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Houston Astros at Arizona Diamondbacks, 8:40 PM CDT

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Houston @ Arizona


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Houston Astros
@ Arizona Diamondbacks

Monday, Apr 28, 2008, 8:40 PM CDT
Chase Field

Chris Sampson vs Dan Haren

Mostly clear. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 95.

Complete Coverage >

W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP
2008 - Chris Sampson 1-2 4 4 0 0 0 0 18.1 26 13 13 1 4 9 6.38 1.64

W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP
2008 - Dan Haren 3-1 5 5 0 0 0 0 29.2 27 13 10 3 6 24 3.03 1.11


Ugh, 8:40 PM start time is pretty rough... I don't understand why they would start games so late.  I can see this when we are playing a pacific time zone team, but not when playing a mountain time zone team like the Diamondbacks.  Their game is starting at 7:40PM their time... I wouldn't want to go to a game at 7:40 PM central time... especially not on a work day... but I digress... I know it's not a battle I stand a fighting chance at winning.  And on to the game...

The Astros are facing the best team in baseball... at least record wise.  The Diamondbacks have started out the season hot and have won 18 of their first 26 games for a .720 winning percentage.  The D-backs have a really good pitching team this year... especially their starters.  Of their 6 starters this season, the worst ERA they have is a 4.66.  Their 2nd worse starter... Doug Davis at a 3.72.  Brandon Webb has already won 6 games this season!!!  The Astros starters have 6 wins... combined.  Webb has been outstanding this year and brings a 1.98 ERA to the table.  The Astros looked to have lucked out though... Webb pitched last night and will miss this series with the Astros.  We probably will get to face ex-Astros favorite, Chad Qualls, who through 13 appearances and 14.1 innings, has yet to give up an earned run. 

Berkman named NL Player of the Week

From April 20-27, Berkman led the NL with 12 RBIs and a 1.136 slugging percentage, while tying for the NL lead with four homers and 25 total bases.

He hit .455 (10-for-22) with one double and one triple and recorded a .517 on-base percentage. On April 24 at Cincinnati, the four-time All-Star went 3-for-3, including a three-run home run and a double. The home run was the 18th of his career at Great American Ball Park, giving the Houston slugger the most for any opposing player at that stadium, which opened in 2003.

"Somebody's got to have the most," Berkman quipped on Thursday. "It might as well be me."

 

Lineup

Houston Astros @ Arizona Diamondbacks

04/28/08 8:40 PM CDT

Houston AstrosArizona Diamondbacks
Kazuo Matsui - 2B Chris Young - CF
Michael Bourn - CF Eric Byrnes - LF
Miguel Tejada - SS Orlando Hudson - 2B
Lance Berkman - 1B Conor Jackson - 1B
Carlos Lee - LF Mark Reynolds - 3B
Hunter Pence - RF Justin Upton - RF
Mark Loretta - 3B Stephen Drew - SS
J.R. Towles - C Chris Snyder - C
Chris Sampson - P Dan Haren - P


 

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2 innings in 20 minutes

has there ever been a 90 minute baseball game that went 9?

Sampson – 11 pitches
Haren – 15 pitches

Somebody take a pitch!

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:01 PM CDT   0 recs

Quite a pitcher's duel so far....

Hello, ‘Stros fans, by the way. Just wanted to stop by and see how everything was going.

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:06 PM CDT   0 recs

Bueller? Bueller??

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

perhaps the start time was too confusing

Mountain Time, really? what’s up w/ that?

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Arizona

doesn’t follow daylight savings time.

Technically we’re Mountain time, but actually we’re aligned with Pacific time for half of the year.

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ah..

I wikipedia’d it and seen you were in Moutain..

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no one here apparently

but thanks for stopping by

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Are your gameday threads usually this deserted??

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no

I’ve been gone

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no, there's usually a few folks

still not terribly busy though, but the Astros internet fan base seems divided over several different message boards/forums. we really need some ruthless Wall Street-style consolidation.

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sorry

No D-Backs posters here, consider yourself banned.

Kidding :)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoa....

I would hope you’re kidding. I thought I was at Gaslamp Ball for a second.

So what’s the word on Sampson, Houston fans?

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hehe

Streaky

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

mostly good starts so far

but he’s been lit up a couple times. when he’s on w/ the sinker he can go deep in the game.

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Looks pretty good thus far.

How do his pitches look tonight to you?

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no video

listening on the ‘net

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Something happened

to our pitchers in the offseason. They all somehow learned how to hit.

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

check that

that was the A’s, my bad

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Indirectly.

Haren and a minor league pitcher for 6 minor league guys who weren’t going to play anyway, since our entire team is so young.

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Owings

8-18 is sick…

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No home runs, yet

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Top 4th

Astros have sent the minimum to the plate, lead off with Matsui, then Bourn and then Miggy

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:14 PM CDT   0 recs

Wow

I didn’t know Arizona was 18-7. Beastly.

Bourn to Run!

by jsams on Apr 28, 2008 9:14 PM CDT   0 recs

Yep

no thanks to Chris Burke

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Solid

is cutting him short I think… he’s been awesome

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No earned runs so far.

Yet still a BS.

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lol

What a shame. Chris Burke was supposed to be a stud.

Bourn to Run!

by jsams on Apr 28, 2008 9:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He's been generally pretty solid defensively,

and he’s a real team guy—plays any position on the field, including 1st, for the first time in his career.

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He played 3rd?

The Astros didn’t like playing him at short because they said his arm was too weak… I can’t imagine him playing 3rd.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He's played 3rd as well.

But yeah, not a huge fan of him at short.

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Burke is one of the great mysteries

He had decent performance in the majors for a while, but now seems to really have lost his way. I wonder how much the uncertainty around his situation affected his career path.

Same question re: Jason Lane.

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How was he offensively in the past?

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Matsui

Haren has been perfect so far, time to break that up… A cheap hit would do the trick just to get all of the zero’s off the board.

Nevermind.. a strike out instead

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bourn

no swinging.. Bunt.. use the speed and try to create something..

Instead, he takes 2 balls and then swings wildly at the next 2. Next pitch looked to be strike 3, but Schrieber behind the plate gave Bourn a gift… Oh well, Bourn swings at ball 4 and pops out for out 2.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Tejada

“Works” an 0-1 count and then flies out to Upton in right… inning over.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't know what else to say about our offense

if it’s going to be this streaky all year, my 73 win projection might be grossly optimistic

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:21 PM CDT   0 recs

The Methodist Health ad on the radio right now

lists the possible signs someone you know may be suffering from a stroke. I hope someone in the dugout is checking out our hitters for these symptoms.

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:23 PM CDT   0 recs

Bottom 4th

Hudson, Jackson and Reynolds due up in the inning.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:24 PM CDT   0 recs

Hudson

Works the count full and then takes a walk.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jackson

Sampson throws over 4 or 5 times… Arizona fans don’t like it and boo him. Jackson hits a bloop single over 2nd moving Hudson to 2nd.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Reynolds

Sampson has a pretty slow delivery… even from the stretch.

Sampson gets ahead of Reynolds 0-2. No reason to throw a strike on either of his next 2 pitches… Well.. you would think.. Sampson hangs a curveball right over the plate that Reynolds drills down the left field line, Hudson and Jackson both score ont he play with Reynolds taking 2nd on the play.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Upton

Robinson goes to visit Sampson… probably something to the extent of… Hey, don’t hang your curveball next time on an 0-2 count jackass!

Newcomer got his ground ball… unfortunately it was 1 batter too late. Upton grounds out to Tejada at short with Reynolds staying at 2nd. 1 out.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Drew

Sampson quickly to 0-3 with Reynolds stealing 3rd easily… How do you steal 3rd easily… it’s the hardest base to steal and Reynolds isn’t that fast…

Drew draws a walk.. on 4 pitches

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:34 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Snyder

Singles past Matsui scoring Reynolds from 3rd. Astros now down 3-0

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Haren

Dunno what he did… but I think he got out?

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Young

flies out to Bourn in CF to end the inning.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good catch

by Bourn

"Juan Cruz has Freddy Krueger stuff. Welcome to Elm Street." -- Mark Grace

by DbacksSkins on Apr 28, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bunt. 5-4 putout

runner adv. to 2nd.

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

With Carlos Lee fiddling around in the corner...

you knew multiple runnerrs would score.

by clack on Apr 28, 2008 9:30 PM CDT   0 recs

Home plate ump from yest. Cards game

said Molina overreacted? This is according to the radio. Anybody see this report anywhere online?

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:32 PM CDT   0 recs

Dunno

Did find this..

"I can understand him getting a little upset because it was so high," said Backe, who added he meant to throw inside but not as close to Molina’s face as the pitch went. "I think he overreacted as far as causing such a big scene but I don’t think he shouldn’t have gotten mad at me for throwing the ball up around his head."

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ky…

AP – Apr 27, 5:51 pm EDT
La Russa agreed with Backe’s assessment and dismissed a second question about the situation.


From here

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No kidding

Larussa’s statement surprised me.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Towles' defense

I’m betting that steal of third can be blamed on Sampson, but anyone who’s seen more games have an impression of Towles’ defense?

I don’t think he’s thrown anyone out yet (We had one CS in a game that I remember, but it seemed like a botched steal or something.)

by lnewcomer on Apr 28, 2008 9:35 PM CDT   0 recs

He's solid

I remember him throwing someone out either earlier in the week or last week. He doesn’t have a weak arm or anything.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Top 5th

Astros have no hits and no walks.. so 4 innings away, that’s 12 batters…. I’m assuming tha tmeans Berkman is due up in the inning… if my math is correct..

Berkman, Lee and Pence due up in the inning.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:39 PM CDT   0 recs

Berkman

a Diamondbacks fan over at AZSnakepit just jinxed the no hitter by talking about it… this could be a good sign for the Astros.

Berkman walks to end the perfect game.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Lee

Doubles to left center, Berkman goes to 3rd…

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Pence

Grounds to 2nd moving Lee to 3rd and Berkman scores.. Astros finally on the board, but behind 4-1

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Loretta

Singles scoring Lee from 3rd. Astros down 4-2

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Towles

Hit on the 1st or 2nd pitch… Runners on 1st and 2nd

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Apr 28, 2008 9:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs