Astros Begin Second Half With New Lineup, Another Loss As Pirates Win 4-0
by Will Bonn on Jul 15, 2011 9:34 PM CDT
in Houston Astros News
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PrintBrad Mills must honestly be running out of ideas.
He shook up the lineup before tonight's game by moving Matt Downs into the two hole, followed by Jeff Keppinger and then Hunter Pence in the cleanup spot. Pence deserves to be batting fourth by now as he certainly has played well enough to earn it. On the other hand, while I don't personally like Keppinger batting third, there's really no harm in Mills trying to mix things up at this point in the season.
You can attribute the lack of offense to Mills' changes if you want, but I think you have to give credit to Pittsburgh's starter Jeff Karstens. He continued his season-long dominance of the Astros by throwing a complete game shutout, and his numbers against Houston this year (3-0, 0.41 ERA in three starts) are pretty remarkable. Karstens doesn't throw very hard, but he relies on exceptional command and hasn't walked a single batter in his last 16 innings of work.
Although such praise cannot be said about Brett Myers' control, the Astros' right-hander pitched a nice ballgame. He allowed three runs through six innings for his tenth quality start, but the silver lining was his season-high 11 strikeouts. His starts as an Astro could be numbered, and Myers' performance tonight had to impress any scouts in attendance.
Well, I can't say that I was entirely surprised by this evening's outcome. Pittsburgh is turning into a legitimate NL Central contender, and the Astros just have to stand by and watch.
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Agreed.
Call up Martinez, shift the cow to First Base, Voila. Try Wallace at 3rd every once in a while.
If the Astros could show any sign of being ahead, rather than being behind the competition, maybe, just maybe the Astros will be good in the future.... Maybe
Better idea for Mills
Carlos needs to lead off so he’s less likely to have GIDP chances.
by Patrick Harrel on Jul 15, 2011 10:36 PM CDT reply actions
LMAO!!!
Thas funny righ thur.
Question is will the Pirates be a continuous threat now or will they fall out again after this year? I havn’t looked at how old their players are or for how long they’re under contract.
Lineup: I like Downs batting second and I hope we see him there again tomorrow. That’s one thing I liked about Mills last year, he kept mixing up the lineup. Best thing was seeing Carlos out of the 4 spot. I know he’s been better lately but I would like to see him bat 5-6-or 7.
I still think we should hold onto Myers as his value is just now starting to climb and he should be much more valuable in the winter or next July. He needs to prove that the start of the season is not who he is and he is at worst a #3 pitcher and a youngish veteran.
Finally, I don’t think Wallace has an issue with being too comfortable in his spot. I can’t begin to tell you what his problem has been lately but I think its a sincere problem that added pressure won’t help. CJ on the other hand might need to be pushed a little. Once again I don’t think he’s comfortable or not worried about losing his job, but at this point competition might be healthy for him.
Go STROS!!! NO SWEEP!!!!!
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 15, 2011 11:10 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I think the Pirates may fall back some next year. I think their pitching is over-performing, and a lot of the young players in the lineup aren’t all that young. In the long term, whether the Pirates continue to be a contending team will depend on their better prospects who are still in the minors. Their current status in the standings creates a conundrum. Long suffering Pirates fans want management to become buyers at the deadline (I read of fans wanting the Pirates to trade for Keppinger, Pence, or Wandy, among others, by the way). But management probably knows that this is not the core of a long term contender and don’t want to harm their future chances by giving up prospects.
by clack on Jul 16, 2011 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
On the one hand, this argument makes a lot of rational sense
On the flip side, when you’re coming off of 18 consecutive losing seasons, and a winning season—maybe even a postseason berth—is suddenly within reach, holding onto rational sense may be pretty difficult.
http://www.crawfishboxes.com
Pirates are in first place by percentage points, by the way.
by clack on Jul 16, 2011 8:02 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
That would be hilarious
If they traded a bunch of prospects (Id hate to lose guys to a division rival) and wound up back in the same spot they’d been in for years. Prospectless. On the other hand, for as long as they were bad they should have some good talented guys huh?
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 16, 2011 8:19 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I dont think Huntington is stupid though.
He wont trade his premium prospects. I could see them getting a guy like Choate or another BP arm. Probably not a top SP or a big bat. Maybe a super utility guy like Kepp or Carroll too.
by YohannDookeyblue on Jul 16, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Pirate fan here
I don’t think well fall back by that much. Is the pitching overperforming? a bit but regardless they been keeping us into games and even in times we haven’t the bats have stepped in a did there job. The bullpen has been lights out for the most part outside of Joel Hanrahan on Sunday and Jose Veras on Saturday. As for our young guys for baseball there still pretty young with our guys in there mid 20’s so yeah there not Starlin Castro young but still young.
Does all there good stuff depend on what happens on the farm? yes as it’s the success for all sports teams.
In my opinion there shouldn’t go for broke. So many people say we should trade our top guys like Sterling Marte or Stetson Allie and i’m againist that because although this year is great, this is not our time that will be when guys like Allie, Tallion and Luis Heredia are here. Plus for his faults Neal Huntington isn’t a idiot, he’s the reason the farm is slowing getting depth and he’s the person that assembled the pitching staff. It’s guys like Dave Littlefield who made bad deal over bad deals (trading Keppinger when he was a prospect along with #1 pick bust Kris Benson to the Mets for Ty Wigginton is a grest example right there) is one of the reason our farm was garbage when Huntington came in.
Astros fans here will probally say i’m bias and my judgement is clouded but i’m calling it like I see it.
by Bradley James McEachern on Jul 18, 2011 1:25 AM CDT up reply actions
I mean he only has 7
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jul 16, 2011 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Altuve
So I noticed altuve didn’t play again, do you think maybe he tweaked a hamstring or something earlier this week when he was pulled from the game “for not running a play out”?
by Astro Dave88 on Jul 15, 2011 11:10 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
lawless said hes gonna rest him cause his legs are about 70-80% exhausted
Hes worn out he said
If i were Arnold Rothstein id pay Ryan Braun all the money he
wants to stop going on homer streaks against the poor Astros....
am i the only one?
by ccislanders on Jul 16, 2011 2:33 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
altuve is exhausted and his legs are only at 70-80%
If i were Arnold Rothstein id pay Ryan Braun all the money he
wants to stop going on homer streaks against the poor Astros....
am i the only one?
by ccislanders on Jul 16, 2011 2:44 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Legs at only 70 or 80 percent when they are already 20 to 40 percent shorter than most makes him twice as exhausted.
by conroestro on Jul 16, 2011 3:05 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Perhaps he should just try to get fewer hits
Running the bases 2-3 times per game surely takes its toll
"Hats for bats, keep bats warm."
by El Speverino on Jul 16, 2011 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh,
And key things I’m looking for in the coming weeks:
Wandy to turn on the second half jets.
Bourn to show he can hit, both righties and lefties.
Kepp to keep up with the doubles and multi-hit games.
Pence to continue to lead this team by example
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 15, 2011 11:13 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
These are all things I hope happen...
To increase all of their trade values.
I want to sell sell sell to ensure a first round pick.
Oh, Its Gonna Happen...
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 15, 2011 11:54 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Wheres Mighty Mouse?
Why didnt he play again today?
by YohannDookeyblue on Jul 15, 2011 11:49 PM CDT reply actions
Just found on twitter
Altuve dislocated his ankle, out 6-8 months!!!
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 15, 2011 11:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
July Fools!
Just kidding, but see that sick empty feeling in your stomach just goes to show you how much we all love “The Little Engine”
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 15, 2011 11:59 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
We dint take too kindly to altuve injury jokes around here…
That talk will get you banned…it’s gonna happen!!! Lol
by Subber10 on Jul 16, 2011 12:08 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Jeez don’t scare us like that, I was actually seriously worried lol
by Woodlands'stro on Jul 16, 2011 12:41 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Dustin Kellogg
I mentioned it on the minor league recap yesterday (that I didn’t get around to responding to until midnight) but I will get some more info on this kid. The guy I know is the Caney Creek high school varsity assistant coach and when we talked about Kellogg after he was drafted he stated that the kid had tremendous upside, but mainly discussed his attitude.
by conroestro on Jul 16, 2011 3:09 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Caballo
Moving him down to fifth highlight of the night. I hope Downs gets a few starts to prove what he can do.
Making the push again FIRESALE!
Firesale! Everyone must go!
Astos county
Reported that the Astros will stay aggressive with two of their HS picks, guessing its Stubblefield and Flamion. Poor Wallace Gonzalez, he still has a chance right?
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 16, 2011 5:21 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Doubtfull but if we get those too i am fine with sacing wallace conzalez
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jul 16, 2011 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Agreed, of the 3 WG is the lesser prospect
Did we draft any power arms other than Armstrong this year? As of right now the only power arm I can think of in the minors is Bushue and he’s had some issues huh?
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 16, 2011 5:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Depends on what you consider a power arm
Houser can Hit 95 and im sure by the time he makes it to the Majors if he does he will sit around there to 97
Firesale! Everyone must go!
by astrosfan1989 on Jul 16, 2011 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Meh...good enough
I was thinking guys that average 96+, not just hit it. From what I’ve seen lately guys are taking a few MPH off of their FB to get better control. For a guy throwing 98 to drop it down to a 95 and locate it perfectly would make for a great pitcher. Just thinking
by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 16, 2011 5:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Folty can do that.
Although I think he sits around 92. Apparently Houser sits around 90 or 91 right now. Dustin Kellogg, our new signee, will be hitting mid 90’s very soon. And Jack Armstrong Jr. (if we get him signed) is a 93- 95 guy I believe.
Slowly, but surely/
by YohannDookeyblue on Jul 16, 2011 11:29 PM CDT reply actions
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