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Topics - Bench

Pages: [1]
1
Talk Zone / The Void (transacations)
« on: November 04, 2019, 05:36:39 pm »
Free Agents:
RHP Gerrit Cole
RHP Will Harris
C Robinson Chirinos
C Martín Maldonado
LHP Wade Miley
RHP Joe Smith
RHP Collin McHugh
RHP Héctor Rondón

Astros made a Qualifying Offer to Cole.

Declined Devo's $2.825 million club option (though he remains arbitration eligible)

Selected the contract of ML LHP Kent Emanuel, keeping him off the minor league free agent market.

Currently 34 players on the 40 man roster.

2
Talk Zone / ALDS
« on: September 30, 2019, 06:04:01 pm »
The umps for the Astros v. WC ALDS: John Tumpane, Bruce Dreckman, Mark Wegner (cc), James Hoye, Jerry Meals and D.J. Reyburn.

3
Game Zone 2019 / stRangers at Astros 9/17/2019
« on: September 17, 2019, 04:16:04 pm »
Under the roof as Imelda begins her deluge:

1. Springer 8
2. Altuve 4
3. Brantley 7
4. Bregman 5
5. Alvarez DH
6. Gurriel 3
7. Correa 6
8. Chirinos 2
9. Reddick 9

SP: Verlander

4
Talk Zone / Bivens
« on: August 30, 2019, 11:09:55 am »
I was aware of the atrocity inflicted upon Blake Bivens and his family, but did not realize that Morgan Ensberg is his manager. The Athletic has a good article about the league and club's reaction, including how Ensberg was able to draw upon his own minor league trauma to help Bivens.

5
Game Zone 2019 / Rays at Astros - 8/2919
« on: August 29, 2019, 01:32:46 pm »
T1:

Fly out to RF.
Strikeout
Strikeout

B1

Springer grounds out up the middle into the shift
Altuve sharp single to right
Brantley K's and a full count strike em out throw em out with Altuve out by several steps

6
Talk Zone / All Star Game
« on: July 08, 2019, 01:47:45 pm »
AL Lineup:

Springer RF
LeMahieu 2B
Trout CF
Santana 1B
Martinez DH
Bregman 3B
Sanchez C
Brantley LF
Polanco SS

Verlander SP

7
Talk Zone / Cy Sneed
« on: June 27, 2019, 09:20:29 am »
As reported in the GZ, Sneed is up, Framber is down. Smith moved to the 60 day IL to make room on the 40 man.

Busriders: What's the story on Sneed?

8
Game Zone 2019 / Astros at A's 17 April 2019
« on: April 17, 2019, 09:12:38 pm »
"Turning it up to 11"

9
Talk Zone / Race For the Lid XXI
« on: March 28, 2019, 11:25:57 am »
RACE FOR THE LID XXI
Contest Rules:
________________________________________

1.  Whatever the rules are, Bench(your RFTL judge and jury for 2019) can change them any time for any reason, including whim.  The purpose of this rule is not to promote chaos, but to preempt wailing, moaning, whining, and griping. 
________________________________________

2.  A Pick is determined by the number of wins.
________________________________________

3.  All picks are in this thread.  Picks out of this thread are DQ’d unless Bench changes the rules.
________________________________________

4.  One pick per person. If multiple picks, first poster get the pick.
________________________________________

5. The grand prize, of course, is an Astros cap of Bench's choosing from Astros.com.  Bench is allowed to make rulings on prize disputes that may arise... namely; he gets to tell you to go to hell if you whine that you should get the prize!
________________________________________

6.  NO PICKS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE OFFICIAL COMMENCEMENT TIME.
OFFICIAL COMMENCEMENT TIME:
BEGINS : 2:00 pm CDT Thursday March 28, 2019
CLOSES:  2:00 pm CDT Friday, March 29, 2019
No picks will be accepted after 2:00 pm CDT Friday, March 29, 2019, unless Bench decides otherwise.
________________________________________

7.  Verification of picks is determined by Bench.  If he needs help, he will request it.
________________________________________

8.  If there is no correct pick Bench will find a winner by a method of his choosing.
________________________________________

9.  The previous year's winner is not eligible to pick.
________________________________________

10.   Here’s the list of past winners:

2018 - Ebby Calvin
2017 – Duman
2016 - WVastro
2015 – Fredia
2014 – HudsonHawk
2013 – Fynn
2012 – Ebby Calvin
2011 – no winner
2010 – Lurch
2009 - Ron Brand
2008 – EasTexAstro
2007 - no winner
2006  - Fredia
2005  - Drew Corleone
2004  - Andyzipp
2003  - Jim R
2002  - no winner
2001  - Neil T.
2000  - no winner
1999  - Astrobabe

Good Luck and may be the best fan win!

10
Talk Zone / Take it Back!
« on: February 06, 2019, 01:01:50 pm »
That's your awkward slogan for the 2019 Astros. In other news, the Astros are adding another entrance at home plate with 12 additional turnstiles, which is long overdue.

Dollar hot dog night returns to Tuesdays.

11
Beer and Queso / RIP 2019
« on: January 02, 2019, 01:33:44 pm »
Mean Gene Okerland and Super Dave Osborne on the same day.

12
Beer and Queso / Anyone know where to buy packs of baseball cards?
« on: November 16, 2018, 10:15:20 am »
Other than walmart or target?

13
Talk Zone / 2019 Roster
« on: October 19, 2018, 10:57:45 am »
What, too soon?

Players who will now become free agents:

Keuchel
Morton
Sipp
Marwin
Maldonado
Gattis

I assume Harris' club option won't be signed.

Anyone else?


14
Talk Zone / What are Massholes?
« on: September 19, 2018, 03:23:32 pm »
These are Massholes.

“I noticed a couple cars swinging, like moving to the right, and we seen something in the street,” Iacuzzi said Wednesday during an interview outside his home. “So I ran across the highway to grab it. We brought it in the car, we had no idea what it was.”

They soon discovered, after removing some protective wrapping, that it was the 2018 American League East championship banner the Red Sox plan to unveil outside Fenway Park if the team clinches the division title, Iacuzzi said.

He said Wednesday morning that he and his pals wanted to give the banner to the Sox — but they weren’t going to serve it up like a batting-practice fastball.

“We’re hoping they do the right thing. You know, we did the right thing. We could have kept it, we could have put it on eBay. You know, we got connections where we could have reached out to other sources.”

Asked whether they wanted cash from the Red Sox, Iacuzzi said, “Yes, financial [compensation], maybe some tickets, we want something. We don’t know what we want. We want to return it, 100 percent, but we would like to get something.”

15
Talk Zone / The Shift
« on: July 12, 2018, 03:01:26 pm »
Interesting Crasnick article on The Shift from hitters' perspectives.

Basically, they say hitting a ground ball or bunting against the shift for an easy single both isn't easy and doesn't accomplish a whole lot. Their at bats are much better spent trying hit doubles or homers over the shift. 

Daniel Murphy made an interesting comment about a hitters' approach at the plate:  If I'm not mistaken, the level of production goes: strikeout, popup, ground ball, fly ball, line drive. The production comes mostly from fly balls and line drives, so that's what we want. I'm trying to hit a line drive first. And if I miss, I hit a fly ball. Ground balls, popups and strikeouts aren't going to give you anything. It's not necessarily rocket science.

16
Game Zone 2018 / Astros at A's May 9, 2018
« on: May 09, 2018, 03:05:26 pm »
No score through one and a half.  Astros have two hits.

17
Talk Zone / Aches and Pains 2018
« on: February 27, 2018, 10:46:19 am »
Yuli sent back to Houston to get his hand checked out.  Turns out it was worse than originally reported.  Hinch does not know the cause of the injury.

18
Talk Zone / Never Settle
« on: February 07, 2018, 11:41:30 am »
Is the Astros 2018 slogan!

Fortunately for the club and Springer it is not the slogan for their arbitration strategy. 

19
Talk Zone / RIP Roy Halladay
« on: November 07, 2017, 03:24:50 pm »
Died in a plane crash.  He was 40 years old.  Tragic.

20
Talk Zone / Season awards
« on: November 06, 2017, 05:41:47 pm »
Altuve a finalize for AL MVP along with Aaron Judge and Jose Ramirez
Hinch a finalist for AL Manager of the Year along with Francona and Molitor.

Yuli not a finalist for AL ROY.  Judge, Mancini and Benintendi are the finalists.


21
Talk Zone / The Umps
« on: October 23, 2017, 02:23:00 pm »
For the fall classic:

Gerry Davis
Phil Cuzzi (HPU Game 1)
Laz Diaz
Dan Iassogna
Bill Miller
Paul Nauert
Mark Wegner.

22
Beer and Queso / Fire at Chris Madrid's
« on: October 15, 2017, 01:14:39 pm »
https://www.ksat.com/news/crews-battling-fire-at-chris-madrids-burger-restaurant

Generally closed on Sundays so probably nobody hurt.  But macho nachos might not be available for a while. 

23
Talk Zone / 2018 Schedule
« on: September 12, 2017, 01:22:25 pm »
The 2018 schedule was released today, which is appropriate considering this season is over.

Highlights include:  Opening day in Arlington, and the final seven games of the season in Toronto and Baltimore.  Interleague is against the NL West, so 36 of the Astros' 81 road games will be in the Pacific Time Zone, including a stretch of 21 out of 30 games from July 20 - August 26.

24
The Championship Season Game Zone 2017 / Game 2
« on: September 09, 2017, 07:51:01 pm »
Correa called out on a replay after he stole second but was tagged by a millimeter for a millisecond sliding past the bag before getting his hand down.  I think that is the most annoying usage of replay, right up there with the elimination of the neighborhood/vicinity call during double plays. 

25
Talk Zone / "Players' Weekend" jerseys
« on: August 09, 2017, 02:57:36 pm »
On a lighter note, the Astros "Players' Weekend" jerseys have been revealed. 

Apparently the last weekend of August will be the inaugural Players' Weekend.  One of the supposed highlights is that the players' will get to wear XFL style jersey's with whatever name they want. 

Obviously, McCann doesn't give a fuck about this millennial hippy shit. But Marisnick is "Big Fudge," Will Harris is "Bill" and Correa is the delightfully cringe-inducing ON-BRAND(TM) "Showrrea."

26
Talk Zone / Rule Changes
« on: February 23, 2017, 05:53:49 pm »
It appears that MLB and the MLBPA might actually agree to do away with having to actually throw four balls for an intentional walk as a way to "speed up the game."  I haven't followed the story exhaustively, but of the articles I've read I haven't seen any actual data regarding how much time would be saved.  It seems negligible to me based on nothing but reckoning; a solution in search of a problem.  Has anyone found in actual data regarding the potential benefit?

I have a vague recollection of Mike Gallo losing a tie game in the bottom of the 9th or extra innings on a wild pitch on an intentional walk to load the bases.  Mostly my recollection is of bewildered rage, but I think that's what it traces back to.  It would be a shame to rob fans of such great emotional moments - like Gallo fucking up the unfuckable or the classic fake IBB strike which is also a lot of fun - just to shave a few meaningless seconds. 

27
Beer and Queso / RIP Gene Wilder
« on: August 29, 2016, 02:40:10 pm »
One of the all-time greats.  Dead at 83.

The common clay of the new west.

28
Talk Zone / Altuve
« on: August 22, 2016, 02:53:14 pm »
Nice little article in The Ringer about Altuve:

“The pitches I’m swinging at now are strikes,” Altuve said. “If you try to swing at a ball outside the zone, sometimes you’re going to hit it hard, but most of the time you’re not.”
What Altuve’s doing this year is beyond the reach of almost every other big league hitter, and he’s doing it, more or less, because he woke up one morning and decided to.

And a nice quote from Marisnick: “Coming off the year he had last year and the year before, when he won the batting title, he came in this year and he wanted to work harder,” said Astros outfielder Jake Marisnick. “He said, ‘I’ve got things I want to fix in my swing,’ and we all looked at him like, ‘You’re crazy.’ Then he comes in and he’s doing what he’s doing this year.”

29
Beer and Queso / Happy birthday Chuck!
« on: November 27, 2015, 10:33:37 pm »
May your mangos be ripe and free from larceny. 

30
Talk Zone / Umpires announced for Wild Card and Division Series
« on: October 05, 2015, 05:39:48 pm »
The Link

For the AL wild card game:  HP: Eric Cooper, 1B: Paul Emmel, 2B Ted Barrett; 3B: Bill Miller, LF: Chris Conroy; RF: Manny Gonzalez.

Angel is assigned to the Division Series between the Royals and the Wild Card winner.

31
Talk Zone / MLB removing Shoeless Joe from the ineligible list
« on: August 31, 2015, 04:01:40 pm »
The Link

Major League Baseball has issued a decision on the reinstatement of Shoeless Joe Jackson, according to Arlene Marcley, curator of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum downtown.

Marcley said she has received a decision from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. The announcement will be revealed Tuesday morning on the museum's official Facebook page.

His HOF candidacy can now be voted on in accordance with MLBPA procedures. 

Seems like an odd forum for this announcement, but who knows.

32
Game Zone 2015 Archive / Astros @ A's 8/7/2015
« on: August 07, 2015, 05:15:02 pm »
Houston

TBA

P:  Dallas Keuchel (L)

Oakland

1. Billy Burns (S) CF
2. Coco Crisp (S) LF
3. Brett Lawrie (R) 2B
4. Danny Valencia (R) 3B
5. Billy Butler (R) DH
6. Josh Phegley (R) C
7. Marcus Semien (R) SS
8. Mark Canha (R) 1B
9. Sam Fuld (L) RF

P: Sonny Gray (R)

Thought of the day from Julia Morales:  Through Aug. 7 of last season, the Astros were 23.5 games behind the 1st place A’s. Today, they're in 1st place with a 2.5-game lead.

33
Beer and Queso / RIP Roddy Piper
« on: July 31, 2015, 05:33:37 pm »
I guess he's all out of bubble gum. Heart attack at age 61.

A truly great entertainer. 

34
Talk Zone / Jakes investigated by FBI for hacking Astros!
« on: June 16, 2015, 10:17:18 am »
This ought to be fun.

35
Talk Zone / Franchise Four
« on: April 08, 2015, 03:54:23 pm »
The Astros are doing there own Mt. Rushmore it appears, and have started voting for the Franchise four.

You are urged to "VOTE FOR THE TOP FOUR PLAYERS IN HOUSTON ASTROS FRANCHISE HISTORY." The candidates are Bagwell, Berkman, Biggio, Cruz, Richard, Ryan, Scott and Wynn. 

You can also write in anybody.

Who ya got?

36
Beer and Queso / The Interview
« on: December 17, 2014, 05:37:42 pm »
Admittedly, a dumb frat boy comedy about assassinating a nation's leader is in rather poor taste, but I can't believe Sony completely caved like this.  What the fuck?  A bunch of embarrassing emails from years ago is all it takes to flush millions of dollars away, embolden bullies and look like a giant fucking chicken shit? Pathetic. 

37
Talk Zone / JDJO President of BBWAA. WTF?
« on: October 25, 2014, 05:31:54 pm »
I thought this was an Onion story when I first saw it, but no.  Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle has been elected president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

What a fucking joke of an organization.

38
Talk Zone / 2004 NLCS
« on: October 16, 2014, 10:44:43 am »
Footer put together an oral history of the 2004 NLCS

Lot's of interesting insights about the games themselves, but then Footer will of course throw in something like this: The fact that the Astros stopped opening the roof in '04, Clemens' first year with the team, was hardly coincidental.

39
Game Zone 2014 Archive / LCS
« on: October 10, 2014, 07:23:49 pm »
Go junior circuit!

40
Beer and Queso / The Tim Tebow CFL Chronicles
« on: August 19, 2014, 02:35:25 pm »
I haven't come close to finishing this, and probably won't until tonight as it is far too long for the work day, but The Tim Tebow CFL Chronicles is delightfully surreal.

We jog over to Raghib's car, he pats his pockets.

Ismail. Ahh ... damn, left my keys. You got any?

I've only been in Toronto a few hours, and I'm already sick of asking questions and being surprised at everything, so I don't hesitate. I just reach in my pocket, pick out the key in my keychain that opens my mailbox back in Florida, and stick it in the door. It opens, and I'm just laughing my ass off. Just dying. Through my fit, I'm kind of half-verbalizing, half-gesturing to Raghib.

Tebow. So every key opens ...

Ismail. Yuppp. Every key in Toronto opens every door in Toronto.

My head's buried in my elbow on the roof of the car. I can't keep it together right now.

Tebow. THEN WHY ARE THERE KEYS???

41
Beer and Queso / Robin Williams
« on: August 11, 2014, 06:19:36 pm »
Suicide? WTF?

Oscar-winning actor and comic Robin Williams died Monday at 63 of an apparent suicide, the Marin County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

Around 11:55 a.m. Monday, sheriff's officials said, a 911 call came in about a man who was unresponsive in his home in Tiburon. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

42
Game Zone 2014 Archive / Businessfan special - 7/30/14
« on: July 30, 2014, 02:13:52 pm »
6 run first inning for the good guys, capped off by Grossman's two run bomb.

Donaldson hits a solo shot for the A's in second.

6-1 Astros, middle of the 4th. 

43
Beer and Queso / Washington Reedskyns (TM)
« on: June 18, 2014, 09:49:54 am »
The USPTO has cancelled the Washington D.C. NFL team's trademark for its team name calling it "disparaging."  Fortunately, unlike patents, USPTO trademark decisions will not be invalidated because of obviousness.

44
Beer and Queso / Worst article ever? It's certainly in the running.
« on: May 29, 2014, 02:28:25 pm »
This is a Rick Reilly article that is a letter to Derek Jeter's unborn child. 

Your father was everything men wanted to be. The guy with the $15 million Trump Tower penthouse. The dude dating Miss Universe. The man with all of the talent and none of the jerk. He was everything women wanted, too. The elegant athlete who loved books, paid for everything, and had a limo waiting for them when it was time to go.

That is not the creepiest part. 

45
Talk Zone / Friday's game not blacked out
« on: May 28, 2014, 08:03:49 pm »
It's the Civil Rights game and will be aired in the Astros watching territory on MLB network without being blacked out.

Per multiple tweeters.

46
Game Zone 2014 Archive / Astros @ Royals - 5/28/14
« on: May 28, 2014, 01:17:48 pm »
SPRINGEROUS DINGEROUS

2-0 Astros, Springer homerun scores Altuve. 

47
Game Zone 2014 Archive / Astros - Rangers May 14, 2014
« on: May 15, 2014, 02:53:17 pm »
GREAT FUCKING WIN!

48
Beer and Queso / Four alarm fire in Montrose
« on: March 25, 2014, 01:22:51 pm »
I've been able to see the flames from the Transco Tower for the last half hour or so.  Apparently an apartment complex under construction on Montrose and Dallas is engulfed in flames. 

49
Beer and Queso / PFT Commenter v. John Rocker
« on: February 26, 2014, 12:56:56 pm »
A true clash of the titans.

50
Beer and Queso / Sid Ceaser and Shirley Temple
« on: February 12, 2014, 03:07:18 pm »
Farewell to two giants of entertainment. 

51
Beer and Queso / If I had a hammer...
« on: January 28, 2014, 10:35:59 am »
RIP Pete Seeger

52
Talk Zone / New Instant Replay Rules
« on: January 16, 2014, 04:11:41 pm »
MLB has adopted its very own challenge system.  Unfortunately, it doesn't involve throwing red flags.  

The basics: Each manager will be permitted one challenge in a game. If the challenge is upheld in any portion, he will retain the right to challenge one more play. A manager will not be allowed to challenge more than two plays in a game.

If a manager has exhausted his challenges, the umpiring crew chief may initiate a review on any close play from the seventh inning forward.

All reviews will be conducted at the Replay Command Center at MLBAM headquarters in New York.

Approximately 90 percent of all plays will be subject to review, including calls involving home runs, ground-rule doubles, fan interference, boundary calls, force plays, tag plays, fair-foul and trap plays in the outfield, hit by pitches, timing plays, touching bases, passing runners and any dispute involving ball-strike counts, outs, score or substitutions. All other plays, including obstruction and force plays at second base, will not be reviewable.

So the "vicinity play" when turning a double play at second base is not reviewable which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. 

Also:  Clubs will now have the right to show replays of all close plays on its ballpark scoreboard, regardless of whether the play is reviewed.

53
Talk Zone / Left field eye-sore signs are going away
« on: January 14, 2014, 04:43:50 pm »
The path to the World Series is now clear! Per McTags:

Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan said Tuesday the club plans to relocate the large signs above left field at Minute Maid Park that were put in place as part of its Community Leaders program to a spot that won’t block views of the train, skyline or fireworks.

54
Talk Zone / Trade with Padres
« on: December 11, 2013, 04:08:30 pm »
BermanTweet: The Astros get reliever Anthony Bass from the Padres and PTBNL or cash for PTBNL or cash.

For everyone who was dancing with glee at the PTBNL in the Fowler trade, this ought to be an early Christmas. 

55
Beer and Queso / Big 12 Championship Game
« on: December 07, 2013, 02:38:46 pm »
If the Horns pull this out Mack Brown should be given a lifetime coaching contract.

56
Beer and Queso / A new Astros fan
« on: November 27, 2013, 10:43:19 am »
And hellraising scion of the TZ is born. Graham is polishing his fastball and Batgirl is doing well. They are both very kickass.

57
Talk Zone / Prince Fielder traded to Rangers
« on: November 20, 2013, 07:46:46 pm »
For Ian Kinsler, which frees up second base for Profar. 

58
Beer and Queso / Les Miles explains Columbus Day
« on: October 15, 2013, 03:17:33 pm »
Submitted without comment.

59
Game Zone 2013 Archive / The Playoffs
« on: October 02, 2013, 08:40:54 pm »
TB up 3-0 in the 5th.  The Cleveland crowd has been pretty silent the last three innings.

60
Talk Zone / Rangers
« on: September 30, 2013, 10:19:16 pm »
The Buffalo Bills of baseball.  Enjoy your offseason fuckers.

61
Beer and Queso / Happy Birthday NeilT!
« on: September 24, 2013, 06:27:04 pm »
Yes it's a day early, but it's obvious that's what you've been fishing for.  Enjoy your birthday tomorrow.

62
Beer and Queso / Texans - Ravens
« on: September 22, 2013, 01:26:24 pm »
A tutorial in how to not win a football game.

63
Beer and Queso / DirecTV
« on: September 07, 2013, 05:04:50 pm »
There's a light rain in Westbury, which of course means no TV in this house.  DirecTV is horrible.

I like the Sunday Ticket package, but I'd be perfectly happy watching the Texans and catching up on everything else on the Red Zone network.  With any non-DirecTV provider, I can get the Red Zone network for 7 or 8 bucks a month.  With DirecTV? I can't get Red Zone a la carte.  Even with the basic $37 a month Sunday Ticket, there's no Red Zone network.  I'd have to buy the $55 a month MAX package to get the Red Zone network, which is ludicrous. 

Regardless, there's a drizzle, so it wouldn't matter anyway.  Come July next year I look forward to getting a rainproof cable provider that can give me my content at a fraction of the price.


64
Talk Zone / Wags (co-)wrote a memoir
« on: September 06, 2013, 09:56:56 pm »
And surprisingly it's not titled I threw my best pitch.

65
Talk Zone / Kissimmee no mas
« on: July 12, 2013, 10:40:53 am »
The new spring training digs will be shared with the Blue Jays in Palm Beach Gardens.

“It’s nothing against Kissimmee, but if you ask our guys our facility is 28th out of the ones that are out there,” Crane said.

West Palm Beach is the oldest municipality in South Florida, having been incorporated two years before Miami. 

66
Talk Zone / Park attendance
« on: July 11, 2013, 04:21:24 pm »
Is there any place in this wide world of internet that would have a break down of a ballpark's average attendance based upon the day of the week?

Or, more directly, if I'm planning on going to see the Astros play the Twins at Target Field on a Saturday night can I expect to find success buying cheap seats and ameliorating my location at the park or should I just plunk down for decent tickets directly available from the Twins web site?  So far this year Target Field is averaging about 31K.  It's capacity is 39.5K.  Yes, it's a Saturday night, but it's also against the Astros who will by then likely be battling the Twins for the worst record in the league.  Thoughts?

67
Talk Zone / George Brett's pine tar game . . . a tale of modesty
« on: July 09, 2013, 05:41:16 pm »
July 24th will mark the 30th anniversary of one of baseball's greatest freak-outs:  when George Brett was denied a ninth inning go-ahead home run because of excessive pine tar on his bat.  Brett is now the hitting coach for the Royals who are visiting the Bronx tonight.  The WSJ has an excellent hidden history of the event detailing the bat boy's previously untold involvement at the center of the story.

In short, despite being a die-hard Yankee fan, Riley absolutely loved Brett.  (Brett even took to calling him Spaulding because he looked like the Caddy Shack character - "He called me Spaulding. I thought that was so cool." - and now Ebby Colvin is dealing with a sudden slight sensation of rage).  The standard procedure for home runs was for the bat boy to retrieve the bat and get back to the dugout while the player is rounding the bases.  If Riley had done that, the protest and ensuing ape-shit reaction might never have occurred.  But Riley was too excited and lingered so he could pick up the bat and high five Brett as he crossed home plate.  Cerone grabbed the bat out of Riley's hand and the rest became the stuff of meltdown lore.

There are lots of other great details in the article.  Well worth the read. 

68
Beer and Queso / EaDo
« on: June 05, 2013, 03:59:20 pm »
Since we're having so much fun arguing about no-hitter superstitions, let's debate the modern usage of neighborhood labels in Houston.

The debate, in favor of EaDo and Neartown:  http://www.houstoniamag.com/travel-and-outdoors/wanderlust/articles/yes-eado-is-lame-but-youre-wrong-about-everything-else-june-2013

And against these newfangled NYC-esque names: http://keephoustonhouston.wordpress.com/

69
Beer and Queso / 610 at SWFrwy
« on: June 04, 2013, 03:51:18 pm »
What a mess.  The southbound lanes are finally open again but the northbound lanes are still closed.

70
Beer and Queso / Houston lands Superbowl LI
« on: May 21, 2013, 01:57:02 pm »
Per Berman. LI is in 2017?

And it should be pronounced Superbowl Lee.

71
Game Zone 2013 Archive / Astros at pirates Sunday may 20
« on: May 19, 2013, 12:42:16 pm »
Astros go down in order in the first.

72
Talk Zone / Postolos out?
« on: May 13, 2013, 12:35:04 pm »
McTaggart is McTweeting that he has resigned as President and CEO of the Astros.

73
Talk Zone / Recaps
« on: May 06, 2013, 12:22:43 pm »
A quick thank you to the recappers.  I've been enjoying them immensely and usually they're a lot more pleasant than trying to watch what is happening on the field.  I'd like to single out NeilT for an especially slick recap the other night.  NTTAWWT.

74
Beer and Queso / Bad things at the Boston Marathon?!
« on: April 15, 2013, 02:10:31 pm »
BREAKING NEWS: Two powerful explosions detonated in quick succession right next to the Boston Marathon finsh line this afternoon.

The pictures do not look good. 

75
Beer and Queso / Tiger
« on: April 13, 2013, 01:39:08 pm »
HE IS MAKING A MOCKERY OF THE ETHICS OF THE GAME!!!

But seriously how unfortunate was that turn of events? Near perfect shot caroms into disaster, now a ridiculous debate about whether he should be disqualified and if not he should withdraw.

And Limey, we are all waiting for your version of the "tiger's no stranger to dropping his balls in the wrong place" joke.

76
Beer and Queso / RIP Jonathan Winters
« on: April 12, 2013, 12:38:09 pm »
Funny funny man.

77
Talk Zone / Clemens to pitch for the Astros
« on: April 08, 2013, 12:04:29 pm »
Paul, not the other one.  McTaggTweets reports that he's in Seattle.  No word yet on the corresponding roster move.

78
Talk Zone / AL West Preview
« on: March 27, 2013, 03:15:22 pm »
Jonah Keri previews the AL West over at Grantland.  I generally appreciate his analysis but am of course shocked and disgusted that he doesn't expect the Astros to run away with the division.  Overall it's a good concise breakdown of what to expect from our new divisional foes.

And then there is this passing reference:  "In the meantime, throw some spaghetti against the wall, see what sticks. Well, except Cedeno. No idea what that's all about, unless Houston's super-secret defensive metrics say he's the second coming of Rey Ordonez and we all missed it."

Is that tongue in cheek or does Luhnow & Co really have super-secret defensive metrics?

79
Talk Zone / Fuck You Bud
« on: March 27, 2013, 12:22:29 pm »
Oh, once you explain it that way I can see how moving the Astros to the AL was the only thing to do.

The original article is behind the Chron's paywall, so I linked astroscounty's excellent rebuttal.

Some choice Bud comments:

Selig said the primary reason for the Astros' AL relocation came down to simple geography. With St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central, the Astros were the odd team out. According to the commissioner, the Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers and Reds have "tremendous" rivalries. The Astros did not, he said, because of their isolation....The teams left in the National League Central all had a geographical (base) - there was a relationship.

Houston was sitting down there; there was no relationship.

80
Beer and Queso / Buzz Bissinger. WTF?
« on: March 26, 2013, 10:35:26 pm »
nm

81
Talk Zone / Lowrie traded to A's?
« on: February 04, 2013, 05:03:27 pm »
Per Rosenthal::  #Astros getting prospects from #Athletics. Lowrie will earn $2.4M this season and also is eligible for arb in '14 before becoming free agent

82
Beer and Queso / So this Te'o thing.
« on: January 16, 2013, 05:46:12 pm »
Holy shit!

http://deadspin.com/5976517/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbreaking-and-inspirational-story-of-the-college-football-season-is-a-hoax

So... best case scenario, Te'o is a rube and was completely fooled for over a year by an internet girlfriend that didn't exist, realized how weird it was, and made up stories about actually meeting her, and the whole thing spiraled out of control.

Worst case scenario, this was all a cynical hoax perpetrated by Te'o to pull heartstrings and drum up Heisman coverage.

Most heartbreaking scenario, he is in the closet and invented the girlfriend to keep his conservative Samoan Mormon family at bay and the whole thing just got out of hand.

Craziest scenario, the heartbreaking one with an extra twist:  He comes out as gay, becomes the first openly gay athlete to be drafted and play for a major sports league, is a hero to all, but actually being gay is just a hoax to garner more publicity and endorsements and is exposed having a long-term heterosexual affair and is publicly shamed for being straight. 

83
Beer and Queso / Playoffs
« on: January 12, 2013, 08:55:19 pm »
A double OT game and now this. I will say it's fun to see capers fuck up his own plan time after time.

84
Talk Zone / Morgan Ensberg and Adam Everett return!
« on: January 04, 2013, 02:31:03 pm »
Quote from: Limey on December 04, 2012, 03:56:17 pm
Morgan Ensberg.

Ensberg is back in the fold.

McTaggTweet: Morgan Ensberg is returning to the #Astros organization as a roving instructor. More Minor League assignments to come.

85
Talk Zone / Canada annexes Miami
« on: November 13, 2012, 05:57:42 pm »
Or something similar.  The Marlins traded Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, and John Buck to the Blue Jays for a couple prospects and effectively dropped their payroll from +$100 million down to $35ish million.

86
Talk Zone / GZ Special - World Series
« on: October 24, 2012, 08:14:16 pm »
So is this where we discuss the WS?  The miracle of Marco Scutaro is fun to watch.

87
Talk Zone / Standing ovation
« on: September 29, 2012, 11:38:04 am »
For NeilT.  Terrific finale to what has been my favorite running series on the internet this summer.  That was an epic run, Neil.  Thanks a lot.

88
Talk Zone / Pirates activate former owner from DL
« on: September 22, 2012, 12:39:43 pm »
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8409943/ex-pittsburgh-pirates-owner-kevin-mcclatchy-comes-gay

Splendid url, ESPN.

Kevin McClatchy, the owner and CEO of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1996 to 2007, has acknowledged he is gay to The New York Times, saying frequent homophobic slurs he heard in baseball circles had convinced him to keep his sexual orientation a secret.

89
Talk Zone / Lunch with Joe Niekro Next Weekend
« on: September 17, 2012, 11:51:32 am »
The Astros new approach to scouting has evidently broken great ground in the field of necromancy.  They are selling tickets to lunch with Jose Cruz and Joe Niekro.  Niekro, of course, passed away six years ago.

Still, great customer service.  They'll even dig him up for you.

90
Beer and Queso / UT being evacuated?
« on: September 14, 2012, 10:14:07 am »
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/UT-Orders-Evacuation-Of-All-Campus-Buildings-169769586.html

AUSTIN (September 14, 2012)—The University of Texas at Austin issued an emergency alert Friday morning ordering evacuation of all campus buildings.

The alert, issued at 9:53 a.m., says, “Evacuation due to threats on campus. Immediately evacuate ALL buildings and get as far away as possible. More information to come.”

The alert did not give a reason for the evacuation order, but police radio traffic indicated the university received a bomb threat.


91
Talk Zone / Fuck off Junction Jack
« on: September 12, 2012, 04:21:53 pm »
@zacharylevine:  The Astros are scrapping the Junction Jack mascot next year.

Yay!

@brianmctaggart:  Astros announce a "You Make The Call" mascot talent contest. More details to come.

Eh....

92
Talk Zone / Managerial hunt
« on: September 10, 2012, 05:15:50 pm »
Berman and Dolan and McTaggart and the usual scribes are reporting that the Astros are bringing in 6-8 people to interview for the managerial position this week.  Biggio will be assisting with the interviews.

So, who has been rumored?

1.  Riggleman

who else?

93
Talk Zone / Defrancesco channelling Cooper?
« on: August 31, 2012, 12:08:20 pm »
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_08_30_sfnmlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=hou

How far is "it's unacceptable" from "this won't happen again"?

94
Beer and Queso / Horns Network
« on: August 31, 2012, 11:07:06 am »
I've seen some reports that the Longhorn Network got picked up by U-Verse - channel 609 (1609 for HD).  If true, that'll be music to to Musicman's ears.

95
Game Zone 2012 Archive / Thursday
« on: August 30, 2012, 07:14:24 pm »
Is the game not on TV?

What channel are the Texans on?

DirecTV confounds me.

96
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / Ricky Bennett out
« on: August 28, 2012, 02:21:42 pm »
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/19398201/2012/08/28/astros-will-not-renew-the-contracts-of-five-scouts-including-ricky-bennett

The Houston Astros will not renew the contracts of five pro scouts, including Ricky Bennett, the clubs' director of professional scouting.


Luhnow: "We're restructuring the department, and as part of that we've notified several scouts that they won't be offered contracts for next year. They're currently in contracts and those contracts will be honored until the end, but I wanted to give them as much runway as possible to try and find other opportunities, which is why we're doing this months before their contracts finish."



He did not acknowledge the others who are being released, but Major Leage Baseball sources told FOX 26 Sports they are Scipio Spinks, Bryan Lambe, Jack Lind and Bob Rossi.



97
Beer and Queso / Empire State Building Shooting
« on: August 24, 2012, 05:09:19 pm »
So all the victims were shot accidentally by the police?  The "gunman" didn't actually shoot anyone?  (Edit:  It appears he shot one of the victims.  But still, nice shooting NYPD).

You've got to be kidding me.  

98
Beer and Queso / DirecTV blows.
« on: August 05, 2012, 12:45:21 pm »
Just installed on Friday, and a light rain has stopped the signal.

It's still better than U-Verse which would go out all the time for no reason at all. But WTF direcTV people? I trusted you and you fucking lied to me.

99
Beer and Queso / If you could take only one thing with you to a desert island...
« on: June 21, 2012, 10:49:28 am »
Would it be Bluebonnets?

According to this site, Jeff Kent will be on the next season of Survivor.  I hope there's not a car-washing challenge.  

100
Beer and Queso / Zombie Apocolypse Begins
« on: May 27, 2012, 01:52:38 pm »
Naked Man Killed By Police While Eating Another Man's Face

One man was shot to death by Miami police, and another man is fighting for his life after he was attacked, and his face allegedly half eaten, by a naked man on the MacArthur Causeway off ramp Saturday, police said.

And when considering the casting for the eventual movie, keep in mind just what goes on this weekend in Miami.  Does DMX still act? 

101
Talk Zone / Mazel tov Brad Ausmus
« on: May 21, 2012, 04:16:09 pm »
According to a McTagarrt McReTweet Brad Ausmus will manage Team Isreal at the World Baseball Championship.

Oy vey!

102
Talk Zone / Umpire suspened
« on: May 18, 2012, 10:44:11 am »
MLB suspended umpire Bob Davidson for "repeated violations of the Office of the Commissioner's standards for situation handling" otherwise known as being a giant dickhead.  

The latest kerfuffle was Tuesday's Astros-Phillies game where he cursed out Charlie Manuel while ejecting him.

Link includes video of two old men yelling at each other.

103
Beer and Queso / RIP Donna Summer
« on: May 17, 2012, 10:54:55 am »
Dead at the age of 63

104
Talk Zone / Mariano
« on: May 03, 2012, 11:50:40 pm »
Riviera tore his ACL diving into the outfield wall shagging flies during BP?!

105
Talk Zone / More History
« on: May 01, 2012, 01:23:39 pm »
According to somebody named Steve Grande:  According to Elias: Last night, the Astros became the 1st team in MLB history to use 7 different pitchers against 7 consecutive hitters.

The method behind Mills' madness*?




*I do not actually think Mills is mad. 

106
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / 2007 draft - barren
« on: April 17, 2012, 09:25:56 pm »
According to Levine

with Collin Delome announcing he's been released, Astros don't have anyone from the 2007 draft in system?

Is true?  Ouch.

107
Talk Zone / Lowrie activated
« on: April 12, 2012, 04:01:58 pm »
Bixler sent down.

It will be interesting to see how the Lowrie/Marwin thing shakes out. 

108
Game Zone 2012 Archive / Game 2
« on: April 07, 2012, 06:20:47 pm »
Schreefer welcomes the visibly grizzled Moyer with a leadoff homerun!

109
Talk Zone / Race for the lid?
« on: April 01, 2012, 03:20:08 pm »
With our RFTL correspondent temporarily on assignment, are we still going to do Race for the Lid this year or is it simply too depressing to optimistically hope for 81 wins?

110
Talk Zone / Bourgeois transaction?
« on: March 20, 2012, 02:46:58 pm »
LeTweet

Astros close clubhouse. Nothing confirmed but it sounds like Jason Bourgeois transaction in works. Healthy scratch. Mills wouldn't discuss.

The healthy scratch part is confusing. 

111
Beer and Queso / R.I.P. Leslie (the Austin thong-wearing street person) ((not someone else))
« on: March 08, 2012, 11:01:03 am »
Every Austinite's favorite thong-wearing street person died this morning.

"He will be remembered as the icon of weird, the ambassador of weirdness, if you will," said friend Christine Ann. "As an Austin icon."  

112
Talk Zone / Pitchers and catchers reporting today in Kissimmee
« on: February 19, 2012, 12:50:10 pm »
Oh happy day!

113
Beer and Queso / A night in Houston - 1960
« on: January 18, 2012, 10:06:58 am »
The UH digital library put together this montage of nightlife in Houston in 1960.

I certainly recognize Gaido's and Leo's and of course the Tower and Alabama theaters, but hopefully others can identify more.  Mostly, it's an interesting look at a city that was a mere two years away from hosting a major league ball club.  And those signs!

114
Beer and Queso / Niners-Saints
« on: January 14, 2012, 07:12:10 pm »
You BCSCG fans must really be hating this one.

What a game.

115
Talk Zone / One pissed off looking Santa
« on: December 12, 2011, 05:28:23 pm »
#Brocail

116
Talk Zone / Pujols
« on: December 08, 2011, 09:07:19 am »
Apparently the Angles have jumped into the sweepstakes offering a 10 year > $210 million deal.  That ass just wants to follow the Astros everywhere.

117
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / RIP Dustin Kellog
« on: October 04, 2011, 01:01:57 pm »
Killed in a traffic accident.

Dustin Kellogg, a right-handed pitcher who signed with the Astros after being selected by his hometown team in the 34th round of this year’s First-Year Player Draft, was killed early Tuesday in a traffic accident, a team official confirmed.

According to the Conroe Courier, Kellogg, 18, was killed when his pickup truck was struck head-on by an 18-wheeler around 1 a.m. CT on Tuesday in Montgomery County, Texas. The Astros selected Kellogg out of Caney Creek High School in Conroe, which is in about 45 miles north of Houston in Montgomery County.

How very sad. 

118
Talk Zone / 2011 Playoffs
« on: September 30, 2011, 08:38:16 pm »
So the Rangers get torched whilst only getting two hits in the process.

According to the punditry, it's the shadows fault they couldn't hit.  In their home park.  Against a team that plays in a dome.

119
Game Zone 2011 Archive / Wandy notches K #1000!
« on: September 21, 2011, 01:11:45 pm »
And # 1001.  2-0 Reds in the bottom of the 7th.

120
Talk Zone / Grantland turns its attention to the Astros
« on: September 14, 2011, 11:38:42 am »
The Astros and Their Historically Bad Season

Nuggets:

But the Astros prospered under McLane because he did the three most important things an owner can do: He spent money freely, he hired the right people, and he stayed out of their way. Gerry Hunsicker was hired as general manager after the 1995 season, and he directed the team to five playoff appearances in the next nine years.

But the relationship between McLane and Hunsicker frayed over time, and after the 2004 season Hunsicker left...

***

McLane's choice to replace Purpura stunned the industry — he hired Ed Wade, whose résumé consisted of eight years as GM of the Phillies between 1998 and 2005, during which time the Phillies had an under-.500 record and never made the playoffs. Wade's tenure in Philadelphia was most notable for his apparent fetish for relievers. Of his several bullpen acquisitions, the most regrettable came in 2005, when he traded starting second baseman Placido Polanco for Ugueth Urbina.4

Wade got the job in Houston because, unlike other GM candidates, he told McLane what the owner wanted to hear: that he didn't have to rebuild.

Even worse, the farm system was a wreck. Years of signing free agents had cost the Astros numerous first-round picks, and what few picks they kept, they botched.

So, enjoy the rosy picture that's been painted.

ETA:  And this kicker at the end:  Houston doesn't have anyone like Glenn Davis to trade, and the only GM foolish enough to trade premium talent for the next Larry Andersen is the one employed by the Astros.

121
Talk Zone / 2012 Schedule Released
« on: September 14, 2011, 09:15:38 am »
Opening at home against the Rockies on April 6.

In addition to the White Sox, the Astros will play the Kansas City Royals (June 19-20) and Cleveland Indians (June 22-24) at home during Interleague play...

And to increase vacation options:

Because of the unbalanced Interleague schedule, the Astros will make two trips to San Francisco – June 12-14 and July 13-15.

122
Game Zone 2011 Archive / Astros - Brewers Saturday night Bagwell
« on: September 03, 2011, 06:30:25 pm »
This is happening.

1-0 Milwaukee in the bottom of the first.

123
Talk Zone / Astros-Wives Gala
« on: August 25, 2011, 03:37:20 pm »
It's a whole new crop of socialites.

Bud, I can't believe you even attempted that. 

124
Talk Zone / Pence an all-star
« on: July 03, 2011, 12:14:38 pm »
He was a "reserve" selection.

Hopefully he'll get to actually play this time.

Fans selected 17 starters (including an AL DH), the players themselves chose 17 position players and 16 pitchers (10 starters plus six relievers), and the two managers -- in conjunction with MLB -- handpicked 10 pitchers and six reserves.

Berkman received the second most votes for outfielders.  Joel Hanrahan is your Pirate.

Levine's nerdy criticism: Michael Bourn 5th among NL outfielders in wins above replacement (Fangraphs version). Hunter Pence 13th. -Z  Last night he dismissively described Pence's year so far as "baseball card stats." 

125
Talk Zone / Roster moves
« on: June 29, 2011, 03:21:26 pm »
Via McTaggTweet/Tag's lines:

The Astros have called up right-handed reliever David Carpenter from Triple-A Oklahoma City and have claimed outfielder Luis Durango off waivers from the San Diego Padres, general manager Ed Wade announced Wednesday. Durango was placed on the Astros 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

To make room for Durango on the roster, the club has transferred right-hander Alberto Arias to the 60-day disabled list. The Astros have also optioned catcher Brian Esposito to Oklahoma City. Carpenter will join the Astros in Houston in time for tonight’s 7:05 p.m. game vs. the Texas Rangers.

126
Beer and Queso / RIP Peter Falk
« on: June 24, 2011, 12:45:46 pm »
Passed away at age 83.

I guess he finally asked that one last question. 

127
Talk Zone / Footer tweeted an article about Bourn that I'm sure everyone has seen.
« on: May 19, 2011, 03:17:56 pm »
Fast!

I liked this part:

Like Henderson, though, Bourn is obsessed with his craft. He knows the pickoff move of every pitcher in the Major Leagues, and he can tell you the arm strength (or lack thereof) of all the catchers.

128
Beer and Queso / Shit my students write
« on: May 14, 2011, 03:02:14 pm »
I weep for America's youth, but it's also fun to laugh

The rebel and onion armies showed grose negligence by having many of their battles right inside national parks, like Gettysburg.

129
Talk Zone / Bagwell and Sadaharu Oh
« on: May 12, 2011, 08:35:37 am »
An interesting article drawing parallels between Bagwell and Oh's early careers and philosophical quandaries.

“Right now, it’s a mental thing more than anything,” Jeff Bagwell said of his troubling sophomore slump. “It’s getting to the point where I think about it so much that I just can’t see any hits when I get to the plate, and that’s crazy.” In his vernacular, Bagwell at his best could actually see the hits that he was about to produce. Now that is clarity. A slump, though, moved in like a fog, dulling his ability to see the future, and to visualize success. His brain churned out a new product: doubt. He questioned his own sense of himself. He wondered, like a young Sadaharu Oh, how to reconcile his body with his mind, struggling, as many young people do, to put to language his toil.

...

One or eight; all or nothing, When faced with failure, Sadaharu Oh chose the batting stance that embraced nothing. Bagwell’s stance incorporated all, every muscle fiber, every available point of tension.

130
Beer and Queso / Friday beer.
« on: May 06, 2011, 05:35:10 pm »
Yes please.  I'll take two.

131
Talk Zone / MLB to expand to 10 playoff teams next year
« on: April 21, 2011, 03:41:23 pm »
So says SI.

"I would say we're moving to expanding the playoffs, but there's a myriad of details to work out," Selig said Thursday at his annual meeting with the Associated Press Sports Editors. "Ten is a fair number."

"The more we've talked about it, I think we're moving inexorably to that," he said.



Basically, each league would have two wild card teams who would play each other to see who goes to the division series. 


132
Talk Zone / MLB Network
« on: April 14, 2011, 11:43:24 pm »
I have no qualms about being a U-Verse instead of Comcast customer the last couple years, but holy shit I did not realize how enjoyable MLB Network is until it finally became available this year.   I can flip to that channel at any time and be happy.

Yes, I'm late to the party.

133
Beer and Queso / No space shuttle for Houston
« on: April 12, 2011, 12:45:32 pm »
Atlantis to Kennedy Space Center
Endeavor to California Science Center, Los Angeles
Discovery to Smithsonian
Enterprise to NYC Intrepid Sea, Air, Space Museum

134
Talk Zone / Annual Lineup Debate Thread
« on: March 02, 2011, 09:05:15 pm »
According to FooterTweeting AstrosLining, Mills seemed committed to three lineup consistent lineup slots:  Bourn leading off, Pence hitting third, and Carlos cleaning up.

And while Pence the three hitter is more optimistic than his track record, I can't think of too many other likely ways to construct the lineup.

135
Talk Zone / Wainwright to have Tommy John
« on: February 23, 2011, 09:39:28 am »
Possibly.  Either way, it's a bad blow for the Co-ards.

Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, who finished second in the National League Cy Young Award race last season, left Cardinals camp in Jupiter, Fla. and returned to St. Louis to have his pitching elbow examined.

General manager John Mozeliak told news reporters that the elbow injury is "significant."

If early indications are as grim as they appear, and Wainwright is headed for Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, the blow would be a devastating one for the Cardinals.

136
Talk Zone / The horse goes out to pasture
« on: February 03, 2011, 12:23:00 pm »
Per BusterTweet:  Pettitte will retire rather than return to the Yankees this season.

137
Talk Zone / A bad mofo
« on: January 22, 2011, 12:47:19 pm »
Evidently, Fernando Abad has been tearing up the Dominican league playoffs.

After going 3-0 in 10 regular-season Winter Ball appearances, Abad improved to 4-0 in the playoffs. He's pitched 19 scoreless innings, allowing only eight hits and three walks while striking out 17.

138
Beer and Queso / Bipartisan Support
« on: January 19, 2011, 06:09:58 pm »
Our noble reasoned compassionate desperate legislature, in its efforts to somehow meet the budget shortfall, has hit upon one idea that I think every degenerate on this board can agree upon:

"Repeal restrictions on Sunday liquor sales to generate additional tax revenue."

Now if only we could get Spec's to stay open until 10:00 tonight...

139
Talk Zone / Giant boners
« on: January 19, 2011, 02:00:03 pm »
The New York Times has an enjoyable fluff piece on the Polo Grounds on account of the Giants' bringing the Commissioner's Trophy there this weekend and the Jets playing in the AFC championship game.

But when the fuck did Merkle's Boner become Merkle's Blunder?  Is this just a pansy-ass-new york-liberal-politically correct-media-elitist thing by the NYT or is that what people call it now?

140
Talk Zone / Arbitration update
« on: January 18, 2011, 11:19:26 am »
Per Footer/McTagg-Tweets:

Barmes agrees to a $3.925 million deal and Keppinger $2.3 million.

Bourn, Pence and Wandy are the remaining unsigned arbitration eligible players.

141
Beer and Queso / Keenum
« on: January 14, 2011, 02:00:17 pm »
Was granted a sixth year of eligibility according to McTaggTweet.  That's good news for the coogs.

142
Talk Zone / Lindstrom
« on: December 23, 2010, 03:45:22 pm »
BusterTweet:  Heard this: The Astros are working hard on a possible trade of Matt Lindstrom today.

143
Beer and Queso / Qatar. WTF?
« on: December 02, 2010, 10:25:25 am »
Russia will host the 2018 World Cup, edging out England, Iberia, and Benelux (minus the lux).

In more surprising news, tiny Qatar was picked to host the 2022 tournament over the U.S.

The Link

144
Beer and Queso / RIP Leslie Nielsen
« on: November 28, 2010, 08:59:30 pm »
Shirley, you jest no more.

145
The Bus Ride Discussion Forum / OK City management announced - DeFrancesco, Hooten, Bodie
« on: November 17, 2010, 03:13:04 pm »
Tony DeFrancesco to be the manager at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Burt Hooten is pitching coach, Keith Bodie hitting coach.

DeFrancesco guided the Sacramento to won six division titles and league championships in 2003, ‘04, and ’07 in 7 seasons as manager.

Credit McTaggartMcTweet.

146
Talk Zone / Ausmus
« on: November 15, 2010, 12:11:06 pm »
The Padres hired Brad Ausmus as special assistant to baseball operations, per FooterTweet.

147
Beer and Queso / The Cowboys
« on: November 14, 2010, 05:31:56 pm »
Because reading about the Texans is bad enough without having to read about the Cowboys too.

Long live the Garrett regime.

148
Beer and Queso / Friday Beer thread
« on: November 12, 2010, 02:07:58 pm »
I had an unusual beer at the Flying Saucer yesterday, New Belgium Company's Sahti.  The bartender said it was brewed in the "Finnish Style" which uses juniper instead of hops.  It was a crisp tasty beer.

149
Talk Zone / Bourn gets his second gold glove!
« on: November 10, 2010, 02:35:10 pm »
Way to go Michael! (WTG SBB! for BG).

Other winners:

Yadier
Pujols
Phillips
Rolen (he's won at least one with three different teams)
Tulowitzki
Carlos Gonzalez
Victorino
Arroyo

150
Talk Zone / Jeter leads the AL gold glovers
« on: November 09, 2010, 03:34:00 pm »
The farce continues.


Mauer
Teixeira
Cano
Longoria
Jeter
Crawford
Gutierrez
Ichiro (his 10th tying Griffey Jr. and Kaline for most by an OFer)
Buerhle

Stay tuned tomorrow to see if Bourn gets his second well-deserved GG.


151
Talk Zone / New hitting coach
« on: November 05, 2010, 12:46:40 pm »
"Called up" Mike Barnett, per FooterTweet.

152
Talk Zone / Goodbye baseball.
« on: November 01, 2010, 09:32:05 pm »
Goodnight moon.

153
Beer and Queso / It's Darwin Awards time!
« on: October 28, 2010, 02:20:57 pm »
http://www.darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2010.html


154
Game Zone 2010 Playoffs / Mariano's Taco Bell chalupa
« on: October 22, 2010, 09:42:42 pm »
I hate that commercial.

155
Talk Zone / Rangers playoff trivia
« on: October 09, 2010, 11:04:44 am »
ESPN's bottom line is claiming that the Rangers are the only MLB franchise never to win a postseason series.  Is this true?  When did the Expos/Nats do it?

156
Game Zone 2010 Playoffs / Roy 2.0 v. Reds
« on: October 08, 2010, 05:06:34 pm »
Margin of error:  1 walk.

157
Game Zone 2010 Playoffs / Braves - Giants Game 1
« on: October 07, 2010, 10:58:09 pm »
This Lincecum kid is pretty bad ass.

8 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 12K.*

Headed to the ninth to try to close down the 1-0 lead.



*likely stats - I haven't really been counting

158
Game Zone 2010 Playoffs / Rangers Rays Game 2
« on: October 07, 2010, 02:55:10 pm »
The Rays so far have one more hit than the Reds did yesterday, but are dick-stepping a 2-0 deficit after the 4th. 

159
Game Zone 2010 Playoffs / Reds Phils Game 1
« on: October 06, 2010, 04:56:57 pm »
Halladay with his first post-season RBI.  Phils leading 4-0 in the second.

160
Game Zone 2010 Playoffs / Rangers Rays Game 1
« on: October 06, 2010, 01:36:00 pm »
The Rangers are winning 2-0 after 2. 

161
Talk Zone / Jose Bautista
« on: October 03, 2010, 09:33:52 am »
Here's video of each of his 54 homeruns.

Pretty much the exact same swing on 50 of those.  #54 was his first opposite field homer of the season.  I think next season, they'll be pitching him away a bit more.

162
Game Zone 2010 Archive / 9/23/10 - Astros-Nationals Road Greys
« on: September 23, 2010, 03:46:54 pm »
Bourgeois singles, steals second, scores on Keppinger double.

Pence, Lee, Michaels can't budge him from second.

1-0 good guys, heading to the bottom of the first. The Lord Admiral will be pitching.   

163
Game Zone 2010 Archive / 9/19 Les rouges v les etoiles
« on: September 19, 2010, 01:22:34 pm »
Il n'y a pas un score apres un inning.

164
Talk Zone / TRADE!
« on: September 16, 2010, 11:30:23 am »
Per FooterTweet

Astros have acquired RHP Enerio Del Rosario from the Reds in exchange for cash. Oswaldo Navarro moved from 40-man roster.

Del Rosario, 24, appeared in 9 relief appearances for CIN this season, posting a 2.08 ERA. Spent majority of 2010 season at Triple-A where he went 4-4 with four saves and a 3.09 ERA in 50 relief outings.

165
Beer and Queso / Wanna see Smoltz getting hit in the nuts?
« on: September 11, 2010, 11:32:55 am »
Here ya go.

166
Beer and Queso / Pujols, La Russa, Beck, Palin WTF?
« on: August 27, 2010, 09:32:07 am »
La Russa and Pujols will be special guests at Glenn Beck's celebration of certain aspects of the constitution to the exclusion of a great many others . . . rally in support of the everything Dr. King's speech 47 years earlier didn't say . . . uh, thing.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, scheduled to introduce Pujols, insisted Thursday that he and Pujols are attending only after receiving assurances that the event is not a thinly disguised political rally.

Tony, of course, is correct.  It's not thinly disguised at all. 

To paraphrase Dr. King (via Jon Stewart), "I have a scheme..."

167
Beer and Queso / Daddy's little gooiiiiiillllllllll!!!!
« on: August 24, 2010, 05:03:26 pm »
Is going to have to visit daddy in the clink.  Dr. Brown, who was convicted of beating his first wife (with a bedpost, and she was pregnant at the time, but somehow he didn't proudly patent that procedure), is now charged with beating his current one.

Somebody (strosrays?) mentioned a desparate POW look in her eyes at the end of the commercial.  Well put.

168
Talk Zone / Other trades
« on: July 29, 2010, 06:04:28 pm »
Padres get Tejada and the Rangers get Cantu.

169
Talk Zone / MMPUS evacuated
« on: July 23, 2010, 06:06:14 pm »
According to FooterTweet.  The fans skedaddled but the press box remains full; the plucky scribes determined to loyally stand by the buffet. 

170
Game Zone 2010 Archive / 7-18-10 Roy's Quest
« on: July 18, 2010, 01:00:22 pm »
Roy is one win away from matching the most wins in Astros history.  However, a 2 run (and still going) second inning precludes his chance at a shutout, and thus, in his mind, a win.

Roy's doppelganger, Lastings Milledge, knocked in the second run.

171
Game Zone 2010 Archive / 2010 HR Derby
« on: July 12, 2010, 08:39:44 pm »
BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK that's on its way to Catalina island! BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK like a heavyweight prize fighter BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK GONE!

172
Talk Zone / Utility All-Star
« on: July 05, 2010, 06:50:42 pm »
All the hub-bub surrounding Infante's selection to the All-Star Team over the likes of Joey Votto (OPS LEAGUE LEADER! ARGGHH!) is explained.  Manuel says he was directed by the commissioner's office to select an actual utility player under a new rule for this year's game that each team can designate a "utility" player, who can return to the game once taken out if there's no other available position player and somebody is injured.

Keppinger was robbed!

Also, who's the American league designee?  Hill?  Bartlett? Wigginton?  And wouldn't it make more sense to designate a starter to be available to return?

173
Talk Zone / PETA supports our Astros!
« on: June 04, 2010, 01:32:01 pm »
A little love from our favorite animal lovers, PETA ranked MMPUS the third most vegan-friendly park.

Two things.  First, as the HP guy pointed out, PETA took an amusing swipe at Carlos Lee:

"Carlos Lee might be coming up empty at the plate, but Astros fans are loading up their plates with the variety of delicious meat-free options that are available at Minute Maid Park," says PETA Director Dan Shannon.

Given that Carlos is a cattle rancher, he seems like an obvious target of PETA's scorn.  

But second, MMPUS was lauded for serving "veggie burritos, quinoa tabbouleh, and sun-dried tomato rigatoni, all new for the 2010 season. Minute Maid Park also serves up hearty veggie dogs, Thai noodle salad, hummus and vegetable wraps, vegetarian sushi, fruit smoothies, rice and beans, and organic baby-vegetable ratatouille."

I go to a lot of games, and other than the smoothie station, and the Goya stand behind home plate serving rice and beans, I've never seen any of these items.

174
Talk Zone / RIP Jose Lima
« on: May 23, 2010, 11:53:26 am »
According to FooterTweet, "ESPN Deportes is reporting that former Astros pitcher Jose Lima died from a massive heart attack."

175
Beer and Queso / Carlos Lee tackles Deepwater Horizon
« on: May 14, 2010, 09:38:46 am »
Lame but nevertheless mildly amusing.

The best line:  “This seems a bit pie-in-the-sky to me, no pun intended,” said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. “I mean, I know that Carlos is a big guy, but he can hardly be big enough to -- Oh my God, is that a picture of him? Wow, he has put on weight. Damn. I’m surprised he can even run the bases. Actually, judging from his batting average in the report I was given on him, the issue of baserunning hasn’t really come up yet.”


176
Talk Zone / Giving up even the pretense of a "neutral" site:
« on: May 11, 2010, 03:03:43 pm »
While MLB could stick its fingers in its ears and cry that Miller Park was a "neutral" site to make up the Hurricane Ike games, they aren't even bothering to make that argument for the Blue Jays.

The G20 summit in Toronto will displace the Blue Jays-Phillies series scheduled to happen at the Rogers Center Centre, right next door to Convention Centre which is hosting the summit.

Instead of moving to a "neutral" site, they will play all three games at Citizen's Bank Park with the Jays as the "home" team and the teams will use a DH.  

177
Beer and Queso / JackAstro recap
« on: May 03, 2010, 01:50:38 pm »
Twilight'd.

This ending is better than an asteroid. 

178
Talk Zone / Puma hurt
« on: April 30, 2010, 03:51:03 pm »
A groin tweak per Footer, they hope he'll play tomorrow.

The Lineup

Feliz playing third, hitting third.
Lee cleaning up
Blum at first hitting fifth
Pence is sixth.

179
Talk Zone / Oh, Philly fans...
« on: April 16, 2010, 10:45:29 am »
...you've outdone yourselves yet again.

Clemens, 21, positioned himself behind the 11-year-old's chair, stuck his fingers down his throat and vomited on the girl and her father, police said.

"He leaned forward, he projectile vomited all over me and my daughter," Vangelo said with a look of hurt splashed across his face.

What.  The.  Fuck.

180
Talk Zone / New lineup today
« on: April 12, 2010, 11:52:06 am »
Via Footer's camera:

Bourn
Manzella
Feliz
Lee
Blum
Pence
Matsui
Quintero

Hey, it can't be worse.

181
Game Zone 2010 Archive / 4/11/10 - Roy on Roy violence
« on: April 11, 2010, 01:07:00 pm »
Pence not playing.  Sullivan playing right, hitting third.

182
Talk Zone / Rftl
« on: March 31, 2010, 10:14:21 am »
WTF? Do you know how hard it is to monitor the competition that won't start from the Miami airport? I'm holding a Colombian lady's birdcage while a fire alarm is going off furiously hitting refresh and wondering if zipp got my time change wrong. Ten o'clock right?

183
Talk Zone / Berkman suffers setback
« on: March 30, 2010, 04:40:50 pm »
Oh boy.

Berkman, who had surgery March 13 to clean out loose cartilage, was in good spirits at the batting cage prior to Tuesday's game and -- prior to running -- said he thought there was a 70 percent chance he would be ready for Opening Day. He's not as hopeful now.

"When I tried to run, I just couldn't do it," he said. "They're going to back me down for a few days and see what happens."


184
Game Zone 2010 Archive / Astros-Nats 3-11-10
« on: March 11, 2010, 11:43:02 am »
Cancelled due to rain.

Boooo.

185
Talk Zone / Milton Bradley
« on: March 10, 2010, 11:51:36 pm »
Checking in on the world of lunacy in which Milton Bradley lives, after Milton called Cubs fans racist, Hendry replied that Milton needs to start looking at himself in the mirror rather than making excuses.

Typical bullshit, but I did love Milton's retort:

"I have nothing bad to say about Jim Hendry.  He gave me $30 million.  God bless Jim Hendry and his family."


186
Game Zone 2010 Archive / Astros-Braves 3/7/10
« on: March 07, 2010, 01:06:03 pm »
Astros up 3-1 in the 3rd.

Pence with an RBI triple.  Berkman 2-2 with two doubles.

187
Talk Zone / Mazeroski
« on: March 05, 2010, 01:27:34 pm »
I was talking baseball with a client this morning who told me that he was best friends with Ralph Terry, the pitcher who gave up the game winning homerun to Mazeroski in the '60 WS, and then two years later was the World Series MVP of the 1962 WS.  Reading up on the history after the meeting ended, I stumbled across this little nugget that I am stunned I hadn't already heard:

The 13-year-old fan who caught the ball traded it to Mazeroski for two cases of beer, after which the ball was placed in the Hall of Fame.

wikiality

13 year old kid!  That's fantastic. 

188
Talk Zone / "Fuck the Cubs, Motherfucker!"
« on: February 05, 2010, 02:58:02 pm »
So sayeth Freddy Garcia.

Happy Friday.

189
Talk Zone / Holliday a Card again
« on: January 05, 2010, 05:57:30 pm »
Re-signed for "for seven years and between $119 million and $120 million with a team option at the end of the contract."

190
Talk Zone / Astros cash in with Banks
« on: January 05, 2010, 10:20:17 am »
Via twitter:

brianmctaggart:  Astros sign RHP Josh Banks, who spent last two seasons with Padres.

His stats.

191
Talk Zone / Exit Whitey
« on: December 08, 2009, 02:28:49 pm »
At the end of the year, Gammons is leaving ESPN for "other opportunities."

MLB Network?  That's all I can really think of. 

192
Talk Zone / And Pujols, unanimously, takes the NL MVP
« on: November 24, 2009, 01:58:59 pm »
The Link

Hanley, Howard and Prince rounded out the distant 2 through 4.

Somebody voted for Tejada.

193
Talk Zone / Mauer wins AL MVP
« on: November 23, 2009, 01:45:49 pm »
The Link

Mauer recieved 27 out of 28 first place votes.  Texieria and Jeter finished second and third, respectively.

194
Talk Zone / Lincecum repeats
« on: November 19, 2009, 01:19:39 pm »
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4671110

Carpenter second and Wainwright third in the NL Cy Young voting.

195
Talk Zone / Scioscia, Tracy win manager of the year
« on: November 18, 2009, 02:40:56 pm »
The Link

196
Talk Zone / Post-season awards
« on: October 04, 2009, 10:16:26 pm »
So what do y'all think?

NL:

MVP: Pujols
Cy Young: Lincecum (Wainwright right behind him)
ROY:  Chris Coughlan (not by much over Tommy Hanson)
Manager:  Jim Tracy

AL:

MVP: Joe Mauer
Cy Young: Zach Grienke (Felix Hernandez much closer behind him than Wainwright is behind Lincecum)
ROY:  Gordon Beckham (by a nose over Andrew Bailey)
Manager:  Mike Scioscia

Bonus annoying Pujols trivia: He's the fourth player to win a decade triple crown (most BA, HR, and RBI over a complete decade).  The others are Hornsby in the 20's, Honus Wagner in the ... 19-oughts? what's the term for the first decade of a century?  what do we call the decade ending this year? and Ted Williams in the 40's, which is ridiculous considering he missed three years during WWII.

197
Talk Zone / A Fine Hatchet Job on the TankedCommander
« on: October 02, 2009, 02:12:45 pm »
The Smartest Man in Baseball Is an Idiot. (Actual title of the article).

An excerpt:

"Now the lawyer is back in the playoffs, so watch it happen again. At some critical juncture — or at several critical junctures — La Russa will feel compelled to exercise his superior intellect, probably as regards to a pitcher. The TBS broadcast crew undoubtedly will point out the subtle brilliance of this maneuvering, and then the whole game will blow up in his face."

198
Talk Zone / Bud Norris' season is finished
« on: September 25, 2009, 05:02:50 pm »
"Bud Norris done for year..not injured. Just playing it safe. Has pitched more innings than ever and club is erring on side of caution."

/Footer

199
Game Zone 2009 Archive / Astros-Reds 9/14 - GZ on fumes
« on: September 14, 2009, 07:19:10 pm »
Great catch by Bourn!

0-0 bottom of the 4th

200
Talk Zone / Boone in the starting lineup today
« on: September 02, 2009, 11:43:38 am »
Per Footer tweet.

She also reports that Paulino will not be on pitch count. Coop: "This is basically an audition. He's one of our young guns. Let him prove himself."

And today is Milo's 82nd birthday.

201
Talk Zone / Schadenfreude - steM style
« on: September 01, 2009, 04:57:28 pm »
Deadspin has put together a nice little slide show of just how truly and epically disastrous this season has been for the Mets.

None of it should be news to anyone here (though I had not heard about the woman getting her hand stuck in a toilet while trying to retrieve her gold tooth nor was I aware that DJ AM threw out the first pitch at Citi five days before he died) but it is amazing to behold when it is all put together.

202
Talk Zone / Tejada tipping pitches. Or not. Maybe.
« on: August 30, 2009, 03:52:54 pm »
A rambling NYT article full of suspicion and innuendo accuses him of doing so.  The article purports to describe "[a] series of events on the field led several players to believe that the star shortstop Miguel Tejada had been helping friends on opposing teams by tipping off pitches and by allowing balls they hit to get past him occasionally during games with lopsided scores" but fails to do so with any particularity.  

I've got to say that I agree with Deadspin's take on the article.  It seems like a baseball boogeyman in that nobody has any actual knowledge of the pitch tipping, but generally agrees that "it happens."

203
Game Zone 2009 Archive / SA LL/Astros-Dbags 8/29 thread
« on: August 29, 2009, 04:52:38 pm »
San Antonio game postponed until 6 CDT to be aired on ESPN2

Astros lineup:  Bourn, Keppinger, Berkman, Lee, Tejada, Pence, Matsui, Coste, Norris.

204
Beer and Queso / Deschanel's unite!
« on: August 28, 2009, 02:49:07 pm »
Zooey and Emily finally together for my viewing pleasure?

Hooray!

205
Beer and Queso / Off-roading
« on: August 20, 2009, 04:31:34 pm »
Sometimes I like to pretend that I am a redneck, so I got excited when I stumbled across Spring Creek Off Road Park.  Anyone know anything about this place or related activities?  Anyone know where I can rent an ATV or Jeep and really mess it up?  

206
Beer and Queso / Ten Great Texas Musicians
« on: August 04, 2009, 10:17:55 am »
Yeah yeah, the actual blog post is titled "artists" and not "musicians" but I didn't want to mislead.

Here is list of Ten Great Texas [Musical] Artists that can inspire disagreement over the course of this morning.

I mean, the author has nine musicians and a Monkee on that list.

207
Talk Zone / Paulino up
« on: August 03, 2009, 10:04:22 pm »
Gervacio down.  As first seen in the GZ.

Paulino starts tomorrow as Roy remains on the shelf.

208
Talk Zone / Hawkins to DL
« on: July 28, 2009, 05:04:06 pm »
Latroy has shingles.  According to Footer he was hanging on until Sampson got back.

In other news, Maysonet rejoins the team following the birth of his son, Emil Yael, 7 lbs, 15 ounces.

209
Talk Zone / Typical Cubs fan.
« on: July 27, 2009, 02:51:03 pm »
Hat Fail

FTC

210
Talk Zone / Buehrle...
« on: July 23, 2009, 02:57:55 pm »
...can be a pretty decent pitcher some times.

211
Talk Zone / Bill James on steroids
« on: July 22, 2009, 05:14:13 pm »
As in, he discusses steriods and gives his opinion on the issue.  He's not actually "on" them.  Allegedly.

The Link

An excerpt:

After ten years, however, the dust does not seem to be settling very rapidly. There seem to be as many different and contradictory opinions on the issue now as there were five or eight years ago. We are all tired of arguing about it, but we still don’t agree. In any case, I am finally ready to say what I have to say about it. It is my opinion that, in time, the use of steroids or other Performance Enhancing Drugs will mean virtually nothing in the debate about who gets into the Hall of Fame and who does not.

212
Talk Zone / Another Pirate walks the plank
« on: July 22, 2009, 12:33:37 pm »
This time it's Adam Laroche who heads to the Davy Jones' locker that is the Red Sox.

The Link

That's the wrong Laroche if they wanted anything of value back, or the right Laroche if they just wanted to dump salary.

213
Talk Zone / Bourn
« on: July 21, 2009, 11:11:20 pm »
Baseball Tonight just did a shockingly extended bit on how much of a bad-ass Michael Bourn is.

214
Talk Zone / Olney's "why so and so won"
« on: July 21, 2009, 04:55:17 pm »
On his pay-per-blog this season Buster Olney has featured a running series called "why ____ won" in which he picks a pitcher or two from the previous day's games and drills down in to the numbers to demonstrate what that pitcher did particularly effectively.  Today he featured Moehler's game last night:

22. Why Brian Moehler won for the Astros, from Alvin Anol of ESPN Statistics & Information:

A) He battled back, allowing only one hit while behind in the count (1-for-7 .143, MLB avg .336).
B) He owned the outer third, recording 15 outs on pitches away, including four of his five strikeouts.
C) He finished off hitters well, allowing only two hits in two-strike counts.

215
Talk Zone / Erstad to DL, Kata called up
« on: July 20, 2009, 01:15:37 pm »
Per Footer tweet.

With the ensuing Berkman and Erstad injuries, the Coste trade was certainly well-timed.

216
Talk Zone / BFiB's
« on: July 17, 2009, 01:58:06 pm »
Deadspin has been on a roll lately.  Their mildly amusing running series "Why Your Stadium Sucks" took aim at St. Looey today, and treated the dingy birds like they were in Craig's backyard:

St. Louis is baseball's Shangri-La. I know this because Joe Buck says so, and he is my baseball sherpa. And because St. Louis is baseball's earthly paradise and therefore populated only by the pure of heart, the thought has never occurred to me that maybe there is a hint of rebuke in the phrase "best fans in baseball," that maybe the best fans in baseball think the rest of us are poor paste-eating slobs who don't appreciate baseball the way they do because we don't have full-body orgasms whenever a guy named Skip moves the runners over, that maybe the best fans in baseball have fetishized the idea of playing the game "the right way" as a way of clinging desperately to some lost and imaginary ideal of the past, that maybe the phrase is actually a sign of an ugly regional chauvinism, not to mention a deep-seated insecurity, and that maybe there is a serious pathology at work here, a sort of civic narcissistic personality disorder.

No, sir, that thought has never occurred to me. St. Louis. Best fans in baseball.

Though I'm sure the one on MMPUS will be wildly inaccurate.

217
Game Zone 2009 Archive / 2009 HR Derby
« on: July 13, 2009, 08:37:21 pm »
For some reason, ESPN decided to bring back the annoying "FoxTrax" from Fox's NHL coverage to give the ball a comet tail on replays.

Huh?

218
Talk Zone / Paulino optioned to Round Rock
« on: July 12, 2009, 04:53:54 pm »
Per Footer.  "A corresponding roster move will be made sometime before Thursday's game in LA."

219
Talk Zone / Hawkins to "start" tomorrow
« on: July 08, 2009, 04:58:36 pm »
Per Footer, but I think it's more of a continuation than a start.

220
Talk Zone / Footer on the real Caballito:
« on: July 08, 2009, 04:38:47 pm »
[tweet]alysonfooter:  Carlos lee's 3-year old son is mini-me. Looks exactly like pops. And just walked out with four bags of doritos.[/tweet]

221
Talk Zone / Glanville on Fehr
« on: July 07, 2009, 01:42:33 pm »
Another terrific article from Doug Glanville, this time on the contributions of Don Fehr.  Always interesting insight from Doug, and this is no different.

222
Talk Zone / Pence and Tejada All-Stars
« on: July 05, 2009, 12:50:02 pm »
Via player vote, per Footer tweet.

223
Beer and Queso / Wimbledon
« on: July 05, 2009, 08:52:29 am »
The ball boys and girls are ridiculous.  It's like they're out of a Kubrick film.

Other than that, great set by Roddick.

224
Talk Zone / Pirates seek trade for Oswalt
« on: June 30, 2009, 03:46:34 pm »
Why else would they have acquired Lastings Milledge?

In sum after a day of booty dealing:

Nyjer Morgan to the Nats.
Eric Hinske to the Yankees.

Milledge, Joel Hanrahan, Casey Erickson, and Eric Fryer to the Pirates.

225
Beer and Queso / Michael Jackson... dead?
« on: June 25, 2009, 04:49:35 pm »
Michael Jackson Rushed to Los Angeles Hospital for Cardiac Arrest

Michael Jackson not breathing when rushed to hospital

Michael Jackson Dies.

Whoa.

226
Talk Zone / Sayonara, Don Fehr
« on: June 22, 2009, 02:08:38 pm »
Fehr to announce that he is stepping down as executive director of the MLBPA.

He certainly represented the players vigourously and capably.

227
Beer and Queso / Them folks in Oklahoma roll their joints all wrong...
« on: June 19, 2009, 04:07:15 pm »
And can be horribly cruel to puppies.

Oklahoma woman skinned puppy to make belt.

Lewis wanted the puppy, named Poplin, killed because it was a gift from a female ex-lover with whom she doesn’t get along, said Muskogee County sheriff’s deputy George Roberson.

Roberson said Mullins shot the terrier 10 times with a .22-caliber pistol. Lewis skinned the animal at her apartment and nailed the hide to a board.

Gross.

228
Beer and Queso / Bloomsday
« on: June 17, 2009, 12:07:58 am »
Technically Bloomsday was yesterday.  I never read the book either.

229
Talk Zone / Steriods? Say it ain't So-sa.
« on: June 16, 2009, 04:10:08 pm »
Least. Surprising. News. Of. The. Day.

Other than the confirmation that Joe Buck sucks.

To wit:  Sammy Sosa, who joined with Mark McGwire in 1998 in a celebrated pursuit of baseball’s single-season home run record, is among the players who tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003, according to lawyers with knowledge of the drug-testing results from that year.

230
Talk Zone / Ensberg calls CWS
« on: June 05, 2009, 10:46:33 am »
This is probably Cabrera material, but it's news to me, but "former Astros infielder Morgan Ensberg will call Clemson-Arizona State with Eric Collins" on one of the ESPN channels.

I will be interested to hear his comments about how well the youngsters work the count.


231
Talk Zone / You fatherless son of a whore
« on: June 03, 2009, 01:30:58 pm »
Bastardo magnifico in debut as Phillies beat Padres

*Actual headline

**Yes, there is a major league player named Bastardo.  That is all.

232
Talk Zone / Half price tickets this week - today only
« on: June 01, 2009, 11:42:31 am »
Astros.com is doing one day offer of half price tickets to any of this week's games.  Offer is open until 5:00.  Sign up under "esavers."

233
Beer and Queso / Champions League (spoiler alert)
« on: May 27, 2009, 03:38:03 pm »
Fuck Man U! Ha!

Unfortunately, that means Barcelona won.  But the consolation is that outside the opening ten minutes, Man U played like utter shit.

234
Beer and Queso / Lost finale (non-spoiler)
« on: May 12, 2009, 09:06:23 pm »
You got to figure some blood is going to be shed, so who you do you think will die?

I can't imagine a Season 6 without Jack, as much as I root for his demise every episode.  But Sayid is basically a walking corpse spiritually at this point, and following Jack's worst decision in a lifetime of horrible decisions doesn't bode well for him.

I figure Juliet is on the chopping block as well, which would put Sawyer in a very interesting emotional place next season regarding Jack and really any of the folks who came back. 

Oh, and Phil?  Yeah, I'm really going to enjoy watching your smug sorry ass die in a very painful way.

235
Talk Zone / JR Richard
« on: May 09, 2009, 02:03:08 pm »
The tragic story of JR is being told on TWIB right now.

236
Game Zone 2009 Archive / News Radio on My20 - 5/3/09
« on: May 03, 2009, 12:31:31 pm »
WTF?

237
Beer and Queso / The "Longhorn Bonus"
« on: April 07, 2009, 09:49:42 am »
I think I will be employing this tactic when bonus time runs around at my company:

"The University of Texas didn't win the Big 12 football championship last fall, but that hasn't stopped a dozen assistant coaches and support staffers from receiving bonuses as if the Longhorns did.

Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds received permission from UT President William Powers Jr. and the university's men's athletic council to pay $44,000 in bonuses that are called for when the football team wins a conference title.

'I think this was the right decision,' Powers said Monday."

So why stop there?  Don't they deserve something for the BCS championship they didn't play for?


238
Talk Zone / HanRam demands trade, stylist, and jewels
« on: March 27, 2009, 01:29:27 pm »
I guess you are what you wear.

"It was a hairy situation in the Marlins' dressing room yesterday after Hanley Ramirez threw a fit, scrawled a vulgar message on his chest and requested a trade over the team's new dress code."

239
Beer and Queso / Migas o chilaquiles?
« on: March 23, 2009, 10:10:46 pm »
It seems that from town to town and restaurant to restaurant, nobody can agree on which dish is which.

I like eggs with fried corn tortilla strips, salsa and jalapenos.  Throw in some cheese and I'm tremendously happy.  On many menus this is migas, and on many others it's chilaquiles.  Some times I order either and I just get fried tortilla strips with salsa.  Sometimes I just get eggs with fried tortilla strips.  Sometimes I get all that I described and desire.

So I come to you SnSers, who have an eye, or at least an insistent voice, on what is "authentic."  Which is what? 

240
Talk Zone / Astros on MLB Network
« on: February 28, 2009, 05:29:16 pm »
Sunday evening at 7:00 the MLB Network's running feature on teams in spring training "30 Clubs in 30 Days" will focus on the Astros and following that the network will show the Astros-Mets game from Sunday afternoon.

241
Talk Zone / Peavy/Oswalt hijinks
« on: February 16, 2009, 11:21:41 am »
Amusing anecdote from Buster Olney:

"• Jake Peavy, the Padres' right-hander, is close friends with Houston's Roy Oswalt and has enormous respect for how competitive his friend is. But that doesn't mean Peavy is averse to playing a good-natured joke on Oswalt. Both are avid hunters, and Peavy excitedly told Oswalt about a buck that had been taken down, and he couldn't wait to show him the DVD he had burned of the animal. He put the DVD into the player and hit the play button as Oswalt waited. What popped up was a replay of Peavy getting a base hit off Oswalt. The Astros right-hander yanked out the DVD and destroyed it without smiling."

242
Beer and Queso / Leyritz . . . still a dick.
« on: February 13, 2009, 04:32:17 pm »
Jim Leyritz back in jail after violating his bail terms by drinking alcohol, while awaiting his trial for killing a woman while he was driving drunk.

243
Talk Zone / Astros season over, per BP
« on: February 10, 2009, 10:37:23 am »
BP released their win/loss projections for the 2009 season.

Coming in second to last in the NL Central, with the second least amount of runs scored in the league, your 2009 Astros with a record of 66-96.

I think I'll take the over.

244
Talk Zone / Caribbean Series
« on: February 04, 2009, 08:14:02 am »
FYI - I'm sure it's been noted before, but it should be reiterated that the MLB network has live coverage of the Caribbean Series all week.  Last night, Hector Gimenez slammed a bottom of the 11th game-winning home run to lead Venezuela past Mexico in a fantastic pitcher's duel.

245
Talk Zone / Lineup
« on: January 30, 2009, 07:10:06 pm »
Footer spoke with Cooper about his vision for the lineup this year:

Bourn will hit elsewhere in the order when the season starts, but Cooper is hopeful that eventually his young center fielder will prove that he is indeed capable of handling the leadoff role.

"He has to be that guy," Cooper said. "But I don't know that we're going to do that right out of the chute."

So, to start things off . . .

Matsui is his leadoff man, but Cooper doesn't know who will hit second. He mentioned Bourn, Miguel Tejada, Hunter Pence and Aaron Boone as possibilities.

There will be a lot of mixing and matching as the season wears on, but given the fact that, as of now, we know Matsui will be leading off, what's your expected opening day lineup?

Assuming Harang is the opening day starter for Cincy, my early vote goes to:

1.  Matsui
2.  Pence
3.  Berkman
4.  Lee
5.  Tejada
6.  Blum
7.  Bourne
8.  Quintero
9.  Oswalt

Not my ideal formation, but that what I expect from Coop.

246
Talk Zone / Tal on Arbitration
« on: January 26, 2009, 02:48:41 pm »
As the arbitration season rolls around, there's another feature on Tal Smith's experience in arbitration.

This one is interesting in that it kind of explodes a belief that I operated under, and have seen around here a few times, that arbitration hearings are especially contentious.  There's certainly no doubt that, post-offering, baseball arbitration is, at its basest function, an all-or-nothing adversarial exercise.  But Tal says:

"Contrary to what media and fans think, a hearing is rarely a demeaning or denigrating exercise," Smith said. "That's one of the great misunderstandings. It's a continuation of the same kind of negotiation and debate that the two sides have already had, except arguments take place in front of arbitrators.

"Stories of mudslinging are exaggerated. I've done over 160 cases and I can only think of two or three over the years where there was really animosity. If you point out a negative stat, you're not saying, 'This guy is not a good player.' If a guy hits .300 or has 20 wins, that's a fact that will be pointed out. By the same token, if a guy hits .218 or has a five-something ERA, that will be pointed out. But it's out there to begin with."

Tal also suggests that the reasons arbitration hearings have decreased in number of the years has more to do the increasing scale of baseball economics, rather than trying to avoid hurt feelings.

247
Talk Zone / Kent wants to spend more time "washing trucks"
« on: January 21, 2009, 12:44:32 pm »
So he decided to hang 'em up and head out to the bluebonnet pasture for good.

Sorry if this is Cabrera'd.  It was certainly expected, but the official announcement was news to me.

So... hall of famer? 

248
Beer and Queso / RIP Ricardo Montalban
« on: January 14, 2009, 04:22:38 pm »
While many people no doubt will scream KAAAHHHHNNNNN! - or Mr. Roarke - he will always be Vincent Ludwig to me.

249
Beer and Queso / Zooey!
« on: December 30, 2008, 10:25:08 am »
Is off the market.

250
Talk Zone / Astros sign Clay Hensley
« on: December 23, 2008, 03:25:52 pm »
Buried in this report is the news that "Houston added starter Clay Hensley on a $550,000-minor-league deal."

251
Talk Zone / Teixeira
« on: December 23, 2008, 01:56:11 pm »
The Washington Times says Teixeira will make an announcement today.  Speculation leans towards the Sawx.

252
Talk Zone / Brewers sign Lamb
« on: December 09, 2008, 10:02:06 pm »
To a one year deal, according to ESPN's bottom line.  Also, the Indians are close to signing Kerry Wood to a two year deal.

253
Talk Zone / New catcher for the Redlegs.
« on: December 09, 2008, 04:16:51 pm »
Say so long to pissant-in-training Ryan Freel and welcome Ramon Hernandez to the NL Central.

"The Reds have reached preliminary agreement with the Orioles on a trade that will send catcher Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati for outfielder Ryan Freel and two prospects, according to a major-league source.

The deal is pending the approval of the commissioner's office, because it involves a cash transaction of more than $1 million."


254
Talk Zone / 2009 HOF
« on: December 04, 2008, 02:29:18 pm »
The ballot is out.

The first timers are:  Ricky Henderson, Jay Bell, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn, and Matt Williams.

Returning are:  Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Jim Rice, Lee Smith, and Alan Trammell.

Rickey is a shoe-in, and the only one of the new bunch that I think should be a HOFer.  For the returning candidates, I'm a Jack Morris guy.

Hey, it's more fun than arguing about the best way to rank BCS rankings. 
 

255
Talk Zone / Cubs bolster pen, Swisher to the Bronx
« on: November 13, 2008, 02:59:29 pm »
The Cubs traded prospect Jose Ceda (age 21, AA righty pitcher) for Kevin Gregg.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8790658/Cubs-land-Gregg-in-deal-with-Marlins

The Yanks picked up Swisher from the White Sox

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8790448/Sources:-Yanks-deal-for-Swisher,-minor-leaguer

256
Talk Zone / Lidge wins NL Comeback Player of the Year
« on: September 30, 2008, 12:59:21 pm »
The Link

Congrat's Brad.  Cliff Lee takes the honor in the AL.

257
Talk Zone / Obama: Calls it like he sees it
« on: August 27, 2008, 02:03:50 pm »
Now this is eilitism that I can believe in.

"For those Americans who missed it, Obama told ESPN's Stuart Scott the other day that Cubs fans were essentially frauds.

His exact words were these: ''The Cubs ... they're nice. You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer ... there are beautiful people out there, people aren't watching the game.

''That's not serious,'' Obama said, without any doubt or reservation."

258
Beer and Queso / T.S. Edouard
« on: August 04, 2008, 11:46:39 am »
Do we just not care? Nobody at my office seems remotely interested in it.

Is it the silly spelling? Can das shed any light on this?

259
Talk Zone / Positives from Thursday's game . . .
« on: June 20, 2008, 12:12:38 am »
. . . I didn't get to watch it.

Hunsicker is licking his chops anticipating the weekend.

260
Talk Zone / So . . . Angel Campos
« on: June 11, 2008, 11:38:22 pm »
He's a real dick, huh?

261
Talk Zone / Carlos Lee podcast
« on: June 11, 2008, 04:29:05 pm »
Listen here.

Mainly about cattle ranching and Berkman.

262
Game Zone 2008 Archive / No place like home: Turds vs Good guys 6/608
« on: June 06, 2008, 07:09:24 pm »
The o[ld] ninety-threes:

CF Schumaker
RF Mather
1B Pujols
LF Ludwick
3B Glaus
C  Molina
2B Kennedy
P  LOOPER
SS Izturis

Stros:

RF PENCE!!!
2B Matsui
CF Erstad
1B Berkman
LF Lee
3B Blum
SS Loretta
C  Q
P  Moehler

263
Beer and Queso / Toronto and surrounding area.
« on: May 29, 2008, 05:49:22 pm »
I'm heading north the week following July 4th. I have to be in Rochester, NY the weekend of the 11th, but plan to spend the preceding week on the Canada side of the lake, obviously taking in Niagara Falls on the way from Toronto to Rochester. The Blue Jays are hosting the Orioles that week, so it will be fun to catch a game or two at Skydome (a place I have been in awe of since my adolescence and the famous story about the open curtains at the hotel).

Anybody have any Toronto tips? Any good suggestions for exploring the Ontarian wilderness? I hear Georgian Bay is gorgeous and good place for hiking/biking. Anyone know much about this part of the world?

264
Talk Zone / Buster on Berry on Berkman (on Blitzer?)
« on: May 15, 2008, 09:31:00 am »
A brief excerpt from Olney's pay-per-blog this morning:

"Berry isn't looking for Berkman to draw more walks, necessarily; it's not that kind of patience that he's looking for. He just wants Berkman -- who can hit anything -- to give himself better pitches to hit, which means "laying off pitches that might even be strikes," said Berry.

If a Broxton or a Carlos Zambrano or somebody else makes a vicious pitch early in the count for a strike, hey, no big deal, Berry figures; just wait for something else, something that can't be any tougher than what you just saw as a hitter. During Berkman's burst of offense, Berry said, "he's laying off some pitches that he would normally offer at."

Berry talks all the time to his hitters about the basic strategy that pitchers will employ: They're trying to get you to swing at a pitch that looks like it might be decent to hit, but it really isn't. And these are the pitches that Berkman has been ignoring. That's part of the reason he's thriving, with a .796 slugging percentage. "He's ready from Pitch One in his at-bats," said Berry, "and he's laying off some trick pitches.'"


265
Beer and Queso / New Orleans restaurant
« on: May 13, 2008, 08:17:03 pm »
I'm headed to New Orleans this weekend with a bunch of friends, and for the life of me cannot remember the name of a great restaurant in the uptown or garden district area that I went to once. I remember the place being pronounced "giacomo's" or "jacque-a-mos"  or "jock o mose" or something like that. Yes, I've been there, but it was after a long day of not trying to figure out how things are spelt, and it was fantastic. There is a nice bar next door to while away the wait for a table. Does anyone know the restaurant I'm talking about?

266
Talk Zone / Paging statheads
« on: May 09, 2008, 01:39:09 pm »
Can anyone do anything with the information provided by this Web site? Apparantly an uber analysis of every inning pitched.

267
Game Zone 2008 Archive / Brewers - Astros - Quatro de Mayo
« on: May 04, 2008, 01:05:19 pm »
Anyone want to do a bit pbp for some poor schlub stuck at work on this beautiful Sunday afternoon?

268
Beer and Queso / po-boy shop
« on: April 27, 2008, 01:45:34 pm »
I very much enjoyed an oyster po-boy and cup of gumbo at BB's before today's game. It's a fairly new place on the northwest corner of Montrose and Westheimer that's pretty much a glorified shack next to a dry cleaner tucked behind the Valero on the corner. They have embarassing menu names ("bedtime on the bayou" is a shrimp po-boy) and some of the tackiest art I've ever seen, but man they know what they are doing with their food. 

269
Talk Zone / Austin Astros Radio
« on: April 20, 2008, 07:44:07 pm »
What's the deal? I drove through Austin during the games on Friday and Sunday and spent the entire time flipping my AM dial to find nothing but the Rangers game. Is there really no Astros radio in our capital?

270
Talk Zone / Tipping pitches...
« on: April 15, 2008, 10:46:15 am »
From Footer's Mailbag.

"The night of his last start, Oswalt wondered if he was inadvertently tipping his pitches."

Oh man. Here we go again.

271
Talk Zone / Woody gone
« on: March 29, 2008, 10:16:35 am »
The veteran was released this morning.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5658673.html

They also announced the rotation for the four game set in SD: Roy-Backe-Wandy-Chacon. Sampson is officially handed the 5th spot.

272
Talk Zone / Christmas in March
« on: March 13, 2008, 06:10:36 pm »
My first ever package of Astros season tickets arrived today. I feel almost grown up.

273
Talk Zone / The Jesus Who Came In From the Cold
« on: March 09, 2008, 01:23:06 pm »
Looks like JdJO is going dark on us: http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2008/03/best_of_both_wo.html

"Sorry I haven't blogged here in a while. I'm currently not with the team. To be honest, I don't know when I'll rejoin the writers covering the Astros.

I've been chosen for a new assignment....

Whatever the case, I don't know when I'll rejoin the club. It could be soon, maybe even Opening Day in San Diego or before. It could be much later. Maybe never."

What the hell?






274
Talk Zone / Gascan in midseason form
« on: February 27, 2008, 07:54:39 am »
He was piping angry that a college kid dared to drop a bunt against him in a scrimmage against the University of Michigan . .

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmnotes275593160feb27,0,6400784.story

"Wagner, clearly annoyed, shook his head a number of times, and Cislo wisely swung away, grounding out. Wagner said he couldn't believe that Cislo, a junior, bunted.

"If he got that bunt down, I would have drilled the next guy," Wagner said. "Play to win against Villanova.'"


275
Talk Zone / Hunter meets a glass door - There Will Be Blood
« on: February 19, 2008, 08:31:16 am »
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5551817.html

"Hunter Pence, the Astros’ starting right fielder, suffered lacerations to both his hands and knees in an accident through a sliding glass door Monday night, a day after he reported for spring training at Osceola County Stadium"

. . .

“For Hunter I hate to see something like this happen,” Astros owner Drayton McLane said. “It could have been much more serious. He could have cut a tendon or an artery. We are told he should be back within a week.”

I knew he was eager to get on the field, but sheesh, Hunter. Look before you leap.


276
Talk Zone / Benson completes deal with Phillies
« on: February 14, 2008, 09:28:58 am »
Pending a physical today.

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/15597542.html

He signed a minor league deal that lets him opt out if he doesn't make the 25 man out of camp (the usual).

Let the penicillin jokes commence.

277
Talk Zone / Santana a Met
« on: January 29, 2008, 03:24:32 pm »
(But is Cabrera a Brave?)

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-29-twins-mets-santana_N.htm

Mets give up Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra. Note that they managed to avoid giving up Fernando Martinez as well as Pelfrey.

In my opinion that is a much lesser package than that which was reportedly being bandied about by the Red Sox and Yankees during the winter meetings.

Of course, it should be noted the deal is still pending a 6 or 7 year extension as well as a passed physical.

ETA for numerous brainfarts.

278
Talk Zone / Another outfielder
« on: January 28, 2008, 02:06:42 pm »
According to McTaggart's blog the Astros signed David Newhan on Friday to compete for the 5th OFer job.

Also, within that piece is a rundown of the expected Round Rock roster.

279
Talk Zone / Lane gets his first NY headline
« on: January 10, 2008, 09:31:55 am »
At least I assume it's his first.

Lane Might Join Yanks at 1st Base.

"Just in case Jason GiambiJason Giambi , Shelley DuncanShelley Duncan  and Wilson BetemitWilson Betemit  aren't enough at first base heading to spring training, the Yankees have interest in adding free agent Jason Lane, according to a source."

280
Talk Zone / Something happened in baseball (BB - finally)
« on: January 03, 2008, 01:20:05 pm »
But, it's AL so who really cares.

A's trade Swisher to White Sox

281
Talk Zone / Minor league deal
« on: November 29, 2007, 09:34:36 am »

"It’s unconfirmed, but I’ve heard through the grapevine that the Mets have acquired a minor-league catcher from Houston. It’s believed to be Ralph Henriquez, Houston’s second-round pick in 2005 from Key West (Fla.) High School. Lefthander Josh Appell, who pitched in Brooklyn the past two seasons, is now an Astro prospect."

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/2007/11/mets-add-stokes-to-pen.html


Yeah, yeah. It's a slow news days. So does anyone know anything about any of these guys?

282
Talk Zone / Kielty
« on: November 26, 2007, 10:10:28 pm »
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1047033

"Besides the Red Sox, Kielty has heard from three National League teams, all of which view him as a potential fourth outfielder."

Here's hoping the Astros are one of those teams. He would be a good addition to the bench.


283
Talk Zone / Your NL MVP
« on: November 20, 2007, 01:20:10 pm »
Jimmy Rollins

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3120573

The right decision, IMO.

284
Talk Zone / No wonder Clemens' kid can't hit minor league pitching
« on: November 16, 2007, 02:47:15 pm »
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071116/lf_nm_life/initials_performance_dc

"Researchers who studied the impact of initials found that baseballs players whose first or last name starts with the letter K, which signifies a strikeout, tended to strike out more often than other players.

In baseball, players aim to avoid striking out. But after looking at 93 years of Major League baseball data and poring over more than 6,000 player names, the authors found that those whose names began with a K struck out more than others."


285
Talk Zone / Breaking news: Racket may or may not be retired!
« on: November 07, 2007, 04:38:50 pm »
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5282373.html

Though he is going to begin his "post-playing" services contract with the Astros at the beginning of the upcoming season:

“Roger has said several times that he has failed at retirement, so I am not announcing his retirement,” Hendricks told the Chronicle. “The plan for 2008 is this: Roger plans to start the new year as the first year of his post-playing career contract as a consultant to the Houston Astros.


“Roger really enjoys the teaching aspects of baseball and loves his interaction with the young players.”


286
Talk Zone / Rangers contact Lamb
« on: November 06, 2007, 11:33:48 am »
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/110607dnsporanglede.381dbbc.html

A possible solution for the Ranger's opening at first base (and/or third if they decide they're done with Blalock).

Lamb at the very least seemed "intrigued":

"To hit in that ballpark again and to work with Rudy Jaramillo again," Lamb said, "who wouldn't like that?"


287
Talk Zone / Cameron suspended 25 games
« on: October 31, 2007, 11:15:29 am »
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3088062

I'm guessing that will depress his market value a bit. He's someone I hoped, and still do, that the Astros would seriously explore signing.

288
Talk Zone / NYCU: '08 schedule
« on: October 23, 2007, 09:05:02 am »
The Astros site has added a link to the 2008 home schedule:

schedule

289
Talk Zone / Willy in, Cook out.
« on: October 11, 2007, 08:48:05 am »
Taveras makes the NLCS roster for the Rockies. Good for him. Aaron Cook didn't make it, instead Hurdle is going with Josh Fogg as his Game 3 pitcher and Morales is pushed back to Game 4.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2007/news/story?id=3058109

290
Talk Zone / I can't wait for more Joe Buck...
« on: October 10, 2007, 03:15:05 pm »
Not only does he return the broadcast booth with the ALCS, he has a new "entertainment" show which consists of him being driven around by an Ethiopian cabbie (Abebe, in case you wondered) while yammering about not-sports.

Well, it's about damn time. I can't believe nobody thought of this before.

291
Talk Zone / Whitey with some harsh words
« on: October 08, 2007, 06:01:08 pm »
In his pay-per-blog column today he addresses how the teams in the postseason (Yankees and Red Sox included) represent the triumph of patience, scouting, development, and the importance of good managers and veterans on the teams.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3054454&name=gammons_peter

He includes the following nuggets as part of his "what not to do" counter point:

One could ponder "what the Houston Astros might be with rational ownership. "

. . .

"Drayton McLane is too erratic, too hands-on and too devoted to the Selig signing laws to succeed in Houston."

. . .

"Houston became an embarrassment this year by refusing to sign any high picks above the price-fixing slots. "

Ouch.

292
Talk Zone / Nothing like a Met fan...
« on: July 31, 2007, 09:54:33 am »
This is awful: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN3044086220070730

Quote
A New York man has been charged with beating his mother to death with a barbell after losing his temper while watching a baseball game on television.

293
Talk Zone / The Hall
« on: July 29, 2007, 06:38:46 pm »
Congratulations to Cal and Tony, two of my all time favorites. In a time where the dilution of the Hall is a constant topic of conversation, these two embody the greatness of the game for which it was designed.

294
Talk Zone / You never know what you'll see at the ballpark
« on: July 29, 2007, 06:03:58 pm »
Jennings became the first pitcher in the modern era to surrender 11 runs in the first inning, accordingly to the BBTN pundits. My dad taught me at an early age, never pass up chance to see a ballgame and never leave early. You can always see something you've never before seen.

295
Talk Zone / Hey Limey (or Guinness or anyone really) [London; non-bb]
« on: July 20, 2007, 10:22:48 am »
I got a buddy heading to London for work next week. He's staying in the Canary Wharf area. Any suggestions for good stuff for him to do? Any favorite restaurants (especially Indian food) that you recommend in general?

296
Talk Zone / 72-90 Encore?
« on: July 12, 2007, 09:37:18 am »
As we head into the ceremonial second "half", the Astros are playing at a .438 clip which over 162 would accomplish only 71 wins. Mercifully, I was living out of the country for most of the 2000 season and missed the first two-thirds, coming back to see them play fairly decent ball the last bit of the season.

My question to you all is this: Is the 2007 team better than the 2000 team?

I think so. The team has gotten quality performances at one time or another from the starters, the pen, and the offense. They've even played passable defense at times. It seems the achilles heel of this year's squad is inconsistency across the board, but as I watch them I do not feel they are as bad as the record suggests, and are capable of winning more games than the 2000 team, maybe even flirting with .500 by September's end (that would require a doable 42-31 (.575) second half record). The team seems capable of getting on a hot streak, but just hasn't done it so far.

297
Talk Zone / Pelmini anyone?
« on: July 12, 2007, 09:02:36 am »
Why is Drayton always in Poland? I'm aware he has business interests there, but don't know the nature or extent of them. It just seems like whenever he's not in Texas, he's in Poland.

298
Talk Zone / Astros baseball
« on: July 04, 2007, 12:01:10 am »
What a thrilling homestand so far. This is fun.

299
Talk Zone / In other news...
« on: June 30, 2007, 12:12:35 am »
Aubrey Huff hit for the cycle tonight.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270629101

300
Talk Zone / Fox
« on: June 23, 2007, 03:25:58 pm »
Why the fuck do they think we care about Bonds' at bat? I'd understand if he was one away from Aaron, but he's not going to hit 6 homeruns in his next at bat.

301
Game Zone 2007 Archive / Mariners @ Astros: Navigate with the stars (6/17/07)
« on: June 17, 2007, 12:46:37 pm »
Sea:

Ichiro CF
Lopez 3B
Vidro 2B
Ibanez LF
Sexson 1B
Broussard RF
Johjima C
Betancourt SS
Washburn P

Hou:

Burke RF
Loretta 2B
Pence CF
Lee LF
Ensberg 3B
Lamb 1B
Ausmus C
Bruntlett SS
Roy P

302
Talk Zone / BFIBs
« on: June 14, 2007, 01:56:48 pm »
Best fans in baseball? Arguable. But without doubt, they are the best dancers in baseball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH7SrwzUTP8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Edeadspin%2Ecom%2F

I especially like the directors commentary "get the Arch in the background."

303
Talk Zone / US Open live Webcast (Non-BB)
« on: June 14, 2007, 10:22:47 am »
So, If you feel like really getting nothing done today before this afternoon's ballgame, you can watch the ESPN coverage of the US Open over the Web, in HD, for free.

http://www.usopen.com/webcast/

304
Talk Zone / Running out of players, real catchers matter
« on: June 09, 2007, 08:50:42 am »
The 10th inning in last night's Giants-A's game ended with Noah Lowry playing right field, Randy Winn playing third base (the first time he's played in the infield since college) and Pedro Feliz catching (for the first time ever).

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/09/GIANTS.TMP&type=as

Feliz apparantly caught reasonably well, but the his inexperience as catcher affected Hennessey's pitch selection, which affected the outcome of the game. To wit:

Quote
Feliz acquitted himself well, catching a few sliders in the dirt and cut fastballs. After Jason Kendall's hit-and-run single sent Kotsay to third, and Kendall took second on a pitch without a throw from Feliz, Stewart hit a slider to left for the two-run single.

Hennessey said he threw a sweeping slider. Had there been a true catcher behind the plate, he would have tried to bury a slider in the dirt. Winn caught the final out, a foul pop, and the Giants went 1-2-3 in the ninth, Lowry striking out to end it.


305
Talk Zone / SEE CLEMENS LIVE!!!
« on: May 17, 2007, 04:38:24 pm »
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/may/17/fridays_miracle_game_against_clemens_espnews/?breaking_news

Quote
The Fort Myers Miracle, Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, will appear on national television Friday night May 18 when they face Roger Clemens and the Tampa Yankees. ESPNEWS will have pitch-by-pitch coverage of Clemens start against the Miracle beginning at 7 p.m.

What a way to spend a Friday night.

306
Talk Zone / Lidge Article
« on: May 09, 2007, 09:56:28 am »
Nothing revolutionary, but a nice summary of his travails and an explanation for his recent success. Obviously, it is not from the Chronicle, which explains the lucid writing and inclusion of actual contextual commentary from Lidge and Ausmus.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_5527650,00.html

Some excerpts:

Quote
The bottom line is Lidge is relying on his fastball and slider, mixing in an occasional sinking fastball, a pitch he began using toward the end of last season and one that helped him cure some mechanical woes.

"He has begun to start attacking the hitters again rather than try to get them out," Ausmus said. "It's really just being aggressive, being confident, coming right at you, 'Here's my best stuff, you can't hit it.' He's relearning that, I think."

Quote
In 2004 and 2005, when I had my best seasons, we hardly ever threw in," Lidge said. "It's not that all of a sudden we need to throw in a lot more now; that's not what we used to do. It's that I need to have command. I was missing over the plate with fastballs, and no one was swinging at my slider because I wasn't establishing that as a strike."

307
Talk Zone / Garner on the radio
« on: May 08, 2007, 09:35:05 am »
Anybody just hear Garner on Mike and Mike on ESPN radio about an hour ago? According to a friend of mine who heard it, he said basically he loves Roger, the fact is Roger loves the spotlight of the whole chase for his services and that going to NY is great for him so he can be on that stage as a savior, which he relishes. He also mentioned that Roger not traveling with the team started to become a factor with the team last year for the first time. Before that, the guys accepted that he made his arrangement since he was going to retire so he could be with his kids, etc. but last year for the first time, he would be gone and then suddenly he would be on TV doing an appearance or playing in a golf tournament and the rest of the team was starting to get annoyed. Garner thought the traveling thing might be a problem with the Yankees.

308
Talk Zone / Clemens to decide THIS MONTH!!!
« on: May 01, 2007, 02:16:47 pm »


Yawn.


309
Talk Zone / Friday Caption Contest
« on: April 27, 2007, 03:21:00 pm »
Now for something completely different...

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070426/483/ea50b4169a11481c9f6219e13409fa3b

310
Talk Zone / An assault on the senses
« on: April 20, 2007, 06:20:50 pm »
So I flip over to ESPN to catch a bit of the GREATEST RIVALRY EVER. First, I'm nearly blinded by those horrid green jerseys the Red Sox are sporting. As I'm recovering from that, I come to the awful realization that John Kruk and Dusty Baker are calling the game.

I give up.

311
Talk Zone / Press pass
« on: April 19, 2007, 05:01:01 pm »
Has anyone else seen this "press pass" feature on MLB.com? Is it new, or am I simply new to it?

http://presspass.mlb.com/pp_viewer.asp?d=33137

Wonderful tidbits of information such as:

The current six cities in a nine day span stretch of travelling rivals the likes of The Who and Rush.

There's about 10 pages worth of a wide range of information there.

312
Talk Zone / Dick Justice, a squirrel, and a blind nut.
« on: April 19, 2007, 09:48:28 am »
Or something like that.

He actually had an insightful response to a comment amidst all the sticking-fingers-in-ears-and-yelling that normally goes on over there.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/04/yes_jason_lane_1.html

Comment by Steven Hunter: "I really hope that Purpura is at least looking into dealing Lidge and a prospect to the Phillies for Myers.... It may be something that wouldn't work out, but I'd say it's at least worth 72 hours of his time to look into it."


Response: "I can promise you that Brett Myers will never ever ever ever pitch for the Houston Astros.--Richard"

Wow, Richard. You actually have been watching.



313
Talk Zone / Game Re-Cap
« on: April 14, 2007, 08:29:17 am »
Very nice homage, Prav.

So it goes.

314
Talk Zone / Game Today Cancelled (Snow)
« on: April 11, 2007, 10:19:05 am »
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4705362.html

Will be made up on July 12

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070411&content_id=1892287&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou


315
Talk Zone / The Multi-Talented Senor Smirk
« on: April 10, 2007, 09:20:08 am »
When he's not busy admiring home runs or remedying pressing stadium lighting issue, Pujols pauses to ensure the chalk on the field is laid to his satisfaction: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07100/776648-63.stm

"In an odd scene, home plate umpire Sam Holbrook ordered the batter's box to be redrawn before the third inning after St. Louis' Albert Pujols correctly noticed it was not deep enough."

Is there anything he can't, or at least won't, do?

316
Talk Zone / The Squeeze-Double-Play
« on: April 07, 2007, 10:14:55 am »
Man, if that didn't sum up the fact that nothing is going right for this team so far. First, that Gar felt he had to call it in that situation, and second, when executed adequately, it turns into the ear-fucking that resulted.

317
Talk Zone / Matsuzaka
« on: April 05, 2007, 04:29:17 pm »
Quite a major league debut for the Japanese phenom: 7 innings pitched, 6 hits, 1 walk, 1 run, 10 strikeouts.

318
Talk Zone / Stem Cells: The Future of Sports Medicine?
« on: March 29, 2007, 09:50:36 am »
Interesting article in the Times today, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/sports/29stem.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin.

The gist is using stem cells to grow new ligaments or tendons after surgery (ACL, shoulder, etc...) could be only 3-5 years away. In addition to being a "repair kit for a possible career ending injury" (as one soccer player put it), the article also touches on some of performance-enhancing possibilities and ethical implications (like having a kid at the beginning of one's career so you have some stem cells from its umbilical cord at hand). Just an interesting article.

319
Talk Zone / Pence sent to minor league camp; tonight's game
« on: March 21, 2007, 04:59:05 pm »
First, Pence's wunder-spring with the big leaguers has come to a close.

The Link

Second, a reminder that tonight's game is on FSN. Anyone know who is pitching other than Woody (and James Shields)?

320
Talk Zone / RIP Bowie Kuhn
« on: March 15, 2007, 07:20:02 pm »
The Link

He was certainly a very interesting character.

321
Talk Zone / More Cuts
« on: March 14, 2007, 04:19:43 pm »
Nothing surprising. McLemore, Anderson and Rodriguez to Round Rock; Kevin Davidson was reassigned.

The Link

322
Talk Zone / How Oswalt Nearly Became a Met
« on: March 06, 2007, 11:33:50 am »
The intrepid reporter for the NY Post breaks down the trade that never was, in anticipation of today's Grapefruit league game.

 ". . .here's a detailed look back at the days and hours leading up to the Oswalt trade disintegration."

If you keep saying it, doesn't it mean it's true?

323
Talk Zone / Good news, bad news
« on: March 04, 2007, 11:14:21 am »
The good news: we can watch professional baseball players play the game we so love.

Bad news: It's the Cubs and the White Sox.

Worse news: Ken "Hawk" Harrelson may be involved in the broadcast.

Nevertheless, it's baseball that we can watch, and the mute button works fine, so the good outweighs the bad in my book.

Today, March 4th,  2:00 pm Central, on WGN.

324
Talk Zone / You stay classy, Houston
« on: February 14, 2007, 04:13:25 pm »
About halfway down on the right hand side of  this story about steroid use in the majors, and among Dominican players in particular, is a graphic showing how many major league players from each team have been suspended for violating MLB's steriod policy. "The Houston Astros are the only team that hasn't lost a player to suspension."

While many factors go into this, I think this fact is a testament to Drayton's executive ability to instill an institutional culture of hard work and accountability throughout the franchise. He's made "playing the Astro way," which could easily be a hollow catchphrase, into something that means a lot. Troublemakers and people with poor attitudes have not been kept around for very long on the team. It's not hard to be proud of this team.

325
Talk Zone / Donning the tools of ignorance takes its toll
« on: February 02, 2007, 02:26:31 pm »
Mike Matheny is  forced to retire due to concussions sustained from a career as a hard nosed catcher.

 
Quote:

Matheny earned a reputation for toughness over a 13-year major-league career, playing through broken ribs, broken teeth and the daily bruises that come with his position.

But in the days leading up to May 31, Matheny took several foul tips that affected him more than normal. He recalled almost falling asleep on the bench, and in one instance, forgetting the pitch he'd called for Matt Morris.

"It was obvious something was wrong," Matheny said.

Team trainers began to log every pitch to and noted all head trauma to Giants catchers. They sent out surveys to hundreds of major- and minor-league catchers. The results showed concussions were a widespread issue among catchers.

Matheny lauded their efforts and said he hopes the sport will set baselines for head trauma similar to those in pro football and hockey.

 



It's easy to forget the brutal toll that catching inflicts. Matheny was one of the great catchers of recent years, a rival to Brad, and it's sad to see him go like this.

326
Talk Zone / And we thought the cows on the "fowl" poles are bad...
« on: January 23, 2007, 04:43:12 pm »
 Dating Game: Reality TV to hit Fenway with 'Sox Appeal'

 
Quote:

Scout Productions is developing ?Sox Appeal,? a reality television show combining speed dating and Red Sox games that is scheduled to start airing on the Sox-owned cable channel NESN in July.
 
    In each episode one Sox fan will be paired up with a different date for two innings at a time at Fenway Park [map] as the cameras roll. That fan will then choose who to spend the rest of the game with during the seventh inning stretch, but could also face rejection.
 



 
Quote:

Shooting a show in the midst of a Sox game at crowded Fenway could provide challenging.?It presents some logistical hurdles, but nothing we don?t feel we can?t get over,? said Joel Feld, vice president of programming at NESN.
 
    Scout is still trying to work out details such as whether courtship details will be flashed up on the ballpark?s scoreboards, though it does want the show to become part of the fabric of Fenway.
 



I forsee a lot of big hair, beach balls, and f-bombs getting in the way of this show.

327
Talk Zone / DirecTV gets exclusive Extra Innings deal...
« on: January 22, 2007, 12:41:56 pm »
Bad news for out-of-towners who don't have DirectTV. MLB  sold the exclusive rights to its Extra Innings package to DirecTV $700 million for the next seven years. The deal also includes a 24 hour MLB channel.

328
Talk Zone / Jennings
« on: December 20, 2006, 04:56:17 pm »
I just watched the Jennings  press conference from today. He seems like a good guy. Apparantly he roomed with Everett during summer ball once, knew Berkman from playing against him in college. He grew up in Dallas idolizing The Old Man.

Jennings described himself as a "laid-back, hard worker, competitve, but nothing flashy." Purpura described his pitching approach consistent with the organization's overall philosophy: competitive, good mound presence, pounding the ball low, not giving in, staying with a plan, etc...

They haven't talked about an extension, yet, of course.

329
Talk Zone / An interview with the Trained Gorilla
« on: December 13, 2006, 03:42:46 pm »
This is  an interesting read in an ongoing train-wreck sense.

Some highlights include:

Rocker referring to himself as "the antichrist of liberal views."

Repeated railings against the liberal media.

A complete character assassination of John Schuerholz. (The context in which this arises demonstrates one of the main reasons arbitration is so unappealing to both parties)

And the cliche "some of my best friends are minorities."

Anyway, after yesterday's real news, I realize this is pointless fluff, and we sickened of Rocker a long time ago, but it's still fun to point and gape.

330
Talk Zone / Bagwell to retire this week.
« on: December 12, 2006, 12:40:42 pm »
The announcement is  expected by Friday after a personal services contract is finalized.

331
Talk Zone / RIP Jose Uribe
« on: December 08, 2006, 01:50:49 pm »
He was  killed in a car accident this morning. Sad news.

332
Talk Zone / Mets are interested in . . . Wandy???
« on: December 07, 2006, 12:10:29 pm »
The last paragraph of  this story reads:

 
Quote:

The Mets also showed interest in Houston's Wandy Rodriguez, but the Astros are looking for established starting pitching, not a young outfielder such as Milledge, which will make a match difficult.
 



Which primarily demonstrates, I think, the sublime and frenzied level of bullshit reporters fling at their computer screens during these meetings.

333
Talk Zone / LaGenius and the Mad Hatter. Anyone for a caption contest?
« on: December 06, 2006, 12:12:12 pm »
LaGenius  at the dress rehearsal of a dance production titled "The MAD Hatter Performance and Tea Party."

334
Talk Zone / Meanwhile, in another corner of the NL Central
« on: November 25, 2006, 06:15:25 pm »
The Brewers traded Doug Davis to Arizona.

Brewers get Johnny Estrada, Greg Aquino and Claudio Vargas.

D-Backs get Davis, Dana Eveland, and Dave Krynzel.

 web page

335
Talk Zone / Webb wins Cy Young
« on: November 14, 2006, 03:38:04 pm »
Oswalt finished fourth, but got 3 first place votes. Hoffman was second, Carpenter third.

The Link

336
Talk Zone / HanRam beats Johnson, Uggla.
« on: November 13, 2006, 03:51:29 pm »
And Zimmerman too, but that's doesn't really fit well with the other names.

It was a close race, but Hanley beat out Zimmerman  by four points.

Verlander easily took the AL ROY honors well ahead of Papelbon and Liriano.

337
Talk Zone / Bagwell's retirement
« on: October 16, 2006, 07:08:12 pm »
Interesting tidbit from Alyson Footer's  mailbag today regarding the timing of Bagwell's likely official retirement:

 
Quote:

Bagwell has not officially retired. But I would expect that announcement to come soon after the Astros decline to pick up the option on his contract. They have to do that no later than five days after the World Series ends.  



So if we hear of a "major press conference" in the week after the World Series, that's what it'll be.

338
Talk Zone / Police Escort
« on: October 04, 2006, 02:19:25 pm »
I thought it was a bit silly when Mirabelli got a police escort from Logan airport to Fenway in time for him to catch Wakefield against the Yankees earlier this season, but now  Joe Morgan will have a police escort to ensure he makes it from Shea to Yankee Stadium in time to call both NY games today. Apparantly, a helicopter was vetoed because there was no place to land around Yankee stadium.

339
Talk Zone / Statistical indicator of post-season success
« on: October 02, 2006, 11:34:43 am »
An interesting article in the Wall Street Journal from September 29 by Allen St. John (I'd link to it, but I read it in paper form and believe WSJ.com is a pay site to which I don't subscribe, but if other's do and or one finds oneself in a waiting room with an old copy of the WSJ, you may find this an interesting read) posits that the best Championship season statistical indicator of post-season success is a teams' pitching staff's Batting Average Against. The crux is that pitching to playoff teams with presumably better lineups is very different than pitching to an average major league team, which in the latter it is inexcusable to give a walk to a bad hitter while in the former and walk would often behoove the pitcher rather than a hit, plus the lower the BAA usually the better the pitcher and better the defense.

For what it's worth, the final 8's BAA (Astros was .257)
Padres: .250
Tigers: .254
Mets: .255 (Pedro had a .220 in the regular season)
Yanks: .262
Twins: .267
Dodgers: .269
Cardinals: .269
A's: .270.

Those with a better grasp of the relationship between statistics to reality (with the obvious caveat that any one statistic isn't a very good indicator of anything by itself) can feel free to hash out the merits of the theory, but I figured it's interesting enough to pass along.

340
Talk Zone / The Justice League
« on: September 19, 2006, 06:46:24 pm »
Looks like Richard can invite a real person to his tea party... his good buddy  Jay Mariotti:

 
Quote:

This won't be found in any Elias Sports Bureau statistical package, but on June 20, the night Ozzie Guillen called me ''a [bleeping] fag,'' the Sox were 45-25. Since then, they are a sloppy 39-41 and looking like they intend to uphold a lame franchise tradition: No back-to-back postseason appearances.
 


341
Talk Zone / Whitey's back
« on: September 19, 2006, 06:38:21 pm »
It's good to see him recovered enough to write again:

The Link

It's ESPN insider for those that aren't forking over needless money to Disney, but he gives a rundown of the impending pitcher free agent market (though AP's name isn't mentioned, despite tossing out Smoltz and Mussina who I highly doubt will fail to have their options picked up).

Anyway, welcome back Whitey. May you consistently mislead America for many more years.

342
Talk Zone / Berkman and The Mick
« on: September 14, 2006, 11:29:25 am »
Numbers 7 and 17. The only switch hitters in history to have multiple 40 home run seasons.

I'd have thought Chipper did it more than once, but after his 45 homers in 1999, the closest he got was 38 (in 2001 I believe). Anyway, congrats Puma. The guy's just a monster at the plate.

343
Talk Zone / Anatomy of a Suicide
« on: August 23, 2006, 06:18:13 pm »
The  New York Times has this interesting piece breaking down the suicide squeeze in the ninth inning at Wrigley on July 19 with commentary by everyone involved (Garner, Baker, Everett (the bunter), Wilson (the runner), Barrett and Howry).

It's a nice insight to one of the most exciting plays in sports.

344
Talk Zone / Brett and Dave
« on: August 18, 2006, 12:20:10 pm »
For the past two weeks I've been without a TV and just been listening to the games on the radio. I've always been amused by Milo, he makes me laugh, and for the past three years listened to games on the radio only for brief intervals in the car.

The difference between listening to the entirety of the home games versus the road games is huge. Brett and Dave do a good job describing the action and work well together. It's amazing how much more relaxed and capable they are with eachother rather than when one is calling the game with Milo. The home games are generally characterized by Milo straining himself to make a bad pun, making an ass out of himself trying to "haze" the newbie, and either Brett or Dave trying desparately not to step on Milo's toes. Now, all of those things, by themselves, make me laugh. However, when I dedicate three hours trying to follow the games, it's really annoying.

Last night's game, however, was the complete opposite, and I really enjoyed listening to Brett and Dave. Kudos to the new guys. I think they're doing a good job.

345
Talk Zone / Mets get Linebrink
« on: July 31, 2006, 05:05:50 pm »
They spun off Oliver Perez with Heath Bell to the Pads for Linebrink. Linebrink and Roberto Hernandez ought to fill in the Duaner void nicely.

346
Talk Zone / The Pinwheel just spun off its base
« on: July 31, 2006, 04:29:05 pm »
Justice on ESPNNews right now:

1) The Astros never intended to trade Oswalt

and

2) Drayton never ordered that Lidge be traded.

And he never even batted an eye.

347
Talk Zone / Derek Bell
« on: July 30, 2006, 04:23:33 pm »
Will be eligible for the HOF next year (along with Big Mac and Harold Baines).

It's hard to believe that five years have already passed since Operation Shutdown commenced. He should tow his boat over to the lake next to Cooperstown and sign autographs. Maybe compete with Pete Rose.

348
Talk Zone / Nieve optioned out
« on: July 21, 2006, 11:51:06 pm »
to make room for Backe, according to Garner during the post-game.

349
Talk Zone / NYCU/Funk & Wagner
« on: July 21, 2006, 02:33:52 pm »
Can we get a concrete definition for "hitterish?" It certainly doesn't mean actually hitting. I'm dying to know just what Garner is thinking when he says it. I think "hitterish" is Gar's "manager's decision." Maybe Mr. Weebles hid in the Astros clubhouse for two seasons before infiltrating Gar's mouth.

350
Talk Zone / Boras, A stay at home mom, and her baby bibs...
« on: July 21, 2006, 02:30:46 pm »
All cross paths in a wonderful display of Boras' pettiness.

 It's nice to see an e-bay hustling housewife brow beat Boras

Their phone conversation provides a wonderful mental image.

351
Talk Zone / Angel Hernandez - Still a Cock
« on: July 17, 2006, 11:29:29 pm »
Not that it's news, but this is so ridiculous.

Thrid base ump Angel tosses Dodgers base coach Mariano Duncan - from the dugout - for arguing balls and strikes. A stunned Mariano eventually becomes irate, and throws his hat in Hernandez's general direction. Angel walks over, picks up the hat, and then heads over to the stands and gives the hat to a fan.

What an unbelievable jerk.

352
Talk Zone / Reds get some bullpen help
« on: July 06, 2006, 05:29:30 pm »
Eddie Guardado was traded today from the Mariners to the Reds, according to ESPN's bottom line.

353
Talk Zone / Izzy not trusting his stuff...
« on: April 26, 2006, 04:30:12 pm »
Or trusting it too much. Izzy just gave up 1-1, 2 out, solo homerun in the ninth to blow the save.

He's really having a dreadful start to the season.

354
Talk Zone / Dojers continue to throw money at Kent
« on: March 29, 2006, 03:07:01 pm »
Bluebonnet got an $11.5 million one year extension for 2007. He says he's proud to retire a Dodger, as he's "99.9% sure" this will be his last contract.

The Link

355
Talk Zone / WBC Tiebreaker calculus
« on: March 09, 2006, 07:26:16 pm »
Does anyone understand the tie-breaker scenario being tossed around for US and Mexico?

While two way ties are broken by head to head, I don't understand what the basis is for breaking three way ties. I've seen the reports that if Mexico wins tonight 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1, the US is out. If Mexico wins tonight in nine innings and scores 5 runs, somehoe the US is in. And it goes on.

What is the theoretical basis? Like most tournaments, I assumed the tiebreaker would be run differential (like goal differential in UEFA, World Cup and in the Olympic hockey tourney). What is the standard? It's not runs scored, is it runs allowed? But why would Mexico winning and scoring more runs result in not going through? I'm confused.

356
Talk Zone / Baseball to sell "approved supplements" to players
« on: March 07, 2006, 01:34:29 am »
The Link

Where's HD when we need him? This is such a corporate sham, changing the rules to force the players to funnel money in addition to their human capital back the Owners. How is this any different than those industry towns from back in the day?

(Note, the above is satire).

357
Talk Zone / Kip Wells blood clot, may miss entire season
« on: February 26, 2006, 04:53:15 pm »
 Bad news for the Houston native. He was diagnosed with 100% blockage of an artery. If he has the recommended surgery, he'll be out 5-8 months.

358
Talk Zone / Drayton to testify on behalf of Ken Lay (obviously non-BB)
« on: February 08, 2006, 02:38:44 pm »
"As character witnesses, Mr. Lay's lead attorney is prepared to call many former Enron employees and Texas business luminaries, including a former secretary of commerce  and the owner of Houston's baseball team . They will try to persuade jurors that Mr. Lay was simply too good a man to be caught up in fraud at Enron."

The Link

Not exactly breaking news or at all relevant, but I hadn't seen it posted here and I guess it's interesting enough for early February.

At least the Coogs had an exciting extra-inning win yesterday.

359
Talk Zone / Might as well get the Burke or Willy thread going now...
« on: October 25, 2005, 12:40:27 pm »
I vote Willy. Lord knows the good guys need all the defensive help they can get. Berkman's mobility limitations are mitigated by the small left field, plus he's darn savvy at playing balls of the big wall out there (except for when he's faking a catch with two outs). Willy's certainly been putting good wood on the ball, as well, and it will be nice to have Burke's bat off the bench against Marte or Cotts.

360
Talk Zone / "Last" Chance Drawing?
« on: October 23, 2005, 05:28:46 pm »
There seems to be another "last chance" lotto for WS tickets, going on sale tomorrow. Some fellow on Craigslist is selling the "password" for $400. Not that I would pay him for the password, but is this even legit? It's the first I've heard of it.

361
Talk Zone / More in the line of remembering fans of older generations
« on: October 21, 2005, 06:40:47 pm »
Some feller in the Express-News wrote  this misty tale about his crotchety old grandma who had little patience for anything, but always hope and faith in the Colt 45s/Astros and baseball. A nice read.

362
Talk Zone / I only cried once because of sports...
« on: October 20, 2005, 02:21:30 am »
... And that was in '86. My brother got to go to games 6 (and 7 if it would have happened) (Billy Doran gave my brother his broken bat during BP, and autographed by brother's and Dad's hats). I was to get the next games, in the World Series.


I just spoke to my father, and said, "You once promised me that you and I would watch an Astros World Series Game together. Come to Houston on Tuesday."

I don't think I've ever had a more cathartic moment in my life. I still haven't recovered.

This moment can't be any greater.

363
Talk Zone / That horrible song
« on: October 14, 2005, 01:03:36 am »
They're playing that horrible song, and doing a feature on *FOX* local news, about it.

Remember the douche who came around last year touting that song "I can't believe, the Rocket's coming home... to win a Ring! It's unabelievable... We're going to win!"? Yeah, that song. Oh it's big time. And it still sucks.

I'm still cringing. I really need to change the channel.

364
Talk Zone / "Don't Boo the Braves"
« on: October 08, 2005, 01:46:09 pm »
In Justice's latest abortion he exhorts Astros fans at today's game to "don't even try to boo the Braves." How the hell is this an appropriate angle for the all important swing game of the series? I usually don't let Pinwheel's inanities get under my skin, but everything about this article was annoying. Pardon me, Dick, but I'm going to be booing as loud as I want when the little girls start screaming for Chipper.

Additionally, he's been doing this for a long time, but just when did a series of abrupt one or two sentence paragraphs, with half the time the first sentence being a fragment, become an acceptable form of "writing"?

I know this has been beat to death in this forum, but this morning I was sipping my coffee, opened up the Comical (my first mistake) in order to read the gameday coverage and get even more excited about my trip to MMPUS. Instead, I got annoyed and frustrated just reading the tripe in there. I don't know why I even bother, I really should know better by now.

From here on out, I'm sticking to this forum, cheering wildly for the Astros and booing the Braves loud enough for Justice to hear it as he stuffs his face with the press box buffet.

365
Talk Zone / The Padres and the scheduling popes
« on: October 04, 2005, 01:31:27 am »
Shades of '98, the Padres/Co-ards first three games are spaciously scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

With Peavy starring in the role of The Witch and Eaton/Williams supporting in the role of Sterling Hitchcock? (Hoffman returns as Hoffman.) This could be like deja vu all over again for the Padres. Only not as vomit inducing for us.

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