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Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 PM CDT

Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs, Aug 5, 2008 1:20 PM CDT





Current Series

3 game series vs Cubs @ Wrigley Field

Mon 08/04 WP: Brian Moehler (7 - 4)
SV: LaTroy Hawkins
LP: Ryan Dempster (12 - 5)
2 - 0 win

Houston Astros Red-star
@ Chicago Cubs Red-star

Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008, 1:20 PM CDT
Wrigley Field

Wandy Rodriguez vs Rich Harden

Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

 

Complete Coverage >

Wed 08/06

Brandon Backe vs Jason Marquis

1:20 PM CDT


NL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Chicago 67 46 .592 0 Lost 1
Milwaukee 62 51 .548 5 Lost 2
St. Louis 62 52 .543 5.5 Lost 2
Houston 54 57 .486 12 Won 4
Cincinnati 52 61 .460 15 Won 1
Pittsburgh 51 61 .455 15.5 Lost 3

(updated 8.5.2008 at 10:07 AM PDT)



Next Game

Houston Astros
@ Chicago Cubs

Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008, 1:20 PM CDT
Wrigley Field

Wandy Rodriguez vs Rich Harden

Partly cloudy with a 40-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing in from left field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

 

Complete Coverage >


W-L ERA WHIP K BB
2008 - Wandy Rodriguez 6-4 3.61 1.31 83 27


W-L ERA WHIP K BB
2008 - Rich Harden 1-1 1.11 0.91 39 8

A rain shortened win last night moved the Astros within seven of the Wild Card leading Brewers, who had a little more on their minds than just a 6-3 loss to the Reds. Seven games isn't impossible to make up, but the odds are not with the Astros. A win today would be nice, as playing spoiler is what we have to look forward to. Here's a fun game we can play: with K happy Rich Harden on the mound for the Cubs, and a K prone team like the Astros facing him, what should the over/under be for strikeouts today? I'm going to set it at 9.

0 recs  |  Comment 111 comments

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damn

thought wandy might weave some magic there

by lnewcomer on Aug 5, 2008 1:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

there goes

our scoreless inning streak.

they just mentioned on the radio that Harden has not given up more than a run at any of his games in Chicago yet (small sample size).

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 1:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

need to at least

make him work a little. he hasn’t gone deep all that much this year, and has gone less than 6 in 4 of his last six (going back to Oakland).

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 1:40 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

got a break there

wow. blum should have been out by a mile.

i was just thinking, when you’ve got a guy like Harden, running 3 x in a row didn’t seem v. bright

by lnewcomer on Aug 5, 2008 1:45 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No Berkman! AHHH!!!
Presumably, Cooper also knows Cincinnati is not the place to give Berkman that day off, seeing that the slugger has a .360 lifetime average over 37 games at Great American Ball Park. Berkman has 18 homers, nine doubles, 47 RBIs and an .824 slugging percentage at the Reds’ downtown stadium.


The Reds would be easier to beat than the Cubs w/out Berkman

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Aug 5, 2008 1:46 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yeah

but Berkman’s in a bit of a funk and has a history of sucking at Wrigley. i’m okay with it, going on the premise that he needs a day off. i’m sure he’s available to pinch hit.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're calling his

.067 avg in August a funk? :)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Aug 5, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

erstad!

nice hit w/ RISP. 2-1 cubs

by lnewcomer on Aug 5, 2008 1:46 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

unearned run

hopefully that doesn’t count against the 1-run limit for Harden at Wrigley.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ugh...

could be one of those games. fortunately we won yesterday and tomorrow might be a more favorable matchup.

c’mon Wandy, let’s keep this under control!

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 1:54 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It looks ugly so far

I joined the game in progress . Astros down 3-1 in the second , Cubs have two men on base and no outs

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 1:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Not good

missed on four straight to A-Ram with the bases juiced. that’s some Dempster shit right there.

need to stop the bleeding!

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:01 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

erstad!

again!

banged hard off the wall in left center after jumping to make the catch on a liner in the gap.

losing 5-1 now. wandy’s magic is gone

by lnewcomer on Aug 5, 2008 2:02 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Game got uglier

I went to another part of the building . Came back to a 6-1 game. Cubs still have two men on base – now with 2 outs.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 2:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

white flag

we can get some runs against harden!!!....................

by Evan Hochschild on Aug 5, 2008 2:06 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

radio guys talking about the bullpen

Geary may not be available. Sampson pitched two on Sunday. we can’t lose Wandy after just a couple of innings. even if it’s ugly, he’s going to need to struggle through a few more, just to save the bullpen.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:06 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

YAY!

12-pitch 1-2-3 inning! let’s get three more of those and hopefully we can chip away at the lead in the meantime.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:18 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

WIGGY!!!

Do that 5 more times!

by entropic soul on Aug 5, 2008 2:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Wiggy is the man!!!!!

WHat did he do(No TV/Radio)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Aug 5, 2008 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Homerun

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

HR

nodoubtaboutit.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

WIGGY!

okay, Wandy’s holding… we’re chipping… it’s all going to plan.

6-2 Flubbies.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

6-3

taint over yet!

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i'm taking credit for this rally

since it occurred after I stopped watching the game on TV. For the good of us all, I will continue not watching.

by lnewcomer on Aug 5, 2008 2:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

question is

how much clothes does Dying Quail still have on?

or is that an inappropriate question from a dude?

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

For the Record

I was the beach all day, so I did my part—single article of clothing.

It’s a strategy I’ve tried often, with little results except Game 4.

I guess I need to come up with something 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 Stephen Higdon on Aug 5, 2008 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tejada strikes out on a check swing.

Hmm.. coulda done did better than that. Oh well

by entropic soul on Aug 5, 2008 2:46 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Wandy

with a nice 8-pitch, 1-2-3 inning. now sitting at 81 pitches through 5. should be able to go at least one more. Harden sitting at 74.

if we can get into the bullpens with a three-run deficit or less, that’d nice.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:50 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

BLUM!!!!

Dinger to right!

6-5 Flubbies!

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 2:54 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

damn

i’m not going to be able to watch a game for the rest of the year if we win today. would save on the cable bill at least I guess

by lnewcomer on Aug 5, 2008 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Didn't know Blum is back next year.

JD and Brown say that Blum has a vesting option for next year which is based on number of PA, and, with his success and use so far this year, he is likely to get the option.

by clack on Aug 5, 2008 2:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

hmm

Cot’s says it’s a club option for 2009, but it’s not like all the details are spelled out.

i wouldn’t mind having him back next year, i suppose. he’s pretty versatile defensively, even if he’s not a top notch defender, and he’s proven to come through in some clutch situations for us.

i doubt Loretta is a Type B free agent again. he’s not getting enough at-bats. he probably won’t be back for ‘09.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Quintero

Nice

Lo..get to it!

..agonizing since 1983...

by rockwalltx on Aug 5, 2008 2:59 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

too bad

Wandy lifted and we weren’t able to capitalize on the RBI situation.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Astros back in the game 6-5

I’m missing most of this game running around the building today; but it’s nice to come back to my office to good news.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 3:06 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Back in the game and about to start bleeding runs again.

I hate getting back in the game only to start giving up runs again!!!

by entropic soul on Aug 5, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Then things get ugly again

Cubs have men on the corners with no outs

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

good work

by Sampson, after allowing the two baserunners.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

One more run!!

Come on! (Well, two.. but we really need that one)

Steal third Matsui!, You can do it!

by entropic soul on Aug 5, 2008 3:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

WOW

..agonizing since 1983...

by rockwalltx on Aug 5, 2008 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

good call

..agonizing since 1983...

by rockwalltx on Aug 5, 2008 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

nice call

7-6 good guys!

wow… just, wow.

we love you Caballo!

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

man

we’ve GOT to win this one. this is just too good.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Five innings ago the game seemed out of reach

Now the Cubs are just a whisper in Tropical Storm Astro

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 3:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

YEEEEAAAAHHH!

Awesome.

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 3:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Bad day for Pence

Terrible at bat strinking out on a bad pitch
Now he misplays a ball in right

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 3:28 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

7-7

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 3:29 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Dang. I was away from my desk.

How did the tying run score?

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 3:33 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Single followed by double

that Pence misplayed (should have been lazy fly out ) followed by deep sacrifice fly to center

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks, Joe.

For the update.

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

single, double, sac fly

then a walk, and now Wright is on to try to get us out of it.

Meanwhile, Cubs burned an extra PH pulling back Fontenot after Coop went to Wright.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

to clarify

Fontenot announced to PH for the pitcher, Coop goes to Wright, Soto PH’s for Fontenot… might factor in if this game stays close.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Big strikeout for Wright.

Now Soriano.

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 3:38 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Waiting for Lance

who was probably in the clubhouse.

It’ll be a double switch. Lance for Blum, hitting 9th (fourth next inning), and Brocail for Wright, hitting 5th (and will hopefully pitch into the 8th).

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:41 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Brocail in to pitch to Soriano.

1 and 2.

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 3:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

SHIT!!!

Soriano goes yard. Brocail blows it.

10-7 Flubbies. Now we’ve got some more work to do.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:43 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Soriano goes yard.

Nuts. 10-7.

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 3:43 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Brocail

Thank you for losing the game for us again.

by entropic soul on Aug 5, 2008 3:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

that's tough second-guessing

Brocail is your “2nd best” reliever, who didn’t pitch yesterday, and this is the tough spot you want your most dependable guys to pitch in. i don’t see how you argue that Brocail wasn’t the obvious choice.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's been scuffling lately

And righties can’t hit Hawkins. Obvious choice.

by entropic soul on Aug 5, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hated the choice of Brocail from the beginning.

Wade has Cooper under orders to reduce Brocail’s useage. Yet Cooper continues to use him over and over again. Coop used him Sunday with a 4 run lead. Brocail’s stuff is horrible when he gets overworked.

by clack on Aug 5, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he had a 16-pitch outing

on Sunday (I agree… probably shouldn’t have used him then) and a 10-pitch outing on Friday, and he was off yesterday. i don’t think this is a glaring case of overuse (in the short term). it’s a big spot, and i don’t fault Cooper for going to the guy he feels is his dependable late-inning reliever. i can see the argument for Hawkins, but he’s only had two appearances for Houston so far. at a minimum, it’s not an open and shut case. i think it’s a weak time to be finger-wagging at Coop, and i’m not really that big of a fan of his to begin with.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just don't understand WHEN he is going to follow the plan...

of cutting down Brocail’s use. Right now, he treats every game as do or die and thinks he has to use him.

by clack on Aug 5, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

To me, it's not an issue of overuse

He’s been sucking lately, so I’m not going to put him in a position to give up runs. Especially since we have two runners on. I’m going to go with Hawkins because he’s shown that he kills righties and gives up very little home runs. Would it have worked? I don’t know, but I think it had a better chance than Brocail. And now we are going to lose this game.

by entropic soul on Aug 5, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

oh boy

Brocail falling apart. Lee flairs a single (also might have been misplayed by Pence) and Theriot scores. 11-7 bad guys.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 3:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Radio guys make it sound like Pence misplayed last hit.

Maybe he was expecting a rainout today?

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 3:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

didn't look as bad as the double....

it’s possible Pence didn’t get a good enough jump on the ball.

by clack on Aug 5, 2008 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Goodness. I leave my office

for only a few mintues and suddenly it’s 11-7 Cubs.

It’s going to take some ninth inning to win this one.

But in today’s game it could happen.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 3:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Two outs in the ninth.

Entropic’s favorite up.

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 4:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ballgame.

Cubs 11, Astros 7.

Hi, my name is Rich and I'm an Astroholic.

by Austin Astroholic on Aug 5, 2008 4:09 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

ASTROS LOSE 11-7

They had it, then lost it.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 4:10 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

tough loss

but considering we were chalking it up as a loss in the bottom of the 2nd, only to see them climb back into it… could be worse.

hopefully we can knock around Marquis tomorrow and Backe can finally give us a start that lasts more than 5 innings (seems like it’s been a while). still have a shot to win our 6th series in 7 tries.

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 4:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Another draft pick signed

Chris Hicks, who was a closer for Georgia Tech. We’ve now signed all but one of our picks from the first 15 rounds, our 3rd round pick Chase Davidson (lefty power-hitter).

by littlevisigoth on Aug 5, 2008 4:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Piniella Going For Broke

What a crazy bunch of pinch hitter wrangling there in the seventh.

I think Sweet Lou knew he had to stop the Astros crazy train right here and now or face the possibility of being ignominiously swept at Wrigley and putting the Cubs into one of their typical down-the-stretch funks.

by pel on Aug 5, 2008 4:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Worst # 7 hitters since 1957

Hardball Times is running a series on the ten worst hitters in a certain batting slot since 1957 (50 years of candidates).The current page is on the # 7 hitters. Astros are represented (and no – Adam Everett is not one of hte ten worst hitrters itn eh #7 slot – he is only the 14th worst of the past 50 years) .

Coming in at the tenth worst #7 hitter since 1957 is Scott Servais , catcher for the 1994 Astrso when ihe batted .180 in the 7 slot (.190 overall).

Brad Ausmus, catcher, took seventh worst # 7 hitter for his performance in 2003.

The second worst hitter was not on the Astros as a player I don’t think. His worst year at #7 was with the Giants. But Hal Lanier had a stint as Astros Manager. Intersting ly , 3 of the worst #7 hitters became MLB managers (Sparky Anderson and Joe Girardi are also on the list)

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 7:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Four

Servais, Ausmus, Joe Girardi and the absolute worst #7 hitter since 1957 according to the Hardball Times article – Kirt Manwaring (1997 Rockies)

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 5, 2008 8:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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