So, a personal note or two to start things off. I’m moving to Los Angeles for a month on the 7th of September for work. So, similar to the Good Guys, I’m headed West for the forseeable future (minus the stop over in Lovableloserville). I’ll beat the ‘Stros to LA by a few days, but I’m hopeful I can catch a game or two of the Series while I’m out there since I’ll have weekends free.
I’d suggest any LA-based Stros fans meet up with me while I’m out there to try and see a ballgame, but if my trip to Houston last weekend has taught me anything, it’s that nobody on the TZ wants to hang out with me except for drunken British reprobates (thanks again, Limey).
I also mention my trip because I’ve been insanely busy getting read to go to LA for the last few days and managed to completely blank on my Preview Writing duties today until just now. So, with a little over 2 hours until game time, here’s the down and dirty series preview.
Dodger Stadium
Probable Pitching Matchups from Astros.com
Friday
Brett Myers (10-7, 2.97) v. Daniel Hudson (4-1, 1.83)
Check out Brett’s picture on the probable links. He looks like a prime candidate for a neck tattoo. Hudson looks like he’s about 16, and may or may not be thinking about boobies right now.
If you’re waiting for some useful information about these guys, you’re not gonna get it. No time, folks! No time!
Saturday
Bud Norris (6-8, 5.17) v. Joe Saunders (2-4, 4.70)
Bud’s ERA has lowered every month this season so far. His stuff is awesome, but he’s still learning to pitch in the big leagues.
The bad news? The Snakes post a .409 BA against him, 9 hits in 22 at bats, 2 home runs. Yikes.
Joe Saunders posted a really nice outing against the Chargers Padres in his last start, but the four starts before that were varying degrees of ugly.
Jason Michaels only has one hit in nine at bats against him. Kabong has three hits in eight at bats. Keppinger has one hit in two at bats. Nobody else has faced him.
Sunday
J.A. Happ (5-2, 2.89) v. Rodrigo Lopez (5-12,5.24)
Jaaaaaay has been pretty awesome since coming over from the Phillies. I don’t know if this is the real J.A. Happ or if he’s just happ-y to be with the Astros, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far. He’s a battler.
The good news: Happ absolutely dominates current D-bag cks to the tune of four hits in thirty three at bats, which leads to a sparkling .121 batting average against.
Rodrigo Lopez… Really? Who cares. Obviously he isn’t having a very good year.
Unsurprisingly, the Good Guys suck on ice against Rodrigo. They sport a robust .211 batting average, with eight hits in thirty eight at bats. Woof. Thunderpants (3-6) takes care of business against him, but that’s about it. Kabong is a putrid two of sixteen against him.
Houston
Nothing new to report here. Arias is still torn up, but apparently has begun throwing from flat ground again. Moehler’s groin fell off, but they taped it back on. Paulino is throwing from flat ground again, but odds are he’ll trip on a dandelion and tear another important joint/muscle right around the time he should be returning.
Arizona
Kris Benson is a tool. And by that I mean he’s out for the year with a shoulder strain.
Brandon Webb is on the DL with shoulder stiffness, but apparently “threw very successful simulated game August 28th”. I wonder what the difference is between successful and very successful.
Shit They’re Giving Away, Road Edition
Nothing Friday, but Saturday a sweet Montero Bobblehead. Who Montero, you ask? I don’t know either. It doesn’t say. Here it is, though. I’ve never known Montero to be an Asian last name, but hey, what do I know?
Sunday is Reynolds growth charts. Yippie!
Our Interesting Things to Chat About (Since There Isn’t Much to Look For)
I’ve been enjoying the few games I’ve gotten to watch and the highlights I’ve seen over the past few weeks, as many others have said in the TZ over the last few days. Watching the youngsters play good baseball has been fun, and bitchslapping the Fuckin’ Cardinals is always a good time. I hope this isn’t just a flukey little blip on the radar, but even if it is, it sure is more watchable than anything that the Good Guys were going last year. Thanks for reading, I’m back to scrambling to get ready for my trip to LA.
Talk about the games in the Gamezone… Or don’t. See if I care.