Oswalt threw his first bullpen Wed. since he went on the DL. He threw for 10 minutes 40-50 pitches, fastballs and changeups.
Astros swept, increase playoff hopes
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Astros 7
Pirates 8
W: Osoria (4-3) | L: Geary (2-2) | S: Marte (5)
Footer Oliphant Recap
AP Recap / Box via Yahoo!
Game Zone
On a day when the Astros increased their playoff hopes with an infectious blend of delusional optimism and poorly-timed e-mail blasts, they also managed to pack up their shit and move into the Central basement, where they are free to remove their pants and holler up to the rest of the division to send down some fucking meatloaf.
The two teams’ starters combined for a robust 5.1 total innings and 11 runs, while the bullpens were just OK enough to keep the differential at 1 run in favor of the Pirates for the eventual sweep. It was a constant back and forth on offense, with the visiting nine jumping out for 4 in the first, and the Good Guys answering back with 3 in the bottom half. They traded runs in the second and third, the Astros tied it up with 1 in the fourth, the Pyroots pulled away again with 2 in the seventh, and Houston answered with 1 in the bottom, but that was it. I’d document the whole thing, but I think this does a better job:
See-saw affair with an unpleasant but predictable ending
Salary Dumpee
A key part of the deal for the Padres is the potential financial savings. Wolf is due a $175,000 bonus for every start he makes up to his 30th start, in addition to pro-rated payments on a $4.75 million salary.
Bombs away at MMP
Pirates 8, Astros 2
w: Maholm (7-6) | L: Cassel (1-1)
Krysten Oliphant @ astros.com
Rather than wait for a ninth inning meltdown like the previous game against the swashbucklers from the three river town. the Astros and fill in pitcher Jack Cassel allowed runs early and often while the bats of the hometown nine decided to take another night off as the Astros lost 8-2 on Tuesday evening. Read More
Consistent, Loyal, Delusional
Cooper has switched the lineup around more times than he can count this season, something he says he will do until he gets it right. “You just got to be smart and push the right buttons,” he said. “Obviously, I haven’t been that smart because we’re not in the position we’d like to be. We just got to keep punching them and hopefully, we’ll get the right ones.”
Link
Try mashing all the buttons at the same time Coop,
Astros fail
Pirates at Astros, 7/21/2008
Pirates 9, Astros 3
W: Yates (4-2) L: Valverde (4-3)
Box score
Who gave Footer the night off?
It was destined to be a strange night from the beginning, as Coop the Mad Scientist put a prototypical #2 hitter in the leadoff spot, and a player with no future but as a leadoff hitter in the #2 spot.
Lineup dyslexia:
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