6-pitch 1-2-3 inning as the Astros go down in the top of the first. that’s always a frustrating way to start a game.

to your poll…

if the Astros put together a nice run and pulled within a few games of the wild card, but fell short, playing just a few games mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, would the enjoyment of “meaningful” games in September be worth not being sellers in July?

from Edmonds and DeRosa with one out in the 2nd opens up the scoring

1-0 Flubbies

and Astros already behind 1-0. Cubs have man on second in the second. One out.
(now two outs).

Astros will be five games ahead of Reds and five games behind Cardinals in the loss column,

but i wonder if Backe might be a serious candidate for the silver slugger award this season. he’s currently hitting a staggering .314 with a .911 OPS (small sample size of 35 ABs). Zambrano and Owings are probably more highly regarded than Backe, and both have considerably more AB’s (both have been used more frequently as pinch-hitters, as well as being better pitchers and getting more AB’s by lasting longer into games). Backe’s rate stats are better though, so if he keeps it up, maybe he can get some consideration.

with a 2-out ground-rule double over Edmonds.

now would be a good time for Hunter to make some ammends for his awful game yesterday.

2 men on
2 outs

Pum drives in Matsui. Pence to 3rd.

1-1 tie.

Astros lead 4-1

Pence laid off the 3-2 slurve to keep the inning alive with that walk. He’s growing up.

Caballo on a tear right now. 3-run dinger to left.

YES!

2 outs

Cubs lead 5-4

walks to Ramirez and Edmonds to load it, and friggin’ DeRosa belts a grand slam.

WTF, Brandon?! can you go one goddamned outing without a home run?! and how about not walking the friggin’ bases loaded before you give up the inevitable bomb?

disgusting.

Backe has been so bad this year, command, etc. That you just knew it was coming. I even told my brother as much.

I get that this guy was nails for us in the post season, but he’s just not pitching well. He has TERRIBLE command. He needs to find his stride in the bull pen or figure out what he’s doing out there with his new ligament.

this inning, before the 4 wide ones.

he’s such a all or nothing pitcher. either he’s money (which is rare), or he just flat out sucks.

Does anybody want to chime in on the poll question now?

With out restocking the farm, Brandon will probably still have a job.

Another 3 runs!! Homer Soriano. :-(

how depressing?

Backe shouldn’t still be out there, but i’m not sure what options Coop has. Sampson is his only long guy right now, and he pitched two yesterday. Byrdak maybe?

this sucks.

NOT a 30 year old veteran.

They can score 6 more

is there any activity in the bullpen?

c’mon 2-out magic!

Takers?

Good God.

Bases loaded 1 out.

the bases are loaded again.

Thank you Fukudome. My traveling found you on my fantasy bench…you would screw me over two fold.

But the runners are all still Backe’s.

to see th Cubs have loded the bases again.

and a single makes it 10-4

Backe finally taken out.

Byrdak needs to just get Marquis.

We really had to win this series to even think about a smidgeon of a possibility to be wild card contenders, and Coop leaves Backe in for a 8 run inning and a second grand slam setup in the following inning?

TBuford’s winning me over to the “Fire Ed Wade, Cecil Cooper, and fire sale the lot of them” side.

Goes to foul territory to catch a grounder and throws out Theriot

First Cub to strike out today!

Just throwing it out there.

That’s good to see.