Houston Astros Win 4 Straight : Move Above .500 and into 3rd Place
by Stros Bro on May 6, 2008 10:34 PM CDT
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PrintYou read that right... The Houston Astros are FINALLY over the .500 mark with a 17-16 record and sit in sole possession of 3rd place in the NL central with the Brewers losing to the Marlins 3-0.
What a game!!! I don't really even know where to start, but I guess it would be wrong to start anywhere else than Lance Berkman. Lance Berkman ended the night with his 1st career 5 hit game and brought his average up to .353 to take the lead from Miguel Tejada. Not only did he have 5 hits, he had 2 doubles, 2 stolen bases, an RBI and scored 4 times. I guess I should also mention that he scored the game winning run. Lance's .353 average is good for 5th in all of baseball behind Chipper Jones(.426), Rafael Furcal(.366), Chase Utley(.362) and Albert Pujols(.355). **note** These stats(other than Berkman's) are based upon numbers not updated to tonights games. Lance was 20th in all of baseball before tonight's game.
Carlos Lee didn't have too bad of a night either, going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's and a walk. Two of those RBI's in the 8th inning to put the Astros ahead for the win. I don't know what to think about Lee yet. He started getting hot over the last week or so and was up to a 5 game hit streak, but then went 0-5 in the last game against the Brewers. He now comes back and goes 3-4... hopefully this is a sign of him turning it around and reverting back to the player that we signed for 100 million dollars.
Shawn Chacon failed to record a decision for the 7th time this season, but pitched decent enough to keep the Astros in the game and not waste the bullpen. Chacon went 7 innings tonight and gave up 4 earned runs while striking out 4. This wasn't Chacon's best outing of the season, but it was better than his last start in which he only went 5 innings against the Diamondbacks and gave up 5 earned runs. Honestly, I think I'll pretty much take 7 innings and 4 earned runs from Chacon on most nights, so I can't be too unhappy with this performance.
Don't look now... but Jose Valverde might actually be a decent closer. I'm not getting too excited about him yet, but tonight's save(his 7th of the season) makes 5 straight save opportunities without blowing it. If my stats are correct(and they should be, they come from MLB.com), that makes 9 straight appearances for Valverde and 10 2/3 innings without giving up a run. Hopefully he will continue to add on to that. Valverde is now 7 for 10 in save chances.
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How are these numbers for Berkman...
This was in the recap of the game that I read on ESPN:
“In the last five games, Berkman has hit .590 with two homers, four doubles and nine RBIs.”
Those huge numbers are sick – Berkman is on FIRE!
Go Stros!
SeoulStro
Biggio and Bagwell for the HOF!
When you rely on the offense...
as much as this team is going to, there are going to be hot and cold streaks. I expect a lot of winning and losing streaks throughout the season. If the pitching improves, the winning streaks can hopefully be longer and the losing streaks shorter.
Also, its kinda funny that all the criticism of Berkman ended when the season started and he got off to a fast start. Gotta love baseball.
Yes, I am a nerd.
I never critizised him...
that I recall. Just for the record. :)
by entropic soul on May 7, 2008 2:48 AM CDT up reply actions
I did
My biggest criticism was that he seemed too nonchalant. I thought that someone making that much money should prepare and play like they were at least interested in the outcome.
So, I take it back. Not because he’s mashing, but because he’s playing with an intensity that I haven’t seen in a couple of years (although the monster mashing is delightful, certainly). Is it the Miggy influence? Or is Berkman maybe just finally starting to feel comfortable in a leader’s skin, since Bags and Bidge are both finally gone? Whatever it is, it’s welcome.
75% of the Earth's surface is covered by water. . . the other 25% by Michael Bourn
Berkman is a deceptively savvy player
i thought both of his two stolen bases were huge for momentum, even though only the second one turned into a run (on the balk, and that doesn’t happen if he’s not at third). he took advantage of a poor-throwing catcher and two pitchers that were slow to the plate. that sort of heady play from a guy you don’t expect to steal a lot of bases has GOT to inject some fight into his teammates. his mashing the ball has obviously been great, but drawing the bases loaded walk on Sunday and getting a couple stolen bases when the club is locked in a back and forth game… he’s just doing it all right now.
and
how about that over-the-shoulder catch in the first!
by littlevisigoth on May 7, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions
The man...
describes himself as “sneaky fast.” http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080506&content_id=2651080&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou
You think he’s in a good mood? This interview is hilarious.
Funny Stuff
Think he’ll steal tonight? He says he probably won’t for a couple of days… but is that just Puma talk for don’t hold me on so I can steal?
Go 'Stros!
He's drawing too much heat right now...
he’s gotta lay low, let things quiet down a bit so he can once again pounce when the opposing team least expects it.
Yes, I am a nerd.
Lee had the trainer look at his knee...
after he drew a walk to 1st base. Lee seemed to be gesturing that he had a sharp pain in his knee. Then the catcher said something to the pitcher. Jim Deshais said the catcher was probably telling the pitcher “Be ready for a steal attempt.” Deshais said, half-jokingly, that this had to be a ploy by Lee to try and steal a base.
loved the look on his face
after his first steal, like he was doing all he could to keep his composure and not bust out an ear-to-ear SEG. that throw wasn’t even close.
by littlevisigoth on May 7, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions
above .500
it’s the first time we’ve been above .500 in almost an entire year. the last time was when the Astros were 20-19 on May 16 last year. unreal.
hopefully come May 16
we’re a FEW games above .500.
winning 11 of the last 15 games and the last 7 at home… sure feels good right now. let’s just hope we can sustain a little bit of this good play moving forward.
by littlevisigoth on May 7, 2008 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I get my tax relief check on the 16th :)
Don’t know why I felt like telling you that though…
Go 'Stros!
if you did direct deposit
you’d have it by now. i got mine on Tuesday.
don’t know why i felt like telling you that. now i sound like a pompous ass.
by littlevisigoth on May 8, 2008 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions
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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 2.3.2012 at 11:55 PM CST)
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