innings.
TO LEAD OFF THE INNING!!!
When you wish upon a star.........
Where's that damned tombstone? RUN IT!

AND here it is, the very, very rough writings of myself while I was editing and doing layouts at work. Oh So Fun To Write About a LOSS!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------
TOP 9 : GODDAMMIT BRAD LIDGE!!! Wheeler was throwing fine, why take him out?? STOP PUTTING IN LIDGE!!!!!!!!! JUST STOP IT!

BTM 6 : HOWDYA LIKE THAT SHEEET!!!! Clemens emotes in the dugout, throwing glove and many other things, making a scene with a tirade in the dugout and Astros down 5-2, screaming as he heads down the tunnel, letting those Astros know he is fugging sick of the bullshit and they better get him a 'W'.
The Response: Orlando Palmiero, 2 RBI Double!!! CLUTCH CITY!!! He rips a liner down 1B, and he rounds second and heads for 3rd with ausmus racing for home. this is a very very smart move, as the ball is forced to be cutoff and palmiero caught in rundown for 3rd out, but Hausmuss scores for a 6-5 lead!!! There that spunk and spirit and grit and fight!!! ADAM BEAST EVERETT WITH A HUUUUUUGE TRIPLE!!! 2 men on, 2 outs, he rips a hanger off the wall in left. It's a literal 6 inches from a game-tying 3 run shot. Luckily Pagan falls down allowing both runs to cross the plate and giving Everett third base.. ya know what?? Everett has had better at bats than any of the aforementioned big 3 astros hitters right now. move him up!!

----Now we go in order starting from the first inning.

BTM 1: The Astros blunder away another chance to manufacture a run. What, do they think they're the Indians? White Sox? Willy T gets a leadoff single and does NOT attempt to steal at all.
Then Biggio flies out to deep LCF, and Willy is not tagging up?!?!?!
Juan Pierre has a noodle arm!!!
The Astros need this run!!! It's Rocket on the mound!! One Run is importante!!
If Willy steals 2nd, then tags up and is on 3rd with ONE out, he scores on Lambs' groundout. Instead, he's on 2nd with two outs. yaaaay....
IF FAST GUY GETS ON, FAST GUY MUST STEAL, simple caveman logic.

Top 2: RONNY CEDENO (?!?!?) HRs off Roger. 2-0 on the POWER of Pierre and Cedeno?? Can we have them? The automatic 6 outs everydamntime is not doing good. We need a lineup of Willy T, Luke Scott, Lance Berkman, then just call the next 2 innings on outs. Repeat.
I have a great question of WHAT-IF??? Let's say the Astros had started Mateo tonight, and the Cubs had started Roger Clemens. Do you think Roger would have allowed 2 runs to the Astros? Similiarly, wouldn't the Cubs score more than fucking ZERO off NO CONTROL AND NO STUFF MATEO??? THIS IS PATHETIC!!!

The one stat to sum up the Astros offense: Sorry, it's not a number, but SUCK comes to mind.

BTM 4: Lamb leadoff single, Berkman walks, Luke Scott barely misses a 3-run shot or 2 run 2B.. Somehow speedy legschops Lamb can tag up and advance a base (TAKE A HINT WILLY!) HUFF comes through!!! Call the cops!!! A deeep 2B over Pierre's head to CF scores Lamb and Berkman, Huff thrown out going to third. a stupid move 'cos Berkman was scoring easily and now hes not on 2nd with one out, instead its none on and 2 outs, but then again, gotta like the aggression by Huff 'cos it looked like the throw was going through all the way! HUFF AFTER SCOTT!! YESSSS

TOP 5 : Um, Roger has nothing tonight.. 2outs, walk ANGEL PAGAN? ? To get to armpit Ramirez?? Single?? A Jacque Sucques Jones 3-run HR to dead Center!!! 5-2???
If that is in the air 1/2 second longer, Willy T catches it with ease. Goddamn Willy T is good. But mfuckaierteg!!! what the *&^% am i drinking????

BTM 5 : Clemens gets beaned! I am not sure, but that might be the first plunking of Rocket's career. When do the Rockets start playing anyway? Can Willy T Play point guard??
Lance almost goes yard, hitting it to the deep LCF corner where the crawcheapy seats are. Him and Scott need to recalibrate and send that 3 feet left. Willy T was there in time for Jones 3-R HR, but about 6 inches to the right of catching it. Dammit.

Top 7 : All i can think and scream is GET QUALLS OUT OF THERE!! He sucked last night, The 'Stache even said he hasn't had good stuff lately, and there is Nieve, Wheeler, and Lidge in pen ready for use!!! Wait, scratch that Lidge! USE NIEVE!!!
GET QUALLS OUT OF THERE! Well, Seems Qualls knew his hook was about to come, and he recovers to throw some dead nasty skank cutters and curves to get out of the inning, through the heart of the order! thas the way baby!!

BTM 8: Luke Scott with a bleeder up the middle. Does anyone look more locked in, taking great swings than Scott?? Then Huff with a slow roller that Mabry has to field and try to tag Huff, who slides to the outside of 1st and is safe, while Air Scott Eyre gets injured in the process. Adam Beast Everett is up now. The 'Stache tries for the squeeze, Dusted Manager Baked-er calls for the pitch out and Scott is hung out to dry at third in a rundown. Though the execution wasnt there, I loved this play, absolutely. And to top it off, Adam throws his bat at the pitch out to try and just foul it off.
Absolutely awesome Adam. Thank you sir.

For the rest of the game story, see above, or better yet, your porcelain device mostly located in the bathroom area, mostly.

OWNED

2006-08-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

Ladies & Gentlemen, Mr. Carlos Zambrano

He OWNS the Astros

Yes yes, our pinstriped heroes got shutout again by Z last night. Even after he gave up SEVEN walks and beaned the crap out of Aubrey Huff in the 3rd inning. The Astros stranded 9 runners and have an NL worst .258 team batting average. The main culprit last night was Morgan Ensberg.

1st AB - K to end the inning
2nd AB - K with the bases loaded to end the inning
3rd AB - Popped out to center to end the inning
4th AB - Fouled out with Huff on first

That's an 0fer4 with 2 Ks and 7 LOB. Beab's going to talk more about Morgan so I'll leave it alone for now. Suffice it to say, he's hurt or sucking again. or both?

Roy-O suffered another tough loss. 7 innings, 4 K, 2 earned runs, and another LOSS. Here's a nice, fun list of his good starts that haven't quite worked out in his favor.

May 13 - 7 IP, 4 K, 2 ER, loss (Astros lost 1-2)
May 24 - 7 IP, 7 K, 1 ER, no decision (lost 1-5)
May 29 - 6 IP, 5 K, 0 ER, no decision (lost 1-3)
June 25 - 7 IP, 7 K, 2 ER, no decision (won 10-9)
July 5 - 9 IP, 6 K, 1 ER, loss (lost 0-1)
July 13 - 6.1 IP, 4 K, 1 ER, no decision (won 5-1)

There were a few more where he gave up 3 or 4 runs, but the above list should suffice. He's been Hard-Luck Oswalt this year.

In good news, Willy T hit again to make his streak 17 games long. 2nd longest in club history. Luke Scott is hitting .429 since he was called up and he's still batting 6th. Move his ass up in the lineup.

Zambrano made the Astros his bitch, again. Plain and simple.

Boredom Killed!! Thanks, MLB.TV!

2006-08-14T11:22:00.000-05:00

It's been a slooooooooooow day at work, and that means I'm bored, and so to kill some time I'm going back through Hirsh's start on Saturday and watching the 4 innings when Hirsh pitched. This is something that MLB.TV does well. You can just click on a half inning and fast forward right to that part of the game.

Giles' single in the first was just out of the reach of Lance, almost an out. Hirsh looked good in the first inning otherwise. 2nd inning was more of the same. He walked Walker, but got out of the inning and struck out two, including Khalil Greene with a nice low slider.

The 3rd inning is where things started to go wrong. Peavy single, Dave Roberts bunted his way on with no outs. Hirsh ran the count to 2-1 on Cameron before he popped out to Everett. Giles walked, to get on base in his first 2 plate appearances. This loads the bases with no outs. Hirsh was able to get out of the jam tho. Piazza, after working the count full, fouling off a bunch of pitches, ripped a hard liner to 3rd that was snagged by Morgan. Adrian Gonzalez finished the inning by striking out.

Hirsh's momentum did not carry over to the 4th. Todd Walker took the first pitch fastball to the stands out in right. Barfield followed with another solo HR on the first pitch as well. Against Cameron, Hirsh walked up the count to 3-0, tried to pick off Dave Roberts at first a couple of times, gave Cameron a strike. Then Cameron rocked the next strike into the Crawford boxes. Hirsh gave up only 5 HR in 137 innings at Round Rock, but 3 that night. The command just wasn't there for him. But oh well. I managed to kill an hour or so, and still have nothing new to do. Good stuff!

Return of the Pecker

2006-08-13T15:48:00.000-05:00

Mr. Gregory Scott "Woody, the Pecker" Williams cruised to victory all over the Astro offense today. He scattered 8 hits over 7 innings and only gave up 2 runs. The Padre offense beat up on the Astros pitching as well. Padres win 7-2. Astros scored the first run in the 1st on a Huff sac fly, and the 2nd on a dinger by Everett in the 7th.

Mike Cameron went all crazy the last two games. A combined 6/10, with 6 RBI and 3 runs scored. Willy T got another hit. 16 in a row now. And he stole a base in the 3rd. The loss moves Brandon Backe to 3-2. Springer had a tough time in the 6th inning also, gave up 2 HR. And I really just had to put that suicidal Woody picture back up. But it was the Astros he was killing today, not himself like last time.

Not a solid day for our boys on either side of the ball, and they fall to 3 games under .500 and are now tied with the Colorado Rockies at 3.5 games behind the Wild Card. How come they're no better than the Rockies?

So, win 4 in a row, then lose 2 to the Padres, again. Next up are the Cubbies from Chicago....

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Mon: RoyO (9-7, 3.27, 109, 29) vs. Zambrano (12-5, 3.54, 162, 89)
Tues: Clemens (4-4, 2.24, 50, 14) vs. Juan Mateo (1-0, 2.57, 3, 5)
Wed: Pettitte (11-12, 4.86, 136, 54) vs. Rich Hill (2-5, 7.23, 29, 26)

Tomorrow's game should be a low scoring affair. For the Astros at least. Z has been murdering the Astros. In 3 starts this year, Z's got a 0.78 ERA. He has allowed 2 runs on 8 hits and struck out 23 (one per inning pitched).

PS. I'm working on a video post that'll feature a special Simpsons flavored clip. I didn't see it on YouTube, so I'm going to try some video editing and post it myself.

The Fall Line

2006-08-13T11:33:00.000-05:00

Praps Jason Hirsh was not ready fot The Show.

Maybe it was jitters, maybe the fact that he pitched 2 days earlier in AAA and had to drive himself from Austin to Houston (they don't have flights?).

Whatever it was, I put this one on the offense, namely, Craig Biggio, Adam Everett, and Brad Ausmus. When the score was still 0-0, a run or 2 for the Astros changes the completxity of the game, and give Hirsh a chance to relax, settle in and pitch with a lead instead of trying to be perfect and keep the Padres at 0.

In the second inning, Luke Scott led off with a double. Then an Adam Everett infield single has 1st and 3rd, NO OUTS. Promptly Everett is thrown out trying to steal 2nd and then Ausmus whiffs, a practical double play and rally killer.
My problem with this is two-fold. Why is Everett stealing in this scenario? Yes, Mike Piazza has a terrible time throwing out runners; however, if he is successful stealing, that leaves 1st base open to IBB Ausmus to face Hirsh for a chance at the force out at home plate double play. Stupid Move Adam. Not to mention he was gunned down and Ausmus whiffed on a pitch that was at least 6 inches off the place and barely at his shoe tops. AWESOME!

Later in the game, in the 7th, Jason Lane doubles (WOOHOO) and Willy T uses those wheels to get on 1st base after striking out on a HORRIBLE pitch (SEE Ausmus, Brad).
Now the Astros are cooking, with a chance for a BIG inning. 1st and 2nd, one out, Biggio at the plate with LANCE on deck.
Of course, Biggio hits into the Preston Wilson Special, an inning-ending, momentum murdering double play. Absolutely murderous.

The WORST thing Biggio could do there is ground into a double play.
HOF Biggio knows more about baseball than I ever will, and will always always have my respect. BUT, he has to know Peavy is going to give him a pitch to roll over and ground out. And he HAS to know LANCE is on deck, so he has to take pitches until one is up in the zone for a fly out, strike out, or base hit.
He had a walk in this game and scored on Lance's HR, but other than that, he seemed very, very anxious to swing at pitches. Anxious.
In the 1st inning, Willy T never got a chance to steal after a leadoff single to start the game. Before he could run, Biggio had swung at 2 balls WAY outside the zone, and it was 0-2, not a running count. Well, Willy T takes off anyway, and Biggio grounds out. C'mon Craig, we need some good at bats there!

Finally, onto Mr. Hirsh.
The first inning he looked really good. The second inning as well.
He had a 95 mph fastball, an 86-88 change-up that was biting down in the zone, and I heard Deshaies say he had a slider as well, but I only saw that thing maybe 4-5 times.
As far as I could tell, he shat his own pants on this night with a little too good of control at one point.
To start the third inning, he has Peavy down 2 strikes and just grooves a fastball right down the middle for a leadoff single to the PITCHER. Then Dave Roberts drag bunts for a single.
Hirsh piled up the pitches getting out of the inning, and looked to be tiring very fast. So the 4th comes around and none other than a Cubs Castoff (if they don't want you, eek) Todd Walker goes yard. Then Josh Barfield. Then Mike Cameron.
Hirsh has great control, but was pinpointing too much and not getting quick outs early on. So in the 4th when he tried to finally start getting quick outs, the Padres were sitting on fastball 'cos they just were not going to swing at the changeup anymore, and the slider was non existent.

Give him at least 2 more starts, 'Stache and Sittin' Tim, please.

Final notes, when does Luke Scott start hitting cleanup and Huff start hitting 6th?
Scott has been hitting above .400 for damn near 3 weeks now.
Lance has to play 1st base everyday, simply because it saves us the fear of him injured and he has made some damn fine plays with the leather over there, both on digs in the dirt, scoops on grounders, and two fine over the shoulder catches in foul territory.

LANCE FOR MVP!

PS - Saw the late showing of Little Miss Sunshine last night after Mike's call and rave review, and I too loved the movie. Just fantastic characters and acting all around, a well rounded script, and at least 15 times I personally and the whole theatre laughed out loud. And I mean loud.
As a whole, it felt real. Every moment.

A First for Hirsh

2006-08-13T00:12:00.000-05:00

Before I get started, I need to tell the 3 people that read this site, I saw the movie Little Miss Sunshine this afternoon and it was really great. Go see it!! Also, the song at the end of the trailer is "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens, from his album Illinoise. It took me a while to remember where I knew the song from, but man he's good. Singer/Songwriter from Detroit, with Badly Drawn Boy-type orchestrations and whatnot, but, like more banjo. If you haven't heard that album yet, go buy or download it, legally or illegally. I don't care, but it'll be worth it. I promise.

Ok, so I thought the game started at 7pm, and after the movie I went to dinner and then was driving home around 7.30. I coudn't find the game on the radio (Rangers game was on). So I called 'beab and he informed me that game started at 6pm, and that it was already the 5th inning and the Astros were losing 4-0. It was 5-0 by the time I got home. When I started to write this post, it's was 6-2, with the Astros only runs coming from a Lance Berkman HR. Surprise, surprise. They ended up scoring another run in the 8th when Luke Scott knocked in Morgan, but lost 6-3. Peavy struck out 9 in 7 innings.

Hirsh made his debut tonight, and looks to have pitched relatively well (4 K, 2 BB), except for the 4th inning, where he gave up 4 runs on 3 home runs. He finished off the 4th inning, but didn't come back for the 5th. 87 pitches to get 12 outs. I never actually got to see Hirsh pitch, so maybe jefe can give us his opinion...

In order to make room for Hirsh, they sent Preston Wilson packing. This is a great, simply beautimous move. Preston wasn't performing well enough, and ended up taking up playing time of younger, more capable players (Burke, Scott, Willy T). Everyone's got to be happy to see Taveras taking off and becoming a worthy leadoff hitter. He went 1-5 tonight (3 Ks!), but extended his streak to 15-games. He's hitting .373 since the streak started July 27th.

The Astros designated Preston for assignment and have 10 days to trade him, reassign him to the minors or release him. I'm interested to see what'll happen here. I bet he wouldn't take kindly to being back in the minors, so I don't think he'll be an Astro for much longer. He could be a decent addition for some other team in a playoff race looking to add a veteran as experienced in double plays and strike outs as he is in HR and RBI. Then again, if someone has to go on the DL in the middle of the wild card hunt, who would they bring up as a replacement? Bruntlett, Joe McEwing? They may want to keep him around.

Jason Lane, on the other hand, is assured to be in Houston for the remainder of the season. He was claimed by another team when the club attempted to pass him through waivers. They pulled him back off waivers, and now must keep him on the roster for the remainder of the season. On a total tangent, if you want a laugh, check out this musician from Little Rock named Jason Lane that I found on google while searching for pitcures. Click here for his MySpace page where you can listen to his electro-rock-pop-crap.

Other NL Central News...

Mark Prior joins Kerry Wood back on DL today. They must have alot of fun together there. Habeab told me something funny when I was in Chicago. The Cub's AA team doesn't give out Kerry Wood's number to anyone else. Not because he's been great there or something, but because he's back there so often.

Newbies of 2006

2006-08-12T12:30:00.000-05:00

With newbie Jason Hirsh debuting on the Juicy Big Box Mound tonight, some rookie reflecting comes my way.

Starting with the first week of the season and Taylor Buchholz, the 'Stros have actually attempted to utilize more newbies this year than it seems on the surface, though Luke Scott is the only hitter to see the big stage.

Praps praise should be heaped upon the organization, since I can clearly remember the lull between 1987 and 1994, and the uber-pangs of postseason losses to the Atlanta Braves (those cowards!).

High-five!

Here they are, the Rooks O' '06:

Scott ---- 75 AB, 10 R, 8 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 12 K, .413 AVG, .463 OBP, .667 SLG

Buccholz - 108.2 IP, 18 Starts, 6 W, 9 L, 102 H, 30 BB, 76 K, 5.96 ERA
Albers --- 10.1 IP, 1 Start, 0 W, 1 L, 11 H, 6 BB, 8 K, 4.35 ERA
Nieve ---- 79 IP, 11 Starts, 3 W, 3 L, 74 H, 24 BB, 56 K, 4.22 ERA
Sampson --- 15.1 IP, 1 Start, 1 W, 0 L, 16 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 3.52 ERA
Barzilla -- 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0.00 ERA

Obviously, Scott has benefitted from some time back in the minors. Hopefully Buccholz garners some consistency with some more maturation, 'cos he has filthy stuff at times. Same with Matt Albers, as I was wildly impressed with his curve and body motion to the plate when he was on.

The first step towards the playoffs starts tonight - reaching .500!
Who better to get the Astros there than phenom Jason Hirsh?

The Big Boppers ROY-N-ANDY

2006-08-11T21:43:00.000-05:00

Arm - Bat - Glove, Lance Berkman saves the day. Give him a save cos he sure as hell saved Lidge's ass in a 4-2 victory, making it 4 straight for the Bla'stros!

The battle is on for the Wild Card, but there is an inner duel going on consisting of Pettitte vs. Oswalt, showing those Astros hitters how to drive a ball!

The extra elbow skin lefty looked phenomenal, racking up 10 K's to with a stingy (not bee sting-y) 3 hits and 1 walk! The only reason Andy could not stay in the game after retiring 14 straight batters to finish up his 7 strong innings was a 110 pitch count.

Pettitte also tied this game up at 2 with a long blast to rightfield for his first major league homerun. Then Berkman put the finishing touches on with a solo shot from the right side and a 4-2 lead.

Pre-Electricity Lidge walked the lead-off man in the 9th, always a horrible sign, but recovered to strike out Mike Cameron for the first out. After an Ensberg error Fats Elvis makes a nice scoop on a ground ball, heaves it to Adam Everett who lunges a throw back to Berkman to narrowly get the double play! THAT's GAME BABY!

Howsabout Willy T? 14 game hit streak. Astros are within ONE of .500.
The 'Stache said he wants 90 wins out of the Astros, and I am 100% behind that, because if he expects more than seems possible perhaps the Astros can accomplish that feat for the third consecutive year.

Dan Wheeler has now thrown a shutout, over 9 innings straight without a run allowed.

The 'Stache seems to be making sure to establish his late inning relievers.
Using Wheels, Using Lidge everytime with 1,2, or 3 run lead.
Let them gain more and more confidence. Lidge has to stop walking guys eventually.

Three-Game Sweepz

2006-08-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

Neither of us had a chance to watch the Astros complete their sweep of the Pirates last night because of softball games. But it looks like Clemens pitched a solid 6 innings, giving up one run while walking 2 and striking out 5 (95 pitches). The offensive MVPs of the game are Morgan, with a 2-run HR, and Brad "Offensive Liability" Ausmus, 3/4 with 2 RBI.

This was the 3rd sweep by the Astros this season. They swept the Pirates back in April and the Cubs in June. While I was glancing through the schedule, I noticed they've been swept once more than when they did the sweeping (swept by the Rockies and Giants in May, Reds and Tigers in June).

The Astros aren't the only team that won 3 games in a row. My co-ed, beer league softball team swept our playoffs last night, winning 3 games in a row to take the championship. We're big time, baby! We started the first game at 6.30pm in about 105 degree heat, and finished the final game at 10.30pm to win our first championship. We lost last season in the final game, and were determined to win it this time. I went 3 for 3 with 3 RBI in the first game, but was Mr. Offensive Liaility myself after that (that's me at 1B). Next season starts in Sept and where we shall dominate and repeat as champs! YES!

Next up for Ze Astros is another series against the San Diego Padres...

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Friday: Chan Ho (7-6, 4.63, 90, 38) vs. Pettitte (10-12, 4.96, 126, 53)
Saturday: Jake Peavy (5-11, 4.69, 145, 42) vs. Jason Hirsh (MLB debut)
Sunday: Woody Williams (4-4, 3.89, 48, 23) vs. Backe (3-1, 3.69, 14, 14)

Our baseball-flavored prayers have been answered, and we'll get to see Jason Hirsh make his long-awaited MLB debut tomorrow night. The Padres lost their last 3 after being swept by the Mets, and have dropped out of the lead in the NL West. However, they are still ahead of the Astros in the Wild Card race by 2 games. The Astros currently stand 2.5 games back of the Reds, and are right in the thick of it again. Let's go get another sweep, and get atop that Wild Card leaderboard.

This Train Makes One Stop

2006-08-09T22:10:00.000-05:00

The Sluggin' Houston Astros ran the Union Station train 'til it couldn't go no more!

SIX homeruns by the 'Stros in a 14-1 walloping of the Pirates Wednesday night. Roy only had to go 6 innings, cruising easily and saving himself for some tougher nights to come.

The only stop The Conductor makes is at the end of the tracks, and before he can get back to the start, it's ding-dong going-gone time again! Consistency my friends, and I see absolutely no reason to play anyone other than the 8 men who took the field at the Juice Box. Sorry to Chris Burke and Mike Lamb, but we need ya'll too.

HOF Biggio goes for yet another solo shot to start the action in the first inning, and after a Berkman walk, Aubrey "All in One" Huff slams a oppo field 2-run shot for a 3-0 lead. Huff looks calm, steady at the plate, with very little head movement which is damn good for a player finding his groove. And he's using all fields.
(Umm, I apologize to partially Sittin' Tim Purpura)

Then none other than ROY "Young" Oswalt cranks a 2-run shot. 5-0.

After that the 'Stros bat around for 4 more runs.
Then it's Huff again with a laser beam to right. Slammin' it up into the stars for back-to-back jacks is Luke Scott-Walker. 10-0!

Capping off the train around the bases is none other than Jason Lane with a monster HR onto the tracks in left field. According to Jim Deshaies (love him), Lane and Burke worked for a long, long time before the game with new hitting coach Sean Berry on keeping their body still and letting their hands rip through the ball.
Well done! We need Lane to contribute down the stretch.

Maybe more importantly, three walks to Lance "Cycling to MVP" Berkman cost the Pirates as he scores all three times. Huff and Scott, though both lefties, definitely need to keep hitting 4-5 behind Berkman, with Morgan 6th, that really expands the lineup. Even better, Adam "Slick'n'Smooth" Everett rocks the ball to all fields, and gobbles up everything hit between the 2B bag and San Antonio in a solid, solid effort. His glove seems to have a calming effect on those pitchers.

THIS is the Astros squad all of Houston envisioned after that 19-9 start.
Once again, good at-bats from every single spot in the order, including a Brad Ausmus single to right field and up the middle.

I'm surfing on a rocket. Up next, The Rocket.
Third series in a row the 'Stros have a chance for the sweep. Let's Go 'Stros!
Toss the Pirates overboard into the Gulf. Special delicious Kudos to The 'Stache on his 900th win as a Major League manager. Way to go, Mr. Manager.

Here's to the 'Stache for sticking with Willy T, Luke Scott, and Huff as they found their respective grooves.
That flair and confidence is back.

Did I mention Aubrey Huff had 2 Homeruns? and 6 RBI's?

Post All-Star Break Post

2006-08-09T15:17:00.000-05:00

Lance Berkman - THE Houston Astros 2006 Offense.

It is exactly the time he gets some SERIOUS consideration for NL MVP.
Who else, besides Pujols, has carried a team like he has?

Time for some numbers fun,
'Stros fans and fanettes.
Here are the lines for the most prominent Astros hitters since the All-Star break:

AVG -- R ---HR--RBI--OBP--SLG

Willy T - .373 --- 13---1-- 8 --.419--.478
Biggio - .220 --- 12---7-- 8 --.247--.488
Berkman- .356 --- 12---6-- 18--.472--.729
Huff - .263 --- 9---2-- 7 --.366--.400
Ensberg - .269 --- 6---0-- 1 --.424--.346
Scott - .413 --- 8---2-- 9 --.464--.667
Everett - .256 --- 8---0-- 12--.318--.359
Ausmus - .182 --- 6---1-- 8 --.250--.258

Burke - .206 --- 7---1-- 2 --.292--.333
Preston - .194 --- 6---1-- 9 --.242--.306
Blamb - .250 --- 8---2-- 7 --.300--.375
Munson - .143 --- 2---0-- 1 --.217--.238

Though we here at AA have lobbied for less Huff, more Burke and Blamb, in actuality Huff deserves the playing time based on second half stats.
He walks more, hits more, and generally is producing about as much as an Astros hitter not named Lance Berkman.

The biggest shock for me is Adam Everett's 12 RBI's being second on the club and Biggio not really doing much of anything right now other than hitting solo homeruns. Which has been very helpful in some key wins.
Burke has seen the pine while adjusting, making it much harder to adjust. Mike BLamb might go back to Lamb without the Killer (Silent) B as he seems to have lost a little edge.
Based on OBP alone, I would like to see something with either Huff, Ensberg, or Luke Scott in that 2 hole like Lamb was for a while.
Then again, that disrupts the consistency the 'Stache and 'Stros have going right now.

However, that is not to say there aren't other options available not listed here.
Hunter Pence and J.R. House are very attractive minor league options.

The Astros were 43-46 at the break, and are 11-12 since the break.
All we can hope for is another dominant half by the Astros starters (Check so far) and for someone other than Berkman and Scott, and surprisingly Everett to step it up with the bat.

Astros are going to make the 2006 NL playoffs.

1down, Two 2go, and How About that Biggio?

2006-08-09T09:45:00.000-05:00

The Pirates were B'd to death last night. Brandon Backe pitched another great 7 innings (3 hits, 1 earned run, 2Ks and 4 BBs). Biggio scored 2 of the Astros 3 runs and knocked his 15th HR of the season off Maholm in the 3rd. Also, B-RAD Lidge struck out the side in the 9th for his 25th save. The fun stat for Lidge last night is he struck out 3 batters on 10 pitches. Only 1 ball. keep it up!

Yes, the Astros managed the win, even with Preston K Wilson IV starting in LF and batting 5th. To be fair, he only struck out once, but he's 6 Ks away from the century mark this season. Not what you want to see.

Tonight, Roy faces exiled Yank, Shawn Chacón, and can give the Pirates their 4th loss in a row. Roy looks to improve after giving up a season-high 12 hits in his last start in Arizona.

Our prayers to the baseball gods have been answered. Reports are out that the Astros will call up Jason Hirsh to start Saturday at home against San Diego. The team said it would make a corresponding roster move later this week. Good, good. Guess I know what I'm doing Saturday night. Yippie!

Pirates Preview

2006-08-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

The Astros took 2 outta 3 against the Dbacks, and went 4-2 on the road against the Padres and Dbacks. Today a 9-game homestand starts against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Tuesday -- B. Backe (2-1, 4.38, 12, 10) vs. P. Maholm (4-9, 4.83, 84, 58)
Wednesday -- R. Oswalt (8-7, 3.34, 103, 28) vs. S. Chacón (6-3, 6.62, 38, 40)
Thursday -- R. Clemens (3-4, 2.32, 45, 12) vs. T. Gorzelanny (2-2, 4.41, 24, 19)

If they can't sweep the Pirates, I swear... Backe, Roy and Roger = sweep, right? Astros are 30-26 at the Juice Box, while just 23-32 away from the friendly Crawford-strewn confines.

Backe was awesome last Wednesday going 7 and 2 thirds, allowing 1 earned run on 7 hits. They are a mere 3.5 games behind the Reds & Dodgers for the Wild Card lead. Things feel like they're starting to get a-rolling. Luke and Morgan are hitting, Willy T's running, Lance is bashing, and the pitchers are doing their thing. Who's got the Lidge antidote?

test video

2006-08-07T14:03:00.000-05:00

Not to be greedy...

2006-08-06T23:13:00.000-05:00

It is extremely hard to sweep a team, especially on the road. The brooms came out twice in the past week, officially a Good Sign for the 'Stros!

Yet, the Astros had the Padres in a spot to take the full 3 at Petco, and likewise had a good shot to take the broom to Arizona. But this familiar face was seen...

Down one run Sunday night, 4-3, Morgan Ensberg came up with a man at third and first.
The picture should be a clue how that turned out.

"I'll take it, but we had a chance to sweep this series and we had a chance to sweep the series in San Diego," Houston manager Phil "The 'Stache" Garner said, "and we've got to close the door."

The former series sweep try fell apart on the tail end of Matt Albers start.
The latter was mostly due to Morgan Ensberg's inability to drive in runs in scoring position and 2 outs. The 9th inning makes heroes and discards doubters.
Fact. Boy he tries hard, and seems to be so close to busting it every time.

"You have to learn how to die, if you want to be alive."

They settled for 2-of-3 in each series, making it a 4 wins, 2 losses road trip, which is quite damn good for the Astros. Praps they are inching closer....
At this point in the season, with all the teams in the mix, you'd like to see the Astros take all 6 games or even 5 wins. Like I said, not to be greedy, but it was right there in front of them.
Whichever team runs off huge bunches of wins, say 8 out of every 10, is going to take the Wild Card. And the Astros certainly have had that shot the past week, if not since the All-Star break.

C'mon, 'Stache, no Adam Everett in the 2-hole. That should've been Burke's spot tonight, or even Ensberg with his propencity to take walks. OBP at the top.

Then again, where is the dominant Andy Pettitte the 'Stros needed (and have needed)?
I still absolutely believe that he is healthy and at full strength, and after years of being injured, banged-up, etc., Pettitte is still adapting to pitching with a full arsenal.
After coming so close to Houston's very first World Series in 2004, then so close to the first World Championship in 2005, Astros fans are feeling like predators.
We've smelt the meat, now we really want to taste and devour it.
Which explains the growing rabid fanbase and the standards demanded by them.
I still say 'Stros get the WC over Cincinatti, and the NL West takes care of itself.

The Hidden 'Stache

2006-08-06T11:33:00.000-05:00

Jason Hirsh, August 12. Mark it Zero!

Though we do not consider ourselves journalists here at our program of blogging, a few journalistic traits have leaked into the blog - namely, my writing in a very critical and negative tone.

Truly, that does not reflect how I feel about the Astros or the way they run things, moreso it is reactive to the Astros doing something fundamentally wrong or sitting on their hands, which does not actually occur that frequently.

No more, that is for sure. It all starts with consistency, as Consistency Equals Confidence, stated in this space many, many times. Way to go, 'Stache. And I hope the Astros keep the 'Stache around for at least another decade. Set the tone.

We asked for Luke Scott to get more playing time. He has. As has Willy T, and with superb results from the both.

We asked for Preston "K" Wilson IV to no longer see the light of the lineup card, and that too has followed suit. Further, we cried out against Aubrey Huff receiving so many at-bats; however, the more he gets to settle in, the better he looks. Though I do not like him as a be all option, he has provided some stability and looks OK.

On a final note, Matt Albers has been sent down.

Jason Hirsh is all but guaranteed of getting that long awaited Major League Debut. Fernando Nieve has been brought up to pitch the 7th, 8th, or even 9th if he has to. Against the D-Backs, he was popping the mitt with relative ease and seems to be out to prove his doubters wrong. That's what I like to see from a youngster - determination.

The rotation is set until August 12, when a 5th starter is needed. Who else would it be but Hirsh? He is slated to pitch that same day at AAA.

And Apologies to a little Ensberg bashing when he had one bad day. It was only a reaction to his approach from the past when he would eye great pitches and then hack at horrible ones. He is still getting settled back in, and no doubt he should play every day.

Rogers got some run support

2006-08-05T22:44:00.000-05:00

The same exact lineup tonight. Consistency? wha? It paid off. Mr. Offensive Liability, Brad Ausmus, hit a grand slam in the 2nd to give Clemens the early lead. Luke Scott followed with a 2-run shot of his own in the 3rd. Huff hit the Astros 3rd HR, a solo shot the other way in the 5th to make it 7-1

Luke Scott hustles his balls off. one out in the 5th inning. he's at first, Morgan at third. Everett hits a grounder to 3rd and Chad Tracy throws home to catch Ensberg in a run down. Ensberg gets tagged out near third, and out of nowhere Luke Scott slides safely into 3rd. he made it from first to third! amazing and ballsy, but ausmus ground into a double play to end the inning. welcome to the everyday lineup Luke, I hope the 'Stache keeps you around. just don't slump. Burke and Preston K are waiting.

Eric Byrnes skied a homer off Clemens in the 5th. The Dbacks have more HR from the leadoff spot than cleanup. It was Byrnes' 17th. Makes is 7-2 Astros.

Willy T ground rule doubles, on a hit that would have easily been a triple. He's got a 9-game hitting streak going. Berkman plates WIlly T with a double and Huff scores Berkman with a single. 9-2. Offense is jumping all over the Dbacks pitchers. 9 runs and 11 hits through 6 innings.

Clemens gets through the 6th with little difficulty. Looking good. Luke Scott gets his 4th hit of the night, but no more runs in the 7th. OK, I'm going to go do something else for now and I'll update on the outcome later. I can't stand to watch the bullpen tonight, and maybe if I don't watch, they won't fuck anything up.

TWENTY EIGHT LEFT ON BASE

2006-08-05T01:23:00.000-05:00

WILL HE EVER RECOVER???

Oh the Joys of a 8-7 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Who, by the way, actually trust YOUNG ROOKIES to contribute and progress while they are still maturing. Shocking. Play youngins while they are young??

Somehow the 'Stros were able to win a game in which they left 28 runners on base.

And of course, after exactly one good sharp game, Brad Lidge reverts back to the man turned into a child by Pujols.

His ninth inning with a two run lead: Single, out, out, Walk, Walk, HOOK

Of course Wheeler comes in and promptly walks in a run to make it 8-7 before a strikeout and the save. How are the Astros even in a race right now? Oh that is right, the NL Sucks this year. They should have been buried two months ago, but somehow a team 5 games under .500 can still have a very legit shot at the postseason.
If the NL Were anything this year, Jason "Really I Love Being in AAA" Hirsh would already have a prominent spot in the rotation, Huff would NOT bat 4th, and Burke would play daily.

The worst thing about the game, Ensberg reverting back into p*ssy Ensberg and being afraid to just drive through a pitch with men on in scoring position.
Oh, he left 7 on base. And Adam "CHRIS" Everett left 8 on. Throw in Luke Scott's 4 and that 19 right there!!!
At least Willy T knows how to drive in a run. Did I just say that??

Two final points here.
The first, should The 'Stache be Saved or Shaved? He has done nothing to help the Astros win the past 2 games that anyone wearing polyester pants couldn't have done. I really want him to hang around, but at what point can he stop saying "Obviously we need to get guys in from third base" and start PLAYING guys who ARE getting guys in from third base??

The last, I just traded Brad Lidge to Mike in our fantasy league, and could not be happier. I still (GULP) have faith in Lidge, but I just Cannot take it anymore.

that's right kids, it's a link littered long-ass game log

2006-08-05T01:11:00.000-05:00

8.20pm - Yahoo Sports posts the lineup for the game:

W. Taveras cf
C. Biggio 2b
L. Berkman 1b
A. Huff rf
M. Ensberg 3b
L. Scott lf
A. Everett ss
B. Ausmus c
R. Oswalt p

Burke and Preston are the odd men out tonight. I don't really like seeing Huff in the cleanup spot. I'd like to see Berkman and Huff split up, since they're both batting lefty today. But we'll see how the 'Stache's plan works tonight.

8.40pm - Another HR for Biggio, his third in his last 3 at-bats.

9:02pm - Cue the sad-face picture of Oswalt. Roy gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in the first. 32 pitches.

9.14pm - Morgan leads off the 2nd with a single to center, but that was followed by a pop-out by Luke Scott and Everett. Then Ausmus walked. Roy's up with 2 outs, and a wild pitch advances the runners. Roy takes a pitch to right-center for a single that scores 2 runs to tie it up. I'm glad Berkman's back, but the bottom half of the lineup just stinks. Freakin' Roy has to knock in the runs? Really? Ausmus is batting .230 and Everett's at .241, oddly both are higher than resident cleanup hitter, Huff, who's at .227.

9.19pm - Morgan bare-hands a broken bat grounder at third to just barely get Byrnes out at first. Pretty play.

9.21pm - Chad Tracy hit his 2nd double in as many at-bats, just down the right field line. But Gonzo popped out to end the inning.

9.37pm - Batista walks the bases loaded in the 3rd, but Everett grounds out to the pitcher to ruin those chances.

9.48pm - Stephen Drew caps off a tough inning for Roy. Connor Jackson hit another leadoff double and scored on Drew's ground rule double. Dbacks take the lead back 4-3.

9.56pm - The Astros answer back quickly when Willy T singles in Ausmus, who walked.

9.58pm - Willy T gets caught stealing on a great throw by Estrada. Biggio pops out to end the inning. All tied up at 4.

10.12pm - Berkman leads off the 5th with a single. Ha, let's see how well he can run! Huff follows with a single.

10.17pm - After Morgan Ks, Batista walks Luke Scott again to load the bases for Everett again. Adam scores Lance with a sac fly to Byrnes in center.

10.20pm - Batista walks Ausmus, the 7th walk he's allowed, to load the bases again. This time Oswalt gets a shot with the bases juiced, and grounds out. Astros get the lead back with Everett's sac fly, 5-4.

10.41pm - Willy T stole 2nd and advanced to 3rd after an error by Drew, not catching Estrada's throw. Ballsy move by Willy, damn he's fast.

10.47pm - Bases loaded again, with 2 outs in the 6th. 9 walks so far by Arizona. Luke Scott strikes out. That's 5 chances with the bases loaded, and they've ended the inning with the bases loaded thrice, in the 3rd, 5th and 6th. Only 7 hits so far, but with 9 extra men on base, they've sure not managed to do much offensively.

10.56pm - Willy T throws Gonzo out at 2nd, when Luis tried to stretch his hit into a double. go Willy!

11.09pm - Estrada hits a 2-run dinger off Qualls into the pool, and the Dbacks take the lead back, 6-5.

11.19pm - Lance Berkman hit his 29th homer to tie the game, again, at 6. Welcome back. He's got 94 RBI.

11.41pm - Qualls walked DaVanon, and then Chad Tracy got his 4th hit of the night off Trevor Miller. 2 on, 1 out, Gonzo grounds into a double play to end the inning. Ausmus, P and Willy T due up in the 9th. Plenty of options on the bench tonight for pinch hitting (Burke, Lamb, Preston K still available). And wouldn't you sub Munson for Ausmus here?

11.46pm - No Munson, and Ausmus K's

11.48pm - Mike B-F-ing-LAMB rocked a Tony Pena fastball, Astros take the lead again, 7-6.

11.50pm - Well, how about that? Willy T goes yard for the first time this season to add another run, 8-6. 739 at bats between dingers. His last was June 10, 2005, off Blue Jays starter, Ted Lilly. Willy T gets the game ball today. He gunned down Gonzo at 2nd in the 6th. He went 3 fer 6 with 2 RBI and a stolen base. Oh yeah, and the HR too.

11.55pm - Lance walked. Then Huff hits a single that sends Berkman to third. Morgan flies out to end the inning.

MIDNITE - It's Lidge-time folks. Are you ready for this? Lidge gets ahead quickly 0-2 on Connor Jackson (who hit a go-ahead HR off Brad last Sunday), and gives up a single.

12.04am - Estrada flies out to Willy T for the first out.

12.07am - Lidge strikes out Shawn Green, which ties him with Takashi Saito of the Dodgers for strike outs by a reliever in the NL, with 71 Ks.

12.10am - Lidge has a full count on Orlando Hudson and walks him. 2 on, 2 out (22 pitches for Lidge) go-ahead run at the plate. It's Stephen Drew.

12.12am - Lidge works the count to 2-0, and gets a visit from Mr. Hickey. W heeler's warming up, and Lidge delivers another ball to Drew. Anyone else starting to feel sick?

12.14am - Another walk loads the bases, back to back walks for Lidge. That's all for Brad, the 'Stache calls in Wheeler.

12.18am - Wheeler's stuck at 2-0 on DaVanon. Get's a fastball by for a strike. Outside for ball 3, 3 and 1. A foul ball brings us to a full count.

12.21am - Bottom of the 9th, down by 2 runs, bases loaded, 2 outs. BALL F-ING FOUR. Wheeler walks in a run. 8-7. I don't want to watch the rest. Dammit all. Hickey hops back out to the mound as the Dbacks call in Carlos Quentin to bat for the pitchers spot. Tying run's at third, and there's 2 more behind him on base. Wheeler gets ahead of Quentin 0-2. Game ends with a foul-tip strike out and a save for Wheeler. Holy crap, what a game. Up and down and back and forth all game. But the Astros get the win nonetheless.

Tomorrow is Clemens vs Dustin Nippert. I'm done

ROY-al w/ cheese

2006-08-04T18:38:00.000-05:00

Call up Hirsh (Day 3)

Roy's got the start tonight against Miguel Bautista in Arizona. Oswalt has got the win in his last 2 starts, and the Astros look to score enough runs to keep that streak alive. According to reports before the game, Lance Berkman is back in the line up at first tonight. This begs the question, who's out? Seems to come down to Burke, Huff, Scott or Preston in those 2 corner outfield spots. I vote Burke and Scott. We'll see which way the 'Stache blows tonight.

The Matt Albers Debut

2006-08-03T14:45:00.000-05:00

**Matt Albers first start ever. The nerves are sure to be there, and here come notes as I watch (thanks to D-H-Mike).
I dig the hair. Willy T's legs once again led to a run, and after mildly cruising for a bit Albers is done with this stat line:
5 IP, 8 H (!), 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 88 pitches.

-Very strange lineup look today, but i really like the looks of it actually.
Somewhat like the jerseys, very bad at first sight, then you start to think "hey, i like the succinct standout orange look."
It is not like any other team, unlike the present day jerseys and hats which look like the yankees, and just about 15 other teams out there.
pinstripes, navy blue, occasional red.
Who are we, the cardinals??
FIRST INNING--Huff went oppo for a single in first, very nice looking swing and approach.
--Ensberg looks good, I really like that he took time to heal this time and is doing a lot of warm up and stretching before each game. He had another solid at bat, waiting for his pitch, driving foul balls, talking a BB.
optimize those muscles and ligaments morgan.
--Clay Hensley just struck out Luke Scott with 2 on with a huge biting curve. His command kinda sucks, but boy that curve looks dangerous.
--Bad start so far for Albers. The jitters are very obvious, as he threw 4 straight balls to walk Speedy Dave Roberts. Every pich was in the same spot to the lefty, high and outside. Recovers with 2 strikes to Cameron, very nice.
Then Cameron singles. Two on, no outs.
--Albers whiffs Brian Giles after falling behind 3-1, way to go rook!
**Sinking action on Albers pitch makes Josh "I can't throw either" Bard ground right to Albers, who fields it nicely and starts the inning-ending Double Play! So far, so Good! BTM SECOND -- Albers whiffs Adrian Gonzalez with a high heater. Ends the inning with another strikeout. Those jitters sure left fast!
BTM THIRD -- Albers induces a pop-up from Cameron after Roberts hits a double. Albers seems cool and poised thus far, now the bats needa wake up!
Whoopdie doo!! I wrote a whole bunch about the past 3 innings, and stupid Internet Explorer crapped out and closed on me!

Anyway, the main point about the Astros Thursday night loss to the Padres was the moments to win were there, and the 'Stros did not step up. The 'Stache did nothing out of the ordinary that anyone in polyster pants could not do, and the 'Stros lose a game that is very winable, once again.

For some reason, the fact the Astros are in the wild card race is being painted as a positive by most in the organization, including the players.
The REAL fact is if the NL was not so udderly horrible this year, the Astros would've been buried 2 months ago, and Jason "No, really, I want to STAY in AAA" Hirsh would be a Major League Baseball player at this moment in time.

Albers buried himself tonight, but that is to be expected of a rookie.
Well, an Astros rookie. It seems the Dodgers, Cardinals, Reds, Brewers, Padres, Yankess, Red Sox, Athletics, Angels, Blue Jays, and the Florida Marlins have some Super Special Magical Ability to get something out of their young players while they are young. Shocking.
Feels like dragon weather, don't it?

Woody "The Pecker" Williams

2006-08-03T00:12:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, well 'beab already knows cause we're matched up head2head this week, but I picked up Woody Williams in one of my fantasy leagues yesterday for his start against the Astros. In honor of mlb.com radio's Fantasy 411 program, I've been trying the pitch and ditch idea. Finding a favorable matchup for some pitcher on waivers, picking him up when he's facing a bad offense, and then dropping him the next day. I got burned Tuesday with my choice of Claudio Vargas against the Cubs. 7 earned runs in 4 innings, including 3 dingers. Tonight was also not so good. Time to stop that.

Woody pitched great early, throwing 4 and 2/3 nil-hit innings. Until Ausmus reached first on Todd Walker's 2nd error of the game (so much for him adapting to third base). Backe singled to move Ausmus to 2nd, and Willy T singled to bring in Ausmus.

Things got worse for Woody. He walked Lamb (who stole 2nd) and Ensberg back-to-back. Luke Scott singled to load the bases. Preston K was next and no, he didn't strike out, but knocked in a run while performing his other offensive specialty, grounding into a double play. Preston is now tied for the lead in the NL in GIDP with 18. Miguel Tejada leads the AL with 23. Ok, so I'm glad they didn't get another double play machine in a deadline deal.

Biggio and Lamb hit back-to-back homers off Woody in the 7th to pile it on. Fine, dammit, I'm sorry I bet the offense would be crappy.

Random notes:

-Backe rolled through 11 straight batters at one point.
-Mike Piazza looks shitty this season behind the plate. Throwing out only 10% of the runners who test his arm. The Astros stole 3 bases off him tonight (Biggio, Lamb and Preston).
-Luke Scott hit his 7th double of the season in 47 at bats this season. He's got on base in all but 1 of the games he's started this year.

Another thing I've got to mention is yesterday Jefe traded me Lidge heads up for Dodgers closer Takashi Saito. He'd given up on him and I'll take the risk on Lidge. That's 2 'homer' trades for me in a row, but I'd rather not speak about the trade I sloppily made to get Berkman last week. It includes Pujols, Utley and much regret. oh well.

Astros win 7-1. They need to keep this whole 'winning' thing going. It'll be a hard road to get another one of these pennants everyone keeps talking about......

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From Baseball Prospectus' Weekly Hit List, where the Astros are ranked 23 out of 30;

"The Astros stand pat at the deadline, yet manage to anger ace Roy Oswalt due to rumors he'd been mentioned in trade talks with the Orioles. Oswalt wasn't the only 'Stro whose name served as grist for Will's Mill; Brad Lidge and Morgan Ensberg turned up in rumors as well. And Oswalt isn't the only one who's ticked (he's demanding a five-year contract in order not to explore free agency after 2007); Houston is miffed at Peter Angelos because they learned the O's were shopping Oswalt et al. to a third team. In any event, Houston, just 7-14 since July 4, finds its Postseason Odds fading fast; they're down to 3.0 percent, and they've been in single digits for all but seven days over the last two months. And they're still not scoring for Roger Clemens--just 26 runs in eight starts, including a familiar number against the Reds."
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P.S. ~ call up jason hirsh. i'm going to mention this everyday until it happens (day 2)

Let Them Keep Playing (Bag)Well

2006-08-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

None other than broad-shoulder-scruffy-hair Jeffrey Bagwell was in the Astros clubhouse at Petco Park in San Diego.

It is a shame he couldn't make one last go at it this season and had to head out of Houston.

Arguably, Bagwell is the best offensive player - if not best all around player - the Houston Astros ever employed for a good length of time. I for one believe Bagwell is the Astros and vice versa. Anyone who watches them on a semi-regular basis can see his imprints all over.

Is it coincidence he shows up and they win on Tuesday? Well, yes.
That is not the point.
Much has been made over Bagwell's reluctance to officially retire and free the Astros of his contract to pursue another bat.

That is total hogwash, poppycock, poppywash and hogcock!
No American worker would willingly break a contract in which he has attempted to fulfull. And I believe that contract has Bagwell AND McLane's signatures on it.
Should I get my ticket refunded when the Astros lose? It's not what I am paying to see, not at all.

Still, that is not the point.
Jeff Bagwell gave the Astros credibility at a time when they had been nothing more than NL West middle tier. He played hurt, sick, sad, mad, glad. Other Astros had to answer to him in the clubhouse if they slacked off or complained.
The Astros have been winners the past decade because of Bagwell and his influence in the clubhouse and in getting players of a certain mold on the 'Stros.

Nobody should get blame over not getting a bat except Pops-Mart (Drayton) McLane. Sittin' Tim Purpura even gets off the hook finally after pestering teams about a bat. Can't pin it on Clemens FAT contract either, because McLane more than recoups that amount from Clemens ticket sales, team exposure, merchandise, and the fact Roger Clemens pitches for the frickin Houston Astros.

And not one other Major League team believes Aubrey (BL)Huff is a viable option at 3B or RF, not even the Tamba Bay Devil Rays. That IS Purpura's fault, and to some degree, The 'Stache (Garner).

Finally, the point is, The Astros do still have a shot at it this year, and they indeed do owe to their fans and themselves to put a very competitive ballclub together for the stretch run. This team has the pieces to win a World Series.
Yet it is not complete. On the same note, the Astros would not have its fanbase, aura, or respected clubhouse if not for Bagwell. That is the point.
Playing Luke Scott daily is a big step forward. Getting Willy T in there is as well, because he makes things happen more often than not and is a force in CF.
If we can just get Burke out there more than Huff, get Berkman and Ensberg healthy, and as Dirty Hit Mike said, CALL UP JASON HIRSH, it might work out.

When you wish upon a star...(Can we still get a Star Bat??)

One Run? Won!

2006-08-02T10:13:00.000-05:00

Well Boy Howdy! They one a 1-run game. Er, I mean, run a won one game. Ah! You know that thing? Winning? The Astros did it last night. And what a pretty set of lines from the Astros pitchers...


	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
A. Pettitte (W, 10-11)	6.0	5	0	0	2	8
C. Qualls (H, 14)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1
D. Wheeler (H, 17)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1
B. Lidge (S, 24)	1.0	0	0	0	1	3

Yes folks, I'm as stunned as you. Scoring only 1 run and winning? Revolutionary. Actually, the Astros are 13-11 this season in one run games. Above .500 yes, but 62% of those wins this season came in April.

8-1 in April
2-3 in May
2-2 in June
0-5 in July
1-0 so far in August

Also, many of the lost leads and blown saves that happened recently resulted in a loss by more than 1 run. August, though, is starting off right.

Another revolutionary thing was no Preston K Wilson, not even as a pinch hitter. Which is probably best because from what I could find, Preston's pinch hit twice this season and struck out both times. clutch!

Also, Morgan got his first start since July 9th at 3rd base. He went 2/4 with a double and scored the only run. Thanks for taking some time off to get healthy, Morgan, I hope you can contribute to another mind blowing 2nd half run. It's totally happenning again, right?

Well, if it's going to happen again, I think they need to get Jason Hirsh to Houston. He pitched 5 innings of hitless ball last night for his 12th win in a row. That's a franchise record people. The Express have a 10.5 game lead in the American South division, while the Astros are trying to stay alive in the race for the Wild Card. What else does Hirsh need to do to be given an everyday shot? Shit, there's busses daily from Austin to Houston, I'll pay his fare if I have to.

Mr. Ensberg

2006-08-01T12:31:00.000-05:00

For a man with steadfast belief in Jesus, Morgan Ensberg could sure use unwavering trust in his hitting approach.

I do not mean that Ensberg should not have faith, nor am I mocking him in any fashion whatsoever. Yet his lack of faith in himself at times feels like boulders in my liver.
He is a passionate player and upstanding citizen, when not muddled by his mind.

I believe he's a man that should never receive a boo at The Orange Square due to his playing through many injuries without ever a mention of the fact.

You can thank Jeff Bagwell, and of course Craig Biggio for that. They have instilled true ballplayer ethics in the Astros clubhouse, and I do sincerely thank them for that.

But please, Morgan, next time, allow yourself to heal. Stop tinkering and altering your approach in the box, because it only leaves you suceptible to doubting yourself and a chance for the pitcher to recognize that and attack the wounded (physically or mentally) batter.

If you are hurt, speak up. Don't lose your career to playing poorly through injury. And don't lose your career just when you are peaking due to stubborness or a lack of faith.
According to reports back in June, Ensberg was hurt on June 9 precisely according to the team. I've got to believe either his shoulder was already tweaked before that date, or Mr. Ensberg has a very slow learning curve once pitchers adjust to him.
I hope it's the prior not the latter. I bet he was hurt in May sometime.

In 2005, he was injured on the wrist and forced to miss quite a bit of time, and was acutally not the same until the first 2 months of 2006. Then another injury.

Steep and rapid declines in performance and ability followed suit.

I would take a healthy Morgan Ensberg on my side anyday. SO please eat a banana or 12 and find a way to have your body heal! Prayer, more Iron in your diet, something.

The Wal-Mart of the MLB

2006-08-01T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Houston Astros play in a big box. Literally. So there shouldn't be as much surprise at this year's track; rather, their falling off tracks.

The bottom line does not think outside the box. It signs some pricey, big time players occasionally (Pettitte, Kent, Clemens), but very begrudgingly.
It's a strange Astros franchise that is owned by the 283rd richest man according to Forbes ($1.2 BILLION). Though he has made the Astros winners, they've still not Won
IT.

It is scared to bank on certain things for fear of the perecption, reaction, and overall effect to the stock. Like playing young players BEFORE they hit their prime so that they CAN hit their prime in full stride.

And now, the season that should have topped last year and the past 7 years for that matter teeters on the brink because The Box has faith in Preston "K" Wilson, Aubrey BlHuff, Chad Qualls, and Brad Lidge to turn it around. You cannot turn it around when the season is well past the half way point.

Sittin' Tim Purpura (Trademark pending) might not have been sitting on his hands, but Pops McLane surely had his hands nailed down to a chair somewhere.
Roy Oswalt is one of the top 5 Starting Pitchers in the game. With a better team playing behind him I reckon he'd be 15-5 right now. Clemens? Top 5, should be about 4-1.

But, the "Sorry, no account Astros" (as Richard Justice calls them) are mired in mediocrity while every other team in the NL Wild Card chase is just barely above mediocrity.

Do Lidge and Qualls have whiplash yet? Here is a familiar pose for the 2, watching the game, season, and World Series fly over a fence. Say bye-bye Brad.

Maybe it wasn't right for Tejada or Soriano, but there was some around the edges trades to be had if the Astros believe the right mix is still on the roster.
Just look at the deals made, there were plenty of middle tier guys available for the bullpen. And there is no way the OF shouldn't be 100% youth. Willy T, Burke, Luke Scott. EVERY DAMN GAME. You don't know how good they can be until you let them play and see how good they can develop.

I have not lost faith. Well, except in Qualls (I've tasted copper in my mouth because of him for about 2 years now). And Lidge. And Wilson. And Ausmus.
AAANNDD.....

Sell out

2006-08-01T11:38:00.000-05:00

Over at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark has a good column today about the do-nothing Astros. He thinks they should have traded away Clemens, and I have to agree. In fact, if they could have gotten 2 or 3 really good prospects for Clemens and Pettitte, and some financial help with their salaries, I say trade them both. Neither is likely to be with the team next year. Especially when it started to become clear that they and everyone else weren't going to land the big offense help they so dearly need, Tejada or Soriano, the Astros should have become sellers. Pack it in this year and focus on being a solid and consistent team on both sides of the ball in 2007.

You don't think the Red Sox/Yanks/Mets/Rangers and a slew of other teams wouldn't be seriously interested in Roger and Andy? Well, you're just plain wrong. Everyone wants pitching. Even including one or both of them for Tejada would have been sweet, if they could have landed Tejada with a contract extension or something.

There's a youth movement happenning in Houston, even if the mangement doesn't want to notice/welcome it. Burke, Willy T, Luke Scott, Hirsh, Sampson & Pence are your Astros of the future. The acquisions of Preston K Wilson and Aubrey Huff haven't provided the power they've needed for the past few years, and it's probably time to move on.

Biggio's got another season or 2 left (likely till he gets 3,000 hits), and the Astros owe it to him to get another shot at the Series.

test

2006-08-01T01:26:00.000-05:00

braves gave up on their prospects and got little in return, that gives them the dodger blues; and other, fatter trades

2006-07-31T18:46:00.000-05:00

I forgot to mention my favorite trade of the day. The Rangers got Matt Stairs from the Royals for minor-league pitcher Joselo Diaz. When Fat Stairs joins his 8th major league team, and it's Texas, it's worth noting.

Also, the Braves traded 2 of their better recent prospects, Wilson Betemit and Jorge Sosa. They got Baez and Willy Aybar from the Dodgers for Betemit, and a minor league pitcher from the Cardinals for Sosa. No big deals, but a bunch of smaller gap fillers for a few teams. I didn't know that the Dodger's got Betemit until a few minutes ago, and with Bill Mueller, Kent and NOMAH on the DL, adding Lugo and Betemit means a job well done, right? Greg Maddux will replace Aaron Sele or Jae Seo in their rotation, which has to be an upgrade. Now if only they can get JD Drew to be consistent, Maddux may have another chance to pitch in the playoffs.

Man, I couldn't help myself with the Nomar picture. I thought of him and DL and this picture pops in my head. Enjoy!

nothing, absolutely nothing

2006-07-31T16:19:00.000-05:00

Well, it looks like the Astros did NOTHING! Stupid, you're so stupid!~! UHF reference anyone? The big names that are gone today are Greg Maddux, Julio Lugo to the Dodgers; Oliver Perez to the Mets for X Nady; Pirates sent Craig Wilson to the Yanks for Shawn Chacon; Ronnie Belliard from the Indians to the Cardinals for Luna; Sean Casey to the Tigirls for a minor-leaguer (April/May darling, Chris Shelton, is now a Triple-A Toledo Mud Hen); Pirates continued the fire-sale and traded Kip Wells to Texas for a minor-league pitcher. A few more minor deals went down, but nothing interesting from the Astros. So much for Clemen's request for some action and the demand to trade Lidge.

No Lidge leaving, no gut wrenching deal including Oswalt. Tejada and Soriano go nowhere. It is being reported that the Nationals are going to try to re-sign Soriano at the end of the season. They may need to get some of that government money to afford it. Whoop dee doo!

Will the Astros do something?

2006-07-31T11:53:00.000-05:00

Another shitty loss for the Astros and another lost series, lost 2 of 3 to the D-Backs. Another HR given up by Lidge in the 9th. This time to Connor Jackson. What, if anything, can the Astros do now to salvage the season? They're now 6 games back of the Wild Card with the Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers, Rockies, Giants, D-Backs and Reds all in front of them.

It'll take something extraordinary to get this Orange-Juice powered train a-rolling again! According to Richard Justice's blog and ESPN insider, there's some chatter... Clemens has "gone to Drayton McLane and said: 'We have to do something. We need help.' " I'm all for Roger getting the management to do something, and honestly I'm a little surprised that he didn't demand a trade involving himself and Andy back to New York or something.

Also from Justice's blog. "The Astros are serious about landing Miguel Tejada. They're Roy Oswalt serious. According to the Baltimore Sun, the Astros have discussed a trade that would send Oswalt, Morgan Ensberg and Adam Everett to the Orioles for Tejada." I'd really hate to trade Roy away. I'd rather see Pettitte or Clemens traded. RoyO is 5 years younger than Pettitte and 15 years younger than Roger. Justice suggested that Baltimore would turn down this deal anyways, which is surprising.

I also read over the weekend, that the Astros are also in the running for Soriano. I'd rather have Tejada. The deadline is today, so the clock is ticking for the last few hours.

Also, the Astros sent Buchholz to Round Rock and Ensberg is there making some rehab starts. Chris Sampson was called up to Houston as well. Sampson's 28 years old, so if he's going to make an impact for the Astros, it will be soon. Get him in there.

Next up... a trip to sunny San Diego

--matchups-- (W-L, ERA, K, BB)
Tuesday: Pettitte (9-11, 5.18, 112, 50) vs. Jake Peavy (5-10, 5.01, 136, 36)
Wednesday: Backe (1-1, 5-82, 9, 8) vs. Woody Williams (4-2, 3.69, 39, 17)
Thursday: RoyO (8-7, 3.23, 99, 27) vs. Clay Hensley (6-8, 4.46, 71, 53)

Boy, I hope RoyO will still be around to make his scheduled start on Thursday. It would be strange if Tejada was in the lineup and Hirsh or Sampson took Roy's position in the rotation. I don't know how I feel about it. Readers, (Habeab, mom?) what do you think?

Sinsinnatty

2006-07-28T01:28:00.000-05:00

Nothing wrong with some natty light.

The Astros on the other hand...

The 'Stache would be well served to stop playing the guys who are not helping win ballgames. Especially those contributing to losing ball games. Like the 8-4 stinker of a "Ballgame" Thursday night.
Namely, the slugger formerly known as Preston "K" Wilson must stop getting the automatic pencil into the lineup everyday. He reminds me of Cerrano, from the movie Major League. If only he had the power to hit the ball, just from saying,
"Jo-boo, you no help me hit curve ball. I say, fuck you Jo-Boo. I do it myself."

Aubrey Huff? Just because Sittin' Tim Purpura "Snagged" him in a "Major Trade," does not mean he warrants playing time over other Astros, namely 2 former "prospects" in Willy T and Luke Scott, and a big contributor to the last 2 winning seasons, Mike Lamb.

Blhuff = .227, HR, 4 RBI, 5 K, 5 BB, 5 R in 44 ABs. He has not played in the NL and is not good enough to compensate that fact.
Cerrano "K" Wilson = .274, 9 HR (WOW), 52 RBI, 38 runs(!), 90 "K"'s, 21 BBs, and drum rollll.... .415 SLG%, for a power hitter!?!?! It's a joke?
Mike "The B is silent" BLamb = .319, 8 Hr, 30 RBI, 43 runs and just 32 "K" 's to 20 BB's in only 238 ABs.
Willy "I'd run if they'd stop giving me the Red Light" Taveras = only .258 with 52 runs and 14 swipes. 53 K's to 18 BB's. He could have 40 steals already if given time to develop a bit. He is young, Very Young for Astros standards.
Luke Scott = .318, RBI, 2 R in 22 ABs. Only 2 K's and 0 BBs. Such a small sample size. Do Not Daryle Ward/ Jason Lane/ Chris Truby/ Phil Nevin this guy.

The 'Stache, explaining why he has to field such a sorry bunch of batters

Furthermore, open the damned roof. It's a sign of coddling your team and it was a shame what happened during the World Series. You were worried about a ROOF? Not hitting the White Sox pitching, but a ROOF?
Open the roof every game not in July or August. Let the players learn to brave the elements and deal with unexpected events on the field. Maybe, perhaps they will get better by toughing it out?

All Is Saved and Well!!!

2006-07-27T14:44:00.001-05:00

OK, OK, that is not true at all. And let us hope that Pops Drayton and Sittin' Tim Purpura don't think everything is better after the Astros 8-5 win over the Reds, because that inning was one error away from the typical Astros inning with men on: Double Play, No Runs!

Thank Royce Clayton right now, don't praise anyone on that offense. OK, Berkman deserves it.

So Brad Lidge was yanked in the ninth inning with the game on the line to go with, um, Trevor Miller. Actually, I was more than happy to see that. Once Lidge gives up a hit, hits a batter, and throws a wild pitch, everyone knows how that is going to end, regardless of a strikeout. He either dominates, or gets whacked and loses it. Way to go, Wheels.
Hopefully The 'Stache has realized Tony LaRussa did not invent the game, and he can actually pitch whoever he wants, whenever he wants in the right situation. Hooray!

On the telecast last night, they showed Preston K Wilson (The Whiffman) during batting practice, making jokes with teammates and the likes. Not one other person was laughing, actually, they all looked uncomfortable. Yes he was mic'd and everyone knew it. Yet he isn't bringing much to the table at all, so why is he still getting ALL the starts in LF?
The 'Stache called Burke the best defensive LF last year, so put him in LF, and Scott in RF.
AND please, for the love of lions, put Mike BLamb at 3B. Who gives a sweaty shirt about Aubrey Huff??? The extra B in Lamb (BLamb) makes him a Killer B, and when the Astros can play that buzzing sound at home for him, The 'Stache has to give him more at bat, right?

Teeee-Jada, do you like Hot, Muggy weather? Muggy is close to Miggy!!!