Brewers 5, Astros 4
W: Rodriguez (4-2)
L: Rodriguez (2-1)
And so it has come to this. Staggering around, rolling steel balls between their fingers, the Astros brain trust has become Captain Queeg. Paralyzed by the need for decision and unable to prepare and carry out a plan, they lash out blindly because inaction would be mistaken for cowardice and weakness. Unfortunately, action for the sake of action rarely produces the results hoped for.
The brightest spot in today’s game was the first home run by Jason Bourgeois, a 3-run spot that gave the Astros a lead they held for half an inning. Myers’ line on the day, against a good hitting club, looks ok at first – six innings, four runs, six strikeouts, no walks – but Milwaukee never played with a sense of urgency. Rather, the Brewers knew when they took the field that they were going to win, it was only a matter of getting through the nine innings to finish the job.
In the end, it was Fielder driving in The Peen to no one’s surprise, just like the script said it would be. Another day at the office when the Astros come to town, another fly swatted off the arm.
The mixed messages of the weekend centered around the question of accountability. Surprising trades were made that took the best the team had to offer in a sacrifice to the future. Conveniently, the true outcomes of these moves will only be a little clearer in a couple of years and if they’re successful, will share many fathers.
The other side of this question came with the demotion of Wallace and CJ, and the promotion of Bogusevic and Paredes, both of whom are clearly not ready for The Big Time. Bearing a sizable chunk of responsibility for this year’s futility has worn heavily on our two demoted Stars Of The Future.
“We knew we were making moves and getting younger guys out here, but I guess they didn’t have that in store for me and Wally and the organization is going in a different direction,” CJ said. “I guess they don’t really want us to be too much a part of that right now.”
Wallace was only slightly more upbeat. “It’s definitely surprising. We’ll go down there and take care of business.”
It would appear that this is a temporary development, an eye-opener for CJ and Wallace that will last until Lee gets moved and Paredes makes us all long for CJ’s brand of stone handed ball. As with all things Astro though, only time will tell…and he ain’t sayin’ shit right now.
