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ST Game No. 3: Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves

Grapefruit League Record for 2010 (which is meaningless anyway): 1-1 (both a .500 winning percentage and a .500 Pythag record).

Today's starters: RHP Roy Oswalt  vs.RHP Kris Medlen

The line-up, per McTaggart this fine AM:

 

  1. Michael Bourn - CF
  2. Kazuo Matsui - 2B
  3. Hunter Pence - RF
  4. Carlos Lee - LF
  5. Lance Berkman -  1B
  6. Pedro Feliz - 3B
  7. Geoff Blum - DH
  8. Humberto Quintero - C
  9. Edwin Maysonet - SS

 

Discuss.

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Roy O pitching in first inning

Double – walk – walk

Trouble already

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:10 PM CST reply actions  

Berkman to Q to Berkman

Double Play

Runners on second and third, two outs

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:12 PM CST up reply actions  

Walk - Strikeout

Roy escapes first inning – no score

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:16 PM CST up reply actions  

3-2-3

This is why I love baseball

The Crawfishboxes
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 Mar 6, 2010 12:31 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Somebody answer that phone!!

We lost connection on MLB.com. Keep hearing phone ring

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:21 PM CST reply actions  

Switched to Braves broadcast

Astros go down in order

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:23 PM CST up reply actions  

Carlos Lee walked; Lance Berkman walked

Pedro Feliz batting with 2-2 count

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:34 PM CST reply actions  

Two out, bases still loaded I believe. I’m trying to listen to it on my wife’s clock radio and it’s not working too well.

Quintero up.

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 12:38 PM CST up reply actions  

My mistake, one out.

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions  

KTRH back on MLB.com

at least temporarily

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:41 PM CST up reply actions  

KTRH hung up on MLB.com

Nothing coming through

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:38 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm not a MLB tv or audio subscriber

but everybody talk about it being free for ST. I listened to my first game yesterday (at a very low volume, but whatever). Thought I’d tune in today before the future WS champs play (kiddin!). but no go.

In other news of MLB quality, clicking on the team ‘tag’ when you watch a video returns a bunch of 08 results. Mike Lamb is with the team now. Niiiice.

by ol Pete on Mar 6, 2010 12:52 PM CST up reply actions  

Milo's guest - Drayton McLane

“Wonderful day for baseball”

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:47 PM CST reply actions  

50/50 chance he says the word “champion(s)”

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 12:50 PM CST up reply actions  

Bingo

or a variation thereof – “Championship”

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 1:18 PM CST up reply actions  

Conversation about

The infield at the ballpark (Great shape)
Bobby Cox and which manager had longest tenure
Kaz Matsui ability and health

After Astros go down 1-2-3 , Milo asked if Draton will stay. Drayton says he’ll stay until Astros win10 in a row. Milo quips “I better get a cot.”

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 12:52 PM CST up reply actions  

Drayton thinks Carlos Lee drives too small a car. He says it’s amazing to watch him get out of the car. Wonder what kind of car it is?

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 12:55 PM CST up reply actions  

McLane talking up T.J. Steele. Then he asks about Chris Shelton (I think). He asked “how did you like the Astros’ first baseman yesterday?” It takes a few minutes for broadcasters to come up with Shelton.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 1:04 PM CST up reply actions  

Drayton: “Isn’t Spring Training just the most unique thing… that you do every year…”

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions  

After commercial more conversation

Spectacular Catches (including Berkman today)
Carlos Lee rodeo and getting in and out of his car
Selling cattle
Brad Mills enthusiasm with players – huge positive attitude change with players
Base hit past Maysonet at short
Mills batting balls to pitchers to start spring training (I remember that)
Impression of Mills during interviews
Terry Francona’s recommendation
Mills on Astros Caravan – more enthusiasm
Pitching Coach – he’s a talker (Irony: Drayton says If pitchign coach being interviewed , we wouldn’t know what’s going on in the game – like we know now!)
Pitching coach – Enthusiasm – knowledgeable
Roy O likes Picthing coach (who remains unnamed)
Drayton wil be in Florida through Wednesday
more about Ten in a row
Really really good weather
Full count 2 outs , men on the corners
Ball four – Bases loaded
Isn’t Spring trainng great
T.J Steele – awesome potential
Inning opver – ground ball to Feliz
Feliz – Ed Wade did good getting Fleiz – He’ll be a great addition

Commercial time

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 1:03 PM CST up reply actions  

Drayton: Carlos Lee came in in the best shape of his life.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 1:07 PM CST reply actions  

Talking about the batting order

It struck me as being particularly bad today. I like that Mills is willing to experiment, but if you’re going to move Berkman out of the three spot, move him up. Doesn’t make sense to me giving your best hitter fewer at bats.

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 1:09 PM CST reply actions  

From Fallas’ blog, about the new lineup:

Mills on having Berkman batting fifth and Pence third:

“It’s something that didn’t just come up. It’s something I looked at during the winter… We’re just taking a look.”

On the potential advantages of such a lineup:

    “Getting more guys on base with more speed at the top of the lineup, getting better pitches to hit for Carlos with a quality bat behind him in Lance.”

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 1:13 PM CST up reply actions  

Yikes. That’s some pretty iffy logic, considering Berkman is by far our best on-base guy.

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 1:15 PM CST up reply actions  

I prefer Berkman in the 3 spot, mostly because I want him always to come up in the 1st inning. However, if you are going to move him down, I would change Mills’ lineup to put Berkman in the 4 spot and Lee in the 5th spot. I think I would rather have Berkman see more FBs, and it puts more OBP in front of Lee. The one thing about Mills’ lineup which might be interesting is Pence in the 3 spot.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 1:16 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah, I agree. If you bat Pence 3, I think you need to flip-flop Berkman and Lee.

by jmike on Mar 7, 2010 9:45 AM CST up reply actions  

More Drayton

Time for Astros to score says Drayton
Hunter Pence hit two homeruns in game one
Hunter Pence grounds to third
Carlso Lee batting
College Classic in Houston
Carlos Lee doubled
Carlsos in best shape of his career in Houston
3:30 U-Texas plays UH in Classic in Houston
New Lineup with Berkman batting fifth
Mills likes that look. (Since I don’t feel Bekrman is a true three hole batter , I’ll go along with Berkman bating fifth – though I’d prefer fourth – Joe in Birmingham)
It was cold the other day; it’s nice today
Milo surprisingly quiet
What is Drayton watching closely – Anser: catching and closer
Dratyton impressed with Brad Mills
Lance Berkman keeps fouling balls
East Coast teams sell out spring training games
Drayton and Milo going to Mets and Yankees stadiums during season
Berkman still batting – 49 pitches (give or take 40 )
Berkman strikes out on 3-2 count

Pedro Feliz – reaches first on Error . Carlos Lee scores from second

Drayton asked Milo if they are doing good on this interview. Milo says not sure if good but it’s entertaining

Drayton leaves with these parting words , “Welcome back to the 2010 Championship Season.”

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 1:16 PM CST reply actions  

How many times can Drayton say he is impressed with Mills?

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 1:18 PM CST up reply actions  

Let's not overreact

It’s the 3rd game of Spring Training. I don’t really care who bats were. What’s the harm?

This is the time and place to play around with things. No problems here Millsie.

by baggs on Mar 6, 2010 1:18 PM CST reply actions  

His stated logic bothers me more than actually using the batting order in a ST game.

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 1:20 PM CST up reply actions  

that was my initial reaction until I saw Mills’ quote that he has been thinking about this lineup all off-season. Having said that, all of us probably overreact to lineup changes….in the grand scheme of things they have a minor effect anyway.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 1:20 PM CST up reply actions  

I can see the thought

I understand the concern, and besides the downside of slightly fewer AB’s he would have Feliz behind behind him, not much help. But, if it doesn’t work then I trust Mills is smart enough to make the right choice.

Berkman Career Splits (Granted numbers may be skewed base on time batting in a certain spot vs point in career. Plus BA’s diff.)

3rd: (>2,000AB’s).290/.403/.537/.940
4th: (>2,000AB’s) .313/.421/.588/1.009
5th: (590 AB’s) .298/.427/.537/.965

by baggs on Mar 6, 2010 1:29 PM CST reply actions  

Other Splits of possible interest

Projected OBP’s: (CHONE)

Bourn: .338
Matsui: .316
-———————
Lee: .341
Pence: .345
-———————
Lance: .377

Trying to be objective here, I can see his thought process. Moving Lance behind higher OBP guys. But also that moves our highest OBP hitter behind our RBI mashers.

Berkman Career Splits:

Men on base: .316/.438/.572/1.010
RISP: .303/.448/.548/.996
Bases Empty: .284/.387/.541/.928

by baggs on Mar 6, 2010 1:42 PM CST up reply actions  

One of the commenters on Fallas’ blog made a good point…by breaking up 3 RHP in the middle of lineup, teams may be less inclined to bring in a LHP to turn Berkman around. Maybe that kind of thought process is at work. But it seems like it would be better to put Berkman before Carlos Lee, even if you follow that line of reasoning.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 2:17 PM CST up reply actions  

If Mills wants to break up the lefties, just start Keppinger over Matsui and hit him in the #2 hole. Especially against LH pitching.

by jmike on Mar 7, 2010 9:59 AM CST up reply actions  

Astros lead 2-0

Hunter Pence scored on Pedro Feliz’s grounder to short

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 1:55 PM CST reply actions  

3-0

on Blum’s single

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 1:57 PM CST reply actions  

3-0 now.

Blum with a RBI hit.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 1:57 PM CST reply actions  

Berkman batting 5th

Hey at least he’s not like Cecil experimenting during the regular season with lineup changes every other day, it’s spring training the time to tinker.

by mitch4ya on Mar 6, 2010 2:10 PM CST reply actions  

Brooks Conrad. Surprised that he is with the Braves’ organization now. (As I write this, Conrad draws a walk.) He bounced around the A’s organization for awhile. In the 2003-2004 period, Conrad was an Astros’ minor leaguer who became sort of a sabermetric darling. He could play 2d base and all around the infield, showed some pop, and had good on base skills which allowed him to post good OPS numbers. Biggio, Kent, and then Burke all blocked Conrad from moving up during his prime.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 2:10 PM CST reply actions  

Wladimir Sutil sighting

Using a pinch runner for Maysonet? That’s unusual, isn’t Maysonet fairly quick? To be fair, I guess Sutil is a lot quicker.

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 2:16 PM CST reply actions  

maybe just an effort to get more players in the game? will sutil come in at shortstop?

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 2:17 PM CST up reply actions  

answer my own question…yes, Sutil will play shortstop now, as he catches a pop up.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 2:20 PM CST up reply actions  

terrific play at short by Sutil and great scoop by Shelton, according to Milo…but still no out at 1st base. Raymond speculates that they didn’t get the out because umpire didn’t expect the plays to be made.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 2:23 PM CST up reply actions  

apparently a successful inning by Abad.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions  

Good control as advertised, sounds like. Lot of contact made, though; any swings and misses? I didn’t think so.

by OremLK on Mar 6, 2010 2:27 PM CST up reply actions  

Game over....3-0 win.

Wesley Wright closes out the game.

by clack on Mar 6, 2010 2:41 PM CST reply actions  

Astros win 3-0

First low scoring game of Astros pre-season

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 2:42 PM CST reply actions  

Can anyone explain why Arias of all pitchers got credit for the win?

Oswalt – 2 IP
Fulchino – 1 IP
Arias – 1 IP (1-0)
Sampson – 1 IP
Gervacio – 1 IP
Valdez – 1 IP
Abad – 1 IP
Wright – 1 IP

Is there something special about pitching in the 4th inning?

by goingforthecorner on Mar 6, 2010 4:33 PM CST reply actions  

Taken from MLB’s official rule book:

Section 10.19©(4), Winning and Losing Pitcher:

The winning relief pitcher shall be the one who is the pitcher of record when his team assumes the lead and maintains it to the finish of the game.

Arias pitched the top of the fourth, and the Astros took the lead in the bottom of the fourth and never relinquished it.

The Crawfish Boxes, Astros blogging at its finest.

by Evan Hochschild on Mar 6, 2010 4:42 PM CST up reply actions  

Technically though (I believe)

the winning pitcher must finish the fifth inning, which would make Sampson the winning pitcher.

Maybe they should have given it to Polin Trinidad to make him feel better after his terrible outing Friday.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 8:22 PM CST up reply actions  

Oops - My "Technically though" comment is incorrect

Here’s the official rule (only the starting pitcher must finish the fifth inning):

10.17 Winning And Losing Pitcher
(a) The official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher that pitcher whose team assumes a lead while such pitcher is in the game, or during the inning on offense in which such pitcher is removed from the game, and does not relinquish such lead, unless
(1) such pitcher is a starting pitcher and Rule 10.17(b) applies; or
(2) Rule 10.17© applies.
Rule 10.17(a) Comment: Whenever the score is tied, the game becomes a new contest insofar as the winning pitcher is concerned. Once the opposing team assumes the lead, all pitchers who have pitched up to that point and have been replaced are excluded from being credited with the victory. If the pitcher against whose pitching the opposing team gained the lead continues to pitch until his team regains the lead, which it holds to the finish of the game, that pitcher shall be the winning pitcher.
(b) If the pitcher whose team assumes a lead while such pitcher is in the game, or during the inning on offense in which such pitcher is removed from the game, and does not relinquish such lead, is a starting pitcher who has not completed
(1) five innings of a game that lasts six or more innings on defense, or
(2) four innings of a game that lasts five innings on defense, then the official scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the relief pitcher, if there is only one relief pitcher, or the relief pitcher who, in the official scorer’s judgment was the most effective, if there is more than one relief pitcher.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Mar 6, 2010 8:29 PM CST up reply actions  

If the starter goes less then 5, it’s the official scorer’s choice. Usually the scorer just picks whoever pitched when the team took the lead. Unless that pitcher gave up several runs, then the scorer might pick someone else.

by jmike on Mar 7, 2010 9:48 AM CST up reply actions  

yes…I agree with jmike. And it makes sense that, in the situation where the starter doesn’t last 5 innings, a reliever like Arias, who was the pitcher when the lead was taken, will get the win. After all, if the starter had left after 5 innings with his team behind, the reliever who is the pitcher of record when the team takes the lead (without relinquishing it) will automatically get the win. So scorers are likely to follow that same principle, unless special circumstances exist.

by clack on Mar 7, 2010 11:11 AM CST up reply actions  

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