Messages

1

The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Lexington - 2012

« on: September 04, 2012, 08:03:40 am »

Friggin' AWESOME!!! LINK

Had to be the Technotronic. Who can help but do their very best when they've been listening to 'Pump Up the Jam'?

2

Talk Zone / Re: Corporan up

« on: August 14, 2012, 09:05:48 pm »

And a real ringing endorsement of Snyder.

To be fair, Mills just said they did it because they wanted to carry 3 catchers. It was the host (Pallilo?) that explained the possible outcomes of sending Snyder down. Mills wasn't saying or even alluding to anything negative about Snyder. Regardless of how I feel about some of his baseball decisions, the man is stand up all the way. Imagine what Coop would be saying in pressers at this point in the season.

3

Talk Zone / Re: Corporan up

« on: August 14, 2012, 05:47:54 pm »

In an interview on the radio today, Mills said they sent Corporan down instead of Snyder because they wanted to have 3 catchers come September, and Snyder could refuse assignment and would have to be put through waivers anyway because of his tenure.

4

Talk Zone / Re: Think Positively!!!! Good things to say about your Houston Astros!!!!

« on: July 27, 2012, 02:15:52 pm »

17. If you go to bed after 6 innings, you can be pretty sure you won't miss anything good.

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Talk Zone / Re: A request for frank assessments...

« on: July 26, 2012, 11:16:26 am »

Angel Of Doom?

6

Game Zone 2012 Archive / Re: Dickities @ Astros 07/25/12

« on: July 26, 2012, 06:39:10 am »

On this team?

It seems to me that if the most you can hope for on any given night is 3 runs or less, an above average defensive catcher might be a good thing to have.

My silver lining for this game was this: If Cordero hadn't blown the save, I wouldn't have gotten to see Altuve bat against Chapman. A guy who has a K rate of almost 18/9IP going up against the little man with the supernatural hand-eye who never strikes out. That was a really fun AB to watch, even if it didn't end the way I would've liked.

7

Talk Zone / Re: What do you really think, Mike?

« on: May 12, 2012, 09:31:29 am »

Speaking of Harper, he busted up his face in the clubhouse tunnel tonight. He swung a bat at the wall after making an out, and the bat must've taken offense since it bounced back and hit him under the eye.

Link

Man, that bat is old school. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

8

Talk Zone / Re: Pence to Atlanta?

« on: July 29, 2011, 09:57:18 am »

Rosenthal has tweeted that the Reds are in on Bourn and Pence. what do they have that we would want?

9

Talk Zone / Re: Pence to Atlanta?

« on: July 29, 2011, 08:37:37 am »

According to McTaggart:

The Phillies are pushing hard for Pence and could be willing to offer pitcher Vance Worley, outfielder Domonic Brown and a Minor League pitcher.

This is the first I've heard about Worley.

10

Talk Zone / probably Blumless next year

« on: October 04, 2010, 06:11:42 am »

I know he isn't needed all that badly since we have a couple of potential young middle infielders. Oh yeah, and a legitimate major league manager. But I'll be sorry to see him go.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101003&content_id=15398764&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou

11

Game Zone 2010 Archive / Re: Reds at Astros, 9/17/10

« on: September 18, 2010, 08:02:55 am »

That was a great game. Cueto looks like Tracy Chapman.

12

Talk Zone / Re: I'm sure Cabarra already bombed Pearl Harbor, but...

« on: August 27, 2010, 08:55:46 am »

I think you guys are ignoring the whole marketing aspect of FOTF.  Keppinger, Blum, Myers, etc... are all good ballplayers, but they either aren't regulars or aren't longtime Astros.  Pence and Bourn are about it, and they are the ones getting pushed.  And this is only Bourn's third season with the club.   

I agree with you, but if I were to buy a new Astros jersey tomorow, it would say Keppinger on the back. I'm not saying that he's more marketable than Bourn or Pence, but I think there is something to work with there if he continues to play at the level he has this year, especially if DeShields is still a few years away from usurping his position.

13

Talk Zone / Re: I'm sure Cabarra already bombed Pearl Harbor, but...

« on: August 26, 2010, 07:15:04 pm »

I don't know about FOTF, but for leadership in the clubhouse what about Keppinger? He seems like a hard-nosed, comes to play, take no (WEAK-ASS) shit kind of player.

14

Talk Zone / Re: day dreaming, but....

« on: August 02, 2010, 10:30:13 pm »

Complacency is just as contagious and corrosive as petty blame-storming. 

Complacency is a disease...

15

Talk Zone / Re: Berkman's contract

« on: July 30, 2010, 04:23:53 pm »

I stand corrected.

16

Talk Zone / Re: Berkman's contract

« on: July 30, 2010, 04:15:21 pm »

The insisting his option is not picked up will get us less in return, but he's only gone for this season and we're not going anywhere this season anyway. I will be curious to see what we get in return.

17

Talk Zone / Re: Berkman's contract

« on: July 30, 2010, 04:06:52 pm »

Wow. I always expected Roy to leave at some point, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around Lance playing for anyone but the Astros.

18

Talk Zone / Re: Berkman's contract

« on: July 30, 2010, 03:00:20 pm »

That would put this Berkman fan in an uncomfortable position.

I have to admit seeing Lance face Roy in the WS would be pretty neat. Although that would mean the Yankees were in the WS again, which would suck.

19

Talk Zone / Re: Carlos Lee Traded?

« on: July 17, 2010, 10:19:12 am »

I once, late at night, about 20 years ago, was taking the Metro from a dinner engagement near The Sorbonne back to my hostel near the Pere Lachaise cemetery. During a stop in one of the underground stations on the way back, a band of Gypsies boarded the train and surrounded me.  I got just a little bit scared. One of the bigger ones, who also seemed like the leader, got right up in my face. His mouth was about two inches from my mouth. I was about to freak, when one of the others started strumming a guitar and doing a really nice job, then the leader broke out into song. It was beautiful, I didn't understand a word and he was all up in my grill but I managed to calm down and appreciated the fact that they were drunker than I was and better musicians. After the song they settled down and left me alone, and when I got off the train I told them bye, as though they were my new best friends, which they were for the time being.

Did you check your pockets after you got off the train?

20

Talk Zone / Re: Astros at Yankees - Series Preview Posted

« on: June 10, 2010, 10:53:33 pm »

Without a doubt my favorite preview I've read here, followed closely by any of the incredibly bilious Cubs series previews by MRaup.

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Talk Zone / Re: One thing I forgot in the recap (re: Oswalt)

« on: April 06, 2010, 09:47:18 am »

Mills said after the game that they lifted him to try to get some offense going (he led off the 6th.) A reporter asked if Roy would have gone back out otherwise and Mills said yes.

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The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: Dallas Keuchel

« on: July 08, 2009, 10:15:30 pm »

Looks like he did a nice job. 3IP/0R/1H/0BB/2K

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The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Re: 2009 Draft

« on: June 09, 2009, 09:48:18 pm »

Article on Nash

“I had a blast at the Astros tryout. I got to meet with all the team officials and the players,” Nash said. “We had batting practice and I played the positions of left field and third base. They wanted to see how soft my hands were and how well I could move my feet.”

Maybe they see him as having potential at 3rd.

24

Game Zone 2009 Archive / Re: Rox-Stros 6/3/09

« on: June 03, 2009, 11:46:24 pm »

I was listening to the "10th Inning Show" show on the way home and Milo slipped and called Michael "Porn".

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Talk Zone / Re: Firing the manager is not in the cards

« on: May 28, 2009, 09:34:19 pm »

Maybe Drayton is just doing what Coop should be. He's not airing something unpleasant to the media (especially that particular member of the media) before discussing it man to man privately. As big as Drayton is on 'leadership', I can't believe he isn't seriously dissapointed with Coop's performance so far.

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Talk Zone / Re: pravata

« on: May 27, 2009, 10:28:40 pm »

Right now I kinda miss how prav would chime in sometimes to help steer threads and get them back on track. I don't post much (and am not very good at it when I do), but I read a lot. Thank you, pravata, for helping to keep me informed and learn more about the game in general. Actually, that thanks goes to many of the stalwarts who post regularly here.

ETA: Fuck the Cubs

27

Talk Zone / Re: early Footer

« on: May 10, 2009, 11:31:16 am »

Cooper remembers first saying, "No no no," and then changing that to "Yes yes yes,"

This seems like a perfect summary of Coop so far to me.

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Talk Zone / Hope he's not out as long as Carlos

« on: April 06, 2009, 11:59:24 am »

Jamey Carroll has a broken finger courtesy of Brocail in the last inning of the last ST game. That's gotta suck.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090406&content_id=4136284&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

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Talk Zone / Re: Things I Like More Than the Cubs

« on: April 06, 2009, 11:02:01 am »

Frank Caliendo's got nothing on you, man.

30

Talk Zone / Re: Are you FUCKING kidding me?

« on: April 06, 2009, 09:34:56 am »

Wouldn't it be something if the "Whining" Houston Astros could give Carlos Zambrano a flashback to his pathetic playoff performance in 2008, leaving him sobbing like a little girl behind a towel in the dugout?

It's more likely he would punch a little girl in the dugout.

31

Talk Zone / Re: Are you FUCKING kidding me?

« on: April 06, 2009, 09:17:54 am »

He even had the balls to refer to Miller park as "Wrigley North".

32

Talk Zone / Re: Looks like Coop has made his decision

« on: April 06, 2009, 09:03:14 am »

Matsui-Bourn over Bourn-Matsui is nonsensical to me.

Matsui-Bourn would be ok with me if Bourn was a better bunter, because I could see about a third of those "sacrifices" turning into men on first and second. As it is, it still makes a lot more sense than Matsui-Pudge.

33

Talk Zone / Re: Seriously? Suck it ESPN

« on: April 05, 2009, 10:57:18 pm »

Footer's take (from her blog):

* I cannot, for the life of me, understand why fans get so riled up when the ESPNs of the world don't give their team any love while making their season predictions. Who cares? I mean, really, truly, who cares?

34

Talk Zone / Re: Ticket prices

« on: April 03, 2009, 12:25:18 am »

Forget your troubles wit a, you know, tremendous view of dis here girder. 

Which is holding up dis here ridiculously overpriced corporate box/suite/serraglio with a perfect view of the game that nobody will bother to watch.

35

Talk Zone / Re: Roy to start the WBC semifinal

« on: March 20, 2009, 10:07:44 pm »

What time is the game?

8pm Eastern on ESPN. I am really looking forward to it.

36

Talk Zone / Re: Astros sign Clay Hensley

« on: December 24, 2008, 04:43:07 pm »

I would guess the $550k is Hensley's Major League Salary.  He would make less if he ended up in RR.

Confirmed in Footer's report:

If Hensley makes the team out of Spring Training, he'll earn $550,000. The contract also includes bonuses based on performance.

Link:

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081223&content_id=3727373&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

37

Talk Zone / Re: Most unlikely run ever?

« on: September 11, 2008, 12:38:09 pm »

Or in the same place.

Or on the same person

38

Talk Zone / Re: Game tomorrow

« on: September 11, 2008, 12:36:49 pm »

I have tickets and will be there if there is a game, even though the Cubs are obviously the dominant power in all of professional sports today and the Stros have no chance whatsoever at making the postseason.

39

Talk Zone / Re: Pitching injury news

« on: September 08, 2008, 02:59:19 pm »

Sure would be nice for him to get a shot at that money in a one-game tiebreaker.

It's not a bulldozer, but it just might do.

40

Talk Zone / Re: What is different with Roy?

« on: September 04, 2008, 05:32:05 pm »

July 7, 2008

Oswalt said Monday his sciatic nerve is inflamed because he has a worn disk in his back.

Oswalt flew to Houston on Saturday and had a painkilling shot in his back and said Monday he felt "great."
 

Thank you for this. I don't know how I missed it when it was reported, but it explains a lot.

41

Talk Zone / What is different with Roy?

« on: September 03, 2008, 02:51:15 pm »

So after his last start I feel confident in saying Roy has turned it around and is looking like the pitcher we are familiar with. My question is: what is it that got turned around? I recall Pravata insisting tht he was playing hurt despite his denials, and I tended to agree. But if all Roy needed was a couple of weeks rest to get back on track, why on earth didn't he get it sooner? I'm interested to know what y'all think is the actual reason for Roy's poor performance in the first half.

42

Talk Zone / Re: Manny Ramirez to the Marlins?

« on: August 01, 2008, 08:36:05 am »

I can't wait to see how Manny and Kent get along.

43

Talk Zone / Re: pence = new biggio

« on: May 22, 2008, 02:54:45 am »

I am officially in favor of Terrie B.

One gains a clearer understanding of why young Hunter might have wished to return to the hot tub with alacrity.

A friend of mine knows Terrie B and he asked her about the patio door incident. She said she felt horrible because they had left it open the whole evening but for some reason she just decided to close it the last time she came out.

Anyway, wow.

44

Talk Zone / Re: So, what's the lineup look like today?

« on: May 15, 2008, 01:48:15 pm »

Like I said... musta been dreaming it then.  I stand corrected.

I agree with you about the need for a uber-utility guy. Loretta has good hands but no range and no arm. I don't think I've ever seen Blum play SS. Is he any good? Even average?

45

Talk Zone / Re: So, what's the lineup look like today?

« on: May 15, 2008, 01:42:35 pm »

Didn't play shortstop for some games in spring or am I just dreaming that happened.  If not, then Blum is your only option to play shortstop for Tejada.  All the more reason you need a good ubber utility guy on this club.

I thought Kaz didn't play in any ST games on account of that thing we're not talking about anymore.

46

Talk Zone / Re: Manny Ramirez: Insane, or just stupid?

« on: May 13, 2008, 12:26:36 am »

I vote for stupid. That's why he hits so many home runs. He has what my friend calls "retard strength".

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Talk Zone / Re: The perfect pair

« on: May 12, 2008, 12:52:11 pm »

Am I the only one clicking here and expecting to see this?

Actually, my first thought was Cabrera's on Baywatch. But I was hoping for this.

48

Game Zone 2008 Archive / Re: 3/21/08: Marlins at Astros

« on: March 21, 2008, 05:55:59 pm »

Did anyone else hear Milo call Blum "Blummy"? Yeesh.

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Talk Zone / Re: Opening Day lineup?

« on: March 20, 2008, 09:13:18 am »

oh yeah, right. neither one of them can or will go from first to third on a double Pence hits. the owner is cheap too, right?

ummm...no?

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Talk Zone / Re: Clemens has a job offer!

« on: March 19, 2008, 08:56:33 pm »

It would be awesome if his bench coach's nickname was 'Twinkie'.

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Talk Zone / Re: Opening Day lineup?

« on: March 19, 2008, 08:54:36 pm »

I really like this lineup. I guess when Kaz gets back he'll have the 2 hole all sewn up (to rerererehash that joke). I'm not crazy about Spaz hitting 6th, but he'll get his anywhere in the order. I just keep picturing him kicking Tejada or Lee in the ass trying for extra bases. Feel free to bash the clark.

52

Talk Zone / Re: The lineup

« on: March 13, 2008, 06:13:06 pm »

Channel 2's profound news anchor.  Or, if you prefer a more obvious answer, the one with the honkers on the left.

Amen. When I was in high school, my dad and I would watch her do the traffic report every morning even though neither of us commuted into Houston. Limey obviously shares the Grocer's weakness for homegrown talent (as do I).

53

Talk Zone / Re: Marlins pitcher Logan Kensing

« on: March 13, 2008, 12:20:23 pm »

The often-posed notion of arming animals to make hunting more sporting always makes me think of this comic called Preacher. To keep it brief, a really tough strong man ends up in a large pit fighting a really big gorilla. Spectators throw in a couple of baseball bats, and while the gorilla is examining his bat with curiosity, the man proceeds to beat the holy living crap out of the gorilla.

Besides, the whole idea is faulty. In the "sport" of hunting, the prey's goal is not to kill the hunter. It's goal is to survive. And if a hunter is in a moving helicopter and you have four legs and the ability to turn on a dime, I would have to say you have a pretty "sporting" chance of realizing your goal. To sort of get this back to the topic of baseball, the offense is trying to score runs. The defense is trying to prevent runs from being scored. I realize that they alternate these roles, but within the bounds of a half-inning, the analogy holds up.

54

Talk Zone / Re: JJO says hello to OrangeWhoopass and Noe

« on: March 12, 2008, 08:27:45 pm »

But can he live up to Cabrera's standards?

That could be hard. I've heard he's very Brave.

55

Talk Zone / Re: Houston Astros 2008, thy name is "Aggressive"

« on: March 11, 2008, 05:56:12 pm »

They'll be very grateful for having the league's best defensive shortstop.  Eh?  Oh.

Yeah, that's the only hole I see in this theory. I know there has been a lot of talk on these boards about the organization's doubts as to whether AE would return to pre-injury form. I still haven't actually seen it reported anywhere. I'm just going to go with the assumption that Coop was getting Tejada whether he liked it or not. And if he can at least be a league average SS defensively, I guess I'm OK with that. (Although for me, half the fun of watching Astros games was watching AE play). But Tejada has looked quite BAD at SS this ST. Is this normal for him? I expected him to be warmed up already since he played winter ball.

56

Talk Zone / Re: Pence interviewed by ESPN

« on: March 08, 2008, 05:47:52 pm »

Yeah, yeah. I know.

The thing is, Spaz might have just as likely been going to get a toy submarine, or laundry detergent, or purple fizzies.

...or have mistaken an overflying airplane for a long fly ball.

57

Talk Zone / Re: pre season and getting whooped

« on: March 01, 2008, 07:19:58 pm »

The ball was hit very hard and looked for all the world like it was going to drop. I have no idea what Cheo was shouting at Carlos, but I was not at all upset that he would be aggressive. I really think that it was more that he thought it would drop than he misremembered the number of outs. I was very surprised when the outfielder got there.

That is entirely possible. Unfortunately, I was only able to listen to the game.

58

Talk Zone / Re: pre season and getting whooped

« on: February 29, 2008, 03:23:26 pm »

Just looking at the boxscore. 
FIELDING
Outfield assists: Gutierrez (Lee at 1st base). 
Anyone listenting that could let me know what happened here?  Just curious...

Actually, Lee apparently thought there were 2 outs already and was running on contact. Milo and raymond were joking with the Grocer about it.

EDIT: Not Raymond. The other guy with the nasally voice. Dolan.

59

Talk Zone / Re: What's this I hear about Shawn Chacon?

« on: February 12, 2008, 01:10:15 pm »

Footer reports an offer has been made. http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080212&content_id=2371309&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou