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Houston Astros at Pittsburgh Pirates, 6:05 PM CDT

Crawfishboxes_m_tiny by Stros Bro on

Houston @ Pittsburgh


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3 game series vs Pirates @ PNC Park

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Houston Astros Red-star
@ Pittsburgh Pirates Red-star

Tuesday, Jul 8, 2008, 6:05 PM CDT
PNC Park

Brandon Backe vs Ian Snell

Mostly cloudy with a 50-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 80.

 

Complete Coverage >
Wed 07/09

Brian Moehler vs John Van Benschoten

 6:05 PM CDT
W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP
2008 - Brandon Backe 5-9 18 18 0 0 0 0 101.2 116 61 59 22 46 75 5.22 1.59
W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP
2008 - Ian Snell 3-7 16 16 0 0 0 0 85.2 116 61 57 7 49 64 5.99 1.93

This game looks like it could turn into a rather high scoring affair pretty quickly.  Last time out Brandon Backe went 6.2 innings, allowing 5 earned runs on 7 hits with 2 home runs against the Dodgers on July 3rd.  If there is one thing that Backe isn't, it's consistent.  He's not consistently bad, or consistently good.  He'll have a few good starts, and then a few bad starts...  Unfortunately, his record is showing up more in the bad starts because he's lost almost twice as many games as he's won.  If I had to guess how he'll do tonight... I'm saying he'll have a good game...  He's had 2 bad starts in a row, so I guess you could say he's due. 

Snell is pretty much the same story as Backe...  inconsistent.  Snell started off June with a 4 inning, 6 earned run outing against the Cardinals and then came back with 2 good outings(5 innings, 1 ER against the Diamondbacks and then 6 innings, 1 ER against the Nationals) and then followed up those 2 good outings with 2 bad outings(4 innings, 7 ER against the White Sox and 4 innings, 4 ER against the Blue Jays).  One thing Snell has managed to do is keep the ball in the yard(only 7 home runs in 16 games), while Backe isn't(22 home runs in 18 games). 

Snell is coming off the 15 day DL due to medial epicondylitis in his right elbow which is basically a medical term for inflamation in the elbow.  It has also been called Golfer's Elbow or even Pitcher's Elbow.  Link from wikipedia if you care.

Lineup

Houston Astros @ Pittsburgh Pirates

07/08/08 6:05 PM CDT

Houston AstrosPittsburgh Pirates
Darin Erstad - CF Nate McLouth - CF
Mark Loretta - 2B Freddy Sanchez - 2B
Lance Berkman - 1B Ryan Doumit - C
Carlos Lee - LF Jason Bay - LF
Miguel Tejada - SS Xavier Nady - RF
Hunter Pence - RF Adam LaRoche - 1B
Ty Wigginton - 3B Jose Bautista - 3B
Brad Ausmus - C Ian Snell - P
Brandon Backe - P Jack Wilson - SS
I guess Cooper likes Erstad in the 1 hole... anything is better than Bourn. 

0 recs | Comment 126 comments

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Game On

Erstad and Loretta both get out followed by a Berkman walk and a Lee single moving Berkman to 3rd.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:13 PM CDT   0 recs

Tejada

strikes out to end the inning

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Backe

Retires the side in his half of the inning.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:24 PM CDT   0 recs

Explain Cubs-A's trade to me.

Cubs get Rich Harden and another solid pitcher for four questionable players. Why would the A’s do this deal?

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 6:26 PM CDT   0 recs

If you find an answer

let me know, because my reaction is that the Cubs saw the A’s coming with this trade.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I went to the A's and to the Cubs threads on the trade

The A’s fans are puking in their beer. The Cubs fans are ecstatic.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 6:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Harden is very injury prone, almost frail...maybe Beane knows something about his future.

Remember that Beane traded Mark Mulder before he completely broke down due to injury. A lot of people thought that Beane got taken to the cleaners on that trade, but he got the last laugh, because Haren turned out to be a great pitcher.

I actually like all of the Cubs players who were traded, not that I think they are great….just that I regard them as undervalued youngish players who might be good gambles. What surprises me is that Beane went for players who are not true prospects (well, maybe Gallagher is), but rather young players who tasted the majors but never established themselves. Matt Murton is a player I would have liked to see the Astros acquire. I would not be surprised if he becomes a very productive outfielder in Oakland. He is undervalued because he is not a slugger, but rather a line drive hitter like a Terry Puhl type. Gallagher is a good young pitcher. Who knows, maybe he is the next Haren.

by clack on Jul 8, 2008 6:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Brownie just mentioned that

Cooper is still wanting to rest some of his pitcher…

Should we turn the game off now?

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:31 PM CDT   0 recs

That's why Reineke was called up, apparently.

The Astros bullpen is still too pooped to play, according to Cooper.

by clack on Jul 8, 2008 7:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ausmus singles

in the 2nd with 2 outs, bringing Backe up.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:34 PM CDT   0 recs

Ouch

that’s rough

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

FULL COUNT ON THE PITCHER!!!!

Snell is about to hit a bomb! :p

Or strike out looking. :p

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 6:47 PM CDT   0 recs

Would have been nice to have Jack Wilson

and his .300+ batting average hitting there, I suppose.

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 6:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No harm no foul

Backe clean through 2

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Reached on the foul and the blooper to center

I guess it’s better than striking out… sorta

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 6:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hopefully Soriano won't be able to play

And they will need another OF’er and that guy will be Carlos Lee. :)

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 7:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Looks like this game may get rained out

or at least rain delayed… The clouds around the stadium in Pittsburgh look pretty bad.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:04 PM CDT   0 recs

Tejada got all of that one

unfortunately it went foul :(

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:07 PM CDT   0 recs

GO TO YOUR HOME!

Huntah!!!!! DEEP Center field shot

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:10 PM CDT   0 recs

Damn.

I thought that was a shallow high fly out off the bat.

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 7:10 PM CDT   0 recs

Wigginton

follows up the big fly with a single of his own… Pirates getting someone active in the bullpen(or so JD says)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:12 PM CDT   0 recs

Already?

With Ausmus and the pitcher up? Snell has only given up one run.

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 7:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

said he was dropping his arm

and he’s already over 80 pitches

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That many?

Wiggy caught stealing.

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 7:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Box score says 85

Pirates going to the bullpen

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wiggy single

Switch Wiggy and Pence around and that’s a two run homer. :p

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 7:12 PM CDT   0 recs

Aflac Trivia Question

3 Astros pitchers to start an All Star game

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:12 PM CDT   0 recs

Clemens

can’t think of any one else

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I know J.R. Richard started an ASG.

I wonder if Mike Scott ever started an ASG?

by clack on Jul 8, 2008 7:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

those were actually my guesses

but I honestly have no idea other than just guessing… Did Ryan ever start one?

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

J.R Richard (1980) . Mike Scott (1986) Roger Clemens (2004)

His all-star game start was J.R. Richard’s next-to-last start. Sad end to a career; plus a nightmarish life afer baseball.

I researched it during the rain delay

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 8:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Do you remember

Bill Dawley

Lee May

Mike Cuellar

Jerry Mumfrey

Claude Raymond

Joe Sambito

Le Grand Orange Rusty Staub

Denis Menke

Pete Harnisch

Glenn Davis (i’m glad he made it – he anchored the Astros for a few years but was quickly overshadowed in Astros history by his replacement , a guy named Bagwell.

and my main man , Turk Farrell

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 9:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I remember

Harnisch and Glenn Davis.. the others, well… probably before my time.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 9:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You are correct sir

They said that Scott did it in 87, but JD thinks he did it in 86 and 87

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 9:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Wikipedia says

that Scott made the team in 86, but Dwight Gooden started.

Scott did win the Cy Young that year though.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 10:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Jose Lima

He went to ASG in ‘99, I believe.

by pel on Jul 8, 2008 8:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not sure why Wigginton went

Maybe to try and get into the 5th inning sooner

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:15 PM CDT   0 recs

I understand the pitcher's confusion

2 outs, facing the Astros pitcher. Ausmus on first. Allowed one run the game.And he ’s taken out of the game!! What gives?

Of course he did not handle it well in the dugout.

And it ’s raining enough that he’d be out anyway!

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 7:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Box score now shows 88 pitches

he just came off the DL so he was probably on a pitch count. I can understand Snell’s frustration, but I can also see the team’s point of view.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Didn't see Snell in the dug out.

Maybe we can get him in a trade if he likes to have tirades after being pulled.

by entropic soul on Jul 8, 2008 7:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Think

he would assault Wade?

Be odd to get 2 pitchers from the Pirates, and both of them assault someone… I guess it’s just their Pirate ways

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Aye matey

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 7:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Supposedly, Chacon and Snell got into a shoving match or something like that...

in the Pirates’ clubhouse last year. But I guess it wasn’t long lasting, because apparently Snell was pushing the Pirates’ management to re-sign Chacon in the off-season. Snell said Chacon added maturity and calmness to the pitching corps.

by clack on Jul 8, 2008 9:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He pouted

and banged stuff

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 7:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Weather.com

I cannot tell how long this rain will last. The heaviest part will pass through fairly quickly if I read the Weather.com radar right. But there’s a large green area behind the initial front. I can’t tell if that’s continous rain or not. If it’s all rain, it’ll be hours.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 7:26 PM CDT   0 recs

From looking at the clouds on TV

it looked like it should pass pretty quickly..

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sabathia

2 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 3K

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:37 PM CDT   0 recs

JD just said they are expecting about a

2 hour rain delay…

Time to go watch a movie with the wife.

TTFN

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 7:44 PM CDT   0 recs

What to do with Backe when game resumes?

After this long a delay some managers would say the delay was so long Backe should not continue to pitch. In that case, maybe a pinch hitter is in order.

On the other hand, Astros pitching is thin now and Astros may be better served letting Backe continue.

What’s the right call?

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 8, 2008 8:44 PM CDT   0 recs

With a rain delay this long, it is extremely rare for the pitcher to stay in the game.

Those who do try to pitch after the rain delay is over frequently get rocked by the opposing hitters when they return. Given that Backe is coming off elbow surgery, I think the right call is to take him out of the game.

It’s unfortunate that this situation comes at a time when the Astros have close to zero in the bullpen. Reineke is a starting pitcher, so you would think he has the endurance for multiple innings. The question is whether he will be effective.

by clack on Jul 8, 2008 8:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Game is back on!

Borkowski is coming in to pitch, but Backe is going to bat in his spot(leading off the inning).

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 9:55 PM CDT   0 recs

I say leading off the inning

he is leading off the conclusion of the inning.. he is actually not leading off the inning(that was done before the rain delay).

Backe pops out to end the inning.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 8, 2008 10:01 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs