Phillies @ Astros 09/15/12

[Mr. Happy]

Your lineups:

Phillies

SSJimmy Rollins
3BKevin Frandsen
2BChase Utley
1BRyan Howard
CFJohn Mayberry
LFTy Wigginton
RFDomonic Brown
CErik Kratz
PKyle Kendrick

Astros

2B Jose Altuve 
RF Fernando Martinez 
1B Brett Wallace 
CF Justin Maxwell 
SS Jed Lowrie 
3B Matt Dominguez 
C Jason Castro 
LF J.D. Martinez 
P Dallas Keuchel

[Bench]

I know there's no reason to complain about at this point BUT IT IS FUCKING UNACCEPTABLE THAT A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME IS NOT ON TV IN THAT TEAM'S TOWN.  MOTHERFUCK.

[austro]

No TV in Austin tonight. I'll be trusting the GZ for updates.

And not that I don't appreciate the lineups, but this has been bugging me for weeks: how is it that the top lineup has no space between the position and the name, but the bottom lineup does?

[Mr. Happy]

No TV in Austin tonight. I'll be trusting the GZ for updates.

And not that I don't appreciate the lineups, but this has been bugging me for weeks: how is it that the top lineup has no space between the position and the name, but the bottom lineup does?

Ask Rotowire.com, because all I do is copy and paste the lineups directly from there.

[austro]

Ask Rotowire.com, because all I do is copy and paste the lineups directly from there.

Fair enough. It's a mystery.

[Ron Brand]

No TV in Austin tonight. I'll be trusting the GZ for updates.

And not that I don't appreciate the lineups, but this has been bugging me for weeks: how is it that the top lineup has no space between the position and the name, but the bottom lineup does?

Because they're the hated opposition, that's why. They only deserve our scorn, not our punctuation.

[Mr. Happy]

I know there's no reason to complain about at this point BUT IT IS FUCKING UNACCEPTABLE THAT A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME IS NOT ON TV IN THAT TEAM'S TOWN.  MOTHERFUCK.

No shit. I went to the UM/Liberty home football game today. I had to recalibrate my expectations quite a bit. I knew that it wouldn't be SEC football, but I didn't realize how small and slow these players are. I kept thinking "run God damnit," but then I realized that he was running as fast as he could. However, I had a wonderful time, and the Grizzlies prevailed 34-14.

[Ron Brand]

El Azteca mole is The Boss. Difficult to drill through the protective ice layer on the sherbet, however.

[Mr. Happy]

El Azteca mole is The Boss. Difficult to drill through the protective ice layer on the sherbet, however.

Are you joining us from work tonight?

[Mr. Happy]

A 20 pitch per inning pace won't keep you out there that long, Keuchel.

[Ron Brand]

Are you joining us from work tonight?

Yep. My contributions will be spotty at best.

[Mr. Happy]

Yep. My contributions will be spotty at best.

But we're certainly glad that you are here. Now where is that blasted Chuck?

[NeilT]

Astros up 3-0 by the way.

[Mr. Happy]

Maxwell (I refuse to call him J-Max) hits a two run home run in the first inning, and we cobble together a run in the bottom of the second inning. We're forcing Kendrick to throw a lot of pitches (46 through 1.2), which is a good thing.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

El Azteca mole is The Boss. Difficult to drill through the protective ice layer on the sherbet, however.

I've been going to El Azteca for 30 years, it never changes.

[NeilT]

Top o' the third

Scott's is the official lawn care company of the Philadelphia Phillies. we can help the Braves eliminate the Phillies.

Frandsen 1b
Utley  4-3 Frandsen advances
Howard 4-3 Frandsen to 3d
Mayberry 1-3

[Nate in IA]

Howdy folks.  Sitting here with a fever this evening and have to watch the Phillies home feed this evening.  Bummer.  But!  Astros are up 3-0 after 2 and a half innings.  Nice.

[austro]

I've been going to El Azteca for 30 years, it never changes.

I'm ashamed to admit that I've never been. I'll have to check it out.

[Mr. Happy]

Keuchel at 55 pitches through three frames; 27 strikes and 28 balls, which isn't real good. Everything that kid throws is down and away. I wonder how long he'll be able to string up zeroes against this lineup with that.

[Mr. Happy]

Howdy folks.  Sitting here with a fever this evening and have to watch the Phillies home feed this evening.  Bummer.  But!  Astros are up 3-0 after 2 and a half innings.  Nice.

Who does the Phillies TV games these days? Is Larry Andersen on the broadcast crew?

[NeilT]

I'm listening to the phillies broadcast.

Wallace Ks looking. That's 2.
Maxwell Ks looking 
Lowrie 8

[Mr. Happy]

Don't know why I didn't point this out earlier, but there's a CB Bucknor alert in effect for tonight's game since he's got 3B. The absolute worst umpire in the big leagues.

[austro]

Don't know why I didn't point this out earlier, but there's a CB Bucknor alert in effect for tonight's game since he's got 3B. The absolute worst umpire in the big leagues.

I don't understand how a guy who is voted hands-down worst umpire for several years in a row keeps his job. Is there nobody in the pipeline?

[Mr. Happy]

I don't understand how a guy who is voted hands-down worst umpire for several years in a row keeps his job. Is there nobody in the pipeline?

I don't get it either. I've had two current big league umpires (no I won't name names) tell me that CB is really bad and arrogant about it to boot. He's from another country (I seem to recall), so he may have that minority thing going for him.

[NeilT]

Wigginton 6-1. I liked that guy.
Brown. Keuchel's fast ball is topping out at 87. This is a ground ball pitcher.
Kratz. 1b. Brown on 2d.
Kendrick. Sac bunt. Runners advance.
Rollins. bb
Coaching visit. I think keuchel's thrown more balls than strikes. 4 walks.
Frandsen. 1-3.

[Mr. Happy]

Four hits and four walks through four innings for Keuchel, yet no runs allowed. Talk about living dangerously. He's thrown 41 balls and only 38 strikes.

[Nate in IA]

Sorry for the delay, my wonderful wife brought me some chicken noodle soup.  I'm well taken care of.

The Phillies broadcasters are Tom someone and Gary Mathews.  So far they are rather good.   They're almost as critical on the Phillies as we are on the Astros.  Gary especially talking about the mental gaffes of the Phillies.

Castro almost had a hit there..

[NeilT]

If I were the Phillies I'd be wondering wtf. 8 runners stranded, twice w/ the bases loaded.

Dominguez 6-3
Castro 4
Martinez. 1-3

[Nate in IA]

JDM bounces one back to the pitcher on a broken bat.   Going to the 5th, Astros up 3-0.

[Nate in IA]

Kuechel brushes Utley's jersey.  Man on 1st, no one out.

[Nate in IA]

"Doug Brocail, who's invested in his own calling card company for that bullpen phone..."

Nice and dry.

[Nate in IA]

Storey up in the bullpen.  Good for him.

[Nate in IA]

Howard grounds to Altuve who chooses to go to second to get the lead runner.  1 out.

[Nate in IA]

Castro seems to be doing okay with the balls in the dirt tonight...

[Mr. Happy]

Keuchel is living a charmed life so far. This can't continue for much longer.

[Mr. Happy]

Castro seems to be doing okay with the balls in the dirt tonight...

For once...

[Nate in IA]

Kuechel induces a 6-4-3 double play to get out the inning.   Going to the bottom of the 5th, Astros up 3-0.

[NeilT]

I'm siting in the backyard, and somebody nearby's grilling something that smells really good.

Utley. Hbp. Base runners every inning.
Howard. 4-6.  Do you reckon the outfielders are bored?
Mayberry.  6-4-3.

[Mr. Happy]

I'm going to go buy a Powerball ticket with Keuchel having thrown five shutout innings so far on a recap night for me. Gotta be fate.

[NeilT]

Keuchel's keeping the ball in the infield. Maybe that's the deal: it doesn't matter how many guys he walks as long as all he gives up are singles.

[Nate in IA]

Keuchel breaks his bat but knocks it over the infield for a hit.

[Nate in IA]

Altuve tries to bunt for a hit but Krantz throws him out just in time.  Keuchel to second.

[Mr. Happy]

Keuchel's keeping the ball in the infield. Maybe that's the deal: it doesn't matter how many guys he walks as long as all he gives up are singles.

That's it. Ground balls are a good thing. And now each pitcher has a hit off of the other. Definitely a Powerball night.

[Nate in IA]

Martinez fouls out to third.  2 Outs.

[Mr. Happy]

This Scout feature on mlb.com gameday blows. I've found it extremely pedantic and wrong sometimes. It's really awful, but it's the way that I have to find out about what's going on in the ball game.

[Nate in IA]

Wallace at the dish...

Drops one in no man's land in left field and bounces into the stands.   Keuchel scores.. 4-0.

[Nate in IA]

Maxwell grounds to third and Howard can't handle the throw.  Safe at first.  E5.   Wallace stays at 2nd.  Phils broadcasters say that Wallace forgot how many outs.

 

[Nate in IA]

Wallace seems pretty lost out there..  Kendrick throws the ball into center field and he's still at 2nd.

[Mr. Happy]

Wallace at the dish...

Drops one in no man's land in left field and bounces into the stands.   Keuchel scores.. 4-0.

The Powerball evidence continues to flow in. Keuchel scores.

[NeilT]

Keuchel 1b
Altuve sac bunt
Martinez. 5
Wallace. Ground rule double. Keuchel scores.
Maxwell. Reaches on a Frandsen error. Wallace forgets to advance.
Coaching visit.
Lowrie. 4-3.

[Nate in IA]

Jed(i) Lowry not happy with the strike zone.   Utley playing deep gets to the ball to get Maxwell at first.   After 5, Astros lead 4-0.

[geezerdonk]

Certainly they won't let Keuchel start the sixth.

[Nate in IA]

Phillies announcers think they should be losing 5-0.

[Nate in IA]

Keuchel gives up a double down the left field line to Ty.  Man on 2nd, no outs.

[Mr. Happy]

Phillies announcers think they should be losing 5-0.

Let's hope that we don't need that run. I'm not that hopeful.

[Nate in IA]

Keuchel induces a ground out to the pitcher from D Brown.   Phillies go into a retrospective of all the grounders to the pitcher.   It's Storey time..

[Nate in IA]

Xavier Cedeno still in the pen.

[Nate in IA]

Phillies showing the happy conversation between Dallas and Doug.

[Mr. Happy]

Keuchel induces a ground out to the pitcher from D Brown.   Phillies go into a retrospective of all the grounders to the pitcher.   It's Storey time..

13 ground ball outs tonight. That's about as good as we can ever expect from Keuchel.

[Nate in IA]

Nice work by Storey to strike out Krantz with cheese on the outside corner.

[Nate in IA]

Kendrick done for the evening... Orr to pinch hit

[Ron Brand]

13 ground ball outs tonight. That's about as good as we can ever expect from Keuchel.

If he does that, he'll be an effective #5 guy. But the Phillies are working on suuuuuucking, and the Astros are in their heads anyway.

[Ron Brand]

Of course, I started Cashner last night and Kendrick tonight, two mortal locks who have gashed me badly.

[Mr. Happy]

If he does that, he'll be an effective #5 guy. But the Phillies are working on suuuuuucking, and the Astros are in their heads anyway.

Agreed. But he's absolutely not better than a four. And not a four on most clubs. He's a six or lower on most clubs.

[NeilT]

Citizens Bank is the official bank of the Phillies

Wigginton. 2b. 4th inning w/ a lead off base runner.
Brown. 1-3.
Coaching visit to the mound.
Storey in. Keuchel did a great job, in a completely bizarre way. I'm clapping.
Kratz. Storey's throwing sliders. K looking. First Phillie k.
Orr in for Kendrick
Orr. K.

[Jacksonian]

If he does that, he'll be an effective #5 guy. But the Phillies are working on suuuuuucking, and the Astros are in their heads anyway.

On a good team, he's long relief or AAA.

[Nate in IA]

Storey asks for how many outs..  gets the answer.

Orr not squaring up Storey but getting the bat on it for foul balls.

Castro out to the mound for a conversation with the count 2-2.

Nice breaking pitch gets Orr to swing and miss.   Keuchel on the hook for the win..

[Mr. Happy]

On a good team, he's long relief or AAA.

Absolutely.

[Nate in IA]

Lindblom on the hill now to pitch to Matt Dominguez.

Not yet really able to find the strike zone.

[Nate in IA]

And young Dominguez offers at another one significantly out of the strike zone to strike out.   1 out.

[Nate in IA]

Castro laces one down the left field line for a double. 

[Nate in IA]

Gary giving advice to youngsters based on Castro's swing.

[Nate in IA]

Martinez with a line drive past a diving Rollins to score Castro.   5-0 Astros.  Still one out with a man on first.   Scott Moore up to pinch hit for Storey.

[Nate in IA]

Gary Mathews opining about only one or two positions safe.   Everybody else will have to work hard for their spot.

Moore draws a walk.   Men on 1st and 2nd with Altive up.

[Nate in IA]

Altuve drives one to the warning track in right.   Not quite enough.  JD goes to 3rd.   F Mart squirrels one out to rollins for out #3.   Astros up 5-0. at the end of the 6th.

[NeilT]

Kris is making tempura shrimp. And peppers  I just finished th flat half growler of beer in the fridge, and my typing will get worse as I move on to the cider.

Lindblom pitching

Dominguez. K.
Castro  2b. 8 hits. 4 runs on 8 hits.
Martinez. 1b. Castro scores.
Moore. Bb.
Altuve. 9. Martinez advances.
Martinez. 6-3.

[austro]

On a good team, he's long relief or AAA.

I'm hoping that you guys are using unnecessarily harsh criteria to judge these guys. In a good organization, Keuchel would still be in AA learning his craft, and most of us probably wouldn't even know who he is. But because of the current state of the organization, he's up in the show trying to figure things out while pitching to major-league batters. I'm hopeful that in the future these guys will be better than they're showing right now (provided their psyches don't get crushed by the experience).

[Nate in IA]

I'm hoping that you guys are using unnecessarily harsh criteria to judge these guys. In a good organization, Keuchel would still be in AA learning his craft, and most of us probably wouldn't even know who he is. But because of the current state of the organization, he's up in the show trying to figure things out while pitching to major-league batters. I'm hopeful that in the future these guys will be better than they're showing right now (provided their psyches don't get crushed by the experience).

+1

[Nate in IA]

Cedeno on the hill pitching to J Rollins.

[Nate in IA]

Rollins tries to drag bunt up the first base line but Cedeno snags it and shovels it to Wallace for the out.

[Mr. Happy]

Gary Mathews opining about only one or two positions safe.   Everybody else will have to work hard for their spot.

Moore draws a walk.   Men on 1st and 2nd with Altive up.

On the Phillies? Howard and Utley and the first string catcher, Ruiz, are locks. If he was referring to the Astros, then he's right. Altuve and who else. Everyone else will be fighting for a roster spot to boot.

[Mr. Happy]

I'm hoping that you guys are using unnecessarily harsh criteria to judge these guys. In a good organization, Keuchel would still be in AA learning his craft, and most of us probably wouldn't even know who he is. But because of the current state of the organization, he's up in the show trying to figure things out while pitching to major-league batters. I'm hopeful that in the future these guys will be better than they're showing right now (provided their psyches don't get crushed by the experience).

In my opinion, Keuchel lacks an out pitch. He's really AAA fodder. If he wasn't a lefty, he'd be a spectator.

[Nate in IA]

Mathews says Altuve and JD Martinez

[Nate in IA]

Frandsen pops it out to the vicinity of 2nd.  Lowrie catches it.  2 outs.

[Nate in IA]

Someone new in the Phils booth but they haven't been announced or if they were, I missed it.

[Nate in IA]

Cedeno wants nothing to do with Utley and puts him on.   He gets Howard for his reward.

[Nate in IA]

Castro comes out to chat along with D Brocail

[Nate in IA]

Ambriz in the pen looks ready.

[Mr. Happy]

Mathews says Altuve and JD Martinez

If I was JD, I'd come to camp thinking that I had to fight for a spot.

[Nate in IA]

Phillies announcers complaining about the number of trips to the mound.

[NeilT]

Cedeno pitching.

Rollins. Bunts. 1-3.
Frandsen. Pop out 6.
Utley. bb. Thank goodness. I was scared we'd get through an inning without a base runner.
Coaching visit. Three trips to the mound with a shut out.
Howard. K.

[Nate in IA]

If I was JD, I'd come to camp thinking that I had to fight for a spot.

Even if I'm Altuve, I'm coming to camp thinking I have to earn it.

Howard strikes out, ball gets away from Castro and Howard doesn't realize it.   Thrown out easily.

Going to the bottom of the 7th,  Astros up 5-0.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

If I was JD, I'd come to camp thinking that I had to fight for a spot.

Especially since he's going to have to fight for a spot.

[Nate in IA]

Wallace gets out ahead of one and flies it out foul to right.

[Nate in IA]

But can't get to the high breaking pitch and strikes out.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

The last four minutes of the first half between Stanford and USC was a dickstepping clinic.

[Nate in IA]

Sky high pop-up from Maxwell.  Rollins snags it for the 2nd out.

[Nate in IA]

Lowrie bangs a curve ball into right field.  Man on 1st, 2 out.  Tyler Greene pinch runs for Lowrie.

[Nate in IA]

Dominguez at the plate.    He seems to be comfortable at the plate.

[Nate in IA]

Greene testing the pitcher almost gets picked off.

[Nate in IA]

Runner goes and Matt tries to hit behind him but knocks it foul.

[Nate in IA]

Greene getting a LOT of attention.

[NeilT]

Wallace. K.
Maxwell. 6 pop up.
Lowrie. 1b.
Greene in to pinch run. Took the phillies announcers awhile to figure out who he was.
Dominguez.  4-3.

[Nate in IA]

Dominguez grounds out to second.   To the top of the 8th.. Astros lead 5-0.

[Nate in IA]

Mayberry, Wigginton, and D Brown for the Phils.  Greene stays in at short.   Ambriz on the hill.

[Nate in IA]

Ambriz having a little trouble hitting his targets.

[Nate in IA]

And Mayberry having trouble catching up to Ambriz' 95 MPH fastball.

[Nate in IA]

Nice play by Dominguez but Mayberry is a little too fast.

[Nate in IA]

Lance Nix to hit for Ty.

[Nate in IA]

Nix floats one out to Greene behind 2nd.  1 out, man on 1st.

[Nate in IA]

The Kid is warming in the pen.

[Nate in IA]

Brown goes after the first(?) pitch and flies out to center.   2 outs.

[NeilT]

I jumped an inning last go-round. Ever hopeful.

Ambriz in. Greene in as shortstop.

Mayberry. 1b. Nice play by Dominguez.
Nix.  Pop up 6.
Brown.  8.
Kratz.  5-4.

[austro]

Lance Nix to hit for Ty.

Laynce? I only remember because it is one of the weirdest names ever.

[Nate in IA]

Kratz swings and grounds one to Dominguez who attempts to overthrow Altuve but Jose leaps to snag it and comes down on the bag for the third out.

Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and now Chris Wheeler (color probably from the radio side?) are the Phils announcers.

Going to bottom of the 8th, Astros up 5-0.  Let's play add-on boys.

[Nate in IA]

Laynce? I only remember because it is one of the weirdest names ever.

You are correct sir.  Mea culpea.

[Jacksonian]

I'm hoping that you guys are using unnecessarily harsh criteria to judge these guys. In a good organization, Keuchel would still be in AA learning his craft, and most of us probably wouldn't even know who he is. But because of the current state of the organization, he's up in the show trying to figure things out while pitching to major-league batters. I'm hopeful that in the future these guys will be better than they're showing right now (provided their psyches don't get crushed by the experience).

Um, no.  He has shown mastery of every level of minor league baseball.  He's a 24 year old soft-tossing lefty who's fastball doesn't have that much movement.  And who has difficulty with location.  In an org with a good major league team he'd be in AAA or at best the major league bullpen.  He really doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors.

[Nate in IA]

Jake Diekman on to pitch the bottom of the 8th.  Nix in left.

[Nate in IA]

Castro to lead it off...

Flies it out to Nix in left.  1 out.

[Nate in IA]

JD pokes it to right for the 2nd out.

[Nate in IA]

Laird on to hit.

[NeilT]

Diekman pitching.

Castro. 8.
Martinez. 9.
Laird in for Amriz.  Laird?
Laird.   9.

[Nate in IA]

Pops it out to right for the third out.   Going to the top of the 9th, Astros lead 5-0.   Wesley on to close it out.

[Nate in IA]

Bogey goes to right, Maxwell goes to left while Barnes goes into center.   Barnes will bat 2nd and Bogey will bat 8th.  Hopefully neither of them come to the plate.

[Nate in IA]

Ruiz at the plate.   Hammers it out to left center and Maxwell catches it just to the right of the Crawford Boxes.

[Nate in IA]

2 outs left for the Phills.  Rollins at the plate.

[Nate in IA]

Altuve comes over from the roamer position behind 2nd to grab the little white rat and throw out Rollins.   Phillies down to their final out.

[Nate in IA]

Frandsen and his Biggio-esque helmet the last hope for the Phils.

[Nate in IA]

Fransden playing the Bee Gees.. "Stayin Alive..."

[Nate in IA]

Dominguez tries hard but Fransden bangs one into the left-field corner.   Man on 2nd, 2 outs.   Utley up.

[Nate in IA]

Hmm.. Wright seems to be getting squeezed with Utley crowding the plate.

[jbm]

In my opinion, Keuchel lacks an out pitch. He's really AAA fodder. If he wasn't a lefty, he'd be a spectator.

Damn, the guy throws good and gets trashed here.  WTF.  It's his first time up in the bigs, and you're acting as if he is some finished product. Just let him throw for awhile and see.  

[NeilT]

Wright pitching.

Diekman. 7
Rollins. 4-3.
Frandsen. 2b.
Utley. Wright's shaken. Full count.   3-1.

[Nate in IA]

Wallace knocks down the grounder to the right side and tosses to Wright for the 3rd out.   Astros win by shutting out the Phillies 5-0.

[Nate in IA]

Phillies announcers give the player of the game to Dallas Keuchel who gets his 2nd win on the season.

[NeilT]

Astros are 7-7 since september 1.

[NeilT]

Phillies announcers give the player of the game to Dalls Keuchel.

He deserves it.

[austro]

He deserves it.

No way. He sucks.

[NeilT]

No way. He sucks.

Sorry. I forgot. He's a soft- throwing lefty. He sucks professionally.

[Nate in IA]

No way. He sucks.

Not on this night...

[subnuclear]

Astros are 7-7 since september 1.

That does not seem to be a record of a historically bad team bereft of all talent.

[austro]

That does not seem to be a record of a historically bad team bereft of all talent.

Worst. Team. Ever.

[Mr. Happy]

Damn, the guy throws good and gets trashed here.  WTF.  It's his first time up in the bigs, and you're acting as if he is some finished product. Just let him throw for awhile and see.  

If you think that he threw well tonight, then you and I have nothing to discuss about pitching. He threw 95 pitches in 5.1 innings of work; 48 for strikes and 47 for balls. Strikeouts: 0 Walks: 4 He was a lucky motherfucker tonight. That won't happen often up here. He lacks a pitch to get past strike two, which is a pitch that he desperately needs if he is going to stay a big leaguer. In my opinion, at his very best, he's a four, but more often than not, not even a six.

[chuck]

That does not seem to be a record of a historically bad team bereft of all talent.

It's that new first base coach.

[Bench]

That would have been nice to see.