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| Jorge Sosa | Roy Oswalt |
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13 - 3, 2.55 1.39 WHIP |
20 - 12, 2.94 1.20 WHIP |
First, an invocation from the truest, most dead-on blog entry concerning the Astros that I have ever had the good fortune to read:
Mostly, when I think about the Astros these days, I mostly think OH MY GOD I HOPE THEY WIN PLEASE LET THEM WIN PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Which does not exactly elevate the level of discourse.That's the late and lamented throws like a girl, folks, writing at some point during last year's agonizing playoff march. This postseason would be that much better if her slightly askew voice were here to describe it.
Come back from the Dark Side, we beg you, TLAG. Ron Santo's charms are, you will find, only illusory.
But anyway.
I've spent the day doing whatever it is that I can to distract myself from the incredible importance of tonight's pivotal* contest. I tend to obsess, you see, and I just figured it'd be healthier.
So I've spent the day reading about avant saxophonist John Zorn and listening to low rock pioneers Morphine. I've mowed the lawn, gone shopping, tried to sell some baseball cards, and eaten a quarter pound of Hershey's Special Dark.
And I'm still possessed of an inordinate amount of excess nervous energy. I get up from the computer chair, walk across the house to no purpose, come back and sit down again. I've checked the mailbox five times. Even the cats as they chase each other from room to room for no apparent reason think I'm wired.
PLEASE LET THEM WIN.
How is it that Jorge Sosa finished with a lower ERA than Oswalt? Despite the advantage that Roy takes in WHIP, is it possible that we DON'T have the pitching matchup tonight?
Sosa was moved into the rotation after the Braves had completed their season slate against the Astros, but he did get into three games as a reliever, giving up one of Willy T's three home runs, compiling a 6.00 ERA, and striking out four in three innings. He grabbed his first win of the season in relief of Tim Hudson and Chris Reitsma in that epically frustrating showdown with Clemens April 18.
PLEASE LET SOSA GET LIT UP BY THE ASTROS.
Oswalt, meanwhile, is 0 - 1 with a 12.60 this year and 0 - 2 with an 11.43 career vs. the Braves. He is, however, 12 - 2 with a 2.52 at home, and did not face the Braves at Minute Maid this year.
PLEASE LET ROY PITCH WELL.
Mike Lamb was 5 for 15 against the Braves during the regular season but, as you can see from the composite box downbelow, has yet to swing the bat in this series. He is 1 for 1 with two walks and an RBI against Sosa. So good time, huh Phil? And can we please move Everett down to number eight?
PLEASE LET ENSBERG OR BERKMAN HOMER.
OR BOTH OF THEM, SINCE I'M ASKING.
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* The official site uses this word, too. So it's not just me.