OK friends and neighbors and fellow Astros fans (yeah, I know who you are and all 15 of yall can take that paper bag off your heads) the home boys have now won 2 of our last 3 games in the LAST at bat.
AND
no, I can’t believe that I am saying this, but the bullpen has pitched NINE scoreless innings over 3 games. Yes, you read that right. No, I can’t hardly believe it neither. In fact, the bullpen hasn’t blown a save/lead since May 17 when Fulchino grooved a FB to Brian McCann. Sergio Escalona is so far doing great as the LOOGY, Del Rosario has stopped throwing pitches down the middle/unmoving pitches, Valdez has hung in there, Fulchino has pretty much done well, Lopez has been solid since returning from the DL, Melancon has managed to get the outs even with putting MOB. I guess Jose Valdez will get the ax when Lyon comes back from the DL. You know that Lyon has a partially torn rotator cuff – not sure exactly how/why he would be so much better after 2 weeks when nothing is done to deal with the injury, but he’s making 5 mill a year, so he’s coming back.
No, I am NOT cynical – teams make a WHOLE lot of decisions based on who is earning how much, not merit (see Bogusevic vs Michaels).
Which reminds me – I’m glad that pinch runner Bogusevic (Brett Wallace had doubled on a drive to the Hill – woulda been a triple for anyone who could run, but hey, it turned out to be good enough) scored the winning run tonight – good memory before he was sent down for Jeff Keppinger because you can’t send down Veteran Presence Michaels. This is going to be, um, INteresting.
Check this conversation that Millsie-poo had with Brian McTaggart (of mlb.com) about the ritual benching of Brett Wallace:
“Houston manager Brad Mills said his decision to play the left-handed-hitting Wallace against southpaws is weighted against several factors, including how well he’s swung the bat against a particular pitcher” (like he’s had all these ABs against ANY ML pitcher – enough to have even a teensy bit of statistical significance ) “and if other players need some at-bats. Mills has put Carlos Lee at first base and started Jason Michaels in left field on occasion this year.
‘His whole career, coming up in the Minor Leagues, he’s hit left-handers extremely well with no problems at all, and he’s still having good at-bats up there against lefties,‘ Mills said. ‘As he progresses and gains more experience and continues to get batter, that’s not going to be an issue at all. If it is now, it’s trying to get other guys at-bats.’ “
I understand needing to play bench guys in left every now and then, but there is no excuse except for $$$ for playing Carlos Lee instead of Wallace at first.
Anyway, we’re gonna have 3 OF who are NOT gonna be benched – Clank, Bourn and Pence. We’re gonna have ALL these IF – Wallace, CJ, Sanchez, Downs, Kepp, Hill, Barmes – and of all of em, let’s be real here, only Barmes has a shortstop’s glove, even though everyone except for Wallace and CJ ”can” play there. Kepp can play 3B and he’s like Brooks Robinson there compared to how he is at short – AND he hasn’t taken balls/played short since starting his minor league rehab; he’s ONLY played second base – interesting, yes? He’s getting paid about the same as Hall and Barmes, so this time, it won’t be a money question – and we all know that Fast Eddie tried his darndest to get rid of, I mean, trade Keppinger before the season – until the foot surgery (couldn’t DFA him) – so we KNOW that he’s gonna want to trade/send down/DFA someone because Bourgeois, who can play second and OF QUITE well, is gonna be ready to come off the DL pretty soon. Sanchez has no options and Downs is hitting and hitting for power (you know, what Hall and Barmes were supposed to do but aren’t) and the only thing that Barmes does better than Manzella is walk. And waste 3 mill more in salary.
Where was I?
Oh yeah – funfunfun to see what is gonna happen.
Anyway, to talk about this series: yesterday, Bill Hall made an error to load the bases and J Happ promptly threw a fastball RIGHT down the middle for a grand slam. All the runs were unearned, but he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings on 3 hits and 2 walks and a ROE. For a guy who gives up so few hits, he sure gives up a LOT of runs. The guys didn’t manage to do real too much against Billingsley, and CJ and Bill Hall went ofer, although CJ did drive in a run with a sac-fly. I’m not blaming Hall for the slam, neither – Happ threw an unmoving FB down the exact middle of the plate. Not that I’m saying that Hall made up for it in any way with the bat…
Today, Aneury threw 6 excellent innings, giving up 3 singles, 1 walk and a solo homer to Matt Kemp on a hanging slider. Aneury is turning out to be a much better starter than reliever – fine with me!!!! He had the one terrible game where he freaked out after the errors and with the HP ump refusing to call a strike a strike, but he’s come back strong these past 3 games and youneverknow, he just might could do fine the rest of the year – he WAS a starter in the minors.
I was really REALLY surprised to see Millsie-poo let Brett Wallace face lefty Ted Lilly – I was expecting to see Sanchez or Matt Downs or Bill Hall at first, in left, who knows. But lefty Bourn led off with a homer – his first of the year – juuuust inside the fence just to the right of the RF bullpen (how kewl is that!!!!). He’s started 46 of the Astros 50 games so far and only failed to reach base in 4 of them. Hard to believe that his OBP is only .344.
Where was I? Oh yeah – Brett Wallace. Anyway, in the 6th, with Clank on second, CJ was IBB so that Lilly could face Wallace and he got him out. Guess this means that Millsie-poo benching him against leftys is a sound idea. Except that I’ve seen him K or GO or FO vs rightys with 2 out MOB. I’m so confused. Just like Millsie-poo.
The 7th was exciting – Towles was on 3rd with 2 out and tried to score (game tied 1-1) on a WP – and after watching the replay umpty times, I’m still not sure he was actually out. But he made up for it by hitting the walkoff single in the 9th. Yeah, I know I’m rooting for the guy, just as I’m rooting for CJ, who went ofer 3 with a IBB. But they’re young guys and learning to deal with ML pitching and there’s hope – unlike the Old Guys.
Pence went 1 fer 4 – singled with Sanchez on first (Sanchez was playing SS today and didn’t mess up with the glove) but Clank LODP to 3rd to end the inning. Sanchez wasn’t THAT far off second, but he’s slow as molasses and couldn’t get back. It wasn’t really a messup – the ball easily looked as if it could have been a single to left.
Brownie and Deshaeis said that this is the Astros 8th walk-off win this year. Amazing – this team is so BAD and yet they’ve rallied in the 9th EIGHT times of the 19 victories we have. And yes, I AM thinking about where this team would be if the bullpen hadn’t blown 12 of 18 saves. We’ve only been shut out once this year.
And if I hear one more time how some baseball “analyst” writer/BBTN guy says how the Astros “have” to trade Hitter Pence, I’m gonna SCREAM. Seeing as how the big media teams already have all the best players, I’d think we should be allowed to keep ours.
Day off tomorrow, then the DBax for the weekend. Last time they were here, I actually saw a couple of people in DBbax tshirts/caps/jerseys. They aren’t worried about getting beat up, like Brian Stow – Stros fans aren’t like that. That is one thing I have to say about the Box – you don’t get that Dodger “fans” crap here – no one is threatening opposing fans (even C*bs/Yecchs/RedSux), no drunk, obnoxious, obscenity screaming people allowed. Actually, I’ve never even heard Astros fans “taunting” opposition players with endless screams of “you suck” let alone inappropriate comments about family members. Which is, far as I’m concerned, great. Even if there are now only around 10K fans, MAYBE, in the actual stands.
And speaking of Brian Stow – last month, That Evulllll Barry Lamar made a PRIVATE visit to Brian Stow and pledged to pay all college bills for his 2 children. Not do a fund raiser and get some OTHER people to pay. Not play golf/give a dinner party/sign memorabilia to be sold. nope. He’s paying out of HIS OWN MONEY. Himself. And we are not talking about a small amount of money here. Barry Lamar didn’t put any limit on where the kids could go to college – which means that if they get into Stanford or Harvard (not cheap) Barry Lamar is paying. Barry Lamar’s people didn’t tell the media – Brian Stow’s attorney did, don’t ask me why, seeing as how Baarry Lamar wasn’t seeking any publicity from this.
He’s paid for more than a few things out of HIS OWN POCKET (especially with the Childrens’ Hospital) which is a HECK of a lot more than the supposedly Better People Who Are Not Uppity Youknowwhats Do. (What Those Other People did is to make media people happy by not telling them in no uncertain terms that they are insulting them by asking moronic questions, demonstrating their massive ignorance of the sport they are covering…)
I know he’s supposed to be The Villain, but you know, people are complicated….
Tags: Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB
Given the young age of his kids, if they both go to Stanford or a similar school, we’re talking over a million dollars for 4-5 years of school for both kids. That’s real money, even for BLB. People can be cynical and rip him all they want, but you know he isn’t trying to make anybody like him — he’s not like that. He felt it was the right thing to do and he did it. That’s a Good Thing.
Lisa, I was just as impressed as you were about Barry Bonds doing that for the
injured fans kids. Very nice. Speaking of impressed, I was VERY IMPRESSED
with A. Rod today! I’m looking forward to a young pitching staff, of Norris, Happ
A. Rod and Lyles! I hate to say it, but it looks like either Myers or Wandy will
be traded by the break. You and I both know Ed Wade. Nuff said. Becky:)
becky,
i’m not on the lyles bandwagon juuuust yet. and the ol WB is sucking massively,and wandy is one of the top 5 leftys in the NL, so i know who is gonna be traded. that and no one but the astros had ANY interest in the ol WB last year and tems have been asking about how to get wandy for 3 years now
and i can count on one hand how many baseball players pay for any sort of “charity” out of their OWN pockets – not the golf/memrabilia/get someone ELSE to pay for it crap. and barry lamar has done it a LOT. privately. i really wish more people knew about it
What a fantastic catch Hunter made in foul territory banging up against the wall and getting the ball just about a foot above the ground. Even thou he has made 3 errors this season i think Hunter is having is best season by far with the glove. He reallly has made a good number of fabulous catches this season.
If only we could have Bourgious in left all the time we would have the very best defensive outfield by far in the Majors.
sceptor,
yeah, he’s really picked it up this past month. all around picked it up, bat AND glove, and yes i know he’s not been stealing much, but that’s OK. i would LUUUUVVVVV to see bougeois or even bogusevic full time in LF – bogs is a good fielderr, his missed catch the other night unusual.
Lisa Yes both those guys are very good with the glove, and its to bad we can’t get rid of OUR VERTERAN PRESENCE and be able to keep Bogusevic instead. He gives us our only LH bat off the bench and he is much faster and plumb better than Michaels.
sceptor,
fast eddie’s petsy poo ex phillie + 1.5 mill > purpura’s #1 pick + minimum wage = better player gets sent down.
all adds up to suckage/stupidity.
what can i say?
sceptor……..”money talks, bull sh!t walks”. Michaels is making Waaaay too much money to bench him, and Bougy is still considered a “rookie”. I’m just waiting to see if Wade can find a trade partner for Hall. He’s an AUTOMATIC OUT, everytime he comes up to bat. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Lisa, thought you might like to know Ed Wade is starting to “waver” about
Keppinger’s return to play. He’s speaking VERY highly of Kepp’s rehab, and playing time on the club. He and Mills have already told Hall his time at second
base will diminish. Lord, I hope so!! Becky
Lisa you said it all, and you are so right that we would be much off with Manzella at shortstop, hitting wise also.
Becky they just have to find away to get rid of Hall. We need Keppinger at second and Manzella at short with Sanchez backing them up. Course i know pencil neck wade won’t do what is right. He should have learned his lesson last season with Feliz and Matzui before that. Our 2 other outfielders should be Bourgious and Bogusevic. Downs could be our all purpose utility player and pinch hitter.
What do girls think?
sceptor,
i was disgusted that manzella was replaced with basically himself only costing 6 times more. Kepp was FINE at second and i know he didn’t hit a lot of homers, but he was FINE for a 2B – not too many Ks or GIDPs and he was better at advancing runners than Hall or barmes. no, FE did NOT learn a lesson with matsui or feliz.
eddie is only wavering about returning kepp because he hasn’t found a taker for hall, barmes or keppinger and he looks like the damm fool he is with all 3 of them – especially because he will have to DFA sanchez or send downs down when bourgeois comes back – either that, or he will stupidly keep bourgy in the minors.
i would LUUUVVV to bench clank and play the killah Bs. but you know that won’t nevah happen.
downs has done much better than i ever thought he would and i think he’d make a FINE bench guy – after we get rid of the dead weight – which, of course, we won’t do…
Today the Mets got the brilliant David Einhorn (!) as their $200 million minority partner/investor. Meanwhile, the Astros’ new OWNER is only putting up half (or less!) of that amount. It’s sickening.
Sanchez is out of options, so unless you trade him, he will have to be released.
Makes me sick just typing that. Ed Wade says “Hall and Barmes are not blocking anyone” which is a DAMNED LIE!! Manzella has JUST as good of range
that Barmes has, only since Wade gave him A TON of money (this year and NEXT year) he won’t move either one of them. Do NOT get me started on the teain wreck those two are.Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Septor..Us Grlllllllllls know a WHOLE LOT more about baseball, than MOST MEN
I’ve met. I hang with Chip Bailey’s blog, and they are ALL men!! We girls are here
and we ain’t gonna go ANYWHERE!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Becky:)
Lisa We need keppinger in the no 2 spot cause he with bourn will get on base alot more often than most anyone else on the team. Pence will drive them in a good part of the time. Hunter seems to hit a lot better with runners on base especially in scoring position than he does with the bases empty. He is hitting only about .235 with the bases empty and .370 with runners on and over .400 if they are in scoring position.
Carlos Lee is our problem, he has left hunter on base about 47 or so times.
We need to vote for our player to represent the Astros for the AS game. I’m voting
for Pence, as he has the hottest bat in our line-up!!!!! Bourn gets my second vote!
agree with kepp in the 2 hole and pence for this year’s all-star – unless wandy keeps pitching like he has been – usually he’s only great in the second half
barmes is signed only for this year – he’s arb eligible at the end of the year and can be non tendered (HOPEFULLY) unless he’s traded this year. fast eddie isn’t foolling ANYONE when he talks about how hall/barmes aren’t blocking anyone – if he’s talking about a-ball guys, well, yeah, but we have non-prospects just as good or better AND cheaper
and it’s ridiculous how few times pence has scored when you look at how often he’s on base – he’s been left waaaaayyy too many times
sanchez doesn’t have to be released but he DOES have to be put on waivers before being sent down and he has to agree to accept a AAA assignment – he CAN choose to be a FA
On Twitter, Maury Brown is teasing that some new Jim Crane info. is about to come out:
“Amazing information has landed on my doorstep #Astros” (3:13 p.m. Eastern)
“On my #Astros tweet… I have reported prior about Crane’s past. There is far more in the public record that needs to be told. #MLB” (3:39 p.m. Eastern)
—
Friday afternoon isn’t the best time to make a splash, but I’m curious what Maury will be writing.
This team will struggle with the plyers they have. It would make more since to bring up guys from OC or CC and see whart they can do. Thatr would be what I would do if I wqas the GM of this team.
francois,
well, that is what makes actual SENSE. but it won’t happen because in this game, guys play depending on how much their salary is and on how much they are the favorites of the GM
sigh