Houston Astros at Florida Marlins: Brother, can you spare a win?
by Evan Hochschild on Sep 17, 2008 5:20 PM CDT
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PrintHouston Astros at Miami Marlins, Sep 17, 2008 6:10 PM CDT
Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground
There's a lot to be learned, so look around
Just what makes that little old ant,
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant?
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time your gettin' low
'stead of lettin go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant
When troubles call, and your backE's to the wall
There's a lot to be learned, that wall could fall
Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram scram
He kept buttin' that dam
Cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes
He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time your feelin' bad
'stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram
Oops there goes a billion kilowatt dam
All problems are just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop
Oops there goes another problem- kerplop!
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Welcome back Ty Wigginton
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.
Lead off homerun off Backe by Hanley Ramirez
As I turn on the game. What a revolting development this is.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:19 PM CDT reply actions
I wish Han Ram was our SS
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 17, 2008 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Wiggy will go yard in his debut.
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.
Second batter walked
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:22 PM CDT reply actions
Followed by a Double
Still no outs
Runners on second and third (one run in)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Followed by a 2-RBI single
This ain’t good.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Fly ball to Wigginton for out one
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Line drive to Blum for second out
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Astros went down on five pitches in the top of the first
for those of us who arrived late
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions
Second walk of the inning
Runners on first and second
bullpen started warming up
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions
RBI Single
then a runner caught between home and third for out three
Marlins 4 – Astros 0 after one inning
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Hunter Pence Scored on his homerun
to center field
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:39 PM CDT reply actions
Michael Bourn yelping about a called third strike
Umpire telling him to cool it as TV goes to commercial. I wonder if Bourn is tossed during the break.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:41 PM CDT reply actions
Hanley Ramirez homerun number 2 on the night
yeah – he can play short for the Astros if he wants.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:45 PM CDT reply actions
he can play short, 2d base, CF....for just about any team.
I would rate him one of the top 5 hitters in baseball.
Backe removed
Jack Cassell to pitch (I think)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 6:49 PM CDT reply actions
Matsui reached on an error with two outs
Tejada singled up the middle
Now Berkman is batting
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:01 PM CDT reply actions
Berkman popped to shortstop
to end the threat
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:03 PM CDT up reply actions
First Marlins batter of the third walks
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:07 PM CDT reply actions
Cassel immediately balks
runner to second
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Long fly out to Bourn
Uggla movs to third
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions
RBI Single
6-1 Marlins
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Just about anything that could go wrong has gone wrong....
and now a single scores another run for the Marlins.
Hunter Pence HOMERUN number two on the night
6-2 Marlins
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:23 PM CDT reply actions
Cassel leaves
with runners on first and second and ONE out
I think Chris Sampson to enter (but I’m not sure)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:32 PM CDT reply actions
Byrdak (not Sampson) pitching
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Walks bases loaded with two outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions
LONG out to deep center
Out three. Marlins leave the bases loaded.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Games going badly elsewhere
Brewers, Phillies and Mets all are leading
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:42 PM CDT reply actions
Hanley Ramirez may have hurt himself his last at bat
He is out of the game
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:42 PM CDT reply actions
Another great run and catch by Michael Bourn
Had to climb the left center field wall to get that one
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:48 PM CDT reply actions
and Phillies too
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions
but not the Cubs or Cardinals
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Is that two days of salaries for the Astros players
for having to play those two games in Milwaukee?
I guess I’m still bitter
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Now that I read the article
I feel bad about my comment. It’s a laudable action by the team and the players. And I’m sure the players will do more personally when they return to Houston.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:00 PM CDT up reply actions
Tejada singles to lead off the sixth
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:02 PM CDT reply actions
Berkman takes it to a full count
and walks after fouling off a few
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:04 PM CDT reply actions
Is Berkman 0 for 19?
Did I hear that right?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:04 PM CDT reply actions
Ty Wigginton burked to second
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:05 PM CDT reply actions
Geoff Blum
Fly pop to short center
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:07 PM CDT reply actions
Hunter Pence
Long shot caught on the warning track for out three
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:09 PM CDT reply actions
Quintereo playing with a cracked kneecap
“Put me in coach. I’m ready to play.”
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:21 PM CDT reply actions
9-2 after six
energy left my body
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:24 PM CDT reply actions
Astros next year end the season
with 4 games at Philadelphia then 3 games at New York.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 8:26 PM CDT reply actions
but
they play the Rangers (of course), Twins, Tigers, and Royals in interleague.
And look who’s our opener: the Cubs!
Expect there'll be BOOS at the Cubs game?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 18, 2008 12:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I know a lot of Astros fans want Sheets next year,
but the guy is just an injury risk. As long as he’s healthy, he’s great. But he’s virtually guaranteed a major injury every year.
No, never underestimate how stupid ballclubs can be
There’s a pretty long list of clubs that will gladly offer him lots of cash to play next year. Injury risk or not, wealthy clubs can afford (or at least think they can afford) to throw money around on risky players.
Really, unless Drayton is willing to spend a LOT of cash on really good pitching next year, I don’t expect anything good to come of it.
I’d be willing to take a risk on Sheets if Wade got somebody like John Lackey (provided, of course, Lackey uses his buyout option. It would be smart for him – he can make a lot of money on the free market next year).
But an Oswalt-Sheets-whatever rotation would just be asking for trouble down the road.
I wouldn't jumo to conclusions about Sheets...
based on this one report. Let’s see what happens. The guys will have to go through a barrage of medical exams when he is free agent, and teams will get an idea one way or another.
As for now, an injury to Sheets could be fatal to the Brewers’ chances of contention. Not that the Astros look like they can do anything with it.
I'm not basing it off of this one game.
He’s had a history of injury issues. I just don’t think he’s the savior that some Astros fans are making him out to be. Both because he’s probably a poor investment and because the Astros have problems beyond simply the starting rotation.
Marlins have bases loaded
one out
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 9:04 PM CDT reply actions
total collapse
14-2 and Marlins still batting
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 9:09 PM CDT reply actions
ASTROS LOSE 14-2
What can I say?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 17, 2008 9:22 PM CDT reply actions
I'm so sad...
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 17, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, look at what pitchers we threw at them...
Backe.. not a starter.. maybe a reliever at best.
Cassel… a 4-A’er
Neive and Borokwskl.. haven’t seen anything good out of them in 2 years.
It's like we don't want to win.
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 17, 2008 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Backe's not a reliever
As has been noted many times by JD (and plenty of others, too), Backe just has too many problems in the first inning of games. His curveball takes a few hitters to get going (if it gets going at all), and he just doesn’t have a very good repertoire.
The fact is that Backe just isn’t good. He’s a bad pitcher. And he’s only going to get worse.
It’s too bad, because he’s a local guy and seems alright, but the truth is that he’s – at best – a #5 starter.
When imagining what, exactly, the ideal Astros rotation will be next year, I just can’t see Backe in there. I don’t see him in the pen, either.
In truth, Wandy is fairly similar. But Wandy is left-handed, so he at least provides that for the club.
The only real advantage either of them have for the Astros is that they’re going to be cheap. And Backe has been given five seasons (fine, two were lost to injury) to prove himself. He’s proven that he’s a poor pitcher, but that’s all.
I don't view Wandy as "fairly similar" to Backe...
As an example, Wandy’s Fielding Independent Pitching is 3.81, compared to Backe’s 5.61. Wandy’s FIP is lowest among Astros’s starters (slightly lower than Roy O’s 3.85). I view the FIP as more of an indicator of how the pitcher might perform in the future. Wandy’s stuff is better than Backe’s. I like Backe, but I’m not optimistic about what he can do in the future. The only hope is that his pitching takes a leap forward with a year of post-TJ pitching behind him. It’s possible, but time is running out on him.
I'm a Wandy fan
I want to be a Backe fan (and was at one time) but unless he dramatically improves in the next six months I’m not sure he should be on the team in 2009
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 18, 2008 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions
I wasn't aware that Wandy's stats were that good
Good for him.
I don’t mind Wandy as the 4th or 5th starter. He can pull that off (usually).
I like Wandy too
And think he is much, much better than Backe.
by entropic soul on Sep 18, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Cooper apparently was very upset at his press conference.
FSN didn’t have video of it, but they reported on what Cooper said. He wasn’t getting tough questions, but just got angry talking about the team, and then slammed something down and told all of the press to leave. He criticized the pitching, saying that they couldn’t execute one pitch all night. He wasn’t upset with Backe because he has been off two weeks and he said what he did was understandable, but he was disappointed in the other pitchers. He said pitching sets the tone, and the pitchers have gotten the team in a hole every game this week. Cooper also made a reference to some “stinking bats” on the team, and the HC article suggested that Berkman fits that description. Berkman didn’t seem to respond well, when asked about it, saying he would love to hit a home run every time he bats, but “talk is cheap.”
See
I don’t agree with that. That seems a lot like Garner’s bullshit tirade during the World Series.
Granted, he’s right. But part of being a good manager is absorbing the blame and supporting your players.
And, as Berkman points out, it’s pretty easy to say, “The players need to step up.” It’s not so easy to actually do that.
Besides, if there’s any player on the team that deserves NO criticism of his bat, it’s Berkman. He hasn’t been hitting well recently, but he’s still getting on base. If Carlos were able to play or Coop was willing to bat Pence or Wiggy behind Berkman, then maybe Berkman would see some pitches to hit or at least have a chance of being driven in.
Seriously, Coop’s done a good job recently, but he could be doing better. Maybe he should fix his stupid lineup (Blum batting in front of Hunter? Seriously Coop? He’s got a .412 slugging percentage) before calling out his players.
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
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Cincinnati
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Houston
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Milwaukee
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Pittsburgh
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St. Louis
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0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | Lost 0 |
(updated 2.14.2012 at 12:03 AM CST)
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