Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs, Sep 1, 2008 3:05 PM CDT
by Stephen Higdon on Sep 1, 2008 2:30 PM CDT
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PrintHouston Astros at Chicago Cubs, Sep 1, 2008 3:05 PM CDT
Current Series
3 game series vs Cubs @ Wrigley Field
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Monday, Sep 1, 2008, 3:05 PM CDT Sunny. Winds blowing from right to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 90.
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| Tue 09/02 | 7:05 PM CDT | |
| Wed 09/03 | 7:05 PM CDT | |
I hope Roy Oswalt continues the Dr. Jekyll part of his "Jeckyll and Hyde" season. I reported last time that Roy Oswalt was sporting a 4.29 DIPS ERA. I was hoping to get my hands on some more manipulative data, but road blocks have halted me at every turn in pursing it. Plan B, will be to track Roy's DIPS ERA start by start and see if it continually decreases, indicating that he's still averaging out his terrible start. If that's the case, we can assume that injury or some freak mechanical issue, was just making him a wholly ineffective pitcher. Well, I just updated my spread sheet for his most recent start and the result was a 4.19 DIPS ERA. So we already have some leading indications that Roy Oswalt's second half resurgence is legitimate and we may just be able to erase April, May, and June from our collective memories. Marquis is your prototypical "inning-eater," the combination of which should provide us win number 6 in a row (I hope).
With post-season hopes not officially dead, but perilously far away, we as Astros fans should begin to look to play the spoiler role. I for one would be happy if we managed to derail the Cubs attempts to repeat as the Central champs. A series wins would go a long way for that cause.
Also, in the good news front, Wandy should be able to make his next start -- although part of me wants to call BS on this.
I'll end with this (I added the emphasis):
Wigginton also topped all August comers with an .806 slugging percentage. At the midway point of Houston's season, Wigginton had just five home runs in 185 plate appearances, but he more than tripled that total in the next 185, and in the process raised his seasonal OPS to 935. Among those players with at least 350 plate appearances, that ranks seventh in the National League, one spot behind injured teammate Carlos Lee, whose production in the lineup Wigginton has capably gone about replacing.
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I guess
Coop thought that with Roy on the mound, he could just dick around with line-up for the hell of it.
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.
Castillo ruins the DP
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.
Alright, an issue I've never brought up on this blog
How has FSN not been sued for the Tejada music yet?
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.
I'm guessing
that they pay whatever licensing fees are appropriate for all their music usage (ASCAP, whatever).
Tejada tripled to open the fourth
just as I turn WGN on
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 3:58 PM CDT reply actions
Berkman walked
2 on no outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Blum sac fly to center
Tejada scored . Berkman went to second on throw to the plate
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Berkman STOLE third
awright
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions
I love him.
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 Sep 1, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Hunter Pence singled to center
Berkman trotted home for run 2
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Castillo (been a few games since he played, hasn't it?)
struck out on a pitch way outside and in the dirt. Pitiful return to action
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Brad Ausmus popped out to end the inning
Astros 2 Cubs 0
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Pence comes through.
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.
Ugly AB for Luis.
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.
Marquis racking up his pitch count
Which could be key for us. The more we get to their bull tomorrow, the more screwed they are when Zambrano gets yanked with dead arm.
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.
Miggy with a chance to blow this WIDE open
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.
Bases loaded for Geoff Blum - 2 outs
Struck out
oh well
hope losing this opportunity doesn’t bite the Astros
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 4:31 PM CDT reply actions
Before the game
I figured this would be a 2-1, 2-0. 1-0 type of game after 7 innings with the game decided againt relievers. So far it is turnomng out that way.
Astros lead 2-0 after 7.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:04 PM CDT reply actions
Tejada, Berkman get hits
Runners at the corners, no outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:07 PM CDT reply actions
Tejada Scored on wild pitch
Berkman went from First to THIRD (Berkman has been phenomenal on the bases today!)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:08 PM CDT reply actions
Cecil Cooper's beard /goatee thing
is gray. Has it been gray all season?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:10 PM CDT reply actions
Brewers lost 4-2 to the Mets
one game closer if Astros hold on
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:14 PM CDT reply actions
Castillo burked on a 3-0 pitch!!!
with men on the corners
GRRRR
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:15 PM CDT reply actions
And Pence got caught stealing 2nd.
BIG SURPRISE!!!
I’m sure Ausmus would have made an out anyway…
by entropic soul on Sep 1, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I would say Mark Loretta should be playing
But he’s pretty much the only decent option off the bench right now.
by entropic soul on Sep 1, 2008 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Newhan is too easily dismissed IMO
He’s had a good month
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions
True. He could have started.
He’s sucked off the bench though.
by entropic soul on Sep 1, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions
I was thinking that too
Astros fans have lost their enthusiasm it seems. Entropic soul has arrived, too. I’m sure hundreds of eager minds will read this later in the evening.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions
I appreciate everyone who keeps track of the game in the comments
I usually listen to games on the radio (or Gameday audio) while I’m doing other stuff…so it’s nice to hear the accounts of people who’ve seen the visuals
I haven't lost my enthusiasm
I was watching the game, just didn’t show up here till after. Was at MMP Sat./Sunday for the Cards games, too. Both crowds were smallish, but decent, noise-wise. And the wave (my benchmark for attention span of the crowd) only went around twice on Sunday. I was so proud!
Hung out in Big Bamboo before the game on Saturday and talked to Larry Dierker for a good 15 to 20 minutes. It was great, he’s as interesting to chat with as he was to listen to as an announcer.
Hunter Pence thrown out trying to steal second
The throw was there soon enough that Hunter did not even slide!!! and was tagged out three or four feet from the bag. Even worse, he did not go to second on a wild pitch earlier in Ausmus’ bat. Berkman needs to talk to him
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:21 PM CDT reply actions
Pence semi-make up for it
with a great sliding catch in right
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions
And the 8th is done.
He bats 2nd in the 9th.
Wonder if he’ll get the chance for the complete game shut out?
I say he probably won’t, but he should.
by entropic soul on Sep 1, 2008 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Roy O bats
I guess that means he starts the ninth (or he’s the best batting optin off the bench)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Good.
Give him a shot at the complete game shut out.
by entropic soul on Sep 1, 2008 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Phillies lost
If Cardinals lose (and they are tied 6-6) Astros can pick up a game on all the Wild Card leaders (and on all the NL Central leaders )
FYI – Cubs only have 8 more home games after today. They could still crash and burn.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:26 PM CDT reply actions
8-6 as Russ Springer throws wild pitch with bases loaded
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions
I like this Mr. T commercial they keep showing on WGN
Maybe Mr. T Hacked into the game and created his own class.
Maybe Mr. T is really good with computers.
Ever think of that Mr. condescending director?
lol
One out - ground out to Tejada
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:35 PM CDT reply actions
Bloop single to left
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:36 PM CDT reply actions
Line drive single to left
Roy is done.
Valverde relieves.
tying run at the plate.
Wigginton also out of the game . Bourn defensive replacement
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:39 PM CDT reply actions
Hand wringing time
Astsso can’t let this game get away from them
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:41 PM CDT reply actions
Grounder to Blum at third . Runner out at second
Runners at the corners, two outs
This game going down to the last pitch
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:44 PM CDT reply actions
Derrek Lee batting
Ball
Ball
Runner takes second
foul ball
Foul ball
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:46 PM CDT reply actions
with 2-2 count
Lee flied to Pence on the Warning Track. PHHHHEEEEWWWW
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions
ASTROS WIN 3-0
I’m exhausted
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:48 PM CDT reply actions
Roy Oswalt was brilliant today
I don’t know his stats but he dominated.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:51 PM CDT reply actions
on national tv in a loud opponent's park
he held the leading offensive team in the NL to 3 or 4 singles and 0 runs
I guess he’s healthy again.
And Lance Berkman was textbook running the bases
Good day to be an Astros fan.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 1, 2008 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Nice game....I was watching, but too tired to partticipate...
in the game thread. I’m glad to see Valverde shut the Cubs’ fans up at the end. We have seen Lee kill the Astros too many times in late game situations.
Dying Quail, since you mentioned Oswalt's DIPS ERA at the beginning....
I have been under the impression that Oswalt has normally out performed his DIPS ERA over his career. Have you seen that in your analysis? Over the years (excepting this year, of course), Roy O usually posts an ERA at the end of the season which is better than the ERA projected pre-season by BP or ZIPS. One reasons seemed to be his ability to beat his DIPS prediction. I recall articles a few years ago, where people tried to analyze why some pitchers seemed to consistently beat their DIPS prediction (Oswalt, Halliday, and Zito were guys in that group). Have seen that in your review of Oswalt’s past performance? And, it it’s true (I don’t know that it is…just raising the topic), how should we take that in account?
He generally beat his DIPS or project ERA's because he has the ability to strand runners.
He’s always been phenomenal in the clutch (by the way, there is statistical proof for clutch pitching). That’s why I fully believe that there was something wrong with him that affected his stretch performance at the outset of the season. Most of his HR allowed in that first half, involved runners on base, and I think something like 9 out of 11 HR off fast balls, at one point, involved a runner on 1st. He clearly seems like the old Roy Oswalt, which is evident not just in his decreasing DIPS ERA, but also in his gradually increasing LOB%.
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 Sep 1, 2008 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions
I noticed the same thing earlier in the year too.
I mentioned it in some of my articles in the first half of the season. His BAA and OPS-A was much worse with a runner on 1st base than with runners only on 2d base, for example. (I’m talking past tense now, since that effect seems to have diminished since he started pitching better.) Pitching from the stretch can aggravate a sore groin muscle, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the same is true for other muscle strains in the leg/abdomen area.
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Current Series
3 game series vs Rockies @ Minute Maid Park
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Colorado Rockies
Friday, Apr 6, 2012, 6:05 PM CDT |
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| Sat 04/07 | 6:05 PM CDT | |
| Sun 04/08 | 1:05 PM CDT | |
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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Cincinnati
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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Houston
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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Milwaukee
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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Pittsburgh
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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St. Louis
|
0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
(updated 2.14.2012 at 12:03 AM CST)
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