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7/29/12: Goodbye Chris Johnson

Sunday, July 29th, 2012

And you thought no one else would want him. One of the few players who DIDN’T want to be traded. I have heard that several teams have wanted him for several years, but they didn’t want to trade him. But he’s gonna be arb eligible next year and they woulda hadta pay him. We can’t have THAT.

He’s off to Arizona – not sure what they’re gonna do with him, seeing as how they just got rid of Ryan Roberts for their new callup 3B, and Paul Goldschmidt is too good at first to be replaced.

And CJ was already announced for today’s lineup, too.

We’re getting 21 yo Bobby Borchering, AA third baseman who was the Dbax first rounder in 09. He was promoted to AA a few weeks ago and he’s 10 fer 77. He had an .827 OPS at high A over 838 AB. From reading prospect lists, he doesn’t hit for average, just power and is a lousy glove at 3rd, so he’s most likely destined for 1B. He was on the Dbax Top 10 prosepct lists, but they had a younger 3B higher.

and Marc Krauss, age 24, LH, left fielder, the second round pick in 09, hitting 917 OPS over 283 AB. Krauss isn’t even mentioned in any Arizona prospect list.

So Steven Pearce is gonna play first and Scott Moore is gonna play 3rd. And Matt Worthless Downs is STILL on this team. Brett Wallace is officially toast, I see.

I hope they aren’t going to just use him to pinch hit because he’s a really terrible pinch hitter.

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Posted in Chris Johnson | 5 Comments »

7/27/12: Chris Johnson Kills The Ball And Rhiner Cruz Kills The Win

Friday, July 27th, 2012

Eleventh loss in a row – and again, this was a winnable game and was lost by the bullpen.

Jordan Lyles was unhittable for 3.1 innings, especially with his 3 run lead, then he hung a ball and Alex Pressley hit it into the Crawford Boxes. McCutchen doubled to the LF bullpen, but then Lyles got the next 2 outs.

Teh kewl was Jordan Lyles laying down the bunt and Jason Maxwell avoiding the tag coming home from 3rd on a successful squeeze. Not sure it was SUPPOSED to be a squeeze, but hey, it was awesome anyhow. I luuuvvv the squeeze and sure would like to see it used a lot more.

Ben Francisco hit a ball juuust over the railing into the Crawford Boxes, next inning, McHenry hit a 2 run job. It was 4-3.

In the top of the 7th, McHenry led off with a double, Froddy let him score with a sac bunt then a sac fly.

sigh. Here we go again.

Bottom of the 7th, CJ triples, Julio Daniel singles him in. Justin Maxwell singled, Francisco Kd, Snyder walked, then pinch hitter Downsie-doo grounds out on the 3rd pitch. It’s the bases loaded curse.

The 8th was kewl – Wesley Wright came out for the 8th, got the lefty, then went to play RF (remember Roy Oswalt playing LF right after he got traded to Philly in that extra inning game we lost?) and Wilton Lopez came in and gave up a double to righty McCutchen, then Wesley came back to pitch, Bogu went to right and Wesley got out the lefty, then the – get this – righty!!!

He stayed in the 9th to get the lefty out, then Rhiner Cruz came in and walked 2 guys to load the bases. But the Pirates aren’t the Astros and know what to do with bases loaded. Xavier Cedeno came in, gave up the tying sac fly, then the go ahead wild pitch (Snyder ain’t Corporan with the glove) and there went the ballgame.

Naturally, we didn’t come back against Hanrahan.

I suppose I should be happy that we didn’t get no hit and were actually in a position to win the last 3 of 4 games, but hey, that all important Loss Record is still within reach.

What was good was Chris Johnson hitting the holy heck out of the ball – another homer, a triple and a double and a walk. Everything else was uck. Including Bogu making the last out of the game the second day in a row, swinging wildly.

Wandy will be on the mount in a Pirates uni tomorrow night facing old re-tread Armando Galarraga. So much for the youth movement.

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Posted in Chris Johnson, Jordan Lyles | 6 Comments »

7/26/12: Astros Continue To Surge Toward All Time Loss Record

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

Dallas Keuchel threw the first pitch of the night right down the middle of the plate and it was POW gone and the Astros lost right there. Neil Walker then hit another meaty one 425′ to the Hill, but that is where baseballs go to die, so Keuchel got lucky. But then Andrew McCutchen singled, then Keuchel threw another FB RIGHT down the middle and Garrett Jones hit it out.

Pirates 3 Stros done fore

Oh – half inning not over, sorry. Keuchel found some movement and got out the next 2 hitters.

AJ Burnett got 1,2,3 out. His ERA would be 2.68 if it wasn’t for that 12 run 3 inning game to start the year. Guess he didn’t like Noo Yawk real too much.

Next inning, first hitter walks, then Clint Barmes golfed a knee high pitch (mid plate) into the Crawford Boxes. At least it wasn’t right down the middle. He then gets 1,2,3 out – took 15 pitches, but he did it. Stros go 1,2,3.

Pirates 5 Astros nohit

Keuchel got 1,2,3 in the 3rd and 4th – the last of those outs being a very long FB by Barmes to the LF bullpen – 50′ to the left and it woulda been another homer.

Meanwhile, Corporan singled in the 3rd, so that took away any impending excitement of a no hitter.

The 5th was fun though – with one out, Sterling Marte singled, Walker walked, then Andrew McCutchen hit what looked like a perfect 5-4-3. CJ was on it in an instant, made a perfect throw to Altuve who made a perfect throw to Moore, only McCutchen beat it out and it’s men on first and third. So with Garrett Jones up (is he a FINE lookin White Boy or what?) and at 0-2, McCutchen takes off for second, only Keuchel has him picked off. Scott Moore notices Marte headed for home, throws to third and CJ fires a bullet to Corp-ie and Marte is dead meat.

Very kewl that the Stros have a good fielding play for ONCE instead of the horse-stuff misplays and errors.

Keuchel had a good 1,2,3 6th. Too bad he had a horsestuff first.

And except for a walk to CJ (yes, a walk) Burnett kept guys off bases through the end of the 6th and gave up a single in the 7th. Enerio-ie (or do we call him Dellie or Rosie or Sorry?) gave up a single to the pitcher, but got 1,2,3 out. For ONCE.

8th, he gave up a single, got a K, then was naturally yanked for a lefty to face Garrett Jones, who can’t hit leftys (see first inning homer offn a lefty) and then got him out. I was beyond shocked that Millsie-poo left him into face righty McGehee and somehow, he managed to get him out too. Will miracles nevah cease?

Burnett goes back out, throws ball 1, then CJ takes the next pitch, an inside high FB for a ride to the Crawford Boxes. Hey, there goes the shutout. Bogu grounds out, then Corporan homers into the RF stands. He can play defense (more on that later) AND he can hit? Imagine that. We should keep him up here instead of Snyder when The Catcher Of The Future comes back. Goo-bah Burnett. I thought fer sher he’d get a CG here. Brad Lincoln, former first rounder – 4th pick of the 06 draft, who is now a middle reliever, comes in. Downsie-doo walks, but Altuve and Marwin strand him.

Pirates 5 Stros 2

Imagine that.

Funny thing about drafts – Lincoln was the 4th pick, Andrew Miller was the 6th that year, and neither one of em turned into anything resembling a good starter. At least Lincoln is useful for middle relief – which, by the way, is something useful. Luke Hochevar was the first and he is still starting for the Royals, don’t ask me why, because his ML ERA since he started starting in 08 is well over 5. Youneverknow. Our first rounder, in case you’ve forgotten, was HS catcher Max Sapp, who never got out of A ball before catching spinal meningitis.

Where was I?

Oh yeah. So Rhiner Cruz comes in to pitch the 9th. He’s throwing in the high 90s and some of those throws are ridiculous – 2 feet in front of home, 3 feet to the left, to the right, above home. And Corporan CATCHES EVERY SINGLE ONE. NO (swear words) wild pitches/passed balls. Been a long time since we’ve had a catcher who can, like, you know, CATCH. He gives up a single, but somehow manages to get 3 outs.

Are you ready for this shock? THE BULLPEN GIVES UP NO RUNS.

I know – I can’t believe it neither.

So in comes Joel Hanrahan – the Astros are one of the few teams that caused him to blow a save this year. But it was a tie game then, so naturally we lost. Moore walks, goes to second on a WP, CJ singles him in!!! But thatttttt’s all folks.

We’ve now lost 10 straight and are 2 fer July. Really. we’re still at 34 wins and are on pace to easily break The Record.

Tomorrow is Jordan Lyles vs Jeff Karstens.

They’re calling up Armando Galarraga (TOLD yall) to face Wandy on Saturday. Arm-ie (I guess) hasn’t pitched worth spit except for that perfect game, since 2008. Had a 5.91 ERA for the Dbax last year in 8 starts over 42.2 innings. I can’t wait.

Wandy has thrown a few shutouts, but never a no hitter. I’d actually root for that.

Quote of the day, from soxaholix.com (WARNING – NOT G-rated)
” If Josh Beckett was any more wild, he’d be on display at Whole Foods between the harpoon caught swordfish and the hand-harvested Peruvian quinoa”

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Posted in Chris Johnson, Dallas Keuchel | 6 Comments »

7/23/12: Chris Johnson Has A 4 Hit Game AND A WEB GEM

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

We’re 2 fer 15 in July – thought I’d say SOMEthing positive in the headline and trust me on this, there ain’t real too much positive to say.

Wandy didn’t have any decent stuff when he came out for the first, but kept the damage limited. Groundout, single, bloop popup single behind second that naturally nobody managed to catch. Then an RBI single to left and a lineout.

Reds 1 Stros 0

Astros go 1,2,3 in 10 pitches.

2nd: Wandy comes back out – groundout, walk, K, flyout on 15 pitches.

Chris Johnson, leading off, singles to center. Hey, we won’t get no hit!!! Then Ben Francisco, playing LF, singled to center, but right in front of Stubbs and it’s men on first and second, 1 out. Schafer pops up to third. Snyder, batting .175 (and they groused about Towles and Quintero?) Wandy pops up leaving bases loaded. I was hoping for a granny, but hey, the Astros don’t hit for spit with bases loaded so why should Wandy be any different?

3rd: Single, swinging K and a stolen base, Ludwick hits a ball to the LF bullpen, Francisco ambles out to get it – reminding me of Clank and that’s not any sort of compliment. Then K, walk, pitch down the middle for a RBI single, men on first and third. Wandy’s having a tough time throwing strikes, hard to hit strikes and the curve doesn’t look real too good. Hanigan walks on 4 pitches. Jeezus. It’s like it’s 06 again – and it’s not the ump not giving him anything – those pitches are not in the strike zone. He better get the *(^&*#! pitcher out now. And he Ks, leaving bases loaded.

Reds 3 Stros over

Altuve reaches out for a bad pitch, grounds to short. Uck. Marwin and Moore K swinging.

4th: Wandy looks sharper: 3-2K, 2-2K, single, groundout.

Luhnow has joined Brownie and JD, talking about how much they think of the great prospects they got in the trade from the Jays and White Sox and Marlins. He sounds exactly like Ed Wade. These guys all say the exact same thing about how “excited” they are and what a great job their scouts have done. Yeh. The one thing he does say that DOES interest me is that he stated that the Astros have freed up enough money for next year’s payroll that they don’t HAVE to trade Wandy. Keep a guy getting paid 10 mill? Yeah, surrrrrrre…

Back to Brandon Barnes – the Astros drafted him in the 6th round of 05 – he’s one of OURS – putting it all together this year, at age 26. He had a .938 OPS at AA in 14 AB, and a .925 OPS in 184 AB at AAA. He’s the ONLY guy who Luhnow himself started talking about. Brownie brought up Wallace and Paredes and Hessman (34 year old AAA lifer) and Luhnow said – oh yeah, we’ll see them sometime or other this year. Well, I think that tells up plenty bout what they think of Wallace. Why on earth they prefer Downs, I don’t get.

shrug

CJ singles again, this time to right. Jasom Maxwell flies out to almost the exact same place in right. Francisco singles to left again. Schafer grounds out to first, as Luhnow is praising AAA center fielder Brandon Barnes, saying he’s a major leaguer. they IBB Schafer and it’s Wandy with bases loaded 2 outs again. And he pops up again, leaving bases loaded.

I do NOT wanna hear how this is what the DH is for.  The pitcher being a lousy hitter is part of what baseball IS. Just like you don’t have the batting practive guy come in and pitch to guy in a slump in the middle of a game. Or let some LOOGY face the tough lefty then the same pitcher comes back in.

5th: Frazier hits an easy GB to Altuve, who drops it. And after that missed catch from Marwin yesterday (called just an error yesterday which started Lyles on a fast downhill slide into ickiness. I SWEAR I typed this a second before Brownie said exactly that.) Rolen flies out. CJ makes a fantastic diving catch on a liner. Then a groundout.

Altuve singles up the middle. Marwin hits this pop bloop just behind 3rd that spins into the corner and it’s men on second and third no outs. At least today we’re hitting the #)*(@!ing ball.

Latos apparently landed wrong on his left foot, trainer out, he’s going to go back. Just as I’m thinkin he tripped over those stupid long pants, Brownie says it. The guy is reading my mind, TWICE. Scares me.  Moore with a RBI groundout. HEY! We won’t get shutout!!!! We’re the worst hitting team in the majors, but surprisingly, we haven’t been shut out very much. RBI double off the RF bullpen fence for CJ. Maxwell singles to center – it’s a flyball, not a grounder so CJ can’t score and it’s men on first and third, 1 out.

Pitching coach out. Latos tells him to get lost. Francisco Ks swinging as Maxwell steals second. They IBB Mary Jane to get to Snyder. giggle. And Snyder pops up. THIRD time we’ve left bases loaded tonight.

Reds 3 Stros 2

6th: Cairo ROE – CJ bobbles the ball, a sharp bounced ball. 3 easy flyouts. Francisco really reminds me of Clank out there. sigh

Reds have the best bullpen in the NL and second best in the ML. Great. Jose Arredondo, RHP out. Bixler into pinch hit, grounds out. Altuve grounds out. Marwin walks and is then caught stealing. What is this with Marwin? He’s not a base stealer, never has been!

7th – We’ll see how the bullpen does NOW. Wilton Lopez out. Groundout, single thru the 5.5 hole. Rolen doubles him in. Single to center, men on second and third. Groundout to third, Rolen out in a rundown. Jay Bruce up to PH, Wesley Wright in – and he better not let these 2 runs score like he did last night. But he gives up a single and in trots 1 run, men on first and third. Enerio Del Rosario came in, gets a flyout to left – Francisco makes a diving out.

Same ol suckumongous bullpen

Reds 5 Stros 2

Lefty Bill Bray in. Moore grounds out. CJ singles. A FOUR hit game!!! Same LeCure in. Maxwell Ks, Francisco lines out.

8th: Enerio Del Rosario back out. K, double off the scoreboard, steal of 3rd, RBI single.

Jeezus this is tiresome.

RBI double off the LF bullpen. This new sidearm delivery ain’t workin. The pitches are either way the heck off the plate, or nicve and fat. Then a K ???!!! then a walk. Enerio out, Abad in.

Hanigan hits a liner to Maxwell in left, now, he gets it, and throws home – he’s got an arm like Juan Pierre – the throw dribbles up to the plate and the run scores. Pathetic.

Reds 8 Stros 2

Le Cure back out. Schafer Ks swinging on a pitch in the dirt. Snyder singles – NOW???!!! Whatever. Bogu walks. Altuve walks. Bases loaded, 4th time tonight.

Lefty Sean Marshall in: Marwin hits into a FC, but the run scores. Hey!! Whaddaya know – we actually managed to get a run in with bases loaded. Miracles happen. Downsie-doo in for Moore. Like that matters – and it takes 9 pitches to get him out, but Downsie he goes. Why he’s still on this team I don’t know.

9th: Abad back out. Cozart singled. K, then a nice diving catch by Francisco in left. Ludwick, a righty is up, so Abad gets pulled, We’re losing 8-3 and we need to waste a pitcher? sigh. In comes Rhiner Cruz. Double to left for Ludwick, men on second and 3rd. Frazier lofs an easy FB to center.

Marshall back out. Cj makes an out forst time today. Maxwell pops up. JD Martinez in to PH. He singles a bloop over short, goes to second on DI. Schafer Ks.

Can we please have an end to the Schafer Experience, the Matt Downs Experience and at least TRY some of the minor league relievers? Like NOW????!!!

Tomorrow, it’s Harrell vs Mike Leake (and who knows which Mike we’re gonna see – the ace or the BP guy? youneverknow)

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Posted in Chris Johnson, Wandy Rodriguez | 16 Comments »

7/15/12: Lowrie and Castro Go On The DL And Cain Does Not No Hit The Astros

Sunday, July 15th, 2012

Lowrie sure has some bad juju where the injury thingy is concerned. The team isn’t saying anything except that his knee AND ankle hurt. Accidents happen, it’s just that they happen to happen more to some people, for whatever reason.

Castro is on the DL (retroactive to the 8th, when he last caught, because his knee is hurting – they are saying it has something to do with him having surgery last year. OK.) I am guessing they called up Corporan, who isn’t hitting as well as Landon Powell, because he caught almost everyone last year and is familiar with them. They had to put him on the 40 man and pay him a ML salary. Good.

To the game – it’s not that I have real too much hope, even though Melky Cabrera is sitting this one out, it that I want to see if Matt Cain is gonna get another nono. With this team, I can feel another one coming on.

1st inning, Cain looks like Cain, gets 1,2,3.

Bud Norris couldn’t find the strike zone with both hands in the first inning – gave up 2 singles, a WP and 2 walks, including a bases loaded walk = 2 runs, before Brandon Crawford thoughtfully swung away at pitches out of the zone.

Giants 2 Stros zip

Astros looked bad top of the second until it took Matt Cain 11 pitches to get CJ out – and CJ missed a double into the RF corner by 2 inches (the foul call was correct.) Bud was nails.

Top of the 3rd, Marwin doubled down the RF line, Corporan, hitting .273 at AAA, was called up to take Jason Castro’s spot, Ks, then Bud sac-bunts to Cain, then Schafer bunts, first pitch to Cain, who makes a bad throw to Belt at first on what would be an EASY out – and Marwin scores. So we won’t get no hit OR shutout. And Cain got nobody but his own self to blame. Bud was nails.

Giants 2 Stros 1

4th inning – Julio Daniel Ks. Bogu singles up the middle. CJ, who had an 11 pitch AB last time out, fouled one, then hit one to center. Bogu, for some reason, stopped dead at second – had obviously lost the ball, turned and saw it headed into the gap, then took off for home and fortunately, he can run fast and fortunately, none of the Giants fielders can throw for spit so he makes it in safely. Unusually crappy baserunning for someone who is usually so good. Next, Marwin Gonzalez hits a dead easy GB to short and CJ, for some reason, inexplicably takes off for third and is out by 20 feet. Seriously, what the heck? Then, with Corporan up, Marwin Gonzalez decides to steal second – and Marwin is NOT a basestealer and he’s out by 10 feet. And am not sure if Corporan missed a hitnrun sign, but the pitch was most definitely NOT a strike, and Marwin was 0-1.

Astros 2 Giants 2

Bud suddenly can’t find the strike zone. Two straight walks, 2 outs, what should have been a K, but the ump called strike 3 ball 2 and bases loaded. But he gets lucky when Emannuel Burriss swings at a bad pitch grounds out. Second time he’s left bases loaded.

5th inning: Cain gets 1,2,3 outs and is already at 85 pitches. Bud back out, gives up a double to Pablo, then an RBI single up the middle to center – Schafer can’t throw worth spit (he hasn’t thrown out ANYONE out at home.) Then a swinging K, then a grounder to second that they can’t turn the DP on, then a grounder to first. Sigh

Giants 3 Astros 2

6th – Cain strikes out the side. 97 pitches. He had control like he did in the no hit game. Bud walks Brandon EFF Crawford. It’s his SIXTH walk. ROLL EYES!!!. Cain pops up the bunt, thank goodness. NOW we’ve got relievers warming? Good Lord. Blanco gets 2 straight balls. Out comes Broakie-poo, blahblahblah. Blanco, next pitch, flies out. Thank you. Burriss bunts toward 3rd, CJ makes a very nice play to throw him out – he’s fast. He can’t believe he managed to get through.

Well, we saw ace Bud and bad Bud. At least there weren’t any right down the middle for homers pitches. sigh

7th – Bogu walks. CJ lines to short, but they can’t double off Bogu. With Marwin up, Bogu starts for second for the hitnrun, which pulls the SS out of position, so the ball that would have been an easy 6-4-3 is a hit, there’s men on first and third and Corporan is up, and Cain is out.

Lefty Affeldt is in to face Carlos Corporan. Bochy thinks Cain can’t get Corporan out? Are you kidding??? Bixler pinch hits, pops up the first pitch. ROLL EYES!!!! Justin Maxwell in to pinch hit, first pitch, easy FB to right. sigh

Froddy in – he’s lost EIGHT games, has a 6.42 ERA. I guess we’ve given up. Snyder in to catch. Gets a K, single and a flyout. He’s out and it’s gonna be a lefty. Natcherilly. Wesley Wright gives up a single to Schierholz. Belt grounds out to first (after a passed ball.)

8th – Affeldt back. Schafer and Altuve GO. He hits Scott Moore with a 3-2 and Sergio Romo comes in to face Julio Daniel, who Ks swinging on ball 4.  sigh

Wesley back out to face Brandon Crawford who hits a tough ball to Marwin Gonzalez who makes a great play. You have Bixler/Downsie-doo out there, that pay doesn’t get made. Righty PH Justin Christian hits the ball right back to Wesley. Blanco Ks. YAY WESLEY!!!

9th – OK guys, you gotta like WIN not tie, OK?

Javier Lopez in to face Bogu. No Romo? No Casilla? Seriously? Bochy doesn’t think they can get Bogu out? CJ goes to 3-2 and Ks on an unhittable pitch and Marwin bounces out.

Swept again, no surprise, this team now has only 2 major league quality position players on it and it is tough to win with AAAA teams. We’re tightening the grip on that 120 loss record. A fitting way to leave the real baseball league.

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Posted in Bud Norris, Chris Johnson, Marwin Gonzalez | 7 Comments »

6/28/12: Brett Myers Gives Up 6 Runs In The 9th And Padres Come From Behind To Win

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Here and I thought I was going to have to write about us getting no hit AGAIN. Cashner, not exactly a great pitcher like Cain, mowed em down 1,2,3 – except for one walk, to Jed Lowrie, for 6.1 innings. Lots of staring Ks, thanks to the HP ump’s large and ever changing strike zone, and grounders and lazy fly balls. One really well hit ball and that was a liner smoked to the first baseman.

Dallas Keuchel had managed to allow only 1 run over his 6 innings, a solo homer on a FB right down the dead middle of the plate. He didn’t have the stuff or control he had last game, walking 4, giving up 3 singles in 96 pitches over 6 innings. He just barely made it out of the 6th – got a grounder, then gave up an IF single that he tried to get a glove on. Then a 5 pitch walk – got one of those as a called strike, but it was one of the HP ump’s bad calls. Another 5 pitch walk with ball 4 being a pitch that was called a strike 2 ABs ago. Bases loaded. Then a 7 pitch called K on yet another of the HP ump’s crazy calls. Then, with bases still loaded, a flyout to center.

End of 6, Astros losing 1-0.

7th inning, Rhiner Cruz comes in, gets 1,2, E-5, 3 (and CJ had NO excuse for that ball under his glove) and for the first time in a LONG time, he looked like the Rhiner Cruz who pitched in April.

Cashner cruising, gets Lowrie out, then Carlos Lee hits a clean single to left center. What a relief. Then Bogu comes up, takes 2, fouls off 7, and hits the next pitch into the upper deck in right. Goo-bah nono, goo-bah shutout.

Astros 2 Pads 1

8th inning: Julio Daniel walks, Scott Moore, playing second, gets his first Astros hit, singles to right and JD is on 3rd, then scores on a WP for an insurance run. Which is a good thing because unless the pitch is down the middle, hitters don’t know whether it’s a ball or strike.

Astros 3 Pads 1

Brandon Lyon gives up a single, gets 2 outs, then Wesley Wright comes in and gets the 3rd out. Millsie-poo does NOT trust Lyon to get leftys out at ALL.

9th: the ol WB comes in to close, gives up a double off the scoreboard his first pitch. Not a good sign. Then gets a 6-3. Then a single and men on first and 3rd. Then CJ makes a REALLY egregious error on what SHOULD have been a 5-4-3 and the run scores. Then a single and bases are loaded. Then a bases loaded HBP to tie the game. Then a swinging K. Then a grand slam to Alexi Amarista.

Padres 7 Stros 3

Yeah, I know the inning shoulda been over, or at least there shoulda been 2 outs, 1 run scored if CJ had gotten that ball. But he didn’t give up the next single or the HBP and he CERTAINLY didn’t give up the grand slam. That’s on Myers himself, who has looked, uh, tired lately – the 5 runs given up to KC 5 games ago, the 2 runs he let score the other night, the 6 runs tonight.

Xavier Cedeno has come in after him and cleaned up 3 times. Maybe HE should close.

Huston Street mows down the Stros – hard to believe it has been TEN years since he was the closer for the WS winning Longhorns. What I remember from those games is that the announcers announced about 50 times per game that Huston’s father was a college football player on a winning team. And it doesn’t say much for a series when all i can remember is that the announcers were obsessed with some college FOOTBALL player.

sigh

Off to Wrigley, where Bud Norris, fresh off the DL, to face lefty Paul Maholm, who has a 5.38 ERA AND his lowest ERA this year has been 4.05. He’s always pitched well against the Astros, too. In fact, he’s pitched better against the Astros than every other ML team who he has faced at least 7 times – except the Braves. At Wrigley, over 130 IP, he has a 4.87 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP over 18 games pitched.

Bud has pitched twice at Wrigley, once starting and once in relief, giving up 5 R/ 2 ER over 9.1 IP with 11 H, 2 HR, 1 BB, 9 K. Small sample size, yeah. But tomorrow is gonna be hot and the wind is gonna be blowing out and Paul Maholm has already given up 7 homers in 7 games there this year.

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Posted in Bogusevic, Chris Johnson, Dallas Keuchel | 6 Comments »

6/24/12: Chris Johnson And JD Martinez Homer To Back Happ In Taking The Series From Cleveland

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

1st – 3 up, 3 down for both teams. So far, HP ump is not calling the knee high strike for either team. I disremember this ump, must be new or a callup – name of Jordan Baker. Actually, I think that last night’s HP ump, Manny Gonzalez, is a rookie/callup, too – and I think he also did a very good job behind home.

2nd: Jose Lopez leads off with a double. Brownie and JD are asking how can the team send Dallas Keuchel back to AAA. Lopez grounded to 3rd and comes home on a ball that Castro doesn’t block. Believe it or not, JD actually SAYS that Castro isn’t blocking balls well and that failure to block balls should be a catcher statistic.

Um, yeah.

Tribe 1 Stros 0

Shelley Duncan (yes, Chris Duncan’s brother) walks – can’t hit real too much, but like Shelley, he sure can walk. Casey Kotchman (who we know from the Braves) singles to left, men on first and second. Flyout to CF, men on first and third. Groundout, 3 out. 39 pitches.

Astros up – 3 groundouts. Unfortunately, that sinker is working. JD mentioned that CJ’s bunt attempt yesterday (after Bogu’s double) was CJ’s own idea. 25 pitches.

3rd – Choo Ks swinging (ump misses one strike) Asdrubal walks (pitch calling is right) then Happ gets out of it with a 4-6-3. He’s not throwing enough strikes and is at 58 pitches: 35 strikes 23 balls.

Astros up: Julio Daniel goes to 1-2, fouls off 3, then sends a ball to straightaway CF warning track. If he had pulled it a bit, it woulda been out. But at least he looked better than the usual K or groundout to short/third. Schafer grounds out on the first pitch. Happ works it to 6 pitches before striking out looking. 39 pitches. Here we go again.

4th: Lopez flies out to CF first pitch. Brantley grounds out to Happ. Brantley, by the way, is the guy who was the PTBNL in the CC Sabathia trade to the Brewers. Duncan Ks looking. 68 pitches.

Altuve grounds out to short, hits the bag wrong, comes off the field limping. Oh great. Lowrie grounds out to short. This grounding out to short for rightys and grounding out to first for leftys – this is getting tiresome.

Carlos singles to left!!!! Well, there goes the no hitter. I hate it when they wait so many innings. Bogu singles to right thru the infield that the 2B can’t get. It’s where the first baseman usually stands, so Carlos being on first was helpful there. And CJ singles on 3-2 to tie the game, Carlos trots in. Castro up, men on first and third. Time to break that ofer, boy. But no, grounder to second. 65 pitches.

Astros 1 Tribe 1 – at least we won’t get shut out.

5th: Oh JEEZ, Altuve is out – strained right hamstring. Wonderful. At least it’s Bixler and not Downs who gets put in. I’m sure it is great to just keep him on the bench. You know that Maxwell’s ankle is injured. He had a “procedure” last night. Much better to keep an injured player on the 25 man than call up someone who isn’t. Makes sense to me. This way, he can get hurt even WORSE and not come back at all. Now we have TWO injured players on the bench, and we were ALREADY short. Makes sense there boys. 26 pitches for this inning. Happ now at 93 pitches. Peachy.

Julio Daniel grounds out to short. Schafer hits a ball to the LF bullpen, tries to stretch it into a triple and is out by 10 feet. Happ grounds out.

Happ back to the mound. 3 straight groundouts. 103 pitches. Not bad – 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 K, 1 ER. He apparently doesn’t want to be the one to go to AAA when Bud is ready to come back.

NOT

And Justin Ruggiano, who we let go in favor of Fernando Martinez, is hitting over .359/.444/.744 over 47 PA for the Marlins and he’s one of the few guys on that team who actually IS hitting. Martinez is now rehabbing. Can’t wait to watch him getting Bogu benched and striking out.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

And Kotchman singles up the middle to Bixler, who has a weakass arm and Kotchman beats the throw. Marson the catcher is up – 2 good pitches get called balls, but he Ks anyway. Lowe bunts down the 1B line, Happ tries to let it go foul, but he waits way too long and it’s a bunt hit. For goodness sakes, GET THE OUT. Now it’s Choo with 2 on 1 out instead of 2 out 1 on. Fortunately, he gets himself out. It SHOULD be 3 outs, but now Happ has to get an extra guy out. 6 extra pitches for a flyout to the scoreboard – for a second, I thought it might be OFF the scoreboard, but no. 93 pitches.

Bixler flies out. Lowrie up, almost hits 2 out, doubles into the RF corner on the 11th pitch. Carlos up – cmon boy, smell the RBI. AND HE DOES!!! singles up the middle off the end of the bat and Lowrie scores. Bogu takes 2 balls, then the Indians’ pitching coach goes to the mound, buy some time for the lefty in the bullpen. But he fouls one off then GIDP.

Astros 2 Tribe 1

Question is now, can the bullpen pitch 3 scoreless?

Wilton Lopez, by the way, has a, um, sore UCL – you know, the Tommy John tendon, but he just needs rehab. You know, like Brandon Backe did. How many times has a sprained elbow been successfully “rehabbed” and not needed to be surgically modified after at least 1 more DL stint?

7th: Well, Happ is back out, until he gets someone on, I guess. Duncan flies out. Kotchman grounds out. Marson grounds out to Happ. 7 pitches total. Geez boy, you had to wait  until the 7th to pitch like that?

7 IP, 4 H, 2 W, 5 K, 1 ER. He really REALLY doesn’t want to get sent down and Bud Norris, who gave up 2 runs (solo homers) oer 5 IP last night at AAA is insisting he feels fine and wants to come back.  So SOMEbody has got to go.

Lowe back out. CJ singles up the middle. Then it’s the hit n run and Castro FINALLY breaks the ofer and hits a fly ball to left that Shelley Duncan doesn’t get to and it’s men on first and third. If Duncan had caught that ball, I doubt CJ would have made it back to first and it woulda been a DP. And then speaking of DP, Julio Daniel immediately hits into a 4-6-3, and CJ trots home.

Astros 3 Tribe 1

Schafer walks after fouling like 3 pitches off his foot and Lowe comes out. The Astros have exactly 2 available pinch hitters – Downsie-doo and Chris Snyder. Lowe is getting pulled for one of THEM? Are you kidding me? Well, whatever.

In comes Joe Smith, RHP, ERA 3.56, to face Downsie-doo, who manages to up his pinch hits this year to 2 fer 16 with a single to left. Men on first and second. Bixler grounds out.

Now comes the nervous time – relievers gonna come in and, well, you know…

8th: Wesley Wright in. Carlos Santana in to pinch hit and he singles off the scoreboard. 2 ‘ higher it woulda been over the wall. Choo Ks.

Wesley out, Brandon Lyon in to face righty Asdrubal Cabrera. Here we go with revolving pitchers again. Cabrera flies out. But Millsie-poo doesn’t trust brandon Lyon to get a lefty out and no I am not kidding, so he’s gone and it’s gonna be a lefty again.

Let me say that again – the manager does not think that Brandon Lyon can get leftys out. Man, this is gonna make him easier to trade, isn’t it? I hate this change relievers every hitter stuff. Yes, I know it’s the modern game. Yes, this is a lot of the reason why there are so few complete games – something that keeps all The Old Guys who are the baseball media grousing happily about how These Modern Players Ain’t Real Men (Tm) and it’s All The Fault Of Those Stupid Moneyball Stat Geeks.

In comes Xavier Cedeno, who gets a groundout from Jason Kipnis, lefty.

Astros up – LHP Nick Hagedone in to face Lowrie, Lee and Bogu. Lowrie goes to 3-2 then walks. Carlos flies out. Bogu up and Lowrie takes second on a PB, which was fortunate because after missing a double by thismuch, he Ks. CJ drives a FB down the middle opposite field just over the RF wall – not long, but long enough!!!

Astros 5 Tribe 1

Jason Castro doubles into the gap OFFN A LEFTY to the LF bullpen – looked good with that swing, too. You throw every pitch outside, same pitch, eventually even a lefty gonna catch up. Time to change pitchers to a righty to face Julio Daniel.

It’s Esmil Rogers and his 6.89 ERA – the Indians picked him up after Colorado released him. Julio Daniel fouls off 3 high FB, takes 2 balls, then hits a hanging slider into the Crawford Boxes for his second homer in 2 days. Schafer Ks.

Astros 7 Tribe 1

9th – Brett Myers, I’m sure, started warming after the top of the 8th when the score was 3-1. You know that the last time he was sent into a Not A Close Situation, he freaked out and gave up 5 runs because he doesn’t know how to pitch unless he has fewer than 3 runs to work with, right?

Can he manage to overcome the onerous burden of a 6 run lead?

Lopez flies out. Brantley fouls off a bunch, then grounds out to Carlos. Duncan walks – that low strike ain’t being called, even a down the middle at the knees strike. Kotchman Ks on 3 pitches.

Gee, I guess closers actually CAN come into a non-save situation and pitch effectively. Who knew?

So this closes out interyeccch for this year. Good.

Astros didn’t do so bad this year – swept the first place White Sox, took 2 of 3 from the first place Indians, got smushed and managed to win only 1 of 6 to the first place Rangers.

Tomorrow, the Padres come in and it’s Wandy Rodriguez vs Ross Ohlendorf, RHP, ex-Pirate who doesn’t have a history of doing well against the Astros or at the Box. Ohlendorf is a Texan, he’s from Austin, went to Princeton and was drafted in the 4th round of the 04 draft by the Dbax, who traded him and a bunch of nobodies to the Yankees to get Randy Johnson back in 07. 6 months later, the Yankees traded him to the Pirates for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady – one of the trade that started the Pirates rolling on their – trade away every single major leaguer we’ve got who is older than second year – thingy.

He had a 106 ERA+ in 09, a 99 ERA+ in 2010, even though his W/L was 1-11 (your teammates don’t hit, you ain’t winnin) and was really REALLY bad in 2011 and was not offered arb at the end of the year. He signed with Boston’s AAA club, threw 10 games with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 10 games over 52.2 innings before being released. The Padres picked him up – he’s relieved 2 games and started one, going 4.2 innings and has a 4.50 ERA over 10 innings.

He’s 0-3 in 5 GS and 2 in relief at The Box with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP over 31 IP.

Tuesday, it’s Jordan Lyles (unless it’s him who gets sent down) vs Sam Dude – Pads a lil short on starters.

Wednesday, it’s Lucas Harrell vs Clayton Richard, LHP

Thursday, it’s Jason Marquis (Cubs, Rockies, Nats, Dbax) who started the year with the Twins and was released after massive suckage seen in his 3 games with the Dbax to end last year continued into this year. When he was released, he had an ERA of 8.47. With San Diego, he’s thrown 4 games over 26 innings and has a 2.05 ERA which is very deceptive because he’s given up 11 runs total, but only 6 have been earned.

vs

Well, that’s a very good question. Will it be Bud Norris or Dallas Keuchel? Stay tuned.

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Posted in Chris Johnson, J.A. Happ, JD Martinez, Jose Altuve | 4 Comments »

5/21/12: Bud Norris Wins 4th In A Row With 7 Shutout Innings

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Bud wasn’t as sharp as he might could have been in the first 4 innings – gave up 4 hits and a couple of walks – Tony Campana stole second AND third (Castro, as usual, can’t throw out baserunners) but managed to strand guys on: 3rd base in the 1st, 2nd base in the second, men on first and third in the 3rd, men on first and third in the 4th. But after giving up a leadoff walk in the 5th, Bud finally figured out that the HP ump was not gonna give ANYONE that high outside strike and he just mowed em right down. He struck out 5 of the next 10 guys, gave up a 2 out 0-2 single, and just absolutely was dominating.

Usually, the 3rd time through the lineup the hitters get wise to the pitcher. This time, it was the other way around.

It did help that Bud was staked to a 7 run lead by the end of the 3rd inning. Matt Garza, um, wasn’t himself. He got an easy 1,2,3 out in the first – and I like Altuve leading off with Lowrie batting second – the best 2 on base guys SHOULD be hitting in the top 2 spots. Garza started off the second getting 2 groundball outs, then gave up a single to CJ. JD ain’t hitting, but he was walkin, and next thing you know, Jason Castro was hitting an inside slider into the 5th row in RF just above the yellow sign – his first of the year. Givin his pitcher a lil boost, which is nice.

Then in the 3rd, Lowrie singles, steals second, goes to third on Koyie Hill’s throwing error (funny – I thought he wasn’t with the Cubs any more – Wrong-o) and Carlos Lee singles him home. Bogu walks, then CJ smashes a FB RIGHT down the middle into the restaurant in CF – looks to me like it hit 7 or 8 rows deep. I mean, it’s like Berkman territory. JD flies out (well, at least it wasn’t another K on 0-2 or another GO to the IF.)

Stros 7, Cubs 0

Randy Wells, RHP, ex-starter, comes in to mopup. He pitches the rest of the game and except for a homer to Jed Lowrie, basically shuts the Astros down – scattered 2 walks and 2 singles, got Bogu to pop up to short left with 2 on 2 out.

I sat down to write this here entry after Enerio Del Rosario (yes, Jordan Lyles got sent down right after he finished his last pitch yesterday and yes, probably Aneury Rodriguez will get the callup for the next start – we’re off on Thursday and Millsie-poo is just gonna skip that spot and everyone is gonna go on normal rest) set em all down.

I looked up in the 9th, the Cubs had men on first and third, no outs, 2 runs in. WHAT???

Enerio gave up a double, then a single, then another single. 1 run in, men on first and third. Fernando Abad in to put out the fire. So he immediately gives up an RBI single, letting poor Enerio’s run score. He gets a K, then Wilton Lopez comes in, men on first and third, 1 out. The guy on first is allowed to go to second on DI. So then Wilton gives up a single allowing both runs to score – so poor Enerio has been let down by both relievers, but at least Abad gets charged with the run of the guy he put on.

Then Wilton gets the last out.

There for a few minutes, I thought it was gonna be one of those give up 9 runs in the 9th and lose type games. And all because I had already typed something about Bud getting his 4th W in a row.

And now for a little Ex-Stros:

1 – Berkman tore the inside of his knee, the one he hurt back in 05, and is out again, probably for months.

2 – Felipe Paulino shut out the Yankees for 6.2 innings, the second time this year he has pitched scoreless starts against them. hehhehheh.

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Posted in Bud Norris, Chris Johnson, Enerio Del Rosario, Jason Castro | 3 Comments »

5/11/12: Bud Norris (And Pen) Shuts Out Pirates 1-0

Friday, May 11th, 2012

Bud pitched VERY well – 3 hits, no walks, 8 K over 6 IP – and it wasn’t just because he was pitching against the Pirates. AND, mind, he wasn’t getting any knee high strikes called – heck, the strike zone ended like 3″ above the knee. But he had great control of all 3 pitches – he’s starting to really learn how to handle that changeup.

He had his first tough inning in the 4th – Tabata hit an unsliding slider off the side of the wall in right and by the time Bogu got it and threw it in, Tabata was on 3rd. No outs. Nate McLouth, hitting second for some reason I don’t get, popped up, then Andrew McCutchen was up. He hit the ball right to Lowrie who threw a perfect bullet to home to nab Tabata at the plate. Then, with Pedro Alvarez up, Castro threw out McCutchen, his second batter of the year. Perfect throw, too, and Bud owes him a steak dinner.

Had his second  Little Trouble in the 6th – Rod Barajas hit the only other really hard hit ball of the night – a double off the CF wall, Barmes, who is having a BAD start to this year, threw his bat out of the zone on a 2-2 hitting a single into right and Barajas, slow as molasses, stops at 3rd. So James McDonald, a pretty good hitter for a pitcher is up – men on first and 3rd, no out – perfect time for a squeeze, yes?

But no. Don’t ask me why, but Barajas doesn’t move a muscle as McDonald hits a perfect roller to first, which Bud bobbles for an error – at least THIS one wasn’t a throwing error – and it’s bases loaded no outs. And whaddaya know, the Pirates go all Astros with bases loaded. Tabata Ks on a 3-2, McLouth pops out on another 3-2 and McCutchen Ks swinging on a FILTHY 2-2 slider. 33 pitches and the boy is done – doesn’t he always have one of those 30-40 pitch innings just when I think he’s gonna have a CG.

Wesley Wright comes in in the 7th, gets his 2 leftys, then Wilton Lopez comes in to get pinch hitter Casey McGehee, ex-Brewer.

8th inning, ain’t we got fun. Wilton back out,  Barajas singles up the middle, Josh Harrison comes in to pinch run. Clint Barmes is supposed to sac-bunt, fouls off 2, then the ball hits off SOMEthing. At first, he’s out because it was supposedly a foul bunt. Then it’s not out because the ball supposedly hit Barmes hand. But he’s not sent to first on a HBP, no. Even though the ball CLEARLY hit his hand. For some reason, the ump re-decides that he was pulling the bat back, which he wasn’t, and it’s a foul and not a bunt foul. Brad Mills has a tantrum and must have said some sort of Magic Word because Jim Joyce tosses him.

So Clint, batting a buck fifty, gets another chamce. OK, fine – and Wilton them immediately picks Josh Harrison off first. Mucho kewl. And Clint grounds out very next pitch.

3 quick outs, including Millsie-poo. (I like how BBTN, mentioning the game with 30 seconds to go before the Screaming Baseball, didn’t say ONE thing about the excellent pitching of either Bud or McDonald, just talked about Millsie-poo getting tossed. Guess that’s more exciting than excellent pitching…)

Pinch hitter Alex Pressley, who I seem to remember killing Astros pitching last year, pinch hitting for McDonald, strikes out.

Poor James McDonald – he pitched an outstanding game – gave up only the one run on 2 singles and a GIDP to Justin Maxwell, playing for JD Martinez, who is still sitting, not sure how long that is going to continue..

Only person who actually hit a baseball HARD was Jed Lowrie, who hit a ball off the RF wall in the 6th, looked as if it was gonna go ovah the fence, but it actually hit high up on the wall. Lowrie didn’t run HARD out of the box, but only picked it up after rounding first, tried to stretch it into a triple and was barely thrown out at third by Neil Walker. Not sure if he was safe or out – Lowrie thought he was safe, but I didn’t see Dave Clark throwing a fit, so I think he was probably out. I didn’t tape it, and the only replay is the Pirates’ feed, and they don’t show the closeup.

Schafer and Altuve went ofer and CJ was 2 fer 3 – not real too much hitting or getting on base today. Wonder if the Pirates wish they hadn’t thrown Paul Maholm out on his ear… They preferred AJ Burnett because???

Anyway, tomorrow, it’s J Happ vs Charlie Morton. J has pitched 5-6 innings/GS this year, has given up at least 2 runs in each start, got killt by Saint Looey last week. He’s done well against the Pirates in the past, has only a 2.52 ERA over 8 GS.

Charlie Morton, RHP, ex-Brave, is 2-5 in 8 GS vs Houston with a 6.59 ERA. He came to the Bucs in ht e trade a couple of yaers ago that sent Nate McLouth to Atlanta.  Charlie threw 4 games against the Astros last year – did well in his first, 1 run over 7 IP, gave up 3 runs/ 5 IP in the second (and won because Happ uck-sayed), then lost the last 2 in which he gave up 4 runs over 5.1 IP.

This year, he pitched well until his last 2 starts – 6 runs in 4.1 innings to Saint Looey and 5 runs over 5 innings to Cincy. And speaking of Saint Looey, in caase all yall curious, Uncle Albert is hitting .192 – really. 130 AB, 8 doubles, 1 homer, 6 walks. He has a .515 OPS – seriously, Jason Castro is out OPSing Albert Eff Pujols. Whoda think it…..

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Posted in Bud Norris, Chris Johnson, Clint Barmes | 11 Comments »

5/9/12: Chris Johnson Walks Twice In The Same Game

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

And hit a homer, too. Had to mention about the 2 walks because it was his first major league 2 walk game!!!!!!

Lucas Harrell wasn’t bad – first run scored because Jed Lowrie made his first error of the game (and year) when a ball clanked off his glove and Reyes scored from second, but then he gave up 2 runs on 4 singles to give up 3 runs over 5.1 IP – 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K. Got pulled after giving up a double to shallow center with 1 out – Schafer’s throw was not very good and Bonifacio is fast. Wilton Lopez came in a shut it down. He was even allowed to start the next inning, got 2 outs, then an inside breaker nailed Hanley Ramirez who got all whiny and said some icky things to Wilton, who gave him one of those silly Marlins eye thingys they do right back. Wesley came in and got Morrison out.

Astros got one run on a WP (Schafer dived into 3rd, lay there panting until Clark screamed at him to get up and run as John Buck’s throw sailed into left and he got up and ran home. They got the second on a Chris Johnson line drive homer into the CBoxes.

Basically, how can I say it – the Astros made Josh Johnson, who had looked like a BP pitcher, look like Josh Johnson again. He finished 7 innings barely breaking a sweat – 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K. Mujica pitched a scoreless 1,2,3 8th.

Rhiner Cruz comes in and looks great, pitching a 1, single, 2,3 9th. And then Steve Cishek came in to close it out. He gave up a triple on a bloop hit that Carlos Lee hit to right – shallow right, that SHOULD have been caught but Stanton misjudged and Clank chugged all the way into 3rd. Looked as if they were gonna hafta do CPR on him – he was still out of breath when the camera focused on him 5 minutes later. Travis Buck struck out (he did not have a very good game, let’s be kind here) and he’s playing for JD Martinez who is still looking bad. Then CJ walked on 4 straight pitches, NOT intentional!!! and Bogu came up and hit the ball for a single to left and Marwin Gonzalez, not exactly Mr. Speedy, trotted home. Matt Downs, pinch hitting for Chris Snyder (not real too much of an improvement) immediately grounded out to the pitcher.

Tie score.

Ovahtime. Good thing we have an off day tomorrow.

10th: Brett Myers in – gives up a single to Hanley, then an easy GB to second which Marwin scoops and throws to Lowrie, who DROPS IT for his second error of the game – hey, even great fielders have bad days – and it’s 2 on, no out. But the WB gets 2 popups and a K.

Heath Bell, removed from the closer’s role just a few days ago after his 4th BS, Ks pinch hitter JD Martinez (who looks bad AGAIN), Jordan Schafer singles up the middle (after looking stupid his previous AB with a terrible bunt) which makes him 4 fer 5 tonight then gets thrown out stealing – it WAS close – by a catcher who has been as successful throwing out runners as Castro. Altuve flies out to right for an ofer 5.

11th – David Carpenter in. He walks John Buck, Ks Infante, give up a single to Reyes, has men on first and second, 1 out, then gets Donnie Murphy to fly out. And it’s Hanley Ramirez up and he flies outon the first pitch.

Lefty Randy Choate in. Lowrie, ofer Marlins is up and I wonder if he’s trying to make up for his run allowing error in the first. So he singles to center. Castro is in (remember Chris Snyder got pinch hit for by Matt Iforgothowtohit Downs) and he screws up 2 bunt attempts then Ks. Travis Buck Ks. Goo-bah lefty. Hello righty Ryan Webb (who got hisself beat by Bogu last night) who gets CJ to fly out to the LF bullpen – 20 ft further left and CJ woulda had hisself a walkoff.

12th – David Carpenter stays. And Millsie-poo will use this as proof positive to me why relievers “can’t pitch more than 1 inning in relief.” Single, walk, forceout (unturned DP) K, ANOTHER walk for John .203 Buck, 2 run single, IBB, K Webb, the relief pitcher. I guess Lyon was being saved for the save and of course, Abad is bad.

Marlins 5 Astros 3

At least Carpenter lost his own **** game and it is his own **** fault.

Bogu grounds out on 3-2 (Webb’s revenge), Downs flies out, pinch hitter J Happ Ks for the final out.

Lousy game. Of course, the Marlins have incredibly good starting pitching and you know what they say about good pitching shutting down good hitting.

sigh

We’re off to Pittsburgh where Bud is gonna face James McDonald. Of course he’s yet another pitcher with a career good record vs the Astros: 5 GS, 1 in relief over 29 IP – 27 H, 0 HR, 13 BB, 28 K, 10 ER/11 R: 3.10 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, .250 BAA.

This year, he’s 2-1 over 6 GS in 36.2 IP: 27 H, 2 HR, 13 BB, 31 K, 11 ER: 2.70 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. He hasn’t given up more than 3 runs in any game he’s started and the last 2 games, he’s gone 7,7 and 6.2 IP. He only lasted 4 innings vs Arizona, but that was the second game of the year in which he was pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the 5th with men on second and 3rd, 2 out – and what is funny is that the pinch hitter was Nate McLouth, who hasn’t hit better than a pitcher since he was originally traded to the Braves a couple of years back. I mean, the Pirates don’t have a pinch hitter who can, you know, like HIT?

Here we go again.

I hope that maybe a change of scenery is gonna help straighten out JD Martinez’ head. At least the Organization doesn’t dislike him or want him to NOT succeed, like, say JR Towles…

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Posted in Chris Johnson, Jed Lowrie, Lucas Harrell | 3 Comments »

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