Now he can be one of those heroes to the baseball writers who have lately been praising Nolan Ryan to the heavens for instituting a policy with the Rangers that the minor leaguers can’t be kept on pitch counts (which somehow has led to them being in first place this year – don’t ask me to explain THAT one). You see, over his career, Ryan was just your usual ordinary run of the mill guy who had no problem pitching for 25 years, throwing complete 130-160 pitch games every single time out, just like every other starter of the 60s, 70s and 80s did. Unlike the babied, overpaid whiny china dolls of today who care only about money and aren’t Real Men.
or something
Anyway, Moehler threw a FINE game, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 GIDP. He was still going strong at the end of the 8th and I guess he must have told Coop that he wasn’t gonna get Chaconed (remember the poor guy’s 8 inning 4 hit 3-0 masterpiece last year – he was at 109 pitches and sailing along when Coop inexplicably pulled him to send in the closer because The Roolz say that the closer has to do the 9th if you are leading by 3 or fewer runs – and the closer promptly lost his game…) He had a 6-0 shutout going at the time, but he gave up a walk, a GR double and an RBI GO and there went the SO, but he sure nuff got his W which he certainly deserved.
Every starter in the lineup except for Moehler got a hit and Maysonet had a career night, going 4 fer 4 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Since his callup, he’s 6 fer 14 with 5 RBIs and 2 runs. Which significantly beats the heck out of Jason Worthless Smith and his 0 fer 25 and NO RBIs. Which makes me wonder why Coop was so insistent on Smith’s Veteran Suckage.
I should also not that baserunning was NOT good – Bourn got thrown out trying to stretch a single, Tejada got caught in yet another rundown and TWO guys got thrown out at the plate in the 6th.
But hey, a W is a W and after all the suckage, I’ll take it.
Tomorrow, it’s Wandy vs Jeff Karstens.
Karstens, this year, has thrown 8 games over 43.1 IP – 44 H, 8 (!!!) Hr, 16 BB, 18 K – 5.19 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, .268 BAA.
Wandy, his last game, had the devil’s own luck in that every one of the 6 runs he gave up were designated as unearned. But he still threw flat out lousy and I sure hope he’s found the command he couldn’t find last time.
This year, he’s thrown 10 games over 63 IP – 53 H – 1 HR, 18 BB, 56 K – 1.71 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, .232 BAA.
Tags: Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates
Looking pretty clairvoyant on Keppinger and Maysonnet, there. Since they’ve been giving playing time, they’ve been hitting great. Haven’t gotten to see them play, so I can’t speak to their defense (though word is Keppinger moves like he’s wearing concrete sneakers), but their bats sure have provided the lineup with some much-needed fire.
smile
well, anyone not named cooper or wade coulda toldja that jason smith was teh sukc and that geoff blum is NOT a full time player
and keppinger has like zero range and is slow as molasses on a pivot, but at least he catches what DOES come to him and he throws fine
and i was right about kata geting called up to take the other lousy bat benchwarmer spot when matsui took his usual DL trip in the first half
Is Maysonet our SSOF? (Short-stop of future?)
i think manzella is – i hear tell he’s got a glove like adam everett (who is hitting .298 this year, BTW)
with any luck, we’ll use maysonet as our 2B and matsui as PH/utility guy. whether he likes it or not
Matsui can be the guy that Coop puts in as a defensive sub, regardless of the position or score, in the 8th or 9th innings of games. What is it with the defensive subs? Do managers like Coop and Garner do it to make themselves feel like they’re ACTUALLY managing the game? They almost always feel so unnecessary.