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General Discussion => Archive => Game Zone 2009 Archive => Topic started by: subnuclear on April 07, 2009, 07:15:43 pm
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Cub Lineup
A. Soriano LF
R. Theriot SS
D. Lee 1B
M. Bradley RF
A. Ramirez 3B
R. Johnson CF
G. Soto C
M. Fontenot 2B
R. Dempster P
Astros Lineup
K. Matsui 2B
I. Rodriguez C
L. Berkman 1B
C. Lee LF
M. Tejada SS
G. Blum 3B
H. Pence RF
M. Bourn CF
W. Rodriguez P
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Go 'Stros!
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WGN in Austin.
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WGN in Austin.
My condolences.
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the WGN feed is awful
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My condolences.
I'm syncing the KTRH feed, which means I'm listening to Milo, which means I've heard more about Scrap Iron's golf game with DoRay than I have about what's going on in the game.
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where are the fans?
Also, no radio here either.
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Suck it Errormiss
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I've got Milo on the gameday audio and WGN on TV with the sound down. Milo is about a full second behind the video - which is how I remember him back when he did television too.
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Pence's first AB: three pitches, three swings, K
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I've got what appears to be the Fox SW feed on one of the "hidden" channels on my cable system, but the audio sounds like a 78 RPM disc on 16, with constant 1/2 second stutter. Beats the hell out of American Idol, which is what my wife and kids are watching in the living room.
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Both times with the curve
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The new MLB.TV this season kicks some major ass.
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Bourn is going to end up leading off plenty of innings with Pence striking out all the time in front of him.
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Hell, doesn't take long for things to go down. Was that a curve Bradley hit?
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12 innings and four shattered bats already this season?
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The new MLB.TV this season kicks some major ass.
Its much improved since yesterday.
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I'm amazed no one has successfully complained about that bullshit glove flicking that Dempster does. That's just bullshit.
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Pudge looks clueless.
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I wouldn't know about MLB.TV.
I have no reason to buy the package because the entire state of Texas is within the Astros "home market."
Dumbest baseball decision since Bud decided to use the All-Star game to determine home field for the WS.
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what a terrible AB from pudge
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Christ almighty.
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Pudge looks turrible.
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I guess we got the Yankee version and not the WCS version. That was ridiculous.
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where are the fans?
Also, no radio here either.
Rockets game down the street
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Watching Soriano reminds me of how quick Pudge's bat used to be, except his swings were a lot more controlled.
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Love watching Wandy throw the yacker, especially to Soriano.
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PENCE!!!
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Finally found a first pitch he could handle.
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PENCE!!!!!!!!!!!
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FUCK YOU PENCE!!! HATERS
Spazzypants tattooed that pitch.
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As we heard last night: "PENCE!!!! YOU DA MAN!!! PENCE!!! PENCE!!! YOU DA MAN!!!"
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A slider, at that.
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Dempster forgot and put it over the plate.
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Kaz has really started the season well in every aspect of the game.
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I am loving Matsui now that his ass has been fixed.
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lets hope pudge can redeem
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Finally found a first pitch he could handle.
After laying off a slider away. Go figure.
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I thought it was an 0-1 pitch. Nice, he hit a very good pitch going down out of the zone. Pence put a great swing on that one!
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I am loving Matsui now that his ass has been fixed.
Poor Kaz. He will never hear the end of that.
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Kaz has really started the season well in every aspect of the game.
I was just in the middle of posting that and figured I'd jinx it if I did.
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Soto is good at blocking the pitches in the dirt.
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Poor Kaz. He will never hear the end of that.
Indeed. You hate to seem him be the butt of such juvenile humor, but c'est la vie.
I was just in the middle of posting that and figured I'd jinx it if I did.
I'm in the process of eating a straw wrapper to atone.
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Wow, Pudge took a walk!
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C'mon Puma, make him pay...
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3-2 slider away? He had no respect for Pudge that he thinks that he can't lay off those... oh wait! He now has to face Berkman. Man, what was Dempster thinking? Oh yeah, that Pudge is lost right now, that's what.
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Well, that was anticlimactic.
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But, Pence is now on pace to hit 81 homers.
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But, Pence is now on pace to hit 81 homers.
With those kinda numbers, you'd think they could get Peavy and at least a prospect or two.
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That was actually impressive pitching by Dempster. Breaking pitches in, just off the hands... slow down his bat. And then come back with the four seamer. Probably knew he had to slow Berkman's bat down first before he could try that. Good major league pitching right there.
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Pence has million dollar talent, but... (insert what you want here, it will apply. The key is to remove the "but" and everything that comes right after that. If so, look out).
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Yeah, it really was impressive pitching. I knew when he had him down 0-2 he wasn't going to give him anything, although his control has been spotty enough that you could hope for a mistake.
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Derrek Lee looks like Derek Bell's slighty less fugly brother.
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That was actually impressive pitching by Dempster. Breaking pitches in, just off the hands... slow down his bat. And then come back with the four seamer. Probably knew he had to slow Berkman's bat down first before he could try that. Good major league pitching right there.
And then there's Wandy, missing way inside on a 2-1 fastball and giving up on 3-1.
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Wandy's really trying too hard to be fine here. He needs some help from The Board Game.
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Wandy is trying to co-opt the Oswalt inning here.
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Ladies and gentlemen, Kaz Matsui!
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Lou just ran them into a GIDP! I had a manager who once did this a lot and one time a player came running off the field screaming at him. "Come on!!!" He was batting and he claimed the manager took a rbi away from him by putting the runners in motion.
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Wandy cranking it up there. Bradley just caught up on it to avoid the strike them out throw them out DP.
Then the Stros get the timely 4u-3 the next pitch. Sweet. Fucking Cubs.
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Pudge is telling Wandy to trust his stuff.
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Jeez Pudge is taking a beating back there tonight.
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Rodriguez is going to need some aspirin.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, that's the Rodriquez-Rodriquez battery right there.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, that's the Rodriquez-Rodriquez battery right there.
You're right, I hadn't noticed that!
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Not your usual strikeout pitch there...
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Wandy!!
Nice gutcheck with an assist from the FTCs.
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I could've sworn I saw the Errormiss thought bubble pop up there: "Fastball, fastball, fastball... there it is.... aw crap!"
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Errormiss is lucky he didn't hurt himself trying to check that swing; it looked uuuuugly.
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Had to be fastball in. Slider away now?
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Lookee there. Pence shows some patience and takes Dempster away.
And BOURN!!! does the same!
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Nice job by Bourn, but what on earth was was Pence thinking?
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So he finally goes away on a slider and then runs into the 3rd out on the way to third. On a single to left. Sigh.
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gggggggggggrrrrrr
Shiitty baserunning again.
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It looked like Pence was watching Blum score.
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Yeah, dive for it on a close play at first, JACKASS! What a fucking cub.
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It looked like Pence was watching Blum score.
from 2/3rds of the way to 3b.
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Another blue star play!
Reed Johnson sneaks a bunt past Sampson, Sampson races to the bag, and Berkman gets the toss to him just in time.
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Hey all. Just saying GODDAMN, I've missed the Astros and the TZ and the GZ. (It's been blocked at work for a couple months.) On the plus side, I've been very productive lately.
What the fuck was Pence doing?
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I post once and the Cubs fuck up. Better do it again.
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Doink. Nice error by The Riot.
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What the fuck was Pence doing?
Imagining a world of unicorns, fairies and rainbow candies.
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So he finally goes away on a slider and then runs into the 3rd out on the way to third. On a single to left. Sigh.
The play is in front of you, unforgiveable mistake to kill a rally. Of course, last time Pence did something like that, Cooper said he was not mad at him because... wait for it... he was being aggressive. Ohhhh-kay! I tell you, I don't know what to think about the non-thinking Hunter Pence sometimes.
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Fucking Soto is pretty good behind the plate. Bastard.
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Aggressive is the last thing I'd call what Pence did.
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That was a hell of a play by Hill behind the dish...
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Jee-zus. Bouncer to the catcher and bouncer back to short and they still get Matsui.
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That was a perfect play by Koy Hill. I mean he did everything you're taught to do when throwing to second. Catch, set, throw almost all in one motion. You'll get the man every time!
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Exceptional catch and throw by Koy Hill. I thought Kaz had that stolen by a country mile.
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Oh, that was Hill? My mistake. Looked really good out there.
Coop is way too hung up on being aggressive.
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Not much to argue about there Pudge. That got a lot of the plate.
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When I saw that ball bounce in the dirt, I was sure Kaz would be safe. Hill made a great play.
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Wow, that 95 mph heater was a surprise.
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This may be way old news, but like I said, I've been away from here for awhile, and I didn't see it in the series preview. The old "my 20 pixels" is now showing up in HD on Houston Comcast 304.
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Run, you fucking cocksucker.
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Hawkins never even looked up. Crap.
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This just in: don't throw low fastballs to Soriano.
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Well fuck.
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I don't think we want Hawkins pitching to Lee here.
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Wandy continues last year's trend of 1 R, no decision.
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Here in Cali it's my13pixels and it sucks bad. No way this is an HD signal.
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with the heart of the order coming up getting a run shouldn't be out of the question
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2-0 popup on a high FB. Lucky. I'll take it.
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with the heart of the order coming up getting a run shouldn't be out of the question
I like your optimistic outlook.
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Pudge still has a gun back there.
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Theriot just got Fackered.
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What the heck is he running with Lee at bat? Man, the Astros and Cubs are running the bases like little leaguers this series!
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Gunned the rat down.
To the B8th.
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Nice fucking throw! It was odd, that steal took place at the same time as Figgins stealing on the Angels game I'm watching too.
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Nice fucking throw! It was odd, that steal took place at the same time as Figgins stealing on the Angels game I'm watching too.
Try the multi-cast feature, that should be sweet!
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What the heck is he running with Lee at bat? Man, the Astros and Cubs are running the bases like little leaguers this series!
They're being aggressive.
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Try the multi-cast feature, that should be sweet!
I imagine they'll black me out being in Orange County. I'll try fiddling with this new MLB.TV and see what new stuff they have.
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Here in Cali it's my13pixels and it sucks bad. No way this is an HD signal.
It's definitely HD here, although over-the-air or on cable, there are a lot of signal drops, for some reason (at least at my house). They must have a hamster running their transmitter.
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For those of you playing the Pick 4 Illinois lottery tonight, the numbers are 6 2 6 8.
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For those of you playing the Pick 4 Illinois lottery tonight, the numbers are 6 2 6 8.
You are watching the wrong broadcast, unfortunately. I hope you have the sound turned down.
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For those of you playing the Pick 4 Illinois lottery tonight, the numbers are 6 2 6 8.
Heh.
How'd you like the Cub announcers mindreading Coop?
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It's definitely HD here, although over-the-air or on cable, there are a lot of signal drops, for some reason (at least at my house). They must have a hamster running their transmitter.
The fact that it's not in 16:9 makes it seem worse maybe. I switched to the standard definition and it's not much worse.
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Good God, Kabong, do they time you to first with a sundial?
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Good God, Kabong, do they time you to first with a sundial?
I really think he's slower this year. He was glacial in LF last night.
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You are watching the wrong broadcast, unfortunately. I hope you have the sound turned down.
Yes, I am. I'd tune it to the radio broadcast if the Astros had an Austin affiliate that actually broadcast their games.
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Yes, I am. I'd tune it to the radio broadcast if the Astros had an Austin affiliate that actually broadcast their games.
Yeah, it sucks like hell, especially when Austin is an Astro town. Sometimes I can get it on 740 or 1080 all right.
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Heard this morning that Lee reported to camp this year at 240. That is supposedly 18 lbs lighter than his usual weight. I dunno about that. My guess is that Lee was hitting the pancake house all spring long.
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Interesting to bring Valverde on in a tie.
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score and inning please?
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Since when is it news that Carlos is slow? I'm more concerned with how slow he's started offensively the past 2 seasons, the real Carlos doesn't show up until June.
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Can't get a save now so might as well use him.
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Top of the 9th, 2-2. 4-5-6 due up for the FucktheCubs.
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score and inning please?
Top 9, 2-2. Who's winning? The Bears.
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Yes, I am. I'd tune it to the radio broadcast if the Astros had an Austin affiliate that actually broadcast their games.
Same here in Ft. Worth. They don't even acknowledge the existence of another baseball team, albeit in a different league, this far north.
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Are the goggles new, or am I going senile?
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Good God, Kabong, do they time you to first with a sundial?
Calendar.
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Since when is it news that Carlos is slow? I'm more concerned with how slow he's started offensively the past 2 seasons, the real Carlos doesn't show up until June.
It's not that he's slow, it's that he's even slower. Last year he was getting to balls better but now it's like he's almost standing still.
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Are the goggles new, or am I going senile?
I guess they don't come in Bono styles just yet.
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Top 9, 2-2. Who's winning? The Bears.
unfortunately you can't see that i am totally ignoring you
and just crumbled up a napkin and took a shot at the trash can
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I think Valverde was fooling around with WWI era planes in the offseason.
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Are the goggles new, or am I going senile?
I think they're new.
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I think Valverde was fooling around with WWI era planes in the offseason.
The Brown Baron?
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That splitter was nasty
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I guess they don't come in Bono Ricky Vaughn styles just yet.
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Valverde's got some nasty stuff tonight.
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I think Valverde was fooling around with WWI era planes in the offseason.
Can we call his splitter the Sopwith Camel?
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Can we call his splitter the Sopwith Camel?
Or maybe Snoopy.
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BTW... Valverde double-switched into Lee's spot. Erstad in LF, batting 9.
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Or maybe Snoopy.
I'm going to hear "Linus and Lucy" in my head when he does his strikeout dance now.
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Wow!
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Nice play, but a generous call by the ump.
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AMAZING play by Tejada there!
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What a play Miggy!
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I want the Miggy music!
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Hey FTC announcers:
HE WAS OUT YOU FUCKING DOUCHES
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Sounds like Piniella's going nuts, they're booing him like a good crowd should.
2-2, bottom of the 9th, BatGirl.
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On replay - definitely safe.
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Hey FTC announcers:
HE WAS OUT YOU FUCKING DOUCHES
Replay shows him safe by almost half a step.
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Hey FTC announcers:
HE WAS OUT YOU FUCKING DOUCHES
Not really.
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Hey FTC announcers:
HE WAS OUT YOU FUCKING DOUCHES
Actually, he was safe. But fuck the Cubs anyway.
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On replay - definitely safe.
Shhhhhhhh.
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Safe or out, it is amazing how well the middle of the field is playing defense for Houston. Bodes well that your defense is showing signs of being solid. Oswalt was not sharp yesterday, but because of his defense (*cough* except for Lee *cough*) he had a quality start. Shows how stats can be misleading.
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Please note that these replies should in no way encourage the FTC sentiment, nor calling opposing announcers douches if we are not playing the Dodgers.
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Safe or out, it is amazing how well the middle of the field is playing defense for Houston. Bodes well that your defense is showing signs of being solid. Oswalt was not sharp yesterday, but because of his defense (*cough* except for Lee *cough*) he had a quality start. Shows how stats can be misleading.
PECOTA knows all. PECOTA sees all. PECOTA says we're screwed.
PECOTA doesn't account for defense? Never mind.
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Keppinger in to run for Blum at 1B, Pence!!!! up.
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Sounds like Piniella's going nuts, they're booing him like a good crowd should.
2-2, bottom of the 9th, BatGirl.
thanks
i appreciate it
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Is Kepp really that much of a baserunning upgrade over Blum? This is exactly why I hoped they had kept Abercrombie over Michaels.
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Fastball in?
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Abercrombie's not a good enough base runner to make his living solely as a pinch runner.
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There was a very hittable pitch. Too bad he missed it; I doubt he'll see it again.
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...and he's aggressive enough to fish for a FB low and away...
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PENCE!!! works his first walk of the season.
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Pence maybe fooled and takes ball four. Two on, nobody out, Bourn up. Piniella's taking Heilmann out.
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Pence?!?! works the walk. Cotts in to face Bourn.
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Cotts looked real tough last night.
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well, theres the make up call
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Cooper, what the heck are you thinking?!?!
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Kepp looked safe at 3rd
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3b ump just gave a call back to the Cubs.
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That looked weird. Bourn shows bunt, pulls back and chops it to the mound and Cotts gets the out at 3B. Barely. Erstad up.
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It's rare that payback arrives so soon. But what the fuck was Bourn doing?
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Cooper, what the heck are you thinking?!?!
I think giving Bourn, a bad bunter, a bunt/swing option is entirely consistent with Coop's pror dealings with him.
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WARNING - while you were typing Coop (or Bourn) had his head up his ass.
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I was wondering about a double-steal, but after what Hill did earlier, that's probably not a good idea.
This fucking sucks.
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Come on Kaz save the day
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WARNING - while you were typing Coop (or Bourn) had his head up his ass.
They're just being aggressive.
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That looked weird. Bourn shows bunt, pulls back and chops it to the mound and Cotts gets the out at 3B. Barely. Erstad up.
If it was Coop, that was dumb. If it was Bourn, it was dumber.
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If it was Coop, that was dumb. If it was Bourn, it was dumber.
It HAD to be Bourn. Had to be.
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Well, that's pretty pathetic.
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If it was Coop, that was dumb. If it was Bourn, it was dumber.
If it was Bourn, then Michaels should be in CF tomorrow night.
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Milo blaming Bourn for not moving the runner up. Kaz softly lines to 2B, on to the 10th.
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That hurts. Judging from sound and trajectory, I thought Kaz had the game won there.
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Infield was back.
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Byrdak's in to pitch the 10th.
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Milo blaming Bourn for not moving the runner up. Kaz softly lines to 2B, on to the 10th.
If Milo knows for sure that Bourn did it on his own, then Bourn should be benched. Dumb move. Very dumb.
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If Milo knows for sure that Bourn did it on his own, then Bourn should be benched. Dumb move. Very dumb.
No shortage of goats cabrito in this young season.
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well..this is some nice pitching from byrdak
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Two down, but Miggy throws a groundball away and Miles is on first.
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Coop pulls Byrdak and brings in Red Ass Brocail.
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They've given Berkman a real workout tonight. That last one was just too hard to grab.
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THIS matchup is going to be very interesting.
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Easy groundout, 5-4. Bottom of the 10th coming up.
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THIS matchup is going to be very interesting.
And, thankfully, short.
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Is the Cubs contingency as big elsewhere as it is in Houston? Brocail getting booed for throwing to first one time.
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Is the Cubs contingency as big elsewhere as it is in Houston? Brocail getting booed for throwing to first one time.
Yes.
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Is the Cubs contingency as big elsewhere as it is in Houston? Brocail getting booed for throwing to first one time.
Bigger in most other places in my experience.
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FTCfans.
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Pudge gets some help from Errormiss's iron glove and ends up on first. Puma up.
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No shame, the Cubs are the best traveled team at MMP. And I went to all the Yanks Sox games.
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Good placement, Puma.
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Twinkie slaps one through the left side. 1st and 2nd, Pinella double-switching.
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Ok, let's try this 1st and 2nd with no outs thing again. Maybe we learned something last time.
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Hard grounder through the hole to LF, runners on 1st and 2nd, Michaels up. Piniella pulls Cotts and makes a double switch, bringing in Fukudome. Soriano goes out, Johnson to LF, Gregg in to pitch.
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Removing your best player in a double-switch is always good strategy.
And yes, I'm aware that the pitcher's spot is now up for us for no damn reason.
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Given that Michaels just swung away too, I'm guessing Bourn had instructions.
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Long FB to center, Pudge tags and advances to 3B. One out, runners at the corners. IBB to Miggy, Keppinger up, bases full.
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Given that Michaels just swung away too, I'm guessing Bourn had instructions.
Yeah, that seems unusual. Well, now it's on Keppinger's shoulders.
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new guy!!!
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Kepp gets it done!
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The bat dies a game-winning hero.
Astros 3, FTC 2.
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Broken bat single to LF, Astros win!!!
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ED WADE IS A GENIUS.
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FUCK YOU CUBS!
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Way to earn your star Kepp!
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The bat dies a game-winning hero.
Astros 3, FTC 2.
Hell yes. I can finally go to bed now.
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Just caught up on the DVR last inning...atta boy Kepp!
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Greg Lucas is a dork.
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Birthday victory for me! Yea! Thank you, Astros!
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Remarkable: WGN just named Keppinger their player of the game.
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Very strangely managed game by both sides. More like "it's early, let's see what would happen if I.... (insert whatever is floating around Lou Pinnella or Cecil Cooper's noggin)."
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Yeah, a real mixture of smart vs. bizarre. Nice to spank the Cubs though!
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Very strangely managed game by both sides. More like "it's early, let's see what would happen if I.... (insert whatever is floating around Lou Pinnella or Cecil Cooper's noggin)."
I'd say so. Back to Back 1st and 2nd nobody out situations and neither Astro bunts? madness, I say. It was encouraging to see Bourn go oppo to get the rbi in the 6th, but if he chose not to bunt on his own in the 9th, he needs some time on the pine as a punishment. Also, nice to see Wandy open the year strong. And Spaz lives up to his name. Hits a home run, but runs into an out on the bases.
Lee's at bat in the 8th vs Heilman was poor as well. He had a hitters count, and pulled a Hunter Pence. He's in a bit of a funk right now.
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One thing that is very encouraging. Houston had a quality start from a starter not named Roy Oswalt. Plus the defense looks solid (knock on wood). The Cubs also have a very average closer. Gregg won't last the season as the closer, so Marmol has nothing to sulk about (in case he is). Offense comes and goes, but pitching and defense wins ballgames is a good way to wage a campaign for the entire season.
This Houston team looks solid. Now all they need to do is consistently look solid for the entire year. That is the test, not whether they are solid but if they can stay solid.
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I'd say so. Back to Back 1st and 2nd nobody out situations and neither Astro bunts? madness, I say. It was encouraging to see Bourn go oppo to get the rbi in the 6th, but if he chose not to bunt on his own in the 9th, he needs some time on the pine as a punishment.
Also, nice to see Wandy open the year strong. And Spaz lives up to his name. Hits a home run, but runs into an out on the bases.
JD said that Bourn was reacting to the wheel play being on- if he can chop it or punch it past Cotts, then there's nobody anywhere in the middle of the diamond to field it... therefore he (JD) saw nothing wrong with that decision...
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Folks, get a grip re the play in the 9th. The fake bunt swing is a play that is called from the benchm it is as old as baseball and is often used, as it was tonight, to try to combat the wheel.
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Man, that was exciting for game number two, and what a great ending! Well worth putting up with the idiot Cub announcers to see that.
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JD said that Bourn was reacting to the wheel play being on- if he can chop it or punch it past Cotts, then there's nobody anywhere in the middle of the diamond to field it... therefore he (JD) saw nothing wrong with that decision...
Then JD thinks it was a matter of execution and not decision. Hmmmm... interesting thought and I wonder if Houston teaches it's players to look and see what the defense is doing before making up their minds to bunt or not. But then again, Michaels comes up and basically does a 420 ft bunt over for Pudge. Lou went ahead and walked Miggy just as if Berkman were bunted over as well, so in that case a matter of execution in spite of decision?
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Folks, get a grip re the play in the 9th. The fake bunt swing is a play that is called from the benchm it is as old as baseball and is often used, as it was tonight, to try to combat the wheel.
Didn't think about the wheel, good call by JD (and yourself). I didn't see them manuevering like that because I busy scooting the dog downstairs so he can go to bed. I looked up to watch Bourn chopping down on the pitch. Whaaaaa? Thanks for the pick-me-up, good to know that I was wasting some energy trying to figure out Cooper and/or Bourn on that one.
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One thing that is very encouraging. Houston had a quality start from a starter not named Roy Oswalt. Plus the defense looks solid (knock on wood). The Cubs also have a very average closer. Gregg won't last the season as the closer, so Marmol has nothing to sulk about (in case he is). Offense comes and goes, but pitching and defense wins ballgames is a good way to wage a campaign for the entire season.
This Houston team looks solid. Now all they need to do is consistently look solid for the entire year. That is the test, not whether they are solid but if they can stay solid.
What I like about having so many veterans on the team is that they have an awareness of situations younger players lack. For example, Geoff Blum dives into home in the 6th inning after realizing he has to score before Pence runs into an out. Or pudge's 3rd at bat against dempster. He knew he had chased bad breaking balls the first two at bats, and he laid off of them in that confrontation and drew a walk.
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Man, that was exciting for game number two, and what a great ending! Well worth putting up with the idiot Cub announcers to see that.
just use the Worrell button on your remote.
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Folks, get a grip re the play in the 9th. The fake bunt swing is a play that is called from the benchm it is as old as baseball and is often used, as it was tonight, to try to combat the wheel.
Thanks for the heads up.
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One thing that is very encouraging. Houston had a quality start from a starter not named Roy Oswalt. Plus the defense looks solid (knock on wood). The Cubs also have a very average closer. Gregg won't last the season as the closer, so Marmol has nothing to sulk about (in case he is). Offense comes and goes, but pitching and defense wins ballgames is a good way to wage a campaign for the entire season.
This Houston team looks solid. Now all they need to do is consistently look solid for the entire year. That is the test, not whether they are solid but if they can stay solid.
You can sit there and pretend this is a 90-win team while this organization wallows in suckishness and wastes opportunity after opportunity to sell off its remaining assets with any value, but those who know better aren't buying. Do the math. The run differential thus far tells the story--this team is overperforming at .500.
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You can sit there and pretend this is a 90-win team while this organization wallows in suckishness and wastes opportunity after opportunity to sell off its remaining assets with any value, but those who know better aren't buying. Do the math. The run differential thus far tells the story--this team is overperforming at .500.
I suck! BTW - heard this on the sports talk radio in Houston whilest driving to Spanish Flower yesterday. "Well, give us a call... tell us why you think this is a 90 win team or not. Tell us what you think. Oh by the way, Baseball Prospectus says they are no better than a 74 win team. 74 wins! And you know that those stats guys know what they are talking about. They are never wrong!"
Yes, the proverbial "never wrong" card to get the juices flowing for the faithful few Astros fans, the problem is everyone called to agree with the Mongoloids in the Midday. Dagnit, they can't even stir up the masses well enough to get anyone to defend the Astros. That is until one caller just called and said "can you tell me what Baseball Prospectus said about the Astros win total last year? Thanks I'll hang up and listen!" Teddy Boy was stumped and decided to just move along.
And I decided to turn some music on instead.
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I suck! BTW - heard this on the sports talk radio in Houston whilest driving to Spanish Flower yesterday. "Well, give us a call... tell us why you think this is a 90 win team or not. Tell us what you think. Oh by the way, Baseball Prospectus says they are no better than a 74 win team. 74 wins! And you know that those stats guys know what they are talking about. They are never wrong!"
Yes, the proverbial "never wrong" card to get the juices flowing for the faithful few Astros fans, the problem is everyone called to agree with the Mongoloids in the Midday. Dagnit, they can't even stir up the masses well enough to get anyone to defend the Astros. That is until one caller just called and said "can you tell me what Baseball Prospectus said about the Astros win total last year? Thanks I'll hang up and listen!" Teddy Boy was stumped and decided to just move along.
And I decided to turn some music on instead.
Mongoloids of the Midday I like it, my previous name for the show was Morons of the Midday but I like yours more
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No one is giving the Astros much of a chance this year. Makes it kind of exciting, actually.
As it stands, and being as objective as I can, I'd guess that the Astros are an upper 70's win team right now. The rotation has to potential to be good/very good, much better than people are giving it credit for, imo. Much of that is on Hampton. The defense mostly solid so far. Pence and Bourn are the wildcards on offense. I'm worried about 3B and if Pudge's bat speed hasn't caught up to his age.
If a few of those things break right, there's no reason why a +70's win team, imo, can't turn into a high 80's+ win team, and into the playoffs. That's why they play the games, as they say.
/farting out two cents/
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Didn't think about the wheel, good call by JD (and yourself). I didn't see them manuevering like that because I busy scooting the dog downstairs so he can go to bed. I looked up to watch Bourn chopping down on the pitch. Whaaaaa? Thanks for the pick-me-up, good to know that I was wasting some energy trying to figure out Cooper and/or Bourn on that one.
i used the play with my HS teams. the following is from my outline posted in The Dugout:
b. fake bunt swing
c. square to bunt, then use a short stroke to hit any pitch - protect the runner
d. runner break on pitch regardless of jump
e. this is a hit and run play - runner look in to find ball, hitter put the ball in play on the ground
i used the play when the other team was sure we were going to bunt and left holes in the infield by their defense of the bunt, including a wheel play. real old timers called it the "butcherboy," i think, and it is also called the "slugbunt." i started the runner(s) with it to try to pick up two bases if the ball got through.
slap hitters often use it with no one on, but that is a completely different play/situation. last night's use was to combat the wheel, i think, and was not a bad play considering Bourn's speed and the gaping holes left by the wheel.
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The decision that I didn't understand last night was letting Erstad hit against Cotts in the 9th instead of Michaels. Anybody got any thoughts on that?
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i used the play with my HS teams. the following is from my outline posted in The Dugout:
b. fake bunt swing
c. square to bunt, then use a short stroke to hit any pitch - protect the runner
d. runner break on pitch regardless of jump
e. this is a hit and run play - runner look in to find ball, hitter put the ball in play on the ground
i used the play when the other team was sure we were going to bunt and left holes in the infield by their defense of the bunt, including a wheel play. real old timers called it the "butcherboy," i think, and it is also called the "slugbunt." i started the runner(s) with it to try to pick up two bases if the ball got through.
slap hitters often use it with no one on, but that is a completely different play/situation. last night's use was to combat the wheel, i think, and was not a bad play considering Bourn's speed and the gaping holes left by the wheel.
That is a solid approach to the situation. If the play had worked out for the stros in this situation, coop looks like a genius.
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The decision that I didn't understand last night was letting Erstad hit against Cotts in the 9th instead of Michaels. Anybody got any thoughts on that?
JD mentioned that Coop might be saving Michaels in case it went extra innings. Not sure how that fits into the play to win/play not to lose strategy, but it seems logical to me.
Plus he burned Erstad the night before for the exact same matchup to no avail.
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The decision that I didn't understand last night was letting Erstad hit against Cotts in the 9th instead of Michaels. Anybody got any thoughts on that?
because Erstadt is more of a contact hitter? because Erstad hits lefties just fine? because you don't want to burn all of your bench players during the first 9 innings? because a base hit was needed, not merely a fly ball?
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because Erstadt is more of a contact hitter? because Erstad hits lefties just fine? because you don't want to burn all of your bench players during the first 9 innings? because a base hit was needed, not merely a fly ball?
Because Coop had a hunch?
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Also, the Astros were out of outfielders if they had burned Erstad.
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That is a solid approach to the situation. If the play had worked out for the stros in this situation, coop looks like a genius.
'Cept that Coop called for a sac bunt. Dunno about the wheel.
Ferretted (http://www.spikesnstars.com/2009/04/08/the-bunt-was-on-kent-relaxed/)
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'Cept that Coop called for a sac bunt. Dunno about the wheel.
Ferretted (http://www.spikesnstars.com/2009/04/08/the-bunt-was-on-kent-relaxed/)
Larry Dierker was once asked if he had a green light sign for stealing and with whom did he employ said signal. He said two things about this:
1. He did not have a green light signal, but he did have a red light one (meaning he only sent in a signal not to run, but he allowed his players to choose when and how many times they wanted to run).
2. If he had a signal for them to run, they would just ignore it any way.
So what does this have to do with Coop and Bourn (and the pitchers)? I think what Coop is saying is that he has a signal to bunt. Period. He sent it in. But he does not have a signal to execute the butcher-boy (what we always called it) or slugbunt. He said he leaves that up to the player to decide. So technically, Coop is employing the "I only have one signal" answer (which is very true) and that is to "bunt"... but he allows his players the latitude to decide on the butcher-boy in the case of a wheel play. He's probably talked to his player, including pitchers that he will not mind such a play if they think it's in vogue.
Seems to be the case here and why Bourn was not in the wrong and why Coop did not volunteer that he signalled Bourn to execute the butcher-boy because he didn't. It was already understood that he had the latitude to do it if he wanted to. Execution is one thing but the decision making process was not flawed so it seems and why it's all good this morning.
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you did not read carefully. he gives pitchers and others the option of the fake bunt swing if the defense is selling out for a bunt.
the wheel was on, reliable sources report.
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"I have to talk to Michael about that, so we'll talk about it," Cooper said.
WTF? "Michael, you did what you were supposed to". "Yup. Thanks, Skip". "JdJO, go waste your blog entry on this".
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"I have to talk to Michael about that, so we'll talk about it," Cooper said.
WTF? "Michael, you did what you were supposed to". "Yup. Thanks, Skip". "JdJO, go waste your blog entry on this".
See, that's what threw me about the sac bunt. Guess I should have considered the source.
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Larry Dierker was once asked if he had a green light sign for stealing and with whom did he employ said signal. He said two things about this:
1. He did not have a green light signal, but he did have a red light one (meaning he only sent in a signal not to run, but he allowed his players to choose when and how many times they wanted to run).
2. If he had a signal for them to run, they would just ignore it any way.
So what does this have to do with Coop and Bourn (and the pitchers)? I think what Coop is saying is that he has a signal to bunt. Period. He sent it in. But he does not have a signal to execute the butcher-boy (what we always called it) or slugbunt. He said he leaves that up to the player to decide. So technically, Coop is employing the "I only have one signal" answer (which is very true) and that is to "bunt"... but he allows his players the latitude to decide on the butcher-boy in the case of a wheel play. He's probably talked to his player, including pitchers that he will not mind such a play if they think it's in vogue.
Seems to be the case here and why Bourn was not in the wrong and why Coop did not volunteer that he signalled Bourn to execute the butcher-boy because he didn't. It was already understood that he had the latitude to do it if he wanted to. Execution is one thing but the decision making process was not flawed so it seems and why it's all good this morning.
right. that is exactly why i try hard not to questions signals/strategy if the options are sound and merely lacked the execution. an example of strategy we all should challenge is a squeeze bunt with two out, but a choice between two or more sound options that does not succeed should not be challenged, imo. that is pure second-guessing.
i never gave HS players the option to bunt or not for obvious reasons. i gave either the bunt signal or the fake bunt swing signal. MLB players are different.
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you did not read carefully. he gives pitchers and others the option of the fake bunt swing if the defense is selling out for a bunt.
the wheel was on, reliable sources report.
Don't know if I qualify as reliable, but the wheel was definitely on.
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right. that is exactly why i try hard not to questions signals/strategy if the options are sound and merely lacked the execution. an example of strategy we all should challenge is a squeeze bunt with two out, but a choice between two or more sound options that does not succeed should not be challenged, imo. that is pure second-guessing.
i never gave HS players the option to bunt or not for obvious reasons. i gave either the bunt signal or the fake bunt swing signal. MLB players are different.
That is what I was "trying to say". If one of two/several sound decisions is made and it suceeds/fails whom are we to question it. The decisions to question are why was Matsui rounding third in the first game on a slicer to right?
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That is what I was "trying to say". If one of two/several sound decisions is made and it suceeds/fails whom are we to question it. The decisions to question are why was Matsui rounding third in the first game on a slicer to right?
because he, like i, thought it was going to fall in. Bradley was way around to RCF, and i thought he had no chance to get there. Kaz and i were wrong. baserunners are taught to read the flight of the ball and sometimes miscalculate.
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because he, like i, thought it was going to fall in. Bradley was way around to RCF, and i thought he had no chance to get there. Kaz and i were wrong.
Any idea why Pence was watching home plate and not the throw in from left last night?
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Any idea why Pence was watching home plate and not the throw in from left last night?
i did not see the play, but that mistake is not understandable/forgiveable for me.
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What I am at loss sometimes (admittedly) is what exactly is Cooper's thought process, because at times it seems more gut-level that you usually see from a skip. The proverbial "throw the book out the window". This is something people found refreshing about Larry Dierker and I found somewhat confusing. I think Cooper should have all the latitude to play it the way he sees it and I in no way have a better way to run a club. In fact, it would be wise to say I would ruin the Astros... permanently... if ever Drayton McLane were to approach me on the concourse and stick his giant paw out to me and proclaim "I hereto pronounce you the new manager of the Houston Astros. Congratulations!".
Run. Run far away from me at that point all you Astros players.
But back to why it is at times perplexing is the lack of a decision making process or so it seems to me. Last night, I did not have all the information because I was distracted (the dog was in my eye! I had to shoo him off to bed during the AB in question). But at a surface level it just seemed like overmanaging to call such a play late in the game. First inning, yeah. Close game, probably not. But as it turned out, this was pure and simple a reaction to what the defense was trying to do to negate the bunt. Coop was dead spot on with his decision making process... the execution was off, but that is not something that should be criticized.
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What I am at loss sometimes (admittedly) is what exactly is Cooper's thought process, because at times it seems more gut-level that you usually see from a skip. The proverbial "throw the book out the window". This is something people found refreshing about Larry Dierker and I found somewhat confusing. I think Cooper should have all the latitude to play it the way he sees it and I in no way have a better way to run a club. In fact, it would be wise to say I would ruin the Astros... permanently... if ever Drayton McLane were to approach me on the concourse and stick his giant paw out to me and proclaim "I hereto pronounce you the new manager of the Houston Astros. Congratulations!".
Run. Run far away from me at that point all you Astros players.
But back to why it is at times perplexing is the lack of a decision making process or so it seems to me. Last night, I did not have all the information because I was distracted (the dog was in my eye! I had to shoo him off to bed during the AB in question). But at a surface level it just seemed like overmanaging to call such a play late in the game. First inning, yeah. Close game, probably not. But as it turned out, this was pure and simple a reaction to what the defense was trying to do to negate the bunt. Coop was dead spot on with his decision making process... the execution was off, but that is not something that should be criticized.
and, if he wants to limit that freedom in a tie game in the late innings, he needs to TELL the player, not the media, and/or have a separate sign for "BUNT, DAMMIT, NOTHING ELSE."
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i did not see the play, but that mistake is not understandable/forgiveable for me.
In the video replay, Clarkie is almost about to run into the field and tackle Hunter when he saw where he was. DC couldn't have been more animated in his stop sign... "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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and, if he wants to limit that freedom in a tie game in the late innings, he needs to TELL the player, not the media, and/or have a separate sign for "BUNT, DAMMIT, NOTHING ELSE."
Yup. He would need to do the needful (sorry, channeling the overseas Project Manager request I get sometimes) to make sure he is managing the late innings as most managers do and feel is where they earn their paycheck. Just don't do it like you're trying to wave in a jet fighter to a carrier, all animated like. Garner, Cooper's mentor, would say that he would prepare for the situations that would arise in the 7th, 8th and 9th and only react to situations when it was dire in the innings prior to that.
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He would need to do the needful (sorry, channeling the overseas Project Manager request I get sometimes)
Bob your head side to side as you say that for the proper effect.
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because he, like i, thought it was going to fall in. Bradley was way around to RCF, and i thought he had no chance to get there. Kaz and i were wrong. baserunners are taught to read the flight of the ball and sometimes miscalculate.
Got it. Ended up, might have run right out of an inning, but with Zamboner on the mound..I guess it pays to try and get them while you can.
Modified to add this bit of wisdom.
And in no way was that Coop's fault.
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In the video replay, Clarkie is almost about to run into the field and tackle Hunter when he saw where he was. DC couldn't have been more animated in his stop sign... "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!"
That is too funny. I watched it again and saw Clark waving Blum home only to throw up his arms immediately thereafter in a "NO HUNTER NOT YOU GET BACK!!" gesture. After Errormiss cut the throw and tagged him out, the camera cut to Bourn as he walked back to the home dugout. Michael glared at Pence with the same whiskey tango foxtrot look Loretta gave him last year after Spazz ran up Loretta's ass at home plate.
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Got it. Ended up, might have run right out of an inning, but with Zamboner on the mound..I guess it pays to try and get them while you can.
Modified to add this bit of wisdom.
And in no way was that Coop's fault.
it was a mistake, no doubt about that. just saying i understood what he did.
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it was a mistake, no doubt about that. just saying i understood what he did.
yeah. I thought the same thing when I saw that ball bending. The play he botched later looked easier than the one he made on that play. Fuck Milton and FTC's. At least I was spared tonights game. Apperently it was a doose. Fucking Clarks.
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because Erstadt is more of a contact hitter? because Erstad hits lefties just fine? because you don't want to burn all of your bench players during the first 9 innings? because a base hit was needed, not merely a fly ball?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3473&type=batting3
Erstad's BA against lefties over the past three years is .196.
Anyway, all worked out fine. I really like the versatility of the Keppinger acquisition (I was more excited about him than Boone) and it certainly has worked out early.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3473&type=batting3
Erstad's BA against lefties over the past three years is .196.
Anyway, all worked out fine. I really like the versatility of the Keppinger acquisition (I was more excited about him than Boone) and it certainly has worked out early.
and?
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and?
Didn't they show a graphic that Erstad was 4 for 7 or something like that vs. Cotts?
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and?
And while I'm negative about Erstad against lefties, and I'm not always negative! I'm usually pretty sunny.