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Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros, Sep 11, 2009 7:05 PM CDT

Godzillaemptyfridge_tiny by Evan Hochschild on in Events

Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros, Sep 11, 2009 7:05 PM CDT


Current Series

3 game series vs Pirates @ Minute Maid Park

Pittsburgh Pirates
@ Houston Astros

Friday, Sep 11, 2009, 7:05 PM CDT
Minute Maid Park

Charlie Morton vs Bud Norris

Partly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80.

Complete Coverage >
Sat 09/12 6:05 PM CDT
Sun 09/13 1:05 PM CDT



The age old rivalry renewed....

Bud Norris looks to continue the trend of young starters pitching well.

Bucs Dugout, Pirates vs Astros preview, Pirates vs Astros coverage

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Youngsters playing

Chris Johnson at third
J, R. Towles catching

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 7:10 PM CDT reply actions  

Cubs beat Reds this afternoon 6-4

Cubs making it difficult for Astros to catch them

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 7:12 PM CDT reply actions  

another GIDP for Pence….

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 7:33 PM CDT reply actions  

ump...

appears to want a short game. This strike zone is somewhat large.

by BTastros on Sep 11, 2009 7:51 PM CDT reply actions  

Tejada singled

erased at second on Hunter Pence’s grounder to third.

Pence avoids his second GIDP of the game by beating the throw to first

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:16 PM CDT reply actions  

Pence picked off first

taggd out by Doumit the CATCHER afer a rundown

Not the same as GIDP but the same effect (Forced Tejada at second , then picked off)

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

AA playoffs w/ a lot of NL central action

Brewers down 3-1 to the Cubs and Astros down 2-0 to whoever the Jacksonville Suns are an affiliate of.

by ol Pete on Sep 11, 2009 8:34 PM CDT reply actions  

Huh

AStros don’t have any team in the playoffs, in particular Corpus Christi

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:38 PM CDT up reply actions  

Our Birmingham Barons are hosting the Jacksonville Suns tonight

I almost went to the game.

Barons down 1 game to none

not sure of tonight’s score.

Birmingham Barons are an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions  

Jacksonville Suns affiliated with Florida Marlins

and they are leading tonight against the talented Birmingham Barons in the sixth inning

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions  

Somehow I got the Barons connected w/ the Astros

Maybe reading one of your comments, but my mistake.

by ol Pete on Sep 11, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions  

Maybe

I wrote about them when a link on some report listed the Barons as having the best record in AA this year

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions  

Speaking of the Barons

a former Birmingham Baron was inducted into the NBA Basketball Hall of Fame today.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions  

Meanwhile in the Astros game

Matsui excuse-me infield single

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions  

Meanwhile in the Astros game

Matsui excuse-me infield single

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions  

Another GIDP for Tejada…..

that one was a bouncer to pitcher, who started the DP.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 8:52 PM CDT reply actions  

Another GIDP statistic

MIguel Tejada GIDP right to the pitcher

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:53 PM CDT reply actions  

Can Miggy have a day off tomorrow?

I think we all need a break from the 1 out inning enders.

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 8:54 PM CDT reply actions  

Astros plan to start Tommy Manzella

when the Astros play a team out of the pennant race

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

I wouldn't be surprised if Manzella plays Sunday...

day game seems to be when they give Tejada days off.

Keppinger may be ready to come back from injury tomorrow, but it would be nice if Johnson could start Saturday and Sunday when his Dad, the AAA skipper for the Red Sox, is in town.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think Cooper is under orders to keep Norris on a conservative pitch count.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ahh makes sense

I’d forgotten about his IP piling up. His skipped start really seemed to do wonders for him.

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 8:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

yes.

He has been better than I expected. I figured he would only be a 1 out type pitcher, but he has been good in full inning stints.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions  

There is reason for concern that he is getting the "cooper treatment..."

meaning he is overused because he has been effective. He has pitched with a startling frequency over the past two weeks.

JD made a good point that Sammy’s sidewinder delivery may spare his arm some stress and allow him to be used more often without harm. I hope he is right.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

Assuming Coop is gone next year (say your prayers)

We should have a pretty nice pen if our guys can keep it up. Arias was great up til the Cooper misuse. Sampson was also a solid reliever before Coop was running him out there hurt. Wade made a great move bringing in Fulch. Gervacio has been great since hes been up. Even Wilton Lopez has shown that he has some good stuff. I hope to see some improvement out of Wes Wright and maybe we can resign Hawk. Sounds like a pretty solid ‘pen. What ya’ll think?

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 9:04 PM CDT reply actions  

true.

I wonder about Sampson’s future. They didn’t call him back up, did they?

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

No.

In the first half he was probably one of most reliable relievers. Hes very good about coming in and getting a ground ball or two. He was also solid as a reliever last year to. We found a niche for him but I don’t think you can fault me for blaming Coop for the loss of production running him out there when Sampson told him he was injured.

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think so

But I also thought the same thing with last year’s crew, and it didn’t quite work out this year (maybe poor managing or starting pitching not going deep rather than capable relievers) .

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah...

Our pen got younger this year and with Brocail going down a lot more weight was put on guys like Arias. Even more so when Valverde then Sampson then Hawk went down. I agree with you on coming into this year though. I thought the starting pitching just had to be decent till the 6th and we could throw it to Sampson-Brocail/Hawk-Valverde. I thought having Hawk would be great for Brocail since he had such a huge work load last year, so we could interchange those guys. Heres hoping for a better situation next year.

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

I would expect Wade to pick up one or two veteran relievers to add to the mix, assuming that Valverde leaves for free agency. Wade can’t help himself from tinkering with the bullpen. And he sometimes comes up with some surprise success stories in the pen.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions  

Heres a thought

What about bringing back Billy Wagner? Yeah he hasn’t pitched much this year but heres his line

6.2 2H 1ER 2BB 13K 1.35ERA.

As part of the deal to the Red Sox he made them guarantee they wouldn’t pick up his option for next year because he wants to close again and won’t get a chance with Papeldouche there. If he’d sign for a lower salary, I think he’d be worth a shot.

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions  

I thought about that, too...

The Sports Illustrated writer, Heyman, listed Houston as one of three likely teams for Wagner. Wagner may accept less money if he will be the closer.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions  

His surgery this year would be a concern

but his fastball is still there and the results are good. Last year for the Mets he had a sub 3 era and and 27 saves. I don’t care if hes old, as long as hes still productive.

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

Good to see our guys hitting again

Pence slumped down to .280 (maybe lower) and has now gotten back up to .290. Bourn had gotten down to the .280s and raised his average back up to .295 at the moment.

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 9:07 PM CDT reply actions  

Astros have bases loaded with one out

Michael Bourn to bat

pitching change

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 9:16 PM CDT reply actions  

Johnson struck out swinging

I hear thats something we’ll have to get used to. Striking out a ton and never walking?

by Astrofan on Sep 11, 2009 9:17 PM CDT reply actions  

if he keeps that pattern up, we probably won’t have to get used to it for long.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

He doesn't seem very promising.

He wasn’t particularly good at RR even though he was one of the best hitters there (that’s how bad AAA was this season). He’s only 24 though and it’s not like we have any good 3B prospects coming up, so we might as well keep him at AAA and see if he matures anymore.

by OremLK on Sep 11, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

if he can’t control his K rate or pick up any walks at the ML level, I assume he gets sent back to Round Rock next year…unless he learns how to hit for Mark Reynolds type power.

But I’m sure he knows what he has to improve, so give him chance to do so.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

Pence with base running blunder, but Pirates screw up run down.

And Pence scores. JD: “A whole lot of panic going on on everybody’s part.”

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:19 PM CDT reply actions  

Pence scored

but second time tonight Pence caught in a rundown. It got lucky this time on a bad throw from third to home

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 9:20 PM CDT reply actions  

Matsui was really smooth in starting that double play.

The ball was in his hands for only a millisecond as he flipped it to Tejada.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:37 PM CDT reply actions  

Braves lead Cardinals 1-0 after 8

I wonder if they’ll bring in their closer?

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 9:37 PM CDT reply actions  

I wonder who is up in the bottom of the 9th.

by ol Pete on Sep 11, 2009 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions  

Speaking of the Cards

I didn’t see much of the World Baseball thing, but I did see an at bat by Castro and his stance reminded me of Rasmus.

by ol Pete on Sep 11, 2009 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions  

Tommy Manzella

Singled in first MLB at-bat

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 9:43 PM CDT reply actions  

Question

Does anyone know why Gervacio pitched a 1-2-3 and then was taken out?

I mean, I like Hawkins, but why not leave Gervacio in?…Up 9-1 and weve used 3 pitchers already…. I just see it as another example of Coop overusing the pen as usual… I think Norris should stil be in or at least Gervacio should be …

BTW..1s MLB hit for Manzella …Good jov ehtere… I hope were not gonna use another pitcher in the 9th… no excuse for 4 pitchers used in a game where up 9-1 …so hope Hawinks stays in …

by strosfannate on Sep 11, 2009 9:45 PM CDT reply actions  

Gervacio is close to being overused already, in terms of frequency over the last three weeks. So that might be a good reason to limit him to 1 inning.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions  

basehit

basehit ofr Michaels and Bourn is up

by strosfannate on Sep 11, 2009 9:46 PM CDT reply actions  

Bazardo comes in.

I hope he doesn’t bean a Pirates’ batter.

by clack on Sep 11, 2009 9:51 PM CDT reply actions  

Yep

And I still think Coop has used too many pitches.. 4 pitches in a 9-1 ballgame is way too many ….

by strosfannate on Sep 11, 2009 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

ASTROS WIN 9-1

Astros do better when Lance Berkman hits

Nice outing by winning pitcher Bud Norris

Good nightt for Kaz Matsui

and a memorable one for Tommy Manzella

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 11, 2009 9:56 PM CDT reply actions  

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Current Series

3 game series vs Rockies @ Minute Maid Park

Colorado Rockies
@ Houston Astros

Friday, Apr 6, 2012, 6:05 PM CDT
Minute Maid Park

Complete Coverage >
Sat 04/07 6:05 PM CDT
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Chicago 0 0 .000 0 Lost 0
Cincinnati 0 0 .000 0 Lost 0
Houston 0 0 .000 0 Lost 0
Milwaukee 0 0 .000 0 Lost 0
Pittsburgh 0 0 .000 0 Lost 0
St. Louis 0 0 .000 0 Lost 0

(updated 2.14.2012 at 6:04 PM CST)

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