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Michael Bourn Drives In 1, Steals 2 And Scores From Second On An Infield Single

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Remember a couple years back when Michael Bourn scored all the way from second on a Berkman sac-fly to deep center? I thought that outside of Wandy hitting a homer, that nothing could possibly be more absolutely kewl – well, maybe if Michael reached on error, then went to second on a WP, went to third on a balk then stole home. But this afternoon, I watched Michael reach on a ball hit off the pitcher’s glove (somehow, when the pitcher went to chase the ball, his shoe fell off – really, I swear it), get picked off but steal second anyhow and slide under the tag, and when Anderson Hernandez hit a chopper to third, Polanco picked it up, threw to first, not in time to get Hernandez – a little high, then he turned on the afterburners, flew home and slid in ahead of Ryan Howard’s perfect throw to Ruiz.

This is what makes Michael so exciting. I mean besides all the great fielding. He went 8 fer 20 with a HOMER!!! 4 runs, 2 RBI and 4 SB. And he really should have had another RBI but they held Castro at third when he could have scored – guess they figured Anderson Hernandez would drive him in?

Wandy didn’t have his best stuff today, but somehow he kept on mowin em down – gave up no hits until Werth singled to lead off the 5th. He went to 3rd on an Ibanez double, then tried to score on a fly ball to shallow center – but Pence was coming forward as he caught it and made a perfect throw to Castro and Werth was dead meat. I suppose he could have played Pete Rose to Ray Fosse, but he didn’t.

Wandy finally gave up a run in the 7th – Ben Francisco singled, then Jimmy Rollins hit a smash to third – CJ made another really great play, threw to Hernandez, who again couldn’t complete the DP. He’s not exactly a very nimble guy for a middle infielder – reminds me of Jeff Kent, except that Kent, for all his statue-like-ness was really good at turning the DP. I see why other Organizations keep getting tired of him – they’d usually put up with the lowe BA/OBP/SLG if he was a great glove, but he’s not. Anyway, Utley hit a ball into the RF corner and Rollins scored standing up and slowing as he reached the plate.

Since Castro started catching Wandy on June 24, Wandy hasn’t pitched fewer than 6 innings. He’s pitched 3 games giving up 0 runs, 6 games giving up 1 run (and has ND in 3 of those), 1 game with 2 runs, 1 with 3 and 1 with 5. I think the difference is that Castro is MUCH better framing pitches than Quintero – his weakness is blocking balls in the dirt, but he’s much better with the curve because it is slower and Wandy doesn’t throw a slider. Wandy’s ERA has gone from 6.09 to 3.87. His post ASB ERA is something like 1.70. Of course nobody notices…

And speaking of Castro, he singled and he doubled down the LF line today – good. I hope this might could get him hitting.

Brett Wallace is looking completely lost. His timing is off – he pops up, has weakass grounders, looks like Pedro Feliz (not good) except he is good at walking and getting HBP.

Angel Sanchez is not nearly as good with the glove as Manzella – I’d rather see him at second and Manz at short until Kepp gets back. I have no idea why Mills is playing Hernandez so much.

CJ was ofer again – at least he only swung at 1 pitch out of the zone and it wasn’t strike 3. He made 2 really REALLY good plays, and I mean good. I think his errors are him getting overeager to try to get an out, especially on a ball which really shouldn’t be thrown anyway because infield singles happen.

No stupid ump stuff – the HP ump only missed 1 pitch and there weren’t any close calls, except for Wandy getting thrown out at second on a WP – looks to me as if he was safe and he got his foot in ahead of hte tag, but the ball beat him and he’s a pitcher and well, that’s how things go. wandy was on first because he’d smashed a hanging breaker of some kind off the RF wall and unfortunately, it rolled straight to Werth and Wandy ain’t Michael.

Fulchino pitched a 1,2 walk, 3 8th.

Fernando Abad came in to mop up the 9th, got 2 quick outs, then gave up a single that Sanchez couldn’t get to (that Manzella would have had – I saw him make that play twice last night), then a single to left. And with a righty coming up to pinch hit, I fully expected Mills to pull him and send in some righty, but to my surprise, Arnesberg went out and Abad stayed in (although Lyon started warming up).

That AB took like FOREVER because Abad didn’t want to pitch what Castro wanted, or he couldn’t understand the signs, but he kept stepping off – and Castro went out to the mound THREE times before Ruiz finally flew out to Bourn.

But this was a 4 game sweep of the Phils – we kick ASS at their park, for some reason – they swept us back in April at the Box.

We’re off to see the Mets and Pelfrey (who gived us a whuppin a week ago) and we’ll see if Nelson Figueroa can beat his old team. Looks as if Figgy is gonna be our new Moehler, who re-injured his groin/abdomen – pulled muscle, bad tendon – something – and needs season ending surgery. I’ll go for that – he seems to be about the same kind of pitcher, only shorter and cheaper. My favorite kind…

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Posted in Michael Bourn, Wandy Rodriguez | 11 Comments »

Brandon Lyon Has A 2 Inning Save To Back Happ’s Win Over Halliday

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Well, I know he dood it, but I don’t know HOW he dood it. He doesn’t have awesome stuff, he went to 5 three ball counts, but somehow he gave up only 5 hits, 2 walks 1 homer, 2 runs over 6.1 IP.  He got a little lucky and unlucky in the 6th, when with Halliday on second and Victorino on first, Polanco hit a ball to the LF wall that Clank misplayed – it really SHOULD have been caught, but he took a bad route, let it hit the ground and bounce off the wall, and Halliday scored, and for some reason I do NOT get, they held Victorino, who is almost Bourn fast, at third. It is absolutely ridiculous that not getting a very catchable ball isn’t called an error, but even Roy Oswalt would have made that play in left. But then Happ then got out Utley and Werth. Amazing.

And when the game first started, I thought that fer SHER Halliday was gonna throw a nono. 11 hitters, 34 pitches, then Pence came to bat, Halliday threw a FB up and in and Pence sent it over the left center wall. SUCH a relief – no  perfect game, no shutout. CJ singled to lead off the 5th, then Wallace GIDP. (The boy is having some trouble adjusting to ML pitching, just like Castro and Manzella and NO, I most positively do NOT want any of those guys sent down. And, in fact, I would like to see Anderson Hernandez and his long ML history of suckage kept mostly on the bench – he’s just Matt Kata all over again.) And Manzella is most definitely exponentially better with the glove than Sanchez. Even though he’s apparently forgotten all his Baggy lessons and is again mostly hitting the ball to short.

Oh yes – so in the 6th, Happ grounded out to lead off, then Michael Bourn, yes, MICHAEL “Mr. Infield Singles” Bourn golfed a pitch like a GOOD 380-400′ into the RF stands. Roy “Ace-Man” Halliday has just given up TWO homers to Astros hitters. I mean, we are talking about the guy who has given up no runs at ALL in 9 of his 26 starts.

In the 7th, CJ doubled to right, then Quintero drove him in with a single to left. And Quintero was most DEFINITELY the game’s hero. No question – not only did he drive in the winning run, but he saved the game before Brandon Lyon picked up a baseball. And this is the story.

Happ, to my surprise, comes out to start the 7th – Wilton Lopez was all warmed up and ready, but no. So Sweeney singles, Ben Francisco hits what SHOULD have been a GIDP ball to 3rd, but Hernandez can’t turn the play in time and it’s a FC.

Then Mills plays musical relievers. He pulls Happ and sends in Lopez, our best reliever, to face Ruiz. Good job, I woulda done the same. Ruiz singles to left, and then Manuel sends lefty Ibanez up to pinch hit for Halliday. But Mills pulls Lopez, HIS BEST RELIEVER, and sends in Byrdak, who gets Ibanez out. Then, Mills pulls Byrdak because he doesn’t want him to face Jimmy Rollins. So he sends in Melancon. (Mills REALLY thinks that Lopez can’t get out either Ibanez or Rollins? Are you KIDDING me????) And Rollins takes a strike, swings and misses, takes a ball, fouls one off, then there’s another ball in the dirt, which Q blocks, then he sees that Francisco has wandered off third, and he fires down to CJ and PICKS OFF FRANCISCO!!!

Amazing.

And then, of course, Brandon Lyon comes in and slams the door – 2 innings, 22 pitches. Gave up a single to Ryan Howard, who poked a ball through the 5.5 hole to beat the shift.

And tomorrow afternoon, it’s Wandy vs Kyle Kendrick. Would be very nice to sweep there Wand-man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Posted in Chris Johnson, J.A. Happ, Quintero | 3 Comments »

Michael Bourn Hits A Home Run Off Roy Halliday!!!

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

This deserves its own entry, dontcha think?

It didn’t go 565′

it wasn’t helped by wind

it wasn’t off a mistake pitch – was down and in, as a matter of fact.

But Michael Bourn homering off an ultra ace like Halliday – all I can say is that ah LUUUUVVVVVS baseball…

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Posted in Michael Bourn | 17 Comments »

In Which Wilton Lopez Blows The Save, I Go To Bed And Miss Roy-O Play LF and CJ Drive In The Winning Run

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

I guess Wilton Lopez, who had been perfect for SO long, was gonna throw a bad pitch sooner or later. But I’m getting ahead of myself, here.

I would have said, a long time ago, that I LUUUUVVVVV 6 PM game starts because I can watch it all and be finished writing my writeup by the time I get the last kid in bed. But things change – and between feeding kids and dogs, getting kids started on (shudder) homework and who knows what, I missed the first inning. And of course, there were lots of interruptions because Certain Kids, who had exactly zero interest in watching games during the summer, suddenly have developed this intense Astros Fanhood, in which they can’t bear to not watch a single pitch (instead of doing homework, you feelin me here).

So by the time their Daddy got home, got fed and got going, it was the 4th inning and Pence had singled and then Carlos Lee had homered. And here it is noon the next day, and I’m just getting time to going back to the replay. Babies and toddlers are easy. Kids take TONS of time.

So, the important points: once again, Brett Wallace was benched against a lefty, with Clank playing 1B. Bud Norris is looking as if he has turned the corner, he really is. One of the things that rookie pitchers have to deal with is to not lose focus/concentration when the HP umps don’t call a strike a strike – especially when they have called that exact same pitch a strike on an earlier occasion or for the other pitcher.

In the second inning, Bud threw 30 pitches. With 2 outs, he walked Victorino (and yes, those balls WERE balls) and then he got overly distracted, trying to keep him on first, then balked. He had Ruiz struck out on pitch #5, but Victorino stealing 3rd distracted the HP ump, and a pitch RIGHT in the strike zone was called ball 2 instead of strike 3 (actually, ball 1 SHOULD have been strike 2, but I digress) and the next pitch was ball 4 (it really was). Hamels was then up with runners on first and third. He swung at the first 2 pitches, and the next pitch was called Ball 1 instead of Strike 3 – it was a FB right at the top of the zone – INSIDE the zone, but noooooo. But Bud kept his cool and FINALLY got Hamels out.

Third inning, Hamels gets 1,2,3 outs on 12 pitches. Bud goes back out – gets Rollins out on 3 pitches, gets Polanco out on 2 – and Strike 1 (called a strike the last 2 innings for Bud) was called Ball 1, gave up a single to Utley on 3 pitches and got Howard out on 2 with a lineout to center. What was good is that for all 3 innings, Bud kept the ball down, except for the deliberate high FB, and only had 1 pitch mid plate – the second pitch to Howard in the 3rd, whose swing was just a leeeeeetle off – good thing for Bud.

Fourth inning, Bud was handed a 2 run lead and went out there with grim determination. He got lucky with Jayson Werth – left a ball in the middle of the plate and it was fouled off. But he got him out, then got Ibanez to GO, walked Victorino on 5 pitches (and yes they really were all balls) then got Ruiz to flyout – threw over a few pickoff throws, but didn’t lose focus this time.

Fifth inning, he got Hamels out on 4 pitches, Rollins out on 4 pitches (and Ball 1 should have been Strike 1) then watched his first 2 pitches to Polanco get called balls, even though they were most definitely in the strike zone (lower outside corner) and had definitely been called strikes before (I hate to say it, but I think that some of this is the fact that Q is lousy at framing pitches – I’ve said this for YEARS) but kept at it and got him out on the 6th pitch. I’ve lost count of how many pitches in the strike zone were called balls – AND he didn’t get any pitches OUT of the strike zone called strikes.

6th inning, at 89 pitches, he went back out, got Utley out on 4 pitches (and another strike called a ball – midplate, right above the knees) then got Howard out swinging – good thing, too, because the ump probably would have called that sllider a ball. Then Werth singled – after 2 pitches called balls which were strikes (you notice a pattern here? And watching the mlb replay, even the Phils announcers are surprised at how many pitches are not called strikes) and Ibanez doubled to the LF corner – ball 1 was strike 1 (the Phils announcers noticed) and then ball 1 was called strike 1 (Phils announcers groused) then Victorino singled. With Ruiz up and Domonic Brown on deck, Bud threw a ball, did that sillyass fake to third fake to first thingy (WHY on earth do pitchers do that? All it does is risk a balk, which you do NOT wanna do with a guy on 3rd – and it never gets anyone out anyway) then got Ruiz to flyout to Bourn.

And there you go – 6 tough, gritty innings, DEFINITELY not exactly helped by the HP umpire’s crappy and inconsistant strike zone.

Since Bud came back from the DL, he has had only 2 of 11 starts in which he didn’t go 6 innings – before that, he had only 1 start out of 9 in which he went more than FIVE innings – 8 innings against, naturally, St. Louis. One thing I noticed this game is that Bud used his changeup effectively – only 10 of em in 108 pitches, but he threw all but 1 for strikes, got 2 of his 18 outs with them. Earlier this year, he either couldn’t throw the changeup for a strike, it had no movement on it, or it was down the middle. Bud pretty much kept the ball down, painted the corners, and had good movement on his pitches.

Bud’s July ERA was 3.73 and his August ERA is 3.58. I really REALLY hope that this is something permanent – he’s beaten 4 good teams this month (of course, he’s had outstanding run support in 2 starts in which he gave up 4 runs) and so it isn’t just him beating lousy teams.

And the rest of the game?

Well, I watched Byrdak come in the 7th, walk the first 2 guys, then get 3 outs. I watched Gustavo Chacin come in in the 8th, get 2 outs, then give up a double (ahem) to Ibanez on what SHOULD have been an easy single to center, only Michael Bourn, of all people, booted the ball. Ibanez, one of the 5 slowest runners in the majors, decided to go to third and SHOULD have been dead meat, but Sanchez, the cutoff man, dropped the throw from Pence and made it into third. With switch hitting Victorino coming up, Mills pulled Chacin and sent in our best reliever, Lopez. Who got Victorino out.

When Lopez came back out in the 9th, I knew that Lyon wasn’t gonna pitch tonight, but figured, no problem, Lopez is Da Man. So I let the kids stay up to watch him get the last 3 outs, even though it was most DEFINITELY bedtime on a Tuesday night, and he breezed through the first 3 outs, then went to 3-1 on Rollins, threw a mid-plate, thigh high FB, which Rollins popped up into the RF seats, just left of the foul pole to tie the game.

sigh

Then, of course, I had to get the kids settled and into bed – and they, uh, resist this, not seeing why on earth a good night’s sleep is necessary for skool, and by the time I got everyone in bed, I was tired, it was late and Fernando Abad had managed to throw 2 scoreless innings (which I didn’t think possible – GLAD to be wrong) giving up a single, no walks and 3 Ks,  watched the top of the 12th in which Michael Bourn came in with 2 on, 2 outs, the game on the line, and grounded out. Melancon came in to pitch the bottom of the 12th, gave up a bloop single but got 3 outs, and I was just too tired to stay up and watch, having been up since around 4:30 AM.

So I missed the 14th. JMike struck out swinging, CJ singled, then Tommy grounded into his SECOND DP of the night – hadn’t been his night at all – he’d been called out on strikes his last AB on a FB at LEAST 4″ off the plate. Then Melancon came back out, got 2 outs, gave up a single and a walk and it was Ryan Howard at the plate.

He fouled one off, then checked his swing on the next pitch. Only the 3B ump thought he’d gone around and called it a strike. Watching the replay, it sure nuff looked to ME as if he’d checked it – and I’m an Astros fan. Ryan was NOT happy and started yelling. The 3B ump looked grim, but Ryan calmed back down, went back into the box after walking around a bit to shake it off. He fouled one to the 1B line, then Melancon threw a breaker in the dirt, which Castro didn’t block (HIS weakness as a catcher, just like Q’s weakness is his lousiness at framing pitches) and both runners moved up, even though the ball didn’t roll far. Howard fouled another one off, then checked his swing on Ball 2. I mean, he didn’t even go as far around as he did the first time, but the 3B ump IMMEDIATELY called him out.

Howard immediately turned to him and screamed (and it was not the bad word that starts with F or C) and the 3B ump IMMEDIATELY tossed him. And Howard is not a guy who gets tossed – in fact, I think that Berkman has gotten tossed more often. Victorino, like a foot shorter and 100 lbs thinner, came in kind of grabbed Howard, tried to shove him backwards with his shoulder. There was a WHOLE lot of yelling, no contact, and finally a furious Howard stormed down the dugout stairs. I don’t blame him. It was a bullstuff call – and the 3B ump OBVIOUSLY did it because Howard had had a fit about the FIRST checked strike call.

Interesting because the 3B ump was the HP ump for the previous night’s game and I thought he had done an EXCELLENT job behind the plate with balls and strikes. INCREDIBLY better than tonight’s HP ump.

And some guy in the Phils dugout got tossed too – even though he’s on the DL. Pretty silly, you ask me.

So Roy Oswalt got sent in to play LF. And sure nuff, first out, top of the 15th, he catches a nice can of corn from Jason Castro. I love stuff like this – Kevin Cash pitching, pitchers fielding and pinch hitting (Wandy grounded out) when everyone has already been used up. As long as the season is not on the line, that is. It’s not like 05, when it seems that 1 of every like 4 games went into extra innings – and we lost them all…

Melancon ended up with 3 scoreless and Herndon, pitching his 3rd straight inning, gave up a single to Pence, then hit Wallace with the 9th pitch, then IBB Michaels to pitch to CJ and hopefully get an inning ending GIDP. And CJ hit a ball to 3rd, but it was smashed, Polance couldn’t handle it and Pence trotted home with the go-ahead run. Then Tommy Manzella, going for the trifecta in GIDPs was up. I mean, not even Brad Ausmus or Miggy Tejada had managed THAT feat. And sure nuff, he hit the ball RIGHT to short, but a sliding CJ broke up the DP and Manzella beat the throw into first and Wallace scored the insurance run. Fulchino struck out for the 3rd out. Yeah, the pitchers had to hit for themselves by then, you know.

So Fulchino had to slam the door – got the first 2 outs, then walked Polanco, IBBd Utley, and then Roy-O was up. And even though he isn’t on our team any more, it would have been teh KEWL if he had gotten a hit and tied it up again, but he grounded out and the Astros won after 5 something hours.

And tonight, all those tired guys have to go out and play at least 9. Happ faced Halliday. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get shutout.

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Posted in Bud Norris | 8 Comments »

In Which Carlos Lee Drives In The Winning Runs, Q Picks Off Werth And Brad Lidge Throw 81 MPH Sliders

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

The game started off VERY well – Michael Bourn, who has suddenly remembered how to walk, hit and bunt, led off the game with an opposite field single, then stole second on the very next pitch. When he’s ON, he’s really just fun to watch. Angel Sanchez singled to right – dave Clark held up Bourn at 3rd because Werth can throw VERY well. Pence then hit a sac-fly to deep right center, Bourn trotted home, but Sanchez didn’t bother to tag up and go to second, which he really SHOULD have done as Victorino was at the deepest part of the park and moving backwards as he caught the ball. BAD baserunning. Carlos then hit a double which split the gap in deep right center, Victorino had to chase the ball, and somehow, Sanchez took off late or wasn’t running fast enough, and didn’t make a good slide, and Victorino hit Utley, the cutoff man, who threw a bullet to Ruiz and Sanchez was dead meat.

CJ then hit a fly ball to the RF line and with the ball falling fast and slicing away from Werth, he made a GREAT sliding catch to rob CJ – which was a shame because it was the only ball he hit all night. Dude has just GOT to stop swinging at and swinging through most of pitches thrown to him – he got called out in the 4th on a checked swing on a ball in the dirt – and when you swing at bout most ANYthing, the ump ain’t gonna give you the benefit of the doubt.

For the next 4 innings, the Astros went down 1,2,3 as Joe Blanton pumped in strike after strike. Bourn singled to start the 6th, then stole second again, but was stranded on 3rd by Pence and Clank.

Meanwhile, the Phils, who went down 1,2,3 in the first and second, tied the game on a Carlos Ruiz homer. Then Valdez, the utility IF grounded out, Blanton singled up the middle, and Jimmy Rollins singled to shallow left center, and Clank booted the ball, allowing both runners to move up a base. Victorino hit a ball to first, and Wallace thew home to get Blanton trying to score. Wallace is deft and graceful – surprising in such a blocky looking guy. Then, of course, Utley singled home Rollins and the Phils led 2-1 and held the lead until the end of the 7th.

I most certainly Do have to give props to Quintero. In the bottom of the 6th, Werth doubled off the wall, Ibanez Kd, then they IBBd Ruiz, who has a nasty habit of pounding the ball with 2 outs and RISP. Q noticed that Werth haed wandered off second, and wasn’t really paying attention, and he fired to Sanchez, waiting at second and they picked off Werth to end the inning – not that Valdez was much of a threat, but just the same, better to have him leading off the next inning than a pinch hitter.

And indeed, he didn’t get a hit to lead off the bottom of the 7th, but pinch hitter Domonic Brown singled, then Jimmy Rollins singled (sometimes I check that guy’s BA/OBP and am surprised to see that he makes outs), then Victorino GIDP to end the inning and keep the lead at just 1 run.

Which really mattered because Ryan Madsen, who hadn’t given up a run (or let one score) this month, gave up a single to PH Jason Michaels. I know you are wondering why on earth Mr. LeftyRighty Matchup Manager let a righty bat against a righty – it’s because Blum’s neck is sore and Jason Castro isn’t hitting. Anyway, then the breaks went the Astros way. Bourn laid down a bunt single toward first – Ryan Howard fielded it and tried to tag Bourn out, but Bourn eluded the tag – stepped slightly outside the baseline to avoid it, managed to do so, and was called safe by the 1B ump – not that the HP ump, who was watching, disagreed.

Oh, and heck broke loose. Charlie Manuel wasn’t happy, although he didn’t pull a Pinella and scream or kick/throw bases, and finally got hisself tossed. I know you have to step more than just a couple of incles outside of the lines, as Bourn did to evade the tag, and the ump was actually right.

So then Sanchez laid down a nice sac-bunt to 3rd and there was a Meeting On The Mound to discuss whether or not to walk Pence and pitch to Clank or just pitch to em both.  Finally, they decided to pitch to Pence, and Madson struck him out on a FB around the shoulders. But the very next pitch, low, at the knees and inside, Clank poked over the third baseman into left and Michaels, with Bourn 10′ behind him, came roaring in to take the lead. CJ grounded out weakly to short.

Byrdak came in to pitch the 8th – actually, he’s pitching VERY well this year – Since June 1, he’s given up runs in exactly 2 of 31 appearances. He gave up a single to Werth, but got out leftys Utley, Howard and Ibanez.

Brad Lidge came on to pitch the top of the 9th, and I didn’t recognise him. Well, I mean, of COURSE I know what he looks like, duh, but I mean that his mechanics are completely different. He throws his FB around 90 and his slider around 81-82. I guess this is the result of all his knee/arm problems, but he is quite effective at lower velocities. The slider still had wicked movement and guys couldn’t hit it and couldn’t lay off. I know that everyone is supposd to hyperventilate and get all hex-cited about the MPH, but it ain’t the speed, it’s the motion.

Brandon Lyon came in to close out and immediately threw 3 pitches to Ruiz that weren’t even close. He then threw a gimmee strike, then another ball and I thought – oh noooooooooooes. But Valdez popped out, pinch hitter Polanco flew out to Bourn and Rollins lined out to Michaels in left.

Tomorrow, Bud Norris faces lefty Cole Hamels, who is 7-10 with a 3.51 ERA – proving that no matter how well you pitch, iffn you don’t get no run support, you might could Know How To Win, but you won’t.

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Posted in Brad Lidge, Brandon Lyons, Carlos Lee | 7 Comments »

Good-bye Roy Oswalt, Thanks For The memories And Hope You Like Philly

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

I’ve seen it coming since The Year Of The Biggio, when it became obvious that Drayton was running the club and that he had absolutely NO idea how to GM a club, just how to promote it. I’ve watched the general atmosphere deteriorate as Roy and Lance realized that they were not going to have any chance of returning to the postseason. They (barely) tolerated the ineptitude of Cooper and the rest of the coaches, but even though Mills and Arnesberg were hired this year, Roy and Lance saw the writing on the wall – Drayton wasn’t about to hire good baseball people and let them rebuild the franchise, so they said – I’ve had it.

I don’t blame em one bit.

It’s gonna be weird watching Roy pitch for some other team. I first watched him in the 2000 Olympics – my Mama called me, told me to get out of bed and turn on the games because I wasn’t gonna believe my eyes. Everyone was going on and on about Ben Sheets, but Roy was better, had better stuff – like Paulino, with superb control. I could hardly believe he was an ASTRO.

And for 10 years running, he’s been our ace. And now he’s gone.

Here’s the deal: Oswalt plus 11 mill (of his remaining 5 mill + 16 mill + 3 mill buyout) to the Phillies for 27 year old lefty ML pitcher J.A. Happ (not a FA until 2014), A ball infielder Jonathan Villar, and A ball OF Anthony Gose (who was immediately traded to Toronto for failed 1B AAA prospect Brett Wallace, a 3B turned 1B – yes you have heard that name before, more on him later.)

I find it VERY hard to believe that Wade couldn’t get a better deal – especially for 11 million dollars.

I know the fans are ecstatic about Happ, because of his gaudy win/loss record and his low ERA.

Let’s take a look: Happ was drafted by Ed Wade in the 3rd round of the 04 draft, threw 4 innings in 07, then 31.2 inningsof 120+ ERA ball in 08, 166 innings of 145 ERA+ ball in 09, and spent a great deal of this year on the DL, but threw 3 starts over 15.1 innings, giving up 3 ER/4R. ML numbers: 31 starts, 16 relief appearances over 217 IP: 8.2 H/9, 1.1 HR/9; 6.6 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 – 3.11 ERA, 1.295 WHIP. Bad number, though, is his career xFIP of 6.33 – this is an adjusted ERA kind of number, standing for fielding independent pitching, adjusted for league and parks, and, like ERA, the smaller, the better. It indicates that Happ has (supposedly) been extraordinarily lucky in having balls in play head to fielders and having them successfully turn them into outs.

I can tell you that his minor league rehab numbers this year are pretty bad.

Well, he IS cheap, but he is no ace, in spite of his low ERA.

Jonathan Villar is a 19 year old SS currently in A ball – Sally league. This year, he’s had 420 PA, 18 2B, 4 3B and 2 HR; 38 SB, 13 CS (like a 62% success rate = lousy); 26 BB, 103 K: .272/.332/.358/.690 – oh yeah, and as a fielder, has 42 (no, that is not a misprint) errors/483 chances (and the same error percent at 2B in previous years) – lifetime minor league OPS of .698 over 830 PA. This, my friends, is the definition of suckage. What the heck is Wade doing picking this guy?

And Brett Wallace? Of course you know his name. He was a first rounder of the Cards in 08 and was traded to the A’s last year at the deadline for Matt Holliday. He ended up being traded to the Jays in the complicated Roy Halliday trade in the offseason, and now he’s with us. He started his career as a third baseman, but his glove makes Chris Johnson look like Scott Rolen, so he’s been playing 1B, and I hear tell from people who have watched him, that he’s basically the first base equivalent of Clank Lee in LF. He has nice numbers in the PCL and for the past 2 years, has been at AAA with 866 PA (at hitters parks Las Vegas and Sacramento) and 45 2B, 33 HR, 21 GIDP, 56 BB, 165 K: .300/.357/.498/.855 – this translates to a major league equivalent of approximately .240/.289/.391/.698 (hitters parks, you know…)

For a guy who is supposedly a TOP prospect, he sure has been traded an awful lot. You have to ask why the Jays wanted to trade him for a lousy hitting, crappy basestealing A ball outfielder.

From Brian Cartwright:

“A couple reasons why Wallace has been a huge disappointment

 He raked in college, posting .400 BA’s in each of 2007 & 2008, with power and walks. He continued hitting well in the pros in ‘08, over .300 at every stop in the minors, 14 HR in 80 games.
 
After 32 games of 2009 he was promoted to Triple-A, where the unadjusted numbers look good
2009 Memphis    293/346/423
2009 Sacramento 302/365/506
2010 Las Vegas  298/359/511
 
But what these three have in common are the all in the hit happy PCL.
 
Looking now at Oliver’s MLEs
           BA  OB  SA wOBA Fld
2007 Coll 310/382/481  376
2008   AA 283/370/447  361  -2
2009  AAA 254/319/370  308 -14
2010  AAA 231/284/372  289  -6
 
The 376 & 361 wOBA’s in 2007-2008 are great for a 3b (putting him around 6th or 7th best in MLB), similar to Ryan Zimmerman. Then two things happened – he was moved to 1b because of bad defense at 3b, and his hitting tanked when seen i translation. He went from 60 or 70 BB in 600 or so PA to about 40, and the isolated power went from .170 range (above average but not great) to .120-.130, which is below MLB average.
 
Over the past two years, he has produced at a level below replacement for MLB firstbaseman.

sigh

I guess Drayton and Fast Eddie are thinking of having him replace Berkman, instead of promoting Koby Clemens.

Looks as if Drayton gets to pocket 12 mill over the next 2 years and we get to wonder why J.A. Happ can’t keep his H/9 at such a low level.

To put it mildly, I’m not exactly very HAPPy with this here trade.

I’m just surprised that Wade didn’t manage to get a middle reliever out of the deal. And I have this very VERy bad feeling that they are not going to trade the Wifebeater and are going to give him a huge multi year deal, which they are going to regret very quickly. And they are not going to trade Pence, who is rapidly going to become expensive and not a better ballplayer, or Wandy, or anyone else who has any trade value. I wouldn’t be surprised if Berkman is the only other player traded before the deadline.

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Posted in Roy Oswalt | 21 Comments »

Paulino Breaks Up The Nono, Holds On For The Win And Lyon Blows It

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

Well, Paulino came out with both guns blazing, got through the first inning with 13 pitches, got a 1,2,3 inning with 2 swinging Ks.

It was something that gave me false hope, unfortunately.

It wasn’t that he looked bad in the 2nd – he gave up a LONG fly ball to left to Ryan Howard which bounced off the scoreboard, hit Clank on the head, and before you know it, Howard was on 3rd. No error of course. The Jason Werth hit a very long FB to the LF bullpen that Michaels, playing center in place of Bourn, barely managed to get to for a sac-fly.

PHILS JUST WON!!! shouted the guy sitting next to me, a Phillies fan. Oh yeah – forgot – I went to the game tonight with one of my Mama’s oldest friends, a woman who has been going to every home game since the team was the Colt 45s and seeing as how tonight was the night we celebrated the ‘65 team which inaugurated the Dome, I thought I’d accept her invite and see how she liked the revised game. Of course, she thinks everything was better back then, but I’m not gonna throw no stones, seeing as how she has a couple of points.

I like the unis a LOT better. Cream color with a shooting star – LOTS better than that stupid hideous brick red or pin stripes (let’s leave those to the yecchs.) And I also like the organ instead of all the other stupid music/sound effects etc – they Dome had the organ until Drayton bought the team (I think) – because I remember the organ from when I was a kid. It was a LOT quieter and I liked it a LOT better. So I’m old already. Get off my lawn.

Where was I?

Oh yeah. So they had a celebration with some of the guys from the 65 team – no Joe Morgan though. My Mama’s friend was almost in tears. She looked at me, said – we thought the Dome was The Future. Well, for a while, it was. EVERYone wanted a Dome stadium, EVERYone wanted Astro Turf, EVERYone wanted an exploding scoreboard and colorful uniforms.

Ah well, the colorful unis are sure nuff back for the Astros FANS, at least. And speaking of unis, I saw something I have nevah seen before – a MAN wearing an Ausmus jersey. Miracles happen

And back to the game – remember I had been telling yall how great Manzella looks? Well, he made a lil mistake today – and not turning a DP by dropping the ball before getting an out at second, and Paulino not getting out of the inning cost. He gave up 3 runs before getting that last out. And I thought fer SHER that we were gonna get shut out AGAIN – even no-hit, as Jamie had needed only 19 pitches to get through 2 innings.

And sure nuff, he only needed 1 pitch to get Manzella out, then 3 pitches to get Quintero, but then Paulino hit a 1-1 slowball (giggle – I can’t get to calling a 80 MPH pitch a “fast”ball) to the RF bullpen and ended up on second. Then Jason Michaels hit a ball into the Crawford Boxes – the first Astros home run of the year. Then they showed the old snorting bull on the scoreboard. KEWL!!!
Keppinger had a 4 pitch walk (I was surprised they had him in against a lefty, but youneverknow) and then Hunter Pence FINALLY got a good swing on a pitch and hit it over the tracks onto Crawford Street. Yeah, it did go over – I saw it. Milo obviously didn’t – I heard the replay. Then the next 4 guys each singled and it was Astros 5, Phils 4 when Quintero grounded out, leaving bases loaded.

Yes, you read that right. The Astros FINALLY led in a ballgame!!!!!

Paulino struggled with his command (what IS it with the Astros pitchers not being able to throw strikes???) and gave up 4 walks, 3 hits, 4 K and 3 ER over 5 IP, going to 3 ball counts on 6 of the 23 hitters. He threw 45 pitches in the 3rd inning, and Mills hadn’t gotten anyone up. I wondered how long it was gonna be before he did…

Anyway, Moyer didn’t have any more trouble for his other 3 innings.

Sampson pitched a scoreless 6th.

Then, with the Astros leading, Brandon Lyon, the setup guy came in to preserve the W and gave up a walk to Utley, then a mammoth homer to Ryan Howard that hit the facade way over the Conoco Pump – and it went a LOT farther than the 430′ he was credited with. And he gave up 3 more singles and another run, to top it off. Good grief.

Byrdak pitched a scoreless 8th.

Then the closer, Lindstrom, gave up a single to Werth, then a homer to Victorino, who had been like 1 fer 20 with lots of 4-3 groundouts and Ks.

Great.

Michael Bourn was sent in to pinch hit for Quintero against Ryan Madsen, the defacto closer while Lidge is on the DL, and he promptly hit an opposite field double, went to 3rd on Cory Sullivan’s groundout (you note that Cory had an 11 pitch AB instead of going up there and getting his little self out on the first or second pitch, like a normal Astro) and came home when Michaels singled him in.

I hear tell that Drayton is hopping mad. Well, Drayton had best go and take a look in the mirror, is all I can say. It was HIM who wanted Old Guys and not prospects/minor leaguers. It was HIM hired Ed Wade, who is 15 years behind the times. I could go on, but what for?

Anyway, tomorrow is the Battle Of The Roys – Oswalt vs Halliday. Roy could pitch 9 innings of scoreless ball and he ain’t gonna win.

I notice that since Philly won the WS, there are a LOT more people in Phillies jerseys who come to watch games. Winning seems to enthuse fans…

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Posted in Astros baseball, Brandon Lyons, Felipe Paulino, Hunter Pence, Jason Michaels | 1 Comment »

Astros Throw Batting Practice To Phillies And Remain 0-fer 2010

Friday, April 9th, 2010

long silence

It’s like this – when Jeff Keppinger and Tommy Manzella are the top hitters on your ball club, you ball club is, by definition, the ultimate uck-say. At least Tommy actually IS hitting, so I haven’t yet heard fans screaming that he has to be sent down. When Michael Bourn is outhitting Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence TOGETHER, well, Houston, we have a problem.

Man, that was painful tonight. Bud Norris couldn’t find the plate with a telescope. He faced at least 5 batters in each inning, threw at least 25 pitches in each inning, went to 3 ball counts on 8 of the 18 batters, walked FOUR (including the pitcher!!!), struck out 2 (plus the pitcher), gave up 6 hits and 3 ER (and it would have been more if Michael Bourn hadn’t made a great running catch on Ryan Howard’s fly to deep center with bases loaded.

Mills finally pulled him when he loaded bases (walking the pitcher) with 2 out in the 3rd. I was more than a little surprised that Arnesberg didn’t visit the mound even once. Norris was wild all spring – don’t know why, but he isn’t gonna last even this month he doesn’t get his little self in hand.

Wilton Lopez bailed him out by getting Rollins to flyout to Pence, but then gave up 2 runs in the 4th – and would have given up at least one more if Michael Bourn hadn’t made a fabulous catch of Victorino (who, by the way, is the only Phillie who is hitting like an Astro – at least so far) drive to deep left center – it would have been gone in Philly.

Moehler came in to mopup and gave up 2 runs in the 5th. He got the Astros first 1,2,3 inning in the 6th when Tommy Manzella made a VERY nice play on a 6-3 GIDP from Ibanez, who came in hitting like an Astro and finished the game hitting like a Phillie. He got into trouble again in the 7th, but was bailed out by Tommy Manzella again, who made an excellent play on a FC to short, catching Rollins off 3rd.

Sampson and Fulchino both came in and got 1,2,3 innings.

As for the Astros, well, Pence got an IF single in the first, then Clank walked on 4 pitches, but with 2 out, Feliz stranded them both. He played third, and Blum was at first. So much for playing Chris Johnson against leftys. I knew THAT wasn’t gonna last. But the other 3 times they came up, they stranded 2 runners TWICE and also stranded 1 runner with no out. And Clank, yes, Clank, struck out TWICE.

sigh

Tomorrow, it’s Paulino vs Jamie Moyer.

Paulino had better pitch like an ace deluxe because on Sunday, Roy is gonna face Roy Halliday and Roy can put zeros on the board for 9 innings, but if the Astros can’t hit JA Happ, they gonna hit Halliday????

The guys look worse than they did in April 05 – at least they won at HOME. Pence and Clank look absolutely overmatched – absolutely lost out there. Everyone who wanted us to get rid of Berkman – you SURE you wanted that?

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Posted in Astros baseball, Bud Norris, Michael Bourn, Tommy Manzella | 3 Comments »

In Which A Pitcher Outhits And OutRBIs MannyBManny And Lidge Slams The Door

Friday, October 10th, 2008

In other words, NL baseball ROOLZ!!!!!

Not that I am exactly a Brett Myers fan, but the guy has provided more excitement and runs at the plate than he has with his pitching.

I enjoyed his 9 and 10 pitch ABs vs Cy Young wannabe Sabathia more than ANY hitting display. And today he created 1 more run than Manny. Myers went 3 fer 3, drove in 4 (got credit for only 3 because of an error) scored 2 and stranded none.

Manny wannaBMannyVP went 1 fer 4 with a BB, drove in 3, scored 1 and stranded 2.
This is simply the KEWLest. And it is why, in spite of the AL spending incredibly more money and all the Boston/NY media people going on and on and on about how much more better the AL is, NL ball is STILL better.

And Brad Lidge struck out the side, walking Manny and Loney. And the slider slid just great. Yeh, I’d enjoy Loney and the Dodgers making it to the Series, but you know, I think I’m enjoying watching Brad Lidge prove all the haters wrong.

And Go RAYS!!!!!

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Posted in 2008 NLCS, Brad Lidge | 3 Comments »

Chacon Pitches A Masterpiece: Valvede Burns It Up

Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Shawn Chacon pitched 8 innings of 4 hit (piddly singles), 2 walk, 5 K ball. 109 pitches, 14 in the 8th inning for 4 batters.

Was he tired? I don’t know, but I already don’t trust Cooper’s judgement as I have little faith in any man who is doggedly dogmatic. Meaning, his previous statement about stating that Valverde WOULD pitch the 9th if it is a closer situation. Meaning that starters would not be permitted to finish games.

Well, Valverde came in and ruined Chacon’s dominant game. First pitch – POW, gone over the RF fence. Second pitch hits Utley. Howard Ks on 3 pitches. Burrell hits the second meaty FB over the fence. 7 pitches, 3 runs. Tie game.

Then WP/PB on a swinging strike, then an RBI double because Carlos Lee was nowhere near the line. Game ovah.

20 effing pitches, 4 runs.

Maybe there was some sort of reason that the D-bax were more than happy to wave goodbye to Valverde – and I don’t think it was a shortage of money. The fans sure didn’t seem sorry to see him go. So let’s take a look at his lines from the games he has appeared in so far this year:
4/2 – he came into a tie game in the 8th and gave up a run. No, not a BS. But the Astros score 4 in the 9th, and he manages to not give up any runs, so he gets a W. 3 H, 2 K, 1 ER.
4/4 – he came into the 9th with the Astros leading 4-2, gave up 1 homer, 3 FO. Save.
4/7 – he came into the 9th – Wandy’s Opening Day Win Day leading 3-0. He gives up 2 walks, 2 singles and a double giving up 3 runs, ruining Wandy’s dominant game. He gets a W because Tejada hits a walk off homer.
4/12 – he comes into the 9th, Astros winning 5-0 so NOT a Save situation, gives up 2 singles, a FC, a GO and a K.
4/13 – he comes in the 9th with the Astros leading 5-1 after Wandy pitched another gem. NOT a Save situation. He gets a K, a double that would have left almost any other ballpark, a walk, a K and a FO. I got ulcers.
4/15 – comes in with the Astros leading 3-0 and gives up 3 runs (2 homers) in 7 pitches.

This, my friends, is SERIOUS suckage. 6 appearances, and he gave up the go ahead/losing run in 4. So how long are we going to have to put up with this?

I’m simply FURIOUS with both Valverde and Cooper. I don’t care what the stupid modern routine says, you can’t pull a pitcher who is dominating just because it is the freaking 9th inning ESPECIALLY when the 9th inning person is unable to get most hitters out!!!!!!!

So I am going to bed right now. As soon as I calm down a little. It’s not Husband’s fault that Valverde sucks – he didn’t want us to get rid of Lidge. Even though, to be perfectly honest, it WAS time to, much as I hate to say it…

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Posted in Astros baseball, Brad Lidge, Cecil Cooper, Valverde | 17 Comments »

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