ST Game No. 14: Houston Astros at Detroit Tigers
by David Coleman on Mar 18, 2010 12:00 PM CDT
in Houston Astros Events
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PrintGrapefruit League record (thought meaningless): 5-5
Today's starters:
Lineups will be posted as soon as we see them.
Listen to the game here. If you are in the Houston area, you can listen to the game on 790 KBME.
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Both the Astros and the Tigers go 1-2-3 in the first inning
Paulino gives up one hard hit ball, but right to Pence, and two groundouts. Misses some but doesn’t walk anybody.
Bases loaded
Astros – Go down 1,2,3
Tigers – walk, groundout (uncompleted double play), wild pitch, Strikeout, walk, walk.
Go Astros
Paulino watching groundballs squirt through holes now
He’s pitching better this inning, but runners on second and third with no outs.
Two singles to lead off the inning against Paulino. First GB was a ball bounced in the hold past SS. Damon with the 2d GB, a bouncer between 1st baseman and 2d baseman.
Nice K
Paulino showing some mental toughness with runners on…
by Z-Dub on Mar 18, 2010 1:00 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Sac fly to shallow CF scores a Tiger run. Borgeoise is playing CF, but didn’t have a chance with Austin Jackson as the runner.
So-so outing for Paulino
Not terrible, certainly not great. He looked like he found his control a little more and was attacking batters in the third inning, but got bit by some groundballs squirting through holes and Pence deciding not to hit the cutoff man.
The second inning (when no runs scored) was when I thought he looked worst, with three walks and a wild pitch.
Pedro Feliz's error
I see Pedro Feliz was charged with an error for not catching a ball. Did that lead to a run scoring ?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:09 PM CDT reply actions
Detroit TV Feed
Long interview with Astros Pitching coach Brad Arnsberg. Very interesting .
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:14 PM CDT reply actions
Jim DeShaies doing commentary on the video feed
This is a step up from the normal broadcast
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
yes.
JD was interviewing Arnsberg. He said he doesn’t have a big problem with Paulino’s walks today. He said that all of the hard throwers, like Beckett and Burnett, he has coached go through the period of walking lots of batters. He said that high velocity arms and walks tend to go together. What he is concerned with is that hard throwers tend to rely too much on the fastball when they get in a bind. The implication seemed to be that he wants Paulino to throw more breaking pitches in those situations.
Arnsberg made some point like
hard throwers who fall back on fastball when ther back is against the wall tend to throw too many picthes to a batter who will foul them off and then walk about after 10-15 pitches.
He didn’t say but I guess his point was throw fewer pitches including a variety of pitches teh pitcher will either walk the guy fast or get him out. Either way fewer pitches per batter;and presumably per inning (and don’t worry – your supportive pitching coach will understand)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions
In a short period of time, he made a number of points about this issue. He also said that he had just talked with Paulino about this. It was hard to distinguish what he told Paulino and what he was telling the viewers. (I sort of get the impression that he tells Paulino “don’t worry about the walks,” and “use all your pitches,” but then tells us “of course, walks are bad and you don’t want to put runners on base without an error or hit, etc.”
Chris Sampson pitching
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:17 PM CDT reply actions
Adam Everett with a looping single
has one more hit than the entire Astros lineup
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:20 PM CDT reply actions
Tigers don't score
JD going to broadcast booth (he was in the dugout area)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Jd
Talking about the chances of a platoon at catcher. I agree with him. I would love to see a good split between the two
by Z-Dub on Mar 18, 2010 1:28 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Because one bats right handed and one bats left handed
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I’d like to see them splitting catcher duties after the first half of the season. I’d hate to see Towles squeezed for at-bats because I think the tendency will be to run Castro out there more often, with him being the catcher of the future and all that.
What if they
Did a teraditional lefty righty split, but made sure Towels got at least 3 games a week regardless of the pitcher. I think it would provide both guys a chance to getin a good rythym. I would rather have that than 40 games from Q this year.
by Z-Dub on Mar 18, 2010 1:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Lefty-righty platoons at catcher are harder to arrange because you would like to have bonds develop between catchers and pitchers, which is why the tendency is to assign catchers to pitchers. Last year, when Coste was here, he was assigned to one pitcher (Oswalt), meaning that he was catcher for Oswalt even if the opposing pitcher was a lefty. However, he also got assignments based on the opposing pitcher’s handedness. But the approach probably requires a tailored approach. (i.e., catchers assigned to pitchers, but assignments are tweaked when the opposing pitcher is a tough lefty or righty.
What if they
Did a traditional lefty righty split, but made sure Towels got at least 3 games a week regardless of the pitcher. I think it would provide both guys a chance to getin a good rythym. I would rather have that than 40 games from Q this year.
by Z-Dub on Mar 18, 2010 1:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Oposite field too.
Sullivan singles afterward
by Z-Dub on Mar 18, 2010 1:29 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Jason Beorgeois walked
Runners on First and second
Detroit pitching change
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:35 PM CDT reply actions
Matsui walked
Bases loaded
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Hunter Pence batting
2 outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions
JD is so good
can’t wait for Astros TV to starts
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions
3-2 count on Pence; bases loaded
foul
foul
struck out on a very high pitch
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Now gives up a double. Runners on the corners, nobody out. Control isn’t as advertised, but that’s to be expected at this point given his shoulder issue and missing much of the spring.
single not double
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Double play
Run scored
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 1:49 PM CDT reply actions
Nice GDP ball. Runs scores but two outs now. Detroit broadcasters are confirming something Tigers fans have told us—-Lyon’s performance increased when he started using cutter more. When he came from D-Backs, he only used cutter on LHB. Tigers pitching coach persuaded Lyon to use cutter on RHBs, and he did so at mid-season, resulting in an excellent second half to season. Both JD and Tigers’ announcers say that Astros knew about that change and gave them confidence in offering Lyon 3 year contract.
Wild start to NCAA Big Dance
Old Dominion beat Notre Dame 51-50
Robert Morris and Villanova in OT
BYU Beats Florida in 2OT
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:01 PM CDT reply actions
Villanova won 73-70 in OT
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Ron Washington situation.
(And, no, that’s not like the “Bonnie Situation,” if you remember Pulp Fiction.) Apparently, Rangers made public his cocaine incident because the team was being blackmailed. This is an interesting article which says that a terminated Rangers’ employee knew details of the incident and threatened to go to the press unless his demands were met. Rangers met some of the demands. But the team balked at giving the employee a “glowing recommendation” and another unknown demand. Employee was very unhappy but kept quiet until mid spring training. Washington received a call from Sports Illustrated asking questions, and knew that the blackmailer may have acted. Team decided to go public with a press conference.
"Zero Tolerance" on Washingotn says owner Hicks
No one expects Washington to use drugs again, but if he does he’s gone sayeth Hicks.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions
the reporter used the term “blackmail,” but that’s a good question whether it should be called extortion. The difference between the terms:
The terms “extortion” and “blackmail” are terms routinely used interchangeably, but they are distinct concepts. Extortion means forcing someone to do something, usually give up something valuable under threats of injury, death or other illegal harm. Blackmail means specifically obtaining something of value under the threat to disclose something shameful or disreputable about a person. This can be true even if it would not have been illegal to simply make the reputation-damaging information public.
Sullivan tripled to right center
2 outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:18 PM CDT reply actions
JD thinks Sullivan currenlty has edge
in making the team as the final outfielder
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Jason Bourgeois singled Sullivan home
3-2
Bourgeois also in the running for the final outfield spot
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:20 PM CDT reply actions
Levine said that the 5th outfielder competition is down to Maysonet, Bourgeois, and Sullivan. He thinks Sullivan has the edge. Maysonet will be taking a lot of flyballs in practice and may play in the outfield in future spring games.
Shouldn't Maysonet be readied to play shortstop
in case something happens to Manzella?
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Maysonet has played quite a bit of shortstop so far this spring. I think this is just the reality that there is no opening on the roster for Maysonet unless the team keeps only 4 true outfielders. Wade said that Maysonet’s best chance of making the team is if he shows the versatility to play both outfield and shortstop. Of course, the benefit of keeping Maysonet in lieu of the 5th outfielder is that he provides a back up to Manzella. Maysonet has had a very good spring; so it makes sense that the Astros try to find a way to keep him.
Wirh Bourgeois on first as a threat to steal
2 pitchouts
Then Bourgeois stole second!
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:22 PM CDT reply actions
Payign attention to Bourgeious
leads to a 3-0 count on Matsui
who grounds out
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions
More NCAA
Murray State leads Vanderbilt by 4 at the half.
Sam Houston State and Baylor tied with 6 minutes left in the half (sorry Drayton)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:27 PM CDT reply actions
one of several I bet
Old Dominions beating Notre Dame and Robert Morris almost taking out Villanova are attention grabbers. too.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions
and ditto if that Murray State lead over Vandy holds up
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Very early North Texas leads K-State
8-7
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Wesley Wright pitching ; Cash catching
Runner on second
no outs
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:29 PM CDT reply actions
Linie drive off Wesley Wright's back or butt -
he runs it down and gets the runner at first
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:30 PM CDT reply actions
Drew Meyer solid homerun to tie the game
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:41 PM CDT reply actions
Sam Houston State leads Baylor by 1 at the half
31-30
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:44 PM CDT reply actions
Gary Majewski pitching
Holding on by his fingertips – he cannot afford any more bad outings.
At 6’5" I bet he’s imposing
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:45 PM CDT reply actions
Majewski clocking at 92-94MPH with life
Hitting his spots too. I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen on the few games I’ve gotten to watch where he’s pitched.
Majewsky was a good relief pitcher at one time in his career…a top late inning reliever. He was so good that the Nationals (Frank Robinson was manager at the time) overused him. He was a key player in a multi-player trade to the Reds (Nats got Felipe Lopez), and came down with arm problems. The Reds said that Bowden, the Nats GM, knew that the Nats had ruined Majewsky’s arm but didn’t tell them. The Reds filed a complaint against Bowden with the commissioner. Don’t know what became of it. But the story for Majewsky ends up with arm surgery. He is from Houston and would love to play here.
Irony that Majewski and Lopez now teammates in Houston
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
oops - confused him with Pedro Feliz
I need food (and a better memory)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Majewski's inning
Ground out to Keppinger;
single under Manzella’s glove;
I missed the second out (listening to JD)
Kevin Cash throwws out runner try ign to steal
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:49 PM CDT reply actions
No wonder I missed the second out
Bewtween watching Cash throw out the runner by a mile
and listening to JD talk about eating at Luby’s
I did not pay attention to what happend at the plate
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions
same here
Four pieces of candy has kept me alive
I though of leaving a few innnigs back for a burger.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions
2-0ut single by Jason Bourgeois
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:56 PM CDT reply actions
Bourgeois steals second
no throw
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:57 PM CDT reply actions
Chapman continues to impress with the Reds.
If this report is correct, he may make the Reds true contenders:
His fastball touched 100. His slider was sharp. And he showed a new wrinkle.
"He had a nasty sinker, a two-seamer we didn’t even know he had," Baker said. "He’s slowly but surely adding to his repertoire of pitches. He’s feeling more confident."
Chapman wowed the scouts at Goodyear to see him.
"He’s their best pitcher," a National League scout said. "How can they think about starting him in the minors?"
Astros don't score
Tigers batting in the bottom of the ninth
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 2:59 PM CDT reply actions
I just saw an Astros shortstop
catch a grounder behind second and throw the runner out at first.
I really did.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 3:01 PM CDT reply actions
Majewski still pitching
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 3:02 PM CDT reply actions
Consecutive tigers reach base after 2 outs
now a third hit just ended the game
5-4
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 3:04 PM CDT reply actions
Let's go get something to eat
I’m hungry.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 18, 2010 3:05 PM CDT reply actions
mlb article about Paulino's outing.
Let me give credit to Anthony DiComo’s Astros.com article about Paulino’s outing today. How many times do you see mainstream news articles discussing BABIP?
Last season, Paulino struck out 93 men in 97 2/3 innings, an indication of his electric stuff. He also walked just 37 batters, an indication of his ability to control it.
The most startling statistic, however, and perhaps the most telling, was the fact that the opposition’s batting average on balls in play — in simple terms, a measure of how lucky or unlucky a pitcher is — clocked in at .368. No pitcher who qualified for the ERA title had a BABIP higher than .339, meaning Paulino ranked among the unluckiest players in all of baseball.
That is the statistical explanation for the fact that Paulino’s fine strikeout rate and fine walk rate translated into a 3-11 record and 6.27 ERA.
He goes on to discuss Arnsberg’s diagnosis.
The practical explanation is that Paulino became a different person pitching out of the stretch, his mechanics flying out of whack and his effectiveness suffering. To that end, Astros pitching coach Brad Arnsberg began working with Paulino this spring to fix the discrepancy.“He’s really in the process of making nice adjustments,” Arnsberg said Wednesday evening on the team’s “Astroline” radio show. “It’s going to be a little bit of a longer process, the cleanup of the delivery. It’s something that’s imperative to this kid.”
Until he reviews video and talks with Arnsberg, Paulino can’t be sure whether he was struggling through the same issues Thursday. It’s a genuine concern — because of the walks, he can’t chalk this one up to simple bad luck.
But even if his mechanics were faulty, Paulino now knows how to fix them. Arnsberg has given him a blueprint, which he intends to follow.
“That’s what I’m working on in Spring Training,” Paulino said.
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Colorado Rockies
Friday, Apr 6, 2012, 6:05 PM CDT |
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| Sat 04/07 | 6:05 PM CDT | |
| Sun 04/08 | 1:05 PM CDT | |
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 2.15.2012 at 6:05 PM CST)
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