St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros, Aug 29, 2008 7:05 PM CDT
by DyingQuail
on Aug 29, 2008 6:45 PM CDT
St. Louis Cardinals @ Houston Astros
Let's start our focus of tonight's game and opening series with the Wild Card Picture. We're still a daunting 9.5 games back of the Brewers, but I (and some of you too) have pretty much discounted the notion that we'll ever catch the. However, I will still consider this season a success, and a thing of beauty, if we catch the Cardinals. It kills me that it was supposed to be us, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh battling for the NL Central basement, but somehow TLR has somehow managed to push the right buttons and still have a play-off contender on his hands. Just look at their rotation. Is there a single impressive name on it? Their bull pen has been a cluster fu...you get the picture...all season long, but somehow, there they are.
The positive in all of this, is that if we just take this series, we'd only be four games back of them and could conceivably be 3 if we manage to pull of a sweep (I won't hold my breath on that). With those hopes in mind, let's turn to the series preview:
Current Series
3 game series vs Cardinals @ Minute Maid Park
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St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Aug 29, 2008, 7:05 PM CDT Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 90.
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| Sat 08/30 | 6:05 PM CDT | |
| Sun 08/31 | 1:05 PM CDT | |
I assume that Wandy will pitch Sunday, but I'm too lazy to see who's slated for the Cards. Either way, this isn't the strongest pitching match-up series ever. Lohse is enjoying a season in which command and a stellar Cardinals defense have made Lohse a sure fire candidate to get some multi/multi deal that will probably look insane by it's end and left Ed Wade looking like an idiot for taking Chacon over Lohse (do you think Lohse would have beat him up?). Looper and Moehler have both enjoyed anomalous seasons and could either be good or bad. We should just flip a coin to predict it. So this is a series in which hitting will be the main story and unfortunately, I think the Cards have us beat in that regard. So we'll need some great pitching performances.
For this series, I hope the Cecil Cooper remembers that Yadier Molina has a ridiculous arm and we should not run ("Please God, give Cecil Cooper a modicum of restraint. Thanks." I just violated Kevin Costner's rule from For Love of the Game, sorry Kevin.). Also, this is the debut of Instant Replay for the Astros -- thank God Bud Selig, et al., got off their high horses and did something intelligent.
Oh, and here's your starting line-up:
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1-2-3 for Wolf
FO to Right Center
Sharp grounder to Miggy
Towering IF off the bat of Prince Albert.
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:11 PM CDT 0 recs
Do you think Wiggy should perhaps be batting...
in front of Berkman?
by entropic soul on Aug 29, 2008 7:12 PM CDT 0 recs
Yes!!
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:13 PM CDT 0 recs
Of course he wouldn't be on base for Berkman
if he keeps hitting all of those home runs :p
by entropic soul on Aug 29, 2008 7:14 PM CDT 0 recs
hahaha
He swung for the record, but missed.
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:19 PM CDT 0 recs
A pitcher's duel
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:27 PM CDT 0 recs
Goatee Lance to the plate
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:29 PM CDT 0 recs
Ugly IF
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:29 PM CDT 0 recs
good to see you here again, entropic...
it seemed like you were gone for a few games.
by clack on
Aug 29, 2008 7:37 PM CDT
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Just haven't been as interested I guess.
With us being so far back.
by entropic soul on
Aug 29, 2008 7:58 PM CDT
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Ugly 6-4-3 from Pence.
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:33 PM CDT 0 recs
yep...it was ugly. someone else mentioned in another thread...
that Pence hits too many balls to SS…and that was an example.
by clack on
Aug 29, 2008 7:35 PM CDT
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So agile and nimble
Lance prevents Lohse’s 1B
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:36 PM CDT 0 recs
And the pitcher's duel marches on.
Or the offensive ineptitude…really baseball’s version of is the glass full or empty?
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 7:46 PM CDT 0 recs
Yea I guess
Technically I guess you could make a case that your offense isn’t inept, just the pitchers are really good… (or vice versa)..
Go 'Stros!
by Stros Bro on
Aug 29, 2008 7:47 PM CDT
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What's that?
Moehler and Erstad signed for next year.
Moehler has a option for 2010.
by entropic soul on Aug 29, 2008 8:03 PM CDT 0 recs
Moehler and Erstad both signed contracts for 2009
Cool
Go 'Stros!
by Stros Bro on Aug 29, 2008 8:03 PM CDT 0 recs
Doubt it's been announced..
can’t find it anywhere online
Go 'Stros!
by Stros Bro on
Aug 29, 2008 8:06 PM CDT
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Per Official Scorer at chron.com
Moehler, 2.3M + incentives + option for 2010.
Erstad, 1.75M + incentives
And Wiggy gets caught in a run down as Tejada strikes out.
by entropic soul on Aug 29, 2008 8:05 PM CDT 0 recs
I'll take it
I think they are both good signings..
Go 'Stros!
by Stros Bro on
Aug 29, 2008 8:07 PM CDT
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Agree.
Per live blog, Levine going to talk to Ed Wade… says he’ll be back in a few.
http://blogs.chron.com/unofficialscorer/2008/08/live_blog_astroscardinals_open.html
by entropic soul on
Aug 29, 2008 8:07 PM CDT
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I'm not sure they are good signings.
I’m not convinced that Moehler can justify that salary next year. Erstad isn’t an ideal combo with Bourn since they are both LHB. But I’m not upset with the signings either. Both guys seem like good guys, and they have done a good job this year.
by clack on
Aug 29, 2008 8:10 PM CDT
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I like it.
Assuming they have solid years like they have had this year.
Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.
by Austin Astroholic on
Aug 29, 2008 8:16 PM CDT
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Blum, Erstad, Moehler
Will any be traded over the winter? And I forget – What is Loretta’s status?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on
Aug 29, 2008 8:26 PM CDT
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Tejada strikes out
in a strike him out throw him out double play
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 29, 2008 8:07 PM CDT 0 recs
Cooper likes to send Wiggy on steals and hit and runs...
a lot. It seems like it backfires a lot too.
by clack on Aug 29, 2008 8:11 PM CDT 0 recs
It doesn't matter
He’s stranded
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on
Aug 29, 2008 8:23 PM CDT
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Ugh
we’ve made Lohse look brilliant every time we’ve gone out against him this year.
by jonthefon on Aug 29, 2008 8:35 PM CDT 0 recs
Is that why he's 3-0 against the Astros this season?
and well on his way to a fourth win tonight unless Astros start scoring some runs.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on
Aug 29, 2008 8:54 PM CDT
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NEWHAN homerun
TIE game
Lohse Win is not so certain now
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on
Aug 29, 2008 8:58 PM CDT
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Pence to Berkman Double Play
Those are nice to see
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 29, 2008 9:05 PM CDT 0 recs
Wiggy thrown out trying to squeeze a single into a double...
and it ends the 8th for the Astros. Wigginton shows more hustle than good judgement on the bases, it seems to me. JD likes the play, but I’m not so sure, partly because I see Wigginton make too many of those outs.
by clack on Aug 29, 2008 9:12 PM CDT 0 recs
Top of 9th and Pujols with hard single to start it off...
and that’s not a good way to begin 9th. If you’re a glass half full type, at least it wasn’t a Pujols HR.
Now, Brocail with an excellent fielding play to get Pujols on a DP.
by clack on Aug 29, 2008 9:14 PM CDT 0 recs
Excellent reaction time by Brocail
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on
Aug 29, 2008 9:16 PM CDT
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Walk-off time
Let’s get it before Pooholes shows up again.
by jonthefon on Aug 29, 2008 9:17 PM CDT 0 recs
good thing nobody was on base when Tejada hit that...
or it would be a DP.
by clack on Aug 29, 2008 9:19 PM CDT 0 recs
OMG....Berkman almost got his first walk off HR...
and I thought he had it. Berkman showed vicious bat speed.
by clack on Aug 29, 2008 9:21 PM CDT 0 recs
And now Berkman does it!!!!!!!
First walk off homer of his career.!!!!! After the almost-homer to RF. This was to LF.
by clack on Aug 29, 2008 9:22 PM CDT 0 recs
I guess the first near-HR foul ball didn't scare Springer.
He say, “hmm…he hit that foul to deep RF. So I’ll throw the ball where he can only hit it to LF.”
by clack on
Aug 29, 2008 9:38 PM CDT
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Amazing
Homerun to left after barely missing a homerun to right (foul) .
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 29, 2008 9:23 PM CDT 0 recs
ASTROS WIN 3-2
Win stuns me. It was all Lohse until Newhan homers and Berkman ends it.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 29, 2008 9:24 PM CDT 0 recs
Astros in Fourth Place
in NL Central
and
in NL Wildcard
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 29, 2008 9:29 PM CDT 0 recs
I haven't been paying attention to the standings
were they not in 4th for a while?
Go 'Stros!
by Stros Bro on
Aug 29, 2008 9:32 PM CDT
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They've been in fourth in NL Central for weeks
Just passed Florida in NL Wildcard.
“Only” Philadelphia, St Louis and Milwaukee ahead in Wildcard race now.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on
Aug 29, 2008 9:41 PM CDT
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I love Lance.
Does that make me gay?
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on Aug 29, 2008 9:33 PM CDT 0 recs
if it does
we can both come out together
Go 'Stros!
by Stros Bro on
Aug 29, 2008 9:35 PM CDT
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Aww
That would be so cute.
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by DyingQuail on
Aug 29, 2008 9:43 PM CDT
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago
|
97 | 64 | .602 | 0 | Lost 4 |
|
Milwaukee
|
90 | 72 | .555 | 7.5 | Lost 1 |
|
Houston
|
86 | 75 | .534 | 11 | Won 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
86 | 76 | .530 | 11.5 | Won 6 |
|
Cincinnati
|
74 | 88 | .456 | 23.5 | Lost 5 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
67 | 95 | .413 | 30.5 | Won 1 |
(updated 1.8.2009 at 4:10 AM CST)
