Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies, Sep 29, 2009 6:05 PM CDT
by HighLeveragePerformer on Sep 29, 2009 6:00 PM CDT
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Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies, Sep 29, 2009 6:05 PM CDT
Current Series
Astros lead the series 1-0
| Mon 09/28 | WP: Yorman Bazardo (1 - 2) LP: Cole Hamels (10 - 10) |
8 - 2 win |
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Houston Astros Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009, 6:05 PM CDT Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 15-25 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 65. |
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| Wed 09/30 | 6:05 PM CDT | |
| Thu 10/01 | 6:05 PM CDT | |
Astros vs Phillies coverage, Astros vs Phillies preview, The Good Phight
Young gun takes the mound as the Astros try to win three in a row
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Astros loaded the bases in the second inning
I tuned in with the bases loaded, two outs, and Wilton Lopez making his first at-bat in the majors.
Lopez grounded to second to end the inning.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 6:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess the Phillies are glad
The Astros aren’t in the post season
by timmy_ on Sep 29, 2009 6:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Astros going for sixth win against Phillies.
Astros have won all five games between the clubs.
I thought to myself this morning it would be great to be in the same division as the Phillies and play them 18 games a year.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lopez does not look nervous or stressed
In fact, he looks like he is having the time of his life
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 6:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dave Clark said earlier this week that Lopez was the most excited guy in the clubhouse after Norris was shut down. I think he is really happy to get a chance to start in the majors.
by clack on Sep 29, 2009 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Solo Homerun Lance Berkman
Astros 1 Phillies 0
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 6:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Score tied 1-1. Walking the 8 hole hitter comes back to bite Lopez.
by clack on Sep 29, 2009 6:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah - And Victorino's double (must be the only Philly who loves playing the Astros)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jason Michaels playing centerfield tonight
Keppinger at third
Towles behind the plate
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Pence singles
Kepinger hit a slow grouder to short, who flipped tosecond for the out.
Pence’s late hard slide made second baseman flinch and not throw to first (thus avoiding the double play)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Something you've never read before
Keppinger on Second
Towles on First
Wilton Lopez batting
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Astros don't score
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grand Slam Phillies Feliz
5-1
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Over the head, stretching out his arms, dead run catch
By Jason Michaels
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Phillies getting to Lopez (already got to Lopez)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Dave Clark removes Lopez
A pitcher doesn’t take long to go from cruising to getting a bruising.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
RBI single Carlos Lee
his 102th
Miguel Tejada scored
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Phillies Werth 2 -run Homerun
7-2
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Double to left field corner
by J. R. Towles
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 7:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Towles with a double!
JR finally attacks the ball. Towles has a perfect night so far: single, walk, double.
by clack on Sep 29, 2009 7:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Chris Johnson looks bad striking out
as a pinch hitter
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Kaz is the man with the power.
2 run HR for Matsui. 7-4 Phils.
by clack on Sep 29, 2009 8:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
POWER HITTING Kaz Matsui
2-run Homerun to left
7-4
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Now Astros can faced Phillies Bullpen
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Chad Paronto pitching for the Astros
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Jamie Moyer pitching for Philly
Collapsed after a pitch
Walked off the field with help – cannot tell if a bad cramp or injured thigh or groin
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Groin injury
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chad Paronto also hurts his leg
upper left leg – Hamstring says JD
Two guys help him off the field
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Astros do nothing in the eighth
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Slingin Sammy Gervacio pitching
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 8:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Matsui singled to start the ninth
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 9:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Tejada made an out somehow
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Berkman singled to right
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
oops - singled to left
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lee struck out on high fast ball
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hunter Pence called out on strikes
to end the game
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ASTROS LOSE 7-4
Grand Slam did ’em in
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 9:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The grand slam and also...
…the Keppinger sac bunt which may have cost us significantly. The guy hits over .300 against lefties, why would you take the bat out of his hands and put it in Jason Michaels’ down at the sorry bottom of the order? Dave Clark is just more of the the same. I sure hope this is his last year with us in any capacity, because he was bad as a third base coach as well.
by OremLK on Sep 29, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I missed Keppinger's bunt
Either it occurred in the second inning (before I arrived) or I was in the kitchen or doing laundry.
I don’t like bunts (with some exceptions). Cooper definitely ovrerused the bunt.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 29, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here was the situation
Men on first and second with nobody out, Keppinger up to bat with Michaels on deck, then Towles and the pitcher spot. Clark has Keppinger sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. Yuck.
Might be defendable if you have the heart of the order coming up or something, but Michaels and Towles? Give me a break. Of course no runs scored that inning.
by OremLK on Sep 30, 2009 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Runners on 1st and 2d with nobody outs is one of the few bunt situations which is possibly justified on a generic basis. I don’t get upset with the sac bunt move in that situation. It does make a difference who the runners are that follow. Towles was having a perfect day at the plate (single, walk, double) before I had to quit watching the game. Michaels has been hitting well in the last couple of months. So, it’s not an irrational move. I might have considered it. But, like you say, you may not want to take the bat out of Keppinger’s hands.
by clack on Sep 30, 2009 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This was before Towles had been up to bat I think
At that point he basically seemed like a second pitcher’s spot. It wouldn’t bother me so much if you weren’t basically relying on one hitter… and that good of one (Michaels) to get the runners over. Also, sac bunt always damages, and can entirely prevent, the chances of having a big inning.
by OremLK on Sep 30, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trying to justify Clark's thinking (even though I hate bunts in this situation)
This was the second inning by the way.
Here’s what Dave Clark may be thinking.: Astros have runners on first and second, but they are at the bottom of the batting order. Towles is batting .100 give or take .010. Jason Michaels hasn’t bated in so long he is rusty buthe might hit. Lopez scheduled for his first at bat in the majors this year (maybe ever) and he’s a pitcher.
Keppinger may get a hit (or hit into a double play or make some other kind of out ). Most likely any hit he gets will not bne long enough to score..
What to do? Oh, if Keppinfger scacrifices a runner to third, then Towles who probably won’t get a hit but he may fly out deep enough to score the runner from third; and if he faisl evena bloop hit from Michales scroers a run.
It’s only one run, but the bottom of the order -a sure out when Lopez bats – one run is better than no runs.
Critics of Clark’s thinking (as I kust imagined it ) because Keppinger and Towles had good nights at the plate are usign hindsight. I doubrt many peopel thoguht Towels would reach base more than once all game.
Having said all that, I still am against the sac bunt there. A wasted out reduces scoring chances by 30 to 50% is my theory.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Sep 30, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keppinger is really, really good against lefties though
.320/.368/.454 to be precise. I suppose there is a little rationality to his decision, but I still think it was the wrong one. Also, what little rationality there was is erased by the fact that Clark is the one who decided to play Michaels instead of Bourn and make the bottom of the order as bad as it was.
by OremLK on Sep 30, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I think it was sort of a toss up decision on the sac bunt. So, I’m not going to get upset with Clark. At least, it wasn’t one of the more maddening sac bunt decisions by Cooper, like sac bunting behind Bourn when he is on first base with no outs early in the game.
By the way, I didn’t recall what inning it occurred in, so I didn’t know that Towles had yet to show he was having a good offensive night. I suspect Michaels was batting because a LHP was on the mound, and that is a good time to give Bourn a rest day. Bourn had some bad at bats against the LHP Hamels.
by clack on Sep 30, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bourn splits well against lefties, actually
.299/.338/.403. Yeah his OBP is down, probably because he strikes out more against left-handed pitchers, but overall the numbers are about the same. Even if the conventional wisdom were true in this case, though, his defense is still light years ahead of J-Mike’s. Sure we aren’t playing for anything, but I’m so tired of this “respect to the veterans” crap. How about respect to the guys who play the hardest and best for you?
Also, they’re going to keep playing Miggy so he can reach 200 hits… what about Bourn’s shot at the club record for stolen bases? It’s a long shot, but far from impossible.
by OremLK on Sep 30, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
chronicle "astros notes"
said that the rationale for resting Bourn is that Happ holds LHBs to a .203 batting average.
by clack on Sep 30, 2009 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No one has commented on this.....
In the Chronicle article on this game, Lopez made some statements which could be construed as criticism of Dewey Robinson. I hope that he doesn’t get in trouble for it, because Lopez’s English isn’t great, and I doubt that he meant it to come out that way.
Before the grand slam pitch, Lopez said that he wanted to throw a sinker to get a DP ball. But he said that Dewey Robinson came out and ordered him to throw a slider. Lopez said he wasn’t confident in the slider, because he feared a hanger (which is what happened). However, he said that he didn’t feel like he could talk back to Robinson. He threw the slider, and a grand slam resulted.
by clack on Sep 30, 2009 5:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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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 2.9.2010 at 5:43 AM CST)
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