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Houston Astros VS NY Mets : Spring Training Game 20

Your Houston Astros send Chris Sampson to the hill against the Met's and Nelson Figueroa.  The Mets are playing a split squad game today against the Astros.  

Game Time : 12:05PM CST

In case you didn't see or hear any of yesterday's game, Roy O was awesome.  6 Innings with 7 strike outs, no walks and if it wasn't for an error, would have faced the minimum.  

It looks like the game should be broadcast on FSN today... It's also a BEAUTIFUL DAY outside(at least in the Houston area).  Right now at my house it's 63 degrees with a 20-27 MPH wind.  Looks like I'm going to barbecue!  Barbecue + Astros = good day.  

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Two scoreless innings....
so far.  Sampson hasn't allowed a hit yet and his control has been good.  Unfortunately, the Mets are fielding mostly minor leaguers today, because their other split squad game is being televised to NYC and the Mets want their major leaguers in that game.  It  might make it a bit harder to evaluate Sampson's outing.  Fernando Martinez, a 19 year old uber-prospect for the Mets, is playing.  The young A-ball player made a dazzling leaping catch on a Berkman line drive to RF which resulted in a double play against Bourne, who had been on 1st base and assumed the ball wouldn't be caught.

by clack on Mar 16, 2008 12:40 PM CDT   0 recs

make that four
Four scoreless, hitless innings thus far from Sampson... he looks great, but like clack said, take into account the mets lineup... bourn has looked good with his patience at the plate and his incredible diving catch in center.

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 12:57 PM CDT   0 recs

berkman blast
berkman is also looking great, looks like he has his swing down and feeling very comfortable in the box as he blasts his 4th homer of the spring making it 1-0.

lee just lined out in another sparkling play by mets' right fielder martinez. that's 3 or 4 stellar plays he's made in this game alone.

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 1:02 PM CDT   0 recs

sideburns
i actually think lance's success this year is due to his sideburns. he has to keep those.

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 1:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In that case, okay
but they really don't do anything to dispel the "Fat Elvis" moniker.

by Danyah on Mar 16, 2008 2:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

my thoughts exactly
and they need to go.
Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Mar 16, 2008 11:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lineup
today cooper has pence 2nd, followed by berkman, lee and tejada. i really like this, and wish he'd consider keeping it. i guess it's all kinda is up to matsui's OBP in the 2-slot.

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 1:04 PM CDT   0 recs

1-1
3 straight hits from the mets ties the game at 1.

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 1:09 PM CDT   0 recs

4-1 Mets
Sampson getting hit pretty hard now and he is taken out in the 5th with 1 out.

by clack on Mar 16, 2008 1:18 PM CDT   0 recs

4-1 mets
Sampson is getting rocked now...

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 1:18 PM CDT   0 recs

speaking of getting ROCKEd...
i'm going to have to switch it over to the rockets game in an hour... flip back and forth... i am absolutely in awe of the rockets right now.

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 1:19 PM CDT   0 recs

Make it 5-1...
Flyball got another runner home.  What had the looks of a good game for the Astros has changed in a hurry.  JD said earlier that this is a "no win" situation for Sampson...if he does well, then it's discounted because it's against low level minor leaguers, but if he gets hit than it seems worse because of the competition.

by clack on Mar 16, 2008 1:30 PM CDT   0 recs

6-4 Mets
Cruz blasts a 2-run shot to right. Puts him in the RBI lead for the club as well, with 10.

by exit53 on Mar 16, 2008 2:26 PM CDT   0 recs

Can't say that it was reassuring.
Hard to evaluate Sampson, given that he was facing minor leaguers.  And he was hit hard in the 5th inning.  Cruz, Jr. seems to be solidifying his advantage for a 5th OFer spot.  Don't forget Quintero, who continues his torrid hitting with a 2 for 2 performance.  I'm starting to wonder if the Astros actually might keep Quintero on the 25 man roster.  If they did that...how?  Only go with 4 OFers, meaning that neither Cruz Jr., Abercrombie, or Diaz makes the roster?  Or do you short  yourself on the pitching side? And, is that a good idea with a shaky starting staff?

by clack on Mar 16, 2008 3:16 PM CDT   0 recs

talk i heard
was that it'd come at the expense of the bullpen, which i percieve as being a short term thing, that they'd only carry 14 position players for a little while.  i think part of the concern is that if they don't put Q on the 25-man, he'll have to clear waivers and might be lost.  i could see how maybe he'd have a better shot at clearing waivers a few weeks into the season.  maybe i'm projecting, because unless you have a power-hitting, weak fielding catcher (ala Mike Piazza), i really don't understand why you'd ever want TWO defensive replacement catchers clogging up your bench.  Q's having a great spring, but i don't believe that he's made some huge leap as an offensive player and would be somebody we'd envision as a pinch hitting bench player.

by littlevisigoth on Mar 17, 2008 10:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Backe
From McTaggert's blog in the HC:

"Meanwhile, Brandon Backe pitched in a minor league game today against the Washington Nationals' Class AAA affiliate and gave up six hits, four runs, two walks, one hit batter and three strikeouts in five innings. He threw 74 pitches, 44 for strikes."

HC also says that R. Hernandez has been dropped from the rotation competition.

by clack on Mar 16, 2008 3:21 PM CDT   0 recs

Sampson always gets screwed
Has he really even had enough time to get up to pitching 5 innings?  This is his first game starting this spring; I'd have thought they'd pull him out after 4.  This happened last year: bullpen, bullpen, lalala, oh wait let's give you a last minute chance to start and don't suck now 'cause this is your only chance, no pressure.  I applaud his versatility, but there is a limit.  
I am waitin' for the light to shine/I am waitin' for the light to shine/I have lived in the darkness for so long/I'm waitin' for the light to shine

by megaera on Mar 17, 2008 2:50 AM CDT   0 recs

Sampson was scheduled...
to start last week, but the neck stiffness kept him out for several days.  At this point in spring training, he needed to get his designated number of pitches in.  It seemed like his pitch count probably was low going into the 5th inning, so I can understand why the Astros continued him in the game at that point.

by clack on Mar 17, 2008 7:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

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