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Matchup/Game Thread vs. Oakland 1:05 CDT

80logo_tiny by rastronomicals on in Events

Chad Gaudin Jason Jennings
6 - 1, 2.43 0 - 1, 2.70

Chunky Jason Jennings and his 86-mph fastball try to turn things around today against an Oakland team that will hopefully be more concerned about making its flight.

Sound-barrier velocity or no, JJ is clearly the best National League starter without a win yet, and here's hoping we can't say that tonight.


National League Starters Without A Win
Min. 1 GS, 20 IP
PLAYER TEAM GS L IP ERA WHIP
Jason Jennings HOU 5 1 30 2.70 1.10
Angel Guzman CHC 3 1 30 1/3 3.56 1.36
Eric Milton CIN 6 4 31 1/3 5.17 1.54
Anthony Reyes STL 9 8 50 1/3 6.08 1.36
Mike Pelfrey NYM 6 5 30 1/3 6.53 1.76
Kirk Saarloos CIN 2 4 23 7.04 1.70
Jerome Williams WAS 6 5 30 7.20 1.73
Tony Armas PIT 7 3 32 1/3 8.07 2.06
Mark Redman ATL 5 4 21 2/3 11.63 2.31

Dan Wheeler is having a bad year, there's no way around it, and that bad year got worse last night. Even the main site had no choice but to pick up the story of Wheeler's shove of Sampson and run with it. ESPN used Wheeler's actions as the comeon in their frontpage link, and McTaggart mentioned the incident in the lead to his game story.

And you may have noticed The Crawfish Boxes has a new mascot this morning.

No-one, especially us, seems malicious in their coverage, but it's still a shame. Wheels has been the best setup man in baseball the last two years, but he becomes most famous today for an action that anyone who has followed the Astros these past 3 years knows is extremely uncharacteristic of an excellent team player, and never mind whether he's got a temper or not.

As someone with something of a fiery disposition myself, I'm not gonna hold this against Wheels. It's already been a tough year for him. He's shown a weakness for the gopher ball which he so fastidiously avoided in '05 and '06, and the pitches that used to get missed are getting hit. After all that, last night had to be the ultimate in frustration for him. He made quality pitches as the payoff to six of seven atbats, and somehow still gave up five runs.

I'd have been pissed, too.

Anyway, I like the dog, I think it's funny, but I didn't want anyone to think I was down on Wheeler. I understand that the proof in situations like this is in the apology. Sampson may simply be presenting a united face to the media, but you know what? I don't think he is. I think that he understands what went down with Danny last night in the dugout, I think he's accepted Wheeler's apology, and I think they really will go back to being brothers.

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Anyone have a video?
I didn't catch it last night(wasn't paying attention) and I missed it... didn't see it on youtube either.

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 12:32 PM CDT   0 recs

They had it
on astros.com, read the story, they should have a video link at the top.

by entropic soul on Jun 14, 2007 12:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah
Here

Looking at it again, you gotta hand it to Chris Sampson for his wisdom and stoicism.

Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 12:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks
I read the article, missed the video evidently.

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 1:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

ESPN
played it over and over and over last night.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I dig this lineup for today!
Loretta
Pence
Lance
Lee
Lamb
Munson
Burke
AE

by jakechap20 on Jun 14, 2007 12:38 PM CDT   0 recs

Astros down 3-0 already
Jennings gives up a double to Ellis and a big fly to Chavez and Everett gets an error(7th of the season)

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 1:17 PM CDT   0 recs

Holy Smokes, It's Over Before It's Started
Kotsay walks to open the game, Ellis doubles (again) and Kotsay scores on AE's throwing error.

Swisher hits a sac fly and Ellis scores.

Chavez hits a solo shot before Johnson and Crosby ground out.  

ACK.

Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 1:19 PM CDT   0 recs

........Jennings
Sound-barrier velocity or no, JJ is clearly the best National League starter without a win yet, and here's hoping we can't say that tonight.

Jennings ERA boosted to 3.48, just .08 lower than the next best pitcher w/out a win...

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 1:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hehe
I figured you'd like that...

Obviously not the way you meant it, but...

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 1:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

OMG
Way to blow a rally Chris "Foul Out" Burke

by entropic soul on Jun 14, 2007 1:33 PM CDT   0 recs

Gameday broken?
Or is my firewall at work blocking it from me?

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 1:36 PM CDT   0 recs

Mine Looks OK
and think, for a moment, of what a base hit from Burke there might have meant.
Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 1:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Nice throw
Nice play by Carlos there.

by BTastros on Jun 14, 2007 1:57 PM CDT   0 recs

AE 2 Errors today
WTF!  A throwing error and a fielding error...  

He's now tied 13th in the majors with the MOST errors by a short stop.. I know this doesn't really mean he's a bad shortstop or anything... but still surprising nonetheless

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 1:57 PM CDT   0 recs

Resorting to radio
I'm at work and the MLB.TV stops and starts, mainly stays stalled, so I'm moving over to radio.

The Gameday doesn't fit on the monitor at work either.

Having Loretta bat lead-off instead of Biggio hasn't paid any dividends so far.

I missed both Everett errors- one by tuning in too late and one by having a stalled screen. Second time this year he's had two errors in one game. Surprising both times.

Welcome back Lance Berkman. Scored Astros first two runs of the game

Pence struck out twice already. I wonder if he's really recovered from his injury.

Tie game. I'm glad I didn't turn the game off when it looked lie a lost cause early on so I could get more work sone (though I'd like to get more work done today)

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:06 PM CDT   0 recs

"It'll take something good from Chris Burke
to break the tie?" says  Milo. Is he trying to depress me?

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:08 PM CDT   0 recs

Burke walked
Sure-handed Adam Everett up with men on the corners.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:11 PM CDT   0 recs

Any update
on Luke Scott's health?

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:15 PM CDT   0 recs

Everett Hurt!!!!!!!!!
oh no; and the stupid MLB.TV won't come on

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:18 PM CDT   0 recs

"Injury Delay"
says GameDay, oh shit.
Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 2:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lee took him out
popfly, AE went back, Carlos comes in, they crash and it sure looks like Adam broke something

If it's a season ender we're fucked, IMO.

by MG(vers. 2) on Jun 14, 2007 2:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Reminds Me Of 2000
Season was going nowhere and then Biggio was hurt.  All it did was confirm your suspicions.

OTOH, Eric Bruntlett should be getting a phone call right about now.

Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 2:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bruntlett
Yep, and maybe this will be his chance to stay in the bigs. I also bet Ensberg regains his starting job. I think with AE you can sacrifice defense for offense at third, but with another Loretta or Burke(or even Bruntlett), you can't send Lamb or Lo out there every day.

It's been a rough couple weeks for Carlos.

by MG(vers. 2) on Jun 14, 2007 2:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd put
Bruntlett right under AE in the defense department... the man can play the field.  He's not AS good as AE, but he's pretty close IMO.

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 3:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Everett hurt
They had to cart him on the golf cart. Doesn't look good. Something to do with his right ankle.

by jano4 on Jun 14, 2007 2:24 PM CDT   0 recs

Adam Everett
Lost tv and radio and had to restart so I missed most of it, coming back when they were carting Adam off the field holding his right leg.

He was hurt going out to left for a popfly and got taken out by an on-rushing Carlos Lee according to Dave Raymond before I lost all communication.

Mark Loreatta moves from third to short; and Ensberg comes in to play third.

Somehow Astros get through the inning without A's scoring.

Game tied 3-3 in the middle of the fourth.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:24 PM CDT   0 recs

Whoa...
I had to do some work(while at work... damn work) and I come back to see tied 3-3 (YAY).  Then I hear AE is hurt... that sucks and I feel bad for him and he has been pretty good lately.  I guess we get to see what Bruntlett can do now... if he has a broken ankle it could definitely be end of the season for him..  hopefully it's just sprained and he can be back in a few weeks.

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 2:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

theres nothing
like walking the pitcher. lets start a rally pls!

by dammy0587 on Jun 14, 2007 2:27 PM CDT   0 recs

Stand up Triple
for Hunter Pence. I guess his legs okay after all.

Too bad Mark Loretta hit into a double play right before that. Bad day for Loretta the plate

And Berkman flies out.

No runs. Pence stranded at third.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:30 PM CDT   0 recs

why
is there a pitching change, i thought jennings was doing fine.

by dammy0587 on Jun 14, 2007 2:31 PM CDT   0 recs

Mark McLemore Now Pitching
Now what happened? Jennings walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Was out at second on the front end of a double play and now he's out of teh gaem. No word from TV guys on why.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:36 PM CDT   0 recs

Update on Adam Everett
They wrapped his leg. He's on crutches and on his way to the hospital.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:40 PM CDT   0 recs

Carlos Lee throws to wrong base
adn batter trots to second. A's have men on second and third; now intentional walk to load the bases.

Munson talks with McLemore. Just like old times at Round Rock.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:43 PM CDT   0 recs

Munson's Lucky
he wasn't catching Carlos Zambrano

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Or Dan Wheeler.
:-)
Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 3:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That was low
But funny as hell

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 3:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And on next pitch
McLemore strikes out Cust for out three

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Lamb 3 for 3 today
Sits on first with no outs.

Now on third as Munson singles

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:51 PM CDT   0 recs

Burke hit (or not)
Burke on first to load the bases when hit by pitch. A's pitcher and manager argue Burke was swinging, which is what I thought happened.

Bases loaded for Ensberg batting in Everett's spot.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:54 PM CDT   0 recs

Ensberg with bases loaded
and no outs

snaps an 0 for 16  with an RBI single to left to tie the game.

Now Luke Scott to hit for Mike McLemore.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 2:56 PM CDT   0 recs

Luke Scott
had stomach problems last night (intestinal problems).

 A's change pitchers. I get a PONG game simulation during comercial break.

Jay Marshall pitching for Oakland (a side-arm lefty)

Fielders choice at second, but run scores and Astros lead 5-4.

 Luke Scott gimpy at end of run to first.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:00 PM CDT   0 recs

Poor Adam
I was in my car driving home from work when I heard what happened.  I can't imagine the result will be anything less then horrific for Adam, for the Astros, and for the season.  Big Lee running into that Little Adam can't be good at all.

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:01 PM CDT   0 recs

I Assume Jennings Is OK?
The early exit seemed suspicious.
Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 3:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Radio guys don't think so
But they also said it could be that the management is trying to keep Jennings' pitch count down since he just came off the DL.  Then they said it was more realistic that his elbow was bothering him because he looked like he was laboring too much during his pitches.

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Assuming Adam
goes on the DL, do you think we bring up Bruntlett?  

I hope it is only a 15 day stint, but the way it sounds so far, maybe not.

by callmenis on Jun 14, 2007 3:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Snicker
Wandy is pinchrunning for Scott.  LMAO.

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:02 PM CDT   0 recs

Add Sampson and Woody
They might not be able to pitch, but they can stand up and take a few hacks.

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

And we know Sampson
can take a hack after last night.  Took 2 straight in the chest w/out a wimper.  =)

by Stros Bro on Jun 14, 2007 3:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This is like watching a bad bad train wreck
You know you should look away ... but you just can't.

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:09 PM CDT   0 recs

Mark Loretta
0 for 4 , a GIDP, 3 LOB today

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:09 PM CDT   0 recs

Tie game
Home run Scutaro

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:10 PM CDT   0 recs

Joe Borkowski
pitching for Astros to start the sixth.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:11 PM CDT   0 recs

Why Yes I do
now that you mention it. But I sure do like the name Joe

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I refreshed TCB
and the computer says "Done  . . with errors on page" which I gather means it has been reading my posts on "Mike" McLemore and "Joe" Borkowski.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

We Could Give Borks Rotating Names
One day he could be Dave, the next he could be Joe, the day after that he could be Phil.

The possibilities are limitless.

Grouchy sonofabitch

by rastronomicals on Jun 14, 2007 3:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Or
Psycho, which is what Ausmus called him when asked about the most likely candidate to pull a Zambrano.  

by callmenis on Jun 14, 2007 3:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Psychowski
the single-named terror

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeeeeeeesssss
I like this name!

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well if the Astros lose today
I won't mind.  Once you see something like Adam's injury, it's hard to refocus on the game.

But let's cross our fingers we can pull this out.

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:19 PM CDT   0 recs

I know
This is incredibly shitty.  Remember when E suffered a broken wrist in 2004?  Then we went on and made that incredible run to make it to the playoffs...I jokingly told a colleague that he was the sacrificial lamb.

Not that I am suggesting the same thing will happen now.  

by callmenis on Jun 14, 2007 3:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh yeah the game
A's have men on the corners with two outs, with Chavez at the plate.

looks like Chavez will be walked;

now it's 3-1

Ball Four

Bases loaded.

And I leave you with this as they go to commercial break: Phil Garner is out to call in Trevor Miller to pitch with the bases loaded.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:20 PM CDT   0 recs

Miller time.
Strike out for out three. That sounded nice. Picture stalled again so I did not see a single pitch, But I like the sound of the results.

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:23 PM CDT   0 recs

BUT he had a triple
I think pitchers are starting to figure him out a little.

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lance
called strike three. Lance hesitates on his way the bench like he wants to say something to the umpire then continues on to the bench

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:28 PM CDT   0 recs

Carlos
flies to center

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:29 PM CDT   0 recs

Talking about Everett
and they mentioned a broken leg, but they kind of mumbled it and aren't confirming 100%.  But then they just said broken leg again and "needing help for the Mariners" so....

by saylinara on Jun 14, 2007 3:37 PM CDT   0 recs

A's Bat in Seventh
Lead-off walk.

 We get to see Phil Garner in his sparkling white uniform walk to the pitehrs mound again.

I lost MLB.com feed

comes back with Chad Qualls on the mound

by Joe in Birmingham on Jun 14, 2007 3:38 PM CDT   0 recs