Thursday, August 27, 2009
Astros 4
Turds 3
W: Valverde | L: McClellan
Thanks to 94CougarGrad for providing the headline for today’s “recap”. My Thursday was…eventful…and none of the events was actually watching the Astros game. I got a good kick out of reading the Game Zone though, so I recommend reading it if you missed the game too.
Lordy Jeetus, a W.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Astros 2
Cards 3
W: Pineiro (13-9) | L: Oswalt (7-5) | S: Franklin (34)
Astros.com Recap
Videos from the game
AP! Recap! On Yahoo!
GameZone
Roy’s right. The fire’s not there right now. You get paid good money* to go out and do your job, and it’s not getting done. For fuck’s sake, I only just now bothered to remember that I’m supposed to write a recap once a week. Inexcusable lack of effort. I’d like to apologize to my teammates at SnS, my fans**, and most of all, to Sparky.
If we all showed the same passion that he displayed in allowing three runs on four hits in the 1st inning yesterday, maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess. But that’s what leaders do – they immediately get in a hole that forces the offense to press, barely escape having three signature blow-up innings in one game, and lay the blame right where it belongs: everywhere else.
When you point the finger at someone, three fingers point back... right at that other useless asshole behind you who didn't do a fucking thing to help bail you out.
Lazy-assed lazy-ass photoshopping
You know the malaise has fully set in when I can’t even be troubled to lean on the easy crutch of photoshop to get through another recap. Instead, I’m taking uninspired to a whole new level, and just linking to the last time that I used a lazy-ass photoshop as a crutch. Nobody read the fucking thing anyway, so I should be in good shape.
On the ol’ jukebox
This brief writing seesion was penned to Jawbreaker’s Unfun, which was coincidental, but appropriate.
Better things
Better than reading about losing to the Turdinals and bitching? Two minutes and forty-one seconds of non-stop faceplants. You’re welcome.
Footnotes
* By “you”, I mean “I”. And by “good money”, I of course mean “rubgirls”. back^
** Hi Mom! back^
Astros 0, Cardinals 1
W: Adam Wainwright, L: Wandy Rodriguez
Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Game Zone
Series Preview
Well, this was a fast game. Both pitchers did a great job of keeping baserunners to a minimum of 3 each. Unfortunately for Wandy he had 2 of his 3 in the 1st inning, which is when the winning run was scored.
Astros Highlights:
Wandy Rodriguez tossed 7 innings of 3 hit 1 run baseball. He really did a great job on the night. If he hadn’t gone up against Wainwright who was a smidgen better he probably would have gotten the win. Nothing for him (or Cooper) to be upset about.
Michael “Sweet Baby” Bourn was the offensive juggernaut on the night for the Astros. He had 2 of the 3 hits by Astros. The Astros 2, 3, and 4 hitters (Pence, Berkman, and Lee) were unable to score him after the leadoff double in the first.
Cardinal Highlights:
Adam Wainwright, he seems to be having a pretty good year. Good for him.
Game Analysis:
I just didn’t have a good feeling at the beginning of this game. I just didn’t think the Astros were going to be able to win. I thought there would be more runs scored (by both teams). But that thought was wrong. There were some good defensive plays by both teams. Hopefully Roy Oswalt can get the win he thinks he deserves tonight.
Bench Tidbits:
The San Antonio (McAllister) Little League team beat the Chuela Vista (I’m too lazy to look up the correct spelling) California team 6-3. That team has a city of 1.3 million plus people pretty excited. I was there visiting family last weekend and everyone seems to be talking about them. They are as popular as the Spurs and Cowboys, that’s saying a lot for them. I hope they do really well in the tournament.
Watching the Little League games definitely brings a smile to my face to see those kids playing and having what appears to be a good time. Most of them are smiling. I love seeing kids happy.
Now, on a more personal note since I know you all wonder about BudGirl’s exciting life, I will share this with you. We (my office) have a guy retiring at the end of the month. As the Executive Assistant to the VP, I get to do all the party planning. While I enjoy planning get togethers and whatnot, it can get stressful. Last minute, he might not retire, to I’m going to invite 80 people will stress me out. I ended up waking at 4:30 this morning. I’m tired. Yet, I still have a luncheon to organize and all the work on my desk to do that didn’t get done while I was planning the parties. I’m not really whining, I enjoy it. Most people compliment me on the affairs, so it is nice and usually appreciated.
I am also planning to go to the beach on Saturday, I haven’t been since August 9th. Withdrawls have set in.
That’s all I got. Have a great day people.
Contributed by Bench.
After rewarding Saturday night’s faithful families, things turned sour more quickly than Charlie the Unicorn’s Trip to Candy Mountain.
Angel squeezed Bud like a zit in the first inning, and despite some “this only needs x-y-z to happen and it might be a great comeback” moments, the deficit proved ultimately insurmountable. The U.S. women won the Solheim Cup and Gervacio pitched pretty well.
Check out Taras Bulba’s Series Preview for information on the next series.
Little Buddy!
Moehler started out the game by giving up two dinky runs in the first before working out of the jam with a dp. From there on out, he was stellar for the next four innings, before Coop’s itchy trigger finger pulled him in favor of Byrdak with the bases juiced in the fifth. Byrdak pitched an effective 1 2/3 innings, before yielding the mound to Sammy Gervacio, who struck out the only batter he faced before Coop realized he’d accidentally given a rookie some playing time and yanked him for Fulchino.
On the other side of the box score, Blum got the offense going in the 2nd, driving in Caballo with a double and was subsequently driven in by Matsui’s fortnightly extra base hit to tie the game. Sweet Baby Bourn started another rally in the fifth, scoring on a shallow sac fly to center by Lee. Tejada and Berkman followed with singles, and Blum’s single brought Miggy home, giving a two-run lead that would remain unchallenged. Blum continues to contribute, even on a night when Coop said he’d be unavailable. Apparently, he slipped himself into the lineup when Coop wasn’t paying attention. Which isn’t that hard, when you think about it.
LaTroy tossed a nearly-perfect ninth in place of the shelved Valverde, who has thrown more pitches than Yorman Bazardo this week. Seriously.
Diamondbacks 0, Astros 1
W: Roy Oswalt, L: Yusmeiro Petit, S: Jose Valverde
Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Game Zone
This was a fun game to attend. 2 hours and 20 minutes was all the time it took for Roy Oswalt, LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde to win this game. They only gave up 4 hits on the night with NO WALKS. Yes, you read that right, NO FREAKING WALKS!!! How outstanding is that? When was the last time that happened?
Astros Highlights:
Roy Oswalt went 7 innings giving up 3 hits, NO WALKS, and no runs. He only threw 95 pitches before being lifted for pinch hitter Darin Erstad (who did get a hit in his at-bat).
Michael Bourn (I have to include him in any highlights because I love this kid.) went 1 for 3 on the night with a walk and stolen base. Was stranded both times he was on base.
Jeff Keppinger got the only RBI in the game when he doubled Hunter Pence home. He did have an error in the field. He was not alone in the error column, Miguel Tejada had one also.
Diamondback Highlights:
They struck out 6 times.
Their pitcher Jon Rauch is 6’11” tall, 290 pounds. That’s one big boy.
Game Analysis:
This seriously was one of the best games I’ve been to in a while. Would have liked to see the Astros score some runners when they have bases loaded with one out, but the pitching held up on this night.
Bench Tidbits:
The fireworks were awesome tonight. I could have done without the Michael Jackson music but still very enjoyable.
I purchased a chicken tender basket for the last time tonight. Just not worth $8.50.
I signed up to be a designated driver, that way I got my free small soft drink. This is the one thing I do at every game now. EVERY game I attend. I feel it is Drayton’s and Aramark’s way of giving something back to me for any shitty food I might purchase.
Early day for me tomorrow, going to San Antonio to visit the folks.
Check out GreatBagwellsBeard’s pinch writing series preview. Way to step it up, without any time to warm up.
Have a great weekend and Go ‘Stros.
