Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros, Aug 23, 2009 1:05 PM CDT
Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros, Aug 23, 2009 1:05 PM CDT
Line-Up:
- Bourn - CF
- Tejada - SS
- Berkman - 1B
- Lee - LF
- Blum - 3B
- Michaels - RF (.600 BA against Garland...in 6 PA)
- Matsui - 2B
- Quintero - C
- Norris - P
Sorry for the non-post this AM. With the game thread up early, I figured I'd throw out some tidbits of discussion:
- The Chronicle's recap of last night's game has me wondering if someone has informed Cecil Cooper that Tim Byrdak isn't LOOGY. With his 1.2 IP last night and faced lefties and righties and Coop seems to have planned to use him for a number of outs.
- I was glad to see that Jose Valverde was made unavailable before last night's game, too. Although we're probably going to let Valverde walk to find greener pastures, I still hate the thought of Coop abuse a relief pitcher.
- Just because I love throwing in my favorite site when news is slow: A real gem for anyone who has struggled to find a job recently from This is Indexed.
- Wait for it....wait....Ok here it is: Richard Justice is ready to jump back on the Astros bandwagon. You could probably make a calendar of the summer by Richard Justices moods towards the Astros.
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I am watching a bit of the Rangers-Rays game as I wait for the Astros t start.
And, as I watch David Price pitch to the Rangers, I think think: Price’s stuff reminds me a lot of Norris’ stuff. Although I regularly caution people to hold down over-expectations for Norris, the thought crosses my mind that the “gulf” in perception between Norris is Price is mostly draft position and the fact that Price is somewhat younger.
Norris is already 27 pitches into the first inning, and only 2 outs.
He loads the bases with a walk now.
Key moment in the game already
Bases loaded, two outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:19 PM CDT reply actions
Add a fullcount to the equation
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Ball just foul of left field line
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Ball Four
but it looked like a low strike
Run scored
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
oh yeah - I forgot
Angel Hernandez umpiring home plate today. Anything can happen
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Diamondbacks merry go round
5-0 and still batting
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:26 PM CDT reply actions
Norris finally gets out of the 1st....but he won't be around long, with a 40 some pitch count.
I feel bad, like I may have jinxed him with my initial post in this thread.
I turned back to the Rays-Rangers game at the break.
And maybe my Price-Norris comparison isn’t that much of a jinx. Price is behind 2-0, and has a high pitch count…they say he has the highest pitches/inning of any sarter in the AL. He averages almost 20 pitches per inning.
For sure it means
the pitcher faced a lot of batters.
But overall, better to have 40 pitches in the first than later in teh game
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I think the theory is no
because its the first, its more stressful to the arm or something like that due to not being as warmed up as later. But I’m just going on a memory of something I read. Having Yost as a manager and following the team gives me an honorary associate’s degree in PAP.
Tried to research it
Couldn’t find anything on point
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Infield single
that looked like Norris may have slowed down and Matsui could not get it to Berkman in time.
Next batter walked
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Bud Norris is out of the game
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:43 PM CDT reply actions
GIDP
Good start for Paulino
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 1:46 PM CDT reply actions
Aaron Harang out for the season
Emergency appendectomy last night
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:16 PM CDT reply actions
Bourn doubled to open the third inning for the Astros
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:20 PM CDT reply actions
Tejada after 11 or 12 pitches hits grounder to third
Ball over thrown to first
Bourn stayed at third
Tejada stayed at first
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Berkman lines out to second
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions
GIDP Lee
um um um
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
after Tejada with 10 pitch at bat gets a hit...
runners on the corners….crazy play, as ball was overthrown by 3d baseman. Clark was signalling Bourn to go home, but he stopped instead.
Now Berkman with a line out to 2d. Maybe Bourn should have gone home.
GIDP...Astros get nothing.
Bourn failing to follow Clark’s instruction may end up costing a run there.
Paulino looking more comfortable on the mound today
than he did the past few outings
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:28 PM CDT reply actions
Jason Michaels
two at bats
two strikeouts
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:35 PM CDT reply actions
I looked at his mini-stats thing on gameday when he was up
Guy has 48 career HRs and thuh-ree this season and he gets 2 versus the brewers. Man our pitching is bad.
he shouldn't be starting against a RHP either.
Unfortunately, Erstad is injured are he would have been the better choice to sub for Pence.
What's wrong with Pence?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Quintero HOMERS
2d time this week
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:45 PM CDT reply actions
Maysonet pinch hitting singled
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:46 PM CDT reply actions
6-3
as Carlos bloops single to right
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 2:55 PM CDT reply actions
With Aaron Cook going down with an injury in Colorado...
I imagine that Russ Ortiz may be seeing work at the major level for the Rockies.
I thought he signed with the Yankees
by Timothy De Block on Aug 23, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions
he had an option to opt out of the contract if he was not called up to majors
He opted out and signed with Rockies.
He had outstanding ERA in AAA
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Almost a wild pitch called strike
Apparently Q called for a pitch out. but Arias (now pitching) threw a strike over the plate. Q had jumped up and outside for the pitchout and had to lunge backwards to catch the ball
<
Angel Hernandez called it a strike
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:12 PM CDT reply actions
it was definitely a strike (the batter didn't complain)
but I’m surprised the umpire called it a strike, given the fact that the catcher wasn’t in position to catch.
Very odd scene. Arias immediately walked off the mound toward the dugout, even as Quintero was trying to get up off his side on the ground. The batter was flummoxed, not knowing what had happened.
Jason Michaels one more try
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:12 PM CDT reply actions
HOMERUN this time
6-4
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions
WHATS GETTING INTO HOUSTON BATS
lee GIDP’s in crucial situations while Michaels and Quintero have homered!
Maybe they should be batting 4th
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Aug 23, 2009 3:14 PM CDT reply actions
quintero
doubles to deep left…pshhh
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Aug 23, 2009 3:16 PM CDT reply actions
Jeff Fulchino pitching
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:22 PM CDT reply actions
Cardinals throwing their three studs
against the Astros. It will be a test
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:25 PM CDT reply actions
Diamondbacks have runners at the the corners with one out
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:27 PM CDT reply actions
Hard hit GiDP
Astros escape
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Tejada grounded out; Berkman walked
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:37 PM CDT reply actions
Lee popped out to second in short center
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:39 PM CDT reply actions
Astros ex- Gutierrez has pitched well in this series for the D-Backs.
The Snake Pit blog noted that Gutierrez’s ERA is is below 3 since mid-season.
another balk I don't understand
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:47 PM CDT reply actions
D'Backs RBI Single following the Balk
7-4
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:49 PM CDT reply actions
'nother single
runners on the corners
Fulchino not fooling anybody
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:52 PM CDT reply actions
Bruntlett with Unassisted Triple Play gets Lidge out of jam and nails down win!
Philly fans must have been crapping in their pants…Lidge on the mound with 2 run lead, but with 2 runners on and no outs.
…Lidge then faced Jeff Francoeur, who smashed a liner up the middle as the runners were going. However, Bruntlett was right there to spear the liner, and he stepped on second base to get Castillo out. Bruntlett then tagged Murphy out to complete the triple play, end the game, and give Lidge his 25th save in a truly unlikely way.
JD and Brownie just mentioned this news.
Only the 3d unassisted triple play to end game in baseball history. last time it happened, 80 years ago.
I saw Rafael Furcal turn an unassisted triple play against the Cardinals.
They aren’t that hard.
Same situation as Bruntlett’s (except Furcal played short): Runners were going . LIne drive to leaping Furcal, who ran to second for out two (runner already past thrid) and then tagged the runner comng from first to second who was almost at second.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions
they may not look hard, but they are extremely rare.
Perfect games are more common than unassisted triple plays. Only 15 unassiisted triple plays in baseball history.
Agreed
The conditions must be such that the second and third outs are gimmes
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions
and isn't it nice
that Eric Bruntlett joins that elite list.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Bases loaded
Byrdak walked a batter
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:56 PM CDT reply actions
pop out ends the inning
7-4 as Astros send up J-Mike and Q-Love
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Matsui doubled
(after Michaels struck out )
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions
Quintero and Erstad stuck out
ninth inning coming up
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions
Reds beat Pirates
Pirates back in the cellar
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions
Qualls to face Astros in the ninth
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:15 PM CDT reply actions
Bourn grounded out to first
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:20 PM CDT reply actions
Tejada doubled to right
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:20 PM CDT reply actions
With no one on
Tejada doubles to the corner
by Timothy De Block on Aug 23, 2009 4:20 PM CDT reply actions
RBI Single off left field wall for Berkman
Tejada scored
7-5
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:22 PM CDT reply actions
lee
owes us something here…sucked all game…takes every good pitch!
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Aug 23, 2009 4:22 PM CDT reply actions
Now Hernandez calling balls just off the dirt as strikes
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:23 PM CDT reply actions
Berkman to second on passed ball (Wild Pitch?)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:24 PM CDT reply actions
Lee grounded out to third
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:24 PM CDT reply actions
great
lee sucks it up again…
had qaulls not thrown a wildpitch that would have been his 2nd or 3rd DP that game in crucial spots…
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Aug 23, 2009 4:24 PM CDT reply actions
its over...
ill put this one on carlos lee and bud norris and the umpire who was just terrible today
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Aug 23, 2009 4:27 PM CDT reply actions
ASTROS LOSE 7-5
Key moment came in the first inning on 3-2 count with bases loaded.
Astros fell behind 6-0 and couldn’t come back.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 4:28 PM CDT reply actions
I hope the Astros do a lot more probing with Norris in order to determine if he may have been fighting arm soreness or dead arm, and not telling them. Cooper’s comments in his press conference indicated he didn’t do much probing. Cooper said Norris told him, “This is the first time this has ever happened to me.” Cooper said he interpreted that to mean that he threw bad pitches. Then Cooper thought about it, and then said he ddin’t know for sure what Norris meant by that.
It may have been nothing more than normal rookie inconsistency, but given the increase in Norris’ workload this year, the Astros wiould be remiss not to check out the fatigued arm possibility.
Agree again
Clearly Norris did not have the mound presence he showed his first game up. So some of his problem was mental (confidence – concentration – whatever). Whether that was it or it flowed from a fatigued arm I don’t know.
Angel Hernandez’ bad call on 3-2 count with bases loaded didn’t help, either.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Aug 23, 2009 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions

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