Because Sampson is too valuable in relief
“He’s pitched extremely well out of the ‘pen,” Cooper said. “We tinkered with it once, but I don’t think we should continue. We need to keep him in a spot where I think he can settle into.” Link
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Pirates at Astros – Flushing the Bilge
The Astros won the first two games of the series against the over-reaching Cubs but then took a pounding in the finale, probably because the Raups couldn’t find enough Cubfans to hassle. The Cubs will falter down the stretch, most likely in hilariously epic fashion, but the Astros still have a long climb ahead before they can even think about making a run.
A good series against the Buccos could put some distance between the Astros and the cellar, and they might even overtake the Reds. On the other hand, a shitty series could mean an extended basement brawl with the Bucs. And the Pirates haven’t mucked out the basement since before the Cubs spent the offseason there two years ago, so you know it’s fucking rank.
The Pirates just got swept in a four-game series at Colorado where they scored a total of nine runs. Their pitching rotation is day-to-day and mainly consists of whomever didn’t pitch at Indianapolis or Altoona last night. Their outfield is having a good year, especially Nate McLouth, but former NL batting champion Dirty Freddy Sanchez is batting .230. The Pirates have lost five in a row and have started to take a colossal dump; we best leave them alone in the cellar so they can finish their business.
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Nice, Very Nice
Cubs 1, Astros 2
W: Geoff Geary, L: Bobby Howry
Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Box Score
This is what Astros fans deserve. Good baseball. Good pitching, good hitting, and good defense. Read More
And So It Begins……. Again.
The 2nd half of the season that is. Despite the fact the Good Guys (and everyone else) have played more than half of their games already, the All Star Break is over, and we’re off and running toward an unpleasant ending in the Central divison, no matter how you cut it. 13 full games back. Fuck. And to make things even more exciting, myself and the old man will be in attendance for the series. So if you see someone getting arrested with the severed heads of several Cub fans in his hands, thats probably me. Apologies if this is short and not sweet, but we gotta hit the road soon.
Minute Maid Park
Friday July 18, 7:05pm FSN (HD)
Saturday July 19, 6:05 FSN (HD)
Sunday July 20, 1:05 Mylilstation “HD”
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If a loss falls in the forest…
According to an analysis of Nielsen Media Research viewership data by the SportsBusiness Journal, Fox SportsNet Southwest, which broadcasts Astros games on a regional basis, has seen a 26 percent ratings decline — down about 69,000 households — through the first half of the 2008 season to record a 3.36 share.
This First Half in Baseball: Literary Edition
Breaking format this week, in honor of the All-Star Break and its typical deluge of first-half instant analysis from the Traditional Media, Blogosphere, and Average Joes like me.
To match appropriately to the Instant Analysis nature of such a column, I shall go all Bill Simmons on you and describe the season by matching it to great opening lines / paragraphs from some famous works of literature (“books”, for some of you, or “Barnes and Noble checkout line stuff”, for others.)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
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