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Wandy Throws 7 Innings of 1 Hit Ball, Beats Mike Leake’s Reds

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

It wasn’t the best I’ve seen him throw, and he gave up 2 walks and went to 8 pitch counts twice and 9 pitch count once, but he kept em off the basepaths fer SHER. He only had 2 hard hit balls – one by Hanigan to the LF bullpen (thank you Michael Bourn) and one to the Hill (thank you Michael Bourn) but the Danger in this Park (ask Roy last night or Leake today) is to left, where the Crawford Boxes beckon so invitingly.

Pence gave Wandy a 1 run lead with a solo homer to the CBoxes in the second, and that was all he needed. CJ added another solo homer with a smash above the CBoxes onto the tracks and Michael Bourn, hitting against a LEFTY!!! (YOU SEE THAT MILLSY???!!! A LEFTY!!!) drove in Castro and Jason Michaels with a double to seal the deal.

Poor Castro – he should have had another hit and an RBI, but Johnny Gomes trapped his liner to left with man on second 2 out in the 4th and sold it as a catch.

Lyons and Lindstrom came in and got em out in the 8th and 9th even though thre was no save – hey, the bullpen is teh sukc these days.

Speaking of sukc, Chris Sampson was sent down today – he still hasn’t recovered from the shoulder problem. Meanwhile, we’re trying out Fernando Abad, a 24 year old lefty. He was called up from AA, where he was a swingman – started 4 games, relieved in 10 over a total of 39.2 IP with an ERA of 2.50, Whip 1.41 and a .306 BAA. Although he gave up a lot of hits, he gave up only 6 walks/39.2 IP and 3 HR/39.2 IP – so we’ll see how he does.

He can’t be worse than Majewski/Daigle.

Can he?

Oh yeah – check out this nice article on Danny Arguello. Wonder why Jordan Lyles would merit a callup and he wouldn’t…

Anyway, we got to see Anderson Hernandez starat at SS today. Isn’t any better with the glove and he got a nice GIDP and nothing else.

By the way, Ed Maysonet came back from the DL a couple of weeks back and is hitting like crazy over the past 2 weeks. Would be nice to see him get called back up again (he spent almost the whole year on the DL – and didn’t get many ABs because of Matt Kata, who has lately returned to his normal level of suckage…)

Tomorrow, it’s lefty Wesley Wright vs lefty Ted Lilly – yes, the C*bs are back in town. Makes the beer guys happy…

Anyway, Ted Lilly is supposed to be on the trading block – and wouldn’t be real too surprised to see a lot of scouts – he always KILLZ the Astros, it seems. Even the time he gave up FIVE homers, he still won.

Hopefully, the guys will get it together for Wes tomorrow, and Millsy won’t leave him out there to throw 40 pitches in an inning. Anyway, Ted can be an example to Wes of how a very small lefty (and Lilly can’t be an inch over 5-9) can be a very successful ML pitcher.

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Posted in Chris Johnson, Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn, Wandy Rodriguez, Wesley Wright | 6 Comments »

Roy Oswalt Loses His Second Career Game Against The Reds As He Gives Up 6 Runs And Gets Shutout

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Roy didn’t pitch very well. To be nice about it. First inning, he gives up a single, then a homer over the CBoxes, then a double to right (but no mroe runs) then a solo homer in the second, then 3 runs on singles/doubles in the 3rd. 6 ER (no botched plays) and that was more than enough for Johnny Cueto, who held the Astros to 3 singles,a double, a walk and a ROE over 8 innings.

The hits, by the way, were 2 singles for CJ, 1 double for Sanchez and a single for Pence. As usual, Clank and Berkman looked old and worn out. It just might could be time to move them down in the lineup and move CJ up, know what I’m sayin?

Jason Castro is hitting .167, but I don’t hear fans screaming for blood as they did with JR Towles (who is still out on the DL with a broken hand). Not that I’m screaming for blood, neither, but I keep pointing it out to show how the Organization’s PR machine affects how fans react to players.

This trade deadline is gonna be interesting  to see what Drayton lets Fast Eddie do. I hear tell that Ed doesn’t WANT to trade the ol WifeBeater, but he has a mutual option, meaning he can be a FA if he chooses. The guy has a LIFETIME ERA (in the NL) of 4.40 – and you just watch Fast Eddie go and sign his luuuuuvvvv to a long, expensive contract, in which he immediately reverts to mediocrity (aren’t you glad we didn’t end up with Randy Wolf???!!!) These guys do NOT understand the concept of selling high.

They won’t trade WB and I hear tell they won’t trade Wandy, neither.

ah well

I’ve become almost numb. But I must say that I am beginning to appreciate the few wins a lot more than I used to.

Tomorrow afternoon, it’s Mike Leake vs Wand-Man and I hope Wandy stops the slide.

Also, Andre Dawson gets inducted into the HOF. It’s too bad that guys from the 80s who deserve to be in, such as Tim Raines, Lou Whittaker, Alan Trammel and Bobby Grich can’t get in because they are being held to the self same opffensive standards of the 90s that the media are now convinced are ONLY due to hitters and 1 pitcher using steroids.

It will be only a few years until Biggio goes in – too many media aren’t impressed with him because he didn’t play for one of their Real Teams(Tm) but he’s got the magic number and he didn’t LOOK like a roider, so in he goes. Larry Walker sahould be going in with him, but I bet he won’t get no respect neither.

Baggy?
Well, in case you don’t know, he had a decline phase at age 33 and was OOB by 35 which proved he used steroids. Also, he hit homers in the Dome which proved he used steroids because he is so much smaller than that giant of a man Jimmy Wynn, who hit 90 in the Dome during the years of the high mound. Oh yeah – and he hit more homers/AB in the majors than he did at AA which proved he used steroids. Plus, he had arthritis in his shoulder which proved he used steroids. And after he got the arthritis and he couldn’t lift weights no mo, his muscles shrunk which proved he stopped using steroids.

Ergo some suck

says Bryant Gumbel (and probably a whole lot of other media guys). Which means that Baggy MIGHT could get in, but I doubt it, which is a shame because he was a genuine 5 tool guy – and I have EXTRA appreciation for guys like Baggy and Larry Walker and even HotDog Edmonds – MUCH more than I do for the Jim Thome/McGwire guys who can’t do anything besides walk or hit home runs.

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Posted in Roy Oswalt | 2 Comments »

Norris Loses It In The 4th, Berkman Never Finds It And Astros Lose To Reds

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Bud Norris was absolutely unhittable NAILS the first 3 innings – 32 pitches, 5 K, 1 double barely down the RF line. Every FB was perfectly placed, sliders were sliding, even an occasional changeup was changing.

Then it happened. 4th inning, he gives up an IF single to 3rd, Chris Johnson makes a bad throw instead of just holding onto the ball, runner on second. No big deal, he did fine with the runner on second LAST inning, right?

nope.

Next hitter, 3 straight balls, then a strike, then a strike called a ball (yeah, the zone was tight).

Next hitter, 2 borderline pitches, both balls, then another ball, then a strike, then another ball.

bases loaded, Arnesberg runs out.

Next hitter, 3 balls, sac-fly to left, runners advance to second and third on Clank, who can’t throw from the LF bullpen, naturally.

Next hitter, ball, strike, foul, HBP

Bases loaded again.

1st pitch (thank you, hitter) 6-2 FC, no run scores

Next hitter, 7 pitch 3-2 AB with single to shallow left, 2 runs score, because Clank casually lobs it into 3rd. Clank never cares if runs score or runners advance. Well, I shouldn’t say that. Every now and then he actually TRIES to catch a runner and every now and then, he actually, stunningly succeeds. It is hard for me to believe that he started his professional career as a SS, seeing as how much he hates to actually, you know, like, move.

Pitcher pops out.

33 pitches, 3 runs. Mostly walks, the only solidly hit ball was the sac-fly. It’s all about the strike zone problem.

Norris hands a slider in the 5th and Joey Votto (whose production is topping even Uncle this year) hits it out. Other than that, a nice, smooth inning. 6th inning, GO, another walk, GIDP. Dude seems to have these Big Innings in which he loses command every single game. NO idea why, doesn’t seem to have anything to do with how many pitches thrown, how many innings thrown, where he is in the lineup. Ah well, good thing this is a learning year in which he actually gets a chance to work things out seeing as how even Drayton has GOT to admit we ain’t gonna be no champeenzzz!!!

Bourn, of course, was seated against a lefty and Bourgeois got the start, and went ofer. But Berkman and Clank were the goats tonight – Berkman struck out with men on and GIDP with RISP. Clank hit a single and left 4 men on. REALLY sorry performances, to be nice about it.

Pence had a great night – went 4 fer 5 and yeah, he did flyout to end the game with 2 on, but Clank did the same right before him.

And, to my shock, Mills brought in Michaels to PH instead of Feliz, with man on 3rd in the 6th, 2 out.

I should also note that CJ did make up for his error by driving in Pence with a high popup to shallow right – GREAT, gutsy baserunning by Pence.

Angel Hernandez had his first PH – went ofer, and new pitcher Figueroa let his inherited runner score – not that it matters because Byrdak had already lost the game. But it is not like we just got 2 great pickups.

Tonight, Roy goes for his pimped win – to tie Niekro for the Astros franchise wins!!!!! OK. Then Drayton can trade him. I hear tell from all over that Fast Eddie and Drayton are being extraordinarily difficult to deal with – media are complaining that Roy wants his option picked up – although Roy is very straightforward in saying that he will work with any team about the $$$ to restructure a contract. The media always thinks that any player should just eat poopoo when traded, that no-trade guys should always have to agree to be traded “for the good of the team” and are selfish if they don’t want to give up their bargained for rights.

The fans always think that the other team should give up its best your players/prospects in huge quantities ( like the Teixiera trade between Atlanta and Texas) and ignore minor nagging things like money.

sigh

I also doubt that Drayton is going to get really serious about trying to trade any tradeable players we DO have, such as Myers, Lindstrom and Lyon. Not sure who he thinks is gonna take Clank in the offseason. Not sure who is gonna take Berkman THIS trade deadline (and Lance is now saying that he is gonna try to play next year – he KNOWS that he ain’t getting no 15 mill option picked up) and I don’t see Bagwell making this miraculous difference in the hitting of either Clank or Lance with his magic “leadership” maddd skillllzzzzz.

I am gonna mention, once more, that Douglas Arguello is still outpitching the Hyped Jordan Lyles down at Corpus, but you think he’s gonna get a sniff?

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Posted in Bud Norris, Roy Oswalt | 3 Comments »

Paulino Pitches 8 Shutout Innings Against The Reds, Doesn’t Get The W, But Lance Drives In The Winning Runs

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Poor Paulino – even when he gives up NO runs he still can’t get that elusive W. Dude now has THE lowest run support/start in the MAJORS! He’s gone under Roy O. But Roy gonna get his own entry…

And the day before, Tommy Manzella drove in both runs.

Maybe he should get his own headline, too…

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Posted in Berkman, Felipe Paulino, Tommy Manzella | No Comments »

Kevin Cash Outpitches Wandy, Byrdak, Fulchino And Chacin As Reds Beat Stros For The 8th Straight Game

Friday, May 28th, 2010

I don’t have words any more to express how incredibly disGUSted I am with this absolutely HORRIBLE team. Looks as if everyone not named Oswalt, Pence, Manzella, Bourn and Keppinger have long since mailed it in. I’ve loved this team since my Mama introduced me to the Astros when I was a little girl. I’ve watched them through the bad early 90s, the good but not quiiiite good enough mid 90s with the execrable Terry Collins, the shoulda been GREAT late 90s, the sort of re-tooling earlier this decade and the rapid decline into less than suckage after the forced exit of Gerry.

Wandy looked like it was 2006 again – to be nice about it – hung a bunch of curveballs, nibbled the strike zone to death, walked guys all over the place. I won’t need to go into how he got Francoed by Chacin (called back up) who let all 3 of the inherited runners score, do I? Or Fulchino, who sucked again, Byrdak, fresh off the DL, who served up a granny to ex-Stro Drew Sutton. Only good part of the night was watching Kevin Cash throw knuckleballs and give up only 1 run in the 8th. Dude can’t hit – put him in the bullpen.

HEY EDDIE – you just found your self a new middle reliever!!!!!

 Astros hitters – except for Pence and Bourn – uck-say (well, Manzella almost hit a ball out) and this was facing some guy just called up from AAA – as usual. I like how he’s got Clank and Lance on first and second, 2 outs in the 5th – and the pitching coach goes out there and sez – don’t worry, that’s Feliz coming up – remember the GIDP with 1 out bases loaded in the third – it’s what he always does - and sure nuff, the usual GO to 3rd.

I am more than tired of PedroWorthless Feliz, Cory *(^*$%@! Sullivan, Carlos Lee, Lance (yes, even him) and most of all, I am REALLY tired of Drayton and his 3 stooges.

First, Drayton says he wants to leave FoxSports and form a RSN with Les Alexander. Like that would work – he points to (get this) the Yankees/Red Sox as having success. Like there is noooooo difference in the audience? What a maroon. Won’t nobody pay extra to get the dish to watch his horrible team – and won’t nobody pay extra for the Rockets neither. The Twins tried the RSN thingy a couple years back and gave it up when it CLEARLY didn’t work.

Hello. The more people who watch your team, the more fans you have. One of these days, MLB is gonna have the sense to get rid of the assinine blackout stuff so that Astros fans in, say, Dallas, could watch their team instead of not watching or watching Rangers – and that helps the Astros, like HOW?

What a complete and total maroon. Like he isn’t losing fans right and left because he absolutely refuses to do anything except say that he thinks this is a championship team? Oh yeah – and like WHAT does he think is gonna happen to his fan base in Austin and Corpus when Nolan Ryan, who owns those minor league franchises and who NOW owns the Rangers, decides to un-affiliate with the loser Astros? We’re gonna go where – Oklahoma City, just bustin with Astros fans? Back to Tuscon? Well, at least in Tuscon, the 10 Astros fans there will be able to follow them on MLB.tv unless Drayton is stupid enough to claim it for his territory.

jeezus gawd

Next:

Bud Norris is on the DL with a sore arm and here is an opening for a young pitcher called up from ther minors, right? A new face, a hope for the future, someone to grab some Astro fan attention??? Yes???

HECK NO.

They send down Oswaldo Navarro, who struck out in both pinch hit ABs over 12 games – which proves he sucks, right? And do they call up anyone who could like, you know, START? Even if the guy isn’t lights out at AAA? Just so we can see someone young and eager?

HECK NO.

We get Brian Moehler who has all of 18 IP this year and has thrown an inning or 2 every 4 to 6 days. And isn’t particularly good neither.

wonderful

That REALLY gives me (and every other Astros fan) a great incentive to watch a Saturday night game instead of doing something a LOT more interesting. Like watching paint dry. Or golf.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I was chatting with a friend of mine who has been feeling my misery and he mentioned that if only Drayton had waited another few weeks, he could have had Walt Jocketty – you know, the GM of the Reds, who now have the best record in the NL – heck, they have a better record than the Yankees. Yeah, they do.

I had a good laugh – a bitter laugh, to be sure – and I told him – don’t be ra-deeka luss (channeling Balky – remember him?) Jocketty would NEVAH have agreed to so much as interview for a job where he would have to “work with” Tal Smith. And Drayton would NEVAH have hired someone like Jocketty who wouldn’t want to be paid to be someone’s yes-man and do incredibly STUPID stuff like sign Pedro Feliz or Cory Sullivan instead of Scott Rolen and Johnny Gomes.

And don’t get me started on Drew Stubbs or Drew “Grand Slam” Sutton.

My baseball team has become an even greater laughingstock than the Royals/Pirates. I wish I could be one of the ones doing the laughing, is all I can say…

Husband tried to cheer me up – sez – well, at least you don’t have to worry about how to get money for tickets any more – too many people sayin – take my tickets. PLEASE…..

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Posted in Wandy Rodriguez | 22 Comments »

Reds Beat Roy Oswalt For The Second Time In 10 Years

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

I guess that sounds better than – once again, Astros Display Massive Suckage.

Roy wasn’t at his best – he threw 7 innings, 120 pitches and gave up 8 hits – 1 homer, 1 triple, 1 double and 5 singles, 4 walks, 1 IBB and 6 K (2 to the pitcher) and his offense didn’t pick him up. Seems to me he had trouble finishing guys off after getting them to 0-2 because there were waaayyy too many pitches fouled off.

So what is there good to say?

Well, Tommy Manzella made three absolutely incredible plays and turned 3 DPs and turned what would have been a fer SHER single up the middle for Bronson Arroyo into an out.

Michael Bourn hit a single and an RBI double and Pence, after my bout giving up on that boy, hit a homer almost up to the trax above the Crawford Boxes and also hit a good clean single (NOT an IF hit or a roller that squeaked through) to left center.

I gots to give Clank props for the high socks – first time I ever remember seeing him wear them – but he keeps striking out and an incredible rate (for him) 16 K in 79 AB – and he swung at a pitch that was so far out of the strike zone that he almost fell over. Feliz just looked awful and Towles didn’t have one good AB. Manzella at least hit a double and scored a run.

And if the guys look THIS bad against Bronson Arroyo, imagine how they are gonna look tomorrow against Tommy Hanson and the Braves, who I know are on a losing streak of their own, but the Stros haven’t exactly thrived at Turner field…

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Posted in Astros baseball, Roy Oswalt | 4 Comments »

Michael Bourn Wears The Golden Sombrero, Loses A 3 Run Ball, Pence Gets The E And Astros Lose

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Well, seems that even Michael Bourn can have a BAD game. Four strikeouts and the only time he hit the ball, it was 2 out, bottom of the 9th, tying runs on base, and the ball got caught. But worst of all, he lost a fly ball in the top of the 4th – bases loaded, 2 outs, and Pence ran to get it, missed and all 3 runs scored AND Pence got the E. I guess he shoulda been backing up Bourn better, but Bourn shoulda gotten to the ball. I don’t suppose I need to bring up him striking out with bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th, do I?

I know, bases shouldn’t have been loaded. Paulino had a really bad game, except for his last inning. First inning, he had ZERO command of the FB, and the only pitch he got over for a strike was his slider. Drew Stubbs led off with a single on the first strike he saw, then, with Brandon Phillips up, he watched him take a strike, then took off on the next ball, which was almost head high and Quintero had a bad throw (Kaz saved that ball from going into the OF) and Phillips walked on the next pitches and all I thought was (swear words) here we go again with a pitcher who has a problem throwing strikes. Stubbs eventually scored on a groundout, but it took Felipe 20 pitches to get through the first and he threw more balls than strikes.

It took him 20 pitches to get through the second, too, but at least he had a leeeetle better command – got Nix on a staring K (5 pitches) gave up a 5 pitch walk and got a 4 pitch K on the pitcher.

3rd inning, he got his 3 outs on 1 pitch each – trouble was that in between, he gave up a bloop single and a triple – and that was actually a very good pitch, a knee high inside slider.

So the Astros are down, 2-0. Mostly because they look like fools up there – the only guy to reach base was Kepp, who singled, then got erased on the Astros piece de resistance – the GIDP. Don’t guess I should mention that this was the first of Clank’s 2 GIDPs on the night, hunh?

This is painful. Thing is, by the 4th, Paulino was having such a tough time finding the plate that he didn’t get any borderline pitches called. He gave up an IF single to short (Kepp should not be playing short) then got a FO, then gave up a double to left, then Kd the pitcher, then gave up a 6 pitch walk to Stubbs to load the bases – and 2 of those balls would have been called strikes if he hadn’t had such bad command. And then the effup with the flyball to right center which let 3 runs score – and unearned runs STILL score real actual RUNS.

ugh

Then he gave up another walk, and a double, and mercifully struck out Bruce to end the, the, the, um, horror – yeah, that’s the word.

Number one son looked at me. He sez – man whatta bunch of LOSERSSS ida wanna watch this no mo. And his twin sez – yeah, we ain’t no Cub fans you know.

ooooooooooh burrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnn

So I told them that your team is your team, win or lose and number 1 son sez – but they such BORING losers. The boy gots his little self a point there, but I told him he had a choice of minding his manners and watching or going straight to bed, so he decided that it just might could be a good decision to stay on Mami’s good side and he managed to stay shut up when Bourn, Kepp and Clank went down without a murmur.

And he managed to not sneer when, as usual, the first pinch hitter sent up was Cory Sullivan, who actually managed to not make an out, as usual, by walking (HOW long is this gonna last???) And the kidsss groaned when Michael Bourn came up with bases loaded, 2 out, chance to be a HEro and struck out. The twins looked at each other, shrugged, and without being nagged, went off to wash hands and face and brush teeth for bed – and told little brother to cmon, letsgo – this stuff is for GRRRRRRRRRLZ.

So, of course, they missed watching Brian Moehler pitch 2 innings of 1,2,3 out – helped by the damfool Reds pitcher trying to stretch a single into a double, missed Sammy Gervacio get 1,2,3 out with just 1 walk, missed Chris Sampson give up a double, then get 3 quick groundouts.

AND they missed the excitement, bottom of the 9th when Nick Masset, who made Clank, Lance and Pence look like uh, lousy – yeah, that’s the word, well, tonight, he decided to suck. First, he walks Clank on 4 straight pitches. Then, he throws a luscious beefy FB right down the middle to Lance, who sends it a LONG way to left for a 2 run homer.

He then Ks Pedro Feliz, but then, not sure why, Dusty pulls him and sends up Coco Cordero to face Pence, who beats out his second IF hit (he’s reminding me of Willy T – that is not a good thing, by the way). Kaz then walks on 5 pitches, then Mills sends Blum up to pinch hit.  Blum clutches and singles Pence home.

Then, Mills sends Towles up to pinch hit – WHY??? Where is Jason Michaels with the game on the line? Towles can’t pinch hit to save his life. And sure enough, he Ks, and then Michael hits the ball far, but not far enough and it’s ovah.

But at least we had ONE inning of excitement.

I don’t know why Norris and Paulino are having such trouble throwing strikes, but they really need to get it going before Drayton gets impatient and sends them packing for some mediocre pitcher who has Veteran Presence. Or something.

Roy goes tomorrow and I’m not gonna say anything more…

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Posted in Astros baseball, Felipe Paulino, Michael Bourn | 7 Comments »

Bud Norris Can’t Find The Strike Zone, Berkman Swings And Misses Pitches Out Of The Zone And Astros Lose To Reds

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Let’s just say it was ugly.

I hardly know where to start, but I guess it begins with Bud. The boy either can’t find the strike zone at all, throws hittable strikes or throws unhittable strikes. I mean that’s sort of like duh, but Bud is like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. He started off great – 13 pitches, 9 strikes – 2 swinging Ks and 1 flyout. I thought – this is gonna be GREAT.

wrong -o

Stros scored first when Michael Bourn got on base, stole second, went to 3rd on the bad throw and came home on a groundout. Sound familiar? It should, and Michael is an All-Star. But then Clank singled and the damm fool tried to steal second and it was a strike em out (Berkman wore the sombrero tonight) throw em out.

And that was bout the story of Astros on the bases tonight.

But back to Bud – not that I wanna, but it’s gotta be done. He just takes too many pitches to get what outs he does get and throws too many pitches that are WAY out of the zone. It wasn’t the ump neither – the balls were WAY out of the zone.

Take the second inning – took him 24 pitches – he hit Rolen with the first pitch, then an 8 pitch walk, then a 2 pitch single, then a 6 pitch staring K on the same pitch he’d fouled off 3 times before, then a 2 RBI single on a juicy FB down the middle, then a 4 pitch swinging K of the pitcher.

He had at least 1 runner on base every inning. By the 6th, the only strike he could get over was his FB, and he gave up 3 straight singles, left with no outs, 1 run in, 2 on base, then got Francoed by Fulchino. It wasn’t that he couldn’t throw first pitch strikes, because he did. It was that he went to an 0-2 count on exactly 1 hitter. He gave up FOUR walks and a HBP, 6 singles, no SB and 5 runs. Uck. Even if Fulchino had prevented the runs from scoring, it would still be an ugly line.

He wasn’t so walkerrific in AAA – and it isn’t that he makes borderline pitches, neither, so I don’t know why he has such control problems, and it is a problem for all of his pitches, too.

And yeah, I know that the Pirates had even more hits Sunday than the Reds had today (including walks) but The Reds managed to get guys home and the Astros just didn’t. The Clank getting caught stealing thing was disgraceful – Hanigan’s arm is waaay better than Doumit – heck, he even threw out Michael!!! Berkman Kd with 2 on in the 3rd, too. Norris grounded out with 2 on 2 out in the 4th, but hey – these things happen and I don’t really blame Mills for not pinch hitting as it was somewhat reasonable to expect that we could come back against an 0-3 starter with an 8+ ERA.

But I sure nuff DO blame Mills for sending Cory Sullivan and his .100 BA up there to pinch hit in the bottom of the 9th with 2 out. What, he’s saving Michaels and/or Feliz for???? This pinch hitting Cory Sullivan has GOT to come to an end SOMEtime. It’s not as if he has this incredible track record and is slumping. It’s reminding me of the last year of Orlando Palmeiro or the Gritmeister, take your pick. Jason Bourgeois is tearing up AAA – maybe it is time to give HIM a chance?

Keppinger grounded out 3 times and Kd. Clank had 2 singles and that *()^*($%#! caught stealing. Berkman wore the sombrero, and got one of those bloop doubles that fell juuuust inside the line and bounced up into the stands. But it was an UGLY swing – late – and his timing looks off. Lots of checked swings, which isn’t like him. Pence just grounded out. Blum did well – hit a couple of singles. Towles hit a double (off Coco Cordero, yet!!!), hit a sac fly which drove in the second run, and walked. Tommy Manzella went 1 fer 4 with a single.

Oh – you wanna know what is REALLY sorry? The “setup” guy with a 12+ ERA getting 3 quick outs on Clank (swinging K), Lance (swinging K) and Pence (popup on ball 4.)

Byrdak did great – a flyout, a swinging K of the righty and a popup.

Sammy Gervacio returned – and he looked bad right off. LOTS of pitches out of the strike zone – he walked Orlando Cabrera, the first hitter on 5 pitches – the “strike” was a gimmee, who then went to second on a groundout. Then, Sammy actually would have had O-Cab picked off second – somehow, after he looked, he forgot to step off, threw the pitch, and Cabrera stole third. I was like – WHAT????? And then, of course, he got rattled, balked, and Cabrera trotted home. The run didn’t matter, the game was already long since lost, but after Sam walked the next guy on 4 straight pitches, NONE of which were ANYWHERES near the plate, Arnesberg trotted out to the mound and said – Sam, look boy, if you WANNA go back to AAA, all you have to do is ask – it’s NOOOOO problem - I mean, it’s not like Wilton Lopez wouldn’t want to return, you know what I’m sayin – like THROW STRIKES AND STOP WITH THE ****!!!! So then he got 2 quick outs.

This looks like the first 8 games Astros, you know what I’m talkin about. The Reds ain’t the Phils/Giants, but they ain’t the Pirates neither and the guys best get their stuff together cuz the Box wasn’t even half full tonight and yes I know it is Tuesday.

Tomorrow, it’s Paulino vs Mike Leake, the guy they drafted last year and didn’t think he needed any minor league time. I just hope that Mills pulls Paulino WHEN he loses it instead of waiting until he LOSES.

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Posted in Astros baseball, Berkman, Bud Norris | 17 Comments »

Ex-Stros Willy Taveras And Aaron Miles Traded For Each Other

Monday, February 1st, 2010

OK, so Aaron Miles was actually only DRAFTED by the Astros and was let go after the 2000 season after finishing high A. Remember the old story about the Astros players who were held up in a Kissimmee hotel room by 3 armed robbers who tied them up and were going to kill them? Miles was the guy who managed to call the cops and save the rest of em – including Mo Ensberg, who was the only one not let go by the Organization after that year.

Anyway, Miles was picked up by the White Sox in the Rule V draft, had a cup of coffee in 03, then was traded to the Rox for Juan Uribe. He played second base for the Rockies in 04 and 05, posting a 72 and a 65 OPS+ as he hits for good average with no power, and doesn’t walk. After the 05 season, he was traded to the Cards for lefty pitcher Ray King. He played second base and was a utility guy for the Cards for 3 years, and after posting a career high 99 OPS+ with a gaudy .317 BA in 08, the Cubs signed him to a 2 year, 5 mill contract to replace Mark DeRosa.

Let me be kind and say that, um, he did not come close to even thinking about replacing DeRosa’s production (38 OPS+ over 157 PA) and the Cubs fans, um, well, they suggested he take his buddy Milton Bradley and take a very VERY long walk offn a very short pier. Hendry was forced to get rid of Miles, so he traded him and Jake Fox (a useful player) and 1 mill to the A’s for a couple of prospects. (Man, that Billy Beane sure does like to trade players, doesn’t he? You’d think it was fantasy ball or something. But I digress…)

Billy Beane had like zero use for Miles so at the first opportunity, he got rid of him – trading him to the Reds for

Willy Taveras – the guy who has a tough time hitting the ball out of the IF but can steal bases after he steals first. Astros fans support first and foremost players with high batting averages. They don’t like players who walk, and they LOVE players who run fast and steal bases. Willy was one of the 2 guys we got from Cleveland for Jeriome Robertson (Luke Scott being the other) and Willy was called up after finishing AA and inserted as the starting CF. He beat out bunts and infield hits and was hitting over .300 by mid April and the fans just LUUUUVVVED him. He ran so fast in the OF (no Carlos the Jackal, mind, and he couldn’t hit the cutoff man) but the fans didn’t care. He hit .291 (had an on base of .321 because he only walked 25 times in 638 PA, but who cares and slugged .341, but who cares because he stole 34 bases. Yeah, he got caught 11 times and didn’t steal but 11 after the break, but so what?) He lost out to Ryan Howard for ROY, but the fans ADORED him.

He didn’t do quite as well in 06 – in fact, Phil started playing Chris Burke in center in June after Willy could only manage a .260 BA. Willy got lucky because Burke, who was hitting .300 as a CF and playing remarkably well for a guy who had never played CF before, re-injured his shoulder and had to go on the DL and never recovered his stroke.

Willy actually ended up having a better year, cut down on his Ks (funny that the Astros fans never held that against him), slightly increased his walks and managed to slightly increase his OBP in spite of a lower average, but he was traded to Colorado in the infamous Jason Jennings trade in the offseason.

At the beginning of the 07 season, some guy kept bringing a sign to the Box which said “I want my Willy back” which I personally thought was a really stupid sign for a guy to wave about, but I digress. Anyway, Burkie-poo failed to raise his BA over .230 and screaming fans demanding blood caused the Organization to call up Pence at the end of April and that was the end of Willy-itis.

He posted a career high .728 OPS (89 OPS+) over 408 PA for the Rox in 07, but then descended into suckitude to suck a point that he lost playing time to Cory Sullivan (now in the Astros minor leagues) and then to Ryan Spilborghs in 08 – in spite of the fact that Willy posted a career high 68 SB. After the 08 season, the Rox didn’t offer arb and he signed a 2 year contract with the Reds for 5 mill.

You KNOW he’s Dusty Baker’s kind of leadoff guy (think poor ol Corey Patterson, who might could have had some sort of career if Dusty had left him batting 7th) and he had the worst year of his career – a 48 OPS+ over 458 PA – and that is a .240 BA, .275 OBP with 25 SB. He was eventually supplanted by couldabeena Stro Drew Stubbs (one of many guys who Drayton refused to pay more than slot).

At this time, the A’s have both Rajai Davis and Coco Crisp, very good fielding CF on the 40 man, so I can’t see any place that Willy could possibly fit.

Ah well, knowing Billy Beane, if I were Willy, I wouldn’t bother to get a uni fitted, as he’s most likely trade bait.

So, you want to know, like why am I talking about 2 Ex-Stros again????

To avoid having to deal with the mess that is the 2010 team, that is why…

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Posted in Astros baseball, Willy Taveras | 10 Comments »

Taylor Buchholz Wins Against Reds, Lidge Saves

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

Taylor Buchholz pitched an excellent game – almost unhittable for 5 innings. He began to lose it in the 6th, gave up a single, walk, a GIDP, and then a homer to Adam Dunn, then got the final out. He went back out to start the 7th, got a quick GO, then gave up an 8 pitch walk and an 11 pitch walk, and it was obvious he was having trouble locating and was tired, and Phil did exactly the right thing and pulled him, even though he had only thrown 90 pitches. Chad Qualls came in and shut it right down.

Now WHY is it that Phil doesn’t seem to have any trouble pulling a rookie when it is obvious that he has lost it, but he refuses to do this with his veterans?

Lance Berkman and Jason Lane hit homers again, Lance going opposite field. Preston Wilson again left 2 RISP with 2 out in the 5th. Time to stop thinking of him as an “RBI man” as he only has 11 of them and 5 have come from HRs – all solos. Actually, he has his very best numbers leading off an inning – maybe we should bat him there.

I guess yall gonna point out how he only has 4 BB and his OBP isn’t EVEN .300 and yall got a point. In fact, Preston still has more Ks than hits (26 – 22).

On the other hand, maybe Jason Lane should lead off – he has an OBP of .394 and he has 22 walks in 104 PA – last year, he had 32 walks in 552 PA. In fact, believe it or not, he leads the TEAM in walks with 22 – Mo is next with 21.

Adam Everett looks as though he’s lost his swing – I think his hand is still hurting.

Brad Lidge has got back in the swing – 5 batters, 3 swinging Ks – 2 of them at balls in the dirt, 1 walk and 1 soft hit to left. He looked better – only 10 called balls of 23 pitches. So I guess blowing 2 saves in a row don’t always mean you are finished (see Mariano Rivera, last April vs Red Sox…)

Last but not least, you KNOW we are calling Roger Clemens’ agent – leaving a message on his cell at 1 microsecond after midnight. So – will he or won’t he? Well, it’s too close to call – I figure if he had wanted to sign with the AL teams, he wouldn’t have waited, so I just wonder if he really wants to pitch at age 44. Of course, we are basically talking about half a season, so he hopefully won’t be worn out by September, as he was last year.

Taylor and Wandy are doing VERY well, and we COULD use a long man, who would be Nieve, so I can see this. Of course, we have NO idea if Brandon Backe will be coming back, and as far as I know, he’s going to be re-evaluated in late May, early June, and then IF he doesn’t need surgery, he has to rehab. It may be near the allstar break IF he can come back.

I hear rumors that Drayton will offer to call Koby up from A ball in Sept (he’s on the DL with a broken hand right now) so that Roger can play with his son – but if the WC race is as tight as it was last year, I can’t see us playing an A ball guy unless there is a blowout. I know he’ll cost plenty, but Roger is a box office draw all by himself and Drayton knows it. And the press will be writing Roger stories every day and the fans will be falling all over themselves to buy Roger tickets

Sigh

I sorta sound like the father in Fiddler on the Roof – on one hand, on the other hand…

But actually, I sound most like my kids – Ida know.

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Posted in Astros baseball, Berkman, Brad Lidge, Taylor Buchholz | 7 Comments »

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