Thursday, July 30, 2009

Astros 3
FTC 12

W: Hart | L: Ortiz

astros.com
AP via Yahoo!
Game Zone

Brutal. Not much more to say than that. Ortiz sealed his fate with just over 2 innings of 9 hits and 9 runs tossed. The best thing about this game was that CB Bucknor got hit. Twice. I can’t even go over what happened except to say that I had to look away numerous times for fear of acting out in ways that would frighten my co-workers. At times, it was much like staring at a picture of Shane MacGowan.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Astros 0
Baby Bears 12

W: Wells (7-4) | L: Hampton (6-8)

MLB.com Recap
AP! Recap! On Yahoo!
GameZone

Astros 11, Cubs 6
W: Jeff Fulchino, L: Angel Guzman

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap

Well, this game started out great Michael Bourn leads off with a first pitch single, Jeff Keppinger follows with a single. Then Miguel Tejada hits into what could have been a 3 run homerun but Fukedome snags his hit at the wall only scoring Bourn.

Onto the bottom of the second the Astros go. Roy Oswalt seemed to be doing good, then Ivan Rodriguez goes to the mound and that’s when the “oh shits” and other kind of comments from Astros fans start. Roy leaves the game with a lower back strain. Great news.

So, Wesley Wright comes in to finish off Milton Bradley and the second inning. Wesley continues to pitch 2 other innings giving up 3 runs, which I’m going to cut him some slack since right after or right before the end of the game he goes to the hospital with possible appendicitis. (ETA: Ends up being dehydration.)

So, in comes Jeff Fulchino to save the day. He pitches 3 innings, but also gives up 3 runs. Good news is he did not turn over the lead.

Tim Byrdak came into pitch a scoreless 8th frame and Jose Valverde closed it out.

Astros Highlights:

Jeff Keppinger is hot, hot, hot. He went 4 for 5, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, and no injuries. Awesome day at the “friendly confines.”

Miguel Tejada wasn’t shabby either, he went 2 for 4 with 5 RBIs. One of those hits landed in the fencing so the fans couldn’t throw the ball back. Sometimes I am so proud of the Astros.

Michael Bourn went 3 for 5 and a walk on the night scoring 3 runs. He had a pretty good catch out there in centerfield also. Seriously, who doesn’t like watching this kid play?

Astros Lowlights:

10 walks given up by the Astros. The Cubs had more walks than hits.

All the injuries.

Game Analysis:

I am very proud of the way the Astros played on this night. The Astros used 5 men on the night while the Cubs used 6 to lose. Hopefully a game like this can help a team keep chugging along, but I have to wonder if Music Man is still willing to wait until Thursday to decide if the Astros should be buyers or sellers.

I also think the ending to Monday night’s game didn’t sit well with the Astros and they came to take names last night, and they did. Hopefully they continue to take names since they have 2 more in Chicago and then go to St. Louis for the weekend.

Bench Tidbits:

The GameZone had something happening in there.

Read GreatBagwell’sBeard’s Series Preview for information on the rest of the series. Or some of it, you might want to check out this for the rest.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Mess 8
Astros 3

W: Hernandez | L: Moehler | S: Green

astros.com
AP via Yahoo!
Game Zone

The Astros looked uninspired in losing the rubber game to the steM this afternoon. Consequently, I am uninspired to write this recap. Not to mention I spent a good part of the game meeting with Dave, The Trapper Guy about a particularly persistent squirrel who has found the eaves above my home office a suitable nesting spot.

A walk and 3 straight doubles netted the Astros a 3-run lead in the bottom of the 1st by laying off Livan and making him throw strikes. But that lead evaporated into the ether in the 3rd on a bunch of steM hits, including one of their 3 triples, and the game was tied. Next inning the Flushing Fucks took the lead for good off of Moehler and for the rest of the game, the Astros had none of the patience or success they showed in the 1st. 3 more Mess runs off of Arias made me go finish cleaning the gutters.

Every other team in the Central except the FTCs lost. Cocksuckers.

Talk Zone

The second SnS game of the season was doomed before it started–an inadvertent boob brush here, a never seen before pitcher there, a Mets fan sitting with the Astros faithful–and despite the breast efforts by Batgirl to seal the gaping hole in the space time continuum, a 10 to 3 rout was on.

Ortiz looked udderly shitty on the mound prompting several SnSers to murmur about how 100 pitches needed to hurry up and get thrown so Coop could give him a titty twister, get him off the mound and into the showers.  Not that that helped any.  The bullpen provided new material for FAIL blogs:  Bosom Buddy Byrdak came in a followed up a fly ball out by giving up a 3 run knocker, and neither Paronto or Wright could grab the nipples on the ball and hold the Mets scoreless. By the time DVauthrin had beat his chest and called for the homerun by Thunderpants, the game was over and a tittilating tatooed teat was doing the wave.  Never before were after-game drinks more treasured. (Thanks for the nip you ol’ chap!)

Following the game, Paranto and his mammaries were optioned to AAA (will have to clear waivers) and Sampson was activated.

The series finale starts at 1:05 p.m. tomorrow with Livan Hernandez facing Brain Moehler.  Read Mark’s Series Preview here.

Mets 4, Astros 5
W: Mike Hampton, L: Johan Santana

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Game Zone

Well the Astros are now 4 games over .500 baseball. Willing is so much better than losing. Of course, it doesn’t help that the Cardinals and Cubs won also. I hear a lot of talk about being a 1.5 of the lead, but I don’t really care about that right now. The Astros just need to keep on winning, especially while some key players are on the DL. If the Astros continue to win that other stuff will take care of itself.

Astros Highlights:

Mike Hampton was only allowed to pitched 5.2 innings of baseball. He had given up all the runs the Mets scored on the night, but he hit the magic number of 100 (actually 101) and was pulled. He also took a Johan Santana pitch to the Crawford Boxes. Very nice Mr. Hampton.

Michael Bourn, Miguel Tejada and Ivan Rodriguez each had two hits on the night. Bourn had a stole base and an extra base due to an error but Miggy couldn’t get him home.

Hunter Pence had an outfield assist aided by the punch/tag to the jaw by Pudge. Very cool play.

Astros Lowhights:

Astros left 11 men on base. I really wish they would not have left the bases loaded in the 7th and creamed the Mets with a solid single, double, triple or homerun.

Game Analysis:

I don’t know what has happened to Hunter the last couple weeks, but it seems like he has reverted to his bad habits. Someone needs to visit with him, and I don’t mean Cooper. Sean Berry or one of the veterans on the team. He was doing well, but seems like he has started pressing again or something. Maybe he doesn’t handle wins very well.

I am beginning to wonder if the Astros were to win a 100 games, would Cooper forfeit all the rest saying they had played enough and were tired? Damm, I seriously hate juding pitchers on pitch counts. I thought Hampton looked like he could have finished the 6th. Hampton’s demeanor walking to the dugout seemed the same.

Bench Tidbits:

Today is the 2nd SnS game. Hope to see everyone there. Hope everyone had a good time. Hope no one ends up in jail or a hospital.

Check out Mark’s world famous series preview. Good reading.