Matchup/Game Thread Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals 7:05 CDT

by rastronomicals on Aug 23, 2007 6:20 PM CDT in News


John Lannan	Juan Gutierrez
1 - 2, 3.20	0 - 0, 4.50

Juan Gutierrez (5 - 9, 3.96 at Round Rock) becomes our seventh starting pitcher of the year, and our 37th of the Enron/Minute Maid Era. Time will tell whether he'll be another Rodrigo Rosario, another Brandon Backe, or even another Roy Oswalt, but for tonight, I'll be happy if he gives 5 innings or more while giving up 4 or less.

It shouldn't be too difficult, because despite what we may have seen over the last three games, these ARE the Nationals, and they ARE last in the league in runs scored.

I doubt Gutierrez would admit as much, but I bet you he's thanking his lucky stars that his first start is coming against Washington, rather than the Phillies, or the Braves.

I'm going to do everything I can to watch tonight's game from a relaxed and flat position, but unfortunately will not be able to bring my inexpert though caustic opinion to these pages: I've got some kind of brutal sciatic pain, and sitting for more than ten or fifteen minutes brings on pain that becomes excruciating.

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Lineups

Washington
Lopez, SS
Logan, CF
Zimmerman, 3B
Young, 1B
Kearns, RF
Church, LF
Belliard, 2B
Schneider, C
Lannan, P

Houston
Biggio, 2B
Pence, CF
Berkman, 1B
Lee, LF .
Wigginton, 3B
Loretta, SS
Burke, RF
Munson, C
Gutierrez, P

Ausmus would have caught Oswalt, but I guess we're seeing Munson because he caught Gutierrez at Round Rock.

Luke Scott made only his second start of the season vs. a lefty on Tuesday, but lightning does not strike three times, as we've got Burke in right, a position I thought it had been established he was allergic to.

And goody! Loretta at short! Bruntlett's made 17 starts vs. lefties, but it won't be 18 tonight.

Back, and grumpier than ever

by rastronomicals on Aug 23, 2007 6:43 PM CDT reply actions

I knew that asstard

was going to let Burke do some starts in RF over Scott.

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions

These are the Nationals, and

they have the very same 57-70 record we do. And, one could argue, with a tougher schedule and a lot more personnel problems.

Pupura doesn't make the decisions!

by bwhite2323 on Aug 23, 2007 7:13 PM CDT reply actions

5 runs, 2 outs

in the first inning! Go Nats!

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 7:15 PM CDT reply actions

Pitcher up to bat.. still the top of the first

Maybe.. MAYBE.. we can get the pitcher out.

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 7:17 PM CDT reply actions

Oh yeah

back to back to back doubles... one to each of out outfielders! Gutierrez just trying to get some defensive work in for our guys.

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 7:18 PM CDT reply actions

5 run first inning...

not the way a rookie wants to make his starting debut. So much for rastro's suggestion that the rookie should thank his lucky stars that he is playing the Nationals. The Nationals just sent Gutierrrez a message.

Gutierrez mishandled Logan's bunt with 1 out and the subsequent double, which sent Logan streaking home seemed to upset Gutierrez, and I think he failed to hit his spots after that.

by clack on Aug 23, 2007 7:20 PM CDT reply actions

this is pretty lame

Astros one of the worst teams in baseball.

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 7:27 PM CDT reply actions

everybody wanted...

the Astros to bring up the kids. Well...this is what you expect with kids. I'll try not to be too hard on him, considering it is his first start at the ML level.

by clack on Aug 23, 2007 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Should put an end to the idea that the Nats

are no better than a AAA team....

Pupura doesn't make the decisions!

by bwhite2323 on Aug 23, 2007 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions

not necessarily

All you can say is they are equal to or better than the Astros.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Unforttunately...

Astros had the makings of a nice scoring threat, with Loretta and Burke on base. But Munson flew out, and that left the pitcher to make the final out.

by clack on Aug 23, 2007 7:51 PM CDT reply actions

Hey, look at that! We have some runs!

Biggio single, Pence Walk, Berkman ground out (Biggio scores) Lee homer.

6-3 Nats.

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 8:42 PM CDT reply actions

I have an idea

Let's intentionally walk Kearns to load the bases with nobody out.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:07 PM CDT reply actions

and then ; and then

we can go to a 2-0 count on the next batter.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions

McLemore ends up

only giving up a sac fly in that inning. But he still didn't get the job done. The Astros can ill afford to give up a run in the 7th when it puts them down by 4.

by clack on Aug 23, 2007 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Pish posh

Getting crapped on again today.

by jonthefon on Aug 23, 2007 9:12 PM CDT reply actions

Fantastic

What the buck?!

Well, we still survive despite three balls in a row.

by jonthefon on Aug 23, 2007 9:15 PM CDT reply actions

Juan Gutierrez

I missed all of Gutierrez's outing and am trying to evaluate his outing based on stats.

A 5-run first was a bad start. After that he pitched four innings allowing but one run.

He allowed 11 hits in five innings which is too many, but I don't know how many of those came in the first.

He struck out 4 and walked none. That's good.

Take away the first inning, and he did as well as could have been expected.

Is that how he looked to those of you who watched the first five innings?

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:16 PM CDT reply actions

Hard to say....

Gutierrez gave up 4 hits in a row at one point in the first inning...so, yes, most of the damage was done in the 1st. I think he was nervous in the 1st and let the early bunt single, which turned into a lightning quick run, get to him. In the first couple of innings, Gutierrez was giving up too many flyballs; his stats at Round Rock indicate that he normally has a good groundball ratio. So, I have to think he was overthrowing or something which caused him to get the ball up. (Belliard's first inning HR was on a ball head high.) Later on in the game, Gutierrez got some good swings and misses on his change. He has good velocity and a good change up too.

by clack on Aug 23, 2007 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions

So he can stay?

Overall, then, you saw worthwhile positives?
He looks like a keeper?

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe.

I don't think it's possible to reach conclusions on one start. I also wonder if he ultimately might be better as a pitcher coming out of the pen.

by clack on Aug 23, 2007 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions

I missed the first

Thank god. Apart from that, he wasn't that bad. He seems like once of those guys who simply give up a lot of hits but not too many runs off those hits.

Also nice work Lee for another RBI.

by jonthefon on Aug 23, 2007 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

What's with

these damn balls?

And was that RBI 100th for Lee this season?

by jonthefon on Aug 23, 2007 9:34 PM CDT reply actions

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

the last hope might be the meat of the order

lol.. meat.

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 9:46 PM CDT reply actions

Is Lamb meat?

He's batting in the eight.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess he is.

Lamb grounded out to short to end the inning.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah...

Astros do have plenty of meat in the middle of the order.

by clack on Aug 23, 2007 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Dirty Slide or Miscalculated Slide

Either way, Biggio came close to having his career end right there.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:58 PM CDT reply actions

Reds Won

If Astros lose they fall into fifth.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 9:59 PM CDT reply actions

If Astros lose

San Francisco and Pittsburgh will be the only two NL teams with worse records.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Hunter Pence doubled

down the left field line, just like Biggio taught him.

Pitcher caught his spikes for a balk and Pence moved to third.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Out Two

Lance Berkman popped to second.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions

My initial Ninth inning post

got lost the ethereal.

Biggio popped to Center after a long battle with the pithcer for out one.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Carlos Lee homered

to left to make it a 7-6 game. Hunter Pence scored in front of him.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Game over

Orlando Palmerio flied to left in foul territory.

Your fifth place Astros lost again.

Wonderful World

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2007 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Another lost series to the Nats!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Adam Everett is my favorite player and I'm not afraid to admit it.

by entropic soul on Aug 23, 2007 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions

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