Brandon Backe had a bit of trouble finding the strike zone in the first – as usual, he was a bit too pumped up to start out and over threw – maybe the excitement of starting off with a 3 run lead, who knows.. The Pest singles (I hate that guy), then a FC, then another single, then an RBI sac fly, another single, then a groundout. He settled down, had a nice 1,2,3 second and third, but had a leadoff double in the 4th. Then Molina hit a pitch back up the middle, which Backe grabbed, fired to Ransom, who tagged the runner off second, then fired a ball offline to Berkman, who made an incredible grab to make the DP on Molina, who was all Carlos Lee dogging it down the line.
In the 5th, Aaron Miles bunted a ball between 3rd and the mound and Wiggy rushed in, trying to field it, blocking Backe, who actually was in a better position to field it, and then bobbled the ball. Then with 1 out, That Dratted Pest singled Miles to third. Then Ankiel grounds into what should have been a perfect 1-6-3, but Ransom threw the ball in the dirt in front of Lance and the run scored. In the 6th, Brandon gave up a leadoff walk, but then got the next 3 guys. He did look pretty tired, agree with Coop that he needed to come out.
Decent outing – 6 IP, 87 pitches, 52 strikes, 6H, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 ER (should have been 1)
Sarfate came in for the 7th. He walked the first hitter, got a GO, then That Dratted Pest singled, so with men on first and third, Sarfate struck out the next 2 batters. It wasn’t the 1,2,3 mowem down innings he had had before, but I like how he stuck in there and didn’t let a run score – and this was with a 1 run lead.
Qualls came in to pitch the 8th and got 2 quick groundouts and then should have had an easy FO to right, but Bruntlett dropped the ball. Yeah, Brunt was playing right, what can I say. So poor Qualls had to keep going – gave up a single before getting the remnants of Jim Edmonds to groundout.
After Towles drove in 2 (yeah, him again) and Anderson drove in another to make the score 6-4, Steve Randolph came in. He was lousy, as usual. He could barely find the strike zone. First hitter, 3 straight balls, 2 strikes then a popout on ball 4. Second hitter, strike, foul, ball and a popup. Then, facing a lefty, 3 balls, a gift called strike, a foul on ball 4, then ball 4. Then, facing a righty, ball, hey a strike at LAST, 3 more balls. Coop leaves him in. Another righty – 2 balls, then a pitch down the middle, a gift strike, a foul, 2 balls. Bases loaded.
We are talking 28 pitches, 16 balls, 12 “strikes” and I am sorry, but for whatever reason, Randolph can’t seem to throw strikes very well in the bigs.
So in comes Brad Lidge and up comes Albert Pujols, bad legs and all. And to my surprise, Towles stays in. Let’s see if he can catch that nasty stuff. He pitches VERY carefully to Pujols and 4 straight balls and in comes one of Randolph’s runs. Very smart. And Towles does a great job blocking 2 balls in the dirt. I am not sure why the Organization was badmouthing this guy’s ability behind the plate (throwing, yes…) And, by the way, in spite of all the Press about Brad vs Albert, Brad like OWNS Albert, who is 3 fer 14 (2 singles, 1 double) in the regular season and 1 fer the postseason with 5 Ks in 11 AB. Anyway, Brad gets Molina to GO to save the game and get Randolph off the hook.
As for hitting, again, every single batter got a hit. Towles hit a double with men on second and third. Burke hit a double, then Lance drove him in with a homer to dead center, which would have just been a long out onto that stupid hill in the Box. Lucky 7 indeed. Carlos doubled, then Wiggy drove him in and yes, Carlos WAS safe – TLR went out and protested, but he was in LONG before the tag.
Oh yeah – and Rick Ankiel did NOT steal a base on Towles – it was most definitely defensive indifference – they didn’t even LOOK at him for goodness sakes.
Tomorrow, it’s Matt Albers vs Brad Thompson.
Guess it will be Q catching. Because you KNOW he’s not gonna be catching Roy on Sunday.
There are alot of times where the catcher doesn’t even throw, doesn’t always mean it’s indifference. Although late in the game I think it is. However, it makes up for one of his CS where Hart was clearly safe. Evens out. And, Towles does not always block balls well. Some easy ones get away, too. Overall, doing ok though.
I was watching the St Louis broadcast and they pointed out that on this day in history, Lance Berkman has hit a home run against a current or former Cardinal pitcher five years IN A ROW. And they put the graphic up the pitch before Lance did it for the sixth year in a row. Now is that a freaky stat, or what?
And Lisa, yesterday, you said Wandy gave up a run on a triple Anderson didn’t get to. No, that was a looping single that rolled right between his legs.
And the funny thing about JR blocking balls in the dirt is that he’s so skinny that even though he tries to block, there’s a alot of space there. The boy needs to eat!
One thing that is definitely depressing is that Burke is coming up with all sorts of opportunities to hit with men on and he’s just not having good ABs. Further, he’s not driving the ball like he used to. I think he’s either hurt, or the recovery from the shoulder injury is not so good. This could end his career unless he heals and returns to previous form.
I hadn’t realized this, until today, but Russ Springer has a 2.14 ERA on the season.
I knew it hurt to lose the leader of your bullpen, but, seriously.
skip,
towles/randolph weren’t even looking at ankiel. at ALL. randolph was desperately trying to throw something that resembled a strike and towles was thinking bout how he could possibly pull any pitch any closer to the strike zone. calling ankiel going to second a “stolen base” is ridiculous homerism
steve,
yeah, the BBTN crew mentioned the 7 fer sept 21 thingy. shows you can find a stat about SOMEthing.
and the score was a triple, not a single and a 2 base error unless they changed it. but anderson most definitely should have had that ball.
and towles sure is skinny – and he can run VERY well. different to see a skinny catcher… i luuuvvvved when he had to jump like a basketball player to catch one of sarfate’s wild pitches – awesome
as for burke,
well, it just might could be that he is yet another guy who was ruined by this organization.
- he was VERY good until he re-injured his shoulder last year and watching his swing, it is just not anything like it used to be. i am confused by all the people who really think he never was any good at all and won’t actually look at what he did do. do people really demand that every freaking second baseman has to be chase utley? cmon. and i know he isn’t going to winter ball because of his wife, but he sure as heck needs to work all winter at his hitting and if his shoulder just isn’t there, well, what can i say.
except that the Organization should have traded him years ago and gotten something in return seeing as how he wouldn’t have been able to play as a regular for at least 3 years anyway, long after he was ready.
and as for looking at brad ausmus anywhere,
well, he IS one of the hottest white boys EVAH and what can i say…
but i AM looking forward to seeing him in underwear commercials…
i hope…
jack,
yeah, getting rid of russ springer was pretty crazy. and i thought so at the time – it’s not exactly as if they really had anyone any good to replace him with. AND he was good at stranding runners, too.
strangely, enough, people are more upset about willy freaking taveras. colorado is sooooo impressed with him that he has lost his CF position to ryan spilborgs and cory sullivan…
Lisa,
He runs well for a catcher, not compared to anyone else. And, like said, it makes up for the cs they gave him on Hart who was clearly safe.
I liked Springer alot. Sorry to see him go, not surprised he’s done well.
Just saw the Brad underwear comment. Did you buy the magazine with him in it about fitness? Is it on your ceiling? Ha.
I know that the organization doesn’t want to give up on a number 1 pick, but I just don’t see Burke as ever being an every day major league player. Even though he has good speed and will occasionally hit for power, he doesn’t hit for enough of an average to ever give him an every day job. The Astros need to admit that it isn’t working out with Burke and move on.
Yes some weight would be good behind the plate. I feel sorry for all the ladies that are used to looking at Brad, and now may have this guy.
skip,
i was comparing towles running to any other catcher. but he runs better than quite a few position players too.
and yeah, hart was definitely safe. that guy is a great baserunner.
and in exactly what magazine is there an article about brad talking fitness? what is he wearing in the pics?
if i was dumb enuf to put a pic of brad on the ceiling, husband might could post pics of other females. which i would not appreciate real too much you know what i’m saying…
I read someone say that Anderson was faster than Taveras. Not from what I have seen. Opinions…
They had a story about the magazine spread. Not sure which one it was. I’ll check you will love it.
I don’t think Willy T was un-impressive to the rockies, he has been on the DL with a groin pull since august 15th and he led the NL with 33 bunt hits and 49 infield singles and has an avg of .300 plus for the year.
joel,
anderson looks VERY fast to me. hard to compare with a memory. i do think he takes better routes to balls and is more aware of the position of the other fielders.
dan
he’s been off the DL for a few weeks
and exactly right that almost all his hits are infield singles/bunts, unlike spilborgs, whose ave is also over 300