6-25-08 Rangers v. Astros

[BudGirl]

Is no one around today?

I've been gone for awhile and have no clue what has been going on since Thursday night.

Anyone willing to give me the 411?   

[moriartp]

1-0 Rangers after 1, Spaz just grounded out with the bases loaded to end the first.


Rangers scored on triple and sac fly leading off the top of the first.

[Twoniner]

 This Feldman cat needs a fine for slow play.

[Ty in Tampa]

Ty Tyson reference. Sweet.

[moriartp]

Rangers

Kinsler 2B (1-1, triple)
Vazquez 3B (0-0, sac fly)
Young SS (0-1)
Murphy RF (0-1)
Byrd CF (0-1)
Catalanotto 1B (0-1)
Ramirez C (1-1, single)
Boggs LF (0-1)
Feldman P

Astros

Bourn CF (1-1, single)
Loretta 2B (0-1)
Tejada SS (1-1, single)
Berkman 1B (0-1)
Lee LF (0-0, intentional BB)
Pence RF (0-1)
Wigginton 3B (0-0, BB)
Ausmus C
Oswalt P


So far.

[Ty in Tampa]

Is no one around today?

I've been gone for awhile and have no clue what has been going on since Thursday night.

Anyone willing to give me the 411?  

2 out of 3 from the Rays over the weekend. A win last night.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Ty Tyson reference. Sweet.

I was wondering if you heard that.

[BudGirl]

2 out of 3 from the Rays over the weekend. A win last night.

Matsui on the DL?  Shacon suspended indefinitely.  Leave the city and the wins come but drama ensues?

[BudGirl]

i love that fucking kid

[OregonStrosFan]

Nice 2 run knock by Bourn!

[Ty in Tampa]

Matsui on the DL?  Shacon suspended indefinitely.  Leave the city and the wins come but drama ensues?

Hurt his hammy running out a grounder on Sunday. Chacon's pissed he ain't startin'. The suspension is new news.

[Ty in Tampa]

The Rays just dropped a 10-run soupbone on the Marlins in the 5th.

[BudGirl]

Did you make it to all three games this past weekend?

[Ty in Tampa]

Did you make it to all three games this past weekend?

Yes I did. I had tickets in a corporate suite for the loss so I'll never do that again.

[OregonStrosFan]

The suspension is new news.

Very new news...  Here is the Chron.com LINK.

A little over an hour after he was involved in a heated confrontion in the Astros' clubhouse, righthander Shawn Chacon was suspended indefinitely by the Astros.

As the Astros were closing their clubhouse to prepare for their game against the Texas Rangers tonight, Chacon, who recently lost his spot in the rotation, exploded and players had to step in to calm the situation, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

[Ty in Tampa]

Did you make it to all three games this past weekend?

Where were you?

[BudGirl]

NYC, the Big Apple, Manhattan, Brooklyn.  I am so sick of walking.

It was great fun though.  At least my leaving town scared the Astros into winning.

[BudGirl]

And thanks for writing Friday's recap.

[remy]

The Rays just dropped a 10-run soupbone on the Marlins in the 5th.

Nice.  Still can't believe we took 2/3 from those guys, they're damn good.

[Ty in Tampa]

NYC, the Big Apple, Manhattan, Brooklyn.  I am so sick of walking.

It was great fun though.  At least my leaving town scared the Astros into winning.

Sounds like it was. I leave Friday for the Bahamas.

And thanks for writing Friday's recap.

My pleasure.

[Ty in Tampa]

Nice.  Still can't believe we took 2/3 from those guys, they're damn good.

They got a little lucky last night but they're punking them tonight.

[OregonStrosFan]

Anyone willing to give me the 411?

The Astros stayed in a haunted hotel in Tampa and must have had the shit[ty play] scared out of 'em...  They have played 4 1-run games in a row, winning 3 (4-3, 3-2 and 4-3) and losing 1 (3-4).  Someone found the real Roy in the trunk of a 1969 Buick Skylark and Backe beat Kazmir. 

Rangers series: Puma reappeared last night (but folks are still looking for Miggy) and Hamilton disappeared (hammy?).  Bradley's not playing so Milo should be safe, but Rangers catchers are making sure Bourn is anything but...

[BudGirl]

Sounds like it was. I leave Friday for the Bahamas.

My pleasure.

Fun in the sun.  How long are you going to be there?  I"m ready for some relaxing beach time.

[Ty in Tampa]

Fun in the sun.  How long are you going to be there?  I"m ready for some relaxing beach time.

5 days at Sandals. We got a free stay from one of our clients. First time I've ever...Ausmus just got it in the junk...done an all-inclusive.

[Ty in Tampa]

Max to the Max. 2-run home run.

[Ty in Tampa]

Jebus, how many HRs has Oswalt given up?

[OregonStrosFan]

Jebus, how many HRs has Oswalt given up?

A ton, but the homer tonight was "only" his 2nd in the past 5 games.

[homer]

Jebus, how many HRs has Oswalt given up?

Myers 23
Backe 20
Roy 18
Cueto 18

[MRaup]

A ton, but the homer tonight was "only" his 2nd in the past 5 games.

Oswalt's specialty this season (other than getting mashed all over the place) is getting a small lead then promptly coughing it back up.

[BudGirl]

5 days at Sandals. We got a free stay from one of our clients. First time I've ever...Ausmus just got it in the junk...done an all-inclusive.

I'll kiss it and make it better.


Wait is that TMI?

[Ty in Tampa]

Zobrist just homered for the Rays.

[OregonStrosFan]

Wait is that TMI?

Presumed in any event...

[remy]

What exactly was Carlos arguing there?

[pravata]

Whether the foul hit the ground first.  Is Dreckman allowed to touch Lee?

[HudsonHawk]

Whether the foul hit the ground first.

Which it did.

  Is Dreckman allowed to touch Lee?

Apparently so.

[pravata]

Bart Ennis thinks that people are going to come to the game Thursday to get a free Chik Fil-a sammich.  "No cheating and leaving before 8:00"  he chortled.  Quite the caper.  I dont think anyone has scored this type of loot since the early days of the Hamburgler.

[pravata]

Apparently so.

I dont [think] that's fair.

[BUWebguy]

I dont [think] that's fair.

What happened?

[Twoniner]

Could Washington be dumb enough to pinch hit for this pitcher?   

[pravata]

What happened?

Nothing.  Lee was arguing about the foul tip and home plate ump Dreckman reached out an put his hand on Lee's arm.  It was nothing.  But if Lee had done it to Dreckman, fine and suspension.

[HudsonHawk]

What happened?

As Carlos was arguing the call, he turned to point at the other ump (as if to ask for help), and the home plate ump simply put his hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

[remy]

As Carlos was arguing the call, he turned to point at the other ump (as if to ask for help), and the home plate ump simply put his hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

A tale of 2 Carloses.

[mihoba]

C'mon Bourn, get the freakin' bunt down!

[MRaup]

C'mon Bourn, get the freakin' bunt down!

That was piss fucking poor.

[austro]

Fresno State just beat Georgia 6-1. The ESPN crew were interviewing Fresno players after the game, and they asked Mendonca (the 3B) what he did to catch fire in Omaha. His response? "Lay off the curve balls in the dirt." Sage advice.

[OregonStrosFan]

That was piss fucking poor.

YET AGAIN

[austro]

Ok, Miggy, time to do something useful.

[austro]

YET AGAIN

I wonder if we'll get a promise from Coop that there won't be any more popped up bunts this year.

[BudGirl]

Tejada's at-bat was worse.

[Ron Brand]

Man, that was just embarrassing.

[austro]

Aaaaarrrrggghhhhh

[MRaup]

Miggy is getting worse and worse at the plate lately.

[Ron Brand]

Miggy is getting worse and worse at the plate lately.

I haven't paid enough attention lately but it seems like he's not interested in getting his pitch but in just trying to hit something.

[austro]

I haven't paid enough attention lately but it seems like he's not interested in getting his pitch but in just trying to hit something.

I think they've quit throwing him that high, outside pitch that he was poking into right field pretty regularly. Now they're daring him to hit the low ball, and so far he's been unable to do it.

[OregonStrosFan]

JdJO on the Chacon/Wade confrontation (LINK):

He started yelling and cussing," Chacon said of Wade. "I’m sitting there and I said to him very calmly, ‘Ed, you need to stop yelling me. Then I stood up and said 'you better stop yelling at me.' I stood up. He continued and was basically yelling and stuff and was like, ‘You need to (expletive) look in the mirror.’ So at that point I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him because at that point I wanted to beat his (butt). Words were exchanged.”

The story goes on to say that Chacon knows he's done for the year, and wonders if he's done for good.

[Ron Brand]

That's pretty amazing.  Wade was remarkably composed for someone who was yelling at a guy who then grabs him and throws him on the ground just a few minutes before his press conference.

[pravata]

JdJO on the Chacon/Wade confrontation (LINK):

He started yelling and cussing," Chacon said of Wade. "I’m sitting there and I said to him very calmly, ‘Ed, you need to stop yelling me. Then I stood up and said 'you better stop yelling at me.' I stood up. He continued and was basically yelling and stuff and was like, ‘You need to (expletive) look in the mirror.’ So at that point I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him because at that point I wanted to beat his (butt). Words were exchanged.”

The story goes on to say that Chacon knows he's done for the year, and wonders if he's done for good.

They seriously miss Jeff Bagwell.

[Ron Brand]

They seriously miss Jeff Bagwell.

Man.  You really hit the nail on the head.  We all miss Jeff Bagwell.

[MRaup]

Remember that time that the Rangers had a bunch of shitty nobodies and has beens in their bullpen, and they dominated the Astro badasses?

That was awesome.

[MRaup]

Remember that time that the Rangers had a bunch of shitty nobodies and has beens in their bullpen, and they dominated the Astro badasses?

That was awesome.

And another thing... Our 6 hole hitters don't drive in nearly enough runs.

[OregonStrosFan]

C'mon SPAZ!

[astrojo]

JdJO on the Chacon/Wade confrontation (LINK):

He started yelling and cussing," Chacon said of Wade. "I’m sitting there and I said to him very calmly, ‘Ed, you need to stop yelling me. Then I stood up and said 'you better stop yelling at me.' I stood up. He continued and was basically yelling and stuff and was like, ‘You need to (expletive) look in the mirror.’ So at that point I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him because at that point I wanted to beat his (butt). Words were exchanged.”

The story goes on to say that Chacon knows he's done for the year, and wonders if he's done for good.

What a loser.  Getting paid 2 million dollars and doesn't come when he's called.  

[mihoba]

Fuck!!!

[MRaup]

GOD DAMNIT the Rangers are a bunch of lucky fucks.

[pravata]

Abercrombie just runs doesnt he.

[BudGirl]

Fuck!!!

double fuck

[austro]

I thought Spaz had tied things up there.

[Jacksonian]

JdJO on the Chacon/Wade confrontation (LINK):

He started yelling and cussing," Chacon said of Wade. "I’m sitting there and I said to him very calmly, ‘Ed, you need to stop yelling me. Then I stood up and said 'you better stop yelling at me.' I stood up. He continued and was basically yelling and stuff and was like, ‘You need to (expletive) look in the mirror.’ So at that point I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him because at that point I wanted to beat his (butt). Words were exchanged.”

The story goes on to say that Chacon knows he's done for the year, and wonders if he's done for good.

They just needed something to pull it all together.  Tomorrow Wade will be unveiling the "Chacon Strip-o Cardboard Cutout".  Apparently JackAstro has already been contacted to create the Chacon design.

[Ron Brand]

Hard to imagine a team more snakebit than the Astros today.

[austro]

Abercrombie just runs doesnt he.

Yeah, I don't get the impression that there's a whole lot of thinking going on there.

[pravata]

Yeah, I don't get the impression that there's a whole lot of thinking going on there.

little league, wait until the ball clears the infield.

[MRaup]

Holy smokes. Catalanato wasn't going to make it to the base without some supreme effort after that slide.

[austro]

Holy smokes. Catalanato wasn't going to make it to the base without some supreme effort after that slide.

Needs to recalibrate his GPS.

[mihoba]

little league, wait until the ball clears the infield.

Fundamentals are severely lacking on several Astro players.

[BudGirl]

JdJO on the Chacon/Wade confrontation (LINK):

He started yelling and cussing," Chacon said of Wade. "I’m sitting there and I said to him very calmly, ‘Ed, you need to stop yelling me. Then I stood up and said 'you better stop yelling at me.' I stood up. He continued and was basically yelling and stuff and was like, ‘You need to (expletive) look in the mirror.’ So at that point I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him because at that point I wanted to beat his (butt). Words were exchanged.”

The story goes on to say that Chacon knows he's done for the year, and wonders if he's done for good.

I said to him very calmly

I'm calling bullshit.

[pravata]

I'm calling bullshit.

I wanted to beat his (butt). Politely.

[BudGirl]

Holy smokes. Catalanato wasn't going to make it to the base without some supreme effort after that slide.

[astros homer]There was nothing wrong with his slide.[/astros homer]

[pravata]

good play in right, good hustle W.

[Jacksonian]

Yeah, I don't get the impression that there's a whole lot of thinking going on there.

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if he were thinking too much.  Being the 25th man and recently called up I would easily believe that he's thinking he's got to justify his spot on the roster.  Getting a big jump and scoring from second would in that frame of mind show why he's there.  Of course that kind of thinking usually leads to fuckup after fuckup and an eventual ticket down.

[Ron Brand]

Nice hustle by Wiggy!

[BudGirl]

I wanted to beat his (butt). Politely.

Chacon should have kept his mouth shut.  He looks like a stupid ass bully.  Can he be let go and the astros owe him no money?  what a loose cannon.  like there aren't enough problems on this team.

gotta go, brad's at bat

[MusicMan]

"I grabbed him by the neck", and he wonders if he's done for good?!?!

[OregonStrosFan]

Is there no one (non pitcher) on this team that can lay down a friggin' sacrifice bunt?  GEEZ!

[Ron Brand]

Chacon should have kept his mouth shut.  He looks like a stupid ass bully.  Can he be let go and the astros owe him no money?  what a loose cannon.  like there aren't enough problems on this team.

He's radioactive now, there's no point in doing anything other than letting him go and I'm sure they've already got a call in to the league office to see how cheaply it can be done.  Probably a behavior clause in the standard contract somewhere.

[BudGirl]

Is there no one (non pitcher) on this team that can lay down a friggin' sacrifice bunt?  GEEZ!

did i miss something?

[austro]

"I grabbed him by the neck", and he wonders if he's done for good?!?!

Not a problem.

Signed,
Latrell Spreewell

[BudGirl]

He's radioactive now, there's no point in doing anything other than letting him go and I'm sure they've already got a call in to the league office to see how cheaply it can be done.  Probably a behavior clause in the standard contract somewhere.

sounds like wade could press assault charges.

[mihoba]

Ausmus hit it hard, but right at'em. Damn the luck.

[pravata]

Actually I wouldn't be surprised if he were thinking too much.  Being the 25th man and recently called up I would easily believe that he's thinking he's got to justify his spot on the roster.  Getting a big jump and scoring from second would in that frame of mind show why he's there.  Of course that kind of thinking usually leads to fuckup after fuckup and an eventual ticket down.

Gotta play baseball smart and in control.

[austro]

did i miss something?

The idea was that Brad would sac Wiggy to 3rd. For some reason that's incredibly difficult for this team to pull off.

[The Spleen]

Tejada's at-bat was worse.

Suddenly Tejada's killing rallies like a Burmese general...

[BudGirl]

The idea was that Brad would sac Wiggy to 3rd. For some reason that's incredibly difficult for this team to pull off.

his post made me think that brad made a bad bunt instead of flying out to rf.  either way, wiggy is still at 2nd.

[tophfar]

"I grabbed him by the neck", and he wonders if he's done for good?!?!

WWLatrellSpreewellDo

[OregonStrosFan]

did i miss something?

Ausmus went down 0-2 on two sacrifice bunt attempts.

[BudGirl]

hey michael, just get on base.

[mihoba]

his post made me think that brad made a bad bunt instead of flying out to rf.  either way, wiggy is still at 2nd.

He failed to do his job by fouling off the first two bunt attempts.

[Ron Brand]

Jeez it's tough to watch this team swing away at ball one.

[BudGirl]

He failed to do his job by fouling off the first two bunt attempts.

i'm watching the game but missing about half of it, obviously.

[mihoba]

i'm watching the game but missing about half of it, obviously.

Tying run on second, no outs. His job is to get the runner to third at any cost. He failed.

[MusicMan]

Hey MB... wait till the ball gets to the mitt to head to first, it helps with getting future calls.

[Hornstros]

WWLatrellSpreewellDo

Ask for a raise so he'll have sufficient funds to feed his family

[Ron Brand]

Wiggy doin' the Safety Dance...

[pravata]

sounds like wade could press assault charges.

I dont think he wants to go down that road.  "Fighting words" are a criminal offense in Texas.

[MusicMan]

Suddenly Tejada's killing rallies like a Burmese general...

Gotta hope for an uprising here.

[austro]

Maybe that's the break they need. Time for Tejada to have a major-league at-bat.

[MusicMan]

JEEEEZUS.   He swung two seconds late at a pitch in the dirt.

And then spat on a hanging slider.

[mihoba]

Nice shield job, Wiggy.

[Desperado]

Jeez it's tough to watch this team swing away at ball one.

[Ron Brand]

Swing at ball one, take strike two.

[MRaup]

Maybe that's the break they need. Time for Tejada to have a major-league at-bat.

Wigginton's wink was the funniest thing I've seen in a while.


SWING AT FUCKING STRIKES, TEJADA!

[BudGirl]

what a piece of shit hitting.  again, worse than ausmus.

[MusicMan]

Tejada is in a deep, deep funk right now.

[MRaup]

what a piece of shit hitting.  again, worse than ausmus.

Ausmus not moving the runner over cost the Astros the tie.

[OregonStrosFan]

Jeez it's tough to watch this team flail away at ball one and watch a meatball go by for strike two.

FIFY.  UGH!!!

[BudGirl]

maybe wade's going to put a mirror in each player's locker for motivation.

that was some bad at-bats with RISP.

[austro]

Tejada is in a deep, deep funk right now.

It's almost as if he's made up his mind whether he's going to swing even before the pitch is delivered.

[Ron Brand]

Tejada is in a deep, deep funk right now.

And his funk is the Astros' funk.  Somebody's got to pick up the slack sometime.

[mihoba]

Strange, they cut the TV feed immediately after the force out. No recap, nada.

[BudGirl]

Ausmus not moving the runner over cost the Astros the tie.

blum gets a free pass? 

[HudsonHawk]

blum gets a free pass? 

Blum wasn't bunting.

[MRaup]

blum gets a free pass? 

Nope, but you were talking about Ausmus.

[pravata]

blum gets a free pass? 

Nobody gets a "free pass"  they had several chances.  But not getting a bunt down is really bad.

[BudGirl]

0-12 risp

[austro]

blum gets a free pass? 

At that point, Blum had to get a hit, instead of just get the ball in play. Different approach, different risks.

[mihoba]

blum gets a free pass? 

Blum was forced to try for a base hit, huge difference.

[BudGirl]

ausmus wasn't the only one that didn't do his job.

[Ron Brand]

There's a whole bunch of fingerprints on this loss.

[pravata]

ausmus wasn't the only one that didn't do his job.

Yeah but he was one of the ones.

[JaneDoe]

ausmus wasn't the only one that didn't do his job.

Definitely.

[BudGirl]

Yeah but he was one of the ones.

no doubt, no denying, but he wasn't the only one. 

[pravata]

no doubt, no denying, but he wasn't the only one. 

who's saying that? 

[remy]

Okay that inning really, really pissed me off.  From the godawful bunting to the hugely expanded strike zone.

Fuck it, that whole game was pathetic.  0-12 with risp as BG said.  Complete inability to lay down a sac bunt.  Ridiculous.

[MusicMan]

ausmus wasn't the only one that didn't do his job.

And yet the media mouth-breathers will go on saying that the pitching is the problem, after the Chacon fiasco.

[JaneDoe]

Fuck it, this whole month has been pathetic.   Ridiculous.

FIFY

[BudGirl]

who's saying that? 

ausmus cost the tie? 

shit like that. 

in that case, tejada cost the win/tie, bases loaded and can't reach base. he's one of three you'd want in that spot and he didn't execute.

[BudGirl]

Strange, they cut the TV feed immediately after the force out. No recap, nada.

I have a recap.

[mihoba]

ausmus cost the tie? 

shit like that. 

in that case, tejada cost the win/tie, bases loaded and can't reach base. he's one of three you'd want in that spot and he didn't execute.

You are failing the understand the importance of getting the runner to third with one out. Completely changes everything.

[BudGirl]

You are failing the understand the importance of getting the runner to third with one out. Completely changes everything.

No, I'm not.  You all just think I am.  I am mad at all the at-bats, not just one.

[pravata]

ausmus cost the tie? 

shit like that. 

in that case, tejada cost the win/tie, bases loaded and can't reach base. he's one of three you'd want in that spot and he didn't execute.

Him too, I think we covered that.  And Abercrombie.

[Ron Brand]

JdJO is getting TONS of love on the postgame for the Chacon story.

[MusicMan]

JdJO is getting TONS of love on the postgame for the Chacon story.

To be fair to JdJO, actually doing his job stands out from the rest of the evening, as well as the rest of his career.

[Ron Brand]

To be fair to JdJO, actually doing his job stands out from the rest of the evening, as well as the rest of his career.

Good call.

[pravata]

To be fair to JdJO, actually doing his job stands out from the rest of the evening, as well as the rest of his career.

Not to take anything away from him getting the story, but he's in his element with this kind of shit.

[MusicMan]

Not to take anything away from him getting the story, but he's in his element with this kind of shit.

I don't think that's fair.  This is a case where he had developed enough of a relationship with the player for the player to be honest about how unbelievably badly he fucked up. 

[pravata]

I don't think that's fair.  This is a case where he had developed enough of a relationship with the player for the player to be honest about how unbelievably badly he fucked up. 

"Not to take anything away from him getting the story" most of Ortiz's stories are some kind of human interest Build a Bear type stuff.  This is what he does best.

[Kent's Moustache]

Max to the Max. 2-run home run.

Interesting note on Rangers rookie Max Ramirez--he was called up during a Texas League game between the Frisco RoughRiders and your own Corpus Christi Hooks last Friday night.

Ramirez hit a bomb off Hooks starter Bogusevic in his second AB of the game (and what turned out to be his last minor league AB) and was lifted from the game shortly thereafter, apparently just after Rangers catcher Gerald Laird suffered his hamstring injury.