Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs, 12:05PM CDT
by Stros Bro on Apr 5, 2008 11:30 AM CDT
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PrintHouston Astros at Chicago Cubs, Apr 5, 2008 12:05 PM CDT
Current Game
Saturday, Apr 5, 2008, 12:05 PM CDT
Wrigley Field
Sunny. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 60 with a high of 63
The Astros have now played 5 games to the Cubbies 4 which means Roy Oswalt gets to face the Cubs #5 starter in Jason Marquis. Last season with the Cubs, Jason Marquis was 12-9 with a 4.60 ERA.
Roy-O is looking to come back after a mediocre start against the Cubs on Monday where he went just 5 1/3 innings while giving up 11 hits and 3 runs. Last time out Roy didn't have command of his breaking stuff and continued to feed Padre hitters fastballs. In order for Roy to be effective today against a more potent lineup in the Cubs, he's going to need to be able to use his breaking stuff more effectively.
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If Roy has his stuff
this should be an easy win with the wind blowing out. That's more favorable to us, in my opinion.
I Do Not
understand. Ausmus is, like, Ivy League, high IQ reads books on political theroy all that shit, right?
Then why why why does he swing at a 3 - 1 pitch in that spot? Doesn't he know that he's a bad hitter, and in that position he has to minimize his chances of FUCKING IT ALL UP?????
If he GIDP's on a 3 - 2 pitch I swear to God I wouldn't be bitching, because it's (heh-heh) Part of His Game. But 3 - 1, Coop ought to fine him, no surfing for one day or something.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
This game should be
4-0 right now if we do some simple things like not GIDP and get the opposing pitcher out.
agreed
our bats haven't held up their end of the bargain this week. can't imagine how bad the stats would look if not for the 9 run game against the Pads.
on the plus side
I think we will do much better at Minute Maid Park this year with Tejada
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
This is really a game
that we are supposed to win. The offense not doing great so far. I'm looking at you, Hunter Pence and Carlos Lee.
No Problem
Just beat Z tomorrow , right?
Ok, maybe we have a problem.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions
ok
that's better. :p
The fans threw the ball back. lol
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions
in four innings!!
Wiggleston gets another hit though. rolled up the 3rd base line, hit the bag and bounced up and off of Aramis Ramirez's chest and into foul territory.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't really see us
scoring in the 5th with Ausmus, Oswalt and Bourn. One problem we have, I think, is that we need to start running more. Soto does not have single caught stealing yet.
we've actually been running a lot this year
at least 7 SB in the first week (Bourn 4, Berkman 2, Wigginton 1, that I can remember). Including one by Bourn today. Don't think there have actually been too many ideal running situations today other than the first when Bourn swiped his.
As we watch
Astros tied for major league lead with the Twins in SBs, Bourn tied with Carlos Gomez for individual lead
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
w/ Bourn, Pence and Matsui
we have three realistic threats, and Big Puma has shown he can pick his spots. think the running game will be a plus for us this year.
Soto
has not thrown anyone out. We should be running all the time on him! :) Ok, 2 SB today is good.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Ideal situation
anytime Ausmus is batting with a runner on first.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Berkman's neck
I just arrived. Any update on Berkman's condition?
Is everyone back and accounted for?
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 5, 2008 1:09 PM CDT reply actions
nothing other than he left the game w/
either a "stiff neck" or "neck spasms". neither of which sound like an official medical diagnosis. radio guys brought up him getting hit on the neck by a thrown ball when running the bases the other night against the Pads. erstad replaced him at 1B.
all other NL Central
teams that are playing right now are winning. Brewers, Reds, Cardinals.
Pirates play tonight.
Roy hasn't had a good game
at least according to Roy standards, but he hasn't been horrible either. no BB or K's today.
Be nice when he actually gets his first Roy start of the year.
what a bonehead move
for marquis to tag. bourn has shown off his arm a couple times this year.
another unconventional DP.
defense giveth, defense taketh away
Bournnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Is this guy exciting or what? Great throw to third; made it look casual.
Is everyone back and accounted for?
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 5, 2008 1:19 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah
I am loving this guy in center field.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
after this week of seeing the Astros
I think this is a much better team than most are giving them credit for. When Hunter settles down this is going to be a great offense and the pitchers have been doing a great job.
My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.
i'm not so optimistic
I agree offense is likely to pick up, but it remains to be seen whether Bourn will sustain this level of production. same for the starting position.
for the Astros to significantly improve their win total over last year, it seems like they're going to have to have 5 or 6 things go very well and none of those things have a really high probability.
not that I wouldn't love to see it. my main goal for this year is to finish higher than the Cardinals.
I have to be optimistic this year
mainly because it's not going to get any better for the foreseeable future. All the Stros best players(Roy,Berkman,Lee,Tejada) are going to get a year older on the wrong side of 30 and there isn't any pitching help coming in. It is pretty much all or nothing right now.
My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.
no kidding
the future is not bright right now. we've blown the draft completely for the past couple of years.
Here to Disagree
Ther biggest problem with our minor league system is that Purprua and Wade traded much of it away.
A year ago 90% of all Astros fans (and most of the pundits who routinely bash our farm system) had never heard of JR Towles. And look who had the big homer yesterday.
You know, if the 2006 draft sucked, OK. But don't claim you can say that until, like 2011
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions
the "prospects" they traded were consistently rated in the bottom of MLB
Towles notwithstanding, who looks to be developing into a solid contributor at catcher, but is probably not an All Star caliber player, none of our prospects were the type of front-line players a team like the Astros needs to develop in the minors. There were no Oswalts, Berkmans, or even Pences left among that group. Not to say there may not have been guys who could contribute at the MLB level, but not guys you could build a team around.
And last year in particular, when you don't sign a player for the first four rounds, you've blown the draft. McLane's insistence on sticking to this slotting system if handcuffing us when the Yankees and BoSox laugh at Selig and do what they like.
agree and disagree
Towles is exactly the kind of catcher that can be an all-star. He has very strong avg ability and can steal 15 bags or so. I will say there is at least one all-star appearance in his future.
I agree and have been saying for about 2 years the Stros prospects are hopeless. There are no impact players there, not even wishful ones. The Astros will be relying on FAs for at least 3 years.
My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.
I Certainly
won't disagree with what you say about the Yankees and the Red Sox. And I might say that it kind of sucks that we get punk'd for doing what our good buddy the commisioner asks.
I won't disagree that the first four rounds last year were a disaster--and I'll say that you won't see it happen to any team this year, least of all the Astros.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions
it would suck if I have to take back my criticism of Ed Wade
for the Blum and Erstad pickups. At least those guys were both 1 yr/1 M signings. Matsui is still pretty inexcusable.
No- it would be great . . .
if we were forced to admit Wade was a genius for signing Blum and Erstad.
Jury still out for a long time I think on Matsui. if nothing else, having a chain smoker around can't be fun for the rest of the players.
Astro fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 5, 2008 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions
damn
now that I know he's a chain smoker I have to like him a little bit now. I hope they let him light up in the dugout. how awesome would that be?
you're right, it would be nice to be proved wrong.
I like Matsui
After reading the analysis Rastro did on him in the off season, I think he'll be ok. We could use the plus defense at second base anyway. I like Bourn in center and his low batting average isn't bothering me too much at the moment. He needs to start using the bunt though.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd prefer triples
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 5, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Darin Erstad, wow look at that.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Scary Thing Is
He probably will
He's welcome to prove me wrong, but I see Round Rock in his future.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
didn't realize his BA was that low
he's been getting on base at .300+, which is weak, but still an improvement for the 'Stros over last year.
Boos in Wrigley
Music to my ears
Is everyone back and accounted for?
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 5, 2008 1:29 PM CDT reply actions
Tejada robbed!
Great catch by Fukudome robs Tejada of a double and keeps Lee from scoring. Lee tags and moves to third though.
interesting by fukudome
don't see how Pinella called for that bunt. nice to get on base, but I think I'd rather him bunt for a single, instead of swing for more bases and face DeRosa.
great play by Tejada
did not think that was an out off the bat
My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.
Agree
Tejada has been great in the field today.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions
classy move guys
1300 KVET in Austin drops the Astros halfway thru the inning for Longhorn baseball.
Question
still no MLB package, Gamecasting it. . .
How's Roy's curve?
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
no curves today
have only seen one really. looks like he is going heavy on sliders and working some change and splitters
My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.
he's thrown a few, not many for strikes
it was a curve, down and in, that marquis hit for his RBI in the 2nd or 3rd. he didn't fool him w/ it.
Well, Look Who's Got Something To Say
Michael Bourn triples to deep center, places rastro's foot into rastro's mouth, at least temporarily.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
Hurt thumb
When Marquis slid into him at third.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions
We need to maintain the 2 run lead
so Valverde can give up his homerun in the 9th..
Wonder why Roy is still in? So he can get the loss?
I knew
when Oswalt came out for the 7th inning, he would not leave this game with a win today. Now the score is tied.
A Goddamned Shame
But I can't really fault Coop for staying with Roy there--unless Roy aint' Roy anymore.
And I'm not going anywhere near that, not yet, no way.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
common error...
... for a rookie manager
Doesn't want to pull his veterans too soon...
Wesley Wright coming out
to face Fukudome with runners on first and second. Tie ball game. Wright has looked good so far, let's see if he can hold up in this pressure situation.
Harump
this ain't good
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 5, 2008 2:23 PM CDT reply actions
Times Like These
Fourth place expectations are just another name for nothin' left to lose.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Somebody close the floodgates
Five Cubs runs already this inning!
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 5, 2008 2:28 PM CDT reply actions
'Course
the balk ended up not mattering coz of the double. . . . .
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Umpire calling bad balls and strikes
He's done it for both teams, but it really hurt us right there with Wright.
Well
He gave up more hits per inning than he ever had in 2007, and the hits have kept coming in 2008.
Last Monday was his worst ever Opening Day performance, and now this. Is it injury or decline?
Or neither? I don't want to rush to judgement.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah, i'm being a little negative
b/c this game is so disappointing. fully possible he's just having a little down period. he certainly looked good in some of his ST starts.
his peripheral stats have been declining the past couple of years, so it will be interesting to see how he does this year. hope we haven't seen the best of Roy O.
Garner, er, Cooper blew this one
Cooper made the same blunder Garner made over and over last year ... don't pinch-hit for a struggling starting pitcher in the 6th or 7th. It's guaranteed he'll get racked up the next inning.
He should've pinch hit Towles for "no offense" Ausmus in the 7th, and then should've pinch-hit for Ausmus. He did neither, Astros didn't score, and Roy O gave it up in the bottom of the 7th. Very Garner-like.
With Zambrano going tomorrow, this was a "gotta win" game. Cooper blew it.
Roy O. does not look good. If we don't have an ace, it's going to be a long season.
I was thinking the same thing
It was such an easy conclusion to make, I almost expected it to happen.
by entropic soul on Apr 5, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
since I criticized Coop for the quick hook
yesterday, I can't necessarily agree on pulling Oswalt after the sixth. The big question is whether he was having some problem w/ the arm, but his pitch count was low and weather wasn't a factor. Aside from the double to Lee, he didn't have such a bad time in the 6th, so I think you let your ace try for 7.
To PH for Ausmus definitely seemed a good decision.
Ahhh . . .
Dunno. It hardly seems clear that with one out in the top of the seventh, and with a two run lead, you need to pinch hit for both your catcher and your starter.
Oswalt--our ace, the guy who we rely on-- was at 73 pitches, and you have a two-run lead. How is that obvious.?
Worked out badly no doubt, but unless I'm missing something, I'm not blaming the manager.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Roy was no ace today
Nor on opening day. If he's cruising with 3-4 hits through 6, sure, you leave him in. He was scuffling out there, again. A manager has to know when his pitcher's on top of his game. Roy was not. He should not have pitched the 7th.
Not Letting Go
Roy's our ace, today and everyday, deal with it. The rotation past him is Backe Wandy Chacon and Sampson.
The load on our bullpen is already gonna be high, pulling Oswalt when he's ahead by 2 and has thrown 73 in the 6th is a good way for Coop to guarantee a .350 season.
Roy is expected to, needs to, eat innings, and if it's in one of these 12-hit, 4 run barnburners he seems to be patenting, so be it.
I'll end up liking Tejada. . . . just give me some time
by rastronomicals on Apr 5, 2008 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Roy had biceps pain....
in the 6th. He was shaking his arm. He said that it lasted only for one pitch, and he was fine after that. (Obviously the results were not fine after that, though.) Cooper said he questioned Roy about his arm when he came back to the dugout and Roy said he would be OK, that he just had some "tingling", and he wanted to continue. Cooper felt like he had to listen to his ace and "ride him" for all he is worth. Roy O said he is more embarrassed than anything, and he doesn't think anything is wrong with his arm. I'm not sure if I'm convinced.
Roy had zero strike outs today. That doesn't seem like a good sign to me. When asked about the zero K's, Roy O didn't really answer the question, he just said something about the fact he only threw 70 pitches. Perhaps Oswalt is going through a dead arm period (maybe the opening day pitch count set him back a bit), and it will pass. Hopefully, he isn't injured.
It's 2008, not 2006
And Roy may not be the ace he was 2 years ago.
Pedro Martinez was to be the Mets ace last year; Zito was to be the Giants' ace. They slipped from prior years.
Has Roy O. slipped? I hope not. No K's, no curveball, biceps twinge, reduced velocity.
Maybe he's just had 2 bad games & will be back to the Roy O. of old next game. Maybe.
As for Saturday's game, you say the goal is to have Roy O. eat innings. I say the goal is to win games. When Roy "doesn't have it," his words, he needs to be removed to protect a lead like any other pitcher.
Not throwing in the towel on Roy yet
I still believe he's the Ace and will continue to be so for a few years... But he definitely needs to find his curveball and get back to being the "Wizard of O's".
Go 'Stros!
Ausmus again
Can anyone tell me why he was hitting again, with the tying run on 1B & 2 out?
We've seen this movie for the last 3 years. The guy can't hit.
We were supposed to get rid of the black hole in the 7th & 8th positions in the lineup, but here we are again with Ausmus' weak groundouts in key spots.
Unless Towles is hurt, there's no reason he shouldn't have batted.
Cooper is mis-managing this one badly.
The normal excuse...
for this (based on what Garner would say last year) is that the manager doesn't want to burn a catcher, so that the team always has a catcher in reserve in case whomever is in the game gets injured. Blum is the emergency catcher, even though I think he has never done it.
Then they should carry three catchers
I'm still a little disappointed that Q was cut. He had a great spring.
middle 8th
8-7 Cubs, still. Looks like we'll have the 9th inning to try to score one run, if the bullpen can hold it together. We should be facing Kerry Wood. I would expect Cruz, Bourn and Pence to bat.
our bullpen has failed pretty spectacularly today as well
3 runs and counting. not to mention letting Roy's inherited runner score.
Yeah, our new, improved bullpen looks a lot like the old one.
All we need is a Lidge gopher ball for it to be deja vu time.
Actually, this season's looking like the last one
2-4 with Zambrano pitching against us tomorrow.
Bad start, guys. This game should've been won.
PB & no hitting by Ausmus, bad managing by Cooper,
poor bullpen performance.
Thank goodness for the Giants. We can't possibly be the worst team in the NL. At least I don't think so.
After watching the game...
it's not half as bad as all of these comments.
Roy wasn't great (again) but he wasn't as bad as some of y'all seem to think.
Geary, Wright, Brocail looked pretty good, even though one of them got the results.
The offense was kinda handcuffed at the end when you have 2 guys already out of the game (Berkman and Wiggy) before Coop even PH for Roy. Erstad has become the first PH off the bench, so that kinda limited the options there.
It was a bad game. But it was just one game. As long as Wiggy and Berkman aren't seriously injured (I mean, 15-day DL injured) it's not the end of the world.
Stay away from tall buildings.
Phear T.S.'s Crawdaddies...
Loss for the pitching staff
Although Carlos Lee made two horrible plays in left that each resulted in runs scoring.
Well, what's done is done
I guess we'll just have to look forward to tomorrow. Maybe we can get a win off Zambrano. I think we can make up the difference at Minute Maid Park
Guess we'll chalk this one down as
A loss for the pitching staff..
I caught about 1/2 of an inning today while taking a break from work... Astros were winning 5-2 at the time..
Go 'Stros!
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Current Series
3 game series vs Rockies @ Minute Maid Park
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Colorado Rockies
Friday, Apr 6, 2012, 6:05 PM CDT |
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| Sat 04/07 | 6:05 PM CDT | |
| Sun 04/08 | 1:05 PM CDT | |
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Cincinnati
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Houston
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Milwaukee
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
|
St. Louis
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
(updated 2.14.2012 at 12:03 AM CST)
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