Everyone Hates Brett, Astros Lose 7-5
by David Coleman on May 21, 2011 3:14 PM CDT
in Houston Astros News
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PrintAfter Myers gives up the three-run home run to Jose Bautista, but then finishes the sixth, why wasn't he taken out?
At that point, Houston still had a 4-3 lead. Myers' pitch count wasn't up, but he wasn't striking anyone out. So, why does Mills leave him in for that pivotal seventh inning? Was the bullpen too depleted after Friday's heavy usage? Does he just not trust Jeff Fulchino enough to get the job done?
Because, as it stands right now, the Houston bullpen should be good for the last three innings. Pick any one of the lesser relievers for the seventh inning, bring in Lopez for the eighth and Shark for the ninth. Voila, the Astros have a victory.
But, because Myers is the nominal ace of this staff and prides himself on pitching deep into games, he was probably given the benefit of the doubt. He went out for that seventh and couldn't finish the deal. That's on Myers as much as it is Mills.
But, if we're to assume that the bullpen's usage factored into the decision not to pull Myers sooner, we need to ask a different question. Should Myers be throwing after Aneury or whoever the fifth starter will be? That fifth guy usually is the weakest link, usually needs the most help from the bullpen and generally cannot pitch deep into games. You assume your ace can, saving up the bullpen for the next guy.
But, Myers has had that trend of breaking down late this season. So, wouldn't he be better off pitching removed from that fifth spot? Switch up Wandy and Myers next time the Astros have an off-day and we can solve half of this equation. Then, it's no longer about bullpen usage issues, but on how Brad Mills handles his erstwhile staff ace. And that may be the first major beef I have with Millsy.
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This is why managers look bad on bad teams.
The bullpen has not been good this year and is not held in very high regard by anyone. Fulchino or any of the lesser relievers are not going to make anybody feel safe with a one run lead. We don’t know exactly what would have happened had the bullpen come in. If the bullpen comes in and gives up the lead, and Myers had thrown 90 pitches through 6 innings, then people are going to be irate that Mills took Myers out early just to have Fulchino or Valdez blow the lead. It is not an easy job for Mills, right now. He either has to trust Myers or his bullpen, and he trusted Myers. Giving up a home run to Bautista isn’t exactly rare, and the guy had pitched pretty well. I don’t particularly think Mills is a great manager or even good, but it’s tough to judge a guy that has to work around so many land mines.
Well I guess since he is still deemed the "Ace" of the staff
Even if he hasn’t lived up to it like he did last year, I still give him the benefit of the doubt when he says he can go one more. Bautista is a FREAK and is capable of hitting just about anyone out of the park. I don’t blame Myers for that. He got out of the inning and came back either weak or rattled. I don’t know what I can say about Mills either. Its not like Brett was waving his arms and screaming to get Mills attention. If Brett was missing Q should have gone out as a warning sign and talked with him IMO.
Oh well they had me worried yesterday that they might look to jeopardize our future #1 overall draft pick with that win yesterday.
by Its Gonna Happen on May 21, 2011 3:54 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Even before
BAutista hit that moonshot off Myers, I was calling to take him out of the game. He was giving up well hit balls, then Mills sends him out there again? It was painfully obvious that the Jays had figured him out, I mean they only saw him once or twice before this, so they studied him, and you could tell they had his number man.
Attention Brad Mills, you dont send your subpar #1 starter out there for a seventh inning against a powerful AL East team when he just got rocked up and down the previous inning.
by YohannDookeyblue on May 21, 2011 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions
random question from a cards fan
hi all
i’m going to the series cardinals at astros this summer, and i was wondering what minute maid is like. I’m thinking section 313, has anyone been in that level to know how well you can see the field, I know some seating charts are deceiving. Thanks!
First of all, sorry to hear youre a Cards fan...
Second, you’re in luck, Minute Maid Park is a good place to watch a game. Unless you’re upper deck (which you won’t be) you get a pretty clear view of the game. You may want to bring some binoculars since you are the third section up, but if you don’t mind standing I like to stand along the wall in left center field (you know, right below where Pujols ended Lidges Astro career…). I recomend everybody at least check out the view. Anyways have fun getting spanked, I’ll be the one at the game yelling at everyone in a STL shirt…
by Its Gonna Happen on May 21, 2011 6:05 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
thanks, so it is pretty far then-binoculars?
My brother said he was going to look for the Pujols monument. I swear, every telecast game since whenever they face each other, or especially Pujols vs Lidge.. “let’s look back to the 05 playoffs andy pettite” no one remembers the astros won. everyone remembers the homer. Anyways you can walk to left center field and hangout there too? sounds good. Look forward to the game.
Per Rosenthal
Three different scouts say the Phillies have been asking about Pence. In the unlikely case that we traded with them yet again, what would you want? Ask for the moon and demand Dom Brown and more in return for sending out Pence, who is obviously a good, fairly cost-controlled player in his prime?
Rosenthal doubts it would happen, and I agree, but I’m not sure I would extend Hunter either when the time comes. More players who can contribute cheaply in 2-4 years time would be welcome in the Astros’ situation.
And trading with the Phillies again? Mehhh
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
I thought the phillies system was pretty much gutted?
Besides I really don’t want to trade with any NL teams let alone the Phillies! I hate having to see our home grown boys playing with our rivals. Roy-O, Berkman, Lidge… sucks to see them succeed against us.
by Its Gonna Happen on May 22, 2011 2:45 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Still a solid system
Brown, Singleton, Colvin, Cosart all top 50 prospects (or at least on the borderline).
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
Felipe Paulino got designated for assignment.
I think we should pick him up, because if nothing else, it’s like we got Barmes for free.
by MadMartygan on May 22, 2011 12:21 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Power arm sounds good. Barmes for nothing sounds better.
by conroestro on May 22, 2011 2:43 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Keep him in the bullpen and he has the potential to add to the potential lights out bullpen…
by Its Gonna Happen on May 22, 2011 2:46 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I knew he wouldn’t last in Colo, as soon as I saw they were putting him in the pen. Remember he repeatedly failed in bullpen attempts here. I’m all for swiping him back, but only if we try the starter experiment again. Otherwise we don’t need another guy to come in and blow the game…
I think that’s probably right. Some pitchers just aren’t suited to the bullpen, either due to repertoire, mentality, or time required to warm up. I recall that Mills said that Paulino can’t warm up quickly in the bullpen for relief work. I wouldn’t be surprised if Paulino is one of those players who performs better if he has the mental preparation associated with starting. (Some relief pitchers perform better because they don’t have too much time to think about it.) Aneury Rodriguez seems to be another pitcher who performs better as a starter instead of reliever.
by clack on May 22, 2011 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
With all the rope he's gotten, it's like he's hung himself 5 times over.
When is he finally going to figure it out?
Super Bowl XLV Champions, the Green Bay Packers!
It seems like Mills and Arnsberg have been trying to give Lopez a day or more off between bullpen stints. I recall reading a quote from Mills that Lopez has to be used carefully because he has some soreness after pitching. If that is what influenced yesterday’s decision, then you are looking at middle relievers like Valdez, Del Rosario coming in. Frankly, the the bullpen is so bad that even a tired Myers going against a AL East lineup has a better chance than anybody but the two back end pitchers (Lopez and Melancon).
by clack on May 22, 2011 8:13 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Didn’t somebody just make the comment the other day that a tired Wandy is better than our bullpen and pretty much everybody on hear had a different opinion on that? Deja Vu?
by Its Gonna Happen on May 23, 2011 12:57 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I think it makes a difference whether the game is at a stage to bring in the late inning relievers as opposed to the middle relievers.
by clack on May 23, 2011 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
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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 |
|
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. |
||
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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