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Whatever Happened To The 2005 Ex-Stros?

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

These past few weeks, I’ve been editing (had to because of the move) the entries I wrote in 04 and 05 – FINALLY done – those fun years we pulled it together after the ASB enough to make it to the playoffs. Amazing to re-read that stuff – 2004, the year we were supposed to be absolutely an AWESOME team, but lacked 1 starter and 2 relievers, and the team stayed at .500 even after The Lousy Jimy Williams was replaced by Phil “Rah-Rah” Gardner, until Roy-O stirred up a hornets nest by throwing at Michael Barrett on yet ANOTHER losing day when his gloves and bats had let him down yet AGAIN and the team suddenly started winning like crazy, but lost to St. Louis because of Dan F Miceli and also because of the failure of Drayton McLane to allow Gerry Hunsicker to get a starting pitcher to replace Andy Pettitte after he was lost for the year.

2005, the year in which we started off with Luke Scott in left – a guy the Organization HATED and couldn’t wait until he had a cold streak so that they could send him down; the year in which we lost every away game but 3 for the first 2 months; the year in which only Morgan Ensberg managed to hit before Lance Berkman came back in May and found his stroke; the year in which Jason Lane had his only full good year (you talk about a wasted career); the year in which Brad Lidge went from infallible to Dan F Miceli territory, giving up homers to the likes of Scott Podsednick in the World Series – which, by the way, I am REALLY grateful I got to go to, as I am pretty sure I won’t see the Astros in another WS in my lifetime…

But I digress…

I thought, just for fun, that we’d take a look at all the guys who used to be on the Astros, see who they were traded for (if they were traded) and how they’ve done since leaving. I’m also going to include a few minor leaguers who are now major leaguers. Please note that I haven’t made any comments about the guys who are “still here” – that’s for my first half review entry.

2005:

 C Brad Ausmus – played until 2008, left as a FA, then signed with the Dodgers for 09: hit .295 over 107 PA/36 games as Russell Martin’s backup. Still smoking hot, too… 
1B Lance Berkman – still here 
2B Craig Biggio - retired after wrecking the 07 season, beatified in 08
SS Adam Everett – was let go as a FA after the 07 season, spent 08 with the Twins (didn’t play much – had an injured shoulder), 09 with the Tigers, will play with Tigers in 2010 
3B Morgan Ensberg – traded to the Padres for chewing gum 8/07. Signed with the Yankees AAA team in 08, had a few crappy ABs when A-Rod was injured - now OOB - never was able to recover his stroke after injuring his shoulder in May 06
LF Chris Burke – traded to the DBax with Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls for Jose Valverde. Never recovered his stroke after HIS shoulder injury, neither. Was a utility guy for the DBax in 08, drifted between SanDiego, and AAA for the Braves and mariners last year. 
CF Willy Taveras – traded to the Rox with Jason Hirsh And Taylor Buchholz for Jason Jennings  after the 06 season. He posted a career high 89 OPS+ (.748 OPS) in 07, then went back to his usual suckage in spite of stealing a NL high 68 bases in 08. The Rox preferred Ryan Spilborghs, and let Willy go after 08, and he signed a 2 year deal with Dusty Baker and the Reds – he’s Dusty’s kind of leadoff guy. In 102 games (437 PA) he had a .275 OBP, a 48 OPS+ and 25 SB/6 CS.
RF Jason Lane – traded to the Padres 9/07  (from the minors) for nothing – still in the minors.

1B Mike Lamb – let go after the 07 season, signed with the Twins, got hurt, sucked, spent last year at AAA Buffalo, sucked
OF Orlando Palmeiro – retired after the 06 season
 
IF Jose Vizcaino – let go as FA after the season, signed with Giants, released, signed with WS champion Cardinals, then retired after the 06 series.
1B Jeff Bagwell - anointed as Saint after he retired after the 06 season. Which he shouldn’t have been, seeing as how he cost the Astros 17 mill by insisting on playing in ST that year (McLane shoulda just said NO, but I digress…)
UT Eric Bruntlett - traded to Phillies with Brad Lidge after the 07 season for Michael Bourn – won a Ring. Still can’t hit for spit, but he can play almost every position
C Raul Chavez – not re-signed after 05, bounced around, now with the Jays – still can’t hit 
LF Luke Scott – one of 5 traded to the Orioles for Tejada after 07 – has done well, a 111 and a 118 OPS+ over the past 2 years. Has more RCAA than Miguel Tejada over the same 2 years for 25 mill fewer dollars.
C Humberto Quintero – still here. Unfortunately. Can’t hit and is a lousy receiver.
UT Todd Self – now playing in the indys – last year in OB was at AA in 07 – had .947 OPS
OF Charles Gipson – retired after 05

RH SP Roy Oswalt – still here
LH SP Andy Pettitte –  wasn’t re-signed after 06, returned as FA to Yankees after Drayton refused to let him play Prima Donna and wouldn’t re-sign him. Still with MFY.
RH SP Roger Clemens – wasn’t resigned after 06, returned to Yankees with his former best bud. Now OOB – hasn’t started 10 year service contract with Astros because Roger chose to deny steroid/HGH use allegations by his former trainer instead of getting all teary-eyed and begging for forgiveness as his former best bud did.
RH SP Brandon Backe – DFA’d  last year after 13 innings – brought back after starting the year hurt, severely screwed by Cecil Cooper, who, in 07, left him in 3 games when he CLEARLY had nothing to “take one for the team” as Coop had exhausted his relievers.
LH SP Wandy Rodriguez – still here
RH SP Ezequiel Astacio - went to Rangers AAA club after 06 season, sucked there too, now OOB 
RH SP Brandon Duckworth – signed with Royals as FA after 05 season, spent 06, 07 and 08 bouncing back and forth between ML and AAA, naturally beat the Astros in his game facing us. Sucked at AAA last year

RH RP Chad Qualls – traded to Dbax after the 07 season for Valverde - used as both setup man and closer in 08, closer in 09. Has done well, will be their closer this year, too.
RH RP Chad Harville – put on waivers 8/05 picked up by Boston, in AAA in 06, now OOB
RH RP Dan Wheeler – great setup/closer in 06, had bad year in 07, traded to the Rays for Ty Wigginton 7/07, did great as setup/backup closer in 08 and 09
RH RP Russ Springer – not resigned after 06 season – Tim Purpura’s STUPIDEST move (I don’t blame him for Jennings, Carlos Lee or Woody Williams because those weren’t his decisions, they were Drayton’s) deciding he didn’t want a great 1 inning guy, replacing him with Rick White, who had 10 scoreless games, blew up, then was gone. Springer had ERA+ of 201 for the Cardinals in 07 and 183 in 08. Was league average for the A’s and Rays last year
RH SP/RP Mike Burns – very successful closer for Astros at AA in 04 and AAA in 05 – had 30 relief innings for Astros with 1.19 ERA, but they didn’t want to keep him, not sure why. AAA for Cincy in 06 did well, had a couple lousy innings in the ML, released, picked up by Boston, who converted him to a swing man/long relief. Spent 07 at AAA Boston, spent 08 at AAA Cubs, spent 09  with Milwaukee, spent the first half at AAA, called up after the ASB, won his start against the Astros 8/15/09. Naturally.
LH RP John Franco – the black hole of massive suckage who cost starters runs and wins, who was almost always bailed out by some other reliever, was mercifully released at the end of June. I STILL don’t understand Phil Garner’s massive infatuation for this guy.
LOOGY Mike Gallo – went from good in 05 to horrible in 06, was sent down at the end of May. Spent 07 at AAA Colorado and 08 at AAA Toronto. Now OOB.
RH RP Scott Strickland – Threw 4 ghastly innings. He never did recover from his injuries in the 03 season. Has spent the last 3 years at AAA for the Padres, Yankees and Dodgers.
RH RP Travis Driskill – threw 1 inning in 05, spent 06 at AAA Round Rock, spent 07 at AAA Round Rock, and threw 6 innings for the Astros which I can’t remember. Now OOB.

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Posted in Adam Everett, Astros baseball, Bandon Backe, Berkman, Biggio, Brad Ausmus, Brad Lidge, Bruntlett, Chris Burke, Dan Wheeler, Duckworth, Ensberg, Ezequiel Astacio, Jason Lane, Jeff Bagwell, Luke Scott, Mike Lamb, Morgan Ensberg, Pettitte, Phil Garner, Qualls, Roger Clemens, Roy Oswalt, Russ Springer, Wandy Rodriguez, Willy Taveras | 12 Comments »

6/14/09: Ex-Stro Fernando Nieve Beats Ex-Stro Andy Pettitte

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Fernando was called up by the Mets today to face the Yecchies at their new homerdome and he gave up 2 ER in 6.2 IP. Yes, my friends, that is 4 hits – 1 homer that barely made it over the shallow fence, and 2 walks vs The Mighty Yankees.

Andy Candy didn’t do near as well, giving up 12 H, 1 homer, 1 walk and 5 runs in 5 IP.

heh heh heh

Good for Fernando. Maybe he just needed a, um, different pitching coach.

****

BREAKING NEWS

The guys on BBTN actually gave Nando his props and broke down his game.

Awesome.

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Posted in Fernando Nieve, Pettitte | 1 Comment »

1/8/09: The Astros Should NOT Sign Andy Pettitte

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

You see, I remember 2006 . I remember it VERY well, thank you very much.

It was the last year of Andy Pettitte’s 3 year contract with his hometown team. You know, the team he grew up rooting for. Supposedly. You know, the year when Roger Dodjer the Prima Donna wanted to play in the WBC, but then was too tired to show up for the first part of the year because he didn’t KNOW if he wanted to play or just retire and oh, oh, whatever would he DOOOOOOO?

I remember Andy sucking like a black hole in the first half, carrying an ERA of over 5, giving up homers like he was pitching BP.

And, in fact, I remember that when his best bud Rodger Dodjer decided to re-up with the Astros, planning his first start on June 22 – you know, the 22 to match his pro-rated 22 mill salary, which matched his famous jersey #22, it didn’t seem to galvanize Andy Candy one little bit.

And, in fact, I remember that the ONLY reason that the Astros managed to end up with a record over .500 is that they FINALLY decided to bench the suckulous carcass of what had once been Preston Wilson and allow Luke Scott, hated by the Organisation, to be called up and play LF and he pretty much singlehandedly batted the Stros into the W column.

Because Rodger Dodjer had sore legs/pulled hammy /something that made him sit/suck in September, so he wasn’t exactly no help…

And, in fact, I remember that after the season Andy said stuff like – gee, Ida know if I wanna keep playing or retire or what. And with the Carlos the Jackal failure in painful memory, Drayton said to his employees – look, seeing as how Andy Candy don’t wanna tell us how he feels, we best go find SOMEbody to pitch. Get rid of Boras clients and young pitchers because they ain’t worth nothin if they don’t come right up and pitch like Oswalt.

And, in fact, I remember that SUDDENLY, Andy got his little self ALL indignant that the Astros weren’t sitting around waiting for him to make up his little mind and said he was gonna go back to his REAL luuuuuvvvv, the Yankees. And for more money. And for a player option because he was a gonna bring back that Yankee playoff magic they’d been missin since him-n Roger left (not that Andy exactly helped them win the 03 Series, but I digress…)

So now, this year, in spite of him sucking like Backe in the second half, he is demanding that the Yankees pay him 16 million – yes, you read that right, SIXTEEN million to be the #5 guy. And the Yankees, by the way, are REDUCING payroll just like bout everyone else. So they have offered him an extremely generous 10 mill, but Andy is pouting bout that. He, of course, has been saying he only wants his Yankees, but seems Cashman is gettin a lil tired of the Prima Donna.

Drayton, we all know, has told Ed Wade not to spend any more money – we’ve hired great character like Jason Michaels and Lou Palmissano and Aaron Boone to be Good Guys. And the cold hard facts are that Andy Pettitte is no Roger Clemens. Regaradless of how many adulterous afffairs he had, regardless of how many syringes he denied getting stuck with (wait – which pitcher am I talking about here?) Andy isn’t half the pitcher Roger is, nor is he the kind of Star – and make no mistake, Roger was a Star, matched or maybe barely exceeded by Barry Lamar Bonds, who more than pays for himself.

The truth is that it absolutely is NOT about the money – Andy wants his butt kissed and thinks he should get Roger treatment. Well, Andy should look around and see what kind of treatment Roger is getting – Giff Neilson won’t be associated with him, Memorial Hospital took his name off the Sports Medicine Center Roger had donated millions and time to, the media is demanding he apologise for denying accusations of felonious activities.

(The problem isn’t the commission of all the felonies, the problem is with not apologizing for committing them in the first place…)

Besides, fans and media, for the most part, only care if baseball players commit the felonies if they are any good at playing baseball.

but I digress

The point is that Andy Pettitte is no longer a #2 starter and he isn’t worth any 10 mill a year. And, frankly, I don’t like a player who acts like the Astros are what you get stuck with when the popular kid don’t wanna take you to the prom. You have to EARN the status of Prima Donna and Andy ain’t all that.

I like hometown boys as well as anyone else. But far as I’m concerned, Andy’s hometown is New York City (as he’s actually said) and he can stay there.

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Posted in Pettitte | 10 Comments »

8/2/07: Roger Clemens Joins In The Jenningsing

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

Awwwwwwwww

Da Rogah must be missing the Astros and he didn’t want to miss out on the fun. He was facing the White Sox today. The White Sox, in case all yall don’t follow DH league ball, have mirrored the Astros slide since the WS into suckulousness and are tied with the Royals and Rangers for second worst in the AL, next to the ML pitcher-less D-Rays.

Now, Roger delayed his suckitudeness for an entire inning, unlike Jennings and Wandy, disptching the Sox in order in the first inning on 11 pitches.

Ah, but he couldn’t get out of the second inning.
Single, single, double, single, single (3 runs, men on first and second, no outs) flyout, ROE (Robby Cano – think Loretta at short) FC (on a ball hit to the pitcher, but remember that Roger can NOT do a 1-6-3, so he only gets the guy at home) single, double, single, double. 28 pitches, 8 runs, 3 earned. But hey, a run is a run, earned or not. And after 2/3 of an inning, Torre pulls Roger.
Fortunately for Roger, Jon Garland was just as bad and gave up just as many runs in HIS 1/3 of an inning, so Roger didn’t get the L.

This gives Roger a 3-4 record over 10 GS with a 4.23 ERA and a .260 BAA (if I added that correctly)

Pettitte, by the way, is 7-7 with a 3.97 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.
And there is 38 mill worth of SP.

Big deal.

NOT, mind all yall, that I am saying that Jennings was this great substitution for either or both.

Or that we missed out on Garland, who is 8-7 with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP and a .275 BAA – and this is including 2 games giving up 5 runs, 2 games giving up 6 runs, one game with 8 and one with twelve. Yes, you read that right – TWELVE runs. Of course, his other 14 starts were QS, and he only had 3 starts in which he didn’t make it through 5 innings.

Better than Jennings, though, by FAR. As well as Pettitte and Clemens both.

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Posted in Jason Jennings, Pettitte, Roger Clemens | 8 Comments »

12/8/06: Not So Good Buy Andy Pettitte

Friday, December 8th, 2006

I don’t guess we will ever be sure what the real story is here, but Andy Pettitte signed a 1 year contract for 16 million to play with the Yankees. Best I understand, Drayton offered him 12 mill and would not budge a penny – this from a guy who happily paid the outrageous sum of 16 mill a year for 6 years for a fat mediocre “slugger.”

Maybe it was personal – he didn’t like Andy pulling a Roger because Andy ain’t no Roger.
But fer sher, we’re either gonna have to pray our kid starters have a much better second year – or we’re going to trade for some gonna #3 or 4 type guy – maybe FA next year like Jason Jennings or 22 mill for 2 years Jon Garland…

Jayson Stark was, um, suggesting???!!! that Buddy Boy chewed a giant hole in Drayton’s butt for signing Carlos Lee – (Bud must be chewing an AWFUL lot these days – can you imagine what he must have said to David Glass for signing Gil Crap Meche???) and maybe Drayton just didn’t wanna hear it from Bud again. I’m sure Bud has long since given up trying to chew Steinbrenner for signing FA to ridiculous contracts.

Now I guess we’ll have to see if all the pundits are right and Roger follows him back Up There… Ida know about that – he IS 44 years old and that is a LOT older than Andy’s 34. But we need to just go on and get ready for next year without all that drama again.

And let’s not forget that Drayton and Tim threw Russ Springer out on his ass (we leave him and the Cards pull up quick to retrieve him) because he can only pitch one inning and so they have replaced him with a really really good cheap long reliever named
named
um
well, no plan yet, but there are SO many good cheap long relievers and LOOGYs out there like
um
uh
well, just because I can’t think of one does not mean we can’t pull some guy from our rich plentiful farm system like
such as
um
nevermind…

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Posted in Astros baseball, Pettitte, Russ Springer | 7 Comments »

12/6/06: The Daily What Will Andy Pettitte DO??? Astros Or Yankees Soap Opera

Wednesday, December 6th, 2006

Newsflash!!!
Andy Pettitte has decided he will pitch in 2007.

Whereever shall he go?
Stay home (which is what his wife undoubtedly wants) or go back to NY (which is what the media undoubtedly wants.)

Andy’s been spoiled rotten by having a great defensive infield. Would he really want to swap Adam Everett and Mo Ensberg for (gag) “Gold Glovers” Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez? Well, they most certainly DO have better bats, fer SHER. Does Andy want to swap wins for adding 2 points to his ERA? He DID give up a LOT of homers last year and they were not all exactly Crawford Box el-cheapos.

And if he goes back UpThere, he will have to deal with The Media again, which he hasn’t had to do for 3 long years now. He will have the pressure of being the #1 starter, as well.
Tom Verducci says that sources close to the People Who Know say Andy is close to signing a contract with the Yankees – 2 years for 26 mill.

I do not believe there is ANY way the Stros will not match that if it is true. So money won’t be stopping the team that threw 100 million at a mediocre bag of fat like Carlos Lee. If Andy goes to NY, it won’t be for the money or because he wants to get a Ring.

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Posted in Astros baseball, Pettitte | 2 Comments »

9/30/06: Let Errors Open The Door: Pettite Gets Clemensed AND Francoed

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

I turned on the game and there was Andy Pettitte – and on short rest, I was pretty surprised, I mean, is it gonna be Roy on short rest tomorrow?

I gotta give TLR his props for outmanaging Ned Yost this afternoon. In the 8th, with the Brewers winning 2-0, men on second and third, 2 out, a righty pitching and Edmonds coming up, Yost called in Shouse, a lefty against who rightys have a BAA over .300 and TLR sent in Encarnacion, a righty who is hitting .316 – an .834 OPS against leftys. So Shouse IBB Encarnacion and then Yost pulls him and sends in the closer, Francisco Cordero (the ex-Ranger closer.) So TLR sends Speizio, who has seen Cordero plenty in all his years in the AL West and hit him well – 5 fer 17 with a homer and a double. And sure enough, Speizio drives in the winning run with a 3 run triple.

So with the Cards pulling it off, Phil had to hope Andy’s sinker would be sinking. It WAS sinking all right. And he had 2 very bad calls go against him – first, pitch #3 to Will Aybar, which was VERY clearly a strike, was called a ball by the HP ump, and sure enough, the very next pitch was hit for a single, sending Adam La Roche to third, then he scored when Marcus Giles bunted – LaRoche got a very late jump and would have been dead if Andy had thrown home; unfortunately, fielding is not one of Andy’s strong points. The next very bad call that went against him was in the 8th when he had squared to bunt and was CLEARLY hit on the foot by a pitch and Bobby Cox got the 3rd base ump to say that Andy had tried to bunt, which, on replay, he clearly had NOT. Andy was FURIOUS – in fact, this was the very first time I had EVER seen him argue angrily with an umpire – Mansolino had to practically push him off the field.

Andy pitched an OUTSTANDING game – 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K and only 79 pitches – guess he must have been tired for Phil to pull him with such a low pitch count, as he had a pretty easy 7th…

He certainly got Clemensed – EIGHT guys LOB – Adam Everett FO with bases loaded in the first, 2 on 2 out by Berkman in the 7th. Then he got Francoed by Trever Miller who gave up a homer to lefty Adam LaRoche on the very first pitch, tying the game.

Poor situational hitting, bad luck for Andy.
Then, suddenly,
luck
luck
luck
is on our side,
yes it isssss

Bobby Cox sends his closer, Bob Wickman, up in the 9th to hold onto the score with a 2-2 tie. Good decision with what was left of his bullpen – I woulda done the exact same.

AWEsome job of baserunning in the 9th by Brad Ausmus who reached on an error – he was on base every single PA today and it wasn’t HIS fault more runs didn’t score – Giles let the ball slip out of his glove into center. Then Chris Burke sends a ball juuuuust slightly past 3rd and Chipper, who barely had a throw, didn’t check the runner at second and when he threw to first, not in time to get Burke, who is very fast, Ausmus alertly scooted to third. VERY heads up.

Then, Orlando Palmeiro singles Brad home and Burke goes to third. Palmeiro sure has picked a great time to suddenly remember how to hit, hasn’t he? With Palmeiro on first and Burke on third and no outs, Mike Lamb hit into a sure 4-6-3- GIDP. Giles throws the ball to Renteria at second – one out, and then Burke draws his throw to let Lamb get to first when so there would only be one out with Lance up. ANOTHER heads up baserunning play.

And Lance who had GIDP his last AB with 2 on, grounds into what should have been ANOTHER easy 6-4-3, but Renteria makes ANOTHER foolish mistake, throws the ball into center field way past Giles, and Burke scores easily, then Lamb keeps running hard as no one seemed to be paying any attention to him, and he scores too. Misplays all over and Roger knows how Wickman feels. I mean, poor guy – how many easy GB outs does he hafta throw? Now he gets a VERY undeserved loss…

Too many fans say – what’s fielding got to do, got to do with it?
What’s fielding, but an overrated nothing
Who needs a glove if the batters all K-ing…

So Trever Miller, who blew Andy’s game, will get the W (is that fair???) if

Brad Lidge can get another save. (Is Dan Wheeler ready??? I got that nervous feeling)
Can he?

Renteria: ball, strike looking, singles up the middle.
Andruw is up – strike looking, ball in dirt, ball inside, strike swinging (oh pleeeeze) ball (oh bull – looked perfect to me) 5-3 – ONE out – Renteria to second
(Wheeler is warming up juuuuust in case)
Chipper – strike swinging on slider, infield dribbler 4-3 – Renteria to third
Brad out.

Wheeler in to face lefty Brian McCann (they’ve never faced each other – McCann’s never faced Lidge neither, but Brad has had a leeeetle trouble with leftys this year… )

OK. CMON, DAN!!!!

Ball 1, foul, foul, hi pop foul down LF line that both Lamb and Scott miss, ball 2, single to left scoring Renteria…
PH Daryl Ward: ball 1 low – PR to second on FI, swinging K (and they miss picking off the PR who has wandered off second, ball 2 low (BULLSTUFF!!!) – single to center, run scores

Stros 5 – Braves 4

OK Dan – this is crunch time. Everybody been saying you should be closer, Brad got pulled for you, now freaking PROVE IT!!!
LaRoche – ball 1, ball 2, foul, foul, (OK NOW GET IT DONE!!!)
STRIKE SWINGING!!!
YESSSSSSSSSS
STROS WIN STROS WIN!!!!!

You know, the entire “win” system is so freaking out of date. You can lose another guys game, let his runners score, let more of your own runners score and STILL “win” if your team happens to hit in their next ABs.

And something wrong that relievers can come in with MOB, let them all score but none of your own runners score and your ERA shows nothing. Don’t know quite how to fix that, but still, Borkowski winning the other day and Trever winning today – that is just not fair.

Back to baseball -
Last game of the regular season coming up. It’s a race to the wire this year -
San Diego won, LA won, Philly is out, Reds lost
- we’ve clinched second place for the fifth year in a row.
So San Diego and LA are tied in the NL West – one will be Division winners, the other will be the WC.
Detroit and Minnesota are tied in the AL Central – one will be Division Winner, the other will be the WC

And how about us?
Here’s how it goes:
Sam Dude is pitching against Smoltz tomorrow.

Right now, we’re 82-79 and St. Louis is 83-77

IF we lose, no matter what happens with St. Louis, they win the division.
IF we win AND Milwaukee actually freaking TRIES to beat St. Louis and does, then the Cards hafta play the Giants on Monday. If they lose on Monday, they hafta play us on Tuesday and I would bet that the lil guy with the bulldozer who SHOULD be winning the Cy Young will be pitching…

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Posted in Pettitte, Trever Miller | 1 Comment »

9/26/06: Astros Win Seventh In A Row

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006

Astros have won 7 in a row.
Cards have LOST 7 in a row.

Suddenly Chris Carpenter is giving up 6 runs a game and Astros hitters are doing things they have NOT done all year – coming back to win after being down or ties in the 7th AND driving runs with MOB. Every single guy in the lineup except Brad Ausmus either got an RBI or scored a run. AND Lance didn’t have a very good game and Luke Scott Kd with bases loaded.

We are also suddenly catching lucky breaks and don’t be thinking that luck got nothin to do with winning games. With Lamb on first, Lance hit into a tailor made 3-6-3 GIDP, which would have gotten Snell out of the inning, but Nady, playing first, didn’t get a good throw, and it hit Lamb’s shoulder, both runners safe. And leter, Lance, who sometimes, um, makes dumb baserunning mistakes, made an outstanding slide to evade the tag and score from second on a single to shallow center.

Andy Pettitte did NOT have good stuff. Remember on Saturday when I said that Roy was not ROY? But somehow he managed to get by on inferior stuff. Same with Andy. He looked nice and sharp the first inning, but in the second, the cutter was, um, not cutting and Jason Bay hit a fat one into the LF stands – a good 390′ too, then Ronny Paulino hit another fat FB to deep left center that Luke Scott didn’t get a good read on (he looked like Biggio out there) and it fell for a double – not sure it was a very catchable ball anyhow, but then Andy left another fat one up middle of the plate and Jose Bautista hit it out. He got lucky because the next hitter swung on a ball and GO and Snell K.

Andy made some adjustments next inning, his motion looked a little different, and he managed to keep the rest of the hitters from getting the ball in the air. He gave up at least one hit every inning, but managed to keep them from scoring. He might have finished the 7th, but Duffy had a broken bat slow grounder up the middle that Andy couldn’t get and Adam got to too late to throw out the speedy Duffy. Then Freddy Sanchez, the batting leader, laid down a bunt single. Pretty clever, bunting for a hit when Jason Bay, who hits Pettitte VERY well, coming up.

Fortunately, Springer, who hits Bay, managed to get Castillo out. Springer was, um, not sharp. Of COURSE he’s tired. The entire bullpen is tired. Nieve mopped up the last 2 innings, giving up 1 run on consecutive doubles. I noticed that some guys in the bullpen warming up – Lidge, Miller and someone else. The guys need to get a good night’s sleep tonight.

Hirsh is pitching tomorrow, and I don’t know if the Jason who no hit the Phils for 5 innings, or the Hirsh who looked like dog doo last week is gonna show up.

Philly lost, The Reds and Dodgers won.

We’re now 79-78 and 1.5 games behind the Cards.
We just can’t keep this up.
Can we?????

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Posted in Berkman, Pettitte | 2 Comments »

9/26/06: Andy Pettitte vs Ian Snell

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006

OK. It’s 2 PM and right now it is still Pettitte vs Snell. So I am posting this.
Andy Pettitte, LHP vs Ian Snell, LHP

this year: 13-13 in 33 GS, 1 relief with 2 CG, 1 SO: 25 BB, 68 BB, 169 K over 200.4 IP -
4.31 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a .285 BAA (he FINALLY got his BAA under .300 and he now has 4 RSAA)
@ PNC: 4-1 in 5 GS: 1 HR, 6 BB, 21 K over 30.1 IP – 2.37 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a .252 BAA
vs Pitt: 6-1 in 7 GS: 3 HR, 10 BB, 34 K over 43 IP – 2.30 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a .220 BAA

-

Ian Snell, RHP
- the guy who looks just like Wandy’s twin, only he pitches better
- career: 15-13 in 37 GS, 12 in relief: 36 HR, 104 BB, 209 K over 235 IP – 4.90 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a .275 BAA
- this year: 14-10 in 31 GS (14 QS): 29 HR, 71 BB, 166 K over 181 IP – 4.67 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and a .276 BAA
@ PNC: 8-8 in 18 GS, 4 in relief: 16 HR, 38 BB, 86 K over 110 IP – 5.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a .293 BAA
vs Hou: 2-2 in 4 GS, 2 in relief: 2 HR, 10 BB, 23 K over 26.2 IP – 4.05 EA, 1.50 WHIP and a .288 BAA

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9/22/06: Comeback Win #3, Thank You Lance Berkman

Friday, September 22nd, 2006

I can’t hardly believe this game. It wasn’t a walk off win, but a last AB win. With a lefty warming up in the bullpen and Chris Carpenter visibly tiring, TLR made a rare mistake leaving Carpenter in the pitch to Lance, who had already hit a 400′ opposite field homer and and a double to the RF bullpen.

Andy didn’t look real too sharp, to be nice about it. He walked two guys in the first inning, got a 1,2,3 out second inning. Third inning, again he’s not too sharp, gives up 2 singles in a row. then Spezio hits into what should be a perfect 1-4-3 DP, but Biggio doesn’t catch the ball, a run scores and no one is out. I disagree that Pettitte should have thrown to third to get Carpenter – he was almost there already – and besides, it is more natural for the pitcher to throw to second (unless he is Roger, who ONLY throws to first.) It was Biggio’s mistake, no argument from me. So when Uncle GIDP, another run scores. Meanwhile, Carpenter is getting 1,2,3 out and I am thinking it was just 10 days ago that he pitched a 6 hit shutout against us. Things got worse in the 4th. With one out, Belliard doubled. Then Andy makes this weird step off the rubber to first motion, and Molina, who is batting, says Pettitte balked, although there wasn’t a runner on first. I guess the Astros protested the call (Angel Hernandez, what a surprise) too alte and there was Belliard on third. Very next pitch bounces off the corner of the bag and Belliard scores. 3 runs already on a 2 base error, a balk and a WP. Good grief.

So here it’s the 4th, they’re up 3 runs, Carpenter is pitching what looks like an ace game and we usually lose games like this, don’t we. But in the 4th, Carpenter doesn’t look quiiiite as sharp, giving an opposite field single to Lamb, then he left a pitch over the middle and Lance took it to deep left center – almost over the conoco pump – we’re talking well over 400′ opposite field. This boy is giving Ryan and Uncle a run for their money in the MVP race – and if we won the WC (yeah, surrrre) then the writers (grudgingly) would hafta consider him, wouldn’t they…

So now it’s 3-2, and we hardly ever come back once we’re behind, ESPECIALLY with an ace on the mound (or some kid up from the minors, grrrrr)

And it’s the 5th, and it’s error city AGAIN. First, Mike Lamb bobbles Preston Wilson’s grounder (now we watched this guy for a hundred games and we KNOW he hits 90% of balls between third and short so you gotta be ready.) Actually, I’m surprised that Mike hasn’t really screwed anything up as much third as he’s been playing. Then it’s 2 more singles, then it’s another screwup – another GB to third, Lamb misses the tag on the runner, but throws the ball to first in time to get Encarnacion. Then it’s an IBB to Rolen to load the bases (you notice Phil likes loading the bases, hoping to get the GIDP, but it sure doesn’t work a lot, does it. And it’s a FC. And there are 2 MORE unearned runs.

So now it’s 5-2. We never win these, do we?

So then Burke, who has looked foolish in his first 2 AB, is finally seeing the ball and this time, he doubles to the bullpen. Then Adam Everett beats out an infield hit to deep short – he hustled ALL the way, just like Biggio always does. Ausmus then bunts them over and it’s men on second and third with 1 out and of course, it’s gonna be a pinch hitter and of course, it’s gonna be Orlando Palmeiro, who has not, um, had the best year – let me be nice about this here. And HOW many freaking times this year have we had men on second and third and failed to get either one of them home? But on an 0-2 count, Palmeiro bloops a ball into shallow center and Burke and Everett both score. Biggio GIDP – yall notice he hasn’t hit fer **** at home, neither, but he got screwed the second day in a row, getting struck out on ball 4 when the pitch was CLEARLY way below the knees.

So now it’s 5-4, but we never come back, do we?

And Borkowski goes out there and pitches dominant shut out ball – 3 innings, 33 pitches, 3 up 3 down. So, you know, we have a chance? Us?

Hmmmmmm…

And except for a double to the RF bullpen to Lance, Carpenter is back in control for the 6th and 7th.

Bottom of the 8th, it’s a pinch hitter, and it’s Mo Ensberg, who at least can take a walk is up. He takes the first 2 pitches for a ball, then bloops an almost outside FB into right – and the defense, positioned for him to hit a lot deeper, doesn’t get to the ball. Biggio bunts him over. Lamb Ks on what looks to me like ball 2. Flores, the lefty is warming up in the bullpen. Carpenter needs juuust one more out. It’s Lance. Carpenter is lookin tired. Ball1. Ball 2.mFoul down the RF line. Low inside strike looking. Ball. Another foul. Carpenter goes to pitch, but Molina has called time, and Carpenter is disturbed in the middle of his windup, and he’s not real too happy. He and Molina chat. Carpenter goes back the plate, winds up, throws a FB down the middle and Lance goes all Albert Pujols on Brad Lidge on that fat one and sends it 400′ over the RF bullpen.

TLR got Grady Littled this time.

Well, sort of. Who was he gonna send in – Randy Flores with his 5.17 ERA? Tyler Johnson with his 4.8 ERA? Braden Looper, who can NOT get leftys out. Izzy just had his hip operated on, and there really isn’t a closer. (Grady, if yall remember, had Embree and Timlin all sharp and rested, but that’s a whole nother story…)

Dan Wheeler, our new closer (I think) comes in and gets 1,2,3 out.

So this is our THIRD come from behind win this YEAR.

So I guess I really enjoyed it just a LEEEETLE more than the usual win…

ESPECIALLY against Carpenter…

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