Phillies @ Astros, 9/16/12; Generous Hosts to the End

[Ron Brand]

Looks like the matinee lineup gets to face Halladay today.

Jimmy Rollins SS
Juan Pierre CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Carlos Ruiz C
John Mayberry CF
Domonic Brown RF
Michael Martinez 3B
Roy Halladay P

Jose Altuve 2B
Scott Moore 1B
Fernando Martinez RF
Justin Maxwell CF
Matt Dominguez 3B
Carlos Corporan C
J.D. Martinez LF
Tyler Greene SS
Jordan Lyles P

[Mr. Happy]

Looks like the matinee lineup gets to face Halladay today.

Jimmy Rollins SS
Juan Pierre CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Carlos Ruiz C
John Mayberry CF
Domonic Brown RF
Michael Martinez 3B
Roy Halladay P

Jose Altuve 2B
Scott Moore 1B
Fernando Martinez RF
Justin Maxwell CF
Matt Dominguez 3B
Carlos Corporan C
J.D. Martinez LF
Tyler Greene SS
Jordan Lyles P

Glad to see someone other than Wallace in the three spot, although I'm not too sure that Fernando Martinez is a three either. As I've said before, this is a lineup of sevens and below.

[Jacksonian]

Altuve is better than a 7 spot guy. 

[Ron Brand]

It's nice to see Dominguez on a hot streak.

[Mr. Happy]

Altuve is better than a 7 spot guy. 

I generally agree. But where would he hit on a team like, say, the Yankees or the Rangers? He doesn't get on enough at this point in his career to lead off. I don't think that he's a natural two either. Spots three (maybe one day), four and five are out. That brings us to six. In my opinion, he doesn't have enough power to hit there either. That was my thought process, right or wrong, to lead me to conclude that on a good club, he's a seven.

[subnuclear]

It's nice to see Dominguez on a hot streak.

I've never really watched him play and technically that should factor into my prediction making, but I think Matt Dominguez is the next Jeff Bagwell with no one blocking him at third base and with less scowling.

Name-Age-Avg-OBP-SLG-OPS+
Bagwell-23-.294-.387-.437-139
Dominguez-23-.295-.328-.541-132

Even though Bagwell had 10x the plate appearances in those numbers, its probably safe just to assume those are basically the same. Can't wait for him to win his MVP in three years!

[chuck]

I generally agree. But where would he hit on a team like, say, the Yankees or the Rangers?

Ichiro hits ninth. What does that tell you?

[Ron Brand]

1-0 Phils after one.

[Ron Brand]

Halladay is 111-0 when given a lead of four runs or more. What a weird stat to bring up.

[Ron Brand]

Halliday is everywhere but over the plate.

Martinez triples over Mayberry's head in center.

[Ron Brand]

That triple actually rolled around the flagpole on Tal's Hill.

[Ron Brand]

Halladay's splitter is alternating between nasty and tumbling slowly. Martinez hit a tumbler.

[Ron Brand]

Still 1-0 after two.

[austro]

I'm fairly amazed that Juan Pierre can still hold down a MLB job.

[Ron Brand]

I'm fairly amazed that Juan Pierre can still hold down a MLB job.

Not only that, but he's been pretty decent this year.

[Ron Brand]

Rollins is "J-Rol?" Kill me. Kill me now.

[Ron Brand]

Ryan Howard looks like Ving Rhames. Or Marsellus Wallace.

[Ron Brand]

Lyles gets Howard to hit into a double play. Nice save.

[Mr. Happy]

Halladay's splitter is alternating between nasty and tumbling slowly. Martinez hit a tumbler.

That was my out pitch, although I called a fork ball--those were the days before Roger Craig popularized the split-finger fastball name. There are some folks who claim that there's a slight technical difference between the pure fork ball and a splitter, but I don't buy it.

[Ron Brand]

Astros reveal their new uniforms Friday, November 2 at 5 pm at Minute Maid.

[Ron Brand]

Which is typically the time slot you use when you want to minimize press coverage. Don't these people know a goddamn thing about PR?

[subnuclear]

Which is typically the time slot you use when you want to minimize press coverage. Don't these people know a goddamn thing about PR?

True, but I can't think of anything important going on that next week that will take up news time.

[Mr. Happy]

I'm no fan of Bobby Valentine, but, my God, the press is relentless on him. I'm feeling sorry for him. He's dealt with more injuries than any other club in the last 25 years in the form of DL stints and missed games. He's not the Red Sox problem. He might, and probably is, not be the right guy to captain the ship, but letting him go is going to give some lucky bastard who takes his place a great team because there's no way that they have as many injuries next season.  

[Ron Brand]

Paredes gets an infield single, followed by a Crawford Box shot from Moore. It's 2-1.

[Ron Brand]

True, but I can't think of anything important going on that next week that will take up news time.

Fucking amateurs.

[Mr. Happy]

Paredes gets an infield single, followed by a Crawford Box shot from Moore. It's 2-1.

What did Moore hit?

[Ron Brand]

I'm no fan of Bobby Valentine, but, my God, the press is relentless on him. I'm feeling sorry for him. He's dealt with more injuries than any other club in the last 25 years in the form of DL stints and missed games. He's not the Red Sox problem. He might, and probably is, not be the right guy to captain the ship, but letting him go is going to give some lucky bastard who takes his place a great team because there's no way that they have as many injuries next season.  

Bobby Valentine has earned every piece of hard cheese he gets from the media. You shit all over others in the service of your own ego, including the press, and they're going to bury you.

[Ron Brand]

What did Moore hit?

Two-seamer away, I think.

[Ron Brand]

Oh shit. Green Chile cheeseburger at Whataburger.

[Ron Brand]

Oh, and Paredes is in right today. Martinez was a late scratch.

[Ron Brand]

2-1 Astros through four.

[Mr. Happy]

Aren't the Phillies eliminated if they lose today? That would be sweet to eliminate them.

[Mr. Happy]

Bobby Valentine has earned every piece of hard cheese he gets from the media. You shit all over others in the service of your own ego, including the press, and they're going to bury you.

I'm no Valentine apologist, not by a long shot. But, in my opinion, he's not the BoSox problem, although he may be their scapegoat at season's end.

[Ron Brand]

Aren't the Phillies eliminated if they lose today? That would be sweet to eliminate them.

Yes, it would.

[Ron Brand]

I'm no Valentine apologist, not by a long shot. But, in my opinion, he's not the BoSox problem, although he may be their scapegoat at season's end.

He's actually made moves that have maximized their resources but he's so abrasive and eager to throw people under the bus that he has a very hard time with established pros.

[Ron Brand]

With two out, Rollins singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error, and scored on Pierre's double. They waked Utley to pitch to Howard, who doubled in the LF corner scoring both. Howard was thrown out trying to make it a triple.

[Ron Brand]

Barnes is hitting for Lyles.

[Ron Brand]

4-2 Phillies after five.

[austro]

Oh shit. Green Chile cheeseburger at Whataburger.

Whoa!!!

[Reuben]

4-2 Phillies after five.

The 5th got Lyles again, eh?

[Ron Brand]

Yep, and with two outs.

Ambriz pitching.

[Ron Brand]

Whoa!!!

Changed my dinner plans.

[juliogotay]

Bobby Valentine has earned every piece of hard cheese he gets from the media. You shit all over others in the service of your own ego, including the press, and they're going to bury you.

And moreso in Boston than most other places.

[Ron Brand]

And moreso in Boston than most other places.

True, I wasn't taking into account how shitty they are on a daily basis.

[Ron Brand]

Halladay is really pulling the string on them with that splitter.

[geezerdonk]

Greene way to casual on the double play.

[Ron Brand]

Corporan with a bomb off the facing in right. 4-3.

[austro]

Corporan smacked the shit out of that one!

[geezerdonk]

Carlos circles the bases in a dead sprint.

[Ron Brand]

Martinez with a rope to the LF corner. That ought to be it for Halladay.

[Ron Brand]

Nope, he's staying in.

[Ron Brand]

Halladay is gassed.

[austro]

Can't take that pitch.

[Ron Brand]

Greene is called out on a splitter that has been a strike all day long. 4-3 Phillies after six.

[Ron Brand]

Ambriz still pitching.

[Ron Brand]

Christ. Martinez loses a fly in front of the wall and it drops for a double. Tony D brings in WW and Bogey.

[Ron Brand]

Bogey to center, Maxwell to left, Martinez out.

[austro]

Dominguez looks very relaxed at 3B. I like that.

[Ron Brand]

Dominguez looks very relaxed at 3B. I like that.

It's not like people are watching him.

[Ron Brand]

It's Ty Wigginton!

[Ron Brand]

And WW plunks him. Utley up.

[austro]

Wow! What a catch by Paredes! I'm not sure that it had to be that difficult, but he made it nonetheless.

[Ron Brand]

Paredes with an ugly, snatching grab of a liner at the track in right to save a couple of runs.

[Ron Brand]

Joe Prince, 94 on this coming Wednesday.

[NeilT]

Must have been a pretty dramatic catch.  The Phillies radio announcers thought it was something.

[austro]

Must have been a pretty dramatic catch.  The Phillies radio announcers thought it was something.

It was definitely dramatic, but my guess is that a more experienced outfielder would have made it less dramatic.

[Ron Brand]

Must have been a pretty dramatic catch.  The Phillies radio announcers thought it was something.

I think he started in or didn't move, because he had to get back fast and do a lunging snatch for it, sort of a jump and then fall and roll. It didn't look graceful but it got the job done.

[Ron Brand]

Bastardo fans Downs.

[Ron Brand]

Fine diving stab of a rocket by Altuve right over the line by Martinez, but then he throws it away and Jose is on.

[Ron Brand]

Rrrrraul Bastardo.

[Ron Brand]

Altuve easily steals second.

[Ron Brand]

Paredes walks.

[Ron Brand]

Laird to hit for Moore, and Bastardo will be pulled.

[Ron Brand]

Frogboy Aumont in.

[austro]

Many things happening all at once: Astros trying to tie it up, Eagles just scored to take tie against the Ravens (with the extra point pending), and the Cowboys spotting the Seahawks a 10-point lead (God I hate the Cowboys).

[Ron Brand]

The Frog walks Laird and Maxwell is up. One down, bases loaded.

[Reuben]

is Laird vs. Aumont (sans hindsight) really better than Moore vs. Bastardo, or did Tony D kinda fuck up there?

[NeilT]

The Frog walks Laird and Maxwell is up. One down, bases loaded.

We're toast.

[austro]

is Laird vs. Aumont (sans hindsight) really better than Moore vs. Bastardo, or did Tony D kinda fuck up there?

Don't know, but it worked out ok (walk). Time for Maxwell to step up.

[austro]

Ha ha! Maxwell crushes a broken-bat blooper over first base that lands on the line and scores two.

[Ron Brand]

Maxwell with a seeing-eye double over the bag to right and kicking up chalk on the line. 5-4 Good Guys.

[94CougarGrad]

Well looka there!

[Ron Brand]

Ruiz took a bounce to the throat. Ow.

[94CougarGrad]

Yeah, he got an entirely different form of chin music. Ow.

[austro]

Ruiz took a bounce to the throat. Ow.

No shit. Why would anybody sign up for that job?

And now Dominguez hits a seeing-eye high hopper that bounces over the drawn-in infield and scores two more!

[94CougarGrad]

Maxwell blows past the speed trap like a bat outta hell!

[geezerdonk]

Ruiz phlegmatic.

[Ron Brand]

De Fratus relieves de Frog.

[Reuben]

What a lucky fantastic way to get 4 runs there.

[Ron Brand]

Passed ball clips the ump in the thigh and arm.

[austro]

Passed ball clips the ump in the thigh and arm.

Lot of damage behind the plate today.

[Ron Brand]

Castro hits for The Kid.

[Ron Brand]

IBB to Castro. Greene up.

[Ron Brand]

First pitch groundout to third but it's 7-4 after seven.

[Ron Brand]

Cedeno pitching the top of the eighth. Patti Smith interviewing Joe Prince. Seems like a sweet guy.

[94CougarGrad]

What a lucky fantastic way to get 4 runs there.

I'll take it.

[Ron Brand]

Howard strikes out on a curve away and it's time for Tony D to get a snocone to another pitcher.

[NeilT]

According to Phillies baseball, Ann Coulter's coming to Philadelphia.  No wonder they're playing so crappy.  They're all excited about Ann Coulter.

[Ron Brand]

Storey Time.

[austro]

According to Phillies baseball, Ann Coulter's coming to Philadelphia.  No wonder they're playing so crappy.  They're all excited about Ann Coulter.

Wow, she's still around?

[Ron Brand]

According to Phillies baseball, Ann Coulter's coming to Philadelphia.  No wonder they're playing so crappy.  They're all excited about Ann Coulter.

Hitler in a dress.

[austro]

Hitler in a dress.

Hitler was lucid compared to Coulter.

[Ron Brand]

Hitler was lucid compared to Coulter.

Yeah, she's less of a leader and more delusional.

[94CougarGrad]

According to Phillies baseball, Ann Coulter's coming to Philadelphia.  No wonder they're playing so crappy.  They're all excited about Ann Coulter.

Is Philly her stop before she interviews for the Astro manager's spot?

[Ron Brand]

Quick HBP and a single. Brown up. Storey ain't got squat today.

[austro]

Is Philly her stop before she interviews for the Astro manager's spot?

With our luck, she'll be Pam's replacement.

[NeilT]

Nice hair though.  Can't tell much about her moustache.

[austro]

Well, Brown didn't get cheated on that one.

[Ron Brand]

Brown makes it 7-6 with a double to the base of the hill.

[Ron Brand]

Tony D, managing his ass off.

[94CougarGrad]

With our luck, she'll be Pam's replacement.

Speaking of "less of a leader" and "more delusional"...

[Ron Brand]

Lopez in now.

[94CougarGrad]

JD finally ran out of lefty Phillies batters to mention.

[Ron Brand]

Nix whiffs.

[austro]

Lopey? Please stop it.

[94CougarGrad]

Whew.

[Ron Brand]

4-3 groundout ends the top of the eighth, 7-6 Astros.

[94CougarGrad]

Lol @ the dog in the Cone of Shame.

[Ron Brand]

Rollins leads off.

[Ron Brand]

Season premiere of Boardwalk Empire tonight.

[Ron Brand]

Line single by Rollins.

[austro]

Nothing comes easy.

[Ron Brand]

Kratz up.

[Ron Brand]

Flyout to right and Rollins advances to second.

[austro]

Aggressive move by Rollins, but I'm surprised that more people don't try it.

[Ron Brand]

Utley up. Danger.

[austro]

No dice on the appeal at first.

[Ron Brand]

Flyout to left. Howard up.

[Ron Brand]

IBB to Howard.

[austro]

Lopez gets Utley to swing at a definite pitcher's pitch, and he flies out to left center.

[austro]

Utley did us a big favor there.

[Ron Brand]

Utley did us a big favor there.

Yep. Too anxious.

[Ron Brand]

Ruiz is tough.

[Ron Brand]

Roller to first. Astros win!

[austro]

Ha ha. Suck that, Phillies. Are they eliiminated?

[Ron Brand]

Tony D is over .500. in September.

[94CougarGrad]

Wow, another win. Good series.

[moriartp]

It's not like the Astros are in danger of becoming a decent team, but I do enjoy this trend of not losing every single day.

[NeilT]

Wow, another win. Good series.

Completely satisfactory.  Phick the Phillies.

[Nate in IA]

Tony D is over .500. in September.

Didn't I see them put up a statistics box yesterday that said he's won 2 or 3 AAA championships?

[Ron Brand]

Didn't I see them put up a statistics box yesterday that said he's won 2 or 3 AAA championships?

I think so. He's been successful in the minors.

[geezerdonk]

Phillies were running on fumes when they hit Houston.

[Ron Brand]

Phillies were running on fumes when they hit Houston.

Whatever it takes.

[Nate in IA]

Whatever it takes.

Definitely didn't see this coming with Doc Holliday on the hill.

[94CougarGrad]

Phillies were running on fumes when they hit Houston.

Huffing gas fumes affects gameplay.

/justsayno

[remy]

Refuse to lose (100)!

[Bench]

That was nice to see.