Astros (5,8) at pHillies (6,7)
Citizen’s Bank Park
Tuesday, April 15, 6:05 p.m. CDT – FSN
Wednesday, April 16, 6:05 p.m. CDT – my20
Thursday, April 17, 12:05 p.m. CDT – FSN
The upcoming series between the Astros and the pHillies could be an early indicator, yes, even an acid test, of the team’s gelling together–add a little phenolpthalein and see what you get (usually the runs).
This year, the offense has struggled a little getting those runs across the plate, as evidenced by 24 LOB in just the last three games. Last year the ‘Stros were 13-18 vs the NL East, hopefully, they can show an improvement on that record this year. One key could be the play of Pence, who has struggled to get on base this year. Comments in the TZ have started to get a little caustic about his plate discipline.
The team defense has been exceptional to this endpoint. Houston leads the majors in fewest errors (3), and fielding percentage (.994). Tejada’s defense has been a pleasant surprise, after an offseason of doom and gloom predictions of corroding defensive skills. Blum has titrated some sparkling plays while filling in for a hurt Wigginton. Pence’s defense, especially his throwing, has seemed to improve a little, but he’s still no Al Kaline.
The tv and radio commentators will probably discuss ad nauseum the trade pulled off between these teams during the offseason. We all know the Astros acquired OF Michael Bourn, 3B Michael Costanzo and RHP Geoff Geary from the Phillies in exchange for RHP Brad Lidge and SS Eric Bruntlett last November. Bourn has really impressed in the field, leads the league in stolen bases and showed a little power when he hit his first HR as an Astro on Sunday. Bourn was interviewed after Sunday’s game with the Marlins and Greg Lucas asked him about proving to the Phillies that they traded the wrong guy. His answer was that they traded the right guy–he’s glad to be in Houston. It was a great answer. Many Astros fans were happy to see Lidge go, and here’s hoping that if we see him this series, that he gets bloodied up by whatever alkaline trio of Astros come to the plate against him.
And, of course, this is Ed Wade’s first trip back to pHilly, where his tenure as GM is not fondly remembered by most pHillie fans who will undoubtedly spew their acrid comments on a message board at a web site near you.
Tuesday Shawn Chacon RHP (0-0, 3.75) vs. Adam Eaton RHP (0-0, 3.95)
Shawn only appeared a couple of times as a reliever last year against the pHillies, who posted a .273 avg against him. He gave up 3 hits with 4 walks and 6 K’s. Feliz and Rollins have the most at bats vs Chacon, and Rollins sports a lifetime .364 avg against him. Eaton was moved up in the rotation, to line him up to face the Mets next Sunday night, on ESPN’s nationally televised broadcast. He seems to be able to neutralize Lee and Ausmus, who are both 1-8 (.125) against him.
Wednesday , Roy Oswalt RHP (0-3, 9.00) vs. Kyle Kendrick, RHP (1-1, 6.14)
Roy stays on regular rotation after Sampson is skipped for this start. This game could be a litmus test for the rest of the season for the ace of the staff. In his two starts against the pHillies last year, they roughed him up for 10 earnies in 12 innings. Feliz and Jenkins have .480 and .375 averages against him, respectively, and the team total average is .329. If Roy continues his average of 10 hits per start for this season, we could all be downing some Mylanta by the middle of this game. Plus–the Astros have never faced Kendrick–which seems to always give them a bad case of acid reflux at the plate. It may be time for that little purple pill.
Thursday Brandon Backe RHP (1-1, 2.25) vs. Brett Myers RHP (1-1, 5.00)
Brandon has little experience against this lineup. He will need to find a buffer for Jenkins, who has 7 AB against him, sporting a .429 average. Myers has struggled a bit in his return to the rotation, his ERA currently sitting at 5.00, and he has openly suggested he would have preferred to remain the closer. Ausmus has surprisingly had good results against him, being 5-11 (.445).
Notable giveaways and promotions
Is that the footlong? And then some. Tuesday is Hatfield Phillies Franks Dollar Dog Night.
Wednesday–Southwest Airlines Schedule Magnet
Thursday–Citizen’s Bank Businessperson’s Special
Maybe its a good thing Matsui will be in Oklahoma rather than the City of Brotherly Love–when the Mets come to town on Friday, the Phillies are having an Asian Pacific Celebration. Kaz may have missed the plane (accidentally of course) to stick around for a taste of home–dancing geisha.
Injury Reports
pHillies Shane Victorino is DL’d with a calf strain. While not on the DL, Rollins has been resting a twisted ankle and has missed 5 starts. He is scheduled to come back against Tuesday against the Good Guys.
Astros Wigginton and Wright are digitally challenged. Ty is on the DL, Wesley, just resting his, but will hopefully be back for the start of the pHillies series. The Assman will be in Oklahoma with the RR Express on rehab assignment. Paulino continues to rehab his pinched nerve. Don’t forget to put your Towles on the doorknob, he is listed day-to-day after Sunday’s Bagwellian HBP, but is probably out for this series. Q was recalled from AAA and Newhan was designated for assignment.
Phuck the Phillies
The pHillies hold a special degree of disdain in my heart. My earliest memories of watching the Astros were in the 1980 National League Championship Series. It was the first time I can remember my young heart being shattered at a loss by a sports team.
My dad had raised me to love football, his sport of choice. At the age of five, he would take me outside and show me how to throw the ball. As I grew older, he would even teach me particular player’s grips on the ball. When he took me to games, we would sit in the end zone so he could draw up plays and teach me defensive lineups. I became an avid fan and my Sundays (after church) and Monday nights were spent glued to the television, watching football. I did not watch baseball. Baseball seemed so boring and without action for me. One night when I couldn’t get to sleep, I turned on the radio and found the Astros game broadcast. Soon, I couldn’t sleep without the melodic drone of the announcers on the radio calling balls and strikes. Their soothing voices lulled me to sleep every night. I still was not a fan of the game, I just loved their voices.
In 1980, I was twelve years old and my family lived in Mont Belvieu, Texas, atop a salt dome, the largest natural gas storage facility in North America. I had heard rumblings of trouble in our town. The salt dome was leaking natural gas. Some of our neighbors had hammered pipes into their front yards and lit them–instant flares. Every evening, a man would come by our house with a handheld monitor and test to see if there were any natural gas fumes. One night, when my grandparents were visiting, the monitors pegged out as they passed by the dishwasher in the kitchen. It had happened to us. We were being moved out of our house.
At first we thought it would be temporary. My parents and my two brothers, the youngest only nine months old, were moved into a single hotel room. For six long weeks. It was unbearable as a child, I can only imagine how bad it was on my parents. The only good things I remember about that time was getting to eat anything I wanted in the hotel restaurant and watching the Astros on TV. Yes, my mom finally gave in. My dad convinced her to let me watch the playoffs. I would sit on the edge of the bed, living and dying with every pitch. As I look back on that series now, I don’t remember it for the great series it was. I was too young to understand. However, when the series finale was decided, my young little heart understood the passion with which one could follow a sports team and the disgust one could have for a rival. An Astros fan was born.
Oh yeah, did I say pHuck the pHillies? Yeah, well pHuck’em.