Wandy Rodriguez' arm + Pedro Feliz' power = Astros win #7
by Evan Hochschild on Apr 24, 2010 9:06 PM CDT
in Houston Astros Events
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What a truly odd, odd game.
Things started off with Pirate starting pitcher Chris Jakubauskas taking a Lance Berkman line drive off the back of his head. It was one of those stop and stare moments where you couldn't believe what had just transpired. Last report has Jakubauskas at Methodist Hospital receiving treatment. Hopefully he is doing as well as could be expected at this point. If we didn't already know that baseball is a cruel game, we certainly found that out tonight, as Chris took the loss in this game- the ultimate example of adding insult to injury.
Well wishes for Mr. Jakubauskas aside, there was a baseball game to be played, and the Astros played it in fairly dominant fashion. The batter following Lance Berkman in the first inning, Hunter Pence, laced a double down the left field line to score Berkman and Michael Bourn.
Among those hits was Pedro Feliz' first home run as an Astro- a towering shot to left center that banged off the facade above the visiting bullpen. I guess the three hole suits him quite well.
Anyway, every Astro starter collected a hit, even Wandy Rodriguez. The Wand man went 7.1 innings, walked just one batter while striking out seven. His first win of the season came in his first start where the Astros actually scored runs while he was in the game. So, unless I'm missing something here, the Astros cannot lose if they score runs for Wandy. If there's any sort of fallacy to that logic I'm not seeing it. Brad Mills is certainly getting his 15 million dollar's worth out of Brandon Lyon- he pitched again tonight and struck out both batters he faced. That's when the game got interesting...
Matt Lindstrom was looking like his usual filthy self to start out the ninth innnig. He struck out Garrett Jones and induced a Lastings Milledge grounder to first and all seemed right with the world. Andy LaRoche, Ryan Doumit and Delwyn Young weren't all that impressed though, as each proceeded to get on base after those first two outs. Luckily, Lance Berkman is a pitcher-whisperer and he said the right things to calm down Laser Lindstrom because Ronny Cedeno flew out to Hunter Pence to end the game.
7-10. Another series sweep opportunity tomorrow. Inching closer to respectability. Bright sunshine and Brett Myers seems like a good combination for a Sunday afternoon.
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8th inning for Corpus Christi - Koby Clemens does it again
Double and a homer tonight for the Hooks. Shuck maintains his on-base ways with a hit and a walk.
Some of these Hooks pitchers are due for some regression, as their earned run averages are great all around, but only a few guys have above average K/BB ratios (among them Jordan Lyles, who has been lights out). Such is the case for Sergio Perez tonight, who walks 5(!) and strikes out nobody, yet only gives up one run. That’s some luck if I ever saw it.
I was waiting til after the game since Clemons is due up in the 9th but you beat me to it. I think its worth noting that Clemons played 3d last night i think it was. Perez’s night seemed really odd. He also didn’t induce any GIDP either making his LOB% really high. Basically coming down to what you said..luck. A few other things i noticed, Gastons lack of…well anything at the plate has been very disappointing. But, he did hit a triple tonight which could be a hint of a little power coming back? Also him and shuck switched positions tonight with Gaston in right and Shuck in left. Henry Villar in 1.1 innings had 1 walk and 2 strikeouts no hits no runs. Matt Nevarez 1 h 1 run no BB 1 strikeouts in 2 innings.
Interesting, didn’t know that about Koby getting a game at third. It would be great if he could find a way to improve and stick there even if he’s a little below average in the long run.
Someone's got to find a permanent position for Koby Clemens
He’s a hitter
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 24, 2010 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
In all liklihood its going to be 1B, even if he is a little small for the position. There is no future for him at catcher. The outfield is too crowded for the FO to add to the mix. The FO believes if CJ and hes starting to make me believer as well. Jonathan Meyer is also showing up in Lexington and making himself a legitimate prospect as well. There’s not really any real 1B prospects since JD Martinez still has a chance at LF.
I could see Clemens being used as a bench player in the Blum or Lamb mold. He can play the corner infield positions, and he can play LF. He can also be a third string catcher. He may not play any of those positions really well, but he may be good enough at each position to be a tolerable fielder as super-sub. One reason I mention this is that Koby said Ricky Bennett told him last summer that the ability to play multiple positions could be his quickest way to the majors. Clemens may play mostly 1st base in Corpus, but I read one report that the Astros also told him that he would be playing with all of his gloves for the Hooks.
If his bat continues to improve and hit the way he is currently this year and like last year, and i still have some hope for his plate discipline to improve. He’s gone the wrong way this year at 32%k-rate from last years 25% k-rate. Sample size is too small to draw any kind of conclusion yet, but he really has to get this under control or he will not be a major league regular. I’d be really happy with his bat at 3b and his offensive production could easily make up for his defensive deficincies.
As much as I like Koby Clemens
I think sooner or later the Astros will trade him to an American League team.
(Giants just beat the Cardinals 2-0)
Birmingham Weatherman talking about green lightning
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 24, 2010 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Say...
Carlos Lee and Koby Clemens to the NYY for Phil Hughes, David Robertson, and Dellian Betances?
Yes, I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I know we’re short on bats, but it would be awesome to grab a mess of arms, and I figure El Caballo wouldn’t veto pinstripes.
Lee probably vetoes a trade to anywhere. But I don’t think the Yankees have a want or need for Carlos Lee.
Not only will Carlos Lee not waive his NTC, nobody is going to want him (even if we pay half his salary) until he proves he can still hit this season. It would be different if he were in his late 20s and in reasonable shape, but there are going to be serious concerns that he’s fallen off a cliff this year given his obesity and age.
True
I am assuming he will return to form, hitting-wise, by the end of the year.
I’m dreaming here, obviously. But a lineup with all other things being equal of Granderson, Jeter, A-Rod, Teixeira, Lee, Posada, Cano, Swisher, and Nick Johnson/Brett Gardener (depending on if Lee DHs) means the Yankees are fantastic, and I know Carlos seems lazy, but he hasn’t won a ring, and I hope that winning a championship would be an inspirational objective.
If I’m the Yankees, I probably prefer Nick Johnson over Lee as the DH. And I certainly would keep him over Lee when the salary is taken into account. Lee has a mediocre OBP, and the Yankees highly value that quality in their lineup.
Okay
So maybe Nick Johnson would have to be injured to make this dream scenario a reality, but that isn’t the least likely thing in the world.
My only point is that the Yankees probably aren’t the best target for trading Lee. The Red Sox probably are more in need of DH help than the Yankees. However, they already have contracts with Lowell and Ortiz that they would have to get out of, in some way. The Red Sox have their budget limits—they wouldn’t sign Jason Bay for less money than Lee makes—so Lee’s salary would be a problem for them.
You’re right, the Yankees don’t make the most sense from a “need” standpoint, but to me they make the most sense when you look at the amount of salary that might need to be absorbed, the ever-present need to add a big bat for the playoffs, the necessity of having a DH position which Lee can utilize from time to time, and the players that we might want in return that may be expendable due to other possible talent on their farm.
New York
Might get tired of Brett Gardener. I know he seems like a decent guy, keeps his head down, works hard and all, but putting a healthy hitting Carlos Lee in that lineup really puts them over the top to where you can’t pitch effectively to the lineup most days.
I also think some of their pitchers are expendable, especially if Andrew Brackman ends up being the pitching prospect they think he is.
I’m sure they can find better options than Lee. I very much doubt they want a defensive liability like him out there, especially given the concerns I mentioned above.
Also, I think any trade of Koby Clemens right now is going to be selling low. He’s still not being taken seriously as a prospect.
I don’t think that Koby would have much of a future with the Yankees. Jesus Montero is in AAA, and he one of the top hitting prospects in baseball. He also is similar to Koby as a position-less player. Montero will be the first call up if the Yanks have an injury in the DH position.
Montero
is pretty locked-in as the heir apparent to Posada at catcher, I don’t really see him as position-less.
And I think the Yankees are the only other team than us who receive the added attention from fans of Roger Clemens, that little extra PR boost, you know?
I know this is a shot in the dark. I’m saying, the Yankees would be improving their team while we’d be improving ours.
Okay
I haven’t seen that, other than the normal griping and difference of opinion. Not to mention Montero has never even been tried at another position during a minor league game so far in his career with the Yankees.
I understand that some people don’t think he will cut it, but it’s not like the Yankee’s FO is having him play a little in LF or at 1B sometimes just in case.
I was at the Hooks game in Frisco.
Saw Koby’s homer, and got his autograph (and a picture with him) after the game. He looked really good at the plate tonight.
"In the biographies of men and nations, success often arrives in a mask of failure"
by hunterpencefan on Apr 24, 2010 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Koby seems to have very quick hands. Michael Garciaparra made a heck of a defensive play at 2nd, starter Sergio Perez looked very solid, and catcher Lou Santangelo drew 2 or 3 walks. We need more of this kind of discipline! Overall, the Hooks looked really solid as a team, and were fun to watch.
"In the biographies of men and nations, success often arrives in a mask of failure"
by hunterpencefan on Apr 25, 2010 1:23 AM CDT up reply actions
Michael Bourn led off the first inning with a single this time not a walk
(and the Sirens indicating a Tornado Warning here in Birmingham) (TV weatherman says don’t worry (yet) if you live where I live. The warning is for places five miles north of here But if you live near the Drummond Switch Cutoff (wherever that is ) or Sumiton take cover now.)
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 24, 2010 10:31 PM CDT reply actions
thanks for pointing that out, and...
yikes!
The Crawfish Boxes, Astros blogging at its finest.
by Evan Hochschild on Apr 24, 2010 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Cardinals lost tonight 2-0 against SF
Apparently a great pitcher’s duel, Barry Zito went eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts, and the Giants managed to scrape together a couple runs late in the game off some luck and bad defense to put away Wainwright.
That means we’re only 2.5 games out of first in the division.
Good news: Sounds like Chris Jakubauskas is going to be OK
CAT scan and xrays negative on jakubauskas
Charlie Morton, the presumed Pirates Starter Sunday
is having a nightmare of a start this season.
He has pitched 10.1 innings total in his three starts.
His record is 0-3.
His ERA is16.55
and his WHIP is 2.61.
Opponents are batting .433 against him.
He’s given up 4 homeruns.
Astros fan for life
by Joe in Birmingham on Apr 25, 2010 12:44 AM CDT reply actions
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Current Series
3 game series vs Dodgers @ Dodger Stadium
| Fri 05/25 |
WP: Lucas Harrell (4 - 3)
SV: Brett Myers LP: Clayton Kershaw (4 - 2) |
3 - 1 win |
| Sat 05/26 |
WP: Kenley Jansen (4 - 0)
LP: Wesley Wright (0 - 1) |
3 - 6 loss |
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Houston Astros
Sunday, May 27, 2012, 3:10 PM CDT Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 75. |
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
26 | 20 | .565 | 0 | Won 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
25 | 22 | .531 | 1.5 | Lost 3 |
|
Houston
|
22 | 24 | .478 | 4 | Lost 1 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
22 | 24 | .478 | 4 | Won 2 |
|
Milwaukee
|
19 | 27 | .413 | 7 | Lost 1 |
|
Chicago
|
15 | 31 | .326 | 11 | Lost 11 |
(updated 5.27.2012 at 1:03 AM CDT)
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