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9/21/12: Fernando Rodriguez Pitches 3.1 Shutout Innings Of Relief For A Win

Friday, September 21st, 2012

Froddy really came through – deserved this one all the way. When he’s on, he’s on.

Edgar Gonzalez pitched a 1,2,3 first, then Jed Lowrie hit a 3 run homer in the bottom of the second to give him a lead. Edgar came back out to stat the second – got Garrett Jones on a grounder, and ran over to tag him. I thought he was kind of walking funny afterwards, when he walked back to the mound, but he pitched the next few batters anyway.

He got a K, then gave up a 7 pitch single and a 7 pitch walk and next thing you know, Francie-poo and the trainer were out – saw something they didn’t like, and he got pulled.

Froddy came in, got an easy grounder to short, but Altuve wasn’t anywhere nears second, and by the time Lowrie’s throw got to first, it was late. Stuff like this has been going on all year. Bases loaded. But Froddy gets the pitcher to K, and so Lowrie’s late throw, fortunately didn’t matter.

Problem with me is that I watched Adam Everett for too many years and my expectations are kind of unrealistic, although I have gotten to the point where I say that they just have to be better than Mark Loretta/Miggy Tejada. Barmes was pretty good last year.

Saint Biggio was up in the booth and did his usual magnificent job of managing to say lots of Bull Durham stuff about The Process. He made it VERy clear that he had NO interest in being manager, was liking “helping” out Jeff Luhnow, who is this great and smart guy who just made this incredible draft this year, which was, of course, responsible for the success of all the minor league clubs, including the draftees/tradees of Ed Wade. I like it. Sounds just like Biggio.

Also, he made it clear that Brad Ausmus was not in the running for manager. Toldja so. Brad is a lot of things but stupid isn’t one of them.

I also liked how Biggio explained that the team now has “money to spend” and they are gonna spend on the draft (like they have a choice – the CBA dictates that) and they are looking for just the “right” free agent at the “right” time. And until then, we are gonna not block blahblahblah. Translation – we are gonna get some on his last legs Veteran Presence like Darin Erstad/Jason Michaels to take ABs away from young players.

Back to the game: Froddy pitched 3 more scoreless innings, giving up only 1 single, which was erased on a caught stealing – they pitched out and got Sterling Marte, supposed to be the fastest guy in the league, now that Dee Gordon is out for the year. He struck out 3, including a staring strike 3 to Andrew McCutchenon the lower inside corner – a real beauty.

Didn’t get to see any great glove work from Brandon Barnes, starting in center again – YAYYYY, but Altuve made 2 really excellent plays – a stop on what looked like a sure single up the middle – threw a dribbler over his head to Lowrie at second to force a runner. He also made a great glove n throw.

It sure was nice to get to see Froddy pitch so well. Francie-poo did the lefty/righty thingy in the 6th, but since the Astros were ahead 6-0 by the 7th, let Mickey Storey pitch the entire 7th, Rhiner Cruz the entire 8th and Wilton-ie the 9th in a non-save.

Astros left bases loaded in the 6th – as usual, but fortunately, it didn’t matter as Maxwell hit a cheapo solo homer into the Crawford Boxes – barely populated, Lowrie was HBP – on  his injured knee – hit his brace, fortunately, then Brettsie-poo tripled him home. Tripled???? you ask? Yes, he hit a ball to the RF corner and the ball kind of hit the padding and didn’t move and by the time Garrett Jones chased it down, Lowrie had managed to get home and Wallace to third – and without a throw. Then Bogu, pinch hitting, walked and stole second – without a throw. He really is a GOOD baserunner. Then PH Scott Moore walked and Altuve was HBP, driving in a run. But the next 2 hitters left bases loaded. Can’t understand why on earth the Astros can’t seem to hit for spit with bases loaded.

Brett Wallace also hit a solo homer in the 7th offn a LEFTY!!!! into the RF bullpen.

So the Astros remain stuck at 102 losses, but that’s OK since the Cubs also managed to pull off a W and the Astros continue to lead the ML by 10 games. In losses, that is.

Tomorrow, it’s Kevin Correia, who kicks Astro butt vs Dallas Keuchel, who had better get his sinker ready to sink and not throw so darn many pitches out of the strike zone.

Sunday afternoon, rubber game – AJ Burnett, suffering from Bud Norris Syndrome since Aug 21 – his past 7 games – can’t buy a W no matter how well he pitches, and he’s had 3 QS with no cigar. Jorday Lyles hasn’t had a really BAD start since Aug 1 at Milwaukee, and the Astros appear to be limiting him to 5 innings/90 pitches thereabouts, which makes good sense. He’s pitched VERY badly vs the Bucs in the past, has a 7.71 ERA.

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Edgar Gonzalez, Fernando Rodriguez, Jose Altuve | 8 Comments »

9/3/12: Brett Wallace Hits A 3 Run Homer And Astros Beat Pirates 5-1 And Are Now At 42 Wins

Monday, September 3rd, 2012

I am a TIRED woman. Da Bull turned 9 years old today – yes, my baby boy is now NINE, not sure how that happened, he was a toddler just yesterday, Or so it seems. And so we had his birthday party today, seeing as how it is already a holiday and school is out and lots of parents aren’t working and it seemed to be a smart idea. One of these days, I would like to understand why the Good Lord has seen fit to give the kids far more energy than their parents, who are the ones who need it.

Anyway, this is why I missed the game. Naturally, I expected the Astros to lose and was surprised when I saw the score.

Stros loaded the bases in the first on 3 straight singles, but managed only 1 run on a groundout. Matt Downs is back in the lineup. What IS it with this guy??? Why is Luhnow so in LUUUVVV with him? I thought it was Millsie-poo, but nope. Stros add another run in the 3rd on a walk, single and RBI groundout. Brett Wallace hits a 3 run homer in the 5th to make the Score 5-0. Really.

Meanwhile, Edgar Gonzalez keeps on mowin em down – the only guy who seems to be seeing the ball well is Garrett Jones. Bottom of the 5th, Pedro Alvarez has the first really hard hot ball, a triple off the CF wall, then Barmes singles him in. Gonzalez strands him. He’s our only Gonzalez, so should we call him Ed-gee or Gonzie-poo? 6th inning, Eddie gives up a 4 pitch walk, gets a force out (McCutchen beats out a GIDP, then gives up a single. He;s only at 80 pitches, but he gets yanked and in comes Mickey Storey, who then pitches 1.2 innings of scoreless ball.

Mickey ain’t no ace – he’s given up a run in 6 of the 13 games in which he’s pitched, but he has so far managed to limit the damage to 1 run.  Interesting that also, so far, he’s having more success against leftys – they are hitting 2 fer 21 with a double and 2 walks for a .317 OPS against. Rightys are 9 fer 45 with 4 doubles, a triple, 2 homers and 4 walks. IF he gets hit, it’s for extra bases. Interesting. He’s also allowed only 1 of 7 inherited runners to score. The boy was a 31st round draft pick. I hope he stays around. I luuuvvv guys like Mickey who succeed against all odds.

Where was I?

Oh yeah – Wesley Wright comes in for a 2 inning, 16 pitch game finishing stint. Too bad it’s not a save. 2 inning saves are rare. Anyway, Wiltie-poo hasn’t been real too sharp lately.

So we’re now at 42 wins. It’s gonna be near impossible to keep the wins at only 42 because we’d have to lose the  remaining 26 games and if any team could do it, it would be THIS team, but trouble is that sometimes, you’ve got guys like Wilson Valdez handing out gift wins and what can you do?

Tomorrow, it’s Wandy time. Yes I’m wearing my Wandy shirt. Yes I’m rooting for Wandy. Yes, I’m rooting for the Astros. Yes I’m crazy.

Which reminds me, long time blogger Mac Thomason of Braves Journal just died of cancer at age 42, poor guy. Mac started blogging back in 98, which means he pre-dates even David Pinto, hard to believe. I didn’t read his blog very often, mostly because I’m not a Braves fan and because it seemed to me that he always found something bad to say about everything and it was irritating, especially when his team was so good all the time. But today, Joe Posnanski (I’m gonna write about him and Paterno AFTER the season ends because yes I got sumpin to say bout that) wrote about him and mentioned how few bloggers keep blogging for very long, Got me thinking, seeing as how I got started back in June 04 and was really only gonna blog for the year and then stop and somehow I never did.

I always think I’ve run out of things to say. The guy who used to write Birds in the Belfrey (about the Orioles) said he quit blogging after 8 years because how many times could he find a different way to say – my team really sucks and I hate the stupid owner. I’ve gone back over some of my old entries and am amazed how many times I’ve written about almost the same thing. Tiresome, I know. And I know I’m falling behinder and behinder in the stat world and technical revolution – it was in 2005 that it took me at least 10 hours to research the actual Astros’ payroll and now, I just click on Cot’s. Now there are so many writers writing about seemingly everything, or tweeting about everything and really, what is left to say?

But, you know, I’m a grrrl and thing is, when you’re a grrrl there is always something else to say because we always have the last word. And I ain’t said it yet.

Pirates are 2.5 games out of the WC. The Nats and Reds are tied for the best record in the NL – and in baseball, period. Hehhehheh. The Yankees keep losing. So be it and shall it remain. And as the Red Sox are still spiraling downward, and Strasburg is definitely gonna be shut down in a few innings, The Media had best start looking for some OTHER story for the playoffs. I’m most DEFINITELY gonna enjoy this year, especially if it is Yankee/Red Sox-free.

 

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Posted in Brett Wallace | 12 Comments »

8/1/12: Brewers Hit 4 Homers, Astros Make 4 Errors And Astros Get Swept

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

Well, the good was Brett Wallace hitting 2 LONG homers, to CF and opposite field. Good was a nice DP at the end of the second. Good was Xavier Cedeno pitching a scoreless inning. Good was we didn’t get shut out. Good is we are inching closer and closer to that Sacred All Time Loss Record. Maybe we can go ofer August, wouldn’t THAT be kewl – they’d HAVE to say something on BBTN.

Right now, having lost this game, we are now one win behind the 2011 team, which had 36 wins on Aug 1. Trouble was that last year, we won 10 games in August in spite of a nice 10 game losing streak, a shameful showing, but fortunately, no one could keep down with us in spite of an inexcusable NINE wins in September, so we triumphed at the end of the year to win the Worst Team Award.

Now, if we can keep the damage limited to just 3 wins per month, we will win that highly coveted Worst Team Of All Time with 121 losses and we’ll be FAMOUS.

Don’t ask me why I watch. I tell my friends and kids that it is because it’s the last year and as #1 son says, but why stare at garbage? I tell him, because I’m in awe of the vast amount and the indescribable stench.

Bad was fielding and hitting with RISP – went 1 fer 12. Bad was having to leave Jordan Lyles in after he clearly had absolutely nothing left after the end of the 4th. Who you gonna call?

Jordan Lyles has enough trouble pitching well, but he started off great. First inning, he gives up an unearned run. Reach on error with Scott Moore screwing up a simple routine play. Stolen base – Astros catchers can’t throw out my granma in a wheelchair. Go to third on groundout. Score on ANOTHER Scott Moore error – boots it, picks it up, bad throw to first. Yall missing CJ yet (who went 3 fer 4 with a walk and drove in 2 last night and is 2 fer 3 with a run scored, a walk and an RBI today.) Blessed GIDP

Crew 1 Stros nope

Astros, by the way, go 1,2,3 first 2 innings.

Second inning, Weeks hits a routine single to right and Bogusevic makes a rare Bill Buckner error and Rickie is on third, then a groundout to first and Rickie can’t score, then a bunt – Wallace fields, throws to Altuve at first to get the runner, then a bullet to home to get out Rickie, who foolishly decided to come home at the last minute. Corporan had the plate blocked well. Inning ends with a DP again.

Third, Marwin singles, Lyles sac bunts. Schafer hits one right to the pitcher, who catches Marwin between second and third. Marwin prolonges the rundown long enough that Schafer manages to get to second.  THAT was heads up baserunning by both guys. Then Jose Altuve singles a bloop to right, Nyjer Morgan takes it, misses the cutouff man completely and Jose goes to second as Schafer scores – BAD, inaccurate throw. But Moore lines out.

Tie game, 1 all

Brewers go 1,2,3 – no fielding effups. Whaddaya know?!

Fourth – Brett Wallace hits a 3-2 FB bout fo hunnert fitty feet for the first homer offn Fiers since the day he came up in June. WOW – but you know it won’t make BBTN because they don’t nevah show Astros homers (except for Justin Maxwell’s 475 footer in Colorado). Then Fiers gets 2 swinging Ks and a flyout.

Astros 2 Brewers 1

Wonder how many games the Astros have played this year that they had a lead they couldn’t hold. Probably most of em.

Leadoff walk to Braun. (swear word) Aramis Ramirez Ks swinging – whoa – a guy who is not the pitcher. 8 pitch single to right, men on first and third 1 out. CMon kid. Corporan out, Brocail out. No help, he hits Rickie. Peachy. Blessed infield popup. Then ANOTHER *((%*! error – ball up the middle, Altuve makes a bad throw to second, 2 runs score. JEEZUS. Another groundout and THIS one, Altuve handles. Poor Lyles – he got 2 earned runs on the error because scorer says error is letting Hart get to second. Then folks say – hey look at that ERA – he can’t pitch. He’s really doing well though, lots of groundouts, lots of unbelieveable crappy fielding.

Brewers 3 Astros 2

Fifth: 1,2,3, out

Lyles back – single, single, double steal (blown call at third – tag DID beat him), 2 RBI single up the middle. The one time catcher makes a good throw, gets a bad call. Poor Lyles – he has to throw tons more pitches to make up for bad calls, bad fielding and then it will be – oh, he can’t last more than 5 innings. Flyout, Wild pitch (catchers GOT to be able to block – I’m so damm tired of this crap. We must lead the league in WP allowed as well as stolen bases allowed). RBI double to LF corner. Brocail out.

Very next pitch, Weeks hits out. Second time that Brocail has come out to talk to Lyles and bad stuff happens. This time instead of plunking Weeks, Lyles hung a slider and out it goes. The players all look defeated. Well, thing is, they all looked defeated by the end of the 4th. Lyles is gonna be left out there until he can’t move his arm.

Only 1 out still. Flyout. Two outs. Another hanging slider and it is barely a homer – just above the fence, right next to the foul pole. 30 pitch inning. 28 pitch 4th inning. He’s done for. He looked a lot worse than he was.

Brewers 9 Astros 2

Sixth: K, single, single, WP men to second and third, K, groundout.

Froddy out: K, groundout, homer to Braun after 7 fouls – you do know the Crew is leading the NL with homers? Too bad their pitching hasn’t been real too good, except against us) double, groundout.

Crew 10 Stros 2

7th: single, single, and Fiers is out. Change pitchers to RHP Jose Veras, 5.02 ERA. Maxwell in to pinch hit. But it’s flyout, swinging K on a high outside pitch to Schafer (why they throw him a pitch anywhere else on a 2 strike count I don’t know) and popout.

In comes Francisco Cordero to throw gas. On the flames, that is. Single, Lucroy homers. Yet another unmoving slider. Double, groundout runner to third, RBI groundout, flyout, Braun HBP (it isn’t deliberate, he just sucks) on his arm, then a swinging K. Three runs in 1 inning. He’s just cooked. I suppose we’re gonna keep running him out there so we don’t call up any guys we haven’t already called up and start their service clock running. Much better to have these demoralizing blowouts.

8th: Mike McClendon, RHP up. 6.75 ERA, just back up from Nashville. 0-2 pitch hits Moore (I supposed because idiots think that Cordero threw behind Izturis and hit Braun on purpose. People, please) – warning from ump. Millsie poo out but doesn’t get tossed. Brett Wallace hits his second homer, this one opposite field to the LF bullpen. He’s trying to stay up this time, looks like. Popout, groundout, flyout – nice diving catch to rob Corporan.

Crew 13 Stros 4

Xavier Cedeno out – he starts out with a 4.26 ERA. The reliever McClendon is left in to take an AB – that doesn’t happen real too much. He pops out, then PH Ransom Ks looking and Lucroy Ks swinging. The stuff actually looked pretty good. Maybe we should have him close. Nah, would give him leverage in arbitration. Don’t wanna pay more than minimum now, do we?

PH Downs gets HBP, but strangely enough, no one gets tossed. Whatever. Nobody cares. PH Steve Pearce hits into 5-4 FC. Schafer up – WP, Pearce on second. Groundout, then Altuve grounds out.

I hear tell that Nyjer Morgan and Rickie Weeks sent roses and chocolates over to our clubhouse to say thank you for all the lovely pitches and helping keep their averages barely over the Mendoza line.

Day off, then on to Atlanta to face Tim Hudson, who is pitching great. And he’s thrown 6 games over 44 IP with a 1.44 ERA vs the Astros. Braves just swept the remnants of the Phillies, who are looking to me like the 08 Astros after Ike. It’s really hard to decide who to root for – Bourn and the Braves, Wandy and the Pirates, Pence and the Giants or CJ and the Dbax (well, so far they don’t look like any sort of pennant winning team).

 

 

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Jordan Lyles | 14 Comments »

7/29/12: NEWSFLASH: Brett Wallace Gets Called Up

Sunday, July 29th, 2012

And Brian Bixler gets sent down. Matt Downs is just one of those guys that a club clings to for some reason. Whatevs. Will be interesting to see if they put Wallace at first or third – and Moore plays third a HECK of a lot better than he does first. But I’m betting on 3rd cuz unless he hits like Mike Trout, Wallace ain’t stayin with this club real too long because of Jonathan Singleton. And by the way, you think CJ was bad with the glove at third, Brett made TEN errors in 130 chances.

It sure would be nice if the Astros minor league clubs had a way to click on a transactions list.

I notice that the Hooks are facing a little lefty pitcher named Carlos Hernandez. I thought noooooo, it can’t be – and it isn’t. This one is 25, not 35.

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Posted in Brett Wallace | 14 Comments »

Astros Homer To Win First Road Series Of 2012

Monday, June 11th, 2012

This team hasn’t won a road series since like a year ago.

Let’s see – 2 out of 3 times, the hitters hit well enough to overcome lousy relief pitching. None of the 3 starters pitched great. Wandy wasn’t the previous 2 games terrible, but he wasn’t the same guy who just shut it DOWN the first 2 months – 3 ER/5.1 IP – 9 hits, 1 walk, NO HR.

Jordan Lyles pitched great for 4 innings, but got go himself so rattled by 2 errors to start off the 5th inning that he just couldn’t – shall we say – get a grip, and with Chris Sale, who by the way, is REALLY good, on the mound, that was the end of the game right then and there – all that was left was for Rhiner Cruz and Wesley Wright to give up lots more runs. We have an 8 man bullpen and they’re all very tired.

I should note that something is very wrong with Rhiner Cruz – he didn’t pitch between May 31 and June 7 – he’d given up runs in 3 of 16 appearances. In his 2 June appearances, he’s given up NINE runs over 1.2 IP. Both games were total blowouts, and he contributed mightily to them. I know that there is some kind of virus going around the team, and maybe he’s sick, but he could hardly throw the ball on Saturday

Lucas Harrell pitched decently yesterday – went out to start the 8th inning (see my previous sentence about tired bullpen) but gave up a single after an out and Wilton Lopez gave up a 2 run homer to let it score.

What was really remarkable was the numbers of homers flying out. I remembered The Cell being the Coors of the AL (next to Rangers’ Ballpark) but 13 homers over 3 games is unbelieveable.
Game 1, Bogusevic, Lowrie and Brett Wallace hit homers. Sox had none.
Game 2, Sox hit 14 singles and a solo homer, 3 walks, 2 ROE and a sac -fly. Lowrie had a solo homer
Game 3, Astros had FOUR homers: Wallace, Maxwell, Altuve and JD martinez. Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko and Orlando Hudson all hit homers, only 1 off Harrell.

Speaking of Brett Wallace – he’s played the very best I can ever remember him playing. This time, he doesn’t seem to be on a short leash – I mean, choke collar. Every other time, seemed that management couldn’t WAIT to bench him against leftys and replace him with Carlos Lee the second he had any struggles. He’s playing better Up Here than he did at AAA. He looks like a different guy and there just might could be life in the guy yet. Only thing he still can’t do is run fast.

I wonder what they’re gonna do with him. We all know they’re DESPERATE to dump Clank and save at least a couple mill, seeing as how the draft basically doesn’t give compensation for other teams signing FA any more. But they have pimpee 1B Jonathan Singleton at AA and you know they don’t want to waste him or trade him.

I would guess that there is a possibility that they would trade Chris Johnson – was gonna say how incredibly much better he has been with the glove this year, and he is, in spite of the 2 errors he made in the last 2 days that led to runs. but that is just because he was felling so sick, right? Anyway, he’s a LOT better than other Ml third basemen out there and there is definitely trade interest. Not sure that Brett Wallace has the glove to play third, but then again, there are more than a few guys at third who don’t have the glove to play third. And please don’t bring up Jimmy Paredes (literally) because he absolutely stinks with the glove.

And while we’re on the subject of stink, someone needs to explain to me why Jonathan Villar is the Astros’ 4th best prospect when he can’t hit and can’t field. And has anyone noticed how we never hear Jio Mier and Junior Deshields being loudly pimped any more?

Day off today, then we’re off to San Fran – I absolutely hate those late start games.

Tues: Bud Norris vs Madison Bumgardner, LHP: faced him twice last year: lost one at the Box – 7 R/6.2 IP and won the other in San Fran with 1 run/6.1 IP. This year he’s pitched 12 games over 80 IP with 74 H, 18 BB, 62 K, 8 HR, 29 ER/33 R, 3.26 ERA. 1.14 WHIP.

Since coming up in 09, Bud has pitched only once vs the Giants, and that was in San Fran 2 ER/7 IP with 3 hits and 1 walk.

Wed: J Happ vs Matt Cain, RHP (one of those great pitchers who Just Doesn’t Know How To Win). Matt was a first rounder in 02 and has been worth every penny he’s ever been paid – he just hasn’t had nearly enough run support. Faced him once last year – great pitchers duel betwen him and Bud – gave up 2 ER/8 IP and their bullpen eventually lost – right after ours almost lost. Faced him twice in 2010: won the first game with 3 ER/6.2 IP and lost the second game with one of his 3 bad games that year – 7 runs/2.2 IP. (By the way, you talk about great post-season pitcher – zero earned runs over 3 games).

This year, he’s pitched 12 games over 86 IP: 65 H, 18 W, 82 K, 7 HR: 23ER/ 27 R: 2.41 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP (!!!!!)

J Happ has pitched 2 games vs the Gaints since being called up in 08. Really. 2 starts, 6 innings each, one at San Fran – 4 H, 4 W, 2 R at Phone Park last August.

Thurs: Wandy vs Barry Zito (who, as usual, is starting off the year well. Well, hadn’t remembered that he missed almost all of last year) so Astros haven’t seen him since 2010 – he won one game with 3 ER/7 IP and lost the other with 5 ER/4 IP) and it will be interesting to see which leftys get to start.

Wandy, believe it or not, has never pitched in San Fran and has only faced the Gaints 4 times since being called up in 05. Really. He’s thrown 4 games over 23.2 IP with 26 H, 12 BB, 18 K,1 HR, 9 ER/16 R. Last faced them last August at home, 5 H, no runs/8 IP. Of their current roster, only Angel Pagan (.215) and Ryan Theriot (.297) have had more than 10 AB against him. Aubrey Huff is 3 fer 7.

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Jordan Lyles, Lucas Harrell, Wandy Rodriguez | No Comments »

4/1/12: Chris Johnson Stays, Brett Wallace, um Reassigned

Sunday, April 1st, 2012
I hear tell that Luhnow really wanted to keep Brett Wallace on the 25 man, and he’s been offering Chris Johnson in trade. I can just hear Luhnow singin:

Well well well
Well well well
Well well well

 
Why you giving me the third degree?
Why you giving me the third degree?
When i’m not guilty of what you’re saying i do
I’m not guilty of what you’re saying i do
I’m not that cagey
 
 But i don’t need to explain
There’s nothing to blame
You’ll only drive me away
There’s so many questions every day
(apologies, Duffy)

Brett Wallace is going to be the starting 3B at AAA (sorry Scott Moore) and either Luhnow is finally gonna manage to dump Chris Johnson and install Brettsie-poo or he’s gonna find a trade partner for Brett – highly unlikely at this stage of his career.

And get Luhnow spoon feeding us poopoo: Brain McTaggart reports Luhnow as saying

” Marwin Gonzalez is hitting .182 this spring, but he’s shown the ability to play terrific defense, including starting a nice 6-4-3 double play on Sunday. As a Rule 5 Draft pick, he’ll have to stay on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Cubs.Luhnow said the decision to keep Gonzalez on the Opening Day roster has nothing to do with the health problems of starting shortstop Jed Lowrie, who’s nursing a sprained thumb.

“It’s really independent,” he said. “Marwin has done a terrific job defensively and shown he’s capable of taking Major League at-bats and had a couple of good plays in this game today. He’s ready, and he’s a valuable asset for us, and we’d like to have a guy like that in our organization. To do that, we have to keep him on the [25-man roster] and we’re going to start the year with him on the [25-man roster], and hopefully it will work out.”

It’s really independent? A guy hitting .182 who has no major league, or even AAA track record and wasn’t particularly good in the minors? It has NOTHING to do with Lowrie’s owie?

Then he’s searching frantically for another middle infielder WHY?

Because Marwin can’t hit major league pitching. And Matt Downs/Brian Bixler/Brett Wallace/etc simply can NOT play ML shortstop. Angel Sanchez is the obvious fallback, but he’s barely competent at SS, as well all know only too well.

Sigh – you sign a guy with a history of multiple injuries, you have GOT to have a reliable backup. Even if he can’t hit…

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Chris Johnson, Marwin Gonzalez, spring training | 2 Comments »

First Place Brewers Thrash Astros Like The Last Place Team They Are

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

Last night was date night with Husband and this afternoon, we were at a big family reunion, so I just got home and got around to checking out the games and all I can say is – the Crew sure is gonna miss Da Prince. Also, good hitting/pitching is gonna beat lousy/good pitching and bad hitting.

Let me summarize Saturday’s game – Bud Norris was SO bad he gave up a homer to Craig Counsell – hitting like .170, the guy who went on a ofer 45 tear earlier this season. He was OK for the first 4 innings – the first inning run was scored on a ROE, steal, WP, GO. He gave up a solo homer in the 4th – but he was taking a LOT of pitches to get outs. Looked like 2010 Bud out there. 5th inning was 29 pitches with Bud Ending up at a PC of 101 – 2 Ks, a walk then SB (Morgan again), Braun singles, Prince singles, Kotasy doubles, Bud FINALLY gets a foulout.

He’s looked like he was barely holding on ALL game. And this is not to mention him bunting into a DP for goodness sakes.

I could NOT believe my eyes when I saw him heading out there for the 6th – hey, there are expanded bullpens now. And he gives up a triple to George freaking Kottaras – the catcher, then a home run to Craig Counsell – I mean, that’s like giving up a homer over the CF fence to Wandy.

AND HE STILL IS NOT PULLED.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm.

This afternoon, Wandy gave up 6 hits, 3 walks, 3 ER and got exactly 3 scattered hits as run support as Marcum absolutely shut DOWN the hitting.

Millsie-poo did his platoon thingy today so Brett Wallace got a start and went ofer. He is so history.

Millsie-poo is as obsessed with platoons as Garner was with having guys play every position if possible.

You notice that the stands were pretty empty – and on a holiday weekend with the first place team in town? 20K tickets “sold” 10K fans in the seats.

Tomorrow, we’re in Pittsburgh, getting a rematch of Henry Sosa vs James McDonald.

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Bud Norris, Wandy Rodriguez | 7 Comments »

5/17/11: Wandy Throws 8 Shutout Innings But Bullpen Blows Save

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Wandy was nails. No other word for it. NAILS. He gave up 5 singles, got 2 GIDP, gave up 1 SB and 2 walks and struckout 6 (seemed like more) – had all 3 pitches working great.

He left after 113 pitches with exactly 1 run of support, a Brett Wallace home run.

and Mark Melancon immediately coughed up the lead.

This is the second game in which Wandy has given up 0 ER over 8 IP and had nothing to show for it, poor guy. And this isn’t like 04/05 with Roger Clemens when I felt SURE than any day the hitters would come through – and unlike those years, for some odd reason, we aren’t getting shut out in spite of the fact that this team is incredibly worse.

I just don’t know what to talk about, I really don’t. Nothing good to say about this game. I certainly can’t blame Millsie-poo for not pulling his closer to put in Sergio Escalona (the requisite lefty now that Abad has been sent down) and nobody hit with anyone on base. Towles is ofer his last 5 games ofer 22 with 2 walks.

Fernando Rodriguez, RHP, has been called up – he was picked in the 18th round of the 03 draft by the Angels, 2011 is the first time in his minor league career that he has had an ERA under 4: he’s pitched 21.1 innings over 13 games with 11 H, 11 BB, 29 K, 3 R/2 ER: 1.29 ERA/1.05 WHIP.

Career AA (3 seasons) 305 IP (starting and relief) with a 4.52 ERA/1.45 WHIP

Career AAA (3 seasons) 155 IP – 17 GS, 50 in relief: 5.68 ERA/1.71 WHIP – 8 K/9; 4.4 BB/9; 1 HR/9

I’m not holding my breath, but hey, youneverknow, maybe they’ve finally taught him how to pitch at age 27. I’m all for older guys finally getting a chance. I was kind of surprised they didn’t call up Wesley Wright – hey you can’t nevah have too many leftys and he’s only given up 1 homer and 6 BB over 13 IP.

Tomorrow night’s game should be interesting – Busch Stadium – Bud Norris, Cards killah vs Kyle Lohse, Astros killah. Lance Berkman, in case you are interested, had a 6 game ofer streak which decreased his OPS to 1.313 – tsktsk

Except for his first start, Bud has gone at least 6 innings every start – last start vs St. Louis, he went 7 innings, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 3 R, no ER and a ND.

I don’t have any more news about the disaster that is Jim Crane. I’ve discussed it with several people and they’ve said stuff like – well, the MLBAM/RSN money will pay for the minimum payroll and the minimum farm and the rest will be for the debt payments. They’ve also suggested that Bud WANTS broke/bad owners as his true interest with what is left of his life is to FINALLY break player salaries. Well, he’s sure nuff getting that with Crane and gang, which I think just might could be the explanation of why Bud did NOT want Crane as an owner the last 2 times he tried and he’s suddenly had some sort of reversal.

I’m hoping that the NAACP makes a LOT more fuss – and also I wonder why his lawyer wife was suspended by the State Bar of Texas and is ineligible to practice law… I wish the Houston media wasn’t so limp about this whole debacle.

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Mark Melancon, Wandy Rodriguez | 4 Comments »

5/3/11: Jason Bourgeois And The Astros FINALLY Beat Mike Leake

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

Oh yesssss, I am absolutely LUUUUVVVVVing this Clank-less lineup. (He’s day to day with sore ribs – I don’t like to see a person in pain, but I hope it is too sore to swing a bat). Bourn, Bourgeois, Pence, Wallace, CJ, then 2B/SS/catcher – now THAT’s the ticket. Today it was Hall, who walked twice and scored twice and drove in a run with a GO – and didn’t make any dumbass plays. Barmes played short without trouble – no lousy plays, no great plays.

J Happ managed to keep the suckage low enough that the Astros could maintain the 6 run lead they pounded out in the 4th. Yes, 6 runs. Every single person in the lineup got on base and or knocked in runs or scored – 8 H, 1 BB, 4 ER/6.1 IP – yes, he really lasted that long for ONCE. And of course, Del Rosario, who relieved him, let his runner score – what a surprise. But Abad got Joey Votto out to end the 7th. Melancon pitched a scoreless 8th and Figgy came in to mopup in the 9th and gave up a walk, but got 3 outs.

The hit parade was ON. CJ drove in the first run with a mammoth homer to left – must have gone like 440 feet. He also tripled to the CF wall in the 8th and scored a run. No Ks, no gys LOB – he did advance runners on a GO. I’m hoping he’s gettin back on track.

Bourn went 1 fer 5 and scored. Bourgeois, hitting in the 2-hole, still goin crazy – hit 2 doubles and a triple, stole a base – didn’t score any runs, but he drove in 2 (and is that kewl or WHAT) and he played LF like LF should be played.

Pence went 1 fer 5 with a run scored.

Brett Wallace hit cleanup, where he belongs, hit a homer – not quite as far as CJ – but it was opposite field, almost the same spot. Drove in 1 (with the homer) and scored 2.

Clint Barmes FINALLY got a hit, went 2 fer 4 with a double, drove in 2 and scored 1.

Q didn’tget on base, but he drove in 2 with a sac-fly and a GO.

Happ drove in 1 and scored 1. He’s not the greatest pitcher, but he sure can hit.

Bogusevic got a pinch hit single, but nothing came of it.

Tomorrow, it’s Aneury Rodriguez (I’m not exactly expecting miracles here) vs lefty Travis Wood. I had better not see Brett Wallace benched – but El Fatso is probably going to play first. Just absolutely RIDICULOUS. Or he’ll play LF and Bourgeois will play CF – can’t have those leftys hittting against leftys you know.

Anyhow, we’ve seen Travis Wood twice before – he’s started 2 games, given up 7 R/6 ER over 12 IP: 4.50 ERA/ 1.08 WHIP/.277 BAA.

- so far this year, he’s started 6 games over 31.2 IP: 40 H, 9 BB, 27 K, 3 HR, 24 ER:  6.89 ERA/1.55 WHIP and a .322 BAA.

Hopefully, we’ll slug it out vs Wood as we did against Leake because I seriously doubt that Aneury Rodriguez is going to pitch what you might call a quality start, let alone an ace game.

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Chris Johnson, J.A. Happ, Jason Bourgeois | 7 Comments »

Astros Get Shut Out For The First Time In 2011

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Shaun Marcum gave up a leadoff walk to Michael Bourn. Who steals second. And is stranded by Pence and Clank.

And after that, Marcum REALLY shut it down – except for Brett Wallace, of course, who singled up the middle, reached on catcher interference and hit a long single offn the scoreboard. He was the ONLY hitter who saw the ball – or at least could hit what he saw. Marcum threw some kind of cutter and curve after lethal curve after lethal curve and couldn’t nobody hit it. Or lay off it. Well, Bourn did beat out an infield grounder, but speed kills.

Marcum threw 7 innings of 3 hit 2 walk shutout ball. He was pulled after 95 pitches and if the Astros were hoping to FINALLY be able to get to that bullpen, well, no cigar.

As for the Crew, well, it started off well enough when Weeks struck out and Gomez gounded out on a 3-2, the 10th pitch of the inning. But then Braun took a hanging slider over the CF fence, about halfway between the 404 and the 435. And Da Prince hit a changeup right smack dab down the middle 486′ to the upper deck in right – like only 3 rows below the sign. You know where the bullpen starts in RF? well, go up like 100′ and there’s that there ball. MrGehee flew out to deep center.

Crew 2 Stros ick

There was another homer – this one in the 4th by Yuni Betancourt. And a RBI double by Da Prince to the RF bullpen wall that Hunter got a bad read on and misplayed – that is like the 4th or 5th fly ball he hasn’t read well or taken a good route to. Not that it mattered.

And speaking of Yuni – he has 5 walks this year and the Astros have given him 4 of em.

Clint Barmes started his first game and like everyone not named Wallace, looked lousy with the bat. Not sure that he did anything that Angel Sanchez couldn’t have done – and Barmes and Hall couldn’t manage to turn a 6-4-3 GIDP on Carlos Gomez TWICE. Melancon gave up a run because of one of those DPs not turned – well, his fault for giving up the RBI single to Braun.

Clank came up with MOB twice and the first time, popped up on the first pitch and the second time, grounded out weakly (and this was the reliever, Kintzler, not Marcum.)

Quintero had a lousy game, too – allowing 2 stolen bases and an error – dropped the ball on a pitchout. He did throw out Yuni Betancourt trying to steal on a strikemout-throwemout to end the 6th.

Anything kewl? Well, Michael Bourn reached base twice and stole second, twice. Brett Wallace stole second base in the second – no, I am NOT kidding. Yes, he’s slow as molasses and  this is why he was able to get the jump that he did – guess he doesn’t want to eventually break Chris Snyder’s record of PA without a SB.

Michael Bourn made a great catch of Corey Hart’s drive onto the Hill – poor Hart – you hit a ball 420′ you SHOULD be trotting around the bases before heading for the dugout.

Brett Wallace has a sore hip after colliding with Prince Fielder, who was coming down the line. Good thing Wallace is that big – any guy smaller than Wallace would prolly be broke in pieces Da Prince runs into you full speed.

Fulchino and Lyon threw scoreless innings. Not that it mattered.

And last but not least – turned on the 10th inning show for a few minutes. First caller asks Matt (the host) why they insist on batting Clank instead of Wallace in the cleanup spot and also, why can’t Bogusevic play left and Clank sit? Because, sez Matt, Clank is making 19 mill and anyhow, Bogusevic won’t hit .250. Yeah, sez the caller, but at least he can run well and play good defense and besides, Clank isn’t hitting .250 neither. Well, sez Matt, the Astros are trying to get some of their money’s worth.

Matt doesn’t appear to know what a sunk cost is. It’s getting to the point where fans would rather see a Bogusevic/Bourgeois platoon in left with Clank on the bench. No, they aren’t “prospects” but Clank – well, it is NOT making fans happy to see him getting paid 19 mill to uck-say. It doesn’t bug fans to see younger guys getting paid minimum wage even IF they aren’t Mike Stanton.

Clank is getting louder and louder booooos with each failure at the plate. I wonder how long Ed Wade/Tal/Drayton is going to insist that Clank stay put at cleanup. One of these days I am going to do a comparison – Luke Scott in left from April 2006 – now vs the 6 months of Preston Wilson + 4 years of Clank – and I would bet that Luke comes out on top in bang for the buck.

Tomorrow night, it’s the re-match between Randy Wolf and Wandy. And Randy Wolf shut the Stros DOWN last week. Wanna bet it’s an all-righty lineup with our best hitter on the bench?

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Posted in Brett Wallace, Michael Bourn | 9 Comments »

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