Posts Tagged ‘Mets’

« Older Entries

5/14/11: Astros Knuckle Down, Hit 3 HR, Beat Mets

Saturday, May 14th, 2011

RA Dickey threw 44 pitches in the first inning, and looks like the knuckler didn’t knuckle real too much – lots of pitches high up in the zone and the Astros batted around, scoring 4. Michael Bourn led off with a triple almost to the Hill – just right of the RF bullpen – was kind of hoping it would be an inside the parker, but Hairston got on it too fast.

Clank got his 2000th career hit, a single, then scored when Chris Johnson, who has finally got his batting average back up to his weight, singled him home.

Second thru 5th inning, Dickey threw more knucklers up in the zone, but not in the middle of the plate, and although he gave up a hit/inning, there weren’t any walks or runs. But in the 6th, Bill Hall hit an opposite field homer on a knuckler waist high into the RF bullpen. Q grounded out, then Matt Downs, pinch hitting for Happ, who LOWERED his BA to .462, hit a PH homer into the Crawford Boxes. Clank hit  homer of Igarishi into the Crawford Boxes to lead off the 7th.

And that was 7 runs for the Astros, and fortunately THIS time, the bullpen held. With THIS pen, when it’s only 7 runs, youneverknow…

Happ pitched fine – 5 hits (1 HR) 3 walks (2 in the first inning) and 2 ER over 6 IP.

Tomorrow afternoon, it’s Aneury Rodriguez vs lefty Chris Capuano, our old frenemy from the Brewers who thrashed the Astros last month. Wonder if Brett Wallace is gonna get benched so that Jason Michaels, sucking just as much AFTER the DL as he did BEFORE it will get a start in left. Wouldn’t be surprised. I better not see him trying to play CF.

And speaking of #5 hitters – remember how I remarked that poor ol Figgy got royally screwed by the umps more than a few times? Jonathan Scippa, a guy who knows how to do excel stuff with the Pitch Fx looked at what happened with pitches out of the strike zone getting called strikes and pitches IN the strike zone getting called balls – and Figgy got the worst ball/strike calls in the NL. And this is with Quintero catching him, too – so no blaming Towles for not framing pitches – like I’ve said, I’ve never thought Q was as good at framing pitches as Towles is. But check it out.

Time for computer generated ball/strike calls. I’m tired of the really terrible umpiring – it’s gone downhill lightning quick since Sandy Alderson stopped being in charge of umps. And I’m not just talking about th CB Bucknors neither – it’s getting to be all of them.

And did everyone read all about all the hoo-hah about Bartolo Colon’s repaired shoulder? Apparently, the doctors used some kind of stem cell treatment and possibly injected HGH into the joint to help healing!!!! DID you get that??? Physicians treating a specific surgical reconstruction/repair used a medication which helps, or could help, promote growth of cartilage to regenerate the tissue!!! Isn’t that simply TERRIBLE? I mean, a PHYSICIAN using  MEDICATION to help to heal a patient under his direct supervision??? They doctors deny using such a terrible dangerous drug – why heaven forbid that they should use that one specific medication to help an athlete heal his injuries.

This stupid stuff has gone too far with the HGH being this terrible cheating stuff. Why is it standard of care good medicine to inject cortisone into a joint to help heal it but cheating to inject HGH into a joint to help heal it? Now exactly WHY is it terrible for physicians – not athletes going to drug dealers – orthopedic surgeons treating athletes – to use legal medications to repair damaged joints/tendons/ligaments? This medication is being used for the purpose it actually HAS in the body – to grow new tissue.

And speaking of physicians, I also read that Bryce Harper, the Nat’s pheenom first rounder from last year apparently had lousy vision and after going to a, like, you know, EYE doctor, he got contact lenses and is now hitting over .400. Don’t team doctors like check, like you know, stuff like, EYESIGHT on each player every year seeing as how you know, like you know SEEING the ball is kind of important if a hitter wants to you know, like HIT IT?

Sometimes I just can’t believe this stuff.

All I can say is that they need to have women team doctors. Because we don’t never listen to no man sez – oh yeah, I’m fine, no prob. Lift my arm over my head? You mean, like, you know, the hand above the head? Do I hafta? Ida wanna, Does it hurt? Nah, I just don’t happen to wanna right now. None of this idiotic bullstuff about – well, he SAID he wasn’t hurt he SAID he can see fine he SAID his leg don’t hurt no mo he SAID no prob with his wrist/elbow/shoulder/side/back/whatever. And we know how to use a scale and measuring stick too – and Wandy wouldn’t be no 192 lbs (hopeless giggle)/5-11 no mo.

I have no further info on the team sale at this time – and I’m not gonna assume that Crane is gonna be the next owner until I hear that Bud has signed the papers. And I’m still wanting to know why the Houston media refuses to do ANY research/stories on Crane and/or Postopolous. Probably, they just flat out couldn’t care less seeing as how they are gonna write the same old whatever crap. I expected better of Justice, but I guess I was wrong. He’s thrown in the towel too. Guess he’s hoping to get back into that expensive dining room. Hard to believe that it was only 6 years ago that houston wa a rabid baseball town and now they get maybe 10K people on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Carlos Lee, J.A. Happ | 1 Comment »

4/21/11: J Happ Is David Wright’s Slumpbuster As Mets Stomp Astros

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

For 2.1 innings, J Happ was so good and so sharp, I thought he just might could be headed for at least a shutout, if not a no-hitter. I figured that maybe the wind – looks like it’s like 20 MPH out there and I checked weather.com – it was 47 at gametime – was moving the ball and the hitters were too cold to swing. Hey, I was feeling cold just watching them – and for some reason, I was remembering the WS at Chi-town, not a real too good premonition, you know what I’m sayin.

Terry Collins, the Mets manager, who has a history of being not exactly liked by his players (so I hear tell, yet another manager that B&B managed – hahahaha – to get rid of) wanted to get hisself thrown out of the game to fahr upp da boyzzzz, so he went and made a total ass of himself screeching at Doug Eddings, the HP ump for missing a call (you might as well scream at a cat for not coming when she’s called) – dropped foul tip wasn’t dropped, he says – Eddings ignores him goes back to call pitches and Collins gets in his face and Eddings sez – sigh – do you WANT to get thrown out? Well, OK. And Collins was right about dropped foul tips mattering – but I’m getting ahead of myself…

Anyway, Mike Nickeas, their rookie catcher just called up from AAA, somehow turned on a knee-high inside slider and hit it INTO the wind over the LF wall. THAT reminded me of Bradley Aweseomeness doing the same at Wrigley, breaking up a Greg Maddux shutout. Ahhhh, pleasant memories. Anyway, then 2 outs and at the end of 3 innings, Happ has 5 Ks and NO walks – unusual for him and 40 pitches.

Meanwhile, Capuano is lethal – gave up a LONG double to Pence in the first inning, so there’s no worry about getting no-hit, but in the 3rd, Happ singles (he did better than moren a few Astros hitters), then Bourn walks, but Angel Sanchez, slumping (anxiety about Barmes coming back as The Hitting Savant and taking his job???) lines into a DP and there’s the end of that. Too many DPs for the Astros lately.

Fourth inning – what’s good is that Chris Johnson really hits the ball hard to the CF wall for a double. What’s bad is that he was stranded. What’s worse is that Happ started to go to pieces. He’s only gone to one 3 ball count in the first 3 innings, and then he started to lose command (cold fingers?) He needs 8 pitches to get out the suckulous Pagan and his .150 BA. Then it’s David Wright, who has has FINALLY struck out on the 8th pitch foul tip, only Quintero DROPS THE BALL. So Happ throws a FB down the dead center middle of the plate and David Wright hits the ball 400′ into the wind over the fence to break an 0fer 20 (min, he WAS getting on base and had like 8 walks during that time) and this is NOT a good sign. Jackal goes to 3-2 and singles up the middle – this, by the way, is not because of Eddings not calling balls/strikes well. Jason Bay hits a popup to right that Pence misses (he had a BAD night) which bounces over the wall for a GR double. Then JA throws a WP and I mean WILD – like 3 feet to the right of Q’s glove and Jackal trots home and Bay scoots to third. Davis hits a sac-fly. At least it wasn’t a 3 ball count, right?

Mets 4 Stros Crap

I was a little surprised to see Happ go out for the 5th – he didn’t seem to have much in the 4th. He goes to an 8 pitch 3-2 count on Nickeas before getting a FO. Then he gives up a solid double to the PITCHER, who is like 36 years old. Is it time to come out? Then a 3-2 walks to Reyes on 6 pitches. He looks BAD. He goes to 3-2 on Pagan. David Wright is coming up and yeah, he’s had a 6 game dry spell until earlier, but hey, even UNCLE had a bad 10 games straight and you KNOW I wasn’t even thinking in my wildest dreams that he was finished. I’m thinking – cmon Millsey-poo, time to go get the boy, he ain’t got nothin. And sure enough, he gives up a solid 2 run double to left center on a meatball.

NOW Millsie comes and gets him. What’s with all the guys getting girlie names or else doing the LiLo thingy? Can’t we get some REAL nicknames? Like, say, Manitas de Piedra (hands of stone) or Pies en Fuego (Firefoot) or something really imaginitive like guante del oro (Glove of Gold?)

Anyway, Enerio Del Rosario comes in and gets the out, but hey, this game is OVAH and the only real question is – are the Astros gonna get shutout?

Nothing in the 6th except a walk to Clank (and a throw over to keep him close – he has this – like whaaaaaa???? look) but in the 7th, Brett Wallace doubles, then Matt Downs singles to left. Remember that Brett Wallace runs like a grrrl pregnant with twins. So anyhow, Bay picks up the ball, makes a bad throw to Wright and Wallace chugs across the plate. But that’s all she wrote, as Quintero GIDP.

Aneury Rodriguez comes in to mopup in the 8th. He gets Willie Harris to FO on a 3-2, walks Wright, Ks the Jackal (hehhehheh) then – you won’t believe this – Bay hits a popup near the line in shallow right center. Wallace, Downs and Pence converge, Pence calls for it, but he makes a lousy run for it and the ball clanks off his glove and rolls all the way down into the corner and Bay comes all the way around to score after Wright, as Pence makes a lousy throw to Downs, who can’t collar the ball well, then drops it. Not that it mattered. Aneury goes to 3-2 on davis, then throws a high FB on the outside corner which Davis hits a GOOD 450′ to dead center onto the concourse. That’s one of the hardest hit balls I’ve seen this year – reminds me of the homer that Berkman hit to dead center waaaaay high up on the wall at whatever they are calling the DBax stadium.

Taylor Buchholz pitches again, the 8th and 9th, and again I am reminded that he is one of the few pitchers who ever made me go – WOW – when I first saw him pitch. He’s still good, even if he can’t start anymore and hasn’t got his old velocity.

We’re now off to Miller Park, where Nelson Figueroa will opposae Yovani Gallardo, who always kicks Astro butt.  Actually, not always – record shows he’s 7-2, which means that somehow, we’ve beaten him twice. Checked it out – Wandy beat him both times; 2-0 and 6-4 (yeah he gave up SIX runs over 5 IP) but he was nails last year. He’s had rough going this year, so I would bet he’s really licking his chops now…

Saturday, we face Shaun Marcum, RHP and his 1.90 ERA, who came from the Toronto Organization. Astros have never faced him. Toronto traded him for a minor leaguer, don’t ask me why: his ERA+ over the past 3 years in the AL East facing Yankees/Rays/RedSox lineups half the time is 108, 125, 114. And he has hurt for part of that, too. BBref says his closest comp is Yovani Gallardo. Just wonderful.

Rubber game on Sunday, Wandy faces ex-Stro Randy Wolf, who is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA. Wandy has always had a tough time at Miller park – a 5.97 ERA over 60 IP in 11 GS. Note that he did very well there last year in his 2 games – 1 ER over 6.1 IP and 1 ER over 7 IP.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Brett Wallace, J.A. Happ | 6 Comments »

4/20/11: Hunter Pence Homers To Beat Mets

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Actually, it was a pretty exciting game, even if it was between last place teams.

RA Dickey threw a lot of knuckleballs, which usually moved all ovah the place – first inning, 3 strikes to Bourn, Sanchez GO, Pence walks, Carlos FO.

Then Bud made things, uh, INteresting. Reyes singles, is almost thrown out leaning off first, then promptly steals second, Thole Ks swinging (Bud had  GREAT fastball), David Wright walks (he either walks or Ks these days), Jackal hits a nubber that Bud gets a glove on enough that no one can get (Bud’s fielding was lousy) and it’s bases loaded. Lefty Ike Davis Ks (so much for Bud can’t get leftys out) then Bud hangs a slider to Angel Pagan and I mean that baby was there, that baby was FAT, that baby was hit to the warning track in right, where Pence snagged it and that baby woulda been a granny at the Box. But 26 pitches gone, it’s still zip-zip.

Second inning, Brett Wallace doubles to left, CJ hits an IF dribbler that neither the pitcher or the 2B can get, so 2 on no out. Hall GO – ball hit too weakly for a GIDP, then Towles walks. So Bud’s up, bases loaded, and Dickey throws a WP and Brett Wallace beats the throw home because for some reason, Thole weakly underhandes the ball to Dickey – Wallace is SLOW – I don’t get it – so 1 run is in, then Bud hits a RBI single up the middle and JR scores from second. He can easily outrun BOTH Wallace and Sanchez and he’s a catcher!!! Then Michael singles to left and CJ scores!!! But then Sanchez and Pence both K swinging.

Astros 3 Mets 0

Can Bud hold on and not do his usual thingy where he can’t find the plate for an inning????

Willie Harris pops out – the ball heads to the stands at the RF line between home and first and Bill Hall calls for the ball and does a Jeter thingy, catching the ball as he goes head-first into the stands, slamming into some kid reaching for the ball (got him a Web Gem – they LIKEY that stuff) and looked like he really hurt his ribs or stomach or something, but he came back into the game after a few minutes delay. Murphy Ks and Dickey GO. Only 12 pitches this inning.

Third inning – 2 outs, then CJ hits a ball almost right over the first base bag that goes into shallow right and neither Davis nor Beltran can get it and Chris hustles into second with a double. I’m glad he’s getting hits, but he hasn’t really squared up any pitches solidly in quite some time. Hall Ks, stranding him. What a surprise. I’m sorry he’s doing so lousy – he was one of my favorite players when he was with the Brewers – but his last good year as a starting regular was years ago and unlike Fast Eddie, I wasn’t expecting miracles.

Bud gives up a single to Reyes (again) who steals second (again) gets Thole to FO, Wright Ks, swinging, then the Jackal doubles into the LF gap, scoring Reyes. Ike Davis hits a slow roller to third – CJ makes a nice play, but Davis is too fast. Pagan flies out to Carlos, who makes a very nice running catch.

He’s STILL doing his best in the field – I can hardly believe it either, but he is.

Fourth inning – Stros go 1,2,3. Mets go 1, single, 2,3 – with Bud FINALLY getting Reyes out.

Fifth inning – Sanchez FO, Pence out on 3 straight strikes, staring, but Thole can’t catch the last one and Hunter reaches first on a passed ball. Carlos GIDP to Wright on the VERY NEXT PITCH!!! grrrrrrrr.

It was GIDP night for BOTH teams, and – but I’m getting ahead of myself…

Bud gets 2 swinging Ks, gives up a double to that dratted Jackal – Pence had to come forward to get the ball, and it popped out of his glove – then Davis popped out to JR.

Sixth inning – Brettt Wallace singles (his BA is now up to .293), then 2 pitches later, CJ GIDP 6-4-3. Here we go with the GIDPs again. grrrrrrrr. Downs, who replaced Hall, who is out with an “ankle injury”????? flies out to mid center.

Bud’s at 87 pitches – only has a 2 run lead. Pagan grounds out. Willie Harris bloops one into shallow right for a double. Then Bud hangs a slider – absolutely mid plate, juicy, fat, succulent, and Daniel Murphy hits it over the RF fence. One hung slider too many = goodbye W for Bud. Dickey GO, Reyes singles, naturally, then Thole flies out to Carlos who runs HARD to just barely catch the ball at the wall.

Tie game – and Bud is at 106 pitches. Someone else is gonna hafta win/lose…

7th inning: JR is HBP – he broke his 6 game hit streak, but he reached twice and score once. Pinch hitter Joe Inglett – you won’t believe this – makes an out. Bourn hits a somewhat slow ball to the second baseman, who bobbles it – no one is out, and for some reason, it’s a hit, not an E4. Don’t ask me to explain THAT one. Then Angel Sanchez GIDP right to David Wright, who steps on third, then throws out Sanchez by 20+ feet.

Third (swear words) ground into double play in 3 (swear words) innings.

Melancon comes in, can’t find the plate, walks David Wright with 5 straight pitches. Jackal grounds to second – can’t turn the DP. But Ike Davis does – grounding to CJ, who turns a very nice 5-4-3. Darn that boy – if he could just work on not getting excited and making sure he sets before throwing/doesn’t throw when he can’t make an out – he’s actually very good.

8th inning – Pence turns on an inside knuckleball and POW, ball gone over the LF fence. Feels good after all those humiliating swings at air. Carlos, Brett and CJ gone on 6 pitches.

But Astros lead 4-3.

Fernando Abad comes in (must be getting tired – he’s getting used a LOT) and Pagan draws a 10 pitch walk. Willie Harris Ks, Murphy singles to left – so there are men on first and third, 1 out. Geez – here we go again. Righty Justin Turner comes in to PH and out goes Abad and in comes Valdez. And then – Turner Ks swinging. Towles drops the slider – which doesn’t go far – and Pagan, who was already halfway home when the pitch was thrown, is out at the plate as Valdez tags him.

DOUBLE PLAY!!!! This time, it goes the Astros way. What goes around comes around.

Our old friend Jason Isringhausen, now pitching mopup with a much slower fastball and a lot more cut stuff, gets 1,2,3 out.

Brandon Lyon comes in with a 1 run lead to protect. And Jose EFF Reyes singles to right. Oh jeez – my blood pressure. I was gonna duck out and close my eyes, but naturally, kids want to see the end (yes I’m a bad Mami) and I have to Set A Good Example Of Cheering For Your Team No Matter What – so Josh Thole bunt pops up the first pitch to Lyon and Reyes, who had been running on contact, was doubled off first . HAH!!!!! Wright flies out to Pence, Melancon wins and we FINALLY beat Dickey.

We’ve FINALLY won 2 in a row!!!!! And we’ve FINALLY won a series!!!!! Tomorrow is JA Happ vs our old friend (from the Brewers) Chris Capuano, who got hurt in 07, missed 08 and 09 with umpty surgeries, and cme back last year, mostly as a reliever. He was pressed into service as a starter with the Mets this year because of suckage/injuries and has so far, um, not done real too well. He’s a lefty, and I hope this doesn’t mean that Bourn and Wallace will be pulled out as usual. Why can’t Mills pull out the guys who suck instead of guys who hit?

In other news, MLB took over the Dodgers because Frank McCourt is broke and can’t meet payroll, so you KNOW they’ll force him to sell – and so looks as if we’re gonna be stuck with Drayton/Tal/Fast Eddie for a good while longer as bigbux buyers will be clawing each others’ eyes out to get the Dodgers (then the Mets are gonna be next – not sure how THEy are gonna meet payroll with the attendance starting to look like the Marlins…)

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Bud Norris, Hunter Pence, J.R. Towles | 5 Comments »

4/19/11: Ace Wandy Beats Mets

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Wandy was teh awesomeness – had everything working great – gave up 3 hits – one a flyball to right that Pence trapped, a 380′ homer that would have been at most a double off the LF bullpen wall at home (yeah, to The Jackal) and soft little bloop to left – three walks and 7 K. And yeah, I will confess that he got by with a little help from his friend Kerwin Danley who, uh, had an, INteresting strike zone – Lots of pitches IN the strike zone called balls, LOTS of pitches out of the strike zone called strikes. Wandy was juuuust a little bit luckier than Niese with the calls, but Niese wasn’t the slam the door guy the Stros faced the previous 2 times. 

Astros got lucky too, because Pence and CJ did nothing, Bill Hall took the sombrero again, leaving too many guys on base as usual – and screwed Wandy out of a 2 out RBI single when he didn’t take off at the crack of the bat, run fast enough or slide well enough to avoid the tag.

In the first, Bourn led off with a single, then Sanchez, who has been slumping over the Padres series, sac bunted him, then Pence walked, and Michael took off for 3rd when Carlos Lee (laughing like heck) showed bunt, easily beat the throw, then scored when Carlos singled. CJ grounded them to second and third, then Hall Kd. I thought fer SHER he’d be leading the NL with Ks, but Pedro Alverez and his gut are ahead – and also, his .486 OPS is worse than Hall’s .565 – believe it or not. Wandy gets 1,2,3 out.

Niese worked out of trouble all night – in the second, JR Towles (still batting 8th) walked, Wandy screwed up the bunt, Bourn walked, then Sanchez grounded out for the 3rd out. Wandy gets 1,2,3 out plus the double that Angel Pagan got from that trapped ball to right.

In the 3rd, Pence GO, Carlos singled, then CJ hit into what SHOULD have been a 5-4-3, or at LEAST a 5-3, but the Mets 2B screwd up the catch and throw, so CJ was safe, but Carlos tried to chug into third and was tagged out by Wright, who beat him to the base - although I gots to admit it was a great slide. So with CJ at 2nd, Bill Hall Kd on 2 swings at pitches waaay out of the zone – both Unca Charlie, looked like. Wandy gets 1,2,3 out – and they’re swinging and missing.

In the 4th, Brett Wallace singles, then JR doubles him home with a drive to deep left center. Wandy again screws up the bunt, JR is out at 3rd. Then Michael Bourn GIDP – yes, seriously – 1-6-3. Ball was hit so hard he didn’t have a chance to beat it out – close, but no cigar. Meanwhile, Wandy walks the first hitter on 5 straight balls (remember what I said about the ump), strikes out David Wright and Jackal, walks the next hitter, then gets Pagan with an almost K – balls drops in front of home and JR throws him out. 2 walks – 2 Ks – that ball is MOVING.

In the 5th, Sanchez draws a 9 pitch walk, then Hunter beats out a 5-4-3 GIDP ball, but Clank doesn’t. Wandy gets 1,2,3 out.

6th inning – CJ lines out to right – the Jackal making a great catch (feels strange to talk about him playing RF, but he IS 34 already – time flies) then Hall singles (of course, there’s no one on), Brett Wallace grounds him to second, then JR is IBB and Wandy singles up the middle only to watch Hall get out and his RBI vanish. Wandy goes back out, gets 1,2,3 out. AH LUUUUUVS that boy!!!!

7th inning and Wandy clinging to a tenuous 2 run lead with Astros leaving gobs of MOB – the Astros get lucky. Bourn bunts out, Sanchez walks, Pence Ks, then Carlos hits a fly ball to the LF wall, which the LF inexplicably doesn’t catch and it goes for a 2 base error – and Sanchez, lead footed as he is scores from first standing up. CJ grounds to third – except for that one fly ball, he has NOT looked good at the plate.

OK, it’s a 3 run lead, with Wandy at 92 pitches. And the Jackal hits a 1-1 outside changeup into the LF stands. Peachy. He either strikes out or homers vs Wandy. There goes the shutout and now there’s only a 2 run lead. Davis Ks on 2 strikes and a ball. Pagan pops out, Hairston walks, Justin Turner, the new second baseman, hits one of those soft bloop pops that falls for a single, then Arnesberg goes out to Wandy, who tells him to leave cuz he’s gonna get the last out, and Chin-lung Hu (remember him from the Dodgers? All glove, no bat – made Everett look like ARod) Ks and Wandy struts off the mound.

Absolutely awesome outing – 116 pitches, 72 K – 12 swinging.

Astros luck continues in the 8th. Bill Hall Ks (of course) Wallace singles, JR singles to right, Joe Inglett Ks (what a surprise) on a FB down the middle, then our old friend Tim Byrdak comes in and gives up a single to Michael, loading the bases. In comes a righty to pitch to Sanchez, and he promptly balks (bobbles the ball in his hand after he had come set) in Brett Wallace. Terry Collins goes out to screech, but it WAS the right call – VERY clear. Then Sanchez singles in JR and Bourn. Hunter Ks. He didn’t have a good night at ALL.

Stros 6 Mets 1

Astros luck continues – Abad goes out to pitch as I hold my breath. Reyes shoots a grounder to third and CJ, rushing the throw, bounces it and Brett Wallace doesn’t grab it so Reyes is safe. CJ didn’t have a good night at ALL. Thole Ks – interestingly enough, Reyes doesn’t even try to steal – which matters because next David Wright hits into a perfect 6-4-3, only Bill Hall drops the ball, but Doug Eddings, the 2nd base ump (one of the 3 worst umps in the ML) calls Reyes out, saying that Hall had possession of the ball and dropped it – which he didn’t. I mean, have possession – just a bad BAD call, but it went in our favor, fortunately, because then Beltran FO to Bourgeois in left. So CJ’s error didn’t score and a BAD call went our way.

Ex-Stro Taylor Buchholz, now a Met after umpteen shoulder surgeries pitched the 9th. The spectacular stuff he had the first day I saw him back in 06 was gone. He has replaced his dazzling FB with some kind of cut FB which is mid 80s and a nice curveball – no more slider. Another pitching career ruined by having a guy go out and throw when his shoulder is hurt. Now he’s a mopup reliever.

Fulchino went in to mopup and gave up a grounder double just inside the 3B line into the corner, then got 1,2,3 out.

Tomorrow, it’s Bud Norris vs RA Dickey, the knuckleballer. Let’s hope good Bud shows up.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Wandy Rodriguez | 12 Comments »

In Which Jason Bourgeois Saves Wilton Lopez, Tim Byrdak And The Victory Against Johan Santana

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

Yeah, we beat Johan Santana for the second time this month. Hard to believe, yeah. Once more, he gave up 4 runs over 7 innings. The lineup was almost perfect – Bourgy in left, Pence in right, Bourn in center, Manzella at short and Sanchez at second. No effing Anderson Hernandez. ANYWHERE. And, naturally, no Brett Wallace at first because he hits leftys better than rightys – once more it was Clank, trying to play first. Well, he plays first better than left, but that isn’t saying real too much, I know…

Bourgy led off and Michael hit second (for the first time this year, I think) so Bourgy had a lead off single, Michael hit into what SHOULD have been a 4-6-3 but they didn’t turn it, then Pence singled, Clank singled and Michael scored, then CJ flew out to center, but not deep enough for Pence to go to third, then Angel Sanchez walked, then Tommy Manzella beat out an infield single to third and Pence scored.

Tommy, by the way, went 3 fer 4 and showed Mills what a REAL shortstop looks like with the glove, so hopefully, we’ve seen the last of Anderson Hernandez.

Michael Bourn singled, was HBP, scored 2 runs and darn near grounded into a 1-6-3 in the 8th – he was only saved because Santana had a crappy throw to the SS, who had to take a fraction of a second to double step to tag second, and he made a throw to first which pulled the 1B off the bag, otherwise Michael woulda been out by a full stride.

CJ was completely lost against Santana and took the sombrero. Carlos drove in 3 with a single and a homer.

And the Astros pitching and fielding (Tommy Manzella is really REALLY good) shut down the Mets until Wilton Lopez came in in the 8th. He ran into bad luck – Luis Castillo led off with an infield single to short – one of those slow rollers – Tommy gloded forward, made a fabulous scoop and throw, but Castillo beat it out by a hair. Wilton got lucky when CB Bucknor at first called a ball hit over the 1B bag by the Jackal as foul, and he grounded out with Castillo going to second. Then Wilton got a bunch more grounders, but unfortunately, they just found holes – and some days, ground balls do that. David Wright hit one that Sanchez couldn’t get to, driving in Castillo, then Ike Davis hit another, then with 2 on, Jeff Francoeur got himself out swinging wildly at 3 pitches which were all out of the zone – the last one was somewheres near his neck.

With lefty Josh Thole coming up (Jerry Manuel never lets him bat against leftys – this year he’s had exactly 10 PA appearances vs leftys) Lopez was pulled and Byrdak came in. He went to 2-2, then Thole lined a rope to shallow left center and Bourgeois with his great glove and speed nabbed it – Clank wouldn’t have gotten anywheres NEAR that ball and a run would have scored fer SHER.

Odd managing decision with the Astros batting in the 8th – with 2 out, Manzella singled, the Quintero singled. With a righty pitcher, Mills decided to send in Blum, who has been out with a stiff neck (or something, who knows, they lie) which made Jerry Manuel go straight to his pen to send in the lefty. Blum can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag righty, so why didn’t he send in Michaels in the first place?

shrug

Fortunately, we didn’t need the run(s) in the 8th or the 9th and Lyon came in and got 1,2,3 out.

This afternoon, it’s Bud Norris vs the knuckleballer RA Dickey – a few weeks back he threw 8.1 innings, giving up 9 hits, 1 walk, 2 ER and 6 K. We gots to hope that the knuckleball doesn’t knuckle.

Bud threw 7 innings of 2 hit, 2 walk, 2 run ball. I hope to gawd that Bucknor isn’t the HP ump. Dana De Muth was the ump for this game, and he’s good and he’s fair – Bucknor is neither…

Tags: , ,
Posted in Carlos Lee, Jason Bourgeois, Tommy Manzella | 4 Comments »

8/27/10: Astros Play Lousy And Mets Hand Them A Well Deserved Loss

Friday, August 27th, 2010

It started in the first inning. Mike Pelfrey threw 2 pitch strikes on the upper outer corner, then couldn’t find the zone with a telescope and Bourn fouled off 3 pitches out of the zone, then walked. Anderson Hernandez, not exactly any good, was batting second. And for reasons I do NOT get, Michael was hugging the bag tighter than some big fat slug. He didn’t run on 1-0. He didn’t run even after he saw that Pelfrey and Blanco had NO idea where the pitches were going and he had THREE opportunities for easy steals, but noooooo.

So when Hernandez swung on a high pitch and flew out to shallow center, Bourn was glued to second, and when Pence singled up the RF line, instead of scoring, he ended up at third – and I don’t want to hear about Francoeur’s arm – for some reason, he has this Jesse Barfield rep which is totally undeserved.

Then Clank swung at THREE pitches WAAAYYY out of the zone – WTF???!!!! – CJ walks on FOUR pitches, and Brett Wallace is up with bases loaded, 2 outs. He swung at ball 3 – which was high, and what was probably ball 4 – but was at least borderline and almost unhittable.

And that was the HIGH point of the Astros night.

Figgy came out, and like Pelfrey, couldn’t find the strike zone with a searchlight. Well, after the first hitter, who flied out to Bourn. Then Luis Castillo singled up the middle – that wasn’t the problem. Figgy threw wildly to second, trying to pick off Castillo, who has long since lost his legs. Wallce fell over Castillo, had to chase the ball and Castillo ended up on second, then went to third on a VERY wild pitch (Brad Ausmus wouldn’t have gotten that one neither), Beltran walked and it was 1 out, men on first and third.

Then the absolutely bullstuff happened. David Wright hit a popup to shallow center. Bourn, a gold glove fielder, the fastest man in the NL, was running forward to catch the ball and Anderson Hernandez was running toward the OF and called for the ball – either he was called off by Bourn, ignored it, or Bourn had to pull up because he would have collided, but he would have EASILY had that ball. Hernandez was flat out STUPID to go and get that ball and call off Bourn because he was running toward the OF, he wouldn’t have been able to throw out Bengie Molina, he threw wildly to home – was so incredibly offline that the ball skipped by Castro and Beltran ended up on second. It SHOULD have stayed men on first and third, 2 outs.

I really would like to know why on earth Mills is playing Hernandez so much. He has absolutely NO redeeming qualities. NONE. He can’t hit for average, power, can’t play even average defense, can’t throw, can’t field, can’t steal, can’t run. And all this is worse than Tommy Manzella? Hernandez is not a rookie, learning how to play. He is taking valuable time from a rookie, and THIS year, there is no, and I mean NO excuse for this crap.

And then both pitchers just went up, threw strikes and the guys went down 1,2,3 in the second, and third, with the only excitement being Angel Pagan’s excellent running catch on Bourn’s shot to left – would have been a triple if he had missed it.

Figgy lost all control in the 4th, gave up a single and 2 walks to load the bases, then issued a walk to a guy who is 1 for his last 50 (or something like that) to allow another Mets run (actually, the winning run), then got lucky when the pitcher hit into a DP (guess they didn’t want to risk a squeeze, don’t ask me why – maybe Pelfrey can’t bunt well). Astros didn’t do well in out half neither, Clank lined out, then CJ doubled. Brett Wallace struck out on 11 pitches after taking 2 balls, 1 called strike and fouling off 4 which were out of the zone and was caught looking on a perfect pitch inside which was belt high. He’s not even having good fouls. Angel Sanchez then singled to shallow right and CJ ran right through the stop sign at third – and he slowed down as he passed the bag (seriously, WHAT???!!!) and was a dead duck. Not that he had any reason to think that Castro would drive him in, yeah, I know, but still, you have to be Bourn fast to pull that off.

In the 5th, with 2 out, Bourn singled and was caught stealing. He didn’t go early in the count, when he actually had a good chance – he went on a 2-2 after a few fouls and he got a BAD and late jump. He just seemed off it rtoday.

Figgy got lucky because he still couldn’t find the zone and the first 2 batters got themselves out on pitches out of the zone and Beltran hit the only ball actually IN the zone, but was just a little under it and flew out.

Only excitement in the 6th was Francoeur getting hit by an errant slider, then stealing second on a ball way outside. In the 7th, Wallace FINALLY broke his ofer streak – hit s single to left on an outside pitch off the end of the bat, but Sanchez and Castro stranded him needing only 3 pitches to get themselves out. Good grief.

No excitement until the 8th – Bourgeois hit a pinch single, then Bourn GIDP 3-6-3. That is his 4th one this year. sigh. Not a good day for the boy.

Melancon pitched a 1,2,3 8th.

Then in the 9th, they sent in Parnell, who gave up a single to Clank, who went to second when Angel Pagan booted the ball – even the best of fielders have effups every now and then. CJ singled, then lefty Takahashi came in (here and I thought he was starting – guess times change) and pinch hitter Michaels singled to drive in Clank. Angel Sanchez took 3 balls, then a borderline called strike, then fouled off one, then missed a fat one down the middle, fouled another one off, then popped up the last pitch – he had to swing, it woulda been strike 3 if he didn’t. Then Tommy Manzella was sent in – got called out on one of those strikes low and on the black – you GOTS to foul them off. He didn’t think that strike 3 was a strike, but it was. The ump only got 3 calls wrong all night – he did a VERY good job with calls, I thought – and he had the same zone for both pitchers and all players.

sigh

That was truly a sorry ass game – guys best show up tomorrow because we’re facing Johan Santana and yes I know we beat him a week ago back home, but that was then and this is now…

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Nelson Figueroa | 7 Comments »

8/19/10: In Which The Umps Flog Bud Norris, But Carlos Lee Stakes Him To A Well Deserved W

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Angel Hernandez was the HP ump – yeah, one of the 4 worst umps in baseball and one of the other 3 was the HP ump last night – what a crew. He didn’t call 12 pitches which were no question in the strike zone as strikes, and Bud had to throw more and more pitches. It And, by the way, it’s not as if Bud had exquisite command – he DID throw a lot of pitches out of the zone, but not THAT many. He went to six 3-2 counts and Frenchy, of all people, required 12 pitches to get himself out in the second.

But the blow to what SHOULD have been a scoreless outing happened when the maroon at second, Rob Drake, called David Wright safe, saying that Sanchez’ foot didn’t touch second (and the replay showed CLEARLY that his foot had most CERTAINLY touched it) which meant that the GIDP was just a FC with runners at second and third - and the subsequent groundout, which SHOULD have been out #3 scored a run instead. Then the 1B ump MISSED A CALL – called the runner safe when Sanchez had thrown him out (could it be that Clank looks clumsy or was it just that it was an unusually suckulous throw from Sanchez) and ANOTHER run scored.

Bud looked like one of those cartoon guys with steam coming out of his ears. And after that, filled with absolute seething fury, he set down every batter 1,2,3 through the end of the 7th – they couldn’t do NOTHIN. No more walks, only one 3 ball count and a K of the pitcher.

Meanwhile, the Astros swung early and swung often and easily got themselves out. They were looking like the Sean Berry All-Sucks instead of the supposed New Improved Jeff Bagwell All-Studs. At the end of the 6th, Misch had thrown only 62 pitches and it looked as if he would have a 90 something pitch shutout.

But then, a miracle happened. Sanchez hit a little blooper to right. Then Pence had a broken bat blooper to left that landed. The entire Mets team, just about and the pitching coach all swarm the mound - there hadn’t been a hard hit ball since Sanchez’ flyout and Pence’s double in the first inning. So after the powwow, Misch gets himself back into the stretch and first pitch Clank promptly Pujols that Lidged slider onto the tracks. Stros lead 3-2 and Bud is in line for the W – he CERTAINLY didn’t deserve that L.

Manny Acosta comes in and gets the remaining 3 outs. Then in the 8th, Pedro Feliciano gives up a 10 pitch single to Q, a single to Bourgeois and a sac-bunt to Bourn. He is pulled, in comes righty pitcher Iganshi and he gets Sanchez and Pence swinging to strand 2.

So Lopez has come in to pitch the 8th, gives up a single to Reyes, who goes to second on a passed ball, but gets the 3 outs, no sweat.

Lopez has been one of Ed Wade’s best pickups – he’s GOOD at getting relievers, that is fer SHER (well, except for Braves rejects – but with any luck, he’s learned his lesson)…

And Brandon Lyon comes on to close with a 1 run lead and gets Wright swinging, Davis grounding out to Blum at second, and then Frenchy hits one of those high pops which Pence, screaming IGOTITIGOTIT catches it in shallow right center on a sliding catch. A lil drama to end the game never hurts.

Should I mention that CJ has taken the sombrero for the last 3 games and is swinging at crap – looks as if he needs a day off…

So now we are off on a 10 day trip to the East Coast, starting with Miami. JA Happ faces Anibal Sanchez and his 3.38 ERA this year and his 0.96 ERA over 18.1 IP/ 3 GS vs Houston.

The good news is that we DON’T face Josh Johnson and his 1+ ERA. Then off to Philly, then to NY.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Bud Norris, Carlos Lee | 3 Comments »

Pedro Feliz Is Traded – YAY!!! And Tommy Manzella Is Back

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

The Cardinal’s GM said they needed Feliz for – get this – an UPGRADE – at third base. He thinks that Feliz has a great glove (like, he hasn’t watched the guy during Cards games? he hasn’t bothered to check ANY defensive stats and yes, I know they don’t ALL agree) and will provide some – get this – “pop.”

Well, what can I say? Last time the Cards picked up a washed up crappy player from the Astros (Preston Wilson in 06) they won the Series. So who knows, maybe McGwire will teach him to hit and Jose Oquendo can get him to not suck with the glove.

youneverknow.

The Carpenter we got in return is not Chris, but an A-ball pitcher – a 25 year old righty named David Carpenter. He started out as a catcher, couldn’t hit, and converted to pitching in 08. He spent 08 at rookie ball, 09 at A-ball and this year at high A in the Florida league: He’s a reliever with 49 appearances, 44 games finished and 20 saves: 2.36 ERA, 1.13 WHIP: 7.6 H/9, 2.5 BB/9, and 8.4 K/9.

With any luck, this will turn out well. Ed Wade has been VERY good at picking up relievers offn the scrap heap and out of other Organizations minors. He’s really only been wrong with the 2 ex-Braves and the guy he got from the Rox.

Tommy Manzella was brought back from the DL today – looks as if he’ll be on the bench – pretty silly, he’s had only 1 1/2 weeks worth of minor league AB – 6 games at AAA in which he went 9 fer 27 with 2 BB; 5 games at AA in which he went 6 fer 14. So now he can sit on the bench, come in to pinch hit against top relievers and look bad.

ah well…

Tags: , ,
Posted in Bud Norris, Pedro Feliz, Tommy Manzella | No Comments »

In Which The Astros Run Out Of Relievers Who Can Get Guys Out Or Not Walk Them And Lose To Mets In 14 Innings

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

The hitters had a really tough time with RA Dickey’s knuckleball – but I’m not throwing stones, because so does the rest of the ML. After all, the guy has already thrown two 1-hit games this year.

But Michael Bourn got on base immediately with a single up the middle and I thought – well, at least we won’t get no-hit. Then Angel Sanchez hit what looked as if it could have been another single up the middle, except it hit Dickey’s glove and deflected straight to the second baseman, who then had an easy 1-4-3 DP. Pence walked, Clank hit a dribbler to third that couldn’t be fielded, but CJ, who had his second in a row hitless/no reaching base/no driving in runs game. He also GIDP in the 4th with El Perezoso on first – I liked the way that he didn’t even bother to try to run to second to even think of trying to break up the DP but just peeled off for the dugout about half way down…

GASB!!!
I guess it’s time to put Feliz back in, hunh Ed? (yeah, sar-chasm…)

It was also a very, uh, er, INteresting (ahem) game as it was Cowboy Joe West, the Ultimo Prima Donna of Lousy Umpires behind home plate – and his strike zone, as usual, was both nebulous and unpredictable – both Astros and Mets pitchers and hitters – uh, um, “asked” where the pitch was more than a few times.

Astros FINALLY managed to get enough hits to string together to get a run in the 8th – Q singled, pinch hitter Michaels singled, Bourn sac-bunted, then Angel Sanchez hit a single up the middle hard enough for Castro, pinch running for Q to score, but Michaels, unfortunately, had to be held at third, as he doesn’t exactly run like Bourn/Pence. And neither Pence nor Clank could get him home.

Blum hit his first home run of this year to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th and Jerry Manuel IMMEDIATELY pulled him. (Over ONE flat knuckleball??? The guy looked as if he could stay out there and throw another hundred pitches. But I digress….)

And then it became the Battle Of The Relievers for both sides.

And I would like to know why Mills is so allergic to having his relievers pitch multiple innings if they cruise through one with a lowe pitch count (yes, I know that Lyon blew up the other day after 1 quick inning, but really, that is ONE guy, ONE inning…)

So Melancon pitched a 1,2,3 quick 8th with 11 pitches, then Byrdak pitched a quick 1,2,3 9th – ok, 17 pitches there, then Lyon came on for the 10th and ran into trouble. You note he is having trouble getting 1,2,3 out lately, right?

Anyway, Reyes singled, Pagan bunt-singled (a perfect one, too,  just past the pitcher’s mound on the 3B side and no one could get to it in time – and someone needs to tell CJ that he comes in too far when he goes to field bunts.) Wright was up and I thought – oh noooooooo, but he flew out to shallow left (the boy is in a bit of a slump over the past few weeks and the NY media, who for some reason hates him, is screaming about how the team needs to trade him and get A Real “Leader” who, naturally Knows How To Win – or something.) Then, with Jackal at the plate on a 3-1 count, Reyes and Pagan pull off a double steal. Quintero is steaming.

Out comes Arnesberg, and they put the Jackal on. I usually don’t like intentional walks, but Lyon was having more than a bit of trouble finding any umpire’s strike zone and Arnesberg knows only too well how much the Jackal likes hitting in this here park. And I hate bases loaded, only 1 out, because unless there is a popup in the infield or a K or an EASY GB, usually at least 1 run scores. But lefty Davis hit the ball down the 1B line and Wallace, very smartly, instead of going for the DP, fired the ball home to get Reyes for a FC. Then Francoeur flied out. And believe it or not, that was only 20 pitches.

Lyon, by the way, has already thrown 56 innings, and he usually throws about 70/year and we haven’t even hit September. He’s thrown 11 innings this month 0ver 11 appearances and he usually throws 12-13 innings per MONTH and here we are only at August 19. So I can go along with not overusing him right about now.

Lopez came in and threw 2 quick and easy 1,2,3 innings – except for giving up a seeing eye single to David Wright, who hurt his leg or back swinging – I think – and was removed for pinch runner Mike Hessman - with 20 pitches. Fulchino pitched the 13th, giving up a single and a walk. With Lindstrom unavailable, the only reliever remaining was Gustavo Chacin, who coughed it up.

Walk to Reyes, sac-bunt. Steal of 3rd, walk to Mike Hessman, hitting less than MY weight (this is bad, BTW), then an intentional walk to the Jackal to load the bases. With 1 out, again. I hate this, ESPECIALLY when the pitcher is having trouble throwing strikes in the first place.  I know they are hoping from a GIDP from Ike Davis, but Chacin hasn’t done anything but walk hitters and give up a sac-bunt. So Davis naturally hits a sac-fly and there goes the ball game.

The Astros managed exactly ONE hit off 6 innings worth of Mets relievers and if you can’t hit Manny Acosta and Elmer Dessens – not good.

Am I allowed to say, at this point, that I am seriously doubting the ability of Jason Castro to hit ML pitching? And yes I most certainly DO want to give him the rest of the year.

Matt Lindstrom was put on the DL to rest his back – WHYYYYYYYYYYY can’t they do this in the first place???? as it seems to still be bothering him – DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH – and called up lefty Fernando Abad, who has so far this year thrown 6 good innings at AAA over 5 appearances. He also threw 39.2 innings at AA with a 2.50 ERA (including 4 games started) and a 1.36 WHIP – low BB/9, 7.5 K/9, 10.9 hits/9.

Tonight it is Bud Norris. It ain’t the Pirates he’s facing, but I’m still hoping to see that filthy stuff he threw, just so I can say he threws filthy stuff, not just that he gets Pirates out, just like everyone else in the league.

He faces lefty Pat Misch, who was drafted in the 5th round of the 02 draft by the Astros (who prolly lowballed him because he didn’t sign – what a surprise) – then signed after being drafted by the Giants in the 7th round in 03. He was called up in 06, has been a swingman/long reliever/spot starter with a career 4.67 ERA/ 1.46 WHIP.

The Mets picked him up on waivers June 09 and he filled the same role – reliever, spot starter, and threw 59 innings of 101 ERA+ ball with a 4.12 ERA/ 1.37 WHIP. His numbers are slightly better as a reliever than a starter, which is pretty much true with almost every pitcher.  This year, he has spent mostly in AAA and has thrown one start, 6 innings, given up 1 ER.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Astros baseball | 3 Comments »

Mark Melancon Blows Nelson Figueroa’s Win But Hero Pence Bails Him Out

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Nelson Figueroa battled bravely – got to give him that. It took him 35 pitches to get through the first inning – gave up an infield single on the first pitch to Jose Reyes, who went to second on a passed ball which bounced in the dirt before reaching Castro. (Interesting that that was only the 4th passed ball assigned to Castro – he isn’t the best pitch blocker, and a few other “wild pitches” in my opinon, should have been more accurately called passed balls. But I digress…) Anyway, Reyes scored an unearned run on a single up the middle. Figgy gave up 2 walks, but Kd Wright and Frenchy to escape from the inning with only 1 run.

He gave up his second run in the second – Thole hit another IF single to short (no, not bad fielding by Sanchez – even Adam Everett couldn’t have gotten an out there), then after Ruben Tejada flied out, Johan Santana was up. The infield came in, expecting the sac-bunt, but Santana chopped a ball over the head of Chris Johnson, and it rolled down the LF line. El Perezoso (when Clank won’t move faster than the 3-toed sloth, he’ll get called that) moseyed over to eventually get it and Santana had himself a double, then Reyes grounded Thole home.

Somehow, Figgy found conmtrol of the fastball, which had been completely missing for the first 2 innings,  and had 1,2,3 outs for the next 3 innings, with the exception of a walk to Reyes in the 5th. And I want to point out that Chris Johnson made 3 really excellent plays, including his grabbing of Thole’s hard smashed liner in the 4th.

So Figgy threw 5 innings, 89 pitches 3 walks, 4 hits, 4 K, 2 runs, 1 ER. Not bad. I was surprised that he didn’t go back out for the 6th, but I guess he was on a pitch count, or he was tired – most likely the first, because Mills doesn’t seem to be able to tell when a pitcher is tired.

Fulchino came on for the 6th and I held my breath. But although he gave up a walk to Frenchy???!!! (what IS it about Astros pitchers giving up walks to a guy who usually walks fewer times than Miggy Tejada) and a single to Reyes, he faced only 4 batters in each of the 2 innings he pitched and needed only 24 pitches. Hopefully, he’s back, and in 2009 shape.

Mark Melancon came on as the setup man and promptly coughed up the lead to David Wright, who homered into the Crawford Boxes – he’d been aiming there all night and had almost made it in the 5th, except the ball went juuuuust a little too far towards center. (I will never understand the NY media’s disdain for Wright. Not sure why so many of them INSIST on blaming the team’s best player for the fact that he is surrounded by suckage – as if he were the GM or something. Sort of reminds me of the Astros fans blaming Berkman for the fact that Wade filled the team with guys who couldn’t hit, but I digress…) He gave up a single to the Jackal, then got 3 outs, but it was too late – Figgy had already lost his hard earned win.

And he lost it to Melancon, who was rescued by Hunter Pence and his second homer of the night – again into the Crawford Boxes – again, like 345′ – but hey, it’s not as if Wright’s went much further. And the Crawford Boxes giveth and the Crawford Boxes taketh away, as we all know. I absolutely HATE the way the wins rule works – it leads to stupid remarks from BBWAA and radio types talking about someone just “knowing how to win” – yeah, by having a guy on your team bail you out.

So Johan Santana, who pitched an 8 inning complete game, lost to the Astros AND didn’t even have a QS.

Pence, I should mention, drove in ALL the runs tonight. Brett Wallace went ofer, which will probably convince Millsy that he should be platooned against leftys from now on. CJ also went ofer – his second ofer in the past 3 games. Guess he should be benched for Pedro Feliz, now. Bourn went 2fer 4, but killed a rally in the 8th with men on first and second by GIDP to first. His 4th GIDP this year. He also made a few really dazzling catches, as usual (and he woulda made that catch to left center that Jason Michaels didn’t last night – but I digress…)

Santana had a really tough first inning – needed 30 pitches – had a hard time locating his changeup, but he got himself together and gave up 3 singles, a double (to Castro), a walk to Jason Michaels over the next 6 innings. Everyone but Sanchez left at least 1 guy on base.

Blum played second, and will be for a while because Keppinger has injured his toe – possibly broken it. Although he hasn’t yet been put on the DL, he probably will be and I guess we’ll be seeing Anderson Hernandez or (shudder) Matt Kata soon.

Matt Lindstrom has been relieved as closer as he has been ineffective basically, the month of August. He did have 3 of 4 blown saves between May 27 and June 2, but managed to get back on track – and then after giving up no runs for 10 straight appearances, he struggled – his back was supposed to be the reason, but after supposedly healing his back, he still had no feel for the ball. (And, as I mentioned before the season started, this is exactly what happened to him as the Marlins closer last year – he was replaced by Leo Nunez for the same reason.)

Mills has not specifically named either Lyon closer, and in fact, tonight Wilton Lopez shut the door, except for an IF single off his glove. Melancon throws hard, all right, but the Yankees, who need bullpen help and are still looking for that infamous “bridge to Mariano” didn’t think enough of him to keep him. And the 3-2 pitch that Wright hit out was a FB right down the middle. I would guess that he went in because Lyon is a bit tired and needed a night off.

We’ll see how it shakes out over the next few weeks.

Oh yeah – and you best believe I booed that Jackal every time I saw him. Always will.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Hunter Pence, Nelson Figueroa, Wilton Lopez | 2 Comments »

« Older Entries