Fuck.
Friday Sizzle
Nationals 5, Astros 6
L: Joe Beimel, W: Jeff Fulchino
This game had its sizzling moments. There I sat in Minute Maid Park watching Roy just have a good ol’ time with the Nationals hitters when all of a sudden there’s a lot of people at the mound. “Oh Shit,” I start thinking. What’s wrong? Roy comes out of the game and the Nationals start to have some fun.
Astros Highlights:
Roy Oswalt went 6 innings giving up 3 runs. I don’t necessarily hold 2 of the runs against him since he left with numbness in his fingers. (For those scared, he should be fine.) The bullpen didn’t help him in that inning. Back to Roy he had 6 strike outs and 1 walk. The 6th inning was going to be a challenge for Roy anyway since Nyger Morgan had led off with a single then stole 2nd base. (He ended up scoring.) Glad Roy’s okay and that he was pitching good last night.
Michael Bourn was the Topps player of the game. He had 2 outfield assists. Someone last night was telling me he doesn’t hit the cut-off man. I guess sometimes it’s okay that he doesn’t. The second assist was in the top of the 9th. Michael also went 2 for 5 on the night with a homerun, stolen base and 3 RBIs. I just love Sweet Baby Bourn.
Geoff Blum did something for at least the third time this season. Had a WOGWH (walk-off-game-winning hit). Bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th and here comes Mr. Hair up to bad. Nice hit to right field. It was a great hit. Overall, he had a pretty good night at the plate going 3 for 4 with a walk. There’s been discussion about the booing from Thursday night. I don’t know what those people were upset about. Blum’s been a good player and manager this season. The only reason I’ve come up with is people in Houston don’t watch or listen to enough baseball to understand that sometimes you walk a player to create a force situation. Those of us reading the forums on this site should know better and be used to them already. The bad thing about their booing is there is a guy that wears pink shirts regularly that hears them also. Good thing Blum and Tejada didn’t get released Thursday night.
Nationals Highlights:
Nyger Morgan had 2 stolen bases.
Game Analysis:
Hopefully this team is going to stay on the right side of .500 for the rest of the season. The guys have been playing some good baseball lately. I also love having the “team that is suppose to win the division” looking up at the Astros asses.
Bench Tidbits:
I got the planter last night. If I remember, I’ll let you know how my Minute Maid Park grass turns out.
Great fireworks show last night. It was really good. I love the fireworks. I think I need to go to more Friday games. Anyone is welcome to come with me. Adam Dunn watched them with his kid from the Nationals dugout last night. That was nice to see. Chris Sampsom went to visit with him after the game. Cool to see.
Check out Taras Bulba series preview for information regarding the rest of the series.
There was some action in the Game Zone last night.
If you need some beach reading, check out Limey Time. It’s a great read for a lazy afternoon.
Busy weekend ahead and I have no other random thoughts at the moment. Have a good one everyone
Astros shake stink of May in swat of mighty gNats
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Natinals 4
Astros 9
W: Not Ortiz | L: Lannan
HR: El Vendo
Astros.com
AP via Yahoo!
Game Zo…..eh?…oh.
I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to talk about Astros baseball after the 9 minute shitfest of an opening act tonight. The Good Guys themselves had all of about a half an hour to shake off the stink, go out and try to avoid the sweep of shame, a road AND home loss in the same evening.
I wanna smack you! ----- Right here, buddy!
Russ Ortiz toed it tonight and spent most of his 3 innings struggling and Coop had seen enough after he’d given up 4 on 6 hits and 2 BBs and a HBP. The media volleying began shortly after the game (I’d link the Chron but just don’t have the stomach for it) and discussion followed in the TZ. I scratched my head initially but I see both sides. He could have let him go one more to get to his spot in the order and see if he could right things, but I can’t blame Coop for pulling Ortiz because he clearly wasn’t getting anything past the Nats. Coop may manage from the seat of his pants but whatever is swimming in that cerebral soup, he wants to win and he really did tonight.
Astros bats kept it close with 1 each in the 1st and 3rd but it wasn’t until the 6th that the real wood started flying. A lead-off double by Pudge was followed by a Blum single and an outstanding 2-run triple to right center by Kepp that tied things up and chased Lannan. After a Michael’s PH K, June “Star Award” winner Michael Bourn came through again with an oddly-played shot off of the left field scoreboard. Adam Dunn let it sail over his head while looking back towards the infield. By the time Dunn had caught up to the carom, Bourn had raced around second and slid into 3rd just ahead of the throw. Kepp scored the go-ahead run with still only one out. Next batter, Miggy dropped one in front of Dunn to bring Bourn home and cushion the lead at 2.
More blasting caps in the 8th brought down the mighty Nats bullpen. A PH single by Kaz (why haven’t we parted ways with him? Slacker!) and a Tejada HBP set up Twinkie’s majestic blast into the first row of the Crawfords. 9-4.
Lest we forget, the Astros bullpen stood tall under the weight of Coop’s massive whim tonight. Fulchino, Arias, Byrdak, Sampson and Valverde covered 6 innings without a run.
The gNat attack continues tonight with Olsen facing Oswalt at 7:05 CDT.
Craptacular (the conclusion)
Astros at Natinals, 5/5/09 (resumed 7/9/09)
Astros 10, Natinals 11
This game ended, much as it began, in craptacular fashion. If you care to torture yourself with the details of the ‘game’ on 5/5/09, you can read about them here (I personally wouldn’t bother…).
In any event, the Astros found themselves as the away team at MMPUS in the bottom of the 11th with one out and a runner on first base. The game was tied at 10. Hawkins was on the mound, and Kata had replaced Erstad (bad hammy) in left. Nyjer Morgan had been substituted in as the baserunner on first base.
The first batter, Josh Willingham, singled to left. With runners on first and second bases, Hawkins induced the not-so-speedy Josh Bard into a DP grounder to Keppinger (playing second base). Keppinger flipped it to Tejada for the second out of the inning, but Tejada sailed the throw for the would-be third out of the inning over Berkman’s head, allowing Morgan to easily score. Ballgame.
In many ways this game ended as it should: one more craptuclar play in a game chocked full of craptacular plays. C’est la vie (I guess).
Stay victorious, my friends
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Astros 5
Pirates 0
W: Rodriguez (8-6) | L: Morton (1-2)
MLB.com Recap
MLB.com Video Recap
AP! Recap! On Yahoo!
GameZone
He got his season ERA back under 3.00, because anything higher is not befitting a man of his stature. He struck out only 11, because his fielders needed something to do. He won the series against Pittsburgh, using only his left arm. He wrestled a bear during the 7th inning stretch. After the bear lost, he made it carry him to mound in the 8th. He let the first 4 hitters in the lineup drive in all 5 runs, because his humility is only matched by his generosity. And his horrible, fear-inspiring power.
Eny Cabreja is…
The Most Interesting Pitcher in the World
I don't always pitch against Pittsburgh. But when I do, I prefer to throw complete game, five hit shutouts.
Scaredy Cats?
Pirates 6, Astros 3
W: Paul Maholm, L: Brian Moehler, S: Matt Capps
I am beginning to think I am the jinx or the Astros are a bunch of scaredy cats when it comes to getting to .500 baseball. I believe last Tuesday the Astros were one game of .500 baseball, I was scheduled to do the recap. Now, Tuesday’s game I am recapping and the Astros were one game of .500 baseball. I’ve had at least two chances to recap the Astros getting to .500 and again I get to recap a loss. It does not give me confidence in this team.
Astros Highlights:
Brian Moehler pitched 6.1 innings of baseball. He gave up 4 runs, 3 earned, but I think he pitched better than that. Tim Byrdak and Chris Sampson were not able to help the two runners inherited from scoring.
Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez went 3 for 4 on the night. Got his average up to .250. Keep it up young man.
Kazuo Matsui went 1 for 2 on the night with 2 walks. Hope he keeps earning that $5 million.
Pirate Highlights:
Garrett Jones, playing left field, went 2 for 3 on the night. He stole two bases also. One of those stolen bases, in the 7th inning led to the 4 runs being scored. Bad Garrett Bad.
Game Analysis:
This game seemed to be like a lot of Astros games for me this season. They give me some hope in parts of the game then take it away somewhere else. (Berkman’s throw to home in the 7th.) I’m sure they’ll end the season at .500 or maybe above it. But they need something to bring it all together.
Bench Tidbits:
I was not going to link to the rest of the series in JaneDoe’s preview but then decided I should give props where props are due.
The GameZone was a bit of a snoozer, but there is some stuff there.