The Crawfish Boxes: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: New media and the Loss of Sportsmanship

Chicago Cubs VS Houston Astros @ Miller Park

Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros, Sep 14, 2008 7:05 PM CDT



Current Series

3 game series vs Cubs @ Minute Maid Park

Fri 09/12 Postponed
Sat 09/13 Postponed

Chicago Cubs
@ Houston Astros

Sunday, Sep 14, 2008, 7:05 PM CDT
Miller Park

Carlos Zambrano vs Randy Wolf

Mostly cloudy with a 30-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing out to center field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Near 65.

 

Complete Coverage >

Mon 09/15

Jason Marquis vs Brian Moehler

1:05 PM CDT

Alright, I think we've all got our 2 cents in about how we disagree with the Astros playing their "home" game in Milwaukee, so I'll just get past that and on to what really matters... the game.


W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Carlos Zambrano 13-5 27 27 0 0 0 0 173.1 163 72 69 16 64 117 3.58 1.31


W-L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HR BB K ERA WHIP
2008 - Randy Wolf 4-1 9 9 1 1 0 0 54.1 51 25 23 5 20 41 3.81 1.31

Zambrano will be making his 1st start since he last faced the Astros on 9/2/08 in which he gave up 3 earned runs through 5 innings and left the game pretty early(86 pitches) with a "tired arm".  The Evil Z as we like to call him has sit on the pine for 12 straight days in an attempt to rest what was eventually diagnosed as rotator cuff tendinitis in his right shoulder.  

Randy Wolf has been pretty good in his 9 starts as an Astros pitcher this season going 4-1 with a 3.81 ERA.  Overall this season he has a 10-11 record and a 4.45 ERA(split between San Diego and Houston).  Wolf has been much better than many of us expected and has been a welcome addition to the Astros injured rotation.  

The Astros and Cubs appear to be teams going in opposite directions... despite all of the recent Astros injuries(Carlos Lee, Ty Wigginton, Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Backet etc), the Astros have managed to win 9 of their last 10 games and are currently on a 6 game winning streak.  The Cubs on the other hand have only won 3 of their last 10 and are quickly watching their lead in the NL Central diminish.  The Astros have played very well and watched what at one time look to be an impossible deficit in the NL Wild Card rankings, drop to just 2 games (as of 5:00 PM CST) with the Brewers losing the 1st game of a double header with the Phillies.  




0 recs  |  Comment 150 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Had to pay for MLB.tv to watch this

and also use a Colombian proxy server to avoid the blackout, but I’m watching this damn game. I really wish the Astros just sold their Sunday games to FSN Houston. We actually get that in NOLA.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 7:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Really?

Dammit. Well, at least I’ll get the other Sunday games now.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately it's only 2 more games

at least for the regular season.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ed Wade puts positive spin on missing two days

and on moving the games to Milwaukee.

I almost bought it until the radio guys said the Astros players on the plane ride had more on their minds than the baseball game.
 Radio guys said crowd is dressed un cubbie Blue

And Astros wearing road uniforms!

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 7:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Cubs may be wearing their home uniforms

anyone with better knowldedge than I can tell?

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Astros "home" dugout

is on the Visitors side(in comparison to MMP)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

chicago writer's twitter earlier

said the Astros had the cubs use the “home” team locker room. Maybe the Astros figured it’d be easier to treat this as a regular road game.

wonder if that extended to dugout as well

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe

but I have noticed that not all home dugouts are on the right side of the field(when looking towards the outfield).

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Miller Park erupted in very loud cheering with the HR.

Then the fans at the stadium began loud “let’s go Cubs” chanting. This seems like greater fan support for the Cubs than if they were at Wrigley.

by clack on Sep 14, 2008 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

In case you didn't see my post in another thread

It takes an hour and 45 minutes to get to Miller Park from Chicago…

It takes 19+ to get there from Houston..

If there wasn’t more Cubs fans there it would be a joke… This might as well be a home game for the Cubs

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Miller easier and quicker to get to for many in Chicago area.

by ol Pete on Sep 14, 2008 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Crowd chanting "Let's Go Cubs"

and the fans behind home plate are dressed in Cubs shirts.

Neutral field – yeah – give me a break

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 7:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hopefully we'll kick their ass

and this will be a moot point..

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Looks like almost a full stadium

and it is a sea of Cubbie Blue

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 7:15 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Fortunately

Soriano (and every manager to ever use him) is a dumbass. He has to bat first, no matter what. So a good number of his homers are necessarily solo shots.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i hate bud selig

and all his MLB minions.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Phillies lead Brewers 4-0 in the second inning

after winning the first game today.

Phillies still batting

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 7:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

so who gets the gate?

i have no idea how gate receipts, concessions are split for a regular game, but i wonder about this one.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

As a cubs fan

I have to wonder why these games weren’t played in Atlanta? Wouldn’t that have been more “neutral” then milwaukee? Given anywhere you play there would have been more cubs fans then astros fans, it wouldn’t have been so lopsided, and also its a shorter trip for ya’ll to florida for your set against the Fish

then again maybe it was just me wanting to watch the games in turner

by cubsfaninatl on Sep 14, 2008 7:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Anything makes more sense than Milwaukee

I wasn’t as pissed about it until I mapped it out and realized it was less than a 2 hr drive there..

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Brownie just mentioned that

Lance got up at 4:00 AM today to make the plan trip to Miller park

How refreshing

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yeah

JD mentioned earlier that they may really feel it tomorrow during the day game.

i hope they slept on the plane. i never can.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure they are able to

I’m assuming most of them are used to flying..

I wouldn’t know.. I’ve never flown.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JD/Brownie both agree

that both of these games might as well be considered away games.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

c'mon miggy

if you at least make the throw, Zambrano has to get in collision at the plate

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

sorry miggy

that was on bourn, not you

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you can blame Tejada

for trying to barehand the ball like an assclown

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

3-0 Cubs

I don’t like the way this game is developing

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 7:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

that was weird

3b coach came down to talk to Ramirez.

picked up Wolf tipping his pitches?

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:45 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

that's just a WAG

i really doubt that’s the case

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Make it 4-0

RBI single by Ramirez and then he moves to 2nd on what should be an error on Tejada for throwing the ball away

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:47 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

this is not good and i cant even watch it on WGN

by garageinc on Sep 14, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wolf getting killed

get rid of him, everyone is hammering him

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i know it won't

but maybe this will keep our moron GM from offering Wolf a big offseason deal

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yep

and let the arbiters look at his 10-11 record

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sloppy fielding

Somebody should catch the ball in the infield.

Astros are not mentally in this game

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 7:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Case in point:

Tejada’s stupid ass throw

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

All this shit and still 2 outs

by garageinc on Sep 14, 2008 7:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yeah, their implosion has been sweet

hope this kills any TLR as manager of the year talk.

it’s easy to be a good mgr when no-names like Ludwick, Schumacker have career years. now everyone is slumping or hurt.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

On the bright side

The Cardinals were swept.

On the other hand, I like the Cardinals fans more than Cubs fans, so the scheudenfreude is not as sweet.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 7:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Bye Bye Wolf

Nieve coming in.. Wolf doesn’t look too happy

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Sep 14, 2008 7:52 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

looked away a second

did wolf get pulled in the middle of a batter?

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 7:52 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

no

he walked the last dude

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was going to the sports bar to watch this

but now I will stay home unless this gets much much better

by garageinc on Sep 14, 2008 7:59 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Are you sure this game is on FSN Hou?

I really want to watch it at the bar on direct tv

by garageinc on Sep 14, 2008 8:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yep, FSN Houston

that’s what I’m watching on in Austin

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

there isn't a fan base in the majors that doesn't

including ours.

it’s stupid canard that people use to make fun of other people’s fans.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah,

but there’s something endearing about the way Astros fans cheer a Tejada pop-up.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nieve doing good

Retired seven straight batters.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 8:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

last I saw, that was true

It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy. - Nolan

by Trei Brundrett on Sep 14, 2008 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well - yeah

but Astros have hit into a double play – I don’t think the Cubs have

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Phillies leading Brewers 6-0

If Phillies they will be tied for the Wild Card lead.

That scares me because Phillies have a relatively weak schedule to go.

It also means Astros more or less control their destiny now (if they can win this game)

Astros may have to catch the Mets for the Wild Card playoff slot.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 8:29 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

lol

hunter doesn’t have any padding back there. ouch

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 8:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

everything going right for cubs

newhan lines right to lee and hunter doubled off.

this one wasn’t really his fault, but hunter may lead our team in getting doubled off bases. him or bourn

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 8:31 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

As usual

fate is conspiring to screw over the city of Houston. The next Cubs fan I see at this stupid school, I’m going exact some revenge.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 8:33 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

dang I thought we fixed that bug w/ links...

click here to go read that

sorry about that…I’ll log a ticket and get that fixed

It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy. - Nolan

by Trei Brundrett on Sep 14, 2008 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jinx Zambrano!!!!

I hope you get the no hitter, you deserve it soooo much. Such a stand-up guy.

by garageinc on Sep 14, 2008 8:43 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Zambrano struck out

But he still has one more hit and scored one more run than the entire Astros team.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

We're getting no-hit

It’s definitely going to happen. We’re gonna lose the game and get no-hit. Yes!

Bourn to Run!

sixersoul

by jsams on Sep 14, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ahhhh FUCK

Not going to count on Borne to get a hit

by garageinc on Sep 14, 2008 8:54 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

amazing, this no hitter going on

isn’t that where one team doesn’t get any hits at all?

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 8:56 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No he won't

Carlos Zambrano is such an awesome pitcher, he’s going to get a NO HITTER.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

No matter what happens

This can’t be good for the Astros’ confidence level

by garageinc on Sep 14, 2008 9:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

eh, i'm less sure about that

w/ the ridiculous way they’ve played over the past month, all the Ike crap this weekend, i would have to guess their emotions, etc are all over the place this weekened.

tomorrow’s another day

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is one reason I was ticked

about playing this game.

Telling the Astros players aroud 5:00 last night to be ready to leave on a plane at 8:00 in the morning to play a game later in the day n Milwaukee. The players are not ready mentally to play this game.

They may not be ready to play Monday either.

and be physically exhausted by the time they reach Miami for Tuesday’s game.

This may cost the Astros a miracle season.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 9:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If it's any consolation...

at least the bullpen has pitched shutout ball.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 9:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

boy this really puts Wolf's blowup w/ 2 outs in perspective

we’ve shut their offense down since then. be a much more interesting game if it was just the one run.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 9:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Phillies Beat Brewers

Both are 83-67.

Mets are 83-65.

If Astros lose, they will be 80-68.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 9:19 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

First Cubs no-hitter since 1972

Put an asterisk by it. Astros were not mentally ready to play.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Dear Joe:

If Drayton McLane wasn’t a cheap soulless asshole your team would flown to Milwaukee on Thursday night and the series would have started on Friday like it should have.

by LoneStarCubFan on Sep 14, 2008 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dear Classless Loser

you’re not worth wasting any effort on. take your mindless gloating elsewhere. i’m sure there’s some other drunk cubs fan who will appreciate your brilliant reasoning.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I understand but I disagree

See my comments farther down this thread on "Bottom Line: Astros -Cubs Series should have been postponed until later "

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 15, 2008 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

this sucks

i hope the cubs get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

F me

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuxxxxxxxxxxx

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

by Austin Astroholic on Sep 14, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I just wanna say

eff you to Bud Selig, Zambrano and every Cubs fan in the world. And Jim Edmonds, for good measure.

But, hey, the Cubs fans can have a no hitter. We can hand them a few extra of ours. We’ve got about a billion of them we don’t need.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Dear City of Houston, hope you feel better,

Love,
MLB

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

by Austin Astroholic on Sep 14, 2008 9:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Thank You Bud Fucking Selig

Z most definitely could not have done it without you.

Demote Bourn . . . Before Someone Gets Hurt

by rastronomicals on Sep 14, 2008 9:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I hope

he chokes on the Cubby dick he’s sucking

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Still Think

this is more about helping the Brewers than the Cubs. Cubs are in anyway, it’s the Brewers who coming into this weekend looked like they needed the help (and this weekend confirmed it).

Good news is the way Milwaukee’s choking it, it probably won’t matter, never mind the Astros.

Demote Bourn . . . Before Someone Gets Hurt

by rastronomicals on Sep 14, 2008 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

it helps the cubs

by the number of games they would have to play between end of season and beg. of playoffs.

now it’s a max of 1. it could have been up to 3

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 9:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I Guess.

I mean, I see that they’re benificiaries here (their travel week went from difficult to ridiculous), but the plan was CONCEIVED with the Brew Crew in mind.

Call me a conspiracy theorist, whatever.

Demote Bourn . . . Before Someone Gets Hurt

by rastronomicals on Sep 14, 2008 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

either way, Bud Selig == EPIC FAIL

It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy. - Nolan

by Trei Brundrett on Sep 14, 2008 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

that was some fine pitching by Z, but I hate the Cubs and this whole thing stinks

all the Cubs fans there cheering at our “home” game is just ridiculous

btw, I hate you too Ike – Bud Selig wouldn’t have been able to pull this crap without you

It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy. - Nolan

by Trei Brundrett on Sep 14, 2008 9:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i think the most draining part

is the travel the day of the game.

JD pointed out that it’s never done like that in majors now.

According to this story, Astros got to park around 8 AM, took buses to airport, flight left at 12, landed in Milwaukee at 2pm. Got to park at 4, played at 7.

Sure, Z pitched good against a team of travel fatigued players who’d spent the previous 48 hours worrying about friends and family during a major hurricane. good job there z, you fat ass-clown.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And of course the Astros won't bitch about it...

… because they’re pros and they don’t make excuses.

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

by Austin Astroholic on Sep 14, 2008 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

no, not pros, CHAMPIONS

It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy. - Nolan

by Trei Brundrett on Sep 14, 2008 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Drayton,

I didn’t know you had a CB log in.

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

by Austin Astroholic on Sep 14, 2008 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cooper didn't give Zambrano a lot of credit.

He said he pitched “good,” but that much of this is the impact of stacking the cards against the Astros. He said the off time, travel situation, and hurricane all affected the Astros in this game. However, he emphasized that it’s just one loss, and it doesn’t make a difference whether it’s a no hitter or not…it’s a loss all the same.

Zambrano in his interview gave credit to the crowd for pushing him to pitch the no hitter.

by clack on Sep 14, 2008 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

stinks real bad

that story is just incredible on how rushed all this was. no airports open. no airplanes on the ground. hard to find buses and they had to use alternate routes to the ballpark because of standing water.

this quote from the traveling secretary who had to make all the plans on his cellphone because his own power was out says it all:

He also couldn’t help but wonder, why are we doing this in the first place?
“People don’t have electricity, trees are down, houses are broken, and we’re worried about playing this game?” Waters said.

why did we play this game at all if it was so difficult to get our players out of Houston? they couldn’t find a better way to do this? really?!

It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy. - Nolan

by Trei Brundrett on Sep 14, 2008 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And some like Berkman drove to Houston this morning

He was in New Braunfels and woke at 4:00 to drive to Houston.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 14, 2008 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's the perfect cherry of a turd

to put on top of the what has been a shit sundae of a weekend.

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

by Austin Astroholic on Sep 14, 2008 9:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Inarticuable rage subject

Paroxysms of bile message

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

by Austin Astroholic on Sep 14, 2008 9:36 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Let's

go burn Chicago to the ground. I figure I can get there and back in time for classes tomorrow. Who’s with me?

Or at least go feed Bud Selig a shit sandwich.

by Only_A_Lad on Sep 14, 2008 9:46 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'm in.

You’ll have to drive though, because I will soon be heavily medicated.

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

by Austin Astroholic on Sep 14, 2008 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1 lol

Nice reference and sentiment. Well played all the way around.

by Xan on Sep 14, 2008 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm in.

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 Sep 14, 2008 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'd rather go burn Miller Park down

that’s several birds w/ one stone

It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy. - Nolan

by Trei Brundrett on Sep 14, 2008 10:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

My question is...

From what I understand, talks were going on between MLB, the Astros and the Cubs on Thursday…my question is: If Drayton would have agreed to play at an alternate location on Friday, would other sites have been an option besides Milwaukee (Minnesota, Atlanta, Dallas, etc.)? I heard MLB had given a few ballparks the heads up that their site may have hosted this game.

It seems like Drayton really wanted to wait and see if he could play the games in Houston, so he held off on alternate plans until after Ike hit Friday night/Saturday morning…he didn’t want to lose the gate (rightly so) and wanted the home field advantage…not blaming him at all, but just wondering if the wheels were put in motion a little earlier if a site other than Milwaukee could have been used.

by Chicago Guy on Sep 14, 2008 10:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

He may have

But he’d have looked like a big friggin idiot for:

1. Flying everybody out on Thursday for a “home” series when the hurricane could have weakened, hit farther down the coast and with less intensity, sparing Houston and otherwise not affecting the city

 or,

2. Flying everybody out on Thursday to have them play Friday night when Houston is getting the sh*t pounded out of it, with players who have local homes, family, and friends, sitting in the dugout during the game, wondering if their house is currently getting smashed by storm surge and not having their heads in the game, and then playing Saturday night (in an away park with no Astros fans to fill the seats) with their heads also not in the game due to having discovered their friends or their own houses having been smashed to bits by storm surge.

Either way, Drayton would have looked like a huge a**hole for playing games away while a hurricane is leveling Houston or not leveling Houston.

by pel on Sep 14, 2008 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

not enough info

We don’t really know what kind of talks went on between MLB, Astros, Cubs and players. We have a bunch of incomplete press accounts, revealing whatever they wanted revealed.

We didn’t know exactly where and how bad Ike would be on Thursday. The track for landfall was moving all week and when you look at Rita 3 years ago there was a very similar situation that ended up in a big fizzle (for Houston at least; Rita still caused a lot of devastation in SE Texas). Even Ike did not do quite as much damage as the experts were predicting during the day Friday and Saturday morning (not saying that a game in Houston could have been played today, but making the point that predictions for hurricanes have relatively large margins for error). Minute Maid Park itself was in playable condition; the problem playing games was primarily b/c traffic would interfere w/ rescue and repair efforts.

The vast majority of Houstonians did not evacuate. I think only 9 zip codes were under evacuation orders, and those were in the far south and east parts of the city. A whole lot of people currently w/o power would have been glad to go to Minute Maid where the air conditioning is apparently working.

Based on the admittedly incomplete press reports, it doesn’t appear that non-domed stadiums were given serious consideration as alternate sites. I think the Ballpark at Arlington was available this weekend (Rangers in Oakland, not sure about any other activities) and the Astros AAA park was also offered as a solution. Round Rock wouldn’t have been ideal, since it’s not a major league park and there may be other shortcomings that aren’t readily apparent to a fan, but it’s almost brand new, and recently upgraded with the move to AAA. Other people mentioned Turner Field, but none apparently were qualified b/c they lacked a roof.

The reason that I, personally am pissed off is that I think MLB put the league’s agenda ahead of the best interests of the Astros. Maybe that’s acceptable. You screw the minority to do what’s best for the majority. MLB didn’t want to schedule any makeup games after the season, so they wanted the Astros to agree to move the game. The Astros, as you said, rightfully didn’t want to give up the financial and emotional benefits of an actual home game and waited as long as possible before making the best of a bad situation.

If the situation was reversed, Cubs fans would be screaming bloody murder. The thing that really sucks is that I believe if the situation were reversed, the Cubs would probably not have been screwed nearly as bad. MLB is definitely more sensitive to the needs of some fans than others.

This post is too long now so I’m not going to go into possible alternatives, like games Monday or after the season.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Round Rock

would have been a good idea. There were a ton of Houstonites in Austin for the weekend. Some of our local businesses got completely run over Friday night and Saturday night due to coastal visitors.

by pel on Sep 14, 2008 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

agreed

and we had barely any effects from Ike. Light winds during the day yesterday and a few scattered showers.

on some thread somewhere, I read that at one point in another situation RR was disimissed as an alternate site b/c the lighting on the field wasn’t quite up to MLB standards. First, that sounded strange to me and second, it’s worse than third hand info, but that’s why I put that bit in there about my comment above.

I completely forgot your points, but you’re absolutely right. In addition to all the MLB considerations, baseball has asked the Astros now to leave their homes and families in the immediate aftermath of this storm, perhaps w/ no power. I know that not all the players live in Houston, but many do. The ones that are the most affected are the guys who aren’t the big stars. Fernando Nieve and his family stayed at MMP during the storm. Wouldn’t it have been even worse if MLB and Drayton told everybody, “Don’t worry about this possible hurricane and what could happen to your families, let’s go to Milwaukee” on Thursday?

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

...
Wouldn’t it have been even worse if MLB and Drayton told everybody, "Don’t worry about this possible hurricane and what could happen to your families, let’s go to Milwaukee" on Thursday?

Drayton would have looked like a huge tool had that happened.

Not only would it be bad to be playing a game when a sizable contingent of fan base is up on the second floor with shotgun and flashlight in hand, but it would be adding insult to injury by taking away three days of jobs and vendor money and transferring it to a RIVAL’S BALLPARK.

I just don’t understand why they couldn’t play the three games at the very end, after the Atlanta series, in a Sept 29 double header with Sept 30 game to follow, if needed.

by pel on Sep 14, 2008 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

MLB didn't want to deal w/ that schedule headache

that’s all it is.

like I said above, what was best for the league got put before what was best for the Astros.

Those kind of decisions probably get made on a regular basis, but it happened when we have a razor thin margin of error and as a result had a particularly large result against us.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And the Cubs.

Keep in mind that there were two teams with two different interests. The Cubs have all but clinched and would not want to have to make up 3 games after the season. Playing in Milwaukee is much less of a burden on the Stros than playing 3 games after the season would be for the Cubs. As it turns out the Cubs still lose their Monday off-day to prepare for a huge series with the Brewers and may have to play a game later anyway. Both teams made sacrifices here though it seems to me it should have been a weekend series in ATL… McClain got greedy and did not use common sense and now there are consequences.

by fanofthegame on Sep 14, 2008 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

the "McLane got greedy meme" has set in

and I"m sure those Cub fans who lack critical faculties will enjoy repeating it for the rest of their lives.

You didn’t address any of the issues raised above. I doubt there’s anyone in sports who will argue with a straight face that the Astros were treated fairly by MLB. You admitted that MLB weighed the Astros interests against the Cubs and found that the Cubs’ was more important. There’s no way that’s right, unless you are a Cubs fan. The Cubs are leading the division and are almost certain to make the playoffs. The Astros are fighting an admittedly huge struggle to make the playoffs, so which team could really use some consideration?

I’m not sure how you can argue in one sentence that the Cubs have all but clinched and then turn around and say they have a “huge” series against the Brewers coming up. Would that be the same Brewers team that’s lost 10 out of the last 13 games or so and that you currently lead by 7.5 games.

Even if “greediness” means not wanting to lose a significant amount of revenue that you’ve budgeted for and instead having a large part of that revenue go to one of your chief rivals, then he’s in pretty good company w/ just about every business owner in the world.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And, The Cubs.
McClain got greedy and did not use common sense and now there are consequences.

The Astros are on a tear, actually with a possibility to make the playoffs, and somehow he’s greedy for wanting home games? wtf, over? It’s greedy to want to win and keep some money local? And somehow it’s not greedy for the Cubs to be troubled with moving a series to the end of the season when it might “make it hard” for them in the playoffs?

Cry me a friggin river for the cursed Cubs and spare me the double standard.

YES, McLane was greedy. It’s GREEDY to want to want home series. Did you ever consider that keeping people employed after a hurricane is probably better for Houston than shipping their funds out of state? Those beer guys get paid by the hour and by tips, they aren’t salaried positions.

Look, a hurricane smashed up Houston, and no matter how you slice it, that has to shake up the team. The Cubs could show a little respect for the team and its fans by shouldering some of the burden.

But I might as well be talking into my glove for all the good it’ll do to expect anything above a**holedness from the Cubs and their fans.

by pel on Sep 15, 2008 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Astros game should have been in Arlington

McTaggar’s blog post here. Says the weather’s been fine.

He says something that I didn’t remember re: Round Rock – there has been a regular season series at the Braves’ spring training home the last two years.

I’m not entirely sure about that last part, but it sounds right.

by lnewcomer on Sep 14, 2008 11:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Bottom Line: The Astros -Cubs series should have been postponed until later

Astros players have more on their minds than baseball. My mother lives in Houston and and my inability to contact her Sunday and today worries me. She’s safe – I talkled with her Saturday – but on this I want frequent updates and assurances. The players with wives and children have them high on their mind .

The series should not be played now. Sunday and parts of Monday at home to deal with this crisis was absolutely necessary. How do the players feel worrying about how their families are coping with food, water and continuing electricity shortages?

I don’t blame Drayton McLane for delaying his decison to play eslewhere. I do blame him for allowing the Astros to play two of the Cubs games. Take forfeits if that was necessary. If the city was in such bad shape the games could not be played in Houston, then the games should nott have been played anywhere.

The Florida series may be a different matter. A day or two makes a big difference, The families may have made the necessary adjustments by today (travel with the team if necessary).

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 15, 2008 12:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

This whole thing is a joke.

I wish the players would speak out about this. It’s sickening.

by entropic soul on Sep 15, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the Crawfishboxes, the SBNation blog for the Houston Astros.
Start posting about the Astros »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Pitching Mechanics/Terms To Look/Listen For

Recent FanPosts

Johns_small
Vallejo and Lyon News
Small
Beating a Dead Horse: Should Berkman be a LHB?
Small
Pre-Spring NL Overview/Predictions
Small
Looking ahead to the 2010 mlb draft
39135485-59af19dbb26654095f910f34176af094_4ae8a81e-scaled_small
Predictions Group
Fbod6_small
Boys of Summer Revisited
Kids_small
Outsider's Astros prospects 30-21
Small
McTaggart: Wandy and Astros going to arbitration
Nsapcs13_large_small
Gumbel, Pearlman throw Bagwell into the McGwire mess

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

THE CRAWFISH BOXES GETS SOCIAL

Picture_88_medium The Crawfish Boxes on Facebook

Picture_89_medium The Crawfish Boxes on Twitter

NL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
St. Louis 91 71 .561 0 Lost 6
Chicago 83 78 .515 7.5 Lost 1
Milwaukee 80 82 .493 11 Won 3
Cincinnati 78 84 .481 13 Won 2
Houston 74 88 .456 17 Lost 3
Pittsburgh 62 99 .385 28.5 Lost 2

(updated 2.10.2010 at 5:43 AM CST)


Humble Blog Managers

Woodstock_small HighLeveragePerformer

Lovelance_small DyingQuail

Old_school_dome_logo_small David Coleman

Editors

Nsapcs13_large_small clack

Fbod6_small farm_stros