Astros 1, Mets 9L: James Anthony Happ, W: Chris Capuano
Regardless of the three doubles hit by the Astros, they only had one error, yet they could not sweep the Mets. I guess Terry Collins getting booted in the first inning motivated his team to avoid the sweep. Guess the Mets just wanted this one more.
We should be happy with the team’s progress of late. Less errors and more wins.
And it was Mr. Happy that put the jinx on before the first pitch. Get’a rope.
Time to go pound the Miller now.
Padres 0, Astros 1
W: Bud Norris, L: Dustin Moseley, S: Brandon Lyon, H: Mark Melancon
This was a fun game to attend. Bud Norris did a good job for 6 innings of work before being pulled for pinch hitter in the 6th. His opponent is currently snake-bitten receiving no run support in three games this season. Thankfully, for the Astros, he gives up just enough to lose.
Great moment/player of the game last night. Mark Melancon He came in to relief Fernando Abad who had gotten one out in the 7th and had one on base. Melancon got the double play and the Astros get to come up to bat. Two men on and Brad Mills, manager extraordinary, sent Melancon to bat. With a 2-2 count, he apparently thought he is struck out on ball three and started to walk to the dugout. So, back to the batter’s box he went. He then proceeded to get a walk, possibly the best at-bat by an Astro this season (most entertaining at least). He was stranded there when Bourn makes the 3rd out.
Melancon also pitched a great 8th inning to hold the Padres to scoreless frame. There was some excitement when Patterson reached on catcher’s interference. Patterson was eventually thrown out at home when Orlando Hudson reached on a fielder’s choice out, first baseman Brett Wallace to catcher Humberto Quintero for the second out. The top of the 8th inning ended with a Ludwick strikeout.
Michael Bourn got the only RBI. He and others missed opportunities to score more, but only one was needed this night. Limey’s preview seemed to have it right about the Padres.
Things overheard at MMP and on the radio:
In the bottom of the 8th inning when Melancon got into a bit of trouble, “This kid sucks.” Yeah, that 0.00 ERA sucks.
After Bourn made the final out in the 7th inning, “ Bourn sucks.” Mind you Bourn got the only RBI of the game, while Sanchez, Pence and Lee were combined for 1 for 10 on the night.
Heard on the radio:
Let’s trade the Astros for the retired Space Shuttle. Seriously? I know it was joke, but part of the statement wasn’t. They then proceed to say a new owner would spend money on the team? Well, you know what, Drayton spent money on some areas of the team, i.e. Carlos Lee, how about that? Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
Tidbits:
I’m going to the game again tonight. Should be interesting to hear what others have to say. Who am I kidding the shit you hear is never interesting, just stupid.
A note to the usher who patrols section 127, she might want to ease up a bit. The need to check tickets as strictly as she does might be a bit harsh. It’s not like anyone sitting in a purchased seat can’t get up and move to a lower row where no one is sitting. Just be glad some is there to walk by you.
Oh and I have a 2-game win streak on recaps.
Astros 3
Reds 2
W: Fernando Abad, S: Brandon Lyons; L: Nick Masset
It only took the Astros 6 games this year to get their first win. Things are already looking better than last season. This game was painful for many Astros fans because they were forced to listen to Dave Raymond and Brett Dolan. I do not get radio reception in my office nor did I pay for MLB radio this year, so I could not listen to the game.
Things to note from this game, according to the GameZone:
Pence is horrid in the field and in the batter’s box. Makes one wonder if he should be Face of the Franchise (“FotF”). Not really, most of us already think he should NOT be the FotF.
Myers pitched a tight game giving up 6 hits and 3 walks for 2 earned runs in 6.1 innings of work.
Mr. Wallace went 1 for 3 with a walk and a RBI. Had a great defensive play and then maybe one not so great.
Bill Hall seems to be having some issues also, especially at the plate.
My Favorite Quotes of the Day from the GZ:
Austro:
And the Red Sox lost, too, so they can suffer through all of the “last team to win a game” bullshit.
MusicMan:
Abad your winning pitcher, first career win.
I’ve made that mistake before.
I, for one, would endorse the torture of DoRay.
Mr. Happy:
Hey Pence caught that one with two hands!
TyinTampa:
Is it natural for me to want to stab Pence repeatedly with a machete?
I will never tell another living person I want a 5-way.
chuck:
Say, they sound like a professional broadcast crew rather than a couple of dorks let loose in the high school AV room.
Special thanks to those that share what happened in this game. This recap is because of you.
One thing I noticed, the Astros recorded NO errors for this game. This team does not always seem to play good, clean baseball. Quite often they look horrid in the field. Hopefully this is the start of better baseball.
Maybe all this team needs is the first win for things to start looking better.
Tomorrow is the home opener. There are tickets available. Look for the outstanding upcoming preview from GreatBagwellsBeard coming to the front page soon.
Red Sox 10
Astros 0
I like going to the Exhibition Game before the Season Opener. It’s an appetizer to the start of the season for me. I did not go to Spring Training this year, so it was my first view of the team I love. My observations, take them, or leave them, for what they are, are below.
First observation, I will need to remind myself about all season is keep my expectations lower and I’ll go home happy. This team is not great by any means. I cannot even pretend otherwise. This team does have a lot of players to watch and enjoy.
Second observation, I will need to remind myself about all season is the defense up the middle is SLOW. They are not going to get to baseballs like I will expect them to do. At least, not with the current roster.
Third observation, I will need to remind myself about all season is to enjoy the players for what they are and not what I expect them to be. I will admit I do have expectations for a lot of the players.
1B – Brett Wallace – first full season starting in MLB. I don’t expect Albert Pujols numbers, but if that is what he wants to give me then I’ll just suffer and take it. Another thing about Wallace that I like is the fact that he seems to care about people. Footer reported during the off-season how he went to the Children’s Hospital on his own, not a scheduled promotional visit. Any kid with that kind of character deserves good things to happen.
2B – Bill Hall – first season as an Astro. I have to say I hope he hits better than he fields. He looks SLOW in the field.
3B – Chris Johnson – hopefully this season is a healthy and prosperous season for Mr. CJ. The team is going to need his bat. I think he’ll settle down in the field. He doesn’t seem like a Hall of Fame player at this time, but he seems like a good serviceable player.
SS – Angel Sanchez – another SLOW infielder. I do not remember him being that SLOW last season. This will be interesting to see during the season. I think he will be one that gets to become the utility player on the bench.
LF – Carlos Lee – dude just needs to play and work hard and good things will happen for him and the Astros. I have a feeling Mills told him what he expects and the consequences of not getting what he expects.
CF – Michael Bourn – SBB has a lot to maintain. Being represented by Borass means he is going to have to do well to get the big money. He’s also going to be making a lot of highlight reel catches.
RF – Hunter Pence – Ugh. I for the life of me cannot understand why fans love him. He looks HORRID in the field. I have a feeling Hunter will do enough to maintain the FotF tag he’s been given but I really think it needs to go to someone else.
C – Humberto Quintero – I refuse to believe that a clown is going to be his back-up. Great opportunity for Q. We know what we are getting here and should have no illusions of grandeur. It does suck that Jason Castro got injured, but what can we do about it? I was asking about Chavez last night, whatever happened to him.
In regard to Pitching, well…., we will just have to sit back and hope the balls find a glove quickly.
The season is over. The ending this year feels 100% different than last year. I must admit, I was not ready for it to end. The void is not welcome this time. (Not that the void is ever really welcomed.)
The transformation of the team through the season is the difference. For the first time in quite a while there are players that I have new expectations. Is Chris Johnson going to be a flash in the pan or a consistent hitting third baseman? Is Castro going to be able to handle catching and hitting for a full MLB season? Can Bud Norris continue to make strides? Will Brett Wallace be given the chance to start at first base and will he be able to hit like he did in the minors. There are so many fun questions going into the off-season this year.
I was thinking of what I would recap for my last game, but my little life got in the way. So I decided to write something about the end of the season as I did last year. So, this year I was thinking of how we mark baseball seasons with the changes in our life. For such a simple game of catching, throwing and hitting it brings a lot of people together.
Baseball becomes such a huge part of our life. Quite often we plan or cancel events around games. We even categorize friends based on which team they root. I have friends from Pittsburgh, Chicago and New York who root for teams from those cities. It is always fun to go to games with them to learn more about those teams and their experiences watching them. And sometimes you will not go to a game with those friends for similar reasons.
We make so many milestones by going to games. It can be something as simple as the first time you see a particular team or player. The first time you take your kid to a game. I remember the first time my mom and dad went to Minute Maid Park to see the Astros. It was Mother’s Day 2009. My mom and I ran the bases, very awesome time.
Then there are the times you remember because you cannot see or go to the game for one reason or another. Maybe you (or I) had to attend a wedding or some other life changing event. Many remember how the Astros did the day their son/daughter was born. Whether the Astros won/loss the day you got married.
This year and probably next year we will mark our special events by new milestones by the many new players on the Astros. Hopefully their and our milestones will be great ones.
Have a great winter and see you at Spring Training.
Astros 3, Nationals 4W: Tyler Clippard, L: Jeff Fulchino, S: Sean Burnett
Astros Recap
No Game Zone
I cannot understand why more Nationals fans don’t go see games when the Astros are in town. Do they not understand the opportunity they have to see future greatness? Have they no appreciation of Brett Wallace, Chris Johnson or Jason Castro? Silly me, there are not that many Nationals fans to attend games.
It seemed liked the Astros would score and tie the game or even take the lead, then in the bottom of the inning give the run back. Not good for a pitcher, Wandy Rodriguez, who needs one win to be at .500.
Hopefully the Astros do better Thursday, but with all the political crap in D.C. one never knows what to expect.
Hopefully das will get to see the Astros win a game he is attending again. (He has seen one, right?)
The season is almost over. There is someone in the TZ that seems to be jinxing the Astros (and Lurch). I just want the boys to win. Whether they reach .500 may not happen, but they are ending the season way different than I thought they would.
Also, in case anyone is interested, there will be a Houston Game Watch at Griff’s on Tuesday. Hope to see you there.
