Houston Astros at Florida Marlins, Roy O to the Rescue (we hope)
Houston Astros at Florida Marlins, Sep 16, 2008 6:10 PM CDT
Houston to Milwaukee to Miami. That's the Bermuda Triangle of the Wild Card chase, as far as the Astros are concerned. Hopefully, we don't get lost like Amelia Earhart (yea, you know you remember that name from elementary school). Milwaukee was the epi-center for Cubs-mania. (Sidenote: imagine how loud their fans would be if their team hadn't been perennial door-mats for a century) Miami, on the other hand, has some of the more ambivalent fans in the nation. Can you blame them though? Miami has crystal clear beaches, trendy clubs, and delicoius latin food. So, let's say we get back on track tonight in relative obscurity. The Wizard goes tonight. Game on.
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95 comments
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A two base error
puts Tejada on second with one out
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
left stranded (at third)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
First 2 Marlins singled
ugh
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Marlins on a five game winning streak
They will put up a challenge.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
correction
error and single
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
3-run homerun
no outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
arrgh
3-0 Marlins
The ump is not really helping Roy here. Not getting the calls he’d normally get.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 6:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
NOW he's calling the outside corner
gee, thanks
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Roy O's scoreless inning streak is over.
quickly and dramatically
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
4-0
man. this ain’t fun.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Roy hits batter
Umpire gives Roy a warning . Roy reacts with displeasure and disgust.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
9 men bat for the Marlins
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Wandy will not be back this week
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If we lose this game, it would really hurt our playoff chances.
What the hell is wrong?
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 6:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
5-0
RBI Double to deep deep center
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Because
as I’ve said a billion times in my life, God hates Houston. It’s just a fact. So we have to be really really really good to do anything in sports (like have the greatest center of all time playing for us). If we’re just really really good (1998, 2004 Astros) then we’re going to get screwed.
And if we’re mediocre (this year) we don’t have a chance in hell. The breaks that other cities get just don’t come to Clutch City.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Makes sense...
God did throw a hurricane at us.
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the bright side,
Roy’s on pace for an 18 K game.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Is Volstad going to pitch a no hitter too?
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 6:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Roy Oswalt singled to right
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Astros don't score in the third inning
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marlins lead off hitter singled
This is not vintage Roy Oswalt
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Marlins don't score in the third either
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
somebody needs to screw up Roy's truck
so he can do the whole “touch the car battery, shock yourself, and become an all-star pitcher” move again.
Or maybe Drayton just needs to promise him a piece of farm equipment for every quality start.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lance Berkmans to start the Astros rally
or at least I’d like to write it that way
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He grounded to first
oh well
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blum grounded to first too
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pence grounded to third
Ten Astros have grounded out. It would be eleven but Tejada’s grounder to third was misplayed for a two base error in the first.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is pathetic.
This whole thing just takes a lot out of me even to want to follow this team anymore.
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 7:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I had to stop watching—it feels like June and July again.
I’m going to be very disappointed if they don’t at least snap out of this malaise to some degree over the next week and a half. I totally understand their performance in the Cubs’ games—like you said, your mom could have no-hit them on Sunday.
Yes, the whole Cubs series was unfair. But if the Astros roll over on the rest of the season because of that, I think it will do for me what even the Mitchell Report could not. For all his alleged faults, think of Roger Clemens pitching, and winning, on the day his mother died (speaking of the Mitchell Report). These guys need to dig deep and find a little of that pluck; if they can’t or won’t, then I won’t have much use for this team at all.
by Danyah on Sep 16, 2008 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
no crap, man
I’ve watched about 3/4 of the games this year. It’s just been painful all year. And when fate starts to let up – when we start to win and it looks like we might see October baseball – it turns out it was just jerking us around the whole time.
The bad news is that the Texans just looked awful against Pittsburgh. So that’s liable to be painful, as well.
And the Rockets look good, but I don’t want to say anything for fear of jinxing them. And basketball season doesn’t start for a month.
I just want to see the Astros and Texans and Rockets be good for a long stretch. I don’t want to be jerked around the whole year with the “will they won’t they” crap. I just want to, for once in my life, be able to rub it in people from Dallas’ faces. Is that too much to ask?
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think it's too much to ask
I don’t know a lot of people from Dallas, and living up here in College Station, most people don’t even know the Oilers left (okay, I’m exaggerating, but suffice it to say they’re all Cowboys fans here). So I personally don’t care that much about rubbing stuff in other peoples’ faces (other than Cubs fans, of late). But it would just be really great to root for a team that really seemed to be trying their best, day in and day out. That’s all I ever ask of myself, so I sure don’t think it’s too much to ask of anyone else. I hate the whole early-to-mid-season swoon that they always seem to go through, but much more than that, I hate the fact that they don’t seem to be bothered by it, often. How many times have we heard Berkman say stuff like, “Oh, it’s just one game,” or “We’re a second half team anyway”? And if we need the manager to tell us that they’re trying hard, or that somebody took extra batting practice—as if that will be proof that they’re not being too casual—then they need to take a good look in the mirror (hey, where have I heard that before?) and show a little personal responsibility. Yes, they are human beings, with families and outside concerns, as we have noted recently. But they are also men, grown-ups who have the unequaled privilege to play a game for a living, and to make millions doing so.
What’s that saying? ‘It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.’ Don’t get me wrong, I would dearly love for them to be good for a long stretch, but after the last few years, I think I would just settle for consistently good effort.
by Danyah on Sep 16, 2008 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they're giving a fine effort,
this isn’t the result of them not trying. It’s baseball, and individual performances from day to day are as much luck as effort. Berkman is laid back, of course. That’s just the way he is. And that’s a fine way to play this game, given its nature.
The problem isn’t that they’re not trying. It’s that they’re just not that good. Other than Berkman, Lee, Oswalt, Wigginton and Valverde, the Astros are mostly below average. What can we expect from that?
I just want the Astros to have a good farm system. I want them to have good talent coming up. I don’t it to be like it is now – year after year of aging players and nothing coming up to support them and to become the NEW Berkmans and Oswalts.
And I say the Dallas thing because I just hate that city and all sports teams associated with it (except the Rangers, whom I just don’t care about). I hate the way Dallas fans suddenly became basketball fans when the Mavericks got good. I hate the way the national media plays up the Cowboys, even though they haven’t done anything in a decade.
But that’s another matter entirely.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with almost everything you said
except the part about not trying. Reading blog threads over at the Chronicle during the year, as well as other sites, I’m not the only observer with that impression. Maybe they have been making a consistent effort througout the whole year, but if a significant fraction of the fan base thinks otherwise, shouldn’t they at least do something to alleviate that perception?
Unfortunately, other than my vague admonition to “try harder” and be “more consistent,” I don’t know what the answer is.
As far as the Cowboys, it’s very embarrassing to listen to Joe Buck and Troy Aikman suck TO and Romo’s salivate over them. I’m surprised they don’t light a cigar in the booth.
by Danyah on Sep 16, 2008 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know. When teams are in hitting slumps, fans (everywhere, not just Houston)...
think the team isn’t trying. If you don’t get on base, and just hit weakly or take called strikes, you tend to look lethargic. The Astros have a history of either bad offensive treams or (like this one) very streaky offenses, so I think many Astros’ fans think they aren’t trying. But I doubt that is usually the case.
Now I do get upset about sloppy defense or failing to run hard to 1st, because that is a hustle issue to some extent. But that doesn’t seem to be a big problem with the Astros (particularly since Carlos Lee is out).
by clack on Sep 16, 2008 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Long out to Bourn on the warning track
Marlins are hitting Roy O hard tonight
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
But Roy has 6 strikeouts
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
7 strikeouts in four innings
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
come on!!
One big inning gets us back in it, guys! you can do it!! WE BELIEVE IN YOU! :p
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 7:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's better
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if it was really the best decision...
to put so many left handed hitters in the line up. Volstad has done better againsts lefties than righties…
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 7:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
it wouldn't matter.
It was too much to expect playoff performances from a collection of elderly bench players (and Berkman, Lee, Oswalt, Pence, and Valverde).
Just embrace the fact that the Astros are doomed. It’s much easier.
Don’t get me wrong – I believe in the Good Guys. But maybe that belief isn’t as strong as it was a week ago.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quintero has a cracked kneecap
says he’s ready to play!
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's the spirit, Q!
Fortunately for Q, we don’t really have any good catching prospects ready. So, unless Towles suddenly becomes Piazza or the Astros sign Pudge, Q will probably get the starting job next year.
10 K’s for Oswalt.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Washington just scored over the Mets
1-0 now in the 5th.
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 7:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Roy Oswalt is pitching much much better
Too bad Astros trailed 5-0 early
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Scores update
1-0 Cubs (over Brewers) in the 2nd :)
1-0 Nats (over Mets ) in the 5th. :)
4-3 Phillies (over Braves) in the 4th. :(
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 7:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
3-2 Cincy over Cardinals in the 7th
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Effect of Hurricane Ike
I started a fanpost a few days ago (seems like forever ago) where I asked for opinions whether the game postponements caused by Hurricane Ike would affect the Astros; and if so, if it would hurt or help the Astros.
Based on my observations, I conclude Hurricane Ike in all its dimensions hurt the Astros.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Great over the head catch by Michael Bourn
He’s “Michael Bourn” not just Bourn when he makes a catch like that.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Astros are coming out of the hurricane shock
They may not win this game, but I sense they are returning to normalcy as this game progresses.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Geary pitching
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 7:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Two innings to go
C’mon Astros – we need a big 8th.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Bourn doubled to left yo start the 8th
There’s hope
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
RBI MATSUI!
Sure it was a ground out.. but whatever.
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Atlanta threatening the Phillies in the 6th.
bases loaded 1 out
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 8:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Tie it up with a ground out.
4-4
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Atlanta makes it 6-4 and suddenly...
all teams in playoff contention (that could affect us) are losing.
Happy day.
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If only
The Astros pull this baby out of the fire in the ninth
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cards are also losing
If anyone cares.
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just talked with my mother in Houston
Her phone had been out of order from Saturday night until today. She’s fine. I talked with her Saturday morning so I knew she was okay but a lot can happen between Saturday morning and Tuesday night.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Blum singled with one out in the ninth
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hunter Pence struck out for out two
bad time for that
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hopefully all the other teams will lose too
and we’ll just lose some time…
by entropic soul on Sep 16, 2008 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ASTROS LOSE 5-1
But I have high hopes for tomorrow.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 16, 2008 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
All the other teams are losing too.
So hopefully no one gains ground
by garageinc on Sep 16, 2008 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Unbelievable
Are the baseball gods on our side or not? After Ike and Bud hit, you’d think not, and yet here it’s the best case scenario as far as getting help. (Assuming the Cubs hang on to beat Milwaukee.)
by Xan on Sep 16, 2008 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I keep tellin ya
they’re just jerking us around. We’ll probably tie for the WC at some point, only to have all of our hopes dashed when Roy Oswalt’s pitching hand explodes.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jesus
that’s… that’s terrible.
Looks like the Astros might make the playoffs based on nothing but the Brewers’ and Mets’ complete breakdowns.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take that
graciously
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ME TOO
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 17, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the way, Amelia Earhart got lost in the Pacific.
(not the Bermuda Triangle).
by clack on Sep 16, 2008 9:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
HR Cubs
They’re up 4-2 in the 7th.
It’s really hard to cheer for them, but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt.
by Xan on Sep 16, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
So all we need now
is for Milwaukee and the Mets to continue to suck.
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
pfft
we all know that losses to the Nationals count double in the standings
by Only_A_Lad on Sep 16, 2008 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They really should.
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 17, 2008 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they lose all the rest of their games...
We’d only have win four more!!
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 16, 2008 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Phils just won
Thank god!! If the Cubs hold on, we’ve only lost on in the elimination column.
What happened?? I just got of taking a practice LSAT and saw we lost terribly.
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 16, 2008 9:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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